Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1956
Encyclopedia
General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago
on 24 September 1956. The result was a victory for the People's National Movement
, which won 13 of the 24 seats. Voter turnout was 80.1%.
A notable contest was the Tunapuna
seat, where former West Indies cricketer Learie Constantine
representing the PNM fought Radio Trinidad
announcer Surujpat Mathura
in the seat of Tunapuna
; Constantine won.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
on 24 September 1956. The result was a victory for the People's National Movement
People's National Movement
The People's National Movement is the present-day opposition political party in Trinidad and Tobago. Founded in 1955 by Eric Williams, it won the 1956 General Elections and went on to hold power for an unbroken 30 years. After the death of Williams in 1981 George Chambers led the party...
, which won 13 of the 24 seats. Voter turnout was 80.1%.
A notable contest was the Tunapuna
Tunapuna
-Town:It is located between St. Augustine, Tacarigua and Trincity. Tunapuna is the largest town between San Juan and Arima. It is an important market and commercial centre, and is the seat of the Tunapuna-Piarco Regional Corporation...
seat, where former West Indies cricketer Learie Constantine
Learie Constantine
Learie Nicholas Constantine, Baron Constantine MBE was a West Indian cricketer who played 18 Test matches before the Second World War. He took West Indies' first wicket in Test cricket and was the team's leading all-rounder and opening bowler for the entirety of his career...
representing the PNM fought Radio Trinidad
Radio Trinidad
Radio Trinidad is the oldest radio station in Trinidad and Tobago. It started broadcasting in 1947 at 11 Maraval Road in Port of Spain on the frequency 730 AM. It had programs like soap operas, news, and passing parade...
announcer Surujpat Mathura
Surujpat Mathura
Surujpat Mathura, the son of late Chandar Bahadoor Mathura and Rookmin, was working in his father's printery when he decided to embark upon a career in journalism and radio announcing....
in the seat of Tunapuna
Tunapuna
-Town:It is located between St. Augustine, Tacarigua and Trincity. Tunapuna is the largest town between San Juan and Arima. It is an important market and commercial centre, and is the seat of the Tunapuna-Piarco Regional Corporation...
; Constantine won.
Results
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People's National Movement People's National Movement The People's National Movement is the present-day opposition political party in Trinidad and Tobago. Founded in 1955 by Eric Williams, it won the 1956 General Elections and went on to hold power for an unbroken 30 years. After the death of Williams in 1981 George Chambers led the party... |
105,513 | 39.8 | 13 | New |
| People's Democratic Party People's Democratic Party (Trinidad and Tobago) The People's Democratic Party was a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. Under the leadership of Bhadase Sagan Maraj it contested the 1956 General Elections, capturing 5 of 24 elected seats in the Legislative Council and 20.3% of the vote... |
55,148 | 20.8 | 5 | New |
| British Empire Citizens' and Workers' Home Rule Party Butler Party The British Empire Citizens' and Workers' Home Rule Party, also known as the Butler Home Rule Party and more commonly as the Butler Party, were a series of political parties in Trinidad and Tobago organised by T.U.B. Butler.-History:... |
104,242 | 39.4 | 2 | |
| Caribbean National Labour Party Caribbean National Labour Party The Caribbean National Labour Party was a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. It contested the 1956 general elections, but failed to win a seat. The party did not contest any further elections.... |
0 | New | ||
| Caribbean People's Democratic Party Caribbean People's Democratic Party The Caribbean People's Democratic Party was a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. It contested the 1956 general elections, but failed to win a seat. It did not contest any further elections.... |
0 | New | ||
| Party of Political Progress Groups Party of Political Progress Groups The Party of Political Progress Groups was a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. It first contested national elections in 1950, when it received 3.4% of the vote and won two seats. After the elections its leader, Albert Gomes, was appointed Chief Minister despite the Butler Party winning six... |
0 | |||
| Progressive Democratic Party Progressive Democratic Party (Trinidad and Tobago) The Progressive Democratic Party was a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. It contested the 1946 general elections, but received just 515 votes and failed to win a seat. It did not run in the 1950 elections, but returned for the 1956 elections. However, it again failed to win a seat, and did... |
0 | New | ||
| Trinidad Labour Party-National Development Party Trinidad Labour Party The Trinidad Labour Party was a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. Formed in in 1924 when the Trinidad Workingmen's Association changed its name, it was the country's first party.-History:... |
2 | 0 | ||
| West Indian Independence Party West Indian Independence Party The West Indian Independence Party was a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. It contested the 1956 general elections, but failed to win a seat. It did not contest any further elections.... |
0 | New | ||
| Independents | 2 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 6,991 | – | – | – |
| Total | 271,534 | 100 | 24 | +6 |
| Source: Nohlen | ||||