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| Country name: |
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Montserrat
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| Dependency status: |
overseas territory of the UK
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| Capital: |
Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades, in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat)
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| Administrative divisions: |
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter's
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| Independence: |
none (overseas territory of the UK)
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| National holiday: |
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
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| Constitution: |
present constitution came into force 19 December 1989
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| Legal system: |
English common law and statutory law
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| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
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| Executive branch: |
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Anthony John ABBOTT (since NA September 1997)
head of government:
Chief Minister David BRANDT (since 22 August 1997)
cabinet:
Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
elections:
the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes chief minister; note - as a result of the last election, a coalition party was formed between NPP, NDP, and one of the independent candidates
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| Legislative branch: |
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 7 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
elections:
last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held by NA November 2001)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPA 2, MNR 2, NPP 1, independent 2
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| Judicial branch: |
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court)
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| Political parties and leaders: |
Movement for National Reconstruction or MNR [Percival Austin BRAMBLE]; National Development Party or NDP [leader NA]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Reuben T. MEADE]; People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [John A. OSBORNE]
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| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA
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| International organization participation: |
Caricom, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL
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| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
none (overseas territory of the UK)
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| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
none (overseas territory of the UK)
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| Flag description: |
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross
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