Your Council | St Helena Government

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

Education, Skills & Employment,
**Chief Minister Julie Thomas**
julie.thomas@sainthelena.gov.sh

Treasury, Infrastructure & Sustainable Development Portfolio
**Minister Mark Brooks**
mark.brooks@sainthelena.gov.sh

Environment, Natural Resources & Planning Portfolio
**Minister Christine Scipio**
click on image for Bio
christine.scipio@sainthelena.gov.sh

Safety, Security & Home Affairs Portfolio
**Minister Jeffrey Ellick**
click on image for Bio
jeffrey.ellick@sainthelena.gov.sh

Health and Social Care Portfolio
**Minister Martin Henry**
martin.henry@sainthelena.gov.sh

Speaker & Deputy Speaker

Cyril Gunnell
Speaker.cgunnell@helanta.co.sh

Catherine Cranfield
click on image for Bio
DeputySpeaker.ccranfield@gmail.com

Councillors

*Robert Midwinter*
cllr.midwinter@helanta.co.sh
*click on image for Bio*

*Andrew Turner*
councillor.aturner@gmail.com
*Chair of Employment Rights Committee*
*Member of Select Committee 2*
*Member of Tax and Revenue Working Group*
*LegCo Rep on National Trust Council*

Gillian Brooks
councillor.gbrooks@helanta.co.sh
click on image for Bio

Karl Thrower
Karl.thrower@shgcouncil.com

Rosemary Bargo
councillor.rbargo@helanta.co.sh
click on image for Bio
Children’s Champion
A member of the Safe Guarding Board and the Anti-Social Behaviour Working Group

Ronald Coleman
Ronald.Coleman@helanta.co.sh

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