Why Montserrat
TOP REASONS TO INVEST IN MONTSERRAT
- Montserrat is a Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (FATF) compliant jurisdiction therefore offering investors and local businesses alike confidence in the legislative framework within which they operate.
- The investment climate in Montserrat benefits from its status as a British Overseas Territory and from being a democratic society, both of which offer political stability and legal protections for investors.
- According to the World Travel Index (2025) Montserrat has been named the safest destination in the Caribbean, earning an outstanding safety score of 97/100. Despite the presence of the active Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat was recognised for its exemplary safety standards in the northern region. The island’s rigorous monitoring systems ensure that residents and visitors can safely enjoy its unique volcanic landscapes while maintaining peace of mind. According to the World Travel Index report, Montserrat excels in several safety categories:
- #1 Safest Caribbean Island – 97/100 safety score
- Exceptionally low crime rates and high personal security
- Advanced volcanic monitoring systems and well-maintained exclusion zones
- Higher healthcare capacity than many other Caribbean destinations
- Warm, welcoming community that enhances visitors’ sense of security
- Montserrat stands out as a unique gateway for UK investors to the wider Caribbean community. As the only British Overseas Territory that is a full member of CARICOM. With Montserrat, UK investors gain a direct link to a vibrant and growing market, rooted in strong trade relations and mutual investment opportunities within the CARICOM network.
- Montserrat’s currency is stable due to its peg to the US Dollar, making it reliable for investors, businesses, travellers and locals alike. Montserrat uses ECD that has a fixed rate tied to the USD (US$1: EC$2.7).
- Montserrat has two geothermal wells that have been successfully flow tested. They are key features of the island’s future energy goals and present a unique opportunity for any investor seeking to enrich its clean energy profile.
- Montserrat has a vibrant real estate landscape rich with many opportunities for investment. Whether it is to invest in affordable housing projects, properties for short term rental or luxury accommodations, the choice is wide for this island that is rebuilding its housing stock and making provision for its growing tourist footprint.
- Montserrat is recorded as home to a surprisingly rich biodiversity and home to over 90% of the UK’s total biodiversity (as a UK Overseas Territory). This ecological importance underlines Montserrat’s value as a natural treasure and presents invaluable research prospects.
Country Overview
Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean renowned for its volcanic landscape, lush vegetation and rich musical history featuring names like Arrow, Stevie Wonder and the Beatles. It is the only island in the Caribbean that celebrates St. Patrick’s Day as part of a week-long festival that is quickly becoming a ‘must-do’ item on any traveller’s bucket list. Due to its growing prominence, the island experiences phenomenal population growth by 2000 to 3000 persons each year for the St. Patrick’s Festival.
In 2024, 3.77% growth was recorded in the economy and is expected to continue as tourism rebounds, aided by capital investments into sea and air access. The Government is also committed to growing its investment profile targeting opportunities in tourism, real estate, renewable energy and agriculture.
Geography
The island of Montserrat is strategically located 25 miles approximately (40 km) southwest of Antigua, 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Redonda (a small island owned by Antigua and Barbuda), and 35 miles (56 km) northwest of the French overseas region of Guadeloupe. Beyond Redonda lies the island of Nevis (which is part of the federation of St Kitts and Nevis), about 30 miles (48 km) to the north-west.
The landscape is mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland while its geographic location offers a tropical climate, with little daily or seasonal temperature variation.
Our People
In 1995, life in Montserrat changed forever when the once dormant Soufrière Hills Volcano erupted for the first time after almost 400 years. Two-thirds of the southern part of the island, including the capital, Plymouth, was devastated. Much of it remains buried beneath thick layers of ash and mud and has become a modern-day Pompeii attraction for tourists. The devastation caused more than half of the island’s population (which stood at 10,000) to migrate to North America and the United Kingdom.
Everyone knows everyone on Montserrat and looks out for each other as part of the charm of having a population of just under 5,000 residents. Included among Montserratians – or “Stratians” (pronounced “Strashans”) are immigrants from Dominica, Jamaica, Guyana, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, who came to help rebuild the island after the 1995 volcanic eruption. It is therefore not unusual to hear radio advertisements in Spanish and Haitian Creole. In addition, the island experiences annual migration of snowbirds from November to March each year as they return to their properties from November to March to enjoy the warm atmosphere and serenity of Montserrat lifestyle.
Government
Montserrat is one of 14 UK Overseas Territories, governed by a locally elected Premier and Parliament. The UK Government works with Montserrat’s Government to strengthen the island’s economic planning, emergency management, and security. The UK Government appoints a Governor who lives on island, and functions as an advisor on these matters.