Composition of Parliament

The word Parliament comes from a French word ‘parlement’ which signifies a place of speaking. Parliament therefore is essentially a place of speaking.

The Parliament of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is modelled on that of the British Parliament.  However, whereas Britain has two Houses of Parliament: the House of Commons and the House of Lords, which together with the Queen, make up Parliament; our Parliament is comprised of the House of Assembly and the Governor-General.

At present the House of Assembly consists of a total of twenty-three members. These include fifteen (15) elected members (Representatives), six (6) Senators, the Attorney-General and the Speaker of the House.  The membership of the House may vary,  because, as is the case now, the Attorney-General, who is a Public Servant, and the Speaker of the House, may be elected from outside of the House.  In any case they are always regarded as members of the House.