National Assembly (Saint Kitts and Nevis)

National Assembly
10th National Assembly
Type
Type	Unicameral
Leadership
Monarch	Charles III since 8 September 2022
Governor-General	Dame Marcella Liburd since 1 February 2023
Speaker	Lanien Blanchette, SKNLP since 25 October 2022
Prime Minister	Terrance Drew, SKNLP since 6 August 2022
Leader of the Opposition	Mark Brantley, CCM since 10 October 2022
Structure
Seats	15
National Assembly political groups	HM Government   SKNLP (6) HM Loyal Opposition   CCM (3)   PAM (1)   PLP (1) Crossbench   Senators (3)   Ex officio (1)
Elections
National Assembly voting system	First-past-the-post
Last National Assembly election	5 August 2022
Meeting place
Website
www.parliament.gov.kn

The National Assembly and the King of Saint Christopher and Nevis jointly make up the legislature of Saint Kitts and Nevis. ^[1]

Composition of the National Assembly

The assembly has 14 or 15 members (depending upon circumstances), 11 of whom are elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies and are known as Representatives. The remaining four are called Senators; three are appointed by the governor-general and the fourth is the attorney-general (i.e. an ex officio member).

The 1983 constitution mandates at least three senators, or four if the attorney-general is not one of these three appointed senators. The number can be increased by the parliament as long as it doesn't exceed two thirds of the number of representatives. Except for the attorney-general, the senators are appointed by the governor-general, acting on the advice of the prime minister in two of the appointments and the leader of the opposition for the third one.

Legislative authority

Parliament is empowered by the 1983 constitution to make laws for the Peace, order, and good government of the federation, excepting those areas in the exclusive competence of the Nevis Island Legislature. ^[2] Following passage by the National Assembly, Royal Assent is required to be given by the Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis. ^[3]

Amendments to the constitution require a two-thirds supermajority in the Assembly. ^[4]

Latest election

Main article: 2022 Saint Kitts and Nevis general election

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party	13,438	45.75	6	+4
	People's Labour Party	5,036	17.14	1	–1
	People's Action Movement	4,737	16.13	1	–3
	Concerned Citizens' Movement	3,473	11.82	3	0
	Nevis Reformation Party	2,616	8.91	0	0
	Moral Restoration Movement	67	0.23	0	New
	Unity Labour Party	5	0.02	0	New
	Independents	3	0.01	0	0
Appointed and ex-officio members				4	0
Total		29,375	100.00	15	0
Valid votes		29,375	99.39
Invalid/blank votes		179	0.61
Total votes		29,554	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		50,973	57.98
Source: SKN Times

Elected MPs

Constituency	MPs	Party
St Christopher #1	Geoffrey Hanley		Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party
St Christopher #2	Marsha Henderson		Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party
St Christopher #3	Konris Maynard		Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party
St Christopher #4	Samal Duggins		Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party
St Christopher #5	Shawn Richards		People's Action Movement
St Christopher #6	Denzil Douglas		Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party
St Christopher #7	Timothy Harris		People's Labour Party
St Christopher #8	Terrance Drew		Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party
Nevis #9	Mark Brantley		Concerned Citizens' Movement
Nevis #10	Eric Evelyn		Concerned Citizens' Movement
Nevis #11	Alexis Jeffers		Concerned Citizens' Movement
Source: SKN Vibes

Speaker of the National Assembly

The Assembly has a speaker and deputy speaker elected by the members of the parliament during its first meeting following a general election. They do not have to be members of it; but if they are then they cannot also be in the cabinet or parliamentary secretaries.

The current speaker of the National Assembly of Saint Kitts and Nevis is Lanien Blanchette, who has been in office since October 2022. She succeeded Anthony Michael Perkins.

Previous speakers

Speakers of the Legislative Council of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla

Name	Entered office	Left office	Notes
Hon. Henry Howard	1960	1962	[5]
Hon. Milton Allen	1962	1971	[6] [5]
Hon. William Florian Glasford	1971	August 1978	[7]
Hon. Ada Mae Edwards	1978	1980	[8]
Hon. Herman W. Liburd	1980	1983

Speakers of the National Assembly of St Kitts and Nevis

Name	Entered office	Left office	Notes
Hon. Ivan Buchanan	1983	1985	[9]
Hon. Ivan Buchanan	1985	1995	[10]
Hon. Walford Gumbs	1996	2004	[10]
Hon. Marcella Liburd	December 2004	2008	[10]
Hon. Curtis Martin	18 April 2008	16 January 2015	[10]
Hon. Franklin Brand	May 2015	June 2016
Hon. Anthony Michael Perkins	June 2016	October 2022	[11] [12]
Hon. Lanien Blanchette	October 2022	present	[13]

See also

• Politics of Saint Kitts and Nevis
• List of legislatures by country

References

1. s. 25, Constitution of Saint Christopher and Nevis (1983)
2. s. 37, Constitution of Saint Christopher and Nevis (1983)
3. s.42, 1983 constitution
4. s.38, 1983 constitution
5. "Historic St. Kitts - Sir Milton Allen". www.historicstkitts.kn.
6. The Parliamentarian: Journal of the Parliaments of the Commonwealth. Vol. 43. 18 March 1962.
7. "Historic St. Kitts - William Florian Glasford". www.historicstkitts.kn.
8. "Historic St. Kitts - Ada Mae Edwards". www.historicstkitts.kn.
9. Caribbean dateline. Vol. 4–7. A. Day. 1983.
10. "SKNVibes - Franklin Brand nominated for Speaker of National Assembly". www.sknvibes.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
11. "Hon. Anthony Michael Perkins Elected Speaker Of National Assembly". thestkittsnevisobserver.com. 30 June 2016.
12. "WINN FM - Michael Perkins For Speaker, New Senator To Be Appointed". www.winnfm.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-01.
13. "Ms. Lanien Blanchette is the 2nd Female Speaker of the House Post-Independence". www.sknis.gov.kn. 25 October 2022.

• 1983 Saint Kitts and Nevis Constitution