529 M MONTSERRAT ONTSERRAT was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. It is part of the Leeward Islands group of the Lesser Antilles in the Eastern Caribbean, latitude 16° 45′ N., longitude 62° 10′ W., and has an area of 39.5 square miles. It is entirely volcanic, very mountainous and comprises three main mountain ranges, Silver Hills in the north (1,323 feet), Centre Hills (2,429 feet) and Soufrière Hills with Chance Peak, (3,000 feet) in the south. 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. There are seven active soufrières in Montserrat and a seismic station has recently been erected on the island. The relatively active seismo-volcanic activity which was in evidence in 1966 had greatly decreased by late 1967. There is no well defined rainy season in Montserrat. Normally the first six months of the year are drier than the last six months, a 50-year average showing 23.55 inches for January to June and 39.74 inches for July to December. The rainfall in 1968 at the Grove Agricultural Station was 47-03 inches against the 50-year average of 63·29 inches. The coolest time of the year when temperatures have been as low as 15.5°C (60°F) is between the months of December and March. The hottest time of the year is between June and November which is also the hurricane season. The average mean minimum temperature is 23°C (73.5°F) and the mean maximum temperature is 30°C (86.5°F). The last complete census was held in April 1960 when the population numbered 12,167. At the end of 1968 the estimated population was 14,689. During the year 332 births and 165 deaths were registered. Plymouth, the capital, had a population of 1,911 at the 1960 census. It is now estimated to have a population of 3,500. The language is English but traces of an Irish brogue can be found in parts of the island. Anglican, Methodist and Roman Catholic are the main religious denominations but in recent years Seventh Day Adventist and Pentecostal persuasions have assumed an increasing importance. The Montserrat Government maintains a 69-bed hospital. The average daily occupancy of beds in 1968 was 32. During the same year there were 1,001 admissions and 224 maternity cases, and 190 major and 280 minor operations were carried out. The Government provides free dental treatment for expectant and nursing mothers, school children and old people. The Government also operates three health centres and seven dispensaries in the country districts, an infirmary and a cleansing service. There is a family planning association and an old people's welfare association in the island. Infant mortality rates per 1,000 live births were: Montserrat is mainly an agricultural island with sea island cotton as its principal money crop. Unfavourable weather conditions, overcropping and resulting erosion over a number of years have had an adverse effect on output but efforts are being made to diversify and increase agricultural production and also to expand markets abroad for the island's produce. Estate cultivation is now almost non-existent and most agriculture is in the hands of peasant farmers. In view of this, the Government has decided to increase the size of holdings rented to peasants to a size which will make for greater viability. Since 1963 real estate development and tourism have been playing an ever increasing role in the economic development of the territory. There are three registered trade unions with a total membership of about 440. The estimated distribution of employment in December 1967 was as follows: The 912 acres of sea island cotton planted for the 1964-65 crop yielded 338 bales* of clean lint; the 1965-66 crop was planted on 1,052 acres and yielded 465 bales of clean lint valued at $175,708. The 1966-67 crop which was planted on 1,250 acres was only 146 bales, valued at $72,000. This was due to the destruction and damage of some 670 acres of the crop by hurricane 'Inez' which struck the southern part of the island on 28th September 1966. Wet weather conditions in February 1966 which favoured pest infestation were a contributing cause of the very low crop. Some 680 acres were planted for the 1967-68 season, and produced 269 bales valued at $134,500. Exports of bananas to the United Kingdom via Dominica ceased in June 1966 owing to low prices and a more profitable local market. By that time 4,573 stems had been exported valued at $4,937 compared with 14,532 stems valued at $15,523 in 1965. Hurricane 'Inez', which flattened some 80 per cent of all standing bananas, was the final blow to this industry, which has, however, continued on a small scale to serve local, Virgin Islands and Antiguan demands. During 1968 exports to these places were estimated at 616 stems, valued at $855. Exports of fruit and vegetables to the Caribbean area and beyond were maintained throughout the year. Tomato exports were valued at $5,088 whilst the export trade in mangoes was $2,280 and hot peppers valued at $12,466 of which $12,444 worth went to the United Kingdom. During the latter half of 1966 and early 1967 the Montserrat Company Limited took steps towards rehabilitating their lime orchards. The Commonwealth Development Corporation also showed some interest in the industry and 8,358 gallons of juice and 81,437 pounds of fresh limes were exported during 1967. The estimate livestock population in 1967 was: cattle 6,300; pigs 3,000; sheep 5,000; goats 3,000. The use of available land on the island is shown in the tables below:— With the assistance of Freedom From Hunger Campaign and C.D. & W. Grants, a successful fishermen's aid scheme was put into operation during 1966, and continued during 1967. By the end of 1968 a total of 37 fishermen were assisted with equipment worth $15,840. The catch for 1968 was 160,691 lb. Towards the end of 1967 a fisherman was sent on an eight months training course under the United Nations Caribbean Fisheries Development Project. Interest was shown during 1966 in the sulphur deposits to be found in the soufrières on the island and the Government enacted legislation vesting in the Crown all minerals in the Colony and providing control by the Government of prospecting for and mining minerals. During 1967 three applications were received for prospecting licences. The Government signed an agreement with one of the applicants, a Canadian company, to conduct certain mineral explorations in Montserrat. The Government operates a cotton ginnery, whilst a private company runs a small oil extraction plant using the seed obtained from the ginning process. The Government also runs a cane syrup factory for rum distilling, and a cement block making machine. Private enterprises also operate two cement block making machines, a rum distillery, two soft drink factories, a glass-fibre panel and tile factory, a liqueur distillery, a printing works, two furniture factories a lime juice concentrate plant and a bay rum factory. Values of the main domestic exports for the last four years were: †No exports of cotton lint in 1967, but crop exported in 1968. There are two Thrift Credit Unions co-operatives operating in the territory, with a membership of 1,000. Plymouth is the only port: 465 steamers, including motor vessels and sailing craft, of a gross registered tonnage of 342,238 tons entered and cleared there in 1968, landing 21,845 tons of cargo and loading 695 tons. Blackburne Airport is nine miles from Plymouth. A 3,400 feet surfaced runway was opened on 16th August 1967. Leeward Islands Air Transport Service maintains a twice-daily service between Montserrat and Antigua and a five days a week service between Montserrat and Nevis, St Kitts and St Maarten (Netherlands Antilles). There are 120 miles of roads open for traffic of which 60 miles are all-weather. A further 18 miles of road are planned for construction over the next five years. Radio Montserrat is a Government-operated station. Radio Antilles, a powerful commercial station, was brought into service in February 1966. It broadcasts in English, Spanish and French. Television can be received from Antigua (Leeward Islands Television Service) via a translator station situated on St George's Hill to the East of Plymouth. A development plan for the public sector has recently been drawn up for the five-year period 1966-70 with a proposed expenditure of $13,500,000. Important development projects which have now been completed include: (i) An island-wide electricity expansion scheme costing $1,056,000. There is now an island-wide 11 kV network and three 750 kVA diesel-powered generators have been erected in a new power station; (ii) The lengthening, widening and surfacing of Blackburne runway. This project, which has been satisfactorily completed with C.D. & W. funds, was started in 1966 and was completed 18 months later at a cost of $602,376. Further work on Blackburne with a grant of $250,000 (Canadian) continued during 1968-69. A modern air terminal building with navigational aids was officially opened in July, 1969. Major projects in the planning stage include (i) A new hospital costing $1,094,320. Architects have been appointed and it is hoped the work will be carried out commencing in 1970. (ii) Consulting engineers have completed an engineering survey of a deep water harbour, marina and improved warehousing for Plymouth. The total cost of their proposals is $3,600,000. During 1965 income tax rates were reduced with a new maximum of 20 per cent both for corporations and individuals. All property on the island was revalued for the purpose of instituting a new property tax based on the rental value of property. Increases in Government revenue and expenditure in recent years indicate the remarkable growth of Montserrat's economy. The figures below are gross, including grants-in-aid: Primary education is free in the Government and Government-aided Primary Schools throughout the territory. There are four private preparatory schools which are fee paying. In 1968 there were 3,232 children enrolled in the thirteen Government, one aided, one unaided, and four private primary schools and one Government secondary school. The secondary school, with an erolment of 263 in 1968 prepares students up to the Advanced Level of the General Certificate of Education. The literacy rate is not known. The Ford Foundation has made money available to the University of the West Indies to establish Extra-Mural Centres in each of the islands. The University has allocated $31,000 towards the Centre in Montserrat and the Government is expected to put up a matching grant. The Canadian Government has also donated $31,000. A site has been acquired and architects have been employed by the University to design the Centre which will include lecture-room, assembly hall and library. There is a small public library in Plymouth. At the end of 1968 there were 2,453 registered members of whom 1,227 were juveniles. The book stock comprised 22,900 volumes. The Government contributes towards the following Regional Organisations: West Indies Shipping Service British Caribbean Transport Advisory Council Regional Research Centre Caribbean Seismographic Research West Indies Associated States Supreme Court Regional Police Training Centre University of the West Indies |