The Montserrat Diaspora

The Montserrat Diaspora is a rich, diverse and dynamic global community of Montserratians who remain connected through strong ties of birth, marriage, heritage, citizenship and kinship. Conservative estimates indicate that there are more than 40,000 Montserratians living overseas with material and sentimental ties that have endured very significant periods of out-migration first in the 1960’s and again in the 1990’s due to the onset of volcanic eruptions.

Should Montserrat, with its population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants, tap into this amazing global resource of Montserratians with deliberate and sustained engagement, we would unlock significant diasporic capital (human, social and financial) for more impactful local development.

A Diaspora Database with a registry and skills bank is a crucial first step in truly “getting to know our global Montserrat family”. This means that as soon as you click on the “Registry” tab and register your information, you instantly become part of this global effort to build a worldwide database of Montserratians. Indeed, there are many viable opportunities for attracting and directing diaspora capital.

In the post-volcanic context, there are many national priorities including food and energy security; reconstruction of key infrastructure; improved access to education, healthcare and social security; population growth; and technological innovations.

The Database will provide the Government of Montserrat (GoM) with the information it needs to develop projects and initiatives which fit our diaspora’s interests, abilities and financial goals.