News

Registration is now open for the fifth edition of the Produced in Montserrat Expo – PRIME 2025. The announcement was made by the Government of Montserrat’s Trade and Quality Infrastructure Division, with the support of the Montserrat Arts Council, and the Montserrat Tourism Authority. Interested vendors are invited to complete the online registration form available at prime.gov.ms. The registration fee from May 26th to June 16th 2025 is $50 EC dollars. The fee for late registration, from June 17th to July 11th, 2025 is $100 EC dollars. All payments must be made at the Montserrat Arts Council. PRIME highlights Montserrat’s vibrant entrepreneurial community, providing a dynamic platform for vendors to promote their products, connect with customers, and unlock new opportunities for growth and visibility. This milestone event will be held under the theme “Connect, Expand, Thrive – PRIME Turns 5 in 2025.” PRIME 2025 is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27, 2025, at the Montserrat Cultural Centre. To celebrate five years of growth and innovation, PRIME aims to go beyond local exposure this year, by connecting Montserrat-made products and services with regional and international partners and buyers. Vendors will benefit from enhanced promotional opportunities, tailored business support, and a vibrant event atmosphere. As part of this milestone celebration, PRIME 2025 will also feature a Youth Entrepreneur Product Innovation Competition. This competition is designed to engage Montserrat’s youth and young persons in entrepreneurship and product development. It aims to encourage and empower the next generation by highlighting the creativity, innovation, and talent of young entrepreneurs as they develop and present locally inspired, innovative product concepts for the expo. For further information, persons can contact the Trade and Quality Infrastructure Division at 664-491-2066 or email trade@gov.ms.

Montserrat took part in the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Consultative Meeting with Financial Secretaries of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union for 2025. Financial secretary, Kenya Lee attended the event, which was held under the theme, “Unlocking Financing for Climate Resilience.” The meeting took place on May 28th at the ECCB Headquarters in St. Kitts. This Consultative Meeting is a biannual forum that brings together the Financial Secretaries from across the ECCU to discuss topical policy issues impacting the region and to engage in capacity building. Featured presentations included: “a regional debt swap” by Sebastian Espinosa from White Oak Advisory; “fuel pricing reform” by Emine Hanedar from the International Monetary Fund; “climate issues” by Chamberlain Emmanuel from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission; and “legislative updates” by Vilette Benjamin from the ECCB. Governor of the ECCB, Timothy Antoine chaired the meeting. Seven of the eight ECCU Financial Secretaries, together with ECCB management and staff were in attendance.  

The Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Wednesday called on Montserrat and other Caribbean states to be fully prepared for the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season that gets under way on Sunday June 1. CDEMA executive director, Elizabeth Riley, reminded regional media practitioners that in 2024, the Caribbean had to deal with Hurricane Beryl, a category five storm, within days of the start of the hurricane season. She laments that these are some of the possibilities that the climate scientists have said were going to be possible… and now the region is seeing it and there is a likelihood that this trend will continue with these types of very different patterns in how the cyclones are taking place with a lot of diversity, not only in the cyclones, but also in severe weather. Riley emphasizes the point that it is important to follow the science, listen to the guidance from the climate scientists and also to learn from previous events. The CDEMA Executive Director adds that with Beryl, for instance, happening so early in the season in 2024, all of the national emergency coordinators across the region are very mindful of this. Riley told reporters that in some islands, a “political direction” had been given to complete those preparedness actions “as early as the end of April. There are 21 named storms for this year’s hurricane season and last week, regional forecasters predicted a “potentially intense, but erratic” 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, saying the frequency of Saharan dust will affect cyclone formation even as they noted that storms could form between these dust episodes. Climatologist at the Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), Cédric Van Meerbeeck, said CIHM has 70 per cent confidence in its forecast that there will be 19 named storms, with nine becoming hurricanes and four of them major hurricanes, but noted that the forecast will be updated later in the hurricane season. He noted that the annual average is 14 named storms, with seven becoming hurricanes and three major hurricanes, during the season that runs from June 1 to November 30. Riley said as the region prepares for the hurricane season, it is once again reminded of its vulnerability and the ongoing need for preparedness.

Montserrat’s emergency response agencies were put to the test to evaluate how prepared they are to respond to major incidents here. A National Table-Top exercise was conducted at the Disaster Management Coordination Agency- DMCA conference room on Wednesday. The tabletop workshop was designed to evaluate how key agencies would coordinate during a mass-casualty event, such as a tourist bus crash on the island’s back roads. The objective was to strengthen overall emergency response across a range of potential threats. Participating agencies included the Royal Montserrat Defence Force, the Royal Montserrat Police Service, Fire and Rescue Service, the Glendon Hospital disaster health team, the Montserrat Port Authority, the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, Red Cross, the Tourism Division, and the Office of the Deputy Governor. The exercise focused on improving coordination between local responders and services and tested the island’s capabilities to respond swiftly and efficiently, as well as identifying areas for improvement. According to facilitator and Senior Disaster Management Coordinator, Astrid Wade, a national exercise is being planned as a follow-up to this session. He says that unlike the tabletop format, the next phase will include a practical, on-the-ground simulation, allowing agencies to physically test their response procedures in real time. Radio Montserrat (ZJB) · Senior Disaster Management Coordinator, Astrid Wade – Plans for Follow-Up National Exercise

The St Augustine Roman Catholic primary school will this weekend host a fundraising radiothon on Radio Montserrat to raise funds for programmes and improvements at the learning institution..   The event will take place on Saturday from 12-noon.   Principal of the school Audris Jno-Baptiste told ZJB News that the appeal is for Nationals at home and in the diaspora to support the school’s mission to continue delivering quality education on island.   The radiothon forms part of the school’s festivities to mark 150 years of excellence in the discipline, and to raise vital funds to support ongoing programmes and improvements at the school.   According to Ms Jno-Baptiste the event is a chance for alumni, parents, and well-wishers to give back to an institution that has played a pivotal role in shaping generations of Montserratians.     Supporters will be able to donate and pledge their support by calling on-air numbers (664) 491-7227 or 9064, or off-air at (664) 493-4768.   Potential donors are also asked to made their contributions via WhatsApp at (664) 496-2885.   The St Augustine Primary School’s principal states that funds can also be paid directly into the school’s account at the Bank of Montserrat, account number 651-8989, and donations are accepted via the Bank of Montserrat mobile app, Neteller transfer, direct deposit, and US or Pound Sterling wire transfers.

The Royal Montserrat Police Service (RMPS) has announced a number of promotions within its ranks. Acting Commissioner of Police, Charles Thompson, says the promotions follow the completion of the recent promotion process. In announcing the promotions, Mr Thompson says Sergeant Jessica Sweeney has been promoted to the rank of Inspector with immediate effect. Ms. Sweeney joined the Police Service 2nd July, 1996 and has gained experience in several areas of the organization. She current supervises the Financial Crime and Analysis Unit at Sweeney’s. Mr Thompson also reports that Sergeant Chantal Hussey has been promoted to Acting Inspector, effective February 15 to October 31, 2023. Sgt Hussey joined the Police Service on the 22nd July, 2005. She has worked in several areas of the service and currently supervises the Safe Guarding Unit. According to the Acting Commissioner of Police, Sergeant Mataniah Antoine has been promoted to the rank of Inspector effective 1st May, 2023. However, he will act in that position from 1st April, 2023. Sgt Antoine joined the Police Service on the 13th May, 2003 and has worked in several areas of the Police Service. He currently works at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in the Forensic Unit. Mr Thompson reveals that Sergeant Sherandy Tyrone Fenton has been promoted to the rank of Inspector effective 15th July, 2023. However, he will act in that position from 1st April, 2023. Sgt Fenton joined in the Police Service on the 1st January, 2005, and has worked in several areas of the Police Service. He currently supervises the Traffic Department. The newly appointed inspectors will be supported in their development and has responsibility for specific portfolios. The Management Team wishes the newly appointed inspectors every success in their new roles as they seek to carry the vision and mission of the RMPS forward.