Politics 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

See also: Attorney General of Montserrat

Main office-holders

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

Montserrat elects on territorial level a legislature. The Legislative Assembly has nine members, elected for five-year terms in one constituency.

Political parties and elections

Political 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

Main article: 2024 Montserratian general election

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

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

Administrative divisions

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

International organization participation

CARICOM, Caribbean Development Bank, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, WCL

References

1. 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.