Saint Lucia

Senate

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Data on women

Information on the current and historical representation of women in the parliament. Consult the 'Elections' tab to see how women have fared in elections or renewals.

Current representation

Women's representation in the current parliament or chamber

Current number of members: 11
Women: 5
Percentage of women: 45.5%

Speaker

No information available

Secretary general

Secretary General: Esmalene Cox-Jn Louis (Female)

Data on age at the start of the legislature

Number of members, by age

Breakdown of members by age and gender
	18 - 20	46 - 50
Male	No information available
Female	No information available
	Total <= 45: -	Total >= 46: -

Percentage of members, by age
Age at the last election or renewal	Overall	Male	Female
Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger	-	-	-
Percentage of MPs 40 years of age or younger	-	-	-
Percentage of MPs 45 years of age or younger	-	-	-

Reserved seats and quotas

There are reserved seats in parliament for certain groups: No
Electoral quota for women: No

First woman in parliament

Year of first woman in parliament: 1979

Notes: 1979: The first ever women in the Parliament of Saint Lucia were appointed to the Upper House; the first elected women in Parliament were in May 1997, 2 women out of 18 members of the Lower House; prior to independence, 1 woman was elected on 31 August 1951

First woman speaker

Year of first woman speaker: 2007

Women’s suffrage

Date of independence: 1979

Women’s right to vote: 1979
Restricted or universal suffrage: Universal

Notes: Proir to independence, under British administration, women were granted the right to vote in 1951. This right was first exercised on 13th October 1951and confirmed at independence.

Women's right to stand for election: 1979
Restricted or universal: Universal

Notes: Proir to independence, under British administration, women were granted the right to vote and stand for election in 1951. These rights were first exercised on 13th October 1951and confirmed at independence.

Women's caucus

Women's caucuses or parliamentary groups that bring together women parliamentarians to strengthen cooperation and amplify their voices. For other parliamentary bodies or committees that have a specific mandate to address gender equality matters, see the ‘Specialized body – Gender equality’ tab.

There is currently no women's caucus in this chamber.

Updated at	Current number of members
2014-01	11
2013-01	10
1979-01	11

Updated at	Women
2021-08	5
2014-12	3
2007-01	2
2001-12	4
1997-11	2
1992-01	4
1987-01	2
1982-01	3
1979-01	2

Updated at	Percentage of women
2021-08	45.5%
2014-12	27.3%
2014-01	18.2%
2013-01	20.0%
2007-01	18.2%
2001-12	36.4%
1997-11	18.2%
1992-01	36.4%
1987-01	18.2%
1982-01	27.3%
1979-01	18.2%