- Overview
- Symbols
- Geography
- Leaders
- Health
- Education
- Politics
- Economy
- ICT
- Transport
- Safety
» OVERVIEW
| Country Name: |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat |
| Capital: |
name: Plymouth
geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note: Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat |
| Background: |
English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades later. The British and French fought for possession of the island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century. Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003. |
| Nationality: |
noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian |
| Population: |
5,079
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2008 est.) |
| Ethnic groups: |
black, white |
| Religions: |
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations |
| Languages: |
English |
» NATIONAL SYMBOLS
Flag
|
Blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross.
|
Coat of Arms
|
The Arms consist of a shield featuring a lady in green representing Erin, the female personification of Ireland, based on the mythology of Ériu. The lady is holding a golden harp, a symbol of Ireland that features in the Republic of Ireland's coat of arms. The cross symbolises Christianity.The Arms pay tribute to the Irish ancestry of Montserrat, as much of the population is descended from the Irish settlers exiled to the island by Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century. The Coat of Arms of Montserrat was first adopted in 1909. |
| National Anthem
|
God Save The Queen
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.
O Lord our God arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall:
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix:
God save us all.
Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen. |
National Flower
|
Heliconia (Heliconia caribaea)
The Heliconia is a large genus of attractive monocots, mostly indigenous to the Caribbean islands. The genus is made up of about 100 species of Heliconia along with a large number of hybrids and cultivars. Heliconia plants are related to bananas, cannas and gingers and usually have been included in the Banana Family. |
National Bird
|
Montserrat Oriole (Icterus oberi)
A Family of seed-eating, small to moderately large passerine birds that have strong , stubby beaks, which in some species can be quite large. They have a bouncing flight, alternating flapping with gliding on closed wings. Most sing well. 20-22 cm. Medium-sized, black-and-yellow icterid. Adult male, mostly black with yellowish lower back, rump, shoulder, lower breast, belly and undertail. Female, dull yellowish-green above and yellowish below. Immature duller. Voice Loud whistles and harsh chuur. |
National Fruit
|
Julie Mango (Mangifera indica)
The Julie Mango is a succulent variety of one of the Caribbean's favourite fruit. It can be found all over Montserrat and is ripe for the picking during the summer months. |
National Holidays
|
New Year's Day (1 Jan), St Patrick's Day (17 March), Good Friday (Mar/Apr), Easter Monday (Mar/Apr), May Bank Holiday (first Mon of May), Whit Monday (Apr/May), Queen's Birthday (12 June), Anniversary of Eruption (18 Jul), August Bank Holiday (first Mon in Mar), Christmas Day (25 Dec), Boxing Day (26 Dec). |
» GEOGRAPHY
| Geography Overview: |
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. |
|
| Location: |
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico |
| Geographic coordinates: |
16 45 N, 62 12 W |
| Area: |
total: 102 sq km
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative: |
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC |
| Land boundaries: |
0 km |
| Coastline |
40 km |
| Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: |
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation |
| Terrain: |
volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006) |
| Natural resources: |
NEGL |
| Land use: |
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: |
NA |
| Natural hazards: |
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995) |
| Environment - current issues: |
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation |
| Geography - note: |
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three major volcanic centers of differing ages |
» LEADERS
| Governor: |
His Excellency Mr Peter Waterworth |
Chief Minister, Finance, Economic Development.
|
Hon Dr Lowell Lewis (MDP) |
| Minister for Communications and Works: Hon Mrs Idabelle Meade (NPLM) |
|
| Minister for Lands, Housing, Agriculture and Environment: |
Hon Mrs Margaret Dyer-Howe (NPLM) |
| Minister for Education, Health and Community Services: |
Hon Dr John A. Osbourne (NPLM) |
» HEALTH
| Population: |
5,079
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2008 est.) |
| Age structure: |
0-14 years: 27.8% (male 738/female 675)
15-64 years: 64.8% (male 1,575/female 1,716)
65 years and over: 7.4% (male 245/female 130) (2008 est.) |
| Median age: |
total: 28.1 years
male: 28 years
female: 28.1 years (2008 est.) |
| Population growth rate: |
0.315% (2008 est.) |
| Birth rate: |
12.01 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
| Death rate: |
8.86 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
| Net migration rate: |
NA (2008 est.) |
| Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.225 male(s)/female (2008 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: |
total: 16.46 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 72.6 years
male: 74.66 years
female: 70.44 years (2008 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: |
1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
NA |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
NA |
» EDUCATION
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.) |
| Additional Resources |
|
 |
|
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006) |
| Education expenditures: |
3.3% (2004) |
» POLITICS
| Politcs Overview: |
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.
A general election took place in Montserrat on 31 May 2006. The 9 seats were contested by 3 parties – the New People’s Liberation Movement (NPLM) led by outgoing Chief Minister John Osborne, the Movement for Change and Prosperity (MCAP) led by outgoing opposition leader Rosalind Cassell-Sealy and the Montserrat Democratic Party led by Lowell Lewis – and 4 independent candidates. A 77% turnout of the 3000 strong electorate, in a well-organised and orderly election, resulted in Lowell Lewis receiving the highest number of votes, followed by 4 MCAP candidates. The remaining seats went to 3 NPLM and an independent. The new government, led by Dr Lewis, is a coalition between the MDP, the NPLM and an independent. |
| Dependency status: |
overseas territory of the UK |
| Government type: |
NA |
| Administrative divisions: |
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter |
| Independence: |
none (overseas territory of the UK) |
| National holiday: |
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926) |
| Constitution: |
effective 19 December 1989 |
| Legal system: |
English common law and statutory law |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: |
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Peter A. WATERWORTH (since 27 July 2007)
head of government: Chief Minister Lowell LEWIS (since 2 June 2006)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes chief minister |
| Legislative branch: |
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members
elections: last held 31 May 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - MCAP 36.1%, NPLM 29.4%, MDP 24.4%, independents 10.1%; seats by party - MCAP 4, NPLM 3, MDP 1, independents 1
note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council |
| Judicial branch: |
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court) |
| Political parties and leaders: |
Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS]; Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Roselyn CASSELL-SEALY]; New People's Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International organization participation: |
Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
none (overseas territory of the UK) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
none (overseas territory of the UK) |
» ECONOMY
| Economy - overview: |
Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. The UK has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain uninhabitable for another decade. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$29 million (2002 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): |
$NA |
| GDP - real growth rate |
-1% (2002 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$3,400 (2002 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 23.1%
services: 75.7% (1999 est.) |
| Labor force: |
4,521
note: lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity (2000 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: |
6% (1998 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
2.6% (2002 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $31.6 million (1997 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: |
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products |
| Industries: |
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances |
| Industrial production growth rate: |
NA% |
| Electricity - production: |
20 million kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
| Electricity - consumption: |
18.6 million kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2005) |
| Oil - production: |
0 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: |
480 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
| Oil - exports: |
0 bbl/day (2004) |
| Oil - imports: |
458 bbl/day (2004) |
| Oil - proved reserves: |
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2005) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: |
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Exports: |
$700,000 (2001) |
| Exports - commodities: |
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes, live plants; cattle |
| Exports - partners: |
US, Antigua and Barbuda (2006) |
| Imports: |
$17 million (2001) |
| Imports - commodities: |
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials |
| Imports - partners: |
US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (2006) |
| Economic aid - recipient: |
Country Policy Plan (2001) is a three-year program for spending $122.8 million in British budgetary assistance (2002 est.) |
| Debt - external: |
$8.9 million (1997) |
| Currency (code): |
East Caribbean dollar (XCD) |
| Currency code: |
XCD |
| Exchange rates: |
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
note: fixed rate since 1976 |
| Fiscal year: |
1 April - 31 March |
» INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
| Telephones - main lines in use: |
NA |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: |
NA |
| Telephone system: |
general assessment: modern and fully digitalized
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad |
| Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Radios: |
7,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: |
1 (1997) |
| Televisions: |
3,000 (1997) |
| Internet country code: |
.ms |
| Internet hosts: |
367 (2007) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
17 (2000) |
| Internet users: |
NA |
» TRANSPORTATION
| Airports: |
2 (2007) |
| Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007) |
| Roadways |
total: 227 km
note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the road system (2003) |
| Ports and terminals: |
Little Bay, Plymouth |
» DEFENCE AND SAFETY
| Military branches: |
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2008) |
| Manpower available for military service: |
males age 16-49: 2,528 (2008 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 16-49: 2,097 (2008 est.) |
| Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |
males age 16-49: 67 (2008 est.) |
| Military - note: |
defense is the responsibility of the UK |
| Authorised Strength of Police: |
NA (OSAC, 2007) |
| Homicides (per 100,000 people), 2000-2004 |
NA |
| Prison population total, 2007 |
NA |
| Prison population (per 100,000 people), 2007 |
NA |
| Prison population (% female), 2007 |
NA |
|
|
home | 
about us | 
news & events | 
contact us 
