Constitution: 27 October 1979
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General David JACK (since 29 September 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July
1984); Deputy Prime Minister Parnel CAMPBELL (since NA February 1994);
note - governor general appoints leader of the majority party to
position of prime minister
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Assembly: elections last held 21 February 1994 (next to be
held NA July 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21
total, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators) NDP 12,
ULP 3
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint
Lucia)
Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party (NDP), James
MITCHELL (son of Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL); United People's
Movement (UPM), Adrian SAUNDERS; National Reform Party (NRP), Joel
MIGUEL; Unity Labor Party (ULP),Vincent BEACHE - formed by the
coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party (SVLP) and the Movement for
National Unity (MNU)
Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C.A. LAYNE
chancery: 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 102, Washington, DC
20036
telephone: [1] (202) 462-7806, 7846
FAX: [1] (202) 462-7807
US diplomatic representation: no official presence since the
Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)