St Vincent and the Grenadines Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 253 KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1979 Population: 109,000 (2011) GNI p.c.: US$6,070 (2011) UN HDI 2011: world ranking 85 Geography Area: 389.3 sq km Coastline: 84 km Capital: Kingstown St Vincent and the Grenadines, one of the Windward Island countries of the Eastern Caribbean, lies near the southern end of the Caribbean chain, about 97 km north of Grenada. The country comprises six parishes, one of which being Grenadines. Constitution Status: Monarchy under Queen Elizabeth II Legislature: Parliament of St Vincent and the Grenadines Independence: 27 October 1979 St Vincent and the Grenadines is a constitutional monarchy and representative democracy, with Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State, represented by a Governor-General. The legislature is unicameral, with a House of Assembly of 23 members comprising 15 members elected at least every five years by universal adult suffrage (plus Speaker and Attorney-General) and six senators appointed by the Governor-General (four on the advice of the Prime Minister and two on that of the leader of the opposition). The leader of the majority party in the House of Assembly becomes Prime Minister and selects and heads a cabinet. Judicial system Supreme court: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Ministry: Legal Affairs The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court was established (as the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court) in 1967 with its headquarters in Castries in St Lucia, and is responsible for the administration of justice in its member states including Antigua and Barbuda. It comprises the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal. The chief justice and the four justices of appeal are based at the court’s headquarters and the 19 High Court judges reside in the nine member countries, and sit in the country’s court of summary jurisdiction. Less serious cases are heard in magistrates’ courts. The Court of Appeal is itinerant. The High Court’s jurisdiction includes fundamental rights and freedoms, and constitutional issues.
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