St Helena is governed within a democratic system where the people of St Helena elect members of the public to represent them in Legislative Council (LegCo).
Following a General Election in October 2022, the system of governance changed from a Council Committee system to a Ministerial system, to allow for the election of a Chief Minister by secret ballot from amongst the 12 Elected Members.
The Chief Minister then recommends to the Governor the appointment of 4 Minsters and together they form the Executive Council.
Part of the remit of the seven Elected Members of Legislative Council who are not Ministers will be to examine and scrutinise the performance of sectors of government through Select Committees. This will include scrutinising the decision making of Ministers and contribute to ensuring the effective use of public funds.
Select Committees
Select Committee 1
Is responsible for the following sectors of Government
Health and Social Care,
Environment, Natural Resources and Planning, and
Education, Skills and Employment;
Chairman, Hon Robert Midwinter
Member, Hon Gillian Brooks
Member, Hon Ronald Coleman
Member, Hon Elizabeth Knipe
Secretary, Marita Bagley
Order Papers
- SC1 H&SC Provision of Facilities and Services Session 1 Live Evidence Hearing
- SC1 H&SC Provision of Facilities and Services Session 2 Live Evidence Hearing
- SC1 HSC Response to EHRC Report
- EHRC Report Submission as Evidence
- Letter submitted by Constituent as Evidence
- Sessional Paper 37/2025 SC1 Report on Health & Social Care 17 June 2025
- Sessional Paper 36/2025 SC1 HSC 6mnth progress Report on Fisheries
- SC1 ENRP Report to Implement Agriculture Recommendations (6mnth progress report at April 2025
- SC1 ENRP Report to Implement Fisheries Recommendations (6mnth Progress report at April 2025)
- Live Hearing Order Paper Paper 19 May 2025
- SC1 Live Hearing Transcription – 24-03-2025 – EHRC Report
- 2024-03-06 SC1 Live Hearing Transcript – Farming Review
- 2023-08-09 SC1 Live Hearing Transcript – Fisheries A Cross Function Review
- 2025-03-24 Select Committee 1 of Legislative Council Order Paper Third Live Evidence Hearing – Equality & Human Rights Commission Report
- SP 31/2023 (Hon Robert Midwinter) Select Committee 1 – Report to Legislative Council on the First Meeting of Select Committee 1, published on 12 September 2023 – Fisheries: A Cross-Functional Review
- SP 39/2024 (Hon Robert Midwinter) St Helena Legislative Council – Report to Legislative Council on the Second Meeting of Select Committee 1, published on 2 July 2024 – Farming Support, Land Use Review and Poultry Production (Day old chicks/incubation unit)
- SP 40/2024 (Hon Robert Midwinter) St Helena Legislative Council – Select Committee 1 – Environment Natural Resources & Planning progress report to implement Fisheries recommendations (Progress at September 2024) and Health & Social Care progress report to implement Fisheries recommendations (Progress at September 2024)
- SP 41/2024 (Hon Robert Midwinter) St Helena Legislative Council – Select Committee 1 – Environment Natural Resources & Planning progress report to implement Farming recommendations (Progress at September 2024)
Select Committee 2
Is responsible for the following sectors of Government
Treasury, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development, and
Safety, Security and Home Affairs.
Chairperson, Hon Dr Corinda Essex
Member, Hon Karl Thrower
Member, Hon Andrew Turner
Secretary, Morgan Thomas-Henry
Order Papers
Select Committee 2 Formal Session
- Sessional Paper 40/2025 Response to SC2 Report on Roads
- Sessional Paper 39/2025 SC2 Report on Roads 30 April 2025
- Live Hearing Order Paper 03/2025 – Third live Evidence Hearing of the Select Committee 2 of Legislative Council
- Sessional Paper 06/2025 – SHG Response to Select Committee 2 Report on Social Housing
- Sessional Paper 05/2025 Report to LegCo – Select Committee 2 Social Housing
- SP 19/2024 (Hon Dr Corinda Essex) St Helena Legislative Council – Select Committee 2 – Report to Legislative Council on the First Meeting of Select Committee 2, published on 4 December 2023 – Disposal of St Helena Government Assets (Excluding Lands and Buildings)
- SP 23/2024 (Hon Dr Corinda Essex) St Helena Legislative Council – Select Committee 2 – Additional Reponses pertaining to the Report to Legislative Council on the First Meeting of Select Committee 2, published on 4 December 2023 – Disposal of St Helena Government Assets (Excluding Lands and Buildings)