2020 District 5 (Nevis) by-election
5 March 2020
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District 5 (Saint Thomas' Parish) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Turnout | 46.3% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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A by-election was held on 5 March 2020 for District 5, a constituency of the Nevis Island Assembly, following the resignation of its representative, Joseph Parry. The election was won by Cleone Stapleton-Simmonds, who retained the seat for the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP).
Background
In December 2019, Joseph Parry, former Premier of Nevis and ex-leader of the Nevis Reformation Party, announced his retirement from politics and resignation as a member of the Nevis Island Assembly which then vacated his seat, District 5 (commonly known as Nevis 5), which comprises the parish of Saint Thomas' on Nevis.[1][2][3] District 5 is considered a safe seat for the NRP,[2] and was the only seat to have voted NRP in the previous 2017 Nevis Island Assembly election.[4] In the 2017 election, Parry had won with 518 votes (or 69.3%) while the Concerned Citizens’ Movement (CCM) candidate Keith Scarborough had come second with 229 votes (or 30.7%).[4]
Candidates
Cleone Stapleton-Simmonds stood for the NRP, while the CCM put forward Keith Scarborough as their candidate.[5][6]
Result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRP | Cleone Stapleton-Simmonds | 514 | 72.9% | 3.6% | |
| CCM | Keith Scarborough | 191 | 27.1% | 3.6% | |
| Rejected ballots | 8 | ||||
| Majority | 323 | 45.8% | 7.2% | ||
| Turnout | 713 | 46.3% | |||
| Registered electors | 1,539 | ||||
| NRP hold | Swing | ||||
Aftermath
Following Stapleton-Simmonds' election as the member for District 5, she became the first woman to be elected as a parliamentary representative for the Nevis Reformation Party.[8] Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, an emergency sitting was required in April to swear her in as a member of the assembly.[8][9]
References
- ^ "PREMIER Mark Brantley and Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris paid tribute to veteran politician and former Leader of Nevis Reformation Party". SKN Vibes. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ a b c "St. Thomas' remains NRP district; Simmonds wins By-Election". SKN Vibes. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Supervisor of Elections speaks on upcoming by-election in District 5, Nevis". The Saint Kitts and Nevis Observer. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ a b "CCM wins Nevis Island Assembly Elections". Nevis Island Administration. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Candidates vying for constituency #5, St Thomas' Parish, Nevis seat, voice their views ahead of upcoming by-election". VON Radio. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "CCM's Keith Scarborough officially nominated to contest St. Thomas' Parish by-election". Nevis Island Administration. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2026 – via Nevis Pages.
- ^ "NRP's Cleone Stapleton-Simmonds declared winner of Nevis by election" (PDF). The Saint Kitts and Nevis Observer. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ a b SKN Pulse (18 April 2020). "NRP's first elected female parliamentarian sworn in". Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "State of emergency extension resolution passes, new Opposition member sworn in at Nevis Island Assembly emergency sitting". Nevis Island Administration. 18 April 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2023.