2 J Pages 8-11 uly 18, 2025, marked 30 years since the onset of volcanic activities in Montserrat. There have been no major explosive events since 2010, but the effects of volcanic events from 1995 to 1997 still dominate the lives of Montserratians. The northern-third of the island is the only permanently occupied area of the island. The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) marked the 30th anniversary with a week-long conference in Montserrat. It started on Monday, July 14 and ended on Friday, July 18, 2025. The MVO described the conference as we reproduce below: Soufrière Hills Volcano: 30 Years On marks a significant milestone in Montserrat’s modern history and in the global understanding of living and working with an active volcano. This five-day international conference, jointly hosted by the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) and the UWI Seismic Research Centre (SRC), brings together scientists, residents, emergency responders, policymakers, and artists to reflect on the past, engage with the present, and prepare for the future. SHV30 offers a multidisciplinary platform to explore the science, stories, and strategies that have shaped Montserrat over the past three decades. The programme features scientific presentations, keynote talks, panel discussions, field trips, and cultural events that highlight the wide-ranging impact of the Soufrière Hills Volcano — from geological and environmental shifts to community resilience, policy development, and regional collaboration. By connecting technical knowledge with lived experience, SHV 30 fosters meaningful dialogue about volcanic risk, memory, and recovery. It also provides a space to celebrate progress, examine challenges, and share lessons with other volcanic regions around the world. Pages 12-15 The messages from the Honourable Premier of Montserrat Reuben T. Meade and Chief Scientist Dr. Graham Ryan that we have included in this special edition of our Horizon Newsletter were extracted from the magazine for the SHV 30 conference. There were more than 70 presentations made during the week. Almost 100 scientists, Disaster Management and other professions from overseas attended the conference. Most of it was carried live online and broadcast on ZJB Radio Montserrat. CARICAD’s Supplementary Associate, Franklyn Michael, was one of the keynote speakers. Mr. Michael previously functioned as Head of Emergency Operations in Montserrat, and subsequently as the first Permanent Secretary of the then newly created Emergency Department for the first four years of the volcanic crisis. He spoke on the topic “A Retrospective Review of the Management, Teamwork, Leadership, Interagency Successes and Challenges of the Volcanic Crisis in Montserrat, 1995 – 1999”. The SHV 30 Conference was the motivation to CARICAD to present this special edition of the CARICAD Horizon Newsletter. It is dedicated to the courage, strength and resilience of the people of Montserrat and their diaspora. Pages 25-29
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