Reuben T. Meade gives his affirmation as Her Excellency Governor Sarah Tucker looks on during a ceremony Friday, October 25, 2024 at the Montserrat Cultural Center.
After months of tedious campaigning, festive rallies, catchy radio jingles and political rhetoric, the Montserrat national election of 2024 concluded early Friday morning, October 25. The results revealed an electorate eager to chart a new future with a name from the past. Reuben T. Meade and the United Alliance earned five of the nine seats to secure the majority. Meade, first elected in 1991, will commence his third tenure as Montserrat’s leader.
“When you look at the breakdown of the numbers you would recognize that the people have spoken right across the country,” Meade told Radio Montserrat. “They clearly had a feeling that the United Alliance would be the party of choice to take the country forward.”
The four other United Alliance members elected were Dr. Ingrid Buffonge, John P. Osborne, Veronica “Kaye” Dorsett-Hector and Dwayne Hixon. During a swearing-in ceremony Friday afternoon at the Montserrat Cultural Center, portfolios were announced.
● Meade will oversee the Ministry of Finance, Local Government, Immigration, Regional Affairs, Tourism, Economic Management, Trade, Information, Communication and Digital Transformation. He continued his unbeaten streak in Montserrat elections. In seven national contests, he has never failed to earn a seat.
● Buffonge, a trusted and admired physician, will run the Ministry of Education, Health, Social Services and Youth Affairs. First elected in 2014 with PDM, she left the party in 2015 and ran as an independent in 2019, finishing 12 votes short of a seat. She joined United Alliance this year and earned 1,086 votes Friday, just seven behind overall leader Crenston Buffonge of MCAP.
● Dorsett-Hector, an attorney and former teacher and Festival queen, was named Deputy Premier and will direct the Ministry of Infrastructure, Labor, Transportation, Energy and Ecclesiastical Affairs. She was first elected in 2019 with MCAP and served as Parliamentary Secretary but resigned and later joined United.
● Osborne, a businessman and son of Montserrat legendary Chief Minister John A. Osborne, was assigned the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing, Environment and Sports. He is the youngest member of the United Alliance and is immensely popular among the youth, notably for his involvement in motorsports.
● Hixon, a real estate developer, barely missed out on a seat in 2019 with PDM. He will be a Parliamentary Secretary and work alongside Osborne in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Dr. Ingrid Buffonge is sworn in. She will oversee the Ministry of Health and Education.
DISAPPOINTMENT FOR MCAP
Although United Alliance claimed a plurality of the votes Friday, the top individual vote-getter for the second election in a row was Crenston Buffonge of MCAP. However, he was the only MCAP member to earn a seat. Outgoing Premier Joseph Farrell (Easton Taylor) and Deputy Premier Dr. Samuel Joseph finished 15th and 18th, respectively. It was a stunning development for the two political veterans. Most people vote along party lines, so the fact that Buffonge earned the most votes but none of his party members earned a seat is a profound statement.
“I want to congratulate the United Alliance party on their victory at the polls,” Joseph said in a statement. “The people of Montserrat have spoken, and we honor their decision.”
Three members of the PDM earned seats. Party leader Paul Lewis and Donaldson Romeo both got elected. Closing out the Top 9 was PDM’s Nyota Mulcare, a former president of the Montserrat Civil Service Association. The PDM members will now serve in the Opposition.
BUILDING A TEAM
On January 25, 2024, Meade announced on Radio Montserrat that he would return to the political arena after more than seven years away. In October of 2016, while he was a member of MCAP and serving as leader of the Opposition, he retired and turned over the party leadership to Farrell. Meade said earlier this year that his return was a response to the fervent requests from the public.
“This has nothing to do with ego, image or legacy but everything to do with service to the people,” Meade said in January. “So many have said to me, ‘Reuben, you cannot be immune to the cries of the people. Do not bury your talents under the blanket of retirement.’ I have removed that blanket.”
Meade assembled a team comprising newcomers and others who contested previous elections. He set out to form a team that mixed youth and experience and included men and women. “We’re a modern team with modern ideas,” he said earlier this year. “Our values are non-negotiable.”
On the campaign trail, Meade latched on to several issues plaguing Montserrat, especially access. His team has promised to procure a ferry contract in time for the holiday season and also to eventually reintroduce Twin Otter aircrafts, which can accommodate as many as 19 passengers and are ideal for the short runway at John A. Osborne Airport. Meade has also vowed to push back against what has been deemed an overreaching agenda by Governor Sarah Tucker and said he would bring back the popular Radio Montserrat call-in show What’s On Your Mind.
Members of the United Alliance are interviewed by Viona Alexander Smith early Friday, October 25, 2024. From left, Reuben T. Meade, John Osborne and Dwayne Hixon.
A CLOSER LOOK
Among the many interesting revelations from the election:
● This marked the eighth national election in a row in which the government has changed hands. The last party to retain its majority was John A. Osborne’s People’s Liberation Movement (PLM) in 1987.
● Speaking of Osborne – also known as “John Bassey” – three of his children contested the 2024 election: his sons David (PLM) and John Jr. (UA) and his daughter Shirley (PLM). John Jr. was the only one to earn a seat. David lost his first election following four successive victories (2006, 2009, 2014, 2019).
● Of the 34 candidates, 15 were women, the most ever. The previous record was eight in 2019. The first woman to contest an election in Montserrat was Margaret Rose Kelsick in 1958. She lost, then ran again in 1961 and earned a seat.
● George Kirnon of United Alliance finished 11th with 741 votes – just 44 short of getting a seat. It was almost a storybook ending for Kirnon, who was ruled ineligible to participate due to residency qualifications but won a judgment Monday, October 21, and was allowed to participate.
● Independent candidates struggled mightily to gain traction amid the dominant presence of the three major parties.
● The voter participation rate was 67.4 percent. Since Montserrat’s system of ministerial government was introduced in 1960, the highest election turnout was 80 percent in 1970 when Austin Bramble defeated his father, William H. Bramble.
Outgoing Premier Joseph Farrell hoped to retain his seat but he finished 15th, likely ending his political career.
● Farrell, who has strong support among the religious community and is a respected figure, lost his first election since entering in 2006. Speaking to Viona Alexander-Smith of Montserrat GIU on Thursday night, he reflected on his five years as Premier. “It had its ups and downs. In March 2020 we were greeted with COVID. As Premier there were times that I was very nervous but I had to show a bold face. I know there are leaders who refuse to make decisions because they are scared to get criticism. My mantra over the past five years has been, ‘Damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ . . . so do what you have to do.”
As for Meade, the new Premier announced some fresh initiatives on Friday. He will implement a rotating system of Deputy Premier so each can gain experience. Also, in the spirit of accessibility and transparency, an office will be set up in St. John’s where the public can lodge issues and complaints, “rather than having to hunt down a minister of government,” Meade said.
Finally, Meade stressed that the election is over and Montserrat must now consolidate.
“This is not United Alliance vs. the rest,” Meade said. “This is Montserrat vs. the rest. We will work together to make this country develop to its full potential for us and for our children and grandchildren.”
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE ELECTION RESULTS
WATCH THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY
