Leaving Here Part 3: Chipping the Cats

We had the cats microchipped tonight—all four. Until yesterday we only had three, but I decided to rescue cat number four from his idyllic existence on a small backyard farm a couple of miles up the road. I've been popping up to see him regularly, where he meows at me from the bushes, but his…

UK Could Take Montserrat out of the European Convention on Human Rights

I am surprised that no one is saying anything about this, but the overseas territories could be pulled out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) along with the UK itself.  This matters. Liz Truss, who is likely to become the new British Prime Minister, has said it is definitely something she is prepared…

Held Hostage: Leaving Montserrat Part 2.

I said I’d mainly be writing about leaving Montserrat for my remaining time here, as that is the phase of my life I am now in. But I have nothing to write at the moment. I’m leaving because my partner works for the Government on a fixed-term contract that is coming to an end shortly.…

St Helena’s African Refugees reburied after 14 years.

https://livinginmontserrat.wordpress.com/2022/02/01/freed-african-captives-to-be-reburied-in-st-helena/ The above link is to something I wrote on the blog at the start of the year. It was about the discovery of the remains of 325 Africans who had been freed from slaver ships and taken to refugee camps in St Helena. 26,000 people were taken to St Helena after the camps were…

My Montserrat Procurement Prophesy: Have I Confused Everyone?

This is a blog that is usually on the right side of history.  I write about things that not many people are interested in, but are really important. Sometimes, a few years after I’ve posted something about a supposedly contentious subject, the Government will address the issue. When the UK signed its “oven ready” withdrawal…

Turtles of Woodlands Beach

Earlier in the year I forced myself to be a tourist once a week, and took photos of the "priority sites" contained in the Tourism Strategy. I haven't taken any photos since but, as my time here is now limited, I thought I'd better start doing a few more. So this is Woodlands Beach (which…

Leaving Montserrat: The Countdown has Started.

"I'm sad to say, I must be on my way, so buy me beer and whiskey 'cause I'm going far away. I'd like to think of me returning when I can, to the greatest little boozer and to Sally Maclennane". - The Pogues 1984 After five and a half years, I am finally leaving Montserrat.…

Should we Launch an Alternative Montserrat Tourism Website?

There is a tourism website in the Turks and Caicos Islands called Visit Turks and Caicos Islands About Us | Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (visittci.com), which I have looked at many times over the years. One of the reasons is that it has two really good accessibility sections. The first is about the website…

The Montserrat Medical Insurance Problem

I saw an advert last week for a new Head of Procurement listing one of the benefits as "medical insurance available." But is it? The current Head of Procurement isn't entitled to medical insurance because she has a disability and was told that her Severe Sight Impairment is a pre-existing medical condition. This is not…

Signs You’ll Never see in Montserrat

I’m back in Montserrat. Hurrah. I’ve missed it badly and I’m also completely out of touch with what’s been happening. But I have been told not to bother unpacking. C’est la Vie. But while I was away I found myself taking pictures of signs that you would never see in Montserrat. These include instructions on…