Governor of Montserrat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Montserrat |
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Flag of the governor of Montserrat
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Coat of arms of Montserrat
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| Viceroy | |
| Residence | Government House, Montserrat |
| Appointer | Charles III as King of the United Kingdom |
| Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure |
| Formation | 1971 |
| First holder | Willoughby Harry Thompson |
| Website | Governor's Office Brades |
The Governor of Montserrat is a very important person on the island of Montserrat. Think of them as the main representative of the British monarch (the King or Queen of the United Kingdom). Montserrat is a special place called a British overseas territory, which means it's connected to the UK but has its own government. The King or Queen chooses the Governor, usually after getting advice from the British government. A big part of the Governor's job is to choose the island's chief minister, who helps run things day-to-day.
Contents
Understanding the Governor of Montserrat
What Does the Governor Do?
The Governor has their own special flag in Montserrat. It's the Union Flag (the UK flag) with Montserrat's unique coat of arms added to it. This flag shows their important role. The Governor lives in a special house called Government House. This official residence is located in a place called Woodlands.
A Moment in Governor History: The 2003 Petition
In 2003, about 200 people in Montserrat signed a petition. They asked the British government to remove the Governor at that time, whose name was Tony Longrigg. The people felt that some of his decisions were making it hard for the island's economy.
One of the main reasons for this concern was a difficult situation involving a volcano. Governor Longrigg had decided that people who owned villas (holiday homes) could not go back to certain areas. These areas were considered dangerous because of the volcanic eruption. He made this decision based on advice from scientists at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) and a group of experts called the Scientific Advisory Committee. It was a tough choice, but it was made to keep people safe.
Who Has Served as Governor?
Over the years, many different people have served as the Governor of Montserrat. Here is a list of those who have held this important role since 1971:
- Willoughby Harry Thompson (1971–1974)
- Norman Derek Matthews (1974–1976)
- Gwilym Wyn Jones (1977–1980)
- David Kenneth Hay Dale (1980–1984)
- Arthur Christopher Watson (1985–1987)
- Christopher J. Turner (1987–1990)
- David G. P. Taylor (1990–1993)
- Frank Savage (1993–1997)
- Tony Abbott (1997–2001)
- Howard A. Fergus (2001; acting, 1st time)
- Tony Longrigg (11 April 2001 – 2 April 2004)
- Sir Howard A. Fergus (2004; acting, 2nd time)
- Deborah Barnes Jones (10 May 2004 – 6 July 2007)
- John Skerritt (6 July 2007 – 13 July 2007; acting)
- Sir Howard A. Fergus (13 July 2007 – 27 July 2007; acting, 3rd time)
- Peter Waterworth (27 July 2007 – 3 March 2011)
- Sarita Francis (3 March 2011 – 8 April 2011; acting)
- Adrian Davis (8 April 2011 – 8 July 2015)
- Alric Taylor (8 July 2015 – 5 August 2015; acting)
- Elizabeth Carriere (5 August 2015 – 2 January 2018)
- Lyndell Simpson (2 January 2018 – 1 February 2018; acting)
- Andrew Pearce (1 February 2018 – 7 March 2022)
- Lyndell Simpson (7 March 2022 – 6 April 2022; acting)
- Sarah Tucker (6 April 2022 – 8 April 2025)
- Lindorna Sweeney (8 April 2025 – 23 April 2025; acting)
- Harriet Cross (23 April 2025 – present)
See also
In Spanish: Gobernador de Montserrat para niños
