Big Collapse And Ash Clean Up (July 2003)

On 12-13 July 2003, the largest ever historical dome collapse removed the entire dome of Soufrière Hills Volcano, and ash blanketed both the north and the south of the island, due to an unusual prevailing winds (usually the north part of the island is not affected). Up to 15 cm of ash were deposited. A major clean-up operation across the island was carried out, which brought short-term financial relief for Montserratians.

You couldn’t drive anywhere, everything was broken down all over the place, plants and electrical poles were leaning broken, there was just so much heavy stuff that couldn’t stay up… we walked around Salem proper, to see how everyone was faring, it was a mess, everyone was in the same position as we were, just cleaning, I don’t know, there was just so much ash, it was a huge eruption that night and the ash came down hard in Salem.

– Montserrat Resident, 2019.

Plenty Of A$h And Money

‘The dome came tumbling down / Plenty ash all around
Just like Hugo / Money it start to flow
July 2003 / Repeat of history
People like something line up / Machine and truck line up
For the ash jam the ash jam / In this nation

Plenty ash and money
All over the country
Plenty ash and money
Boost the economy

Thank you Jah, for this disaster
It give the poor man a dollar
And you hear them ooh ah, ooh ah, ooh ah, ooh ah,
Me hungry!

That’s the sound of the gang shovelling the ash
That’s the sound of the gang working on the ash

Some cleaning ash for their health / Others clean it for their wealth
Four million come / In two weeks it done
We get twelve million / This time with a watch man
Montserratians line up / Jamaicans line up
For the ash jam ash jam / In the station

[Chorus]

The new ash economy / Really saved the country
Before it erupt / The country bankrupt
Thank you volcano / For the cash flow,
Guyanese line up / Antiguans line up
For the ash jam the ash jam / In the station’

– Extract from Song 'Plenty Of A$h And Money' by Hero