Montserrat

Montserrat, a part of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, is located in the Leeward Islands. It is an overseas territory of United Kingdom. United Kingdom looks after the defense responsibilities of the small island. Brades is the de facto capital of Montserrat.  The once capital of Montserrat, Plymouth was devastated and abandoned.

HISTORY:- The Arawaks and the Caribs dwelled in the region before Christopher Columbus arrived and claimed Montserrat for Spain in 1493. In 1632, the island came under the British. During the American Revolutionary War, the island was briefly occupied by the French but the island was ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Paris. In 1834, slave trade was abolished. Until 1958, Montserrat was administrated as a part of the Leeward Islands. In 1958, the island joined the Federation of the West Indies and remained with the Federation of the West Indies until its downfall in 1962. The inhabitants of Montserrat gained full residency rights in the United Kingdom in 1998, and citizenship in 2002.

GEOGRAPHY:- Montserrat is located at 16 45 N, 62 12 W in the Caribbean region. The small island nation spans through 102 sq km area with no significant internal water sources. The coastline is 40 km long along with the Caribbean Sea. The lowest point is the Caribbean Sea (0 m) while the highest point is the lava dome in English's Crater situated in the Soufriere Hills volcanic complex (approximately 930 m). The island is mostly volcanic with mountains, and small coastal lowlands. The island has two islets- Little Redonda and Virgin.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Montserrat is mostly tropical with slight daily or seasonal temperature variations.

GOVERNMENT:- Montserrat is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The constitution was imposed on 19th December 1989. The legal system is based on the English common law and the statutory law. The three principal branches of the government body of Montserrat are:

Executive branch comprise the Queen of United Kingdom (chief of state), the Governor, the Chief Minister (head of government), and the Executive Council. The Queen is represented by the Governor, who is appointed by the monarch. The leader of the majority party is usually elected the chief minister. The executive council is formed of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

 Montserrat Democratic Party, Movement for Change and Prosperity, and New People's Liberation Movement are the major political parties of Montserrat. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

Queen    Elizabeth II

Governor   Peter Andrew Waterworth

Chief Minister   Lowell Lewis

 ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Montserrat is divided into 3 parishes:

Saint Anthony Parish

Saint Georges Parish

Saint Peter Parish.

CULTURE:-Cricket and football are the most popular sports of Montserrat. Montserrat is very rich in folk music.

ECONOMY:- Montserrat has a small and open economy.

GDP/PPP (2002 est.): $29 million; per capita $3,400.

Real growth rate: –1%.

Inflation: 2.6% (2002 est.).

Unemployment: 6% (1998 est.).

Arable land: 20%.

Agriculture: Cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products.

Labor force: 4,521; note: recently lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity (2000 est); agriculture n.a., industry n.a., services n.a.

Budget:  

Revenues: $31.4 million

Expenditures: $31.6 million (1997 est.)

Debt - external: $8.9 million (1997)

Industries: Tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances.

Natural resources: NA.

Exports: $700,000 (2001): electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle.

Exports - partners: US, Antigua and Barbuda (2006)

Imports: $17 million (2001): machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials.

Imports - partners: US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (2006)

Major trading partners: U.S., Antigua and Barbuda, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (2004).

Monetary unit: East Caribbean dollar

LANGUAGE:- English is the official language of Montserrat.

CITIES:- The de facto capital of Montserrat is Brades while the abandoned official capital is Plymouth. Other villages are:

Davy Hill

Farells Yard

Flemmings

Gerald's

Hope

Little Bay

LookOut

Old Towne

Olveston

Saint John's

Salem

Sweeney's

Woodlands.

POPULATION:- The approximate population of Montserrat is 9,538 with an average growth rate of 1.0%.

Density per sq mi: 247

Literacy rate: 97%

RACE:- Black and white (mostly of mixed Irish and African descent) reside in the small island.

RELIGION:- Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations.

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 17.33 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 6.95 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 6.86 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.15 years

Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

UNICEF:- UNICEF in the country focuses on children care and protection. To fight HIV, awareness campaigns are organized, blood samples are being sent for testing. UNICEF also helps to bring back the teenage mothers in school for the completion of their studies. Montserrat is measles, polio and smallpox free.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: 0 km (2003).

Highways: total: 227 km (2003).

Ports and harbors: Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay (anchorages and ferry landing), Carr's Bay.

Airports: 2 (2007); paved runways: total: 2.