General elections were held in Montserrat on 31 May 2006.

Electoral System

The Legislative Assembly has eleven members, of which nine are elected. The other two seats are taken by the Attorney General and the Financial Secretary. The British Overseas Territory is a single nine-member constituency, with voters able to vote for up to nine candidates on their ballot paper.

Background

The Legislative Council was dissolved on Tuesday, 5 April 2006 by Governor Mrs. Deborah Barnes-Jones at the expiration of five years from the date when the Council first meets after the 5 April 2001 general elections. Nomination Day was set for 15 May 2006.
Of the seven who made up the New People’s Liberation Movement (NPLM) victory in 2001, three (Chedmond Browne, Dr. Lowell Lewis, and Claude Hogan) had left the party. In September 2005, Mrs. Annie Dyer-Howe left NPLM saying that projects were being held up and the British government was not even on speaking terms with the chief minister. She returned to the party a few weeks later, after her actions failed to get the expected reaction of the opposition grabbing her and collapsing the government.

Political Parties & Candidates

Twenty-nine candidates – 25 men and 4 women - contested the elections. The nine seats were contested by three parties – the New People’s Liberation Movement (NPLM) led by outgoing Chief Minister John Osborne, the Movement for Change and Prosperity (MCAP) led by outgoing opposition leader Roselyn Cassell-Sealy and the Montserrat Democratic Party led by Lowell Lewis – and 4 independent candidates. There were 10 first-time candidates in the election.

Election Campaign

MCAP's campaign was centred on development issues facing the island, still dealing with the challenge of the Soufriere Hills volcano.

Results

The election resulted in Lowell Lewis receiving the highest number of votes, followed by four MCAP candidates.  The MCAP won 26.1% of the popular vote.  The remaining seats went to three NPLM (29.4% of votes) and an independent. 

Voter Turnout

There was a 77% turnout of the 3,331-member electorate in the well-organised and orderly election.

Post-election

Although the MCAP won the most seats in the Legislative Council, the newly formed government, led by Dr. Lewis, was a coalition between the MDP, the NPLM, and an independent.  Dr. Lewis was sworn in as the seventh Chief Minister of Montserrat on 2 June 2006.
MCAP, with leader Roselyn Cassell-Sealy, Reuben T. Meade, Charles Kirnon, and Joseph (Easton) Farrell, formed the opposition.
The first sitting of the new Legislative Assembly was held on Friday, 9 June 2006.