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2 definitions found
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
Montserrat
n : a volcanic island in the Caribbean; in the West Indies
From CIA World Factbook 2002 [world02]:
Montserrat
Introduction Montserrat
-----------------------
Background: Much of this island has been
devastated and two-thirds of the
population has fled abroad due to
the eruption of the Soufriere Hills
volcano that began on 18 July 1995.
Geography Montserrat
--------------------
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean
Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 62 12 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 102 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.6 times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM
Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal
temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic islands, mostly
mountainous, with small coastal
lowland
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chances Peak (in the
Soufriere Hills volcanic complex)
914 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: severe hurricanes (June to
November); volcanic eruptions
(Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted
continuously since 1996)
Environment - current issues: land erosion occurs on slopes that
have been cleared for cultivation
Geography - note: the island is entirely volcanic in
origin and contains seven active
volcanoes
People Montserrat
-----------------
Population: 8,437
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees
left the island following the
resumption of volcanic activity in
July 1995; some have returned (July
2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23.6% (male 1,001;
female 986)
15-64 years: 65% (male 2,624; female
2,864)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 508;
female 454) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 8.43% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 17.54 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 7.47 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 74.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.2 years
female: 80.4 years (2002 est.)
male: 76.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ NA
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian
Ethnic groups: black, white
Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic,
Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist,
other Christian denominations
Languages: English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever
attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)
Government Montserrat
---------------------
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to
volcanic activity; interim
government buildings have been built
at Brades Estate, in the Carr's Bay/
Little Bay vicinity at the northwest
end of Montserrat)
Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint
Georges, Saint Peter
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II,
second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution: present constitution came into force
19 December 1989
Legal system: English common law and statutory law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II
(since 6 February 1952), represented
by Governor Anthony LONGRIGG (since
NA May 2001)
elections: the monarch is
hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; following legislative
elections, the leader of the
majority party usually becomes chief
minister
head of government: Chief Minister
John OSBORNE (since 5 April 2001)
cabinet: Executive Council consists
of the governor, the chief minister,
three other ministers, the attorney
general, and the finance secretary
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (11
seats, 9 popularly elected; members
serve five-year terms)
note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9
elected members with attorney
general and financial secretary
sitting as ex-officio members
elections: last held NA April 2001
(next to be held by November 2006)
note: in 2001, the Elections
Commission instituted a single
constituency/voter-at-large system
whereby all eligible voters cast
ballots for all nine seats of the
Legislative Council
election results: percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - NPLM
7, NPP 2
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
(based in Saint Lucia, one judge of
the Supreme Court is a resident of
the islands and presides over the
High Court)
Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party or NPP
[Reuben T. MEADE]; New People's
Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A.
OSBORNE]
Political pressure groups and NA
leaders:
International organization Caricom, CDB, ECLAC (associate),
participation: ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS,
WCL
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the none (overseas territory of the UK)
US:
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the
upper hoist-side quadrant and the
Montserratian coat of arms centered
in the outer half of the flag; the
coat of arms features a woman
standing beside a yellow harp with
her arm around a black cross
Economy Montserrat
------------------
Economy - overview: Severe volcanic activity, which
began in July 1995, has put a damper
on this small, open economy. A
catastrophic eruption in June 1997
closed the airports and seaports,
causing further economic and social
dislocation. Two-thirds of the
12,000 inhabitants fled the island.
Some began to return in 1998, but
lack of housing limited the number.
The agriculture sector continued to
be affected by the lack of suitable
land for farming and the destruction
of crops. Prospects for the economy
depend largely on developments in
relation to the volcano and on
public sector construction activity.
The UK has launched a three-year
$122.8 million aid program to help
reconstruct the economy. Half of the
island is expected to remain
uninhabitable for another decade.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $31
million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -1.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,400
(1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.4%
industry: 13.6%
services: 81% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1998)
Labor force: 4,521 (1992); note - lowered by
flight of people from volcanic
activity
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%,
services NA%
Unemployment rate: 6% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $31.6 million,
including capital expenditures of
$8.4 million (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, rum, textiles, electronic
appliances
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 5 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 4.65 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers,
tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock
products
Exports: $1.5 million (1998)
Exports - commodities: electronic components, plastic bags,
apparel, hot peppers, live plants,
cattle
Exports - partners: US, Antigua and Barbuda (1993)
Imports: $26 million (1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation
equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured
goods, fuels, lubricants, and
related materials
Imports - partners: US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan,
Canada (1993)
Debt - external: $8.9 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: Country Policy Plan (2001) is a
three-year program for spending
$122.8 million in British budgetary
assistance
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code: XCD
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars per US dollar
- 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications Montserrat
-------------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 4,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 70 (1994)
Telephone system: general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 7,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 3,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .ms
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 17 (2000)
Internet users: NA
Transportation Montserrat
-------------------------
Highways: total: 269 km
paved: 203 km
unpaved: 66 km (1995)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay
(anchorages and ferry landing),
Carr's Bay
Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
Airports: none; the only airport was destroyed
by volcanic activity; a helicopter
service to Antigua is used (2001)
Military Montserrat
-------------------
Military branches: no regular indigenous military
forces; Police Force
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the
UK
Transnational Issues Montserrat
-------------------------------
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South
American narcotics destined for the
US and Europe
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