Community

The Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) has welcomed the unearthing of the Belham Valley Bridge. That’s according to DMCA Senior Disaster Management Coordinator, Astrid Wade. Mr. Wade said the Belham Valley Bridge project improves emergency access to Isle Bay Hill and other areas south of the Belham Valley, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall. The project was a collaborative effort between the Public Works Department, the Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) and the private sector. Waterway and roadway work in the Belham Valley have resulted in the bridge being unearthed and accessible for vehicular traffic during heavy rainfall. Roadways, culverts, and drainage infrastructure along Happy Hill, Dr Wood’s, and Isles Bay Hill Main Roads have also been unearthed, with guttering and culverts cleaned and restored to improve water flow. The main water channels in the Belham Valley have also been excavated in preparation for rainfall, which should reduce impassibility caused by lahars. The Belham Valley Bridge had been buried for over 20 years due to repeated lahar activity. Its restoration now provides permanent access to and from the northern side of the island, especially during extreme weather events, significantly improving safety for residents of Isle Bay Hill, Woodsville, Corkhill, Weekes, Richmond Hill, Fox’s Bay, and Delvin’s, as well as tour operators, sand miners, farmers, and livestock owners.

Premier the Honourable Reuben T. Meade says there has been no firm commitment on the commencement of discussions on a compact with the British Government. Speaking in Parliament this week he stated that, as with the White Paper, this document will be made public once they’ve started the process.  Discussions on the compact started at the recently concluded Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) in London. The Premier said he was unaware of what the proposal would be, but once this is forthcoming from the UK, there will be public discussions and consultations on such a compact.  The UK and the Territories agreed at the JMC to develop Partnership Compacts between the UK and any Territory that wishes to. Partnership Compacts are intended to provide tailored, practical frameworks for advancing shared priorities, and to signal a renewed commitment to partnership.  The Territories noted the development of a UK Government Charter on Engagement with the Overseas Territories which seeks to reinvigorate and strengthen how the UK Government engages with the Territories.

Two members of the Royal Montserrat Defence Force- RMDF recently completed a week-long drone operations and certification programme aimed at strengthening the island’s capacity in emergency response, surveillance, and modern aerial technologies. From November 17 to 21, Lieutenant Darion Darroux and Lance Corporal Darius Lewis, joined other personnel from several frontline agencies in Montserrat to participate in a rigorous curriculum covering airframes, aviation law, safety regulations, meteorology, basic and advanced drone operations, airspace management, payload use, and best practices from the UK, EU, and US. The programme was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), facilitated by expert trainers from the United Kingdom, and coordinated locally by the RMPS. The programme also saw participation from the Royal Montserrat Police Service (RMPS), the Montserrat Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS), the Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA), and the Montserrat Customs and Revenue Service (MCRS). The training combined classroom instruction with practical exercises, including live drone flights conducted alongside active manned aviation- a key real-world scenario that requires careful coordination to ensure both safety and mission success. Trainees also carried out limited Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) flights over land and sea, an increasingly important capability as local agencies look to modernise operations. The week concluded on November 21 with a joint exercise involving Search and Rescue trainees, where drone operators supported a simulated missing-person mission and demonstrated the skills gained during the course. All participants received certificates recognizing their successful completion of the programme. Officials say the training has significantly enhanced Montserrat’s readiness to use unmanned aircraft systems in critical areas such as emergency response, public safety, tourism support, and disaster management.