The opening of the new Parliamentary Year on September 28, 2021 marked the beginning of a new session of the 17th Parliament in Montserrat. The session will run from its opening in September to the end of July 2022, after which the Montserrat Legislative Assembly will take a recess in August.
One of the feature events was a parade by a guard of honour formed by the Royal Montserrat Defence Force, the Royal Montserrat Police Service and the Monserrat Secondary School Cadet Core. The ceremonials contributed to a heightened sense of occasion, and helped to underscore the importance ascribed to Parliaments world over.
The Head of Government Business and Premier of Montserrat, Honourable Joseph Farrell, took the salute and inspected the parade. The Speaker of the Montserrat Legislative Assembly, Honourable Charliena White, accompanied him as he inspected the parade.
This was followed by a procession of Members of the Montserrat Legislative Assembly and the Clerk into the auditorium of the Montserrat Cultural Centre where the opening ceremony was held. Mrs Lorraine Lewis performed the territorial song, Miss Siobhan Tuitt presented the feature address and Mr. Josiah Persaud treated attendees to a musical prelude.
The next opening of the Parliamentary Year will take place in September of 2022, during what promises to be an exciting parliamentary year, as Montserrat celebrates the 70th year of popular parliamentary Government.
