Politics of Montserrat

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.

Executive branch

Queen
Elizabeth II |
6 February 1952
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Governor
Peter Andrew Waterworth|
2007
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Chief Minister
Lowell Lewis
MDP
2 June 2006The governor is appointed by the monarch. The chief minister 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 Chief Minister of the island is Lowell Lewis, of the Montserrat Democratic Party, replacing the outgoing Chief Minister, John Osborne of the New People's Liberation Party. The New People's Liberation Party, after losing its majority in the Legislative Council of Montserrat because of its poor showing in the 2006 election, supported Lewis for Chief Minister Moves towards full independence have been effectively halted by the volcano and the consequent evacuation.

Legislative branch

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

Judicial branch

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, 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, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL