Governor of Montserrat
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The Governor of Montserrat is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's overseas territory of Montserrat
Montserrat
Montserrat is a British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies. This island measures approximately long and wide, giving of coastline...
. The Governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government. The main role of the Governor is to appoint the Chief Minister.
The current Governor is Adrian Davis
Adrian Davis (governor)
Adrian Derek Davis is a British economist and civil servant, and is the current Governor of Montserrat.Since 1989 he has worked for the Department for International Development, and before that its predecessor, the Overseas Development Administration....
.
The Governor has his own flag in Montserrat, the Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
defaced with the territory's coat of arms. The official residence
Official residence
An official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside...
of the Governor is Government House
Government House, Montserrat
Government House is the official residence of the Governor of Montserrat, located in Woodlands in Montserrat.The original Government House, located in Plymouth, was abandoned due to activity from the Soufrière Hills volcano...
, located in Woodlands.
History
In 2003, a petition signed by 200 people in Montserrat, called upon the British government to sack the resident Governor, at that time, Tony LongriggTony Longrigg
Anthony James "Tony" Longrigg, CMG is a British diplomat. He was Governor of Montserrat from 2001 to 2004.He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1972, and was posted in Moscow and Madrid...
, stating that his policies were ruining the economy of the territory. Longrigg had prevented some citizens from returning to certain areas of the territory threatened by volcanic eruption, a decision he made based on scientific advice provided by the Director of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) and the Scientific Advisory Committee.
List of Governors of Montserrat, 1971–present
- Willoughby Harry Thompson (1971–1974)
- Norman Derek Matthews (1974–1976)
- Gwilyum Wyn Jones (1977–1980)
- David Kenneth Hay Dale (1980–1984)
- Arthur Christopher WatsonArthur Christopher WatsonArthur Christopher Watson CMG, Watson was born in China, and educated at St Catharine's College, Cambridge. He was a British Civil Servant....
(1985–1987) - Christopher J. TurnerChristopher J. TurnerChristopher John Turner, CBE was Governor of the Turks and Caicos from October 1982 to January 1987. Hesubsequently served as Governor of Montserrat from 1987 to 1990.-References:...
(1987–1990) - David G. P. TaylorDavid G. P. TaylorDavid George Pendleton Taylor CBE was a British businessman and administrator who served as Chief Executive of the Falklands Islands and Governor of Montserrat....
(1990–1993) - Frank Savage (1993–1997)
- Tony AbbottAnthony John Abbott (governor)Anthony John "Tony" Abbott, CMG, OBE is a British diplomat, who served as Governor of Montserrat from 1997 to 2001.Abbott was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester in 1941, and joined the British diplomatic service in 1959...
(1997–2001) - Howard A. Fergus (2001; 1st time, acting)
- Tony LongriggTony LongriggAnthony James "Tony" Longrigg, CMG is a British diplomat. He was Governor of Montserrat from 2001 to 2004.He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1972, and was posted in Moscow and Madrid...
(11 April 2001 – 2 April 2004) - Sir Howard A. Fergus (2004; 2nd time, acting)
- Deborah Barnes Jones (10 May 2004 – 6 July 2007)
- John Skerritt (6 July 2007 – 13 July 2007 (acting)
- Sir Howard A. Fergus (13 July 2007 – 27 July 2007; 3rd time, acting)
- Peter Waterworth (27 July 2007 – 3 March 2011)
- Sarita Francis (3 March 2011 – 8 April 2011; 1st time, acting)
- Adrian DavisAdrian Davis (governor)Adrian Derek Davis is a British economist and civil servant, and is the current Governor of Montserrat.Since 1989 he has worked for the Department for International Development, and before that its predecessor, the Overseas Development Administration....
(8 April 2011 – present)