(BBC) Cash-short Montserrat has been told by the British government not to expect any additional budget support from London.
The news was delivered by the British minister for international development, Andrew Mitchell, during a stop-over in the territory.
Salaries to Montserrat public workers were paid late in January because of a revenue shortfall – and ministries have since been urged to watch their spending.
Mr Mitchell said the government of the volcano-hit island has to learn to live within its means.
“It is the wrong approach to wait for the mother bird to bring food to the nest,” he said, noting that the UK provides about 50% of its budget already.