With just days to go before the general election, Montserrat Focus is running a series of articles examining the key policies of political parties on a range of critical issues.
Each story will offer a look at where the parties stand on specific topics, helping voters to understand the differences in priorities and visions for the future of the island.
This article looks at the various ways parties plan to develop the tourism industry in Montserrat.
MCAP
In the Movement for Change and Prosperity (MCAP)’s 32-page manifesto, the party says it recognises the economic benefits to be derived from a thriving tourist industry.
The document describes tourism as a “primary foreign exchange earner” and income generator for Montserrat.
If elected, MCAP plans to:
- Introduce new and upgrade existing tourist facilities and amenities.
- Develop the Plymouth buried city attraction as a unique and compelling destination.
- Enhance marketing and promotional strategies to boost Montserrat’s profile as a premier tourist destination.
- Provide incentives for hotels, villas and guest houses to improve accommodation standards.
- Increase yacht and cruise arrivals through targeted initiatives and improved infrastructure.
- Advance ecotourism and adventure tourism to highlight Montserrat’s natural beauty and attract environmentally conscious travellers.
- Develop St Georges Hill as a tourist attraction.
- Work with the domestic bank to increase card purchase services across Montserrat.
- Promote Montserrat as a wellness destination with health-focused activities.
- Implement smart tourism solutions such as digital guides, augmented reality experiences, and online booking systems.
- Establish partnerships with international travel agencies, influencers, and media to promote Montserrat.
- Offer tax incentives for investments in tourism infrastructure and sustainable projects.
- Provide grants and low-interest loans to local entrepreneurs in the tourism sector.
- Encourage public-private partnerships to fund and manage tourism projects.
- Establish educational programmes focused on hospitality and tourism management.
- Offer training and certification programmes for tourism industry workers.
- Promote multilingualism among locals to better serve international tourists.
- Develop a community tourism project to provide tourists with a more authentic, local experience.
- Provide incentives to private home owners to increase tourism accommodation through the Airbnb services.
Representing MCAP are Samuel Joseph, Joseph E Farrell, Gilmore Williams, Edris Pamela Wade, Crenston Buffonge, Siobhan Tuitt, Jamiel Melissia Greenaway, Charliena White, and Edith Fenton.
Click here to view MCAP’s full manifesto titled ‘Forward together’.
PDM
The People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) party’s 46-page manifesto describes tourism as an “economic pillar” for Montserrat.
If elected, members aim to:
- Increase familiarisation trips and hosted visits for travel trade representatives to promote Montserrat’s cultural products to a wider audience.
- Focus on dishes like goat water, duckna, and salt fish through festivals and tasting events.
- Partner with Montserrat Arts Council to market local musical talent, producing high-quality work for the international market.
- Promote Montserrat artists by participating in regional music festivals, gaining wider exposure.
- Invite cultural groups from the Bahamas, St Kitts, Dominica, and other islands for a major Montserrat event.
- Promote St Patrick’s week beyond the diaspora and reintroduce an African Music Festival.
- Develop a roots history event to attract conscious travellers from the US and Caribbean.
- Commence a research study on site options for a new airport with a 5,000-foot runway suitable for the Dash 8, and 737 or similar jets that can provide direct air access to the US market.
- Establish the Plymouth National Park and develop the ‘Buried City’ into a world-class attraction similar to Pompeii in Italy.
- Leverage public-private-people partnerships to ‘turn ash to cash’.
- Reclaim buried roads and prepare the site under Montserrat Volcano Observatory guidelines.
- Incentivise investment to reestablish the Richmond Hotel as a five-star hotel and spa in the volcanic zone.
- Support and incentivise new businesses that convert ‘ash into cash’ such as manufacturers of high-end ash-based skin-care spa products.
- Develop a Cruise Sector Development Plan.
- Leverage public-private-people partnerships to develop major cruise tourism projects.
- Develop a multi-functional state-of-the-art cruise port on 15-20 acres of land in the safe zone.
- Mobilise support from the UK and international partners for development aid and technical assistance.
- Aggressively negotiate with cruise lines to include Montserrat in their itineraries.
Representing PDM are Paul Lewis, Donaldson Romeo, Glenville Daley, Alaric Lynch, Nyota Mulcare, David Osborne, Eustace Osborne, Shirley Osborne, and Jermaine Wade.
Click here to view PDM’s full manifesto titled ‘People first’.
PPP
In the Positive Progression for People (PPP) party’s 10-page manifesto it lists short, medium and long term plans fro Montserrat.
The short term plans include the tourist-focused ambitions of the purchase of a ferry and correction or continuation of the port project.
In the medium term, if elected, the party hopes to introduce a 24/7 public transportation system.
And in the long term, the document describes the building of a certified international airport, and the launch of a rail system with a “modern day Pompeii train tour”.
The sole candidate representing PPP at the election is Karen Allen.
Click here to view PPP’s full manifesto titled ‘United we stand, divided we starve’.
United Alliance
In the United Alliance’s 12-page manifesto, launched on 21 August, the party describes its short, middle and long-term plans for different tourism sectors.
For residential tourism, in the short term, from zero to one year, if elected, the party will:
- Engage with potential hotel development partners for a boutique hotel at Little Bay.
- Enhance collaboration with private sector on international promotion of existing short-term stay-over facilities.
In the medium term, from one to five years, the party will:
- Begin construction of a boutique hotel at Little Bay.
- Establish partnerships with internationally accredited hospitality institutions for the delivery of tourism training programmes.
And in the long term, from five years onward, the party will:
- Operate a fully functional 120-room boutique hotel in line with established international standards.
For yachting tourism, in the short term, the party will:
- Establish mooring buoys in key areas such as Old Road, Isles Bay and Little Bay.
- Carry out strategic marketing of Montserrat as a yachting destination.
In the medium term, the party will:
- Establish infrastructure to support refuelling and enhance other services to attract increased yachting visitors to the island.
- Foster an economic environment that allows for increased earnings for local service providers such as taxi operators, restaurants, and tour operators.
And in the long term, the party will:
- Develop a modern marina to enhance yachting facilities to establish Montserrat as a premier yachting destination.
For sports tourism, in the short term, the party will:
- Upgrade existing sports facilities.
- Invite overseas sports teams for competitive and training purposes.
In the medium term, the party will:
- Secure collegiate athletic scholarships and professional sporting opportunities for local youths.
- Support private sector to participate in the emerging success of a sports tourism industry.
And in the long term, the party will:
- Development and promotion of Montserrat as a premier sports tourism destination.
For tourism sites and trails, in the short term, the party will:
- Provide funding and support to enhance trails and tourism sites.
In the medium term, the party will:
- Develop and market the ‘Buried City’ of Plymouth and other attractions.
And in the long term, the party will:
- Establish recreational amenities like ziplines, viewing towers, and other tourist attractions.
Representing United Alliance are Reuben T Meade, Anne Thomas, Marjorie Smith, Jenzil Skerrit, Veronica Dorsette-Hector, John Osborne, Ingrid Buffonge, George Kirnon and Dwayne Hixon.
Click here to view United Alliance’s full manifesto titled ‘Restoring visionary, competent, trustworthy, and caring governance to Montserrat’.
Election day
A total of 34 electoral candidates will compete for seats in the Montserrat Legislative Assembly during the general election.
The six independent candidates are Claude Gerald, Debra Lewis, Wilford Meade, Charlesworth Piper, Delmaude Ryan, and Vickie Stephenson.
Polls will open at 7am and close at 6pm on 24 October. Full details of the locations of the polling stations are available on the Electoral Commission website here.
On the day, 3,464 registered voters can mark their cross next to up to nine candidates. The votes will be counted at the Montserrat Cultural Centre in Little Bay.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article provides impartial coverage of political activities in the lead up to the 24 October general election in Montserrat.
It does not constitute an endorsement of any party or candidate.
