The Governor’s office has advised in a press release that Her excellency Governor Carriere has received a retirement from the Legislature letter from Reuben T. Meade today, November 2, 2016, bringing an end the suspense following his announcement of such to his party two weeks age and at the recent sitting of the Legislative Assembly last Tuesday.
The former premier of just two years ago and now immediate past leader of the opposition in the Government of Montserrat said in his announcements that he has had enough of being the subject at meetings of the Assembly which he says cannot be the way to conduct government’s business.
It is not known whether Mr. Meade was aware that under the new 2010 Constitution that announcement of vacating his seat or retirement from the Assembly in the Assembly was reserved only to the Speaker and deputy Speaker but that, among other circumstances, “An elected member of the Legislative Assembly shall also vacate his or her seat in the Assembly— “3. (a) if he or she resigns it by writing under his or her hand addressed to and received by the Governor;”
It is a way of the former Premier’s to defy some rules and protocols that he thinks somehow demeans some authority that should rest with subjects of Montserrat.
Few might have suspected this action of vacating his seat in the Legislature, even remembering that he had promised to do so back in 2001 when at the first sitting of the Legislature he said he would and proposed then that Mrs. Roselyn Cassell-Sealy would take over to being the first woman Chief Minister in Montserrat. Much, some not so good things, have happened politically even though the lady had come close to leading the new MCAP to victory in the 2006 elections. In fact it was then that Dr. Lowel Lewis with the support of the NPLM party took over the reins of what was seen as another coalition.
Meade shows plans for Little Bay and Carrs Bay Development to MP Simmonds and Browne in the UK
The Governor’s office in the press release, showing perhaps the suspicion that Meade waited to send his letter to the Acting Governor, Mrs. Francis, states: “ Her Excellency the Acting Governor, Mrs Sarita Francis, has received from the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, Mr Reuben T Meade, notice of his retirement from the Legislative Assembly in accordance with the Montserrat Constitution Order. She has acknowledged this notice. H.E. the Governor, Elizabeth Carriere, who is currently off island on business, wishes to make the following statement.”
The release then goes on to state: “Mr Meade has informed the Acting Governor that he is retiring from elected politics after 25 years’ unbroken service as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Montserrat. As all Montserratians know, Mr Meade served as Chief Minister and then as Premier at critical times in Montserrat’s history. Although I have only known Mr Meade for a short time in his capacity as the Leader of the Opposition, I know that his service to Montserrat goes beyond those 25 years and wider than his service in the Legislative Assembly. I wish Mr Meade every happiness and success in his future endeavours.”
In a ZJB report just under a month prior to Meade’s announcement, he had announced that he had no intention to lead any action to overthrow or replace the PDM government in office except in a general election, which of course he will be quite free to enter as a candidate for election. He at the same time called on the Government to organize a group to discuss frankly ways of moving the country forward economically.
As potential legislators including past legislators now can prepare for a by-election there seems to be disarray though denied by the potential new leader of MCAP. Some four persons have announced their intention to contest for the seat.
