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Parliament name Houses of Parliament More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 2018 - LEADERSHIP President Andy Daniel (M)  Notes Sworn in on 20 March 2018. Secretary General Lyndell Gustave (F)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 18 / 18 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 3 (16.67%) Mode of designation directly elected 17 other 1 Notes Other: the Speaker may be designated from outside parliament and becomes a member of parliament by virtue of holding the office of Speaker. Term 5 years Last renewal dates 6 June 2016 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address House of Assembly Parliament Office Laborie Street Castries Saint Lucia, West Indies (Export mailing lists) Phone (1 758) 468 3959 468 3917 Fax (1 758) 452 5451 E-mail parliamentslu@yahoo.co.uk Website http://www.govt.lc/house-of-assembly

Parliament name Houses of Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 1 January 1900 Mode of designation directly elected 17 other 1 Constituencies 17 single-member constituencies. Voting system Majority: Simple majority vote (first past the post). Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections held within three months of the occurrence of the vacancy. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - British Commonwealth citizenship - residence in Saint Lucia - disqualifications: insanity, imprisonment, death sentence, conviction for electoral offences CANDIDATES Eligibility - qualified electors - age: 21 years - British Commonwealth citizenship - birth in Saint Lucia - domicile and residence in the country on the date of nomination (or birth elsewhere with residency in the country for a period of 12 months immediately before that date) - ability to speak and - unless incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause - to read the English language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to take an active part in the proceedings of the House - ineligibilities: allegiance to a foreign State, undischarged bankruptcy, insanity, death sentence, imprisonment exceeding 12 months Incompatibilities - ministers of religion Candidacy requirements - support by at least six registered electors - deposit of 250 East Caribbean dollars, reimbursed if the candidate obtains at least 1/8 of the votes cast in the constituency

Parliament name Houses of Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 6 June 2016 Timing and scope of renewal The United Workers Party (UWP), now led by former tourism minister Allen Chastanet, regained power after four years in opposition, taking 11 of the 17 seats. Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), who was seeking a fourth term in office, conceded defeat and announced that he would not be the Leader of the opposition in the new House of Assembly. Mr. Chastanet was sworn in as Prime Minister on 7 June. Elections were not constitutionally required until April 2017 but the Prime Minister called early elections in May, stating that they were needed to ensure "peace, stability and certainty" in the country. During the election campaign, the major parties focused on measures to stimulate the economy, reducing unemployment and tax reforms, including the reduction of the VAT. Date of previous elections: 28 November 2011 Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 19 May 2016 Timing of election: Early elections Expected date of next elections: June - October 2021* *The term of the house is five years from the first session. General Elections are constitutionally due for the latest, three months after the first sitting of Parliament. Number of seats at stake: 17 (full renewal) Number of candidates: 39 (33 men, 6 women) Percentage of women candidates: 15.4% Number of parties contesting the election: 3 Number of parties winning seats: 2 Alternation of power: Yes Number of parties in government: 1 Names of parties in government: United Workers Party (UWP) Date of the first session of the new parliament: 12 July 2016 Name of the new Speaker: Ms. Leonne Theodore-John (United Workers Party, UWP) STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 6 June 2016 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 160'465 Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes United Workers Party (UWP) Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats United Workers Party (UWP) 11 Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) 6 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 15 3 16.67% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Note: The 'Distribution of seats' above refers to the 17 directly elected members. The 'Distribution of seats according to sex' refers to all 18 members of the House of Assembly (17 directly elected members and the Speaker). Ms. Leonne Theodore-John, who was not one of the directly elected members, became a member of the House by virtue of her election as Speaker. Sources: House of Assembly (13.06.2016) http://elections.gov.lc/ http://elections.gov.lc/map-seat.php http://www.govt.lc/ http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/ http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com

Parliament name Houses of Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Speaker of the House of Assembly Term - duration: 5 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution Appointment - elected by all the Members of the Assembly who are present - election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Assembly or when a vacancy occurs - before Members are sworn in Eligibility - any Member of the Assembly (except a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary) or any qualified person can be a candidate - candidatures must be submitted by a third party who is himself a Member of the Assembly - candidatures must be seconded by another Member of the Assembly Voting system - if only one candidature is submitted : the candidate is elected without a vote or debate - if several candidatures are submitted : a secret ballot is taken for each candidates in the order of their registration until one of them is elected. Procedures / results - the Clerk presides over the Assembly during the voting - the Clerk announces the results without any delay STATUS Status - in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker (or any other Member elected for that sitting) can assume his/her role and functions Board Material facilities FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions, in exceptional case only - organises the debates and sets speaking time - examines the admissibility of questions, petitions, bills and amendments Chairing of public sittings - can open and close sittings, within the framework of the Standing Orders - can suspend sittings for short periods - 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 (the Member who catches the Speaker's eye would have the floor) 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 - interprets the rules of other regulations governing the life of the Assembly Special powers - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Assembly Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes part in voting, only if he/she has been elected at the Assembly and only in the case of a tied vote

This page was last updated on 10 April 2018
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