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: connie.johnson@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, Chief Minister Julie Thomas
- Safety, Security & Home Affairs Portfolio, Minister Jeffrey Ellick
- Treasury, Infrastructure & Sustainable Development Portfolio, Minister Mark Brooks
- Environment, Natural Resources & Planning Portfolio, Minister Christine Scipio
- Health and Social Care Portfolio, Minister Martin Henry
Chief Minister Julie Thomas
julie.thomas@sainthelena.gov.sh
Minister Mark Brooks
mark.brooks@sainthelena.gov.sh
Minister Christine Scipio
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christine.scipio@sainthelena.gov.sh
Minister Jeffrey Ellick
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jeffrey.ellick@sainthelena.gov.sh
Minister Martin Henry
martin.henry@sainthelena.gov.sh
Speaker & Deputy Speaker
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Speaker.cgunnell@helanta.co.sh
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DeputySpeaker.ccranfield@gmail.com
Councillors
cllr.midwinter@helanta.co.sh
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Select Committee 1 – Chair
Liberated African Advisory Committee – Elected Member Representative
St Helena Research Institute – Elected Member Representative
Cruise Ship and Yacht Race Working Group – Elected Member Representative
Agricultural Strategy Working Group – Elected Member Representative
councillor.aturner@gmail.com
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Chair of Employment Rights Committee
Member of Select Committee 2
Member of Tax and Revenue Working Group
LegCo Rep on National Trust Council
councillor.gbrooks@helanta.co.sh
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Select Committee 1 – Member
Elderly Person’s Champion
Highways authority – Member
St Helena representative on the British Island’s Mediterranean Region (BIMR) Steering Committee;
Public Accounts Committee- Member
Karl.thrower@shgcouncil.com
Select Committee 2 – Member
Public Accounts Committee – Member
councillor.rbargo@helanta.co.sh
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Select Committee 1 – Member
Children’s Champion
Safe Guarding Board – Member St Helena representative on the British Island’s Mediterranean Region (BIMR) Steering Committee;
Anti-Social Behaviour Working Group – Member
Ronald.Coleman@helanta.co.sh
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Select Committee 1 – Member
cs.essex@helanta.co.sh
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Select Committee 2 – Chair
Public Accounts Committee – Member
To stand as a candidate for LegCo you must be over the age of 21 years and meet certain criteria (which can be viewed in the 2009 Constitution of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha).
To vote in the Elections you must be aged 17 and over, registered on the Electoral Roll and also meet certain criteria (also found in the Constitution).Standing Orders for Legislative Council Meeting