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Colin Riley is
trained as a geographer, city planner, and commercial
property developer who spent the first 16 years of his
professional life teaching in the school system here in
Montserrat. In addition to his contributions to
education, Mr. Riley was also active in the trade union
movement for the duration of his teaching career and
served one term as president of the Montserrat Union of
Teachers (1995-97). During his presidency, the MUT
launched an international appeal that raised over
$50,000 to assist members rebuild as a response to the
volcanic disaster. More recently, he worked for 10
years in Boston on city planning projects ranging from
affordable housing development, restaurant development,
new retail store development and new business
formation. He also worked in public sector finance and
grant making with the Boston Public Schools.
In September
2008, Mr. Riley returned to Montserrat to take up a
position as a lecturer and programme manager with the
University of the West Indies Open Campus. In addition
to his teaching assignments with first degree students,
he works on research projects including transportation
planning, residential tourism, international financial
services, and the economic contribution of festivals.
As a new member of Team MCAP, Mr. Riley is a point
person on tourism, economic planning, land policy,
private sector development and new business formation.
His main interest is to help move the economy to full
employment by concentrating on job creation in the
private sector.
Over the past
year, Mr. Riley worked as the fund manager for the
Tourism Challenge Fund, a grant programme that brought
$1,400,000 to 16 businesses across the island. The
experience with the challenge fund leaves him confident
that the businesses of the future will be in tourism,
property development and all the new economic areas
included in the MCAP Manifesto. Mr. Riley will also
focus on the development of sports, including cricket,
basketball, athletics and netball. He was vice
president of the Montserrat Cricket Association for two
terms (1989-91 and 1994-98). The MCAP sports and youth
development programmes are parts of a new effort in
healthy lifestyles and national pride that will be
central components of a happy, productive and
prosperous nation.
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