News

Montserrat Participates in OECS High-Level Tourism Consultation in Grenada

Tourism stakeholders from across the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), including Montserrat, gathered in Grenada on January 29-30, 2026, for a high-level consultation aimed at shaping the future of tourism in the Eastern Caribbean. The Regional Tourism Steering Committee Consultation focused on validating the OECS’ Sustainable Tourism Action Plan (STAP), a comprehensive road map designed to guide the transformation of the sector over the next decade. Permanent Secretary within the Office of the Premier, Camille Thomas-Gerald, represented Montserrat at the consultation. More in this report from James White Jr.

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MAC Renews Registration Call for St. Patrick’s Festival

The Montserrat Arts Council (MAC) is renewing their call for registrations from Vendors, Troupes, Groups, Individuals, and Junior Calypsonians and Soca Artistes for the upcoming St. Patrick’s Festival. The MAC is holding several registration open days, which are February 12th, 19th and 26th, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM, at the Little Bay Public Market. A completed registration form is required to partake in any and all festival activities. The deadline for registrations is February 27th, 2026. For more information, persons can contact the Montserrat Arts Council by emailing info@artscouncil.ms or calling +1 664 491 8555, or +1 664 491 8556.

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Rotary Club Welcomes District Governor to Montserrat

The Rotary Club of Montserrat is preparing to welcome District Governor for Rotary District 7030, Soraya Warner-Gustave, who will make an official visit to the island from February 5th to 8th, 2026, as part of her annual district engagements. The visit will focus heavily on community-based projects and youth development, with several key presentation visits scheduled during her stay. On Friday, the District Governor will attend the presentation of a Sewing Skills for Employment project, a district-grant-funded initiative aimed at improving employability among women, providing sewing training along with equipment and materials to support sustainable skills development. Later that Friday, Governor Warner-Gustave will visit Salem Daycare and Nursery, to take part in the presentation of a sensory board, marking the final phase of a Rotary project to supply sensory boards to early childhood centres across Montserrat. Saturday, the District Governor will attend the closing ceremony of the Better Eyes Project at St. Peter’s Clinic. The initiative, undertaken in partnership with the Rotary Club of Jarry in Guadeloupe, provides eye examinations and free prescription glasses to vulnerable residents, enhancing access to essential eye care services on the island. In addition to project presentations, the visit includes courtesy calls on the Premier and Governor of Montserrat, meetings with Rotary, Rotaract and Interact executives, and joint fellowship activities with visiting Rotarians from Guadeloupe. District Governor Warner-Gustave is a long-standing member of the Rotary Club of St. Lucia, a past club president, former District Secretary, and strong advocate for youth leadership and Interact development across District 7030. The Rotary Club of Montserrat says the visit underscores Rotary’s continued commitment to service, skills development, health, and youth empowerment, while strengthening regional partnerships within the district.

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Modernization of Justice System Welcomed at Opening of Law Year

Justice endures when it is principled, accessible and relevant. That note from Attorney Chivone Gerald at the recent ceremonial opening of the 2026 Law Year. Addressing the court on behalf of the Montserrat Bar Association, Gerald highlighted the quiet but diligent work of the judiciary, court staff and legal practitioners, often carried out under challenging conditions. She stressed that judicial independence protects the vulnerable and brings stability to Montserrat’s democracy and noted that public trust depends on fairness, transparency and the integrity of the Bar.   Looking ahead, she welcomed ongoing efforts to modernize the justice system and recent legislative updates to the Magistrate’s Court Act and child maintenance laws. The Opening of the Law Year was held under the theme, “The ECSC: Justice that Endures; Anchored Independence, Strengthened through Trust.”

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Government Minister Calls for Positive Conversation on Montserrat’s Future

Government Minister John Patrick Osborne has called on residents here and overseas to start speaking about Montserrat in a more positive light. Osborne says there are good things happening on the island but these are spoken about enough. The Minister of Agriculture highlights developments in healthcare, education and other sectors, along with the fact that Montserrat is one of the safest places in the world to live.

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RMPS Reports Reduction in Crime on Montserrat

The Commissioner of Police is reporting over 100 fewer incidents in 2025. In an interview with ZJB News, Mark Payne said the reduction is a positive indicator that residents continue to live in a safe and peaceful environment. Commissioner Payne said Montserrat enjoys exceptionally low crime levels, something residents should take pride in. He said the most frequent crime seen on island is civil disputes. Commissioner Payne said there are small amounts of serious crimes on the island.

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Rotary Club of Montserrat launches Eye Care Project

The Rotary Club of Montserrat launched the “See Our Islands Better” Project on Monday February 2nd, 2026. The project is a humanitarian initiative designed to improve the quality of life of vulnerable and under-served individuals through access to essential eye care services and prescription eyeglasses.  At the opening ceremony, president of the Rotary Club of Montserrat, Audris Jno-Baptiste, shared more details on this project. Ms Jno-Baptiste noted the list of eye care services to be provided, as well as the visiting professionals who are on island. She also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Health and Social Services for their support of this Rotary Initiative. The clinic will run until February 6th, 2026, at the St. Peter’s Clinic. Beyond the immediate benefits to residents, the project also aims to strengthen community awareness about eye health and the importance of preventive care.  Rotary’s partnership-driven approach ensures accountability, transparency, and the effective use of resources. Additionally, the equipment, expertise, and experience gained through this initiative will support future outreach efforts and continued regional collaboration. Meantime, Minister for Health, Dr. the Honourable Ingrid Buffonge, welcomed the team to Montserrat and expressed hope for future collaborations.

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Minister of Health Reveals 2026 Plans for the Sector

The Government of Montserrat plans to take healthcare to the people in 2026. Portfolio minister Dr. the Hon. Ingrid Buffonge says the use of a mobile service will boost screening programs to ensure diabetic and hypertensive patients are diagnosed early. She says persons who have complications from these conditions, are at increased risk of cerebral vascular disease, stroke, heart disease, and other aspects of heart disease. The minister emphasizes the importance finding these persons early as there is a lot that can be done in primary healthcare to prevent strokes and heart attacks in the first place. Dr. Buffonge also notes that Peripheral Vascular Disease circulatory problems are prevalent in Montserrat, and this proactive approach would reduce death and disability from the chronic non-communicable diseases. She says the ministry wants to also increase efforts in finding cancers early through strong screening programs, and investigating patient’s concerns. These screening programmes, Dr. Buffonge emphasized, will help to remind patients to do their tests and help the health service to diagnose and monitor cases. The Ministry of Health and Social Services officially commissioned a Mobile Medical Van and a Solar Portable Storage Container in December. The Van, which was specifically customized for Montserrat, is designed to support on-site health screenings and immunizations; basic laboratory testing; treatment of acute and chronic illnesses; and the delivery of women’s health services including pelvic exams and mammograms.

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Montserrat Customs and Revenue Service Officers Depart for Eight-Week Training Course

The Government of Montserrat has announced that a cohort of officers from the Montserrat Customs and Revenue Service (MCRS) has departed the island for an eight‑week training course in St. Kitts. The initiative forms part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening border security, enhancing revenue collection, and investing in the professional development of young public officers. The intense training exercise was coordinated by Comptroller of Customs, Derick Lee, who emphasized the importance of continuous capacity‑building within the Customs and Revenue Service. The officers were transported to St. Kitts on Saturday onboard the MV Heliconia, with support from the Royal Montserrat Police Service. The Government views this training as a strategic investment in Montserrat’s long‑term development. Customs officers play a critical role in: By equipping officers with advanced skills and updated knowledge, Montserrat strengthens its ability to manage increasing trade activity, especially as the island prepares for major infrastructure developments such as the new seaport. The training programme is expected to deliver several key benefits to Montserrat, including improved Border Protection as the officers will gain enhanced skills in inspection, enforcement, and risk management, helping to prevent illegal imports and protect public safety. There will be more efficiency in trade processing as it will support faster, more transparent customs procedures, benefiting businesses and encouraging economic activity and stronger revenue collection. The officers will be better equipped to apply customs laws and valuation procedures, ensuring that government revenue is accurately and efficiently collected. The participating officers represent a new generation of public servants, and their training contributes to building a skilled, confident, and future‑ready workforce. The Government of Montserrat says it remains committed to investing in its human resources, particularly within frontline agencies that safeguard the island’s economic and national security interests. It extends its appreciation to the Royal Montserrat Police Service for facilitating safe transport and to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis for hosting the training programme. The officers are expected to return to Montserrat upon completion of the eight‑week course, bringing with them enhanced skills and renewed commitment to service.

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Health Officials from St. Helena to Visit Montserrat for Systems Exchange

The Ministry of Health and Social Services on Montserrat is preparing to host health officials from St. Helena on a reciprocal health systems exchange. St. Helena’s Minister of Health and Social Care, Martin Henry, and Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Peter Ross will visit Montserrat from February 3rd to 10th 2026. The visit is supported and facilitated by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) aimed at fostering mutual understanding of how the aid-dependent health systems in the two UK Overseas Territories operate. Both Montserrat and St. Helena are small in size with a population of under 5000 people, and share similarities in the provision of Primary and Secondary health care and the implementation of an overseas referral system for cases requiring advance or specialist interventions. The discussions during the week will focus on health legislation, governance and regulatory frameworks for standards of care and provision of services, as well as health financing possibilities in the small economies. Other areas for discussion will include the role of UK support in sustaining essential services and investing in public health infrastructure, such as the New National Hospital which is currently being constructed on Montserrat. A date for Montserrat’s Health officials to visit St. Helena as part of this reciprocal health exchange is being finalized, and will be confirmed at a later date. The Ministry of Health and Social Services looks forward to learning and exploring new ways and best practices for the continued enhancement of health care on island.

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