Dates of last and next legislative elections: L. House 2004/2009
U. House 2004

Head of state: H.M. Queen Elizabeth II

AT THE LAST ELECTION

Vere Bird Sr., premier from 1960, retired in 1994 and was succeeded by his younger son Lester who led the ALP into its sixth consecutive term in 1999. The family has been dogged by allegations of corruption. Vere Jr. was removed from public office in 1990 after accusations of gun-running, while Lester Bird has been forced to deny a sex and narcotics scandal. The ALP lost the 2004 election to Baldwin Spencer and the UPP.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004