Politics of Saint Helena

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See also: Politics of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Politics of Saint Helena
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Politics of Saint Helena takes place in a framework of limited self-government as a dependent territory of the United Kingdom, whereby the Governor is the head of government. Saint Helena, an island in the southern Atlantic Ocean, is a part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.

It has had its present constitution since 1 September 2009. Executive power is exercised by the Governor and the Executive Council. Legislative power is vested in both the Governor and the Legislative Council. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Military defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom.

Saint Helena had until 2009 two dependencies: Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha. These territories have their own political structures with Administrators under the Governor of Saint Helena. They are now equal parts of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha along with St Helena itself.

Executive branch[]

Main office holders
Office Name Party Since
Monarch Elizabeth II 6 February 1952
Governor and Commander-in-Chief Philip Rushbrook 11 May 2019[1]

The Executive Council consists of the Governor, three ex officio officers (one, the Attorney General, having no vote), and five elected members of the Legislative Council. The monarch is the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom and is hereditary; the Governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government. The Chief Secretary is the main advisor to the Governor on the island and runs the administrative side of the government, which is based at The Castle in the capital, Jamestown.

Currently, the five elected members of the Legislative Council (along with the committees they were selected to chair on) who now serves on the Executive Council are:[2]

  1. Lawson Arthur Henry (Economic Development Committee)
  2. Christine Scipio-O’Dean (Education Committee)
  3. Derek Franklin Thomas (Public Health Committee)
  4. Anthony Green (Social and Community)
  5. Russell Yon (Environment & Natural)

In January 2013 it was proposed that the Executive Council would be led by a "Chief Councillor" who would be elected by the members of the Legislative Council and would nominate the other members of the Executive Council.[3][4] These proposals were put to a referendum on 23 March 2013 where they were defeated by 158 votes to 42 on a 10% turnout.[citation needed]

Legislative branch[]

The Legislative Council has 15 members, 12 members elected for a four-year term by popular vote and 3 members ex officio. This arrangement gives the governing of Saint Helena an aspect of representative democracy.

Political parties and elections[]

Saint Helena, along with both Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha, does not have any active political parties, but no law forbids the formation of political parties; hence, the territory is a de facto non-partisan democracy. The Saint Helena Labour Party and Saint Helena Progressive Party existed until 1976.

In the most recent general election, the twelve elected members are:[5]

  1. Russell Keith Yon (753 votes)
  2. Corinda Sebastiana Stuart Essex (742 votes)*
  3. Derek Franklin Thomas (668 votes)*
  4. Brian William Isaac (631 votes)*
  5. Lawson Arthur Henry (568 votes)*
  6. Cyril Kenneth Leo (561 votes)
  7. Clint Richard Beard (513 votes)
  8. Anthony Arthur Green (476 votes)
  9. Cruyff Gerard Buckley (471 votes)*
  10. Kylie Marie Hercules (460 votes)
  11. Gavin George Ellick (458 votes)*
  12. Christine Lilian Scipio-O’Dean (392 votes)*
An asterisk (*) denotes a sitting incumbent MLC who was duly re-elected.

Judicial branch[]

The territory has four courts of its own:

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, in London, is the final court of appeal for the territory however, as is the case with all other British overseas territories.

International organization participation[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha - Philip Rushbrook". GOV.UK.
  2. ^ "Councils/Committees". St. Helena Government. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Improving Democracy and Accountability" (PDF). Government of St Helena. January 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Constitutional Reform: A Chief Councillor?". Government of St Helena. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  5. ^ "General Election 2017 – Results". St. Helena Government. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
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