The volcanic crisis deepened political and social tensions. By summer 1997, the capital Plymouth and other towns in the south and central island had been evacuated. As activity of Soufrière Hills Volcano further exacerbated in August 1997 and parts of Plymouth were buried by pyroclastic flows, the UK government offered the 4000 remaining islanders a “voluntary evacuation package”. But Montserratians widely refused the offer amidst confusion where they would be evacuated to and fears that the financial support was not enough to start a new life.
Amidst the height of the volcanic activity in 1997, a row between the Montserratian government and the UK deepens the crisis. Article in the Guardian on 24 August 1997. Credit: Guardian. Date: 24/08/1997
The Government of Montserrat tried to negotiate more money from the UK to handle the volcanic crisis, but it fell on deaf ears: then Secretary for International Development, Clare Short, fumed that the riots were just little shows in the streets to get the UK spend more money on them (“They will be wanting golden elephants next”). Meanwhile, the sense of social injustice grew on island…
Eruption Of Corruption
‘All good hearted citizens please leave the danger zone
From deep in the centre / From the core of the human heart
Magma erupt and it’s burning /And it’s tearing the heart apart
And so an opening rising / That’s penetrating the crust
Scientists never predicted / That eruption is a must
And the evil that is in our hearts / Finally reaches surface
And a river of running lava / Moving at a deadly pace
It’s an eruption of corruption
Poisonous gases causing man pollution
The decision of evacuation
Resulted in an eruption of corruption
Smelling sulphur I feel an earthquake / You get your people that sell retail
The price of the rice and corned beef / Reach a height on the Richter scale
And some of them down in the shelter / They swear and curse and what not
They drinking booze at the altar / And they’re left with the government cuts’
– Extract from Song 'Eruption Of Corruption' by Cupid
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