EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (Presided over by the Governor) The Attorney-General (ex-officio) The Secretary for Home Affairs (ex-officio) Appointed Official Member: Dr G. H. Choa, CBE (Director of Medical and Health Services) Clerks to the Legislative Council: D. Barton; K. H. Wheeler JUDICIARY Chief Justice: Sir Geoffrey Briggs Puisne Judges: A. A. Huggins; A. M. McMullin; W. F. Pickering; P. F. X. Leonard; S. Li Fook-Sean; J. P. Trainor; D. Cons; M. Morley-John; E. G. Baber; T. L. Yang Registrar, Supreme Court: J. R. Oliver CIVIL ESTABLISHMENT GOVERNOR AND CommandER-IN-CHIEF Colonial Secretary: Sir Denys Roberts, Principal Assistant Financial Secretary: Lau Political Adviser: A. E. Donald Accountant General: D. W. A. Blye, OBE Director of Audit: G. E. Lyth Director of Broadcasting: J. B. Hawthorne Director of Civil Aviation: R. E. Downing Director of Education: K. W. J. Topley Director of Government Supplies: F. J. Secretary for Housing: I. M. Lightbody CMG Director of Immigration: M. Rowlands Commissioner of Inland Revenue: F. E. General Manager, Kowloon-Canton Rail- Law Officers: London: Attorney-General: J. W. D. Hobley, QC Director of Medical and Health Services: Secretary for New Territories: D. Akers- Commissioner of Police: B. Slevin, OBE, Postmaster-General: M. Addi Government Printer: J. R. Lee Commissioner of Prisons: T. G. Garner Director of Water Supplies: W. T. Knight Director of Building Development: D. W. Commissioner of Rating and Valuation: Registrar-General: W. Hume Director of Royal Observatory: G. J. Bell Commissioner for Transport: I. F. C. Director of Urban Services: D. R. W. * * Chairman, Public Services Commission: MONTSERRAT ONTSERRAT 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, and together with most West Indian Islands Montserrat has a seismographic recording station. There is no well defined rainy season. Normally the first six months of the year are drier than the last six months, a 55-year average showing 23-08 inches for January to June and 28-32 for July to December. The rainfall in 1973 at the Grove Agricultural Station was 38-27 inches against the 55-year average of 61.68 inches. The coolest time of the year when temperatures have been as low as 18.5°C (65°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. A regional census was held in 1970 and the final figures for Montserrat show a total population of 11,458 of which about 3,000 live in Plymouth, the capital. The estimated population as at 31st December 1973 was 12,230. The language is English with traces of an Irish brogue in parts of the island. Anglican, Methodist and Roman Catholic are the main religious denominations. The Monserrat Government maintains a 58 bed hospital. The average daily occupancy of beds in 1973 was 68.3. During the same year there were 1,369 admissions and 249 maternity cases, and 302 major and 319 minor operations were carried out. The Government provides free dental treatment for expectant and nursing mothers, school children and old people. There are three health centres and nine clinics in the country districts, an infirmary and a cleansing service. Infant mortality rates per 1,000 live births were: There is a family planning association and an old people's welfare association in the island. At the 30th April 1973 the distribution of employment was recorded as: A three-year Development Plan (1975-1977) outlines the considerable efforts being made to redevelop the Agricultural Industry. While cotton, the most important cash crop, is being taken over by livestock production and market gardening, the inputs of fertilizers and chemicals into the industry were fully subsidised in an effort to demonstrate once and for all if it could be profitably continued. The Development Plan places great emphasis on the production of tree crops. Experimental work is centred largely around Irish potatoes. Other trials take the form of demonstration plots being established throughout the island. The production of tomatoes, carrots, onions and Irish potatoes form the basis for a developed market gardening programme aimed both at the export trade and the internal trade which includes retirement homes and tourist hotels. The estimated livestock population in 1973 was: cattle 3,800; pigs, 2,888; sheep 3,600 and goats 3,100. The use of available land on the island in 1972 is shown in the tables below. Since then the area of land farmed has decreased. Current supplies of locally caught fish average about 10,000 lbs. per month. Actual in 1973 was 139,615 lbs. Loans are available from the Development Finance and Marketing Corporation for the purpose of financing boat construction and purchasing equipment. An arrangement with UNDP has made a fisheries expert available. The Government operates a cotton ginnery. Values of the main domestic exports for the last four years, in East Caribbean Plymouth is the only port. 499 ships including Motor Vessels and Sailing Craft of a gross registered tonnage of 325,597-74 tons entered and cleared here in 1973 landing 26,742 tons of cargo and loaded 777 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, and St Kitts. Radio Montserrat is a Government-operated station. Radio Antilles, a powerful commercial station, broadcasts in English, Spanish and French. Tele |