MONTSERRAT-POLITICS: Coalition Government for British Dependency

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Wesley Gibbings

ST. PETER'S, Nov 14 1996 (IPS) - Former Montserratian Chief Minister Reuben Meade is back in office following his party’s crushing defeat in a general election Monday, but this time the 42-year old economist will play second fiddle to a former political foe.

Following hours of heated discussions Wednesday, Movement for National Reconstruction (MNR) Member of Parliament (MP) in the country’s deserted Southern District, Bertrand Osborne, was chosen by an alliance comprising two MNR, one National Progressive Party (NPP) and one Independent member of the island’s Legislative Council.

After the elections Monday, Austin Bramble, head of the MNR had indicated that he would step down to make way for Osborne.

In an exclusive interview Wednesday night Bramble said it would be improper for him to hold on to his position. But the former Chief Minister said he would nevertheless have a role to play in national politics if asked.

The veteran politician narrowly lost his seat to People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) candidate, Brunel Meade, in the general election. Meade pipped him at the line with an 18-vote margin.

Bramble was not, himself, a part of negotiations which gave way to the new grouping including Osborne, MNR representative Adelina Tuitt, Independent MP Rupert Weekes and immediate past Chief Minister, Reuben Meade.

Sources say the discussions were often heated and that Independent MP David Brandt, a former Communications and Works Minister under Reuben Meade, had made a strong, early bid for the top post.

However, when talks broke on Tuesday, Meade announced he had no intention of serving in any government headed by Brandt. “I am morally and spiritually committed to that position,” he said.

Weekes was rumoured to have taken sides with Brandt in the discussions, but senior government sources told IPS prior to the election that the Northern District MP would have lent his support to the Meade slate. Meade’s NPP did not field a candidate in Weekes’ constituency.

PPA leader, John Osborne, another former Chief Minister did not attend the talks and he told reporters he just was not interested.

“Coalition governments don’t work,” Osborne said. “I don’t want to be party to something that doesn’t work.” He also called for a return to the polls which, he argued, was “the proper thing to do.”

British governor, Frank Savage advised against speculating on the ability of the coalition to survive. “I don’t think we should anticipate when a coalition is formed we should expect that it won’t be an enduring coalition,” he said.

The NPP lost the government in a crushing defeat at the polls managing only 19.22 percent of the votes. The PPA, by contrast, attracted 35 percent while the MNR earned 22.1 percent. Overall, 58.1 percent of the electorate of 7,238 voted.

A number of voters had been flown in from neighbouring Antigua for the election. Antigua is a major recipient of Montserratians fleeing the volcanic crisis here.

Montserrat, still a British colony, is in the throes of a damaging volcanic crisis. Two-thirds of the 102 sq km island has been declared off-limits and the country’s economy is at a virtual standstill.

The election was called a little over a month ago following two successive resignations from the Meade administration and the threat of a vote of no-confidence in the Legislative Council. Governor Frank Savage Wednesday denied media reports that he had forced the NPP to call an election due to mismanagement of the crisis.

There is, however, considerable dissatisfaction surrounding the conditions under which the island’s 1,000 volcano refugees, all evacuated from the unsafe zones, have been made to live. There is, as well, a serious situation involving another 2,000 residents of the marginally unsafe village of Cork Hill for whom alternative housing is not available.

Businessman and community activist, Donald Romeo, has been waging a one-man campaign to bring the plight of Montserratians in shelters to the attention of officials. He says the situation is urgent and he has interviewed a wide cross-section of experts, visitors and those living in shelters on what he describes as a worsening situation.

For close to eight months, about 1,000 Montserratians have been living in pathetically insufficient accommodation in churches and pre-fabricated metal shelters. The British government is contributing as much as 25 million pounds sterling toward rehabilitation works, but sources say proper accommodation for the refugees is not a priority item.

The MNR had promised in its election manifesto to “immediately improve conditions in the shelters.” Romeo says he is hoping a durable solution is found that will return dignity to the process.