Senate (Grenada)

The Senate is the Upper chamber of the bicameral Parliament of Grenada. Together with the lower chamber, the House of Representatives, it meets in the New Houses of Parliament in the capital St. George's.

The current President of the Senate is Senator the Hon. Dessima Williams, with Senator the Hon. Norland Cox serving as Deputy President.

Powers

Both the Senate and the lower House of Representatives constitutionally share most of the same powers, however, much as in other Westminster System Parliaments, the lower house is dominant. The Government of Grenada is for instance responsible only to the House of Representatives.

All legislation can be introduced and amended in either house with the exception of money bills, which must always originate in the House of Representatives. The Senate is further limited in the amendments it can make to them. If the budget is approved by the House of Representatives, but it is not approved un-amended by the Senate within one month, it can be directly submitted to the Governor-General for royal assent.

If regular legislation is approved by the House of Representatives twice in two consecutive sessions, but is not approved of by the Senate either time, it can also be submitted directly to the Governor-General.

Composition

The Senate consists of 13 members appointed by the Governor-General. 7 members are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, three on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, and three on the advice of the Prime Minister after they have consulted with societal interest groups. The current Senate convened on 31 August 2022, following the general election of 23 June.

In instances where there is no Leader of the Opposition, the Governor-General is empowered to, in their own discretion, appoint the 3 senators otherwise appointed on the advice of the opposition leader. A convention has, following the elections of 1999, 2013 and 2018 developed whereby the Governor-General will generally appoint members representing the defeated opposition party to the Senate in such circumstances.