Who runs local government in Saint Kitts and Nevis?
Saint Kitts and Nevis is a two-island federation. Saint Kitts has no local government and is run by the federal government. Nevis has its own island government, the Nevis Island Administration, with an elected Assembly and a Premier, protected by Chapter X of the Constitution and with the right to leave the federation by referendum.
Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis · Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy · Caribbean
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Nevis Island Assembly and Administration | 5 elected members and 3 appointed; the Premier is appointed by the governor-general as the leader of the majority | Laws for Nevis on airports and seaports, education, health, fisheries, welfare and labour; local taxes. |
| Parishes (14: 9 on Saint Kitts, 5 on Nevis) | No councils | Administrative units only. |
Three questions about local power in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Are local leaders elected?
Nevis Island Assembly members are elected; there is no elected local body on Saint Kitts.
Which laws set up local government?
The Nevis Island Administration is in the Constitution. Parish structures are administrative.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Nevisian voters; the Nevis Assembly can, under strict conditions, start the process of secession.
Traditional and customary authority
There is no traditional authority. Churches have a social role but no legal powers.
Community and neighbourhood power
Village and community groups, sports clubs and churches organise local activities and deal with MPs and ministries directly.
Points to know
- Nevis can leave the federation if two-thirds of the Nevis Island Assembly and two-thirds of voters in a Nevis referendum agree. A 1998 referendum won about 62%, just short of the required two-thirds.
- Nevis receives a share of federal money in proportion to its population.
- Nevis's spending was about a quarter of total government spending in 2018.
Local terms
- Nevis Island Administration
- The island government of Nevis, led by a Premier, with its own Assembly.
Sources
- The local government system in Saint Kitts and Nevis: country profile 2019, Commonwealth Local Government Forum, checked 14 October 2026
- St Kitts and Nevis's Constitution of 1983, Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
- Nevis Island Administration, Nevis Island Administration, checked 14 October 2026
See also: Saint Kitts and Nevis's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.