Topic: News

At

The Sir George Martin Auditorium, MCC

The Office of the Legislature held its 6 th annual orientation week for first form entry students to the Montserrat Secondary School under the theme – “ A cord of three strands is NOT EASILY BROKEN”.

The activities started on Tuesday 24 th August and ended on Friday 27 th August 2021. The first 3 days at the cultural centre saw presentations from a number of persons from both the public and private sector who spoke to them on different topics aimed at assisting the students with their transition from the primary school level to the secondary school level. The week ended with a hike and beach picnic to one Montserrat’s popular beaches – the Rendezvous beach.

Graduation Ceremony Class of 2021

Montserrat Secondary School

Graduation Ceremony Class of 2021

18^th August, 2021

Some sixty-six students will be graduating from the Montserrat Secondary School for the school year 2021. The ceremony will be held in the Sir George Martin Auditorium at the Montserrat Cultural Centre. Highlights to the ceremony includes the Principals report presented by Mr. Toney Allen ( Principal), the Academic awards, performances by the MSS Dance Group and a musical interlude by the MSS school Band and the graduating class.  The valedictory address for the class of 2021 will be given by Shay-Reese Chambers.

The PRIME Expo which was hosted on July 23 and 24, 2021 by the Trade Unit in the Office of the Premier in collaboration with the Montserrat Arts Council was ‘dubbed’ to be a huge success. The event which was staged in the Sir George Martin Auditorium of the Montserrat Cultural Centre started with an opening ceremony which included remarks from the Permanent Secretary Mrs. Daphne Cassell from the Office of the Premier and special remarks from the Minister of Agriculture Mr. Crenston Buffonge who represented the Premier. The opening ceremony also saw an exciting dance performance by the Matrix Dancers. The closing of the event on July 24th included a fashion show which showcased clothing made from the local seamstresses with a performance by Trevon Pollard the local festival Soca King and a local band.

There were over 25 producers who showcased products over the two days. The participants came from different sectors of the private sector to include artisans, agro-processors, horticulture etc. The event allowed the producers the opportunity to not only become aware of the wide array of other locally produced goods and services but also gave them the opportunity to establish links and expand market reach for their products locally by engaging directly with clients or future customers.

Brades Primary School celebrated with its 28 graduating students on July 14, 2021 during its Graduation process at the Sir George Martin Auditorium in the Montserrat Cultural Centre. The top student in Mathematics, Science and Language Arts was Jaazani Hackett. Top student in Social Studies was Tay’Juan Grant. The class valedictorian is Jaazani Hackett. Congratulations to both of these students and to all of the graduating class of 2021.

Members of the public are invited to comment on the Draft
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Addendum for
the Montserrat Port Development Project in Little Bay. Discussions in
respect of the Addendum will be held on June 29, 2021 at the
Montserrat Cultural Centre, Little Bay at 7pm.
The draft ESIA addendum is in line with the Fourth Schedule of
Montserrat’s Physical Planning Act and the Caribbean Development
Bank’s (CDB’s) Environmental and Social Review Procedures (2014). 
The ESIA Addendum is currently available for scrutiny and comments
at the following locations:

1. The Montserrat Public Library (Hard copy)
2. The Montserrat Port Authority (Hard copy)
3. The Government of Montserrat website https://www.gov.ms/wp-
   content/uploads/2021/06/Montserrat-Port-Development-Project-
   Environmental-and-Social-Impact-Assessment-Addendum.pdf
4. The Ministry of Communication, Works, Labour and Energy
   facebook page and
5. Government Information Unit Facebook page
   You can be part of the discussions this evening by using this link:- (4)
   Montserrat Port Development Project Town Hall Meeting – YouTube

Minister of Finance, Hon. Joseph E. Farrell will host a town hall meeting on Thursday July 1,
2021 starting at 5:00p.m. to allow for public discussion on the challenges being experienced by
the Montserrat Social Security Fund.  The meeting will be held at the Montserrat Cultural Centre
in Little Bay.
The Social Security Fund is currently experiencing difficulties which would have “serious impact
on its ability to meet its obligations” as the Fund is projected to deplete its reserves by 2025.

Saturday December 12 saw the coming together of the 24 calypsonians to battle for the Calypso Monarch 2020 on Montserrat.  The competition took place at the Montserrat Cultural Centre Auditorium.  Due to the Government’s COVID protocols there were no audience present however the competition was streamed live for persons to watch.  The defending champion is Steve Weekes  the ‘Ice Man’. 

The calypsonians addressed a variety of topics to include – ‘2020’ serious times and the local Agouti and Iguana problems here on Montserrat.  

Ten (10) calypsonians made the final cut at the end of the evening.  They were: – Keithroy ‘De Voice’ Morson, Trevon ‘Ttrevvie’ Pollard, Herman ‘Cupid’ Francis, Delroy ‘Delz’ Joseph, Kelvin ‘Tabu’ Duberry, Stevel ‘D Rod’ Rodney, Baptiste Wallace, Reinford ‘ Kulcha Don” Gibbons, Brian ‘I-Cultural’ Charles and Kenneth ‘Lazor’ Greenaway.

The Trade & Quality Infrastructure Division of the Office of the Premier launched its Business Registration and Compliance Handbook on Wednesday 9^th December at the Montserrat Cultural Centre.  The book brought together the basic principles and processes that one needs to do when considering starting a business on Montserrat.  The book outlines each step from the idea conception, to the implementation and the compliancy aspects of business operations on Montserrat.  The book launch was led by the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Premier Mrs. Daphne Cassell with supporting remarks given by the Honorable Premier Mr. Joseph E Farrell.

The Ministry of Agriculture held a Staff Recognition and Awards Dinner on January 30. 2020 at the Montserrat Cultural Centre.  Over Fifty-one (51) persons were given awards in the following areas: – 

• Attendance and Punctuality Awards, 
• Long Services Awards for between 10 – 19 years of work, 
• Long Service Awards for those who worked between 20 – 29 years
• Long Service Awards – Retirees
• Long Service Awards for those who worked 30 + years.

Prizes were also given to the Most Outstanding Employee by the Department and the Employee of the year. Opening remarks by the Permanent Secretary Mrs. Beverly Mendes highlighted the importance of always showing appreciation to those dedicated workers who have worked tirelessly over the years and the need to recognize and value a person’s contribution to the Ministry and to Montserrat.  The evenings programme also included entertainment by the local dance group the Matrix Dancers.

Ms. Sarline Gibbons emerged victorious at the Ms. Teen Montserrat held on December 23, 2019 at the Sir George Martin Auditorium, in the Montserrat Cultural Center.  

The Five contestants were – Ms. Tajera Anderson, Ms Girandi Alcola, Ms Sarline Gibbons, Ms. Rondine Daly and Jamila Davis.  They performed in a talent of their choice and made presentations of a Platform with which they intend to represent on the island.  They also made appearances in Casual Wear and Evening wear. 

1^stRunner up went to Ms. Rondine Daly and the 2^ndRunner up went to Ms. Jamila Davis.  

The event was keenly contested as all of the 5 contestants performed remarkably well and should be congratulated. Congratulations are in order for Ms. Gibbons’ Chaperone Ms. Adena Johnson and to the organizers and producers Fenycreations.

Ms. Gibbons was sponsored by the Galloway Group and Goodlife Restaurant and Nightclub.