News - ZJB Radio

Premier Meade Advances Discussion On Geothermal Production

Discussions on the implementation of geothermal energy on Montserrat are in progress. According to Premier the Hon. Reuben T. Meade, the topic of renewable energy was broached during his recent trip to the United Kingdom. He says “we also had discussions on geothermal and the possibilities for geothermal after quite a bit of work was done by the Oxford University, Oxford Institute. So we’re following along and using their guidance as well in terms of what are the possibilities. The premier also reveals his request that a tender document be prepared for the production of geothermal energy using the existing wells. “Not for exploration but utilizing the wells that are there for the production of geothermal. And that’s straight tender rather than looking for requests for proposals. So that we’re expecting that once those are out that we’ll be in a position to handle those,” the Premier explained.

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MONTSERRAT PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNOUNCES 2026 SUMMER READING CAMP

News

The Montserrat Public Library has announced that registration is open for its 2026 Summer Reading Program. This year’s program is being held under the theme: Roots & History: Stories of Montserrat — My Country. My Heritage. Our Story. Through the program, children ages 5 to 12 will explore the rich history and culture of Montserrat through reading over the summer. The summer reading program will run from July 27th to August 21st 2026. The registration link can be found on the Montserrat Public Library Facebook page. Registration can also be done at the library.

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Family Fun Day to Bring Together Montserratians Across the UK

Community, Diaspora, News

Excitement is rising for the upcoming Montserrat Overseas People’s Progressive Association (MOPPA) Family Fun Day. The day of unity, culture, and community takes place on Saturday July 11th, 2026, from 12:00 to 8:00 PM at Chestnuts Park, Haringey N15 3AQ. MOPPA spokesperson Keima Allen appeared on ZJB Radio on Tuesday to share information on the event. She gave details on the different activities taking place throughout the day, inviting everyone to attend. She also shared transportation details for persons travelling from different parts of the United Kingdom. Free tickets to the event can be acquired on www.eventbrite.co.uk by searching MOPPA Family Fun Day. More information about the event can also be found on Keima Allen’s social media pages.

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Community Invited to Learn How to Protect Kidney Health

Community, Government, Health, News

The Ministry of Health here is hosting an informative session on Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) next week. The session will feature Visiting Consultant Nephrologist Dr. Nanveet Kalsi who will be discussing topics such as Keeping your kidneys healthy, How NCDs affect kidney function, Living with CKD, and Dialysis and treatment options. The session will be held on Wednesday, 1 July 2026 from 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m at the Davy Hill Community Centre. All are invited to attend. Meantime, in a radio message, public health nurse, Nurse Sylvia Julien explained the impacts of Kidney disease. She also shared ways persons can reduce the risk of Chronic Kidney Disease.

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Citizenship Ceremony Marks New Chapter for 31 Residents

Community, News

Eight individuals on Montserrat were conferred as British Overseas Territories Citizens, while twenty-three were conferred as British Citizens on Wednesday morning. The Citizenship Ceremony for the Conferment of British Overseas Territories Citizenship and British Citizenship was held at the Governor’s Residence. During her opening remarks, Governor, Her Excellency Harriet Cross, welcomed Montserrat’s newest citizens into what she described as a growing family, thanking them for choosing the island and expressing confidence in the contributions they will continue to make to its future. Minister of Agriculture, et al, Honourable John P. Osborne, thanked the recipients for choosing to remain in Montserrat despite the hardships following Hurricane Hugo and the Soufrière Hills volcanic crisis, describing their commitment as an act of courage and faith that has not been forgotten. The ceremony was organized by the Office of the Deputy Governor, underscoring the Government’s continued commitment to recognizing and welcoming new members into the national community.

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Public Service Week Launches Months of Recognition and Wellness Activities

Community, Government, News

The Office of the Deputy Governor has officially launched Public Service Celebration Activities 2026, with this year’s observation taking place under the theme “Public Service with Purpose: Serving Today, Shaping Tomorrow.” The activities will run from June through October and are designed to recognize and celebrate the dedication, professionalism and contributions of public officers across the Government of Montserrat. The programme will begin during Public Service Week with an official launch on June 23, featured remarks from Deputy Governor, Honourable Lindorna Lambert-Sweeney, who will also undertake visits to ministries and departments over the coming months to engage with staff and learn more about their work and achievements. A range of activities has been planned to promote wellness, professional development, teamwork and public service excellence. These include a Public Service Trivia Challenge, a Fitness Video Challenge, a Ministry Video Showcase and a Jingle Competition aimed at highlighting the values of the public service. Public officers will also be encouraged to participate in wellness-focused initiatives, including health screenings, a Sneaker, Jeans and Water Day, and a series of “Talking Health” radio programmes addressing topics such as mental health, stress management and work-life balance. Additional activities include monthly Lunch and Learn sessions, a debate and panel discussion on the future of the public service, a community engagement project with the Lookout Warden Assisted Senior Citizens Home (LOWSA), a Public Service Sports Day and a Civil Servants Recognition Event to honour outstanding officers and unsung heroes. The Office of the Deputy Governor is encouraging public officers to take part in the various activities, noting that the celebration provides an opportunity to recognize achievements, strengthen relationships across ministries and departments, and reflect on ways to continue building a modern, responsive and citizen-focused public service.

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COMMISSIONER OF FINANCIAL SERVICES FORMALIZES MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH PANAMA

Finance, News

The Commissioner of Financial Services (FSC) of Montserrat paid a recent courtesy visit on the superintendency of the Banks of Panama, Milton Ayon Wong and his technical team. Fabian Singh was accompanied by his deputy, Donilia Cuffy to the meeting in Panama City. Both Singh and Wong formalized a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the joint supervision of licensed international banks. This collaborative framework ensures alignment with regional Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) regimes. During courtesy engagements in Panama City, representatives from both entities—including FSC Commissioner Fabian Singh and Panama’s banking regulators—discussed critical regulatory objectives. The updated MoU strengthens prudential and financial oversight frameworks between the two jurisdictions. Discussions highlighted Montserrat’s Publicly Accessible Register of Beneficial Ownership (PARBO) and Panama’s ongoing advancements in corporate transparency. Both agencies are preparing for upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) Mutual Evaluations. Also, during the meeting, both authorities (Singh and Wong), exchanged experiences and addressed issues of common interest related to banking supervision, financial transparency, and international regulatory challenges. The meeting highlighted the importance of cooperation and sharing of experiences between he regulatory bodies of Panama and Montserrat, and strengthening institutional bonds for for the benefit of the stability and integrity of their financial systems.

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Future of Overseas Territories White Paper Still Under Consideration

Community, News

An urgent call for a new policy document on the British Overseas Territories has been gently rebuffed by the UK Government. According to reports, the UK Government insists it is “open-minded about future options” and will keep the idea “under review”. The OT’s had pushed for a new White Paper, 14 years after the last one was published, during an inquiry this year by a House of Lords committee at Westminster. James White Jr has been following the latest development.

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Public Survey Reveals Mixed Reactions to Montserratians Overseas Voting in Local Elections

News

As expected there was a mixed reaction to the issue of allowing Montserratians living overseas to vote in elections in Montserrat. Addressing the recent public survey launched by the Electoral Commission, Supervisor of Elections Barrington Chalmers says persons came down on both sides of the argument.

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Case Study Highlights Local Partnership Behind Cervical Cancer Strategy

Health, News

Montserrat’s efforts to use local health data to combat cervical cancer have been highlighted in an international case study. Published by the Data to Policy Navigator, a global platform supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the case study showcases how the Ministry of Health and Social Services, in partnership with the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), used local research and data analysis to guide the development of a national cervical cancer elimination strategy. According to the report, titled Using Data to Support Cervical Cancer Elimination in Montserrat, the island has faced challenges in cervical cancer prevention due to low screening rates, limited uptake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, and reliance on costly overseas testing for Pap smear samples. To address these challenges, the Ministry conducted an HPV prevalence study among women aged 25 to 64 between 2024 and 2025. Using geographic information system technology and data from the 2023 Population and Housing Census, researchers identified households across the island and invited eligible women to participate in the study. Samples were tested locally at Glendon Hospital using GeneXpert technology, reducing result turnaround times from several weeks to just a few hours.The study found that 14.6 per cent of women tested positive for high-risk HPV, meaning approximately one in seven women of screening age on the island were at an elevated risk of cervical disease. Researchers also recorded a 92 per cent participation rate among eligible women who were invited to take part.The findings are now being used to guide decisions on HPV vaccination, screening programme design, diagnostic equipment investment, and the development of a national cervical cancer elimination strategy. The study also established on-island HPV DNA testing capability, significantly reducing both costs and waiting times for patients. The report notes that Montserrat’s experience may serve as a model for other Small Island Developing States facing similar healthcare and data challenges.It highlights the island’s innovative use of census and geographic data, rapid local testing, and evidence-based policymaking as examples of how data can be used to improve public health outcomes. The entire report can be found on www.datatopolicy.org.

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