Politics of Montserrat takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the Premier 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 Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Military defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom.
Executive branch
edit| Office | Name | Party | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| King | Charles III | 8 September 2022 | |
| Governor | Sarah Tucker | 6 April 2022 | |
| Premier | Reuben Meade | UA | 25 October 2024 |
The Governor is appointed by the Monarch. The Premier is appointed by the Governor from among the members of the Legislative Assembly.
His cabinet is appointed by the Governor from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly and consists also of the Attorney General, and the Finance Secretary.
The current Premier of the island is Reuben Meade, of the United Alliance, replacing the outgoing Premier, Easton Taylor-Farrell, of the Movement for Change and Prosperity.
Legislative branch
editMontserrat elects on territorial level a legislature. The Legislative Assembly has nine members, elected for five-year terms in one constituency.
Political parties and elections
editPolitical parties do not adhere to a single defined ideology and are difficult to distinguish from each other. Instead, policy emphasis shifts depending on the popular approval of the party leader and their policies.[1]
Most recent election
edit | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| United Alliance | 7,676 | 38.72 | 5 | New | |
| People's Democratic Movement | 5,739 | 28.95 | 3 | 0 | |
| Movement for Change and Prosperity | 5,487 | 27.68 | 1 | –4 | |
| Positive Progression for People | 37 | 0.19 | 0 | New | |
| Independents | 887 | 4.47 | 0 | –1 | |
| Ex officio members | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 19,826 | 100.00 | 11 | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 2,295 | 98.16 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 43 | 1.84 | |||
| Total votes | 2,338 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,468 | 67.42 | |||
| Source: Government of Montserrat | |||||
Judicial branch
editThe Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consists of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal.
Administrative divisions
editMontserrat is divided in 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, and Saint Peter.
International organization participation
editCARICOM, Caribbean Development Bank, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, WCL
References
edit- ^ Cawley, Charles (4 September 2015). Colonies in Conflict: The History of the British Overseas Territories. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 245. ISBN 9781443881289. Retrieved 19 November 2019.