A British territory on the island of the same name, part of the Lesser Antilles archipelago between North and South America. Area - 102 km². Administrative center - Plymouth (1,500). Population - 9,300, mainly of African and mixed descent. Official language - English. Religion: the majority of the population are Protestants (Anglicans, Methodists, Adventists), part of the population are Catholics. Currency - East Caribbean dollar = 100 cents.
National holiday - November 23 - Liberation Day.
According to the constitution that came into effect in 1960, Montserrat is governed by a governor appointed by the Queen of the United Kingdom. The governor's responsibilities (since 2004 - D. Barnes-Jones) include issues of foreign policy, national defense, and internal security. The governor is the chairman of the Executive Council (the Chief Minister of the Executive Council - D. Osborne). Legislative power in matters of internal governance is exercised by the Legislative Council, which includes the speaker, 2 ex officio members (the Attorney General and the Secretary for Finance), 2 members appointed by the governor, and 7 members elected by the population (in the last elections in November 2001, the People's Movement for Liberation party won).
Since 1994, three-year development plans have been concluded with the United Kingdom, in which the government, along with the governor and the regional secretariat of dependent territories, has been granted the right to participate.
Political parties: National Progressive Party (NPP) - founded in 1991, leader - R. Meade; People's Movement for Liberation (PML) - advocates for the gradual transformation of Montserrat into an independent state, leader - D. Osborne.
Trade unions: Montserrat United Workers' Union - founded in 1973 (1,000 members); Montserrat Seafarers and Port Workers Union - founded in 1980.
The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. In 1632, the first English settlement was established by Catholic exiles. In the 17th-18th centuries, England and France competed for control of the island. From 1871 to 1958, Montserrat was part of the Leeward Islands colony, and from 1958 to 1962, it was part of the West Indies Federation.
Montserrat is a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and the Regional Security System.
The island's GDP is $48 million. Tourism plays a leading role in the economy. The country is visited by about 40,000 tourists annually. Revenue from tourism exceeds $10 million. Agriculture accounts for 4.3% of GDP, manufacturing - 6%, construction - 12%, and services - about 50% (including tourism - 25%). In agriculture, 10% of the economically active population is employed, in manufacturing - over 10%, and in construction - about 20%. Unemployment is 6%, inflation is 2.6% (2002).
The traditional sector is agriculture. Only 1/3 of potentially arable land is used for agriculture. The main crops are fruits (especially lime) and vegetables (peppers, tomatoes), and cotton is cultivated. Livestock farming is developing, primarily the raising of cattle for export.
Livestock (thousands of heads): cattle - 3.5, pigs - 1, goats and sheep - 10. Forests cover about 2,000 hectares. Limited fishing is conducted.
Industry is represented by enterprises processing agricultural products, as well as those engaged in the assembly of electronic and electrical devices (the latter accounts for 60% of total export revenue). Electricity production in 2002 amounted to 13 million kWh.
Main trading partners - the USA (30% of import value and 90% of export), the United Kingdom, Canada, Antigua and Barbuda. There are no railways. The length of roads is 227 km. The main port is Plymouth, and Blackburn Airport is located 14 km from it.
Two weekly newspapers are published. There is a government radio station and a television station.
