After the Second World War, the British tried to affiliate St. Vincent with other Windward Islands, most notably through the West Indies Federation. In 1979 St. Vincent and the Grenadines became independent. Political System St Vincent and the Grenadines has a parliamentary system based on the English model with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. She is represented on the islands bya governor general. Parliament consists of an elected House of Assembly containing 21 members, of which15 are and 6 are appointed as senators.
Executive power is vested in the cabinet.
General elections must be held within five years after the formation of a new government, but may be held sooner. Senators are appointed on the advice of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition. The judiciary is independent and consists of magistrate s courts and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, based in St Lucia. Under certain circumstances, final appeals go to the judicial committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. There are plans to replace this avenue of appeal with a Caribbean Court of Justice which would serve a number of Caribbean countries.