'Montserrat'

Christopher Columbus gave Montserrat its name on his second voyage to the New World in 1493, after Montserrat mountain located in Catalonia, Spain. Montserrat is nicknamed the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, both for its resemblance to coastal Ireland and for the Irish descent of its inhabitants.


Brief History

Another important aspect was the cultural landscape was the manmade structures of simple buildings made from reed walls, roofs of palm, plantain, or cane leaf layers, proclaimed to have been adapted from Amerindian homes. Before the 1950’, stones were the primary material for buildings as it is a preferable defense against the fierce winds from hurricanes, along with mortar made from volcanic derived beach sand and gravel, burned seashells, molasses and water.   However, after a natural disaster in the form of an earthquake stroke the island in 1672 timber became a new material from construction. This ancient ingredients used so many years ago were used as early as the 1990s. Volcanic rocks also served countless purposes in the everyday life of the Montserratians people, wooden homes in small groups surrounding large stones, which were used as places where you can sit, eat and to talk to others, work spaces for preparing food, washing dishes and catching rain water. These stones were also once used to grinding grains and plants used for food or medical purposes.

By the twentieth century another change occurred seeing the economies’ dependency on farming declined, and with agriculture being associated with low status and income. During this period volcanic eruptions which occurred in July 1995 change the people’s lifestyle and landscape with changes in the island’s shape, vegetation and animals destroyed or killed. However, some plants such as cassava and soursop survived and are still used by Montserratians to date.

Prior to the volcanic activities, it was a custom that Montserratians primarily working in civil service or tourism employment made additional income by growing foods, raring animals and gathering volcanic products. Predominantly in the lower class society, young children as young as 6 years old had to perform domestic responsibilities of collecting fresh water to take home, climbing trees to pick mango and breadfruit. Older children around the age of 12 had other responsibilities, boys they had to climb coconut trees whilst girls looked after their younger siblings, wash clothes and prepare meals.

Following on from above, as part of a Montserratian cultural identification they performed various rituals and celebrations. Particularly in the lower class society, ceremonial feasts, or fetes, were carried out especially on births, deaths and marriage. These celebrations were held to represent offerings to the ‘jumbies’ or spirits of the dead family members and friends. It was believed by many that the jumbies influenced the destinies of the living.  During these fetes, normally held in hope of migration, they performed Jumbie dances accompanied by fast paced drum beats for the dancers who are believed to have been possessed by the spirits of the dead and who uttered messages critically important for the living.

Natural features have continuously impacted upon the culture due to its large dependant on the relationship of the people to their land. Prior to the destruction of the southern part of the island, in the parish of Saint Patrick there was a preserved slave village- known as Galway, used as a personal space by the people of the area.  It is said that ‘this protective instinct may have stemmed from the fact that familial and cultural roots were often physically erased by natural disasters’.

The culture explained above was affected because a large proportion of inhabitants having to relocate to other countries and Islands. In the early stages of relocation,  as the volcano destructed parts of the island people from places such as St Patrick’s who remained on the island had to relocate to the northern part of the island to area such as Salem and Brades and lived in crowded shelters in schools and churches. Presently, inhabitants on island have settled in northern part of the island in new homes in area such as Lookout and Davy Hill. These homes are equipped with necessary amenities for a clean and healthy living. However, the livelihood of people especially in the lower class has gone through a dramatic change which has force them to face new challenges of finding new jobs and relocating.

In 1632 when the island was colonsied a culture primarily based on agriculture and slave labor was established. This was derived from the British colonial officials’ belief of the island people being ‘profitable machines’. In this period the Irish Catholics and slaves were used to grow cash crops such as tobacco, indigo, cotton and sugar.

Economy

Previously, the government attempted to foster tourism by showing the way the Caribbean used to be” oppose to high-rise hotels and nightclubs.  

 
In the 1960’s, Montserrat embarked on a tourist venture called “residential tourism”. As the island’s inhabitants represented 90% of black citizens, inhabitants of white origins were encouraged to settle in specified areas on island. This resulted in majority of white foreigners living in villas by the sea, with servants and imported amenities. These residents also benefited from offshore medical school for North Americans, mostly from the United States. 

Montserrat's agricultural history has experienced major failures.  However, when the natural disaster Hurricane Hugo struck the island in 1989, aid for reconstruction was provided by the United Kingdom. Montserrat’s economy was based mainly on agriculture, real estate, building construction, tourism, and assembling industries. However, volcanic eruptions which commenced in 1995 meant an increasing tourist trade and offshore medical school moved elsewhere.

At present, there is a new redevelopment project hosted by the Montserrat Development Corporation, to enable economic growth for the island. This includes the ongoing development of the Little bay area and Montserrat’s private sector. See More

Social Stratification

After slavery lower classes has been prominent amongst most people on island.  The lower classes are mainly black with irregularly employment such as farming.  These people mostly lived outside of the capital. Most of the members of this class follow Pentecostal faiths.

The upper classes were completely opposite to those of lower classes. The upper classes consisted of mostly white residents which include resident owners and managers of larger estates, colonial officials, professionals, religious leaders, bank managers and larger merchants. In the past these wealthy figures predominately lived in the capital- Plymouth, speak English, and adhere to legal forms of marriage and a nuclear form of the family and belong to Anglican, Methodist, and Roman Catholic faith.

The middle class considered as salaried employees or civil servants who are employed by the post office, hospital, courts, or the police.  They have a huge interest and goals for secondary education.  These are Anglican, Methodist, or Roman Catholic; this is the class most anxious about appropriate behavior.