Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Government Structure

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth of Nations, retaining the British monarch as head of state. A governor-general represents the monarch locally, carrying out largely ceremonial duties on the advice of the government, in keeping with the Westminster model common across the Eastern Caribbean.

Executive power rests with the prime minister and cabinet, drawn from the majority party in the House of Assembly. Under the constitution, the governor-general appoints as prime minister whichever member of the House appears best able to command majority support, though in practice this simply reflects the outcome of general elections. The prime minister and cabinet direct government policy on a day-to-day basis.

The legislature, the House of Assembly, is unicameral, combining 15 elected representatives serving five-year terms with six appointed senators, four chosen on the prime minister's advice and two on the advice of the leader of the opposition; seats are also reserved for the attorney general and the speaker. As in several neighboring islands, judicial matters are handled through the regional Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court system, with local magistrates' courts addressing less serious cases.