Hi everyoneFor those who don’t already know, Pat Belonger Ryan’s song ‘Still Home Still Nice’ has been entered for the BBC World Service Hear my country competition, where a song is chosen which best represents a particular country. The competition is mounted by The Strand, an arts and culture programme on the BBC World Service. The song is accompanied by a set of lovely photos illustrating different aspects of life on Montserrat. To assist the choice of this song, people are invited, if they wish, to e-mail The Strand programme, proposing this song to be chosen to represent Montserrat in the Hear my country competition. One should briefly state one’s reasons for proposing this song, or why you think it should be chosen.The song and photos can be heard and viewed on You Tube at the following link:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LawBv6tpWQo Make sure to include this link in your letter to the BBC.The e-mail address to write to is worldservice.letters@bbc.co.uk and the SUBJECT line should say The Strand, hear my country, Montserrat to help it get to the right department. Just encouraging people to support this effort. You can also click on ‘like’ on You Tube if you like it.Best wishes to allCathy Buffonge
Category Archives: Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda West Indies
Montserrat’s Volcano Hazard Level Lowered! Nov 2011 news.
Date: November 4, 2011
Written by Nerissa Golden
Montserrat’s Volcano Hazard Level Lowered
BRADES, Montserrat (November 4, 2011) – The National Disaster Preparedness and Advisory Committee has taken a decision to reduce the hazard level of Soufriere Hills Volcano from 3 to 2, which will allow day-time access to Zone C.
Zone C comprises Cork Hill, Delvins, Weekes, Foxes Bay and Richmond Hill. Note there will be no access to St Georges Hill since is it now in Zone V.
Daytime access means that persons can visit these areas using a vehicle from 8:00 to 4:00pm. Children can only enter accompanied by their parents. Entry will be at a manned gate on the Corkhill Road adjacent to the condominiums on the southern side of the Belham Valley. Caution is urged when driving in the area as many of the roads are overgrown and are in poor condition.
The Montserrat Volcano Observatory has advised that the volcano is in a continued state of pause which is now the longest since the eruption began in 1995. The current pause has lasted 629 days. (Theprevious longest pause of 625 days occurred between 1998 and 1999).
The MVO Director, Dr. Paul Cole, has also stated that the frequency of pyroclastic flows occurring from the remaining lava dome has decreased.
Although the decision has been made to reduce the hazard level, residents and visitors need to be vigilant at all times because volcanic activity can still increase with very little or no warning. Those persons entering should keep their car radios tuned to ZJB Radio at all times when in Zone C. They should also carry a battery powered transistor radio and mobile phone with them if they leave their cars.
Persons entering Zone C should exercise extreme caution generally and especially in crossing the Belham River Valley when it is raining heavily because of the possibility of lahars/mudflows. The crossing point is at the bottom of Dr Woods Road.
Zone V on the volcanic risk map remains closed. It is still in the full time exclusion zone.
News from Montserrat. May 2011 issue
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Ground Broken for New National Museum
Shamrock Mooring Project to Enhance Safe Mooring Tourism Challenge Fund recipient, Raphael White, is currently executing a project entitled Shamrock Mooring’s Plus (SMP). This project is aimed at offering safe mooring and anchorage facilities to visiting sailboats and yachts, with anchorage options at Little Bay and Rendezvous Bay for a fee. Shamrock Moorings Plus will also be offering convenient amenities to visiting boaters such as ice delivery, garbage removal, laundry, and boat bottom cleaning services. He commented that these services will afford visitors more time to experience the island’s culture and local attractions such as volcano watching, white and black sand beaches, scuba diving, snorkeling, guided tours, hiking and local cuisine. To view the rates for the services being offered go to https://sites.google.com/site/shamrockmooringsplus/home or send an e-mail to shamrock.moorings.plus@gmail.com or call (664) 491 9177/ 496 4866. Cudjoe Head’s Celebrations On Schedule for Next Month
Tourist Board Says Farewell to its Marketing Manager After serving the Montserrat Tourist Board (MTB) for nearly six (6) years, Marketing Manager Ishwar Persad will be saying farewell in early July. A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Ishwar moved to Montserrat in 2005 to work on the first Tourism Development Project (TDP1), which was aimed at rejuvenating a tourism sector that suffered immensely as a result of volcanic activity and insufficient marketing. After a short stint away, he returned in 2008 to work on a second TDP. During his tenure the new destination’s website www.visitmontserrat.com was rolled out, several new high quality brochures were produced, and a monthly e-newsletter and weekend flyer was created. He was also responsible for the advertising programme, managing the overseas offices, organising visits by high profile media and journalists, as well as executing an ongoing visitor exit surveys programme. Ishwar is one of the founders of the not-for-profit Montserrat Running Club, which has successfully hosted two Volcano Half Marathons (www.volcanorunner.com ). He has also run several international marathons, raising funds for local Montserrat charities such as Meals on Wheels, Golden Years Retirement Home and Special Olympics. The Board and staff of the MTB wish him all the best in his new adventures in Zanzibar, East Africa.
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Montserrat Calabash Festival July 17-24, 2011 Schedule of activities
Schedule of Activities:
Montserrat Calabash Festival July 17-24, 2011
Date Event Venue Time
Sunday, July 17th
Church Service
Thanksgiving celebration commemorating 16 years of
volcanic activity
A senior citizen will be honoured for community service
Refreshments served following the service
National Neighbourly Day
Show love to your neighbour with a call, a visit, a party,
a gift or even a prayer.
Church of God of
Prophecy, St Johns
Throughout Montserrat
10:00 am
All Day
Monday, July 18th
Radio Address
By Hon. Minister of Culture and Director of Tourism
explaining the significance of Calabash Festival to
National and Tourism Development and community
cohesiveness
Calabash Jog and Stroll
Easy relaxing outdoor exercise
ZJB Radio Station
95.5FM
Cudjoe Head to Little
Bay
8:00 am
5:30pm
Tuesday, July 19th
Dr Irish Lecture Series
ECCB hosting symposium on how to make your money
grow in challenging times
Ryan’s Complex,
Brades
7:30pm
Wednesday, July
20th
Gospel Concert
featuring guest artiste, church choirs, local community
choirs and performers
St Patricks Catholic
Church, Look Out
7:30pm
Thursday, July 21st
Island Boat Tours
Take a boat ride round the island or up to South and
back to Rendezvous with Green Monkey 496-2960
,
Buffy 492-1570 or
Quan 496-2080
Please call individual boat operators to make
arrangements for tours.
Little Bay Port TBC
Friday, July 22nd
Grand Food Fair
Sample Caribbean delicacies and delicious foods
Visit the Calabash Exhibition and shop for souvenirs.
Cultural dancers and local musicians will be performing
Calabash Pub Hop
Party with the gang, hit the road, and discover
Montserrat’s unique pubs
Ryan’s Complex, Brades
Hill Top Bar to the
North and back
12:00
noon
6:30pm
Saturday, July 23rd
Calabash Hike and Coconut Water Event
An energizing early morning hike with Scriber our local
forest ranger that is not to be missed.
Designer Fashion, Hair & Nail Show
Haute Couture Local Fashion designers and Beauticians
showing off for the crowd.
Dry Waterfall
Montserrat Cultural
Centre, Little Bay
6:00am
7:30pm
Sunday, July 24th
11/11 Cricket Match
Fun rules, hilarious moves, highly competitive cricket
Spectator Calabash Relay Race, You can take part.
Pan and Jazz by the Bay
Enjoy live:
steel band music,
string band music
jazz performers and a variety of entertainers
lots of food, pig roasting, cashew roasting and local
drinks
bon fires and fireworks will light up the sky
(Bring your seat, huge beach towel or blanket)
Little Bay Playing Field
Little Bay
11:00am
6:00 pm
St.Patrick’s Day in Montserrat! Flights Schedule from March 15th
SVG Air to Commence Scheduled Flights to Montserrat Mid-March
The St. Vincent & the Grenadines Based Airline to offer 2 Daily Return Flights
(Brades, Montserrat – March 4th, 2011): Getting to Montserrat just got easier with the announcement by the Government of Montserrat that St. Vincent Grenadines Air (SVG Air) has been approved to operate daily scheduled commercial air transport services between Montserrat and Antigua.
Two daily return flights with guaranteed seat provisions have been agreed and will commence on Tuesday March 15th, 2011, just in time for the busy St. Patrick’s Festival on Montserrat. The one-way airfare per passenger will be US$74 (EC$200) plus taxes and the time schedule for the guaranteed flights will be as follows:
Morning sector
Departure from Antigua: 7:00 A.M.
Departure from Montserrat: 7:30 A.M.
Afternoon sector
Departure from Antigua: 4:00 P.M.
Departure from Montserrat: 4:30 P.M.
SVG Air can also add non-guaranteed flights and/or charters to Antigua and neighbouring island based on requests and on market demand.
For reservations and flight information in Montserrat call handling agent Monair at (664) 491 4200 or email monair@candw.ms , and in Antigua, call Express Handling at (268) 562 7183 or email expresshandlers@gmail.com. To contact SVGs head office in St. Vincent email abm-air@svgair.com or call (784) 457 5124.
ABOUT SVG AIRSt Vincent Grenadines Air (SVG Air) has been in operation since 1990, and is based in St. Vincent, Barbados, St. Lucia and Grenada, with hangars in St Vincent, Bequia and Canouan. The company operates scheduled and charter flights throughout all the islands of the Caribbean, in particular between Barbados, Nevis, Bequia, Canouan, St Vincent, St. Kitts, St. Marten, Union Island, Mustique, Grenada, St Lucia, St Barts, Anguilla, and Martinique, and also as far afield as Guyana and Jamaica. In mid-March 2011 the airline will commence scheduled flights between Antigua and Barbuda and to Montserrat.
Top Spots in St.Kitts!
| Contact: | Cathy Preece/Candice Adams-Kimmel |
Thursday, December 23, 2010
TOP SPOTS ON ST. KITTS TO ABSORB HOLIDAY CHEER
From the Streets of Basseterre to the Sandy Beaches,
The Spirit of the Season Abounds on St. Kitts
Basseterre, St. Kitts – With the rapidly approaching holidays causing many to feel more “bah-humbug” than “ho-ho-ho,” St. Kitts has plenty of places to help get even the most resolute Scrooge in a more joyful spirit. As the lyrics of the Jimmy Buffet song Christmas in the Caribbean suggest, “we’ve got everything but snow!”
Here are some of the best places to find some seasonal cheer on St. Kitts:
1. Downtown Basseterre – From the official opening of the island’s National Carnival on December 17 right through the Grand Parade on New Year’s Day and Las Lap on January 3rd, St. Kitts’ capitol city is alight with the festivities of Carnival during the holidays. Throughout the streets, the folklore and traditions of St. Kitts are celebrated through song, dance, drama, poetry and music by Masquerade, Moko-Jumbies, Clowns and Actors in a variety of competitions, performances and street activities while local food and drinks available everywhere.
2. Reggae Beach Bar & Grill – Children make up the heart of any holiday, and nothing puts a smile on kids’ faces quite like getting a gift from Santa! This year, Reggae Beach Bar is again the site for a visit from Santa, who will be arriving at 5:30pm on Christmas Eve. Parents with children are invited to drop off a small gift with their child’s name on it for Santa’s sack, then bring their child to receive his/her personalized present from Santa. There is also a special buffet menu for those who want to stay and eat after the event.
3. Port Zante – It’s easy to be filled with the spirit of giving upon finally finding the perfect gift for that special someone. However, there’s always that one person who is difficult to shop for. Look no further than the shops of Port Zante for inspiration, as there are stores selling diamonds and jewelry as well as brand name clothing as well as duty-free shops for a variety of gift items. Or, for something unique and authentic to St. Kitts, shop at the adjacent Amina Craft Market to find handmade crafts, art, cloths, decorative pieces and jewelry that make excellent conversation pieces when displayed or worn.
4. Restaurants – For anyone who prefers not to do the cooking this year, plenty of restaurants on St. Kitts are open for business and serving up more than just good cheer on the holidays. For fine French cuisine served in an intimate setting, La Belle Vie in Frigate Bay has special menus for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve featuring some traditional international holiday menu items. For traditional holiday fare in an upscale setting, Ottley’s Plantation Inn will be serving up turkey and other dishes for dinner on Christmas Day at their Royal Palm Restaurant. Alternately, for those who prefer to spend their holiday beachside, the Sunset Café at Timothy Beach Resort is providing a full traditional Christmas dinner with some added Caribbean options and Spice Mill Restaurant is putting on an elegant New Year’s Eve bash with fireworks, hors d’oeuvres, party favors and an all-inclusive bar from 7:30pm to 3:00am.
5. Brimstone Hill – Get in touch with the spirit of Christmas past by visiting St. Kitts’ magnificent fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rising almost 800 feet above sea level on a volcanic outcropping and boasting some of the island’s most spectacular views, the site began construction in 1690 by the British using slave labor as a strategic refuge fortress in times of war. It is one of the best preserved historical fortifications in the Americas as well as one of the Caribbean’s oldest English fortresses. It’s natural to imagine the people who celebrated the holidays in this very spot going back over 300 years ago.
6. Churches – Scattered around the island as well as in Basseterre, the churches of St. Kitts, both large and small are ideal places to visit for the holidays. Particularly during Christmas, the churches are overflowing with the joyful music of the season. Stop in to enjoy the voices all joined together as one that fills the air with song and jubilance.
Located in the northern Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, St. Kitts offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich history. The island’s stunning variety of tourism attractions include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island’s sugar plantations, visiting the Caribelle Batik factory, touring Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, the only man-made UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean, and the more traditional vacation pastimes such as watersports, golf, shopping, tennis, gourmet dining, gaming at one of St. Kitts’ two casinos or simply relaxing on one of the island’s sandy beaches. Guests can select from accommodations ranging from intimate plantation inns to larger hotels or resorts.
For more information about St. Kitts, please contact the St. Kitts Tourism Authority toll free from the US at 1-800-582-6208 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-582-6208 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or from Canada 1-888-395-4887 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-888-395-4887 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, e-mail info@stkittstourism.kn, visit www.stkittstourism.kn, or connect on Facebook, Twitter and/or YouTube.
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Half Marathon in Montserrat
With 6 days to go to the 2nd Volcano Half Marathon on SATURDAY NOVEMBER 27TH
, runners, walkers and supporters are still welcome to participate.
HALF MARATHON
Starts at 6 am at Blakes Football Field and pre-registration is required.
You medal for finishing is made out of pumice cut, polished and in the shape
of Montserrat.
FUN RUN AND WALK
Starts at 6:15 am from Cudjoe Head. No pre-registration is required and
you can register on the morning of the race from 5:30 am for free
FINISH
All races finish at Salem Park where there will be DJ music, local breakfast
on sale, a bar and the awards ceremony
READ ABOUT THE RACE
Check this blog about the race from the two guys from Uncommon Caribbean who
are flying in from New York just to take part in the race
http://www.uncommoncaribbean.com/2010/11/18/don
<http://www.uncommoncaribbean.com/2010/11/18/don’t-get-scared-countdown-to-2
nd-annual-volcano-half-marathon/>
‘t-get-scared-countdown-to-2nd-annual-volcano-half-marathon/
Come out in your numbers and support this race!
www.volcanorunner.com
Ishwar Persad
Marketing Manager
Montserrat Tourist Board
Farara Plaza A&B
PO Box 7
Brades
Montserrat
<http://www.visitmontserrat.com> www.visitmontserrat.com
Become a fan of Montserrat on Facebook at
<http://www.facebook.com/islandofmontserrat>
www.facebook.com/islandofmontserrat
Follow us on Twitter at <http://twitter.com/volcanoisland>
http://twitter.com/volcanoisland
Half Marathon in Montserrat. November 27th, 2010
Participate in the Montserrat Volcano Half Marathon and Fun Run & Walk
(November 10th, 2010, Brades – Montserrat): Running and Walking enthusiasts,
and supporters are reminded of the 2nd Montserrat Volcano Half-Marathon and
Fun Run & Walk, on Saturday November 27th, 2010
This event is organised by the Montserrat Running Club in support of local
charity Childline, with the main sponsors being The Montserrat Tourist
Board, LIME, the Governor’s Office, United Insurance and the Government’s
Sports Department.
So far over 50 runners have registered for the 13.1 mile half-marathon,
including 40 from overseas from countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, St
Martin, Antigua, St Kitts and Trinidad. The half marathon starts at 6:00 am
from Blakes Football Field and finishes at Salem Park. Registration fee for
this race is EC$50 for residents and EC$100 for overseas participants, and
includes a race bag, T-shirt, and a race medal made out of volcanic
material.
The 5 kilometre Fun Run & Walk will start at 6:15 a.m. from Cudjoe Head and
also finishes at Salem Park. There is no registration fee for this event
and participants can sign-up at Cudjoe Head on the morning of the race from
5:30 a.m.
Attractive prizes will be awarded for both races. The first placed male and
female finishers in the half-marathon will each receive EC$1,000, with
EC$750 for second place and EC$500 for third place. The first youth
half-marathon finisher will receive EC$500. For the 5K Fun Run and Walk,
the first, second and third placed runner and walker will each receive
EC$200, EC$150 and EC$100 respectively.
Significant public support and revelry is expected along the race route
which encompasses Blakes Estate, St Johns, Sweeneys, Carrs Bay, Little Bay,
Brades, St Peters, Woodlands, Lower Friths and Salem. The finishing area
for all races will be Salem Park, where DJ music will be provided by Multi
Plex I Power Sounds, and local breakfast and other treats will be on sale.
For further information call (664) 496 6197 or go to www.volcanorunner.com
Alliouagana Festival of the Word, Montserrat. Nov 12-14, 2010
Dear Friends
In just about a fortnight from now we will be into the 2nd Alliouagana Festival of the Word which takes place from Friday November 12 to Sunday November 14, 2010. We hope that as many persons as possible will find this Programme interesting and will try to find the time to attend and participate in all of the planned activities. Attached is the Programme for the Weekend and you will note that the Pre-Festival Symposium on Thursday November 11 is in honour of the late Alphonsus “Arrow” Cassell. Kindly help with getting this information to as many persons as possible.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you have further questions.
Sincerely
Gracelyn
Gracelyn Cassell
Chair
Steering Committee
Alliouagana Festival of the Word
c/o The University of the West Indies
Open Campus Montserrat
P.O.Box 256
Salem, Montserrat
Tel: 664 491 3924 / 2344 office
Fax: 664 491 8924
Montserrat News. October 2010
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October 2010 Issue
Montserrat Reef Project to Enhance the Marine Ecosystem
“Are You Ready? Alright Then! Montserrat Arrow Festival 2010
Special Packages from the Luxurious Royal Palm Club
The 2nd Montserrat Literary Festival To Begin Soon
Registration Still Open for the Volcano Half Marathon on November 27th  Running enthusiasts can still register for one of the most unique marathon experiences in the world. Following the overwhelming success of last year’s inaugural event, the 2nd Montserrat Volcano Half Marathon will take place on Saturday 27th November 2010 and runners from all around the globe are invited to join in. The strenuous 13.1-mile course is very hilly and not for the faint-hearted, although there will also be a shorter Fun Run/Walk on the day if you want to take it easy. Registration forms, information on prizes and other details are available at www.volcanorunner.com
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Tourism Challenge Fund recipients Caribbean Marine Projects is currently implementing the Montserrat Reef Project (MRP), aimed at enhancing the island’s marine ecosystem. The Project is being executed in collaboration with The Reef Ball Foundation, and involves building an artificial reef from corals that would have been destroyed in the development of the new port facilities and town at Little Bay. The reef balls are presently being built on Montserrat with the aid of volunteers and are designed to allow water filtration and movement which will aid in coral growth. After deploying the reef structure, the next step will be to do coral clippings and transplant them onto the reef balls. This will lead to the creation of new reefs, habitats, and breeding grounds for fish and aquatic life. Andrew Myers and Emmy Aston of Caribbean Marine Projects also operate the ScubaMontserrat dive shop on-island and hope that this initiative will provide impetus and funding resources for the implementation of other projects aimed at protecting Montserrat’s natural beauty. You can follow the MRP on Facebook at Montserrat Reef Project, contact them by e-mail at 
The recent passing of Montserrat’s Soca King of the World, Alphonsus “Arrow†Cassell of “Hot, Hot, Hot” fame, touched the hearts of thousands of his fans, friends and family worldwide. Considered a National Hero, the island has been looking at ways to honour this famous son-of-the soil, who promoted Montserrat overseas for over three decades through his infectious soca music. In this regard, a concert to honour Arrow will be held during the upcoming Festival season. In addition, the Hon. Chief Minister announced that this year’s Festival will be named “Arrow’s Festivalâ€. The revised slogan for the Festival has now been altered to, “Are You Ready? Alright Then! Montserrat Arrow Festival 2010â€. For more details on upcoming Festival events, visit the Montserrat Festival (MONFEST) website at 
The Royal Palm Club Inn is offering special accommodation packages for the Winter 2010/2011 season, starting from US$520. This plantation style property, sits amid five acres of tropical gardens and has panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea. Four and seven night packages in the Garden Suite start at US$520 and US$910 respectively. Accommodation in the luxurious Royal Palm Suite for four nights is priced at US $740 and US$1295 for seven nights. These prices all include daily continental breakfast, all taxes, are based on double occupancy and have to be booked by November 30th, 2010. Packages that include nightly dinner at the on-site Verandah Restaurant and single occupancy rates, are also available on request. Whether you choose their Garden Suite next to the pool with its king-sized bed, sitting area, and large bathroom, or their luxurious five-roomed Royal Palm Suite overflowing with Caribbean charm, a stay at the Royal Palm Club Inn is sure to enhance your Montserrat experience. For more information call (664) 491 2671/496 4131, email 
From November 12-14, 2010, literary enthusiasts are invited to attend Montserrat’s second annual literary festival, the Alliouagana Festival of the Word. With the theme Discovering New Worlds Through Words, the three-day event will bring together, acclaimed writers and readers from the Caribbean, North America, the UK and Australia for readings, conversations, lectures, panel discussions and workshops. For further details and information contact Gracelyn Cassell at (664) 491 3924, by email at 
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