Keyola Greene - ZJB Radio

Fuel Prices Ease Slightly Following Government Freight Tariff Reduction

Consumers will enjoy a slight reprieve at the pumps following the latest fuel price adjustment. The new rates released by the Trade, Investment, and Bureau of Standards and Quality Unit, Monday show modest decreases across most petroleum products compared to August 2025. As of November 7, regular gasoline has dipped from EC$17.01 to EC$16.89, while Diesel now sells for EC$13.52, down from EC$13.99 in August. Premium Gasoline also recorded a small reduction, moving from EC$17.47 to EC$17.62, maintaining relative stability. The Government of Montserrat has attributed the latest easing to the implementation of its 50% reduction in freight tariffs across the board in a move to reduce the cost of living for residents.

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Senior Bank of Montserrat Officials Join Regional Peers at Caribbean Association of Banks 2025 Conference in Trinidad

Community, Finance, News

Senior officials from the Bank of Montserrat Limited recently joined regional financial leaders at the 2025 Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB), held from October 28 to November 1 in Trinidad. Representing the Bank were General Manager Mrs. Josephine George; IT Manager Mr. Winston Lewis; and Montserrat’s representative on the CAB Board, Mr. Cheddie Dulep, who serves as Director for the Eastern Caribbean and Barbados. The conference opened with a Sustainable Banking Roundtable, focusing on the sector’s evolving role in tackling climate change, advancing ESG principles, and promoting regulatory transformation. Concurrently, Republic Bank hosted a Small Business Workshop and Marketplace, where over 30 participants explored strategies to access finance, enhance digital capacity, and scale their businesses. On October 29, members convened for CAB’s Annual General Meeting, reviewing achievements, setting priorities for the new term, and electing the 2025–2026 Board of Directors. The day concluded with a Grand Opening Ceremony celebrating Caribbean banking excellence and innovation. Subsequent plenary sessions explored key themes shaping the financial landscape, including Banking as a Service, Cybersecurity, Relationship Banking, and Trade Finance Guarantees Later discussions examined digital transformation and sustainability, covering topics such as AI and low-code systems, intra-regional payments (CAPSS), sustainability standards (S1 and S2), and cybersecurity in the Caribbean banking industry. The event provided invaluable insights into emerging technologies, disclosure standards, and ESG integration, reinforcing CAB’s commitment to innovation and resilience in the region’s financial sector. The Caribbean Association of Banks Incorporated remains the collective voice of the Caribbean’s financial services industry, fostering collaboration, capacity building, and competitiveness across the region.

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Montserrat Union of Teachers Revives Biennial Convention After Five Years, and Elects New Executive

Community, Education, News

The Montserrat Union of Teachers (MUT) successfully hosted its Biennial Convention, the first in over 5 years, on Friday, November 7, culminating with the election of a new Executive. The convention was held at the Brades Arts and Education Centre and focused on empowerment of teachers through multiple sessions, including the importance of trade unions and the rights of workers, which was conducted by Honourable Nyota Mulcare; a Financial Health discussion with members of the St. Patricks Co-operative Credit Union on services that teachers could benefit from. A session on Psychological Wellbeing was conducted by Lester Ryan, and a session entitled Let’s Talk, facilitated by Minister of Education, Dr. the Honourable Ingrid Buffonge. The meeting also saw members of the newly elected Executive, President- Sis José White; Vice President- Sis Audris Jno Baptiste; Secretary- Sis Venice Jones; Treasurer- Sis Hyacinth Bramble-Browne; Assistant Secretary/Treasurer- Sis Jamilia Greenaway; PRO- Sis Lorraine Francois; Floor Members- Sis Althea Sweeney and Bro Mcloyd White The new executive extended sincere gratitude to its members for believing and trusting in them to present and advocate on their behalf, and to those who helped to make this year’s convention a memorable and successful one.

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Ministry Launches “Bridging the Gap” Workshops to Strengthen Parent-Teen Relationships

Community, Education, News

The Ministry of Health and Social Services is providing parents with an opportunity to strengthen their relationships with their teenagers through a new four-week workshop series. Titled “Bridging the Gap Between Parents and Teens,” the program is designed to help parents better understand and support their children through the often challenging adolescent years. The sessions begin this Wednesday, November 12th, at the Davy Hill Community Centre, and will continue weekly from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on November 12th, 19th, 26th, and December 3rd, 2025. The workshops will be co-facilitated by Dr. Dionne Imara and the Director of Social Services, Mrs. Teresena Fergus. Topics will include understanding the teenage brain and development, communication that works, boundaries, rules, and consequences, and fostering resilience, independence, and connection. According to the Ministry, the sessions aim to equip parents with practical tools to improve communication, set healthy boundaries, and build stronger family relationships. The program is open to all parents of teens, and interested participants can register by calling 495-3895 or 495-7491.

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Montserrat Strengthens Emergency Response with Successful HAZMAT and HNS Training

Community, News

The first phase of the Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) and Hazardous Noxious Substances (HNS) Training, facilitated by Ambipar Response, here, has been deemed a tremendous success. The three-day training, which began on Friday, 7 November 2025, and concluded on Sunday, 9 November 2025, brought together 27 personnel from the Montserrat Port Authority (MPA), Marine Unit of the Royal Montserrat Police Service (RMPF), the Montserrat National Oil Response Team, the Royal Montserrat Defense Force (RMDF), and the Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA). Participants were introduced to key aspects of HAZMAT and HNS incident management, including risk identification, response techniques, and equipment use for both terrestrial and marine environments. Topics covered included: • Introduction and Background • Labelling, Causes, Fates, and Effects • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Gas Monitoring • Site Set-up and Equipment Use • Tactical Response Strategies The training focused on building capacity among local response agencies to safely and effectively deploy equipment, mitigate environmental risks, and use personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with international safety standards. Upon successful completion of this phase, participants will be awarded an IMO-equivalent Certificate of Competency in HAZMAT/HNS Response, recognizing their enhanced capability to respond to hazardous material incidents across Montserrat’s terrestrial and marine areas. Meantime, the second phase of the training, focusing on the management of Hazardous Noxious Substances (HNS), commenced on Monday, 10 November 2025, and will conclude on Tuesday, 11 November 2025. This segment builds on the practical skills developed during Phase One and emphasizes incident command, response coordination, and strategic decision-making in managing HNS events. It aims to further strengthen Montserrat’s readiness and resilience in addressing environmental and maritime emergencies. The training, held at Port Little Bay and the DMCA Headquarters, was funded by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in collaboration with the Montserrat Maritime Administration (MMA) and the Montserrat Port Authority (MPA).

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Montserrat Represented at World Athletics Championship in Tokyo

News, Sports

Montserrat had reason to be proud last weekend as sprinter Sanjay Weekes carried the Emerald Isle’s flag on the global stage at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Competing in the men’s 100m preliminary round, Weekes ran a strong race to finish fourth in his heat with a time of 11.08 seconds. Though just outside the qualifying spots for the next round, the performance marked another impressive run for Weekes. Speaking after the race, Weekes reflected on both the challenges and lessons of the season. He says his focus now shifts to recovery and preparing for the next cycle of international competition.

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Montserrat Cricket Association Donates Cricket Kits to Schools

News, Sports

The Montserrat Cricket Association (MCA) has taken a major step to nurture the next generation of cricketers by donating grassroots cricket kits to the island’s three primary schools. President of the MCA, Raymond Cabey, and First Vice President, Shernyl Burns, personally presented the kits during visits to the schools last week. Principals Audris Jno Baptiste of St. Augustine Primary, Ingrid Osborne of Brades Primary, and Caren St. Rose of LookOut Primary each expressed heartfelt gratitude for the contribution, noting that the kits will go a long way in supporting student participation in the sport. In his remarks, Mr. Cabey highlighted that the kits are intended for both boys and girls, underscoring the association’s commitment to inclusivity. He emphasised that cricket is no longer just a boys’ sport and that it would be his delight to see a Montserratian forging their way into the West Indies Women’s Team in the future. The MCA’s donation reflects its broader mission to strengthen cricket development at the grassroots level and ensure that every child in Montserrat has the opportunity to engage with the sport.

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Renovation At Montserrat Secondary School Completed

Education, Government, News

The long-awaited renovation works at Montserrat Secondary School (MSS) have officially concluded. Her Excellency, Governor Harriet Cross, on Monday (September 1) was given a guided tour of the upgraded facilities, alongside Acting Director of the Public Works Department Felix Persaud, Principal Cherlyn Hogan, Head of Programmes Solomon Nyamande, and Programme Manager at the Governor’s Office Edella Woodley. The improvements include fully renovated Chemistry and Biology laboratories and adjacent classrooms in Block L, refurbished classrooms in Block M, upgraded staff room and bathroom facilities, and a newly installed, improved U-drain system. The two blocks (L&M) were closed after an assessment of government infrastructures found they were unsafe and posed a threat to life. The project forms part of a wider school rehabilitation initiative under the Capital Investment Programme for Resilient Economic Growth (CIPREG), supported by the FCDO.

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Montserrat Joins Regional Dialogue on Climate Resilience, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Development in St Lucia

Uncategorized

Montserrat was among islands represented at the Caribbean Regional Dialogue, held in St. Lucia last week. Environment Officer at the Department of Environment, Ajhermae White, attended the August 21st to the 22nd meeting, which was hosted by the OECS Commission in collaboration with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) of Japan. The two-day conference, under the theme “Advancing Resilient Prosperity”, brought together regional leaders and experts to explore opportunities in tourism, agriculture, the Blue Economy, climate and disaster risk reduction, economic development, and trade. The dialogue sought to identify shared and country-specific priorities, strengthen regional cooperation, and build lasting networks across multiple sectors. Participants engaged in panel discussions and round tables designed to inform the Global Synergy Project. Key discussions centered on the sustainable development of the Blue Economy. Panelists underscored the importance of implementing robust safeguards to protect marine environments from external threats such as climate change and the growing influx of sargassum. They noted that safeguarding marine ecosystems is not only more effective but also far less costly than attempting to restore them after damage has occurred. On climate resilience, participants emphasized the need for regional financing mechanisms to support adaptation strategies. They also highlighted the critical role of nature-based solutions such as restoring mangroves and coral reefs which provide protection against climate impacts while also benefiting tourism, biodiversity conservation, and fisheries.

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