Soufriere: threatens Montserrat's future

Government under Pressure to Give More Aid to Montserrat

The crisis on the island -- a British dependent territory -- is such that opposition leaders have offered their support to the government. "We must put politics and political parties aside and work for the common good of all Montserratians," said Reuben Meade, Montserrat's former prime minister.

Last week the Soufriere Hills volcano had its worst eruption since coming to life in July 1995. Since then almost half of the island's population of 11,000 have left the island, and many more are about to depart.

Britain has been accused of acting too slowly in coming to the help of me islanders. The British Government has pledged £6.8 m to pay for emergency housing, but some politicians -- both in the UK and on Montserrat -- think this is too little too late.

But Charles Kirnon, a former agriculture Minister on Montserrat, said it was unwise to rely too heavily on Britain. "The British cannot be absolved from their responsibility for the island, but we did not elect them to lock after our interest." He said Montserrat could not "under Mother England's skirt".

There are now fears about the stability of the island's three remaining banks. Dozens of Montserratians have closed their accounts, and questions are being asked about the banks' solvency.