Montserrat
Background: Much of this island has been devastated and two-thirds of the population has fled abroad due to the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano that began on 18 July 1995.
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 62 12 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area:
Area - comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 40 km Maritime claims:
Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation Terrain: volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: NEGL Land use:
Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (full-scale eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano occurred during 1996-97) Environment - current issues: land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Population:
6,409
Age structure:
Population growth rate: 20.53% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 17.48 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.49 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 195.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio:
Infant mortality rate: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality:
Ethnic groups: black, white Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations Languages: English Literacy:
Country name:
Data code: MH Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK Government type: NA Capital: Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades, in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat) Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter's Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK) National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday of June) Constitution: present constitution came into force 19 December 1989 Legal system: English common law and statutory law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch:
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 7 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
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: Movement for National Reconstruction or MNR [Percival Austin BRAMBLE]; National Development Party or NDP [leader NA]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Reuben T. MEADE]; People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [Bertrand OSBORNE] International organization participation: Caricom, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Flag description: 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
Economy - overview: Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, put a damper on this small, open economy throughout 1996-99. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the air and sea ports, 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. Construction was the dominant activity in 1997 and 1998. GDP declined again in 1998. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcano and on public sector construction activity. The UK committed about $100 million in 1996-98 to help reconstruct the economy and has programmed additional aid for 1999-2001. GDP: purchasing power parity - $31 million (1998 est.) GDP - real growth rate: -16% (1998 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA GDP - composition by sector:
Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1998) Labor force: 4,521 (1992); note - recently lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.) Budget:
Industries: tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 10 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source:
Electricity - consumption: 9 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products Exports: $1.5 million (1998) Exports - commodities: electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle Exports - partners: US, Antigua and Barbuda (1993) Imports: $26 million (1998) Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials Imports - partners: US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (1993) Debt - external: $8.9 million (1997) Economic aid - recipient: $9.8 million (1995); note - about $100 million (1996-98) in reconstruction aid from the UK; Country Policy Plan (1999) is a three-year program for spending $122.8 million in British budgetary assistance Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Telephones - main lines in use: 4,000 (1992) Telephones - mobile cellular: 70 (1994) Telephone system:
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 7,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997) Televisions: 3,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
Railways: 0 km Highways:
Ports and harbors: Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay (anchorages and ferry landing), Carr's Bay Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways:
Military branches: Police Force Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Disputes - international: none |
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