PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Jul 19, CMC – The Trinidad-based University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) says it has signed a new five year management contract with the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) ensuring continued vigilance and research on the Soufrière Hills Volcano (SHV).
Since its establishment after the first phreatic eruption of the Soufrière Hills Volcano on July 18, 1995, the MVO, established as a statutory body by the government of Montserrat in 1999, has as its primary mission, to provide advice to the government to the British Overseas Territory based on its monitoring data, aimed at mitigating volcanic hazards and ensuring public safety.
UWI-SRC said that the new contract, effective from July 2024, extends the longstanding collaboration between the two Caribbean institutions.
“The UWI-SRC has been integral to the history of the Soufrière Hills Volcano. Since the 1950’s the Centre was responsible for monitoring its historic unrest and responded when the volcano began to erupt in 1995,” the UWI-SRC said, noting that it was among the founding groups involved in establishing the MVO and have officially managed its operations since 2008.
It said since then, seven (7) full-time staff from the UWI-SRC have been stationed at the MVO, overseeing its monitoring programs and enhancing scientific understanding of the volcanic system and its associated hazards.
In 2025, the MVO in collaboration with the UWI-SRC will commemorate 30 years since the Soufrière Hills Volcano began its eruption.
“To mark this significant milestone, the SHV30 scientific conference will be held, celebrating Montserrat’s pivotal role in advancing global understanding of volcanoes and their impact on societies.
“Volcanologists and scientists from around the world will gather on the Emerald Isle to discuss recent findings and share experiences from their work on this extensively studied volcano,” the UWWI-SRC added.
Deputy Governor Lyndell Simpson, speaking at the signing of the new agreement said “the continued partnership between UWI-SRC and the government of Montserrat to operate the MVO is vital to ensuring public safety and continued confidence in the sustainable future of Montserrat.
“We continue to build on strong collaborative relationships and relish opportunities for the MVO at the forefront of volcanic research, with the impending 30 year milestone attesting to the resilience and adaptability of the Island and our people.”
UWI-SRC director, Dr Erouscilla Joseph, said the MVO is a valuable focal point for volcano research in the Caribbean region”.
The new contract, valued at approximately EC$ 3.5 million (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) annually, follows a two-year interim arrangement that concluded in June 2024.
CMC/af/ir/2024