CPA Benchmark report recommends reforms for Montserrat's Legislative Assembly

In total, 24 recommendations have been proposed to strengthen the governance, independence and administration of the Montserrat Legislative Assembly, one of the smallest legislatures in the Commonwealth. 

In early 2022, to coincide with its 70th Anniversary, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Hon. Charliena White, commissioned the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) to support a self-assessment of the Assembly against the CPA's Recommended Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures. Montserrat was the 20th legislature to conduct an assessment. Between 5 and 8 July 2022, a technical advisor was deployed to Montserrat in the Eastern Caribbean to support the Assembly in this work. Consultations were undertaken with a large cross-section of stakeholders including current and former Members, members of civil society, government and parliamentary officials and the media.

The concluding report which has now been published by the CPA, proposes greater financial independence and transparency, updating and greater clarification around legal and procedural matters, stronger leadership from Members on the governance of the House and increased staffing support. The report also has broader constitutional ramifications which should be taken into consideration as part of the ongoing constitutional review process.

Podcast: The report explained

Matthew Salik, Head of Programmes, sat down with Hon. Charliena White, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Montserrat, on 'The Speaker's Chair', her show on Radio Montserrat. They discussed the health of democracy in Montserrat and the findings of the recent benchmarks assessment.

Listen to the interview ->

The report forms part of the CPA's Benchmarking programme. In 2018, the CPA completed a consultation and review process that resulted in the adoption of updated Recommended Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures. The benchmarks, which were adopted by all Commonwealth legislatures, provide a minimum standard and a guide on how a Parliament should be constituted and how it should function. They play an important role in developing the effectiveness of parliamentary institutions across the 180 Parliaments and Legislatures of the CPA and contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs7).

To read the full report please click here.

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The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

For media enquiries, please contact communications@cpahq.org.