Short facts about the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis
| Country
name: |
conventional long
form: Federation of Saint Kitts and
Nevis
conventional short form: Saint Kitts and
Nevis
former: Federation of Saint Christopher and
Nevis |
| Government
type: |
constitutional monarchy with
Westminster-style parliament |
| Administrative divisions: |
14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola
Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland,
Saint James Windward, Saint John Capisterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary
Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre,
Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto
Point |
| Independence: |
19 September 1983 (from
UK) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day, 19 September
(1983) |
| Constitution: |
19 September
1983 |
| Legal
system: |
based on English common
law |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General Perlette LOUISY (since September 1997)
head of
government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995) and
Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime
minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor
general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader
of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed
prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the
governor general |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral National Assembly (14 seats,
3 appointed and 11 popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 6 March 2000 (next to
be held by July 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party
- NA%; seats by party - SKNLP 8, CCM 2, NRP 1 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based
on Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts and
Nevis) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM
[Vance AMORY]; Nevis Reformation Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action
Movement or PAM [Lindsey GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr.
Denzil DOUGLAS] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International organization participation: |
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS,
OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dr. Osbert W. LIBURD
chancery: 3216 New
Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202)
686-2636
FAX: [1] (202)
686-5740 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
the US does not have an embassy in
Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint
Kitts and Nevis |
| Flag
description: |
divided diagonally from the lower hoist
side by a broad black band bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band
is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is
red | Source: World Factbook |
