Editing Montserrat (section)

==Politics and government==

{{Main|Politics of Montserrat}}

Montserrat is an internally self-governing [[British overseas territory|overseas territory]] of the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indexmundi.com/montserrat/government_profile.html|title=Montserrat Government Profile 2018|website=Indexmundi.com|access-date=28 April 2019|archive-date=28 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628060426/https://www.indexmundi.com/montserrat/government_profile.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[United Nations]] Committee on Decolonization includes Montserrat on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]]. The island's [[head of state]] is [[King Charles III]], represented by an appointed Governor. [[Executive power]] is exercised by the government, whereas the Premier is the [[head of government]]. The Premier is appointed by the Governor from among the members of the Legislative Assembly which consists of nine elected members. The leader of the party with a majority of seats is usually the one who is appointed.<ref name="cia.gov"/> [[Legislative power]] is vested in both the [[government]] and the [[Legislative Assembly of Montserrat|Legislative Assembly]]. The Assembly also includes two ''[[ex officio]]'' members, the [[attorney general]] and financial secretary.<ref name="cia.gov"/>

The [[Judiciary]] is independent of the executive and the legislature.

=== Administrative divisions ===
[[File:Parishes of Montserrat.svg|thumb|upright=0.61|'''Parishes'''<br>St. Peter (red)<br>St. Georges (green)<br>St. Anthony (cyan)<br><abbr title="abandoned and destroyed former capital city">Plymouth</abbr> (◾)]]For the purposes of local government, Montserrat is divided into three [[Parish (administrative division)|parishes]]. Going north to south, they are:
* [[Saint Peter Parish, Montserrat|Parish of Saint Peter]]
* [[Saint Georges Parish, Montserrat|Parish of Saint Georges]]
* [[Saint Anthony Parish, Montserrat|Parish of Saint Anthony]]

The locations of settlements on the island have been vastly changed since the volcanic activity began. Only the Parish of Saint Peter in the northwest of the island is now inhabited, with a population of between 4,000 and 6,000,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docstoc.com/docs/12356531/Montserrat |title=Central America and Caribbean: Monserrat |first=Jeff |last=Kowalski |date=11 September 2009 |access-date=26 October 2009 |archive-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628060426/http://www.docstoc.com/docs/12356531/Montserrat |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statoids.com/mms.html |title=The Parishes of Montserrat |website=Statoids.com |access-date=26 October 2009 |last=Wittebol |first=Hans |archive-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628060425/http://www.statoids.com/mms.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the other two parishes being still too dangerous to inhabit.

A significantly more up-to-date administrative division type would be the 3 census regions, primarily used for the population census.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/montserrat/|title=Montserrat: Census Regions & Villages - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information|website=Citypopulation.de|access-date=3 October 2023|archive-date=7 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507215244/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/montserrat/|url-status=live}}</ref> Going north to south, these are:

* Northern Region (2,369 pop.)
* Central Region (1,666 pop.)
* South of Nantes river (887 pop.)

For census purposes, these are further divided into 23 enumeration districts.

===Police===
Policing is primarily the responsibility of the [[Royal Montserrat Police Service]].

===Military and defence===
The defence of Montserrat is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. The [[Royal Navy]] maintains a ship on permanent station in the Caribbean ({{HMS|Medway|P223|6}})<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2020/january/20/200120-hms-medway-sets-sail-for-the-caribbean | title=HMS Medway sets sail for the Caribbean | access-date=12 July 2022 | archive-date=10 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510053232/https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2020/january/20/200120-hms-medway-sets-sail-for-the-caribbean | url-status=live }}</ref> and from time-to-time may send another Royal Navy or [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary]] ship as a part of the Atlantic Patrol (NORTH) tasking. These ships' main mission in the region is to maintain British sovereignty for the overseas territories, provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief during disasters such as hurricanes, which are common in the area, and conduct counter-narcotics operations. In October 2023, the destroyer [[HMS Dauntless (D33)|HMS ''Dauntless'']] (which had temporarily replaced ''Medway'' on its Caribbean tasking), visited the territory in order to assist local authorities in preparing for the climax of the hurricane season.<ref>{{cite news |title=HMS Dauntless visits trio of Caribbean Islands in disaster relief preparation mission |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/october/04/231004-dauntless-caribbean-hop |access-date=4 October 2023 |agency=[[Royal Navy]] |date=4 October 2023 |archive-date=4 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004143659/https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/october/04/231004-dauntless-caribbean-hop |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Royal Montserrat Defence Force====
{{Main|Royal Montserrat Defence Force}}
The [[Royal Montserrat Defence Force]] is the home defence unit of the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat. Raised in 1899, the unit is today a reduced force of about forty volunteer soldiers, primarily concerned with civil defence and ceremonial duties. The unit has a historical association with the [[Irish Guards]].