General elections were held in the British Virgin Islands on 2 June 1971. The result was a victory for a coalition of the VI Democratic Party (DP) together with independent candidate Willard Wheatley over the newly formed Virgin Islands Party (VIP) led by former Chief Minister Lavity Stoutt, and incumbent BVI United Party (UP) led by Conrad Maduro.
Prior to the election Stoutt had was serving as Chief Minister and leader of the UP, but due to internal divisions Stoutt left and formed his new party to contest the election against the UP and the DP, but ended up losing and being replaced by Wheatley as Chief Minister.
The election was also notable for the first female candidate in a British Virgin Islands election: Millicent Mercer contested the 5th District on behalf of the VIP, but lost to Conrad Maduro.
In the 7th District the former representative, Robinson O'Neal, had died in a car crash the prior year.
Results
By constituency ConstituencyCandidatesPartyWinner1st DistrictH. Lavity StouttVirgin Islands PartyH. Lavity StouttWilfred SmithUnited Party2nd DistrictAustin HenleyVI Democratic PartyAustin HenleyStanford ConnorIndependentPrince StouttIndependentNeville HodgeIndependent3rd DistrictOliver CillsVI Democratic PartyOliver CillsLeopold SmithVirgin Islands Party4th DistrictQ. William OsborneVI Democratic PartyQ. William OsborneI. Glanville FonsecaPOP5th DistrictConrad MaduroUnited PartyConrad MaduroHenry HodgeVI Democratic PartyMillicent MercerVirgin Islands Party6th DistrictWillard WheatleyIndependentWillard WheatleyTerrance B. LettsomeVirgin Islands Party7th DistrictReeial GeorgeVirgin Islands PartyReeial GeorgeRalph T. O'NealVI Democratic PartySource: BVI Deputy Governor's Office
Appointments Following the election: Willard Wheatley was appointed Chief Minister and Minister for Education Oliver Cills was appointed Minister for Communications, Works and Industry Q.W. Osborne was appointed Minister for Natural Resources and Public Health Lavity Stoutt became the Leader of the Opposition
References