Cole Simons To Observe Montserrat Election

An International Observer Mission will observe the general elections for the first time in Montserrat, with Bermudian MP Cole Simons [pictured] serving as one of the observers, according to a news report from the Montserrat Reporter.

The article said, “For the first time on Montserrat, an International Observer Mission will observe the general elections The Electoral Observer Mission arrived on island on September 3, 2014 and will be here until September 14, 2014.

“The Mission comprises the Hon. Mario Galea MP Malta who is the Head of the Mission, Nelson H. Cole Simons MP from Bermuda, Hannah Roberts – Election Annalyst & Observer and Matthew Salik Election Coordinator & Observer both from the United Kingdom.

“The head of the Election Observer Mission Hon. Mario Galea outlined their mandate while on island during a press conference held on Friday September 5, 2014 and ensured the press that the mission will be guided by the United Nations Declaration on Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers.”

The Mission was at the invitation of Montserrat’s Governor Adrian Davis, and the Head of the Mission noted that, “We will observe the electoral process in accordance with international standards which serve as a guideline for the conduct of democratic election and also according to domestic law of Montserrat.

“The mission will gather information in a systemic way and then make informed assessment. As observers we will not interfere in the electoral process. We may raise questions with the electoral staff if we encounter any irregularities. We will bring it to the attention of the presiding officer but we will not interfere in any way with the process itself.

“Our mandate is to observe not to get involved in the electoral process so we do not have an executive say in the running of the election.”

Montserrat, like Bermuda, is a British Overseas Territory, however it has a considerably smaller population, with the Montserrat Government saying they have some 3,878 eligible voters in the territory.

The population of Montserrat is estimated currently at approximately 5,189, about half of its pre-volcanic eruption total.

More than half the residents of the island were evacuated or otherwise left voluntarily during and after the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano which started in 1995, peaked in 1997 and has had intermittent eruptions up to 2010. Although still active, the volcano has not had an eruptive phase since then.

Montserrat voters head to the polls today [Sept 11],  with voters to choose nine representatives for the island’s Legislative Assembly from a field of 31 candidates spread across two political parties, one group of independents and a number of stand-alone candidates.

The incumbent Movement for Change and Prosperity [MCAP] lead by Premier Reuben Meade and the recently-formed People’s Democratic Movement [PDM] fronted by parliamentary Opposition Leader Donaldson Romeo are both fielding a full slate of nine candidates.

The newly-formed Alliance of Independent Candidates [AIC] is a coalition of three independent candidates lead by former chief minister Dr Lowell Lewis who currently sits in the Legislative Assembly as an opposition member. The other ten candidates are stand-alone independents.

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