After a long night of vote counting, the nine new members of the Montserrat Legislative Assembly have been officially announced.
The newly formed United Alliance, led by former premier Reuben T Meade, secured five of the nine available seats, enabling the party to form the new government.
This decisive victory resulted in the former ruling party, Movement for Change and Prosperity (MCAP), losing its hold on power.
Representing the government are United Alliance members Meade, Ingrid Buffonge, John Osborne, Veronica Dorsette-Hector, and Dwayne Hixon.
The opposition will be made up of People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) members Paul Lewis, Donaldson Romeo, and Nyota Mulcare.
Joining them is MCAP’s Crenston Buffonge, the former minister of agriculture, who received the most votes for the second election in a row.
Voter turnout at the polling stations was 2,338, representing 67% of the 3,464 registered voters. Of the ballots cast, 2,295 were accepted and 43 rejected.
The final vote count for all candidates can be viewed here.
Returning officer Edith Duberry will now report the results to Barrington Chalmers, the chair and supervisor of elections, who will then confirm the top nine to Governor Sarah Tucker.
The elected premier and parliamentarians will then be sworn in, and the first Cabinet meeting will follow within the week to set the date for the new government’s first assembly meeting.
Winning team
Three members of the winning United Alliance team spoke to Viona Alexander Smith, director of the Government Information Unit, in the early hours of 25 October, after the results were called.
“The people are spoken, right across the country, where United Alliance has been the party of choice in every polling division,” Reuben T Meade said.
“So that that gives a clear indication of what the people are thinking. They clearly had a feeling that the United Alliance would be the party of choice to take Montserrat forward.”
John Osborne, a first time member of parliament, added: “We tried to keep our campaign clean and inspire hope, inspire unity, and I think the people felt that message.
“I think when they looked at the state of candidates that we have, they realised that a lot of us are giving people, we’re caring people, and that’s what Montserrat really needs right now.”
Meade said the ministers will all be named later today, adding: “We’re not going to fool around, wasting time trying to figure out who will be where.”
He said that come Monday morning, the new Cabinet will get to work.
Uniting people
When asked if he was ready for the new role, Osborne said: “Now that I’m in a system where I really want to help people, I really want to get the island moving, I will excel in it, I will learn very fast.”
He added that the varied ages of the team will allow knowledge and experience to be passed between members of Cabinet.
Dwayne Hixon, also a first time member of parliament, said one of the first things that elected members must do is to unite the people.
“Because as you realise, we are victorious, and through that victory, we have to, it’s a must, that we unite the people, try to get everybody back on board,” he said.
Meade said the United Alliance team has fight in it, and will always find solutions to problems.
“We will not be beaten up by anybody, British government, governor, anybody, where they’re saying you can’t do this, or you can’t do that,” he said.
“We are the government of Montserrat for the people of Montserrat, and we will behave that way.”
The United Alliance leader thanked the “wonderful, wonderful” people who have supported the party throughout its journey.
Outgoing premier
Speaking during the vote count, outgoing premier Joseph E Farrell said his job is to serve the people of Montserrat, so he will continue to work for the public irrespective of any future position.
He said that during his time as leader, he has lived by the mantra: “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t, so do what you have to do.”
Farrell explained that he decided to step down as leader to spend more time with his family and facilitate the party’s transition to a younger generation.
“I just wish to thank the people of Montserrat for allowing me to serve you over these past five years,” he said.
“Had it not been for you, I would not have made it. We travelled together on this journey, we suffered together, and we had experiences together.”
