|
Caribbean Islands Government and Politics
The Governmental System
St. Kitts and Nevis is a federal state that adheres to the
forms of the British Westminster-style parliamentary system of
government. The uniqueness of its 1983 Constitution derives from
the provisions for the autonomy of the island of Nevis with regard
to certain "specified matters" and the establishment of the
separate Nevis Island Assembly (legislature) to address these local
concerns.
As a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations
(see Appendix B), St. Kitts and Nevis recognizes Queen Elizabeth II
or her successor as the titular head of government. The British
monarch is represented by a governor general, who resides in
Basseterre. Although legally responsible for the government of both
islands, the governor general appoints a deputy to represent him or
her on Nevis. As the highest executive authority on the islands,
the governor general appoints the prime minister, the deputy prime
minister, other ministers of the government, the leader of the
opposition in Parliament, and members of the Public Service
Commission and Police Service Commission. He may prorogue or
dissolve Parliament at any time. In the judicial sphere, he has the
power of pardon, "respite" (stay of execution of sentence), and
remittance of all or part of the sentence of convicted criminals.
As in most Commonwealth countries, however, the apparently sweeping
nature of the governor general's powers is restricted by the
requirement that the governor general act only in accordance with
the advice of the prime minister. In St. Kitts and Nevis, the
governor general is permitted to act without consultation only when
the prime minister cannot be contacted because of absence or
illness.
The federal government of St. Kitts and Nevis is directed by a
unicameral parliament known as the National Assembly, established
by the 1983 Constitution to replace the House of Assembly. After
the 1984 elections, the assembly was composed of eleven elected
members, or representatives, and three appointed members, or
senators. Two of the senators are appointed by the governor general
on the advice of the prime minister. The other is named on the
advice of the leader of the opposition. Both representatives and
senators serve five-year terms.
The focus of effective power in the federal government is the
Cabinet of Ministers, which consists of the prime minister and
other ministers drawn from the membership of the assembly (either
representatives or senators). The cabinet determines the business
and policies of government. According to the Constitution, the
cabinet is "collectively responsible to the National Assembly," but
because its members are drawn from that body, there is little
likelihood of serious disagreement between the two.
Electoral districts, or constituencies, are delimited by the
Constituencies Boundaries Commission. A minimum of eight
constituencies on St. Kitts and three on Nevis is mandated by the
Constitution. Boundaries are not established solely on the basis of
population; the commission is charged to consider other factors,
such as population density, fair representation for rural areas,
communications differences, geographical features, and existing
administrative boundaries.
The island of Nevis elects representatives both to the National
Assembly and to its own Nevis Island Assembly, a separate eightmember body (five elected, three appointed) charged with regulating
local affairs. The Nevis Island Assembly is subordinate to the
National Assembly only with regard to external affairs and defense
and in cases where similar but not identical legislation is passed
by both bodies. The guidelines for legislative autonomy in Nevis
are contained in the "specified matters" --areas of local
administration for which the Nevisian legislature may amend or
revoke provisions passed by the National Assembly. There are
twenty-three specified matters, including agricultural regulations,
the borrowing of monies or procurement of grants for use on Nevis,
water conservation and supply, Nevisian economic planning and
development, housing, utilities, and roads and highways. These
restrictions on Kittitian control over internal Nevisian concerns
appear to have been one of the major concessions (along with a
local legislature and the right of secession) made by the PAM to
the NRP in order to maintain the two-island union after
independence.
Nevisian secession from the federation requires a two-thirds
vote in the Nevis Island Assembly and the approval of two-thirds of
the voters in a referendum. St. Kitts has no corresponding right of
secession, a reminder of the separatist roots of the NRP and the
desire of the smaller island to protect itself from possible
exploitation by its larger neighbor.
The government of Nevis closely parallels the structure of the
federal government and has a premier analogous to the prime
minister, an assembly incorporating both elected and appointed
members, and a body functioning as a local cabinet, the Nevis
Island Administration, which includes the premier plus two or more
members of the Nevis Island Assembly. Disputes between the Nevis
Island Administration and the federal government must be decided by
the High Court.
The High Court, which sits in Basseterre, is the final court of
appeal on the islands. Appeals beyond the High Court are heard by
the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean States Supreme Court.
Appeals beyond that level may be taken to the Judicial Committee of
the Privy Council in London, but only if they conform to certain
prescribed conditions, for example, if they are issues that require
constitutional interpretation or are decisions of "great general or
public importance." Local magistrate's courts provide summary
jurisdiction.
Data as of November 1987
|
