Montserrat (island)

I

Introduction

Montserrat (island), island, dependent territory of the United Kingdom, one of the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, located in the Caribbean Sea some 43 km (27 mi) south-west of Antigua and 55 km (34 mi) north-west of Guadeloupe. Plymouth, on the south-west, is the capital, main harbour, and until the mid-1990s was the only major community. The recent eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano has rendered Plymouth uninhabitable.

II

Land and Resources

The island, 102 sq km (39 sq mi) in area, is volcanic in origin and mountainous, with characteristically serrated peaks. The highest point is Chances Peak (915 m/3,000 ft) located in the south in the Soufriere Hills, which have fumaroles (gas and steam vents) and other evidence of active volcanism. In July 1995, after millennia of dormancy, the Soufriere Hills Volcano to the east of Chances Peak became active again. Subsequent eruptions of ash, steam, and magma led to fears of a major explosive eruption and forced the evacuation of the south of the island. By March 1997 a new dome had been built up, reaching some 940 m (3,084 ft) above sea level, and in June 1997 the volcano erupted in nuées ardentes (pyroclastic flows) in which dust, rock, and gas are ejected at temperatures of up to 550° C (1,000° F) and at speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph).

The climate of Montserrat is tropical, tempered by ocean winds. More than 1,500 mm (60 in) of rain is spread throughout the year, supporting a lush vegetation that has helped give the island the sobriquet “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean”. Almost one quarter of the island is forested. Montserrat is subject to occasional hurricanes, notably in 1989 when Hurricane Hugo devastated the island.

III

Population and Government

Montserrat’s population was estimated in 1994 to be about 10,581, of whom about 3,500 (1991 estimate) lived in the capital, Plymouth. However, as a result of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano from mid-1995 onwards, the population of Plymouth and other settlements in the south of the island—some 6,000 people in total—had to be evacuated to the north, causing considerable overcrowding. By mid-1997 it was estimated that more than 4,000 Montserratians had left the island, at least temporarily. Outmigration generally has kept the population relatively stable in recent decades. However, together with the island’s large community of retired expatriates (mainly North Americans), outmigration has also contributed to the ageing of Montserrat’s population.

The majority of the population is black, the descendants of African slaves. The official language is English, with a local dialect in everyday use. Most people belong to Protestant denominations, notably Anglican, Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, and Pentecostalist. However, there is also a strong Roman Catholic tradition reflecting the island’s settlement in the early colonial period by Irish Catholic exiles. The culture is a blend of Irish and African traditions; the Irish influence is seen in aspects of the island’s cuisine, in the names of places and people, and in the annual celebrations for St Patrick’s Day.

Under the 1960 constitution Montserrat has a limited form of self-government. A governor, appointed by the British monarch, is responsible for defence, external affairs, and internal security. The governor is also head of the seven-member Executive Council. The 12-member, partly elected Legislative Council sits for five-year terms.

IV

Economy

Normally service industries dominate the economy of Montserrat. Tourism is of most importance, normally contributing 25 to 30 per cent of gross domestic product and annual earnings of about US$10 million. The island has taken advantage of improvements in telecommunications to become a data-processing and computing centre of regional significance. Financial services expanded rapidly during the 1980s, but a banking scandal in 1989 led to the closure of many offshore banks in the early 1990s; in 1994 there were 21 offshore banks on the island, compared with more than 340 just before the scandal broke. The manufacturing sector is also important, accounting for more than 80 per cent of the island’s exports. The assembly and export of electronic components is the main activity, but agricultural processing and the manufacture of garments, plastic bags, and leather goods is also significant. The construction sector is an important source of employment, accounting for some 17 per cent of the labour force. The agricultural sector was formerly the mainstay of the economy. Today, production is primarily for domestic consumption. Crops include potatoes, tomatoes, mangoes, limes, rice, and sea island cotton. Cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry are kept. The volcanic eruption has, however, made much of the farmland uncultivable.

Earnings from the service sector, combined with remittances from Montserratians living abroad, normally offset the island’s large trade imbalance—export earnings cover only one tenth of import costs. However, the continuing eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano has led to a decline in tourist arrivals that, combined with the costs of relocating almost two thirds of the population, has had a detrimental impact on the island’s finances, and economy generally. The government of the United Kingdom has agreed to provide funds to finance any evacuation and subsequent rehabilitation programmes.