Montserrat Elections Commission Report

SECTION 1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Following a series of consultations in Montserrat and overseas, the Elections Commission recommends that:

1.1 The single-member, multi-constituency, first-past-the-post (FPP) electoral system be replaced by the single-constituency, electoral system under a modified FPP arrangement;

1.2 to gain a seat by the voting at-large (VAL) mode, a candidate is required to obtain at least 6 per cent of the votes cast; (a second balloting may be necessary to effect this);

1.3 in the event of a by-election, the VAL system described above be used;

1.4 Montserratians overseas whose names are on the 1996 voters' list be eligible for re-registration provided that they make a legal declaration of their "domicile" status, including their intention to reside in Montserrat;

1.5 the special arrangement described in 1.4 be effective for the next general elections only, but subject to review thereafter;

1.6 a Minister of Government be assigned portfolio responsibility for Montserratians overseas and budgetary provision be made for a desk in that Ministry;

1.7 "the qualifications of voters" be amended requiring Commonwealth citizens to be resident in Montserrat for three years before being eligible to vote;

1.8 nominated membership to the Legislative Council be abolished (this was not a unanimous decision of the Commission);

1.9 elected membership in the Legislative Council be increased from seven to nine, correspondingly;

1.10 meetings of Committees of the Legislative Council be generally held in public except in special circumstances - these to be determined by the Speaker;

1.11 Government be required to publicly announce within a defined time period its response to parliamentary committee reports;

1.12 to ensure greater secrecy of the vote of incapacitated voters, the agents of candidates be excluded from the polling booth.

The next General Elections are constitutionally due in 2001

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Here is the Press Release from HE The Governor: 3 June 1999

GOVERNMENT HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

HE the Governor, Mr.Tony Abbott OBE, recently established an Elections Commission to advise on the conduct of the next general election and any interim by-elections. The Chairman of the Commission, The Hon Dr Howard A Fergus CBE, has now submitted his report and a copy is enclosed for the information of the media.

The Governor has made the following initial statement on the report:

"I am indebted to Dr Howard Fergus, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Elton Georges, Deputy Governor of the British Virgin Islands, and Dr Neville Duncan of the University of the West Indies for undertaking this commission. They have consulted widely among the Montserratian community on island and overseas and have brought a great deal of collective wisdom and experience to the task. Their report is an excellent and, I believe, far-reaching piece of work which suggests pragmatic solutions to the problems of ensuring that Montserrat continues to enjoy full democratic representation and participation in the present difficult circumstances. The report and its recommendations will require careful study both here and in London, but I would hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the way forward by the end of this month."

The public can obtain copies of the report from the Governor's Office, McChesney's Estate, Olveston. They are, however, advised to telephone first (491 2688/89) to check on availability. Copies are also being placed in the Public Library.