Attorney Wants Premier Included in the Selection Process For Governor of Montserrat

Attorney Jean Kelsick says given the extent of the governor’s portfolio, selection by the British Government without any consultation of Montserrat’s democratically elected government is antiquated and incompatible with true democracy.

He says the quality of governors could be improved if the position is also offered to members of the UK’s private sector, instead of being reserved for FCO and DFID personnel nearing retirement.

Mr. Kelsick made a written submission to the Commons Select Committee’s inquiry into the future of the UK Overseas Territories

He also suggested that a process for evaluating the performance of governors once selected should be established to consider complaints about them.

In his submission Mr. Kelick states that Montserrat has suffered from governors who are widely perceived locally as disinterested at best or cynical at worst in the discharge of their duties.

According to him recent governors and the deputy governor frequently ignore letters to them about incompetence or dereliction of duty on the part of civil servants and the police or raising matters of public importance, including the proper administration of justice.

Consequently, both the civil service and the police force are in serious decline. 

He posits that this in itself is a major impediment to Montserrat’s recovery and development.

Mr. kelsick notes that Governors turn a blind eye to naked corruption, and when they address complaints, they only pay them lip service only or sweep them under the rug.

He adds that complaints about police misconduct and selective prosecutions are either ignored or window dressed, while calls for an independent police complaints board have fallen on deaf ears.