John Osborne (Montserrat politician)

Summary

John Alfred Osborne (27 May 1936 – 2 January 2011)[1] was a chief minister of Montserrat.

John Alfred Osborne
3rd Chief Minister of Montserrat
In office
November 1978 – 10 October 1991
Preceded byPercival Austin Bramble
Succeeded byReuben Meade
In office
5 April 2001 – 2 June 2006
Preceded byDavid Brandt
Succeeded byLowell Lewis
Personal details
Born
John Alfred Osborne

(1936-05-27)27 May 1936
St. Peter's, Montserrat
Died2 January 2011(2011-01-02) (aged 74)
Kentucky, United States
CitizenshipBritish Overseas
Political partyPeople's Liberation Movement
SpouseArdith Osborne
ChildrenJoan Osborne, Shirley Osborne , David Mervyn Osborne, Brenda Osborne, Donald Sylvester Osborne (Deceased), John Patrick Osborne, Audison Osborne, Tuyen Osborne, Tarique Osborne
OccupationEngineer, Shipwright, Businessman

He first came to that position in November 1978, as a member of the People's Liberation Movement, and continued until losing legislative council elections on 10 October 1991. By 2001 he had switched parties, joining the New People's Liberation Movement. Under his leadership, the NPLM won 7 of 9 seats in legislative council elections on 2 April 2001,[2] and he served as chief minister from 5 April 2001 until 3 June 2006 when he resigned after elections in which his party was defeated. A major issue for his government has been the continuing recovery of the island of Montserrat after a volcanic eruption which devastated the southern part of the island, burying the capital city of Plymouth in ash and forcing its population to flee, in many cases off the island due to lack of housing. The eruption, which began in July 1995, continues today on a vastly reduced scale, the damage being confined to Plymouth and the surrounding areas. As of 2005, a new airport and docking facilities have opened and Montserratians and tourists alike are beginning to return.

In July 2008, Gerald's Airport in Montserrat was renamed John A. Osborne Airport in his honour.[3] His daughter Shirley Osborne is the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Montserrat.

References edit

  1. ^ "Former Montserrat Chief Minister Osborne dies". Stabroek News. 2 January 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  2. ^ Entry on Montserrat Archived 7 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine at the Commonwealth of Nations
  3. ^ Montserrat renames its airport at the Travel Daily News
Political offices
Preceded by Chief Minister of Montserrat
1978–1991
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Minister of Montserrat
2001–2006
Succeeded by