# 1957 Election and the GNP (1957)

URL: https://allhistories.com/grenada/timeline/1957-1957-election-and-the-gnp
Location: St. George's, Grenada
Themes: main-event

By the mid-1950s Gairy's critics had organised themselves into the Grenada National Party (GNP), founded by the Carriacou-born Herbert Blaize, who like Gairy had worked in the Aruba oil refinery, together with the St. George's businessman John Watts. The party drew its support from the urban middle class, civil servants and landowners who were alarmed by Gairy's methods. The general election of 24 September 1957 was the first in Grenada contested by several parties. The GULP lost its majority: the eight elected seats were split evenly, with two each going to the GULP, the GNP, the People's Democratic Movement and independent candidates. Blaize was elected and became Minister of Trade and Production as the GNP and its allies formed an anti-GULP grouping in the Legislative Council. The result marked the beginning of the two-party rivalry between Gairy's GULP and Blaize's GNP that dominated Grenadian politics until 1979. When the 1960 constitution created the post of Chief Minister, the GNP-led majority elected in 1957 allowed Blaize to become Grenada's first head of government. At this point in the timeline (24 September 1957), the Queen of the United Kingdom was Elizabeth II (6 February 1952 – 8 September 2022); the Administrator of Grenada was Wallace MacMillan (1951–1957); the Administrator of Grenada was James Monteith Lloyd (1957–1962).

## Why it matters
The election created Grenada's lasting two-party rivalry between Gairy's GULP and Blaize's GNP.

Ruler at the Time: [Elizabeth II](https://allhistories.com/grenada/rulers/elizabeth-ii)

Administrator of Grenada: Wallace MacMillan
Administrator of Grenada: James Monteith Lloyd

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — 1957 Grenadian general election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1957_Grenadian_general_election)
- [Wikipedia — Grenada National Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grenada_National_Party)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — Grenada](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Grenada)
- [Parliament of Grenada](https://www.parliament.gd/)
- [Wikipedia — Gairy And The Road To Independence (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Gairy)