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Montserrat (British Overseas Territory)

 Flag of Montserrat

Last reviewed: 01 October 2009

Country information

Map of Montserrat

Status: British Overseas Territory
Area: 102 square km (39 square miles)
Population: 4,655 (2006)
Capital City: Plymouth (now destroyed by the volcano)
Languages: English
Religion: Christianity
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$)
Major political parties: Movement for Change and Prosperity (MCAP); Montserrat Labour Party (MLP):Montserrat ReformationParty (MRP)
Governor:His Excellency Mr Peter Waterworth
Chief Minister: The Honourable Mr Reuben T Meade

ECONOMY

Basic Economic facts

GDP: current EC$106.5m (2006), constant EC$58.9m (2006)
GDP per capita: EC$22,803 (2006)
Economic Growth Rate: -2.83% (2006)
Inflation: 1.0% (2006)
Major Industries: Limited economic activity on the island includes mining and quarrying, construction, financial and professional services and tourism.
Major trading partners: United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Trinidad & Tobago, Puerto Rico
Exchange rate: EC$4.42 = £1 (September 2009)

Map of MontserratHISTORY

Named after a monastery in Spain by Christopher Columbus during his second great voyage in 1493, the island became a British Colony in 1632 although the first settlers were largely Irish. Montserrat was captured by the French twice for short periods but was finally restored to Britain in 1783.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Montserrat’s Relations with Neighbours

Montserrat is a full member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Montserrat is also a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), which share a single Central Bank, the ECCB. The ECCB and the Ministries of Finance of Member States determine and monitor monetary policy for the Eastern Caribbean dollar. The UK Government encourages Montserrat to obtain maximum benefits from regional integration, including, where appropriate, through their membership of CARICOM and the OECS. Montserrat requires prior UK Government approval, in the form of an Entrustment, before undertaking international commitments.

Montserrat’s Relations with the International Community

HMG is responsible for Montserrat’s external relations.

Montserrat's relations with the UK

HMG is responsible for Montserrat’s external relations, defence and internal security. The principal point of contact is Overseas Territories Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Governor’s Office, Government House, Montserrat.

Montserrat Government UK Representative

Mrs Janice Panton MBE
Government of Montserrat Office
180-186 Kings Cross Road
London
WC1X 9DE
Tel: 020 7520 2622
Fax: 020 7520 2624
Email: j.panton@montserratgov.org

UK Development Assistance

Montserrat has been in receipt of budgetary aid since the commencement of volcanic activity in 1995. DFID have provided close to £300m in budgetary aid and project funding. The Country Policy Plan, published in June 2004, announced the provision of a further £40m over the following three years.

Montserrat also benefits from the FCO's Overseas Territories Programme Fund (OTPF) which supports projects that contribute to capacity building, the maintenance of stability and security as well as the promotion of accountable government.

TRAVEL

Travel Advice: Montserrat

SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO

The Soufriere Hills Volcano has been active since 1995, with a fluctuating level of activity. In that time, the activity has been mainly pyroclastic flows on the eastern and western flanks of the volcano. An area around the volcano, approximately two-thirds of the island, has been designated a Special Vulnerable Area and two areas around the coastline have been designated as Maritime Exclusion Zones. Between them, these cover all the areas that have been affected by pyroclastic flows or are likely to be affected.

A new Hazard Level System was introduced in August 2008. The Hazard Level System divides the southern two-thirds of Montserrat, the Special Vulnerable Area, into six zones with two Maritime Exclusion Zones. Access permission for each of these zones is dependent on the Hazard Level. The current Hazard Level is 3, on a scale of 1 to 5. Please see the Montserrat Volcano Observatory website (www.mvo.ms) for further information on the Hazard Level System and for a map showing the zones in the Special Vulnerable Area. Leaflets and maps are also available in the arrivals hall at John A Osbourne Airport. You should ensure that you take a copy of these leaflets on arrival.


Access restrictions to zones in the Special Vulnerable Area vary depending on the current Hazard Level. To enter controlled access areas, you will require a police licence from the Royal Montserrat Police Force. The initial request for a licence should be made at the Salem Police Station and should contain the reasons why access is being requested.

Background

On 18 July 1995, the Soufriere Hills volcano in the south of the island became active for the first time in 350 years. By April 1996, increased pyroclastic activity had forced the evacuation of the capital Plymouth and most of the south of the island. Eruptions increased in vigour until a large explosion on 17 September 1996 destroyed a village to the east of the volcano; the village had been evacuated. The situation changed dramatically for the worse on 25 June 1997 when a large pyroclastic flow led to the deaths of 19 people in an area long designated as unsafe. In the following months, the centre of Plymouth, the capital, was largely destroyed by pyroclastic flows. The largest pyroclastic flow so far occurred on Boxing Day 1997, destroying several villages in the Exclusion Zone. A major eruption occurred on 12/13 July 2003 following a collapse of a dome. Heightened volcanic activity between December 2008 and January 2009 resulted in temporary evacuation of some unsafe areas. The volcano is currently in a state of 'pause' but there could be little or no warning of a resumption in activity.

GEOGRAPHY

Montserrat is one of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, lying 27 miles southwest of Antigua and 40 miles northwest of Guadeloupe. The island is eleven miles long and seven miles wide entirely volcanic and very mountainous. The coastline is rugged and offers no all-weather harbour, although there are several anchorages in the lee of the island sheltered from the prevailing trade winds. Port facilities exist at Little Bay. Winair operates a fixed wing service between Montserrat and Antigua using Twin Otters. There are three return flights per day.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Trade and Investment with the UK

UK exports to Montserrat: EC$ 4,100,000 (2006)
Montserrat exports to UK: EC$ 533,484 (2006)

UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Montserrat

POLITICS

Constitutional Status

Montserrat is an internally self-governing Overseas Territory. This provides for the execution of government through a Governor appointed by the Crown, an Executive Council (ExCo) which has the general control and direction of government, and a Legislative Council (LegCo). The Governor retains responsibility for internal security (including police), external affairs, defence, the public service (of which she is the head) and offshore finance.

In December 1989, Montserrat's Constitution was consolidated into one document. The new Constitution came into force on 13 February 1990.

Constitutional Review

Her Majesty’s Government invited Overseas Territories to carry out local consultation and to make proposals for the review and modernisation of their constitution (1999 White Paper Partnership for Progress and Prosperity). The Montserrat Constitutional Commissioners reported in 2002. Legislative Council reviewed the report in 2005 and passed their own report to London in April 2005. Since then, there have been four rounds of talks in Montserrat in September 2005, March 2006, October 2006 and May 2007.

Recent Political Development

A general election took place in Montserrat on 08 September 2009. The nine seats were contested by three parties – the Movement for Change and Prosperity (MCAP) led by Reuben T Meade, the Montserrat Labour Party led by Idabelle Meade and the Montserrat Reformatiokn Party led by Adelina Tuitt – and 10 independent candidates. A 66% turnout of the 3000 strong electorate, in a well-organised and orderly election, resulted in Joseph Easton Taylor-Farrell receiving the highest number of votes, with five of his fellow MCAP candidates also receivinhg seats. The remaining seats went to three independent candidates including the outgoing Chief Minister Lowell Lewis. The Movement for Change and Prosperity hold a majority in the Government, which is led by Mr Reuben Meade.

Volcanic activity has resulted in four and a half of the original seven constituencies in Montserrat being unoccupied. As a result the pre-1995 electoral arrangements became unworkable. In February 1999, the Governor appointed a commission to suggest reforms. The Commission reported in May 1999. Their main recommendations were that:

  • the single-member, multi-constituency, first-past-the-post electoral system be replaced by a single-constituency system under a modified first-past-the-post arrangement;
  • the nominated membership to the Legislative Council be abolished and the elected membership be increased from seven to nine accordingly.

The main recommendations were accepted by HMG and the new system was used in the 2001, 2006 and 2009 elections.

Elections

Elections are held every five years on the basis of universal adult suffrage. The last general election took place on  8 September 2009, it was called early by the outgoing Chief Minister.

Government

Governor's Office:

Governor: His Excellency Mr Peter Waterworth
Head of Governor’s Office: Carol Cullen
Staff Officer: Mags Gallagher
PA/HE Governor: Ms Rachel Tanner

Government Ministers:

Chief Minister, Finance, Economic Development. The Hon Mr Reuben Meade (MCAP)
Minister for Communications and Works:  Hon Mr Charles Kirnon (MCAP)
Minister for Lands, Housing, Agriculture and Environment:  Hon Mr Easton Farrell(MCAP)
Minister for Education, Health and Community Services:  Hon Mr Colin Riley (MCAP)

HUMAN RIGHTS

Overseas Territories are expected to comply with their obligations under the international human rights instruments which have been extended to them. The following major Conventions apply in Montserrat:

  • Inter European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
  • International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights (ICESCR)
  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
  • UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT)
  • UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
  • UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

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Contacts

Montserrat, Brades, The Governor's Office

Address:

The Governor's Office
Farara Plaza
Brades
Montserrat

Telephone:

(1) (664) 491 2688/9 Office

(664) 491 6124 Governor's Residence

Fax:

(1) (664) 491 8867

Email: Govoffice.Montserrat@fco.gov.uk

Office hours:

GMT:
Mon-Fri: 1200-2000

Local Time:
Mon-Fri: 0800-1600

Website: http://ukinmontserrat.fco.gov.uk