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Montserrat has signed on to the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM). The agreement formalizes the island’s membership in the 22-year-old institution, inaugurated in Belize City, Belize, in March 2003. Anguilla, The Bahamas and Dominica joined Montserrat at the momentous signing which was done en bloc at the Sixteenth Special Meeting of the CRFM Ministerial Council, held during the recently concluded Caribbean Week of Agriculture, in Saint Kitts. Dr. Marc Williams, Executive Director of the CRFM Secretariat, welcomed the decisive move by the 4 Caribbean countries, which have been actively involved in the CRFM, which is an intergovernmental CARICOM institution. The Honourable John Patrick Osborne, Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing, Environment, Youth Affairs, and Sports, Montserrat signed the CRFM Agreement on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, on behalf of the Government of Montserrat. The CRFM’s objectives include the efficient management and sustainable development of marine and other aquatic resources within the jurisdictions of Member States. The CRFM also promotes and establishes cooperative arrangements among interested States for the efficient management of shared, straddling or highly migratory marine and other aquatic resources. Furthermore, it provides technical advisory and consultative services to fisheries authorities of its Member States in the development, management and conservation of their marine and other aquatic resources.

Managing Director of Montserrat Utilities Limited (MUL) Julian Daniel has elaborated on plans to strengthen electricity services on island. MUL is in line to benefit from a series of projects aimed at reducing costs, and minimizing power outages that are plagued the island. In a statement, Daniel said that among the most significant steps forward is the expansion of renewable energy, with solar power already contributing to the grid. MONTSERRAT’S CULTURAL IDENTITY The New Legacy youth group’s recent debate competition further brought conversation to the fore on the importance of having a cultural identity on Montserrat, and how social media may or may not affect shaping it. Jahniqueca Wilkins, first speaker for the proposition, argued that social media platforms such as TikTok expose youth to foreign trends, while local traditions like masquerade and Montserratian dialect remain largely absent online. She noted that 57 percent of the island’s population are social media users. Ms Wilkins warned that cultural imperialism and hybridization were eroding Montserrat’s unique identity, blurring the lines between local heritage and global influences. Meanwhile… First speaker for the Opposition, Aaliyah Weekes, disputed that social media is amplifying and preserving Montserrat’s cultural identity. Using St. Patrick’s Festival as an example, she said that while many now join the celebration virtually through livestreams and online sharing, the core of Montserrat’s traditions such as masquerade, food, music, and heritage remains unchanged. According to Weekes, Montserrat’s cultural identity is deeply rooted in its African and Irish heritage, oral traditions, and community values. These, she argued, cannot be created or redefined by social media but only reflected and shared. DR. FIGUEROA RECOMMEND DIET & EXERCISE FOR THOSE BATTLING PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE A medical practitioner has recommended diet and exercise as more persons here struggle with peripheral artery disease, also known as cardio vascular disease. Dr. Maria Figueroa says at risk persons are those who consume alcohol, smoke, are obese and have hypertension and diabetes. She says the disease, which can lead to amputation, occurs when fatty deposits build up in the arteries, restricting blood flow to the limbs, mainly the feet.

Businesses across Montserrat will be able to strengthen their customer service skills when the Montserrat Tourism Authority (MTA) hosts its Customer Service Training Program later this month. As part of this year’s Tourism Week activities, the training will begin on Monday, September 29, targeting business professionals and customer-facing staff from both the public and private sectors. According to the MTA, the initiative is an important step toward improving service excellence, enhancing the island’s tourism experience, and positioning Montserrat as a premier destination in the region. Department heads are asked to submit the names of staff members who will attend. Submissions can be made by calling the Montserrat Tourism Authority at 491-4700/02/03 or emailing info@montserrattourism.ms. The MTA emphasizes that widespread participation will help build a stronger culture of service on the island, creating lasting benefits for both residents and visitors.