Government

The Government of Montserrat has taken another major step to secure a new passenger ferry service for the island. On Tuesday, the government opened tender for operators to provide ferry and cargo services to the island for a six-month period, from December 1st 2026 to May 31st 2027. Under the proposed arrangement, the primary service would operate between Montserrat and Antigua five to six days per week, while a secondary Montserrat-Nevis service would operate one to two days per week. The tender also provides for special voyages between Montserrat and either St. Maarten or Guadeloupe. According to the tender document, the selected operator is required to provide a fully crewed vessel and handle both passenger and cargo operations. The service provider is also responsible for fuel, agency facilitation, port charges and docking fees, while retaining passenger ticketing and cargo revenue. The tender document specifies that the proposed vessel must have a minimum certified capacity of 100 passengers, a service speed of at least 18 knots and be suitable for open-sea operations. The procurement is being conducted under the Public Procurement Act and Regulations 2025. The deadline for companies interested in providing the service to submit their tenders is Tuesday, October 27th at midday.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing, Environment and Youth has completed the installation of an essential water storage and distribution system in Blakes Estate, providing much-needed support to approximately 20 farmers operating in the area. The intervention is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to address key factors of production and create the conditions necessary for farmers to increase and sustain agricultural output across Montserrat. The newly established system includes five 1,000-gallon water storage tanks, connected through a distribution network designed to provide farmers with improved access to water. The system is also supported by dams in the surrounding area, strengthening the overall water supply infrastructure for agricultural production. Speaking about the intervention, farmer Clovis Esberry welcomed the Ministry’s investment. He said that reliable access to water will make a significant difference for farmers and will allow them to produce crops more consistently. The project was coordinated by Ministry of Agriculture Project Coordinator Joseph Espirit, who, together with two of the Ministry’s skilled young team members, Chase and Oswald, worked diligently to install and establish the storage and distribution system. The installation represents a practical investment in Montserrat’s agricultural infrastructure, particularly as farmers continue to face challenges associated with reliable water availability. Minister responsible for Agriculture, Lands, Housing, Environment and Youth, Hon. John Osborne, said the water distribution project forms part of a wider commitment by the Ministry and the UA administration to increase the factors of production available to local farmers. The Minister and his team have been advancing initiatives aimed at improving farmers’ access to financial support through the Small Business Loan (SBL) programme, as well as access to arable lands at Silver Hills, Mongo Hill and Waterworks Estate, with Groves Estate expected to be added to the available agricultural lands. With the addition of improved water access at Blakes Estate, the Ministry is continuing to build the infrastructure needed to support farmers from land preparation through to production. Minister Osborne said these investments are intended to move Montserrat closer to increased domestic food production and greater access to locally grown produce. “We are continuing to put the necessary factors of production in place — access to land, access to financing and now improved access to water — so that our farmers can produce more. The goal is simple: to increase our agricultural production so that we can all eat fresher food.” The Ministry of Agriculture will continue to work with farmers and other stakeholders to identify practical interventions that can strengthen agricultural production, improve food security and create greater opportunities for Montserrat’s farming community.

The Department of Information, Technology and E-Government Services, DITES, has set Artificial Intelligence and technology as the focus for this year’s ICT Weeks of celebration. This year’s programme will run for two weeks, from September 28th to October 9th, under the theme, “Empowering Tomorrow: AI for Everyone.” The programme is designed to explore how technology and Artificial Intelligence can help people develop new skills, work more efficiently, create new opportunities and build a more connected Montserrat. The activities will begin with the official launch and an AI practical experience at the Montserrat Cultural Centre on September 28th. An AI for Small Business and Productivity Workshop will also be held from September 28th to October 2nd. This will be followed by a Prompt Engineering and Generative AI Literacy Masterclass from October 5th to 9th. Another activity, Create with AI: Turning Ideas into Content that Sells and Serve, will take place virtually from October 6th to 8th. Weekly AI tips will also be shared online and on ZJB Radio. Throughout the two weeks, there will also be daily radio quizzes on ZJB. The activities are open to students, entrepreneurs, business owners, professionals, public officers and anyone interested in learning more about Artificial Intelligence.

Montserrat’s economic growth accelerated by 5.5 per cent in 2025, mainly driven by expansion in the construction sector. This was a key finding highlighted in the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s 2025 Economic and Financial Review for Montserrat. In comparison, sector activity across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) expanded at a measured pace, with a growth of 2.4% According to the Review, Economic activity in Montserrat is projected to expand by 3.0 per cent and 2.2 per cent in 2026 and 2027, respectively. This is expected to be fuelled by construction sector activity, with support from tourism, despite ongoing access challenges, as well as other ancillary sectors. The Review reports that Montserrat’s fiscal situation is expected to be broadly stable over the medium term. Based on past trends, the projection for continued economic expansion, and the commitment of the UK government to continue to fund the island’s key capital projects, the government is forecast to generate a primary surplus of 2.9 per cent of GDP in 2026 and 2027, respectively. It is envisaged that the ongoing infrastructural development would attract greater foreign direct investment and lead to further diversification of the economy, ultimately generating greater tax revenue for the government and resulting in less dependence on official aid. On the external front, Montserrat is expected to generate small current account deficits over the medium term as construction-related imports increase in line with ongoing infrastructural development. The ECCB’s revised reports provide a comprehensive assessment of the countries’ recent performance and economic outlook. They also update the December 2025 Annual Economic and Financial Reviews by incorporating revised economic data for 2025 and revised projections for 2026 and 2027. The inclusion of revised 2025 data provides a more accurate assessment of economic performance and establishes an updated baseline for evaluating each country’s outlook. More information from the 2025 Economic and Financial Review for Montserrat will be shared

Minister of Buildings, Utilities, Infrastructure, Labour, Transportation and Ecclesiastical Affairs, Hon. Veronica Dorsette-Hector has assured the public that the port development project will not be abandoned by the government of Montserrat. Speaking at the town hall meeting in Salem Mrs. Dorsette-Hector said that the matter is still before the court. She explained that the government had to bring the “contractual arrangements to an end through our contract and we continue to work with our legal team as well as our partners in order to advance the port project.” However, she indicated that as soon as the legal proceedings are over the government will resume this important project. “So I can tell you at this point it is still one that is ongoing and is necessary for economic development,” Mrs. Dorsette-Hector pointed out. In the meantime, she announced that talks are ongoing with a contractor to stabilized the caissons that were installed in the water. The Government of Montserrat officially terminated its EC$107.3 million Little Bay port development contract with Meridian Construction in April 2026 following persistent delays and nonperformance.

The Honourable Premier of Montserrat, Mr. Reuben Meade, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary within the Office of the Premier, Camille Thomas, travelled to St. Maarten from August 21–23, 2026, to participate in activities marking the 65th Anniversary of WINAIR. The Airport Manager, Mr. Joseph Irish also formed part of the delegation. The visit provided an opportunity for the Government of Montserrat to join WINAIR, regional partners, aviation stakeholders and other invited guests in recognising the airline’s six-and-a-half decades of service and its important contribution to regional air connectivity. During the visit, the Honourable Premier presented WINAIR with a custom-made commemorative plaque on behalf of the Government and people of Montserrat, in recognition of the airline’s 65 years of service and its continued contribution to connectivity across the Caribbean. The Honourable Premier also participated in several celebratory activities held throughout the anniversary weekend, which brought together regional stakeholders and partners to commemorate WINAIR’s longstanding contribution to aviation and regional development. Importantly, the visit also provided an opportunity for high-level discussions between the Government of Montserrat and WINAIR regarding the long-term plans and opportunities for collaboration between both parties. Discussions focused on the importance of strengthening the relationship between the Government and the airline and exploring opportunities to support Montserrat’s long-term access and connectivity objectives. The Government of Montserrat recognises that reliable, sustainable and efficient air access is critical to the island’s social and economic development. WINAIR remains an important regional aviation partner, and continued dialogue with the airline is therefore essential as Montserrat advances its broader access and connectivity agenda. The discussions held during the visit form part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to engage key regional transportation partners and identify sustainable solutions to Montserrat’s long-term transportation needs. The Government looks forward to building on these discussions and strengthening its partnership with WINAIR in the years ahead. The Honourable Premier expressed appreciation to WINAIR for the invitation to participate in the 65th Anniversary celebrations and congratulated the airline on reaching this significant milestone. The Government of Montserrat extends its sincere congratulations to WINAIR on 65 years of service and wishes the airline continued success as it begins the next chapter of its journey and its contribution to regional connectivity.

The Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) is part of efforts to strength regional knowledge sharing and collaboration in disaster preparedness. The DMCA has welcomed Trinidad and Tobago national Fiona Guzman, for a 10-week internship, starting on Monday August 24th. The training opportunity forms part of the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) Regional Internship Programme. During her placement, Ms. Guzman will assist the DMCA with key disaster resilience initiatives, including vulnerability mapping for hurricanes, tsunamis, flash floods and other hazards. Her work will support the Agency’s ongoing efforts to strengthen hurricane and other hazard preparedness, disaster resilience and risk-informed decision-making for the Government and people of Montserrat. Ms. Guzman says she is excited to be working in Montserrat, gaining practical experience, learning about the island’s disaster management programme and contributing to initiatives that strengthen community resilience and preparedness. Information and Education Officer, Ms. Shirlian Queeley, will serve as Ms. Guzman’s country mentor and DMCA supervisor. The Management and staff of the DMCA warmly welcome Ms. Guzman to Montserrat and look forward to working with her during her internship. The CCRIF Regional Internship Programme provides recent university graduates and postgraduate students from CARICOM and CCRIF Caribbean member countries with practical, career-related experience in areas including disaster risk management, climate change, risk modelling and disaster risk financing. Guzman holds a BSc in Environmental and Natural Resource Management from The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus.