Montserrat is set to elect a new government on Thursday. The Electoral Council announced that polling stations will open at 7:00 am local time and close 11 hours later, allowing the 3,464 registered voters to cast their ballots for 34 candidates vying for nine seats in the Legislative Assembly. Among the candidates are three former government leaders, representing four political parties and six independents.
Former chief minister and premier, Reuben T. Meade, has returned from retirement to lead his newly formed United Alliance, while Premier Easton Taylor-Farrell is part of the Dr Samuel Joseph-led incumbent Movement for Change and Prosperity (MCAP) party while the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) led by Paul Lewis includes former premier Donaldson Romeo, who had contested the 2019 poll as an independent candidate.
The other party in the race is the Karen “Lioness” Allen’s Positive Progression for People (PPP).
Nine seats are available in Montserrat’s Legislative Assembly, with a majority of five needed to form the next administration. In addition to the elected members, the assembly will also include two uncontested positions: the Attorney General and the Financial Secretary, bringing the total to 11 members.
Ballots will be counted one hour after the polls close, and several observer teams, including the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association British Islands and Mediterranean Region (CPA BIMR), are monitoring the election process.
In the 2019 general election, MCAP won five seats, the PDM won three seats down from its previous four and Romeo was re-elected as the sole independent legislator.
