Background
In 1989 hurricane Hugo devastated Montserrat. The veracity of its winds resulted in several million pounds of damage to the island, many people lost their homes and livestock.
The founding members of the Montserrat Aid Committee ’89 were amongst the many people who volunteered their time, skills and money to assist in the rebuilding process. We functioned as a committee raising funds and organising aid relief to Montserrat.
When the committee was being disbanded in late 1990 we decided that we had grown accustomed to our weekly meetings, and each other. We agreed then to form and organisation. Mac’89 was named in recognition of the events of 1989, which resulted in our coming together.
In the ten years since our formation, we have raised thousands of pounds for good causes which has been distributed to individuals and projects based both in Montserrat and England. We have initiated positive communication with the British and Montserrat governments. We have also linked and supported other organisation working to benefit Montserrat.
We came of age in July 1995, when the souffriere Hills volcano erupted. The crisis that followed required Mac’89 along with others to take a lead to heighten the awareness of the public and the British Government of the concern of Montserratians in Britain and inadequate facilities and conditions under which Montserratians were forced to live.
We were vocal in pressing for Montserratians to be given assisted passages rights to evacuation. We helped in the distribution of monies in the form of grants to evacuees from the funds raised by Sir George Martin.
Now six years later we are providing information and putting on events that we hope will keep the Montserrat community together and in the minds of others.
Mac’89 registered as a limited company in November 1999.