male: 97%

female: 97% (1970 est.)

Montserrat Government

Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Montserrat

Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK

Government type: NA

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)

Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges,
Saint Peter's

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday: Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in
June (1926)

Constitution: present constitution came into force 19 December 1989

Legal system: English common law and statutory law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

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

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

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)

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]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: Caricom, CDB, ECLAC
(associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the
UK)

Diplomatic re