Politics of Montserrat

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politics and government of
Montserrat

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Politics of Montserrat takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the Chief Minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Montserrat is an internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The United Nations Committee on Decolonization includes Montserrat on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Legislative Council. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Military defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom.

Executive branch

Main office holders
Office Name Party Since
Queen Elizabeth II 6 February 1952
Governor Adrian Davis 11 April 2011
Premier Donaldson Romeo PDM 12 September 2014

The Governor is appointed by the Monarch. The Premier is appointed by the Governor from among the members of the Legislative Council.

His cabinet, the Executive Council, is appointed by the Governor from among the elected members of the Legislative Council and consists also of the Executive Council of the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Finance Secretary.

The current Premier of the island is Donaldson Romeo, of the People's Democratic Movement (Montserrat), replacing the outgoing Premier, Reuben Meade of the Movement for Change and Prosperity, who was the island's first Premier of Montserrat

Legislative branch

Montserrat elects on territorial level a legislature. The Legislative Council has 9 members, elected for a five year term in one constituency.

Political parties and elections

Party Votes % Seats +/–
People's Democratic Movement11,59150.027New
Movement for Change and Prosperity8,19335.362–4
Alliance of Independent Candidates9654.160New
Independents2,42210.450–3
Total23,17110090
Valid ballots
Invalid/blank ballots
Total votes cast2,747100
Registered voters/turnout3,86671.06
Source: Elections 2014

Judicial branch

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consists of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of Montserrat.

Administrative divisions

Montserrat is divided in 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, and Saint Peter.

International organization participation

Caricom, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL