Business View Caribbean | April 2019

46 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN APRIL 2019 I n 1977, the Government of Montserrat created the Port Authority “to provide and administer a co-ordinated and integrated system of port facilities and services, and to vest in the Authority certain of the functions and powers of the harbor master and the Comptroller of Customs, and other related or incidental matters.” No one envisioned those “other matters” as devastating forces of nature that would befall the tiny island in the years to come and forever change the lives of Montserratians. On September 17, 1989, Hurricane Hugo tore past Montserrat as a Category 4 storm – damaging more than 90 percent of the structures on the island and effectively wiping out the tourist economy. Then, in July 1995, the previously dormant Soufrière Hills volcano erupted in the southern part of the island, destroying Montserrat’s AT A GLANCE THE MONTSERRAT PORT AUTHORITY WHAT: Provides and administers a system of port facilities and services WHERE: Little Bay, Montserrat WEBSITE: www.mpa.ms