News

Environmental Advocate Leads Whit Monday Clean up Effort

Environmental advocate Arthur “The Dean” Meade continues to champion the cause of maintaining a clean and lovely Montserrat for all to enjoy. He led a clean up effort from the John A. Osborne Airport to port Little Bay, and Rendezvous Beach by extension, on Whit Monday May 2026. Meade is full of praise for all who came out on the day and participated in the clean up. He is however peeved by the continuous indiscriminate dumping of garbage island wide and feels enforcement of legislation will serve as a deterrent. Meantime, minister for health, Dr, the Honourable Ingrid Buffonge, who was also engaged in the clean up, calls for a change of culture when dealing with garbage. While applauding the effort of the various clean up teams, she urges residents to be more responsible in the way they deal with the disposal of garbage. ZJB News also got feedback from members of the public, including girl guides, who were part of teams during the clean up effort.

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DMCA to Host Annual Open Day

The Disaster Management Coordination Agency, DMCA, will host it’s Annual Open Day activities next week. Under the theme“Hurricane Preparedness is Everyone’s Business”,  the activities are carded  for June 2nd and 3rd, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily at the DMCA Parking Lot. Information and Education Officer at the DMCA, Shirlian Queeley, says the open day aims to increase public awareness and community preparedness. Speaking ahead of the event, Queeley noted that preparedness is a shared responsibility and that community involvement is essential to building national resilience during the hurricane season.

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CDEMA Praises Montserrat’s Strengthened Disaster Preparedness Efforts

Head of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Elizabeth Riley has commended the growing focus on sector readiness, community resilience, and the strengthening of institutional frameworks as key components of Montserrat’s disaster preparedness strategy. Speaking during an interview with ZJB News, Riley pointed to the significant investment in Montserrat’s Disaster Management (CDM) Country Work Programme (CWP). She also touched on the growing role of individual sectors in strengthening national resilience.

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Montserrat Legislative Assembly Participates in 2026 Commons and Overseas Territories Speakers’ Conference

The Legislative Assembly of Montserrat is participating in the 2026 Commons and Overseas Territories Speakers’ Conference (COTSC), in the Cayman Islands this week. Honourable Speaker, Ms. Marjorie Smith, and Dr Judith Baker, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly are representing Montserrat at the May 24–30 conference. The Conference brings together Speakers and Clerks from across the Overseas Territories and the UK House of Commons to examine shared challenges and strengthen parliamentary governance, resilience, and future readiness. Delegates are exploring how legislatures can modernize their institutions, safeguard democratic processes, and ensure stable, high quality parliamentary administration in a rapidly changing environment. Participation in this year’s meeting supports Montserrat’s ongoing efforts to strengthen procedural standards, enhance administrative capacity, and deepen collaboration with Commonwealth partners.

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Director of MVO Participates in Visiting Fellowship at University of Oxford

Director of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, Dr. Graham Ryan is currently participating in one month Visiting Fellowship at the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford. As part of the fellowship, Dr. Ryan is working alongside the ReSET project team to combine newly collected ReSET data with previous research and datasets to improve the understanding of Montserrat’s geothermal system(s). While there Dr. Ryan also made a presentation at a geothermal workshop in the Department of Earth Sciences, where he shared insights from Montserrat’s unique volcanic environment with researchers and students from around the world. The ReSET (Rethinking Natural Resources) programme is a University of Oxford initiative exploring how Montserrat’s Soufrière Hills Volcano can be used to generate geothermal power and extract critical metals (like lithium, copper, and gold). It aims to transition the island away from imported diesel while boosting the local economy.

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11th cycle of BNTF Programme to Address Critical Community Gaps Across Montserrat

Montserrat could soon see a major boost in community development activity under the latest cycle of the Caribbean Development Bank’s Basic Needs Trust Fund programme. The 11th cycle of the BNTF was launched here on Tuesday under the theme, “Catalyzing Change: Scaling Impact Through Community-Driven Development.” Project Manager Mervin Browne said the 12 proposed projects earmarked under the BNTF initiative, target critical gaps in areas such as education, water, sanitation, infrastructure, and support for vulnerable groups across the island. Portfolio Manager at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) George Yearwood explained the role the bank plays in approving projects under the programme. With the programme scheduled to conclude by December 2028, Browne and Yearwood spoke on efforts to ensure projects funded under the initiative are completed within the timeline.

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Montserrat Cultural Centre Renovation Works Near Completion

Renovation works at the Montserrat Cultural Centre are nearing completion. That’s according to Project Manager Damion Williams. Giving an update on Wednesday, Williams outlined the extensive upgrades already completed. While most renovations remain on schedule, Williams expressed delays in the arrival of several materials due to supplier shipping issues.  He said however that the team is striving to complete all works by the end of July this year.

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Two Montserrat Youth Selected for Caribbean Global Youth Awards 2026

Two of Montserrat’s youth have been selected as awardees for The Caribbean Global Youth Awards 2026. They are Nia Golden and Sandrae Thomas. Golden has received the Excellence in Arts & Cultural Preservation Award, while Thomas has received the Vanguard in Legislative and Climate Innovation Leadership Award. The Caribbean Global Youth Awards 2026 Gala Night will be held in St. Lucia on 6th June.  These Awards recognize extraordinary young leaders, innovators, creatives, and changemakers shaping the future of the Caribbean and beyond.

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DMCA Reminds Residents of Proper Earthquake Procedure

The Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) is reminding residents of the proper procedure when experiencing earthquakes. In an interview on ZJB Radio earlier this week, public information and education officer at the DMCA, Shirlian Queeley discussed the drop, cover,and hold-on protocol endorsed by emergency agencies. She also explained that different actions should be taken depending on a person’s situation. The interview came after two recent earthquakes were felt across the island: a volcanic earthquake with a magnitude of 3.7 on May 9th, and a tectonic earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 on May 16th. 

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Director of Social Services Department Supports Establishment of Central Beneficiary List for Emergencies

The Director of the Social Services Department is calling for  the establishment of a central beneficiary list before any emergencies or disasters occur.  Teresena Fergus contends that a verified and updated registry would reduce delays, improve coordination, prevent duplication, strengthen transparency, and allow vulnerable persons to receive assistance more quickly and systematically. Among the benefits which she outlined, Mrs Fergus says a proper registry will supply better planning, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making during emergencies She was at the time addressing the start of Montserrat Red Cross Week in observation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2026 on May 8.

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