Phoenix from the ashes of Montserrat

Simon R Young

Introduction

• Volcanoes are perceived as being entirely destructive
• However, volcanoes have historically been the source of inspiration and economic prosperity
• How can Montserrat move from the destructive to the constructive - is there a phoenix in all of the ashes ?

Using the volcano’s deposits

• Most of Montserrat’s imported sand comes from the pyroclastic deposits of Mt Pelee on Martinique - with judicious planning and management, Soufrière Hills could become a leading source of sand for the Caribbean
• Pumice is the strongest natural building material for its weight, and is used for building applications around the world – Montserrat’s deposits contain abundant pumice clasts

Good-for-nothing ash?

• These ideas for use of the fine ash covering most of southern Montserrat are worth investigating:
  • Additive to fertilizer
  • Base for beauty products
  • Novelty souvenirs
  • Base for cleaning/scrubbing products
  • Cement

Montserrat as a brand

• There are several export products which could utilise Montserrat’s name recognition:
  • Premium bottled water – we all know how great the water tastes, so why not use Montserrat’s volcanic profile to enter the North American market
  • Limes, lime juice and other specialist tropical fruit products, ‘fresh from the volcano’

Niche tourism

• The volcano is the ‘main event’, but other eco-friendly activities need to be developed to bring people back again
• Study tourism in other volcano areas – day-trip tourism in St Pierre and vacation tourism in Hawaii for example
• Designate the ‘Soufrière Hills Volcano National Park’ – it doesn’t have to mean much legally, but looks great in brochures !

Is there money in science?

• The answer is yes, and MVO is the focus of a unique natural laboratory which is interesting to scientists around the world
• MVO should be formally partnering in research grants and charging bench fees
• The volcano creates an incredible learning experience for undergrad and grad students – there is potential for a steady flow of field courses and development of a scientific field station on Montserrat

Harnessing the power

• Generating electricity from the hot water beneath southern Montserrat was a possibility long before the eruption
• Initial studies suggest good potential to generate electricity for Montserrat with plenty left over to sell to Antigua
• Steam and hot water produced as a bi-product can be utilised in a variety of specialist industries

Which Phoenix is the Golden Elephant?

• Probably none of these ideas alone will become the cash cow Montserrat’s economy needs
• Pursuit of a number of ideas through careful preparation and implementation will provide an opportunity for Montserrat to move towards true sustainability

There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction

John F Kennedy

© Simon Young, 2003.

HTML last revised 14th February, 2003.

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