Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis |
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Coat of arms of Saint Kitts and Nevis
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| Style | Her Excellency |
| Residence | Government House, Basseterre |
| Appointer | Monarch of Saint Kitts and Nevis
on the advice of the prime minister
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| Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure |
| Formation | 19 September 1983 |
| First holder | Sir Clement Arrindell |
| Salary | EC$138,000 annually |
The Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis is a very important person in the country. They act as the representative of the King of Saint Kitts and Nevis, who is currently King Charles III. The Governor-General is appointed to this role.
The current Governor-General is Marcella Liburd. She lives in a special building called Government House in Basseterre. This house is her official home while she is in office.
Contents
What is the Governor-General's Role?
The job of the Governor-General is set up by the country's main rule book, called the Constitution. Section 21 of the Constitution says that the King appoints the Governor-General. This person serves for as long as the King wishes. To be the Governor-General, a person must be a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Who Has Been Governor-General?
Here is a list of the people who have served as Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis. This role started when the country became independent in 1983.
This means they were acting as Governor-General for a short time.
| No. | Picture | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Monarch (Years on Throne) |
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| Started | Ended | How Long | ||||
| 1 | Sir Clement Arrindell (1931–2011) |
September 19 1983 |
December 31 1995 |
12 years, 103 days | .jpg) Elizabeth II  (1983–2022) |
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| 2 |  |
Sir Cuthbert Sebastian (1921–2017) |
January 1 1996 |
January 1 2013 |
17 years, 0 days | |
| 3 |  |
Sir Edmund Lawrence (b. 1932) |
January 2 2013 |
May 19 2015 |
2 years, 137 days | |
| – |  |
Tapley Seaton (1950–2023) Acting Governor-General |
May 19 2015 |
September 2 2015 |
106 days | |
| 4 | |
Sir Tapley Seaton (1950–2023) |
September 2 2015 |
January 31 2023 |
7 years, 151 days | |
.jpg) Charles III (2022–present) |
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| 5 |  |
Dame Marcella Liburd (b. 1953) |
February 1 2023 |
Still in Office | 2 years, 149 days | |
What Does the Governor-General Do?
The Constitution of Saint Kitts and Nevis explains the powers and duties of the Governor-General. These rules are found in Chapter III, Sections 21 to 24.
When the Governor-General is Away
If the Governor-General's office is empty, or if the person holding the job is away from Saint Kitts and Nevis, someone else steps in. The King appoints this temporary person to do the job. This temporary person stops working when the main Governor-General returns or is ready to take over again.
Having a Deputy Governor-General
Sometimes, the Governor-General might need help or be away for a short time. In these cases, they can appoint a "deputy" to help them.
- If the Governor-General is away from the main government office but still in the country, or if they are away from Saint Kitts and Nevis for a short time, they can choose someone to be their deputy. This deputy performs specific duties for them.
- There is also a special Deputy Governor-General appointed for the island of Nevis. This person helps with duties related to Nevis, like approving laws passed by the Nevis Island Assembly.
The Governor-General's main powers are not changed by having a deputy. The deputy must follow the Governor-General's instructions.
Taking an Oath
Before anyone can start working as the Governor-General or a deputy, they must take two important oaths. These are the oath of allegiance (promising loyalty) and the oath of office (promising to do their job well).
See also
- List of colonial governors and administrators of Saint Christopher
- List of colonial governors and administrators of Nevis
- List of prime ministers of Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Attorney General of Saint Kitts and Nevis
