Then…the curse continues
PDM Candidates oust Romeo
by Bennette Roach
As we reported on Monday at the TMR website this week, following up on our confirmation, Premier Donaldson Romeo Monday announced November 18, 2019, as the date for general elections to be held in this British Overseas Territory, on the day the Governor was obliged to dissolve the Legislative Assembly.
In a brief radio broadcast, Romeo told listeners that “the time has finally come for me to announce the dissolution of Parliament and the date for the 2019 general elections”.
He said he had already met with the Acting Governor Mrs. Lyndell Simpson “and I can now confirm that the instruments for the dissolution of parliament have been signed” and as a result he could announce Monday, November 18 as the date for the polls.
The Deputy Governor also announced nomination day to be November 11, 2019, which cannot be less than ten days before the date of the election in order that persons do not risk disqualification under section 52 of the Elections Act.
Premier Romeo in making the announcement of the elections date, giving no hint that his position as leader of the PDM going into the elections, said he was looking forward “to a very lively campaign where all ideas contend, and as usual free and fair elections where the people of Montserrat exercise their democratic right to choose their representatives”.
The report coming out of Montserrat said Romeo was expected to lead the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) into the election where it will face a challenge from the Montserrat United Labour Party (MULP) new, The Movement for Change & Prosperity (MCAP) began in 2006, Montserrat National Congress (MNC) new? as well as a number of independent candidates who have announced their intentions to contest the elections.
But that report was made on the background of rumours that there has been a move to name a new leader of the PDM, which became reality by news on Wednesday morning that indeed a number of their named candidates had appointed a new leader of the Party.
PDM has a new leader
The person in Minister of Communications, Works, Energy and Labour, Paul Lewis, emerged as that new leader which was confirmed on Wednesday morning by the deposed Premier who called the procedure ‘democratic’ where the normal democratic process would have been the full executive of the party to include the caucus members. Only that by then the party which splintered very early had little or no caucus. Some top ranking members said there was never a ‘real’ party.
The Premier who it seems appeared on the radio made the announcement. Lewis appeared later and he made his acceptance speech.
Romeo said “During my time in office as a representative I have always been wanted and respected democracy that is why I along with the PDM candidates, yesterday on 8th October, 2019 an election was held amongst us to review the PDM leadership position in a democratic way. As a result our Hon Lewis was chosen as leader going into the November 18th 2019 general elections. And having participated in a democratic process I will respect the outcome. This means that up until the day of elections I will continue to perform my constitutional duties as Premier and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Montserrat for their support praise and encouragement over the past five years.
Meantime honorable minister of communications works energy and labour Paul Lewis was humble in accepting the mantle as new PDM leader. In expressing thanks to Almighty God, Mr. Lewis was also full of gratitude to members of the party for as he describes it “putting their confidence in him to be the leader of the party going forward into the election.” There were some abstentions in the voting process.
“I accept this role as a leader for the PDM with the utmost humility and an overwhelming sense of duty and responsibility to you the people of Montserrat. Let me at this juncture extend my most profound thanks to our premier Donaldson Romeo who led the party and government business for the last five years having navigated his way through the challenges we met when we took office in 2014.
