Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Government
Government and administration in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of state — The King, represented by the Governor-General
- Acts on ministerial advice.
- Executive — Cabinet led by the Prime Minister
- Responsible to the House of Assembly.
- Legislative — House of Assembly
- Unicameral: 15 elected representatives and six senators.
- Judicial — Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
- Shared regional court; final appeal to the Privy Council.
How legislation is made
Bills pass three readings in the unicameral House of Assembly and receive the Governor-General's assent. Entrenched provisions require a two-thirds majority of all elected members and, for the most protected provisions, approval by referendum — the route attempted unsuccessfully in 2009.
Enforcement institutions
- Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force
- National police service, including the Coast Guard.
- Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
- Independent prosecution authority.
- Financial Services Authority
- Regulates international business companies, trusts and credit unions.
- Office of the Ombudsman
- Investigates administrative complaints.
Government bodies and regulators
- executiveAttorney General's ChambersPrincipal legal adviser to the government.
- independentOffice of the Director of Public ProsecutionsIndependent authority for criminal prosecutions.
- independentFinancial Services AuthorityRegulates international and domestic financial services.
- independentOffice of the OmbudsmanInvestigates administrative injustice.
- executiveNational Emergency Management OrganisationCoordinates disaster preparedness and response.
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