Montserrat | Eastern Caribbean Central Bank

Montserrat

Address

Country Manager
Angela Estwick

Administrative Professional
Lola Harris

ECCB Agency Office
P O Box 484
2 Farara Plaza
Brades
Montserrat

Tel: (664) 491 6877
Fax: (664) 491 6878
eccbmni@eccb-centralbank.org

AREA

39.5 sq miles (Only 15.2 sq miles occupied since volcanic activity started in 1995)

CAPITAL

Not yet redefined *

POPULATION

4,400. Population density is 289 per square mile (1999 estimates)

LOCATION

Montserrat is located 1,150 miles north of the Equator. Latitude 160 10' west and twenty miles southwest of Antigua.

AIRPORTS

Gerald's Airport

GOVERNMENT

Internally self-governing British Dependent with a ministerial system.

The Constitution provides for a Governor appointed by the Queen with responsibility for Internal Security, External Affairs, Defence, the Judiciary and Public Service; an Executive Council which has the general control and direction of Government and a Legislative Council. The Executive Council comprises:

President - The Governor
Members - Chief Minister
Minister of Communications and Works
Minister of Education, Health,
Community Service and Labour
Minister of Agriculture, Trade and the Environment
Attorney General - Ex-Officio
Financial Secretary
Members of the Legislative Council are:
The Speaker
Chief Minister
Three (3) other Ministers
Three (3) other elected Members
Two (2) Ex-Officio Members

CURRENCY

The Eastern Caribbean Dollar is legal tender and maintains and exchange rate of EC$2.70 = US$1.00

COMMERCIAL BANKS

Bank of Montserrat Ltd
Royal Bank of Canada

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS

New Year's Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday
St Patrick Day - March 17
Whit Monday
Labour Day - First Monday in May
Queen's Official Birthday
August Monday
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
Festival Day - December 31

IMPORTANT EVENTS

St Patrick's Day Celebrations
Annual Christmas Festivities (December 15 - January 1)

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Lyrics
Lyrics
Audio: Instrumental

NATIONAL FLOWER

The Heliconia

NATIONAL BIRD

The Oriole

MAIN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Building Construction and Infrastructure development. Prior to the volcanic activity, tourism was an important contributor to economic activity.

HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL DATA

The island was named Montserrat (Sawtoothed Mountain) at its sighting by Christopher Columbus in 1493, because its rugged appearance reminded him of terrain surrounding the Abbey of Montserrat in the highlands near Barcelona in Spain.

AGENCY OFFICE

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Agency Office was opened on March 4, 1991.

*NOTE
Montserrat lost, among other things, its capital Plymouth, Airport, Commercial Centre and most of its infrastructure as a result of volcanic eruptions which started in 1995 at the Lang Soufriere.