Governor-General of Saint Lucia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor-General of Saint Lucia |
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Coat of arms of Saint Lucia
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| Viceroy | |
| Style | His Excellency |
| Residence | Government House, Saint Lucia |
| Appointer | Monarch of Saint Lucia
on the advice of the prime minister
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| Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure |
| Formation | 22 February 1979 |
| First holder | Sir Allen Montgomery Lewis |
| Salary | 36,112 USD annually |
The Governor-General of Saint Lucia (in Saint Lucian Creole French: Gouvènè Jennéwal Sent Lisi) is a very important person in Saint Lucia. They represent the King of Saint Lucia, who is currently King Charles III. The King appoints the Governor-General based on what the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia suggests.
The Governor-General has many duties. These include choosing ministers, judges, and ambassadors. They also approve new laws passed by the parliament. They also help start elections.
Generally, the Governor-General follows the rules of the Westminster system, which means they stay politically neutral. They always act on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Governor-General also has a special role in ceremonies. They host events at their official home, Government House, in the capital city of Castries. They also give awards to people who have done great things for Saint Lucia. When the Governor-General travels to other countries, they represent Saint Lucia and its King. A team of staff helps the Governor-General with their work.
Governors-General serve for as long as the King wishes. Since November 1, 2024, Sir Errol Charles has been the Governor-General. The role of Governor-General began on February 22, 1979. This was when Saint Lucia became an independent country from the United Kingdom. Since then, seven people have held this important position.
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How a Governor-General Is Chosen
The King of Saint Lucia officially appoints the Governor-General. When a new Governor-General is needed, the Prime Minister suggests a name to the King. Usually, the King agrees with this suggestion. At a special ceremony, the new Governor-General takes an oath to be loyal and to do their job well.
What the Governor-General Does
Saint Lucia is one of 15 countries in the Commonwealth of Nations that share the same King. Since the King lives mostly outside Saint Lucia, the Governor-General's main job is to do the King's duties for him. This means the Governor-General carries out their tasks for the government of Saint Lucia in the King's name. The Constitution of Saint Lucia explains the role of the Governor-General in its sections 19 to 22.
Important Constitutional Duties
The Governor-General is responsible for appointing the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. They also appoint the Chief Justice of Saint Lucia, members of the Senate, and other important government officials. The Constitution allows the Governor-General to make or cancel these appointments. They do this after careful discussion or advice.
The Governor-General, on behalf of the King, gives official approval to laws. These laws have already been passed by the Parliament of Saint Lucia.
Other important duties include declaring a State of Emergency if needed. They also call, pause, or end meetings of Parliament. They can also show mercy in certain legal cases. The Governor-General meets weekly with the Prime Minister to discuss important matters of the country. In some rare cases, the Governor-General can make decisions without or against the advice of ministers. These are called "reserve powers."
Ceremonial and Official Roles
The Governor-General has many ceremonial duties. They open new sessions of Parliament with a special speech. They also take part in the Independence Day Parade. They welcome visiting leaders from other countries. They also receive official papers from foreign diplomats. The Governor-General also gives awards to Saint Lucians who have done great service or shown bravery.
Community and Public Roles
The Governor-General leads the community in a way that is fair to everyone. They support many charities, sports groups, and cultural organizations. They attend events all over the country. The Governor-General also helps bring Saint Lucians together. They represent the country's identity, unity, and pride. This includes attending important national events like Independence Day and Remembrance Sunday. The Governor-General is also a patron for groups like the Saint Lucia National Trust and the Saint Lucia Red Cross.
Special Privileges
The Governor-General is the head of the Order of Saint Lucia. This special award system was created by Queen Elizabeth II in 1986.
Salary and Pay
The Governor-General receives a yearly salary of 36,112 US dollars.
Official Symbols
The Governor-General has their own special flag. It shows a lion on top of a royal crown. Below it, the words "Saint Lucia" are written on a scroll. All of this is on a blue background. This flag is flown on buildings and other places in Saint Lucia when the Governor-General is present.
Official Home
Government House in Castries is the official home of the Governor-General of Saint Lucia. This building dates back to 1895. It has been the official home and office for all Governors-General since Saint Lucia became independent in 1979.
Past Governors-General
Here is a list of the people who have served as Governor-General of Saint Lucia since the country became independent in 1979.
This color means they were acting Governors-General.
| No. | Picture | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Monarch (Reign) |
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| Started | Ended | Length of Time | ||||
| 1 |  |
Sir Allen Montgomery Lewis (1909–1993) |
February 22 1979 |
June 19 1980 |
1 year, 118 days | .jpg) Elizabeth II (1979–2022) |
| 2 | |
Boswell Williams (1926–2014) |
June 19 1980 |
December 12 1982 |
2 years, 176 days | |
| (1) | |
Sir Allen Montgomery Lewis (1909–1993) |
December 13 1982 |
April 30 1987 |
4 years, 138 days | |
| – | |
Vincent Floissac (1928–2010) Acting Governor-General |
April 30 1987 |
October 10 1988 |
1 year, 163 days | |
| 3 | |
Sir Stanislaus A. James (1919–2011) |
October 10 1988 |
June 1 1996 |
7 years, 235 days | |
| 4 |  |
Sir George Mallet (1923–2010) |
June 1 1996 |
September 17 1997 |
1 year, 108 days | |
| 5 | .jpg) |
Dame Pearlette Louisy (b. 1946) |
September 17 1997 |
December 31 2017 |
20 years, 105 days | |
| No one in office (January 1 – January 12, 2018) | ||||||
| 6 |  |
Sir Neville Cenac (b. 1939) |
January 12 2018 |
October 31 2021 |
3 years, 292 days | |
| No one in office (October 31 – November 11, 2021) | ||||||
| – |  |
Errol Charles (b. 1942) Acting Governor-General |
November 11 2021 |
October 31 2024 |
2 years, 355 days | |
.jpg) Charles III (2022–present) |
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| 7 | |
Sir Errol Charles (b. 1942) |
November 1 2024 |
Currently in office | 277 days | |
See Also
