Ms. Josephine Mallalieu

Law Reform Commissioner

Law Commission

Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs

Who We Are

The Law Commission is a statutory body created by The Law Commission Act No. 27 of 2012. The Commission is a body corporate and its membership is as follows: The Law Revision Commissioner/Law Reform Commissioner who shall be the Chairperson of the Commission along with one person nominated by the St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association and three other persons appointed by the Minister responsible for Legal Affairs. The functional aspect of the Commission is carried out by the office of the Law Reform Commissioner operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

Our staff includes:

  • Law Reform Commissioner
  • Legal Researcher
  • Clerical Staff

Mission Statement

To Revise, Simplify and Modernize the Law to make it effective for use.

What We Do

The Commission has two distinct functions that is to say: 1. to keep the Revised Edition of the written laws of Saint Christopher and Nevis up to date and 2. to initiate and carry out Law Reform Projects.

How We Carry Out Our Mandate

  • By keeping and maintaining an electronic database of the revised edition of the laws of St. Kitts and Nevis and updating the data base as new laws are passed
  • By initiating and carrying out law reform projects          
  • By publishing an annual supplementary update of the laws  
  • By establishing and updating a website containing the latest update of the laws
  • By making recommendations and preparing Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bills so as to correct, perfect and improve housekeeping aspects of the law that may crop up during the law revision process.
  • By co-operating closely with the Department of Chief Parliamentary Counsel and the Government Printer so that unnecessary duplication of tasks is avoided.
  • By studying and keeping under constant review the statutes and other laws of St. Christopher and Nevis with a view to making recommendations for their improvement, modernization and reform; including repeal of obsolete enactments and simplification of the law.  Development of new areas of the law making them more responsive to the changing needs of the society and to reflect the laws and customs and values of the society and the concepts consistent with the United Nations Charter of Human Rights. 
  • By pursuing codification of the unwritten laws and adoption of new and more effective methods for the administration of the law and the dispensation of justice.

 

How We Are Financed

The operations of the Law Commission are financed by way of monies appropriated by Parliament; monies received by the commission from agencies other than the government for the performance of its functions and donations endowments and other gifts received by the commission. (See section 25 of the Law Commission Act)

How We Serve the Public

There are no regular day to day services offered to the public at large. However, any relevant stakeholder who is interested in proposing or discussing Law Revision or Law Reform may make contact with The Commission to share ideas, suggestions or concerns regarding matters which can be the subject of revision or reform. 

The Commission is in liaison with the Regional Law Revision Centre in Anguilla. This relationship has produced the 2017 Revised Laws of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Ordinances of the Island of Nevis as well as a special website of Laws Online and a CD Rom containing a complete collation of the updated Revised Laws of St. Kitts and Nevis. By way of the website and the CD Rom, copies of all of the laws of St. Kitts and Nevis can be available on demand to interested persons at the click of a button.  Copies are available for purchase from the Law Commission.

All of these materials are available to the general public but are of particular interest to members of the legal fraternity. As a matter of course, the Law Commission makes copies of the volumes of the Revised Laws available to the Attorney-General, to the Clerks of the National Assembly and Island Assembly, to the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and to the Registrar of the High Court and also to several other entities involved in the justice system. 

The Commission also interacts with the Government Printery which plays a major role in assisting the Commission in executing its mandate. 

Other Stakeholders 

  • The Office of the Prime Minister
  • The Public Library
  • Other Government Ministries and Departments
  • Attorneys in private practice
  • Lecturers and other professionals

Who We Mostly Interact With 

  • The Office of the Attorney General
  • The Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs
  • The Parliamentary Counsel
  • The Nevis Island Administration
  • The Courts of Law
  • The Government Printery
  • The Bar Association
  • The National Archives
  • The Government Information Services

See Our Laws Online HERE: http://www.lawcommission.gov.kn 

How You May Interact With Us

Interested persons may direct inquiries to us via: 

The Law Commission

  1. O. Box 164

Ministry of Justice and  Legal Affairs

Government Headquarters, Basseterre

St. Kitts

Tel: 1 869 467 1623 or 1 869 467 1150

Fax: 1 869 465 5040

Email: jojomalwe@hotmail.com, rohan.walters@gov.kn 

It is the principal mission of the Office of the Attorney General to provide legal advice and services to and on behalf of The Crown, and to conduct and respond to all matters of litigation for and against The Crown or any Ministry or Agency of the Government.

Importantly, its mandate includes the extensive oversight of the legislative agenda of the Government.

The Office of the Attorney General also provides administrative support for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and superintends all matters relating to the Electoral Office.

Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs

The Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs ensures that the rule of law is facilitated and supported by the various mechanisms by which citizens can have equal access to the justice system and by which they can be afforded the protection of the law. It also takes responsibility for ensuring that the statutes are updated and modernized to keep pace with an evolving society.

Quick and convenient access to important and noteworthy matters relevant to entities under the Office of the Attorney General and departments within the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs.

Hon. Garth Wilkin
Attorney General

Ms. Diana Francis
Permanent Secretary

(Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs)

The Office of the Attorney General

The Office of the Attorney General is chiefly responsible for providing legal counsel and advice to the Executive Branch of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. The functioning of the Office is rooted in the Constitution and is further detailed by the provisions of the Attorney General’s Act Cap 3.02 of the laws of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

One of the more prolific manifestations of the advisory functions of the Office of the Attorney General is its contribution to the legislative agenda of the government. As such, the responsibility of preparation of all legislation: from conceptualization to the presentation of Bills and the crafting of Regulations falls within the purview of the office.

Learn More

Get In Touch

Government Headquarters,
Church Street, Basseterre, St. Kitts

+1(869) 467-1013

attorneygeneral@gov.kn

Send us a message