Motto

Each Endeavouring, All Achieving

Brief History

Montserrat was inhabited by Caribs and Arawaks at the time of Christopher Columbus’s discovery in 1493.  He named the island after the Monastery of Montserrat in Barcelona, Spain.

Africans were brought as slaves to work on sugar, rum arrowroot and sea- island cotton plantations and were followed by Irish Catholics who came as indentured labour.

The island first came under English control in 1632, was briefly captured by the French in 1782 and returned to the British under the Treaty of Paris.  Apart from Ireland, Montserrat is the only country to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as a public holiday, commemorating a (failed) slave uprising on 17 March 1798.

In 1869, Joseph Sturge, a philanthropist from Birmingham (UK) established the Montserrat Company, purchased failed sugar plantations and sold parcels of land to the inhabitants of the island, resulting in most of the island being owned by small land-owners.

In 1979, George Martin, the producer of the Beatles opened the AIR Recording studios in Montserrat, attracting many renown musicians to the island.

The island was devastated by two major disasters in the 20th Century: the Category 5 Hurricane Hugo in September 1989 and just as the island seemed to be recovering, the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano.  The eruption destroyed the capital, Plymouth, the airport and the port.  A new capital and port are being constructed.

General Information

Geographic Coordinates

16 45 N, 62 12 W

Area

102 sq km / 39 sq miles

Population

5,097 [0-14 years: 27.6%; 15-64 years 65.5%; 65 years and over : 6.9%]

Language

English

Religions

Roman Catholic, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist, Pentecostal, other Christian

Capital

Plymouth (Brades : de facto since eruption)

Government Type

N/A British Dependency.  Queen is Head of State, represented by Governor

Last Elections

September 2009. Next in 2014.

Opposition

Victor James - Independent

Independence

N/A – British Dependency

Constitution

19 December 1989

Legal System

Based on English common law.

Governor

Mr. Peter A. Waterworth

Airport(s)

Gerald's Airport (MNI)

Currency

Eastern Caribbean dollar. Exchange rate of XCD 2.70 = US$1.00

Literacy

97% of population

Suffrage

18 years of age

National Flower

Heliconia

National Bird

Oriole

National Dish

Goat Water

National Holidays

New Year’s Day – 1/01
Good Friday
Easter Monday
St. Patrick’s Day – March 17
Labour Day – 1st Mon. May
Whit Monday
Queen’s Official Birthday – 2nd Sat. June
Emancipation Day – 1st Mon. August
Christmas Day – 25/12
Boxing Day – 26/12
Festival Day – 31/12

National Anthem

God Save Our Queen

Working Hours

Commercial : Mon-Fri : 0800 – 1700 hours
Government : Mon-Fri : 0800 – 1400 hours

Economy

GDP (2009)[1]

XCD 75.33 M

GDP per capita (2009)

XCD 15,274

Agriculture

Vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers;  livestock

Industry

Rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Services

Tourism

External Debt (Dec.2008)

XCD 9.143 M

Government

Ministry / Office

Name of Officer

Contact Details

Chief Minister, Finance, Local Government, Immigration, Information, Communications, Regional and International Affairs, Tourism, Economic Development, Trade

Hon. Reuben Meade

P.O. Box 292, Government Headquarters, Brades

Tel.: 664 491 3378

Fax : 664 491 6780

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Finance : Tel. 491 2777 / 4430

Fax : 664 491 2367

Financial Secretary

Hon. John Skettitt

Tel.: 664 491 2356

Fax : 664 491 2367

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Parliamentary Secretary, Diaspora Affairs

Hon. David Osborne

Tel.: 664 491 2461

Permanent Secretary OCM

Elijah Silcott

Permanent Secretary, Economic

Development and Trade

Ms. Angela Greenaway

rector of Tourism

Ms. Ernestine Cassell

P.O. Box 7, Farara Plaza, Brades   Tel.: 664 491 2230 / 8730
Fax : 664 491 7430
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Minister for Communications, Works, Labour

Hon. Charles Kirnon

P.O. Box 292, Government Headquarters, Brades

Tel.: 664 491 2521 / 2522

Principal Assistant Secretary

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Tel.: 664 491 2521

Minister for Education, Health, Community Service, Youth Affairs, Sports and Culture

Hon. Colin Riley

P.O. Box 24, Government Headquarters, Brades

Tel.: 664 491 2541

Parliamentary Secretary, Youth Affairs, Community Service and Sports

Hon. Jermaine Wade

Fax: 664 491 6941

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Tel.: 664 491 5703    Fax : 664 491 6780

Permanent Secretary

Tel.: 664 491 4641

Minister for Agriculture, Lands, Housing, Environment, Ecclesiastical Affairs

Hon. Taylor Farrell

P.O. Box 292, Government Headquarters, Brades

Tel.: 664 491 2075 / 2546

Fax: 664 491 9275

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PS

Tel.: 664 491 3529

Fax : 664 491 8545

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Attorney General

Hon. James Wood

P.O. Box 129, Farara Plaza, Brades

Tel.: 664 491 4686 / 5180

Fax : 664 491 4687

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National Authorising Officer

Ms. Angela N. Greenaway

Ministry of Economic Development and Trade

Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tel.: 664 491 2066

Fax : 664 491 4632

Deputy N.A.O.

Mr. John Skerritt

Ministry of Finance                                               

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Tel.: 664 491 2777

Fax : 664 491 2367

GIS (Government Information Service)

Tel.: 758 468 2164 / 2116

Fax : 758 453 1614

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Ambassador to the OECS

Ms. Claudia Skerritt, Office of the Chief Minister

Tel.: 664 491 3378 / 3463

Fax : 664 491 6780

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