CELEBRATION OF ST PATRICK'S DAY IN MONTSERRAT

That this House joins the people of the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat in celebrating St Patrick's Day on 17 March 2011 as their national day; recognises the bond of friendship, shared heritage and close relationship between the peoples of the UK and Montserrat that dates back to Christopher Columbus's epic journey in 1493; notes the resilient nature of those living on the Emerald Island of the Caribbean to recover and prosper following the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano in 1997; and calls on the Government to continue to strengthen and cherish the close constitutional, economic and cultural ties that bind together the peoples of the island of Montserrat and the British Isles.