1954 British Honduras general election
Open-knowledge reference entry
General elections were held in British Honduras on 28 April 1954, the first held under universal suffrage. The new constitution replaced the Legislative Council with a Legislative Assembly, which had nine elected members, three officials and three appointed members. The result was a decisive victory for the pro-independence People's United Party, which won eight of the nine seats in a coalition with the General Workers' Union.
The pro-colonial National Party won the remaining seat, with NP candidate Charles Westby prevailing in the Toledo constituency.
Background
Prior to 1954, there were only six elected seats in the British Honduras Legislative Assembly. Eligibility to vote was limited to British subjects, that had lived in the colony for at least a year, whom owned property worth over $96, paid more than $6 in property tax or had an annual salary of over $300.
In March 1954, a new constitution for British Honduras was introduced, guaranteeing universal suffrage and nine directly elected seats in the Legislative Assembly. There would also be 3 seats for people nominated by the Governor of British Honduras and 3 for paid officials. The two main camps contesting the election were the anti-colonial People's United Party with the General Worker's Union and the pro-British National Party with independents.
Due to concerns about Communist influence from neighbouring South American countries, the Governor Patrick Muir Renison put out a broadcast threatening to cancel the elections if "emotionalism" did not cease.
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