List of prime ministers of Saint Kitts and Nevis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis |
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Coat of arms of Saint Kitts and Nevis
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| Style | Mr Prime Minister (informal) The Honourable (informal) The Right Honourable (within the Commonwealth) His Excellency (diplomatic) |
| Appointer | Governor-General |
| Term length | No term limit |
| Formation | 19 September 1983 |
| First holder | Kennedy Simmonds |
| Deputy | Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis |
| Salary | EC$137,280/US$ 50,844 annually |
The Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis is the main leader of the government for the country, which is also known as the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis. This important role is like being the chief executive, guiding the nation's policies and decisions. The current Prime Minister is Terrance Drew, who took office on 6 August 2022.
Contents
How the Prime Minister is Chosen
The job of Prime Minister is set up by section 52 of the constitution of Saint Kitts and Nevis. This part of the constitution explains how the leader is chosen.
The Governor-General's Role
The Governor-General is a representative of the King or Queen. They must choose a person from the National Assembly. This person needs to have the support of most of the other representatives. This means they are the leader of the political party that won the most seats in the election.
What Happens if There's No Confidence?
Sometimes, the National Assembly might vote that they no longer trust the Prime Minister. This is called a "no-confidence motion." If this vote passes, the Prime Minister has a few choices. They must either resign within three days or ask the Governor-General to call a new general election. If the Prime Minister does not do one of these things, the Governor-General can remove them from office. The Prime Minister also loses their job if they are no longer a member of the National Assembly.
Past Leaders: Chief Ministers (1960–1967)
Before Saint Kitts and Nevis became fully independent, its top leaders were called Chief Ministers. This was during the time when Elizabeth II was the Queen.
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Political party | Election | ||
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| 1 | Paul Southwell (1913–1979) |
1 January 1960 | July 1966 | 6 years, 6 months | SKNLP | 1961 | |
| 2 | Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw (1916–1978) |
July 1966 | 27 February 1967 | 7 months | SKNLP | 1966 |
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Past Leaders: Premiers (1967–1983)
After the Chief Ministers, the leaders were called Premiers. This period also took place under Queen Elizabeth II.
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Political party | Election | ||
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| 1 | Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw (1916–1978) |
27 February 1967 | 23 May 1978 † | 11 years, 85 days | SKNLP | 1971 1975 |
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| 2 | Paul Southwell (1913–1979) |
23 May 1978 | 18 May 1979 † | 360 days | SKNLP | — | |
| 3 | Lee Moore (1939–2000) |
20 May 1979 | 21 February 1980 | 277 days | SKNLP | — | |
| 4 | Kennedy Simmonds (born 1936) |
21 February 1980 | 19 September 1983 | 3 years, 210 days | PAM | 1980 |
Prime Ministers (1983–Present)
Saint Kitts and Nevis became a fully independent country in 1983. From that point on, the head of government has been called the Prime Minister.
Prime Ministers Under Queen Elizabeth II (1983–2022)
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Political party | Election | ||
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| 1 | Kennedy Simmonds (born 1936) |
19 September 1983 | 7 July 1995 | 11 years, 291 days | PAM | 1984 1989 1993 |
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| 2 | Denzil Douglas (born 1953) |
7 July 1995 | 18 February 2015 | 19 years, 226 days | SKNLP | 1995 2000 2004 2010 |
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| 3 | Timothy Harris (born 1964) |
18 February 2015 | 6 August 2022 | 7 years, 169 days | PLP | 2015 2020 |
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| 4 | Terrance Drew (born 1976) |
6 August 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 354 days | SKNLP | 2022 |
Prime Ministers Under King Charles III (2022–Present)
After the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, King Charles III became the new monarch. The Prime Minister continues to serve under the new King.
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Political party | Election | ||
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| 4 | Terrance Drew (born 1976) |
6 August 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 354 days | SKNLP | 2022 |
Timeline of Prime Ministers
This timeline shows how long each Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis has lived and served in office. It helps us see their time as leaders.
Related Topics
- Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Premier of Nevis
See also
In Spanish: Primer ministro de San Cristóbal y Nieves para niños
