The motion of no confidence against the government of Premier Donaldson Romeo was defeated as expected on Monday after all five government legislators voted to keep the four-year old administration in office.
“I wish the PDM (People’s Democratic Movement) well in the next year in office,” said opposition member Dr. Ingrid Buffonge, who had tabled the motion against the government, she was once a member of.
But as she wound up the debate, she said she wanted to caution Montserratians “to vote wisely” adding “let us not make the same mistake.”
Buffonge said that she was pleased in bringing the motion since it was important to “hold the government to account” but acknowledged that the vote would not be in support of removing the Romeo administration, no doubt in apparent reference to the decision by former agriculture minister Claude Hogan to side with the government.
Political observers had expected Hogan, who was fired by Romeo last year, to vote in support of the opposition that included two former PDM members.
But when he made his contribution to the debate on Thursday night, Hogan said that he had no intention of voting against the government that came to power in 2014, winning seven of the nine seats at stake in the Legislative Assembly.
“We should withdraw the vote of no confidence. If you want to change the premier there is a way to do it,” said Hogan.
Buffonge, had earlier said that she wanted to inform legislators, foreign investors and other stakeholders interested in the development of the volcano-ravaged British Overseas Territory that the motion does not signal “political instability” here.
“My colleagues in opposition and myself as well as others who will be elected in the next general election, and I do speak for some of them no, after four years of getting things so terribly wrong we pledge to get it right.”
Earlier Premier Romeo dismissed the arguments made against by the opposition as he defended his tenure in office.
He told legislators also that while being appreciative of the role Britain plays in the development of the volcano ravaged island, London was also imposing all manner of restrictions stifling his administration.
