Brades (also Brades Estate) is a town and the de factocapital of
Montserrat since 1998[1] with an approximate population of 1,000.
History
The still de jure capital of Montserrat at
Plymouth in the south of the island was abandoned in 1997 after it was buried by the eruptions of the
Soufrière Hills volcano which began erupting in 1995. Interim government buildings have since been built at Brades, becoming the new
temporary capital in 1998. The move is intended to be temporary, but it has remained the island's de facto capital ever since.[2] Several names have been suggested for the new official capital now being constructed in the
Little Bay area. These include Port Diana, in memory of
Diana, Princess of Wales, [3] and
St Patrick's, [according to whom?] to commemorate the
17 March Uprising and to attract
Irish-American tourists.[citation needed]
Geography
Brades is located at the northwest end of Montserrat. It lies to the north of St Peter's and Bunkum Bay, in the vicinity of Carr's Bay and Little Bay. The main road of the island reaches its furthest north at Carr's Bay and then heads southeast, past the airport in the centre of the island.[4] The village of Davy Hill lies off the main road in proximity to the northeast; The Collins River passes between the settlements and flows into Little Bay. To the northeast of Brades, in the centre, the island becomes hilly, reaching an elevation of 403 m at the peak of Silver Hill.[5]
Economy
Brades contains several small shops, a bank, a branch of the
Royal Bank of Canada on the Brades Main Road,[6] government offices, a post office, a library, and a pharmacy.[7] Runaway Travel, the largest and most comprehensive travel agency on Montserrat, is based in Brades.[8] The firm Gas Grant Enterprises and Trading has its offices in Brades, as does
Montserrat Airways and the Montserrat Tourist Board.[9] The Attorney-General's Chambers are situated at 3 Farara Plaza in Brades.[10] Eateries of note in the area include Soca Cabana, a beach shack on Little Bay which sells chicken and fish dishes with live
reggae music on Friday nights, and Tina's on Brades Main Road which serves
lobsterburgers,
garlicshrimp,
coconut cream pie and
ginger beer.[7]
The
Methodist Church built the school in 1966. Further additions and renovation were done by the Montserrat government.[12] In 2009 the school was overpopulated;[13] it had 151 students that year.[12]
St. Augustine Catholic Primary School (private)[14]
^Home pageArchived 25 February 2020 at the
Wayback Machine. St. Augustine Catholic Primary School. Retrieved on 24 November 2017. "ST. AUGUSTINE CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL Palm Loop, Montserrat P.O. Box 192, Brades MSR 1110"