The stillde jure capital of Montserrat atPlymouth in the south of the island was abandoned in 1997 after it was buried by the eruptions of theSoufrière Hills volcano which began erupting in 1995. Interim government buildings have since been built at Brades, becoming the newtemporary capital in 1998. The move is intended to be temporary, but it has remained the island'sde facto capital ever since.[2] Several names have been suggested for the new official capital now being constructed in theLittle Bay area. These include Port Diana, in memory ofDiana, Princess of Wales, [3] andSt Patrick's, [according to whom?] to commemorate the17 March Uprising and to attractIrish-American tourists.[citation needed]
Map of Montserrat, with Brades highlighted and including the "Exclusion Zone".
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]
Brades contains several small shops, a bank, a branch of theRoyal 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 doesMontserrat Airways and the Montserrat Tourist Board.[9] The Attorney-General's Chambers are situated at 3 Farara Plaza in Brades.[10]
TheMethodist 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]
