Montserrat island "Santa María de Montserrate", after the Virgin of Montserrat in the Monastery of Montserrat, on Montserrat mountain, near Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. "Montserrat" means "serrated mountain" in Catalan. Archaeological field work in 2012, in Montserrat's Centre Hills indicated there was an Archaic (pre-Arawak) occupation between 4000 and 2500 BP. Later coastal sites show the presence of the Saladoid culture. In November 1493, Christopher Columbus passed Montserrat in his second voyage, after being told that the island was unoccupied due to raids by the Caribs. A number of Irishmen settled in Montserrat in 1632. The preponderance of Irish in the
Premier of Montserrat Premier of Montserrat The Premier of Montserrat is the head of government of Montserrat, an island in the Caribbean that is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. As a result, the head of state of Montserrat is Queen Elizabeth II, who is the head of state of the United Kingdom. (Queen Elizabeth II is represented by the Governor of Montserrat.) The current Premier of Montserrat is Donaldson Romeo of the People's Democratic Movement (Montserrat). The Premier is appointed by the Governor from among the members of the Legislative Council which consists of nine elected members. On 13 October 2010,