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As part of the Montserrat National Honours and Awards 2026, the Government of Montserrat will honour Thirteen (13) Auxiliary Personnel who worked alongside the Royal Montserrat Defence Force (RMDF) with the Humanitarian & Emergency Services (HES) Medal, in recognition of their distinguished assistance provided to the RMDF during the height of the Soufrière Hills volcanic eruptions between 1995 and 1997. The award recognises the vital efforts which these persons would have put forward in assisting the RMDF to be as effective as they were during the volcanic crisis.  These persons undertook roles of cooks and provided other key support, such as clearing and cleaning ash from roads; residential buildings, shelters and government offices; clearing field trails and providing manpower in recovering items from buildings in the evacuated areas.  All of this to ensure that the Force was able to carry out its mandate during the response to the volcanic eruption. The Humanitarian & Emergency Services Medal is conferred upon individuals whose service during a national emergency is deemed to be exceptional and worthy of national recognition.  2026 marks the first year that this criterion has been recognized as part of the Montserrat National Honours and Awards.  This is a fitting recognition for the sacrifice that members of the Force would have made in the service of Montserrat during one of its most challenging times. AUXILIARY PERSONNEL The RMDF extends its sincere congratulations and appreciation to all recipients and their families. Their service during a period of national crisis remains a lasting testament to commitment, sacrifice, and national pride. Details regarding the official investiture ceremony will be announced in due course.All Auxiliary recipients, or their representatives, are asked to contact the Royal Montserrat Defence Force via email at rmdf@gov.ms as well as the Office of the Premier via email at op@gov.ms to confirm contact details and facilitate coordination ahead of the ceremony.

Work is ongoing to advance new legislation that will address performance and misconduct in the Royal Montserrat Police Service. A UK-based specialist is on island this week working with local authorities to engage police officers directly, ensuring they understand how the new regulations will work, and to address any misconceptions. The consultations include holding sessions to explain the proposed changes and gather feedback. According to Commissioner of Police Mark Payne, the new legislation is aimed at strengthening public confidence in how complaints against police officers are handled, while also ensuring officers themselves have clear, fair, and modern rules to work under.   Commissioner of Police Mark Payne.