Politics of Montserrat
Encyclopedia
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
.
|Elizabeth II
|
|6 February 1952
|-
|Governor
|Adrian Davis
|
|11 April 2011
|-
|Premier
|Reuben Meade
|MCAP
|10 September 2009
|}
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 Reuben Meade
, of the Movement of change and Prosperity, replacing the outgoing Chief Minister, Lowell Lewis of the Montserrat Democratic Party
.
On 13 October 2010, the Queen approved the Montserrat Constitution Order 2010, which replaces the office of Chief Minister with the office of Premier. The first premier will be the chief minister in office on the date the Order comes into force, expected to be later this year. A Cabinet will replace the Executive Council and will likewise consist of the premier, the attorney-general, the financial secretary, and three other ministers. One of the Cabinet members aside from the Premier must be appointed Deputy Premier to act as Premier when the latter office is vacant or when the Premier is absent from Montserrat.
. The Legislative Council
has 9 members, elected for a five year term in one constituency.
, consists of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of Montserrat.
(subbureau), OECS, WCL
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...
takes place in a framework of a parliamentary
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
representative democratic
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
dependency
Dependent territory
A dependent territory, dependent area or dependency is a territory that does not possess full political independence or sovereignty as a State, and remains politically outside of the controlling state's integral area....
, whereby the Chief Minister is the head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
, and of a multi-party system
Multi-party system
A multi-party system is a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition, e.g.The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in the United Kingdom formed in 2010. The effective number of parties in a multi-party system is normally...
. Montserrat is an internally self-governing overseas territory of 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...
. The United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Committee on Decolonization includes Montserrat on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories
United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories
The United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories is a list of countries that, according to the United Nations, are non-decolonized. The list was initially prepared in 1946 pursuant to Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter, and has been updated by the General Assembly on recommendation...
. Executive power
Executive Power
Executive Power is Vince Flynn's fifth novel, and the fourth to feature Mitch Rapp, an American agent that works for the CIA as an operative for a covert counter terrorism unit called the "Orion Team."-Plot summary:...
is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
and the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Montserrat
The Legislative Council has 9 members, elected for a five year term in one constituency.-See also:*List of Speakers of the Legislative Council of Montserrat...
.
The Judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
is independent of the executive and the legislature. Military defence is the responsibility of 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...
.
Executive branch
|Queen|Elizabeth II
|
|6 February 1952
|-
|Governor
Governor of Montserrat
The Governor of Montserrat is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of Montserrat. The Governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government...
|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....
|
|11 April 2011
|-
|Premier
Premier of Montserrat
The Premier of Montserrat is the head of government of Montserrat, an island in the Caribbean which is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. As a result, the head of state of Montserrat is Queen Elizabeth II, who is the head of state of the United Kingdom...
|Reuben Meade
Reuben Meade
Reuben Theodor Meade is a politician from Montserrat, a veteran lawmaker and the current Premier since 27 September 2011. He served previously as the territory's chief minister from 10 October 1991 to 13 November 1996. His party is called Movement for Change and Prosperity . He previously led the...
|MCAP
Movement for Change and Prosperity
The Movement for Change and Prosperity is a political party in Montserrat.In legislative elections held on 31 May 2006, the party became the largest party with 36.1 % and 4 out of 9 seats in the Legislative Council....
|10 September 2009
|}
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 Reuben Meade
Reuben Meade
Reuben Theodor Meade is a politician from Montserrat, a veteran lawmaker and the current Premier since 27 September 2011. He served previously as the territory's chief minister from 10 October 1991 to 13 November 1996. His party is called Movement for Change and Prosperity . He previously led the...
, of the Movement of change and Prosperity, replacing the outgoing Chief Minister, Lowell Lewis of the Montserrat Democratic Party
Montserrat Democratic Party
The Montserrat Democratic Party is a political party in Montserrat, led by Lowell Lewis.In legislative elections held on 31 May 2006, the party won 24.4% of the vote and 1 seat in the Legislative Council....
.
On 13 October 2010, the Queen approved the Montserrat Constitution Order 2010, which replaces the office of Chief Minister with the office of Premier. The first premier will be the chief minister in office on the date the Order comes into force, expected to be later this year. A Cabinet will replace the Executive Council and will likewise consist of the premier, the attorney-general, the financial secretary, and three other ministers. One of the Cabinet members aside from the Premier must be appointed Deputy Premier to act as Premier when the latter office is vacant or when the Premier is absent from Montserrat.
Legislative branch
Montserrat elects on territorial level a legislatureLegislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
. The Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Montserrat
The Legislative Council has 9 members, elected for a five year term in one constituency.-See also:*List of Speakers of the Legislative Council of Montserrat...
has 9 members, elected for a five year term in one constituency.
Political parties and elections
Judicial branch
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme CourtEastern Caribbean Supreme Court
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is a superior Court of record for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States , including six independent states: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and three British...
, 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, InterpolInterpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
(subbureau), OECS, WCL