Brown pelican, royal poinciana (flamboyant) tree.
| Title | |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music |
| Date of Independence | 19 September 1983 (from the UK) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day, 19 September (1983) |
| Legal system | English common law |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Several previous (pre-independence); latest presented 22 June 1983, effective 23 June 1983 |
| Amendment process | Proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and assent of the governor general; amendments to constitutional provisions such as the sovereignty of the federation, fundamental rights and freedoms, the judiciary, and the Nevis Island Assembly also require approval in a referendum by at least two thirds of the votes cast in Saint Kitts and in Nevis |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | yes |
| Citizenship by descent only | yes |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 14 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Marcella LIBURD (since 1 February 2023) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Dr. Terrance DREW (since 6 August 2022) |
| Cabinet | Cabinet appointed by governor general in consultation with prime minister |
| Election/appointment process | the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by governor general |
| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature name | National Assembly |
| Legislative structure | Unicameral |
| Number of seats | 16 (11 directly elected; 4 appointed) |
| Electoral system | Plurality/majority |
| Scope of elections | Full renewal |
| Term in office | 5 years |
| Most recent election date | 8/5/2022 |
| Parties elected and seats per party | St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) (6); Concerned Citizens' Movement (CCM) (3); Peoples Labour Party (PLP) (1); People's Action Movement (PAM) (1) |
| Percentage of women in chamber | 31.3% |
| Expected date of next election | October 2027 |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice |
| Judge selection and term of office | Chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62 |
| Subordinate courts | Magistrates' courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Jacinth HENRY-MARTIN (since 15 September 2023) |
| Chancery | 1203 19th St. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20036 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 686-2636 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 686-5740 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] Embassy of St.Kitts and Nevis to the USA – and Permanent Mission to the OAS (embassydc.gov.kn) |
| Consulate(s) general | Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Embassy | The US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 1 (cultural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park |
Want to know more about Saint Kitts and Nevis? Check all different factbooks for Saint Kitts and Nevis below.
Saint Kitts and Nevis Factbook
The Economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Learn about the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Communication in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Popular Universities in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Enerny in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Transport in Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Geography and society of Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Environment of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Military and security in Saint Kitts and Nevis