The premier of Montserrat is the head of government in the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat. The Premier is appointed by the Governor of Montserrat on behalf of the monarch of the United Kingdom, and is usually the member of the Legislative Assembly of Montserrat who commands majority support. The office was previously known as Chief Minister of Anguilla till 2011.
William Henry Bramble was the inaugural holder of the position in 1960. Reuben Meade was the chief minister when the name change happened in 2011, and was officially the first premier of the territory. Meade has been the longest serving premier and is the incumbent, serving his third term since October 2024.
Overview and appointment The Premier is the head of government in Montserrat, a self-governing British Overseas Territory. The Premier is appointed by the Governor of Montserrat on behalf of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The Legislative Assembly of Montserrat has 12 seats with nine members elected through direct voting from single-seat constituencies, an externally elected speaker, attorney general, and finance secretary. The Premier is usually the member of the House of Assembly whose party or coalition commands a simple majority.
Historical development In 1936, the first representative government was reintroduced in Montserrat with a minority of elected members. In 1951, significant changes were enacted following protests by local people, which introduced voting rights and the establishment of a Legislative Council, where the majority consisted of elected members for the first time. In 1959, further changes allowed for a ministerial system of government led by a chief minister and William Henry Bramble became the territory's first chief minister in January 1960. After a decade in office, Bramble was succeeded by his son, Percival Austin Bramble, in 1970.
John Osborne became the chief minister in 1978. In 1989, the Montserrat Constitution was established and Osborne was the first chief minister to operate under the constitution. Reuben Meade took over as premier in 1991, and during Meade's second term, a new constitution was adopted in 2011. As per the new constitution, the Legislative Council was renamed as Montserrat Legislative Assembly and the office of the chief minister was officially renamed as Premier of Montserrat. A position of Deputy Premier was introduced to support the premier. Meade has been the longest serving premier and is the incumbent, serving his third term since October 2024.
List
PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyElectedNotesTook officeLeft officeTime in office Chief Ministers (1960–2011) 1 William Henry Bramble January 1960 December 1970 Montserrat Labour Party 19611966 2 Percival Austin Bramble December 1970 November 1978 Progressive Democratic Party 19701973 3 John Osborne November 1978 10 October 1991 People's Liberation Movement 197819831987 4 Reuben Meade 10 October 1991 13 November 1996 National Progressive Party 1991 5 Bertrand Osborne 13 November 1996 22 August 1997 Movement for National Reconstruction 1996 6 David Brandt 22 August 1997 5 April 2001 Independent John Osborne 5 April 2001 2 June 2006 New People's Liberation Movement 2001 7 Lowell Lewis 2 June 2006 10 September 2009 Montserrat Democratic Party 2006 Reuben Meade 10 September 2009 27 September 2011 Movement for Change and Prosperity 2009 Premiers (2011–present) 1 Reuben Meade 27 November 2011 12 September 2014 Movement for Change and Prosperity 2 Donaldson Romeo 12 September 2014 19 November 2019 People's Democratic Movement 2014 3 Easton Taylor-Farrell 19 November 2019 25 October 2024 Movement for Change and Prosperity 2019 Reuben Meade 25 October 2024 Incumbent United Alliance 2024
See also List of current heads of government in the United Kingdom and dependencies List of leaders of dependent territories
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