Politics of Montserrat

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Coat of arms of Montserrat.svg
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Montserrat

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]

Main office holders
Office Name Party Since
Queen Elizabeth II 6 February 1952
Governor Elizabeth Carriere 5 August 2015
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[edit]

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[edit]

Party Votes % Seats +/–
People's Democratic Movement 11,591 50.02 7 New
Movement for Change and Prosperity 8,193 35.36 2 –4
Alliance of Independent Candidates 965 4.16 0 New
Independents 2,422 10.45 0 –3
Total 23,171 100 9 0
Valid ballots
Invalid/blank ballots
Total votes cast 2,747 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,866 71.06
Source: Elections 2014

Judicial branch[edit]

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consists of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal.

Administrative divisions[edit]

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

International organization participation[edit]

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