Politics of Anguilla

Politics of Anguilla takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the Chief Minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Anguilla, the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, is an internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The United Nations Committee on Decolonization includes Anguilla on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. The territory's constitution is Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982 (amended 1990). Executive power is exercised by the Chief Minister and the Executive Council. Legislative power is vested in both the Executive Council and the House of Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Military defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom.

Executive branch

Main office holders

Office	Name	Party	Since
Monarch	Elizabeth II		6 February 1952
Governor	Christina Scott		23 July 2013
Chief Minister	Victor Banks	AUF	23 April 2015
Other government party		AUM

The chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly His cabinet, the Executive Council is appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly.

Legislative branch

Anguilla elects on territorial level a legislature. The House of Assembly has 11 members, 7 members elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies, 2 ex officio members and 2 nominated members. The suffrage is from 18 years. Anguilla has a multi-party system.

Political parties and elections

 Summary of the 15 February 2010 House of Assembly of Anguilla election results

Parties	Votes	%	Seats
Anguilla United Front Anguilla National Alliance Anguilla Democratic Party	2,781	39.37	2
Anguilla United Movement	2,308	32.68	4
Anguilla Progressive Party	1,039	14.71	1
Independents	935	13.24	—
Appointed members	—	—	4
Total (turnout 81.5%)	7,063	100	11
Source: Elections Anguilla

Judicial branch

The courts of Anguilla are:

• The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London; this is Anguilla's final appeal court.
• The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, including:
  • the Court of Appeal, and
  • the High Court, based in Anguilla.
• Anguilla's domestic courts (which enjoy appeals to the Court of Appeal), including:
  • the Magistrates' Court, and
  • the Juvenile Court.^[1]

The ECSC High Court Judge based in Anguilla is The Hon. Louise Blenman.^[2]

International relations

Anguilla is a member of CARICOM (associate), CDB, International Criminal Police Organization - Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate) and ECLAC (associate)

External links

• Official website of the government of Anguilla

References

1. "Anguillan criminal court system". Association of Commonwealth Criminal Lawyers. Retrieved 2010-12-25.
2. The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court page for Anguilla Archived March 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.