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 NA)
head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July
1984)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by
the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the
governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15
elected representatives and 6 appointed senators; representatives
are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 15 June 1998 (next to be held by NA May 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NDP 8,
ULP 7
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint
Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent
Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party or NDP [James
Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS,
OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C. A. LAYNE
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the Ambassador to Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)