Montserrat observing 20 years of volcanic eruptions

BRADES – CMC – Montserrat observed the 20th anniversary of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano with Britain saying it affords an opportunity to reflect whilst still looking towards achieving socio-economic goals.

“Nobody who heard the news of the eruptions in Montserrat could fail to be moved, but it is hard to imagine the destruction they caused without actually seeing it,” said James Duddridge, Minister for Africa, the Overseas Territories and the Caribbean in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

In a message marking the occasion he said that he was sending his good wishes to the people of Montserrat “as you look back at the terrible events that began 20 years ago and look forward to creating a more hopeful future”.

Duddridge, who said he made it a priority to visit the Caribbean island to view firsthand the destruction caused by the volcano is “something I will never forget.

“But I also saw reasons for hope. The devastated areas I saw were in stark contrast to the views over the north of the island which showed Montserrat’s breathtaking beauty and why it is truly the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean.”

He said he hopes the 20th anniversary Montserrat an opportunity to “reflect and remember whilst spurring Meanwhile, Montserrat’s Minister for Agriculture, Trade, Lands, Housing and the Environment, Claude Hogan on Monday night hosted a reception at the UK Houses of Parliament to commemorate 20 years of volcanic activity on the island. The event was organised by the Montserrat Government’s UK Office and was attended by senior level British government and parliamentary officials, as well as a well-represented cross section of the Montserrat UK Diaspora.

The Soufriere Hills volcano became active in 1995 and has continued to erupt ever since. Its eruptions have rendered more than half of the Overseas British Territory uninhabitable, destroying the capital city, Plymouth, and causing widespread evacuations.