Oswen is currently employed as an Energy Officer within the Ministry of Communications, Works, Labour and Energy, Government of Montserrat. Outside of expanding his knowledge in his fields of interest, Oswen keeps the Rotary International motto dear to his heart, “Service above self”. He is an active member of the Rotaract Club of Montserrat, where he served as Community Service Director for the Rotary Year 2021/2022.
As a CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Oswen is enthused about expanding his network locally and regionally while building young people’s professional and social skills through educational and recreational initiatives. He embraces lifelong learning and seeks to continue to develop his professional and social skills. He is also a basketball enthusiast participating in the Montserrat Amateur Basketball Association’s tournaments.
]]>The early years of CARIFESTA were captured from the Newspaper clippings collection sourced from The National Library of Guyana. The CARIFESTA collection currently covers information emanating from all the CARIFESTAs held to date. The Collection is supplemented by contributions from the Directorate of Human and Social Development through its Culture desk which liaises with the various Directors of Culture in the region and with the Secretariats of the Host Country.
The Collection includes consultants’ and country reports, articles extracted from magazines, correspondence, press releases, information leaflets, presentations at Symposia, programmes, various CARIFESTA themes; posters, photographs and newspaper clippings.
]]>These goals serve as a guideline for developing appropriate programme interventions and resource allocations, both at the regional and national level. Goals and targets should be reviewed from time to time to ensure they adequately and effectively respond to the needs and challenges of target populations. Importantly, while achieving the goals and targets of the CYAP, CYAs can help young people achieve their goals through matching the programmes implemented and the policies with their needs.
Date of Membership in CARICOM: 1 May 1974
Also Known as:Emerald Isle
Status of Independence:Independent
Area: 103 km2 (40 miles2)
Capital City: Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity. Interim government buildings built at Brades Estate at the northwest end
Population: 4,932 (2009)
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$)
Highest National Award: Montserrat Badge of Honour
GDP: EC$176 Mn (2012)
GNI: 0.058 Bn US$
1493 Sighted by Columbus who changed island’s Amerindian name `Alliouagana’ (land of the prickly bush) to Montserrat, after abbey of same name in Spain
1632 Colonised by Britain (settled by Anglo-Irish who arrived from St. Kitts)
1783 Finally ceded to Britain by France following numerous exchanges between the two countries which began in the seventeenth century
1871 Incorporated into Leeward Islands Administration
1958 Incorporated into the West Indies Federation
1967 Elected to retain colonial status instead of associated status within the West Indies Associated States (WISA)
1982 Montserrat-born, Alphonsus ‘Arrow’ Cassell released his first Pan-Caribbean hit called ‘Hot Hot Hot’ which became the biggest soca hit of all time
1989 Hurricane Hugo destroys more than 90 per cent of the island’s homes and other infrastructure. Island rebuilt in less than five years
1995 Eruption of Langs Soufriere Volcano
2002 Monsterratians regain full British citizenship
2009 Locally-based airline, FlyMontserrat commenced scheduled flights from Montserrat to Antigua. Permanent fast ferry services resume.