Premier Reuben Meade has said Montserrat’s post election public holiday cannot take place at this time for financial reasons.
The holiday is traditionally held the day after the general election, however, following the polls on 24 October this year, it was not officially instated.
Speaking during the new government’s first press conference on 4 November, Meade said holding a public holiday had “financial implications, especially on the court project and the hospital project”.
He told those watching the live streamed broadcast that his government cannot allow this to happen “at this stage”, but promised to “make up for it sometime in the future”.
Just days earlier, on 29 October, Meade told ZJB Radio listeners he had been unable to immediately instate a public holiday because he had to follow processes and procedures.
“I only become the premier when I when I’m sworn in and I have my papers, so I cannot go and order a public holiday,” he explained.
But said the people will “get back the day” and added that there would be a meeting of Cabinet when a decision on the public holiday would be made.
Governor relations
As well as discussing the public holiday, Meade also said people had been curious about his new working relationship with Governor Sarah Tucker so far.
“We have had a few meetings, and I have assured the governor that whatever was being said on the campaign trail, that’s behind us, and we are now the government, and we will work with one another,” he said.
“If we have issues where we have to shout at one another, we’ll close the door. Do it behind closed doors. When we come out, we’ll smile to the public. So this is the way we’re approaching things.”
He added that he will be attending the United Nation’s COP29 climate change conference taking place in Azerbaijan this November.
The premier explained that he was encouraged to attend in order to unlock climate change funds that could be made available to Montserrat.
He will then attend the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council meeting in London, as well as meet with heads of the United Kingdom-based diaspora, before returning back to Montserrat.
