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SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
National Assembly

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name National Assembly
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Structure of parliament Unicameral
Affiliation to the IPU No
Affiliation date(s)
LEADERSHIP
President A. Michael Perkins (M) 
Notes Elected on 30 June 2016.
Secretary General Sonia Boddie-Thompson (F) 
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 15 / 15
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


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Women (current number) 2 (13.33%)
Mode of designation directly elected 11
appointed 3
other 1
Notes Appointed: appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition.
Other: ex officio (the Attorney General when he is not an elected member).
The Speaker may be designated from outside the National Assembly and becomes a member of parliament by virtue of holding the office of Speaker.
Term 5 years
Notes The term of the National Assembly is five years from the first session. General elections are constitutionally due within three months after the end of the legislature.
Last renewal dates 16 February 2015
(View details)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address National Assembly
P.O. Box 164
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts
(Export mailing lists)
Phone (1 869) 467 1159
Fax (1 869) 465 5040
E-mail SKNParliament@gov.kn
Website
http://www.parliament.gov.kn/

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name National Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral law 23 June 1981
Constitution (1983 No.881)
Mode of designation directly elected 11
appointed 3
other 1
Constituencies 11 single-member constituencies.
Voting system Majority: Simple majority vote.
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections or appointment, according to the case.
Voting is not compulsory.
Voter requirements - age: 18 years
- St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship (or British Commonwealth, if born in the country before independence).
- residence in the country for at least one year
- disqualifications: insanity, allegiance to a foreign State.
CANDIDATES
Eligibility Qualified electors
- age: 21 years
- St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship (or that of one parent) by birth
- residence in the country on the date of nomination for election or appointment
- ineligibility: undischarged bankrupts, persons under sentence of death or imprisonment exceeding 12 months, ministers of religion.
Incompatibilities (not applicable)
Candidacy requirements - support of at least two electors from the constituency concerned
- deposit of a sum equivalent to US$ 55, which is reimbursed on obtaining at least 1/8 of votes cast in the constituency.

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name National Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 16 February 2015
Timing and scope of renewal Team Unity- a three-party opposition alliance led by former Foreign Minister Timothy Harris - ended the 20-year rule of the Labour Party (SKNLP), taking a total of seven seats against four won by the governing coalition (see note). Prime Minister Denzil Douglas, who had been in power since 1995, conceded defeat. On 23 February, Mr. Harris was sworn in as new Prime Minister, becoming only the third person to assume the post since independence from Britain in 1983.

During the election campaign, the major parties focused on education, health care and job creation, as well as a proposal from Team Unity to exempt food and medicine from value added tax.

Note:
Team Unity comprised the People's Action Movement (PAM), the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) and the People's Labour Party (PLP). The PLP is a break away from the SKNLP that was launched in June 2013 by Mr. Harris and former Deputy Prime Minister Sam Condor. The governing coalition comprised the SKNLP and the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP).
Date of previous elections: 25 January 2010

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 16 January 2015

Timing of election: Upon normal expiry

Expected date of next elections: February 2020

Number of seats at stake: 11 (full renewal)

Number of candidates: 22 (21 men, 1 woman)

Percentage of women candidates: 4.5%

Number of parties contesting the election: 5

Number of parties winning seats: 5

Alternation of power: Yes

Number of parties in government: 3

Names of parties in government: People’s Labour Party (PLP), People’s Action Movement (PAM) and the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM)

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 14 May 2015

Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Franklin Brand
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 116 February 2015
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
42'185
30'455 (72.19%)

Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
People's Action Movement (PAM)
Labour Party (SKNLP)
Concerned Citizens' Movement (CCM)
People's Labour Party (PLP)
Nevis Reformation Party (NRP)
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats
People's Action Movement (PAM) 4
Labour Party (SKNLP) 3
Concerned Citizens' Movement (CCM) 2
People's Labour Party (PLP) 1
Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) 1
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
10

1

9.09%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Note:
The distribution of seats according to political parties only takes into account the 11 directly elected seats.
One woman was directly elected and another woman was appointed.
As at 26 May 2015, there were two women out of a total of 15 members: 11 directly elected, three appointed and one ex officio (the Attorney General).

Sources:
National Assembly (09.03.2015, 26.05.2015)
http://www.sknvibes.com/elections/elections_results_2015.cfm

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name National Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title Speaker of the National Assembly
Term - duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Assembly, Speaker's responsibility called into question
Appointment - elected by all Members of the Assembly
- election is held at the beginning of a new session after the general election
- before Members are sworn in
Eligibility - any Member of the Assembly or any suitable person may be a candidate
Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot
- majority of votes required
- if no person receives a majority of votes in the first round, but if two or more candidates receice an equal number of votes, subsequent ballots shall be held between these candidates only until one candidate is duly elected
Procedures / results - the Clerk presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the Clerk supervises the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay after the votes have been counted
STATUS
Status - represents the Assembly in international bodies such as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
- is ex officio Chairman of committees or other bodies
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions

Board
Material facilities - special allowance of $ 24120 per annum
- entertainment allowance of $ 1800 per annum
FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of request for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees
Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Assembly
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
Special powers - is responsible for establishing the Assembly's budget in consultation with the Ministry of Finance
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- appoints the Clerk
- organizes the services of Parliament
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber

Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes part in voting if he is an elected Member
- signs all laws passed in the House and submits them for publication

This page was last updated on 23 August 2018
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