Governor Peter Andrew Waterworth arrived in Montserrat and assumed duties as Governor of this Overseas Dependent territory, Montserrat on July 27, 2007. He departed the island on Thursday, March 3, 2011, leaving the new deputy Governor Sarita Francis to carry on until the new and substantive Governor Adrian Davis, arrives in mid-April.
When the Governor departed, he did so as in his own words frustrated and disappointed by the lack of progress on key development projects. “…lack of progress with obviously Little Bay. The outline is on the ground, but by this stage, I would really have hoped to see the buildings actually up. Not just about to start going up,” he said.
The Governor emphasizing his own failure referenced Secretary of State Mitchell’s much spoken about whirlwind visit to Montserrat and further described his frustration and disappointment. “…the big things that I hoped would happen while I was here haven’t happened,” he noted, pointing directly to geothermal and the harbour (the port) at Little Bay.
The Government declined direct comment on the ‘Secretary of State’s insults’, in a discussion of Radio Montserrat, involving Chief Minister Meade, Minister Colin Riley, Bennette Roach, TMR Editor and Justin ‘Hero’ Cassell, press officer. The ministers while saying there may have been some ‘poor choice of words’ chose to move beyond the insults. And discussed matters arising from Minister Mitchell’s visit.
The Governor did not find anything to boast about but Deputy Governor Sarita Francis reportedly said that the highlights of the Governor’s service were in the area of reforms to the public service, over which he had direct responsibility.
The Governor reportedly visited several departments this week including, the Police, MVO and the Attorney General Chambers, the human resources unit. There were also two farewell functions organized by the members of the Legislative Council, and the other by heads of sections that form directly under the Governor’s control.
Governor Waterworth will answer for himself as to his failures, when soon after his arrival he spoke of challenges as well as those for himself when he invited the media, “to keep him and Ministers and others in authority in Montserrat accountable.” The Governor like some of his predecessors kept himself away from the media.
In his departing message he said, “I think the chief minister and I were sitting there, and we both heard exactly what he was saying,” speaking about Montserrat standing on its own two feet and not waiting like little birds for the mother bird to feed them.
The Caribbean Community mourns the passing of Sir Alister McIntyre, a true West Indian giant. You have walked well Sir Alister.