Governor-General of Saint Lucia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor-General of Saint Lucia |
|
|---|---|
|
|
Coat of arms of Saint Lucia
|
|
| Viceroy | |
| Style | His Excellency |
| Residence | Government House, Saint Lucia |
| Appointer | Monarch of Saint Lucia
on the advice of the prime minister
|
| 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 is a very important person in the country. They act as the representative of the King of Saint Lucia, who is currently King Charles III. Think of them as the King's official stand-in for Saint Lucia.
The King chooses the Governor-General based on who the Prime Minister suggests. This job involves many duties, like choosing ministers (who run government departments), judges, and ambassadors. The Governor-General also gives final approval to new laws passed by the parliament. They also help start elections.
The Governor-General follows a system called the Westminster system, which means they usually stay out of politics. They always act on the advice of the Prime Minister. They also have 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, 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 11, 2021, Errol Charles has been the acting Governor-General. The job of Governor-General started on February 22, 1979. This was when Saint Lucia became an independent country from the United Kingdom. Since then, six people have held this important position.
Contents
How the Governor-General is Chosen
The Governor-General is officially appointed by the King of Saint Lucia. When it's time for a new Governor-General, the Prime Minister suggests a name to the King. Usually, the King agrees with this suggestion.
During a special ceremony, the new Governor-General takes two important promises. They promise to be loyal to the King and to do their job well.
What Does the Governor-General Do?
Saint Lucia shares its King with 14 other countries in the Commonwealth of Nations. Since the King lives mostly outside Saint Lucia, the Governor-General's main job is to carry out the King's duties in the country. This means the Governor-General performs their duties for the government of Saint Lucia on behalf of the King.
The rules for the Governor-General's job are written in Saint Lucia's Constitution.
Constitutional Duties
The Governor-General has many important duties related to the country's laws and government. They are responsible for choosing the Prime Minister, the Cabinet (a group of top government officials), and the Chief Justice of Saint Lucia. They also appoint members of the Senate (part of the parliament) and other senior government workers.
The Governor-General also gives the King's official approval, called royal assent, to new laws. These laws are first passed by the Parliament of Saint Lucia.
Other important duties include declaring a State of Emergency if needed. They also call for Parliament to meet, pause its meetings, or end them. The Governor-General can also show mercy in certain legal cases.
The Governor-General meets with the Prime Minister every week. They discuss important matters about the country and how it is being run. In some rare situations, the Governor-General can make decisions without or against the advice of ministers. These are called "reserve powers."
Ceremonial Duties
The Governor-General also has many ceremonial roles. They open new sessions of Parliament with a special speech called the Speech from the Throne. They also take part in the Independence Day Parade.
They welcome leaders from other countries who visit Saint Lucia. They also receive official papers from foreign diplomats (representatives from other countries). The Governor-General also gives out special awards to Saint Lucians who have done great service for their community or shown bravery.
Community Role
The Governor-General acts as a leader in the community, staying neutral in politics. They support many charities, sports groups, and cultural organizations. They attend events all over the country.
They also help bring Saint Lucians together and represent what makes the country special. In this role, the Governor-General helps build national identity and pride. They do this by attending important national events like Independence Day celebrations and Remembrance Sunday.
The Governor-General is a patron (a supporter) for various groups. These include the Saint Lucia National Trust, the Girl Guides Association of Saint Lucia, the Saint Lucia Red Cross, and the Saint Lucia School of Music.
Special Perks
The Governor-General is also the Chancellor of the Order of Saint Lucia. This is a special system of awards created by Queen Elizabeth II in 1986.
Salary
The Governor-General receives an annual salary of 36,112 US dollars.
Symbols
The Governor-General has their own special flag. It is blue and features a lion walking, topped with a royal crown. Below this, it says "Saint Lucia" on a scroll. 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 and office of the Governor-General of Saint Lucia. This building dates back to 1895. It has been the official residence for all Governors-General since Saint Lucia became independent in 1979.
Who Has Been Governor-General?
Here is a list of the people who have served as Governor-General of Saint Lucia since the country gained independence in 1979.
Denotes Acting Governors-General
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Monarch (Reign) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Vacant (January 1 – 12, 2018) | ||||||
| 6 |  |
Sir Neville Cenac (b. 1939) |
January 12 2018 |
October 31 2021 |
3 years, 292 days | |
| Vacant (October 31 – November 11, 2021) | ||||||
| – |  |
Errol Charles (b. 1941) Acting Governor-General |
November 11 2021 |
Still in office | 3 years, 226 days | |
.jpg) Charles III (2022–present) |
||||||
See also
