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.
- Education, Skills & Employment & Central Support Service Chief Minister Julie Thomas
- Safety, Security & Home Affairs Portfolio, Minister Jeffrey Ellick
- Treasury & Economic Development Portfolio, Minister Mark Brooks
- Environment, Natural Resources & Planning Portfolio, Minister Christine Scipio
- Health and Social Care Portfolio, Minister Martin Henry
Education, Skills & Employment & Central Support Service,
Chief Minister Julie Thomas
julie.thomas@sainthelena.gov.sh
Contact: 22470/22607
Declaration of interest & biography
Treasury & Economic Development Portfolio
Minister Mark Brooks
mark.brooks@sainthelena.gov.sh
Contact: 66295
Declaration of interest & biography
Environment, Natural Resources & Planning Portfolio
Minister Christine Scipio
christine.scipio@sainthelena.gov.sh
Contact: 24724
Declaration of interest & biography
Safety, Security & Home Affairs Portfolio
Minister Jeffrey Ellick
jeffrey.ellick@sainthelena.gov.sh
Contact: 25869
Declaration of interest & biography
Health and Social Care Portfolio
Minister Martin Henry
martin.henry@sainthelena.gov.sh
Contact: 62909
Declaration of interest & biography
Speaker & Deputy Speaker
Cyril Gunnell
ferdie@helanta.co.sh
Contact: 22544
Declaration of interest & biography
Catherine Cranfield
DeputySpeaker.ccranfield@gmail.com
Contact: 24730
Declaration of interest & biography
Councillors
Robert Midwinter
cllr.midwinter@helanta.co.sh
Contact: 51500
Declaration of interest & biography
Karl Thrower
Karl.thrower@shgcouncil.com
Select Committee 2 – Member
Public Accounts Committee – Member
Betty Knipe
cllr.elizabethknipe1@helanta.co.sh
Declaration of interest & biography
Select Committee 1 – Member
Ronald Coleman
Ronald.Coleman@helanta.co.sh
Declaration of interest & biography
Select Committee 1 – Member
Dr Corinda Essex
cs.essex@helanta.co.sh
Declaration of interest & biography