Legislative Council
St Helena is governed within a democratic system where the people of St Helena elect eligible members of the public to represent them in Legislative Council (LegCo). The St Helena Legislative Council comprises 12 Elected Members, a Speaker, a Deputy Speaker and the Attorney General who is an ex-officio Member of the Legislative Council. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected to office by the 12 Elected Members following a General Election.An ex-officio Member of the Legislative Council may not vote.
The system of governance reflects a Ministerial system. A Chief Minister is selected by secret ballot from amongst the 12 Elected Members. The Chief Minister then recommends to the Governor the appointment of 4 Ministers and together they form the Executive Council which advises the Governor on strategic government policy. The Attorney General is an ex-officio Member of the Executive Council also and may not vote.
Legislative Council members are the Law Makers of St Helena and meet formally in ‘the House’ to discuss important issues affecting the people of St Helena and decide ways on how they can be addressed.
Councillors may be contacted directly (see full list here) or through the Legislative Office Team Leader/Clerk of Councils on email: anita.legg@sainthelena.gov.sh or telephone (00290) 22590.
Ministers
Each Minister will exercise general direction and policy control over departments assigned to them subject to the policies of Government.
- Treasury and Central Support Services Chief Minister Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks
- Environment, Natural Resources & Planning Portfolio, and Economic Development Portfolio, Minister Karl Thrower
- Education, Skills and Employment Minister Andrew Turner
- Safety, Security and Home Affairs Portfolio, Minister Gillian Brooks
- Health and Social Care Portfolio, Minister Martin Henry
Treasury & Central Support Services
Chief Minister Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks
rebecca.cairns-wicks@sainthelena.gov.sh
Contact: 22470
Environment, Natural Resources & Planning Portfolio and Economic Development Portfolio
Minister Karl Thrower
Karl.Thrower@sainthelena.gov.sh
Contact: 24724 / 25920
Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio
Minister Andrew Turner
andrew.turner@sainthelena.gov.sh
Contact: 22607
Safety, Security & Home Affairs Portfolio
Minister Gillian Brooks
gillian.brooks@sainthelena.gov.sh
Contact: 25841
Health and Social Care Portfolio
Minister Martin Henry
martin.henry@sainthelena.gov.sh
Contact: 22500 / 62909
Speaker & Deputy Speaker
Speaker – Maureen Thompson
maureen.thompson@parliament.sh
Contact: 22590 / 22088
Deputy Speaker – Connie Johnson
connie.johnson@parliament.sh
Contact: 22590 / 23840
Councillors
Robert Midwinter – St. Pauls
robert.midwinter@parliament.sh
Contact: 51500 Chairperson of Select Committee 1
Julie Thomas – Alarm Forest
julie.thomas@parliament.sh
Contact: 61920
Derek Thomas – Half Tree Hollow
derek.thomas@parliament.sh
Contact: 23647 / 66907 Public Accounts Committee Member
Clint Beard – Blue Hill & Sandy Bay
clint.beard@parliament.sh
Contact: 22351 / 64837 Public Accounts Committee Member
Ronald Coleman – Levelwood
ronald.coleman@parliament.sh Contact: 24250
Dr Corinda Essex – Jamestown
corinda.essex@parliament.sh Contact: 22038 Public Accounts Committee Member Chairperson of Select Committee 2