Who runs local government in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has had no elected local government since 1973. Its six parishes are administrative areas, and 17 local government bodies (town boards, district boards, village councils and special service areas) are run by clerks appointed by the national government.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy · Caribbean
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Local authorities (17): town boards, district boards, village councils, special services | Run by clerks reporting to a national local government officer; the law allows elected or partly nominated authorities, but none are elected | Minor roads, garbage disposal, markets, cemeteries, property tax collection for central government. |
| Kingstown Board | Headed by a warden reporting to the ministry | Services for the capital. |
Three questions about local power in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Are local leaders elected?
No local officials are elected; MPs are the only elected local representatives.
Which laws set up local government?
Local administration rests on the Local Authorities (Termination of Dissolution) Act 1981; there is no constitutional provision.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Local administration answers to the ministry; the Director of Audit and Parliament's Public Accounts Committee oversee spending.
Traditional and customary authority
There is no traditional authority with legal powers. Garifuna and Kalinago descendants in the north of Saint Vincent have cultural organisations but no formal governing role. Churches are influential.
Community and neighbourhood power
Clerks and the local government officer work closely with the area's MP and hold consultations with residents; community groups and churches organise local projects.
Points to know
- A proposed new constitution that would have included local government was rejected in a 2009 referendum.
- The capital's Kingstown Board is led by an appointed warden, not a mayor.
Local terms
- Warden
- The appointed official who heads the Kingstown Board.
Sources
- The local government system in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: country profile 2017–18, Commonwealth Local Government Forum, checked 14 October 2026
- St Vincent and the Grenadines's Constitution of 1979, Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
See also: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.