Governor Adrian Davis
Governor Adrian Davis during his last press conference was questioned about the Premier’s Ecuador UN Deconolisation statement, that he (the Premier) was sure the UK Government supports his stance on recommendation for delisting Montserrat. The Governor initially sidestepped the question using the opportunity to re-iterate the UK’s stand on independence for the territories.
He said: “… the UK government’s position on any questions of self determination of independence is that we will respect the right of the people of any overseas territory as properly expressed in a referendum.´´
He added, “Well the person that can dispel the confusion is the premier I know the opposition leader says he wants to raise it in the legislative assembly and he may do so.”
The Governor responded to the further question on whether the Premier was correct in saying that Montserrat is fully self governing when the UK can pass laws for Montserrat or refuse to allow laws passed by the Legislative Assembly. “Well I’m involved in the cabinet. When the cabinet discusses draft bills they then go to the legislative assembly,” admitting, “they have to come to me for assent but that’s pretty much formality if I don’t want to approve a bill I have to get the explicit agreement of the Secretary of State for foreign affairs.”
He added: “It’s a so called ‘nuclear option’, which I’m not inclined to exercise unless it was some extremely at the moment inconceivable situation.”
The Governor trying to simplify the Premier’s claim giving a lesson on the Constitution, said further, “You have a Constitution (that) gives the autonomy to the elected government over most aspects of the countries affairs. It reserves powers to me in relation to the police, internal security, defense and financial services, that’s how it is set out in the Constitution.
