With over two decades of experience in the education sector, Ms. White’s career spans multiple countries, including South Korea, England, Antigua, the USA, and Montserrat. She has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to student development and academic excellence. Additionally, she volunteered as a teacher in a prison, focusing on improving prisoners’ numeracy and literacy skills to facilitate their successful reintegration into society.
In 2020, transitioning from full-time teaching, Ms. White co-founded the Excellence Academy Tutoring Service, where she designs after-school curricula and provides direct instruction in Mathematics, English, and Reading for primary-aged students. Her advocacy for justice and parliamentary awareness began during her university years and continued upon her return to Montserrat, where she served as General Secretary and later President of the Montserrat Union of Teachers.
In 2019, Ms. White’s visionary leadership caught the attention of the Movement for Change and Prosperity (MCAP), who nominated her as their candidate for Speaker of the Montserrat Legislature. She was sworn in as the youngest female Speaker of Montserrat on December 21, 2020, assuming a pivotal role in enhancing legislative services and parliamentary awareness. As Madam Speaker, Ms. White spearheaded initiatives to empower youth with parliamentary knowledge, including the “Parliament and Me” program and the publication of learning tools for students. She led the benchmarking of Montserrat’s parliamentary review and played a key role in the review of parliamentary scrutiny functions.
Ms. White secured funding for Montserrat’s new Parliament building and advanced its design and contracting process. She restructured the Legislative Office to enhance efficiency and chaired the Standing Orders Committee, overseeing the update and modernisation of Montserrat’s standing orders. Her contributions also included refining the Parliament’s identity and revitalising the ceremonial opening of Parliament.
Under her leadership, Montserrat celebrated 70 years of parliamentary democracy, recognizing several parliamentarians for their dedication. Ms. White’s influence extends beyond Montserrat’s borders as an executive member of the Caribbean and Americas Regional Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). She spearheaded the unprecedented visit of the Speaker of the House of Commons in 2023, significantly elevating Montserrat’s visibility within the United Kingdom.
Aligning with MCAP, Ms. White values the party’s rich history of contributions to Montserrat’s development, commitment to democratic principles, and fostering of national pride through initiatives like implementing a national song, motto, traditional dress, and awards. She appreciates the blend of new leadership and seasoned experience within MCAP, which brings diverse perspectives and expertise to address Montserrat’s challenges.
Ms. White believes every citizen has a duty to invest in building the nation’s future. Her extensive experience in education provides her with a deep understanding of the system’s strengths and challenges. She aims to extend her impact into policy making, leveraging her skills to generate innovative ideas and translate them into actionable strategies. Committed to inclusive, collaborative governance, she envisions a future where every citizen has access to quality education, where innovation thrives, and where collective efforts lead to prosperity and equality. Driven by a sense of duty and a vision for a better tomorrow, Ms. White is ready to contribute meaningfully to the development and implementation of policies that will shape the future of Montserrat.
Vote Charliena White—representation you can count on.