The simmering mountain top of the Soufriere volcano is the marker for the cataclysmic eruption that destroyed Montserrat’s capital town of Plymouth and its surrounding areas in 1995. The southern half of the island has since become an exclusion zone.

Today, a desolate landscape prevails in the wake of pyroclastic flows, blanketed by a dense layer of ash with partially embedded remnants of the buildings and infrastructure ravished by this tumultuous life-changing event. Despite the devastating loss experienced by its people, there is optimism, will and opportunity to rebuild and restore a viable, self-sustaining population and attendant public services supported by proper planning of public buildings and civic spaces. The new parliament building, per design is one such facility which can aid in the island’s rehabilitation.