9 • Continued from previous page cotton production was dramatic. The impact was severe. There was extensive economic and social deprivation and dislocation. Approximately 4,000 people migrated between 1955 and 1970: primarily to the United Kingdom. This is an island that once had 28 per cent of its land, 7,000 acres, under Sea Island Cotton. Montserrat once produced one million pounds weight of cotton in one season. In the 1970s the island exported 39 agricultural commodities. That is the backdrop to Montserrat’s long history of export agriculture and local food production. In the late 1970s the agricultural estates were left largely idle and abandoned or cultivated only by small farmers who had no security of tenure. The search for alternatives to cotton led to cultivation of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. While several crops, such as limes, onions, tomatoes, white potatoes and hot peppers were significant in volume with enough for exports, there was no single crop as dominant as cotton was. In the 1960s a deliberate attempt had been made to shift the economy away from agriculture to residential retiree tourism. North Americans and Europeans were enticed and encouraged through a variety of real estate schemes to construct Winter Homes on the island. It was anticipated that the direct employment in construction and related activities would boost employment greatly. Further, the support services required for the residential retiree schemes would extend employment not only to men in construction, but to women in post-construction services. The strategy was largely successful and by the 1980s the island was regarded as relatively prosperous. It had “graduated” from budgetary aid and was in fact generating a surplus in recurrent revenue over expenditure. The population remained relatively stable at about 10,500 in the 1980s and 1990s before the volcanic events. Montserrat’s social and economic fortunes were dealt a severe blow in September 1989. Hurricane Hugo, one of the most intense and devastating hurricanes of the 20th Century, struck Montserrat almost head-on. • Continues on next page
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