By Bennette Roach
Montserrat, welcomed new Governor (designate) Andrew Pearce OBE at a special sitting of the Legislative Assembly at the Cultural Centre on Thursday, February 1 with a little less flair than his predecessor but with the usual pomp and circumstance after the welcome and thank you speeches, and the usual inspection of a guard of honour.This followed his arrival with his wife and one of two daughters the day before, January 31, 2018, at the John A. Osborne airport where he was met by the Ag. Governor Mrs Lyndell Simpson, the Hon Premier Donaldson Romeo, other members of the Legislative Assembly and residents of Montserrat.
The Hon Speaker Shirley Osborne after declaring the special Assembly sitting in her opening welcome remarks, explained the format which would, of course, be different from the normal sitting of the Assembly. Listen to the Hon Speaker Shirley Osborne Welcoming Remarks
Acting Governor Simpson, the substantive Deputy Governor delivered a handing over address in which she spoke appropriate words fitting for the time. “…and never more so than in those times and on those occasions when relationships (have) become fractious and frayed, as you travel the length and breadth of the island over the coming weeks as you get to know and understand the aspirations of our people as you experience the warmth and hospitality, and that special undefinable thing that is uniquely Montserratian, I trust that we will grow on you and you on us and that together we will make significant strides in realizing that vision of a thriving twenty-first century economy, a thriving social and cultural island and empowered public service that is fit for purpose.”
Offering her support to the Governor, she closed. “In my substantive capacity as Deputy Governor I wish to assure you of my absolute support and I do look forward to working with you. I welcome you to Montserrat and I extended every best wish for a most successful tenure.” Listen to the Honourable Deputy Governer Mrs Lyndell Simpson
Following the reading of the royal warrant of his appointment, the Honourable Ag. Attorney General Mrs Sheree Jemmotte-Rodney then administered the oath, in which Governor Pearce, swore to be faithful and bare true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and successors according to law.
The welcoming addresses began with the Hon. Speaker who in her own particular deviating style, noted to the importance of his posting at a time when Montserrat is marking the 250th anniversary of the failed slave uprising in 1768, inviting Governor Pearce and his family to share in the history of Montserrat and its people.
In her quickened way of speaking, she addressed the Governor: “Our youngest people want to know what happened in Montserrat between 1768 and 1995… so with technological savvy and creativity of young people, this year March 17th we’re going to remember just for them. It will be an unparalleled opportunity for you to get to know us as a people, for you to get to comprehend some of our concerns and ambitions and understand what truly drives us to continue to struggle to gather the pieces of our broken hearts and rebuild the life that was shattered most recently when the volcano commenced its eruptions in 1995.”
She closed by repeating some she said she told Governor Carriere while welcoming her: “Montserrat is more precious to us than any other thing in the entire world, we feel very strongly, very strongly about our little island and we’re giving everything we have, everything that we have in us to bring Montserrat back to being a place of health, wealth and happiness. We Montserratians are determined to thrive we thank you for having come to join us in the effort and we look forward to working with you side by side shoulder to shoulder as peers as equals to bring this about.” Listen to the Hon Speaker Shirley Osborne
Next on the program the Hon. Opposition Leader Easton Taylor-Farrell addressed the Governor, on behalf of the royal opposition noting that welcome and farewells to Governors have become a routine in the lives of Montserratians and that has become a “part of our tradition.” He then went on to layout to the Governor that as Her Majesty’s representative, it is how he is able to help to move the country forward out of the state of dependency that exists. Listen to Opposition Leader Easton Taylor Farrell
The Hon. Premier had the distinction of ending the addresses. His full address is published elsewhere in this issue, and maybe listened to online at the website: www.themontserratreporter.com or at our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/themontserratreporter/
He packed in as much as he could laying out for the Governor the fact that after nearly 23 years after volcanic activity began in 1995, Montserrat was still steeped in dependency with no sight of climbing out. He said he was looking forward to sharing with him the national vision which is to achieve a modern economy with a friendly vibrant community in which all people through enterprise and initiative can fulfil their hopes in a truly democratic and God-fearing society. Listen to Premier Romeo’s welcome address
His Excellency Governor Pearce responded saying after thanking all for their words of welcome, how he was deeply honoured to be governor of Montserrat. He said, “I will do my utmost to fulfil my responsibilities to the Government and people of Montserrat and the UK Government and to represent Her Majesty the Queen honourably and diligently,” as he announced that, while he had been briefed on the island, nothing prepared him and his family for the first sight of the island as it came into view from the air.
“In the few short months since my appointment was confirmed, I have heard and learned much about Montserrat, its charms and its challenges. But nothing could have prepared my wife and me and our daughter for our first sight of Montserrat as we approached the island yesterday,” he declared.
He noted, the first line of the chorus of the territorial song, “Montserrat, by nature blessed” could not be more appropriate. Adding, “my wife and I feel equally blessed to be here and to be given the opportunity to spend the next three to four years working with you and living among you.”
The Governor gave a brief background of himself and his career.
“I grew up in rural Norfolk in England and am very much still a country boy at heart. I love the natural world and am at my happiest hiking on a ridge top or digging about in a garden. I studied chemistry at university and did a bit of research into new battery technologies before joining the Foreign Office,”
He informed further: “My career saw me finding my lovely wife, Pornpun, whilst on my first posting to Thailand. We have been posted together with our family since to Israel, South Africa, Romania and Thailand again. Most recently I have served as Head of Security for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, a fascinating and demanding job navigating the threats of the Arab Spring, and as Charge D’Affaires in Vilnius in Lithuania.”
After saying he has “enjoyed all my jobs,” and that most importantly for him is, “to do my part in making things better for the Montserratian community,” a theme that kept on in his address, he paid tribute to his predecessor, Elizabeth Carriere, and the work she did in a number of areas.
“I applaud her,” he said. In particular on public sector reform through the Empowering Excellence Programme.
He declared, “A modern, motivated and efficient public service is a cornerstone and driver of a thriving economy and business environment in Montserrat.”
He stressed, “It is through the support, work, creativity and commitment of many other people, both inside and outside the public service.”
But most worthy of note, he said: “It is the people of Montserrat who matter.”
He ended: “Please do let us know your feelings and concerns. We can’t solve everything and cannot do everything, but I will always be keen to listen and learn. And above all I will always do my best to help make things better – simpler, stronger, nicer and happier – wherever
https://www.themontserratreporter.com/governor-swearing-ceremony-speeches-audio/possible.”
Please, those who can, listen to his address and all the others before him by visiting the website: www.themontserratreporter.com the individual speeches are there and so too, you may watch the video of the ceremony. See also TMR Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/themontserratreporter/
