Montserrat

MONTSERRAT

Information about travelling to Montserrat

Montserrat is located in Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

Facts about Montserrat
Population5,079 note: an esti
CapitalPlymouth
Time zoneUTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Plymouth was abandoned in 19
Location Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

General info about Montserrat
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.
Languages spoken
English
What about drugs?
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
Ethnic division
black, white
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate
NA
Climate
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Resources
NEGL
Economy
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.
Environment
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Cities in Montserrat




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