The invited guests included His Excellency the Governor and Mrs. Abbott, the honourable Chief Minister and Mrs. Brandt, who gave out the prizes, and most of the participants and some members of the festival committee. The Festival season was officially announced closed by the Chief Minister in his role as Minister of Culture. In a brief address he thanked all the competitors for taking part in the competitions and the public for their great support. He was full of praise for the festival committee and again the public, citing gate receipts of $35,000 at the calpyso show finals.

The main speaker, chairman of the festival committee Salas Hamilton expressed satisfaction with the members of the committee and also praised the public.

He singled out for special mention the first Female Calypso Monarch, Kandi and Estelle Furlonge Ms. Unity. He saluted all the cheerleaders, troupes, masquerades, calypsonians and Ms. Unity Contestants "for taking time out in the national interest."

"It seems such a long time ago," he said, "when a few persons decided to take up the responsibility to form a Festival Committee."

He told the small audience he was proud to have chaired a hard-working first National Festival Committee since 1994 and asked a show of appreciation for the work of Clifton Riley, Johnny Wyke, Shauna Harley, Icilma Fenton, Charles Kirnon, Cecil Cassell, Chad Cumberbatch and Katrina Lee.

"We have argued and disagreed," Mr. Hamilton said, "but as a group our existence is historical in the annals of Montserrat for it certainly indicates an island returning to normal after a natural crisis.

Singling out Clifton Riley, the Chairman of the Calypso Subcommittee Mr. Hamilton recalled, "After asking for assistance in hosting the Calypso competition, we were given a production cost of $77,000 and we almost gave up. We were also given the figure of $88,000 as production estimates for another show. .., but at the end it was our duty to ensure that all Montserratians benefited from this cultural event and not just a few.

"We have started our post mortem and intend to make several suggestions for this year. They include beginning our planning exercises from yesterday. They have begun… The Festival Committee is also cognizant that until we build the National Cultural Centre, Festival Village is the most ideal and appropriate venue for concerts and such events. . . .

"On our window shopping list is a sound system and two generators, we will seek the assistance of Government for duty free concessions and maybe a contribution. This will certainly lessen the cost for festival.

He invited all interested persons to join this committee and so far former members have indicated an interest. "The expatriate community is also encouraged to play a role in our Festival, as was the case before. We realise the importance of having the year-end festival organized by volunteers rather than Government. However Government has given its commitment to always play an integral role in festival."

He concluded by thanking the host of sponsors of Festival 2000, the judges, production teams and chaperones, and volunteer workers.

"My final comments are serious," he said. "I encourage all Montserrat to join in the efforts to rebuild our island. We ask persons to join the festival committee, not for financial gain but for us to return to an excellent event surpassed by none. I wish you all a happy new year and may this year’s festival be even more grand."

The evening ended with some light entertainment from a wonderful team of the monarch Kandi, Hero, Cupid and Cepeke singing a range of songs from calypso to reggae, accompanied by the one-man band Harold Irish.

Miss Unity 1st runner up, Queen, 2nd Runner up

The Royal Montserrat police report that the past festival season was one of few but manageable crimes and "relatively free of any major incident or accident."

Acting Deputy Commissioner John B. Douglas said in a written statement that while a number of events took place at various locations, the main area being Festival Village at Little Bay, "movements of vehicular traffic and pedestrians were considerable but controlled."

He added that while there were a number of burglaries and thefts, they were not insurmountable.

In giving tribute to his fellow female police officer, Miss Sharon Lindsey, who competed in the calypso competition, making it all the way to the finals, he said: "perhaps the song 'Domestic Violence is a Crime' played a significant part or role on the minds of people," adding that as a consequence, "there were very few complaints in that area."

The Acting Deputy Commissioner expressed pleasure that there were very few complaints in the area of violence. "Christmas is a time for merry making and this was displayed throughout the festival season," he said.

Meanwhile Commissioner of Police Alex Elder expressed his pleasure and extended" sincere thanks to the general public for their good behaviour during the season," on behalf of the Royal Montserrat Police/Fire and Rescue Services. He encouraged all to "carry through this behaviour throughout the new millennium."

The statement concluded by pointing out that the festival slogan, "An Eruption of Enjoyment," could not have been more appropriate.

How can we wrest the decision-making process and the power-brokering back from the British Department for International Development (DFID) to our otherwise seemingly powerless government and to the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) represented here by His Excellency the Governor"?

It is not DFID who is responsible for our getting homosexual laws, but since July 1995 we have heard little from or about the FCO after DFID set up office in Montserrat. We will probably have to wait until Governor Savage and Abbott, who have served us since 1995, retire for the possibility of hearing from them details of how difficult it has been for them to carry out their functions and duties effectively.

We cannot quote them, but know and hear enough to understand their frustrations and even the sympathy they sometimes feel for Montserrat. They might tell us then, how they have been left out of the loop and the process regarding decisions made on island that affect their ability to perform and function. And we also expect that they might deny, for now, that this is so.

The recent festival calypso competition carried 40 points out of 100 for the lyrics section, which included originality, creativity, interpretation, theme and language. History was created when Candy (Cynthia Malone) - not the first female to enter the annual competition, and one of two this last time round - won the calypso monarch crown. She did so with one of her songs in which she said she will vote for DFID "because dem is de people who say what to do, and to do and in case all you don't know, we have seven ministers without portfolio." She was effective, topical (angering many) when she portrayed local DFID personnel in her props on stage the night of the finals.

There are those who felt very insulted by this calypso and who, if they were judges, would have difficulty giving her the necessary points for victory. But it is the factuality that is really griping, when our ministers continue to fall prey to the consultancy syndrome where they cannot sanction anything based on their own local expertise, information and desires, passing their dependency and acceptance to those who carry out their policies interested only in the next salary day. And who it is that always get reminded "bear in mind we have just funded...," a British civil servant speaking.

The airport issue may be an example of how we are allowing ourselves, through our leaders to be hoodwinked. The Chief Minister takes pride in saying we MUST have a fixed-wing facility to move forward. He will find agreement among Montserratians without the MUST, but he does not take on board all the discussions and possibilities. Instead he is led by the loss of money from the European Union and the funds that would become available for the construction of an airstrip at Geralds. From a politician-in-power's perspective, we may agree, but is this in the interest of Montserrat's future?

That we can get an airstrip at Geralds will fulfill the British Government's promise of an airstrip now that W.H. Bramble is out for the foreseeable future. It will also sustain their stiff-backed position not to revise their first word on beginning the development of airport facilities at Thatch Valley, even when it has been discussed and agreed (not by them but their consultants) that the original cost for this option was grossly overstated.

That can prove disastrous for Montserrat from the outset. The Chief Minister virtually spoke with two tongues, passing off his government's decision on the condition of having no choice because of the EU's money, on the need for a fixed-wing facility and other hidden reasons important and beneficial only to themselves.

At the same time he was saying that we will have the airstrip and that this is to be in keeping with the Chamber of Commerce's recommendations which we published on December 15, 2000 That can't cut it since there is already a decision to go ahead with the Geralds airstrip. (See article - bottom below from March 3, 2000)

Findings will and very often can be what the party paying for them wishes. Look at how the entire government, civil service and acclaimed politicians have come to accept that "he who pays the piper calls the tune."

What is important above everything else is that Montserrat has adequate transportation in and out and it is not to be felt or believed that this will come without effort and sacrifice.

Now the homosexual law, a matter for which so many have been branding Montserratians as gay haters. It is easy for individuals and people to be branded for things that couldn't be further than truth.

The fact could be, that Montserratians are in no danger that this law will change their culture or moral and religious belief or practises. Montserratians never interfered with gays who kept their 'practices' (not to mention their beliefs) privately and to themselves. The law legalises that. However, the idea of imposing laws which are anti-cultural and go against the moral and religious beliefs of a land because they are in keeping with the so-called enlightened world are to be abhorred, particularly when that world has little to show other than evil.

All this has to do with the beliefs and conscience of the people. But what is our relationship with Europe? Even if we were citizens of Britain, it really should have no more than financial control over the island by virtue of our being a colony or dependent territory (a partner) and over the circumstances that beset us.

It must be made clear that Montserratians are not and never have been people haters in any way shape or fashion. Other ills impinge on their relationships and dealings with one another, but not even the worst possible crisis has made them into people haters. It has only to do with their belief that homosexuality is not something to be encouraged, but the life of the homosexual is in no way threatened here. Now a law that we wanted to have nothing to do with makes it possible for them to practice their acts in private, where they were always safe anyhow. Is the act of practising heterosexual sex in public acceptable? Not in Montserrat and will certainly violate some of our laws anyway.

Last week Chief Minister the honourable David S. Brandt responded to a question regarding the development of airport facilities in Montserrat and revealed that once again that Her Majesty's Government (HMG) had reiterated its "NO" even to the consideration of a grass airstrip at Thatch Valley.

The question to the CM was born out of the current activity at the Soufriere Hills volcano, which after giving every indication of going into repose after eruptive activity since July 1995, began growing another dome inside of the almost solidified crater walls. This halted all thoughts and plans to refurbish W.H. Bramble airport, estimated for use again by mid-2000 as revealed by a letter from Mr. Mich Wood, the man who took over in London from Mr. Richard Teuten in charge of the Overseas Territories Unit.

To bring the very current situation on the matter into perspective, the Chief Minister read a letter which he received from Mr. Wood, as follows:

"AIR ACCESS

When we spoke on Wednesday, you said that the Government of Montserrat would like a grass airstrip to be engineered at Thatch Valley.

Our position is this. Given the ongoing situation with the volcano, the possibility of disturbance in the Bramble Airport vicinity and the continuing uncertainty about when the volcano will settle down, the date we estimated Bramble would be operational (mid-2002) may no longer be realistic. In these circumstances, we are prepared to re-open our consideration of a grass strip. I informed you that DFID engineers in our Montserrat office were already looking at the Geralds site and would shortly let us have their assessment I regret we are not prepared to re-open consideration of Thatch Valley. We have already determined that proposals for a new airport in that area are uneconomic; the costs of a grass facility would also be very high given access problems and the need for ancillary infrastructure (all of which presently exists at Geralds)."

The letter was copied to the Governor's office.

Mr. Brandt said further that a committee had been set up to look into the possibility of the costs and the feasibility of developing such an airstrip at Thatch Valley and suggested that government will pursue further such a possibility.

It is known that HMG had agreed to construct a sports complex at Geralds, where they would also construct a temporary "emergency grass strip" to be used in the event that the W.H. Bramble refurbished airport became unusable.

A new heliport is currently being completed with a view to upgrading operating commercial helicopter flights out of Montserrat till such time as the island could accommodate fixed-wing aircraft facilities. The heliport is almost completed; already the tower is functional and is being used for the current helicopter service out of Geralds, but there is apparently a snag in obtaining a license to operate the present service on a commercial basis.

Paul wrote, " I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God , who loved me and gave himself for me."

Galatians 2:19-20

I struggle with a bad habit. Again and again I resolve to change, but I always fall back into my old ways .One New Year’s Eve I steadfastly vowed to defeat the persistent enemy within me. But shortly thereafter, I found myself again beaten by the foe I wanted to conquer. Many others face similar struggles. Try though we may, our strength is not enough to defeat these enemies. That is why God sent Jesus to us. Through Jesus, God forgives our sins and empowers us to do better in the future. Through God, we can be equipped daily for our battle against all that would limit us in living for God.

I now understand Paul’s words, "it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me What I can’t do on my own Christ can do through me. Christ makes me strong. With help from others, I continue to grow stronger.

I have not totally beaten my bad habit, but each day is a new day in the battle. I am striving, but I’m not there yet! Through Christ, I will emerge victorious.

Dear Editor,

Kudos to you and your staff for keeping us informed and enlightened. Here's hoping you find even more success in the coming year. The Reporter is a beacon of hope to all of us in temporary exile.

I want to address the notion of UK Parliamentarians passing laws for people who don't have a say in electing them. Isn't that why people go to the polls, to elect their legislators?

Consider this excerpt from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights "Article 21.

(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures."

This tells me that no amount of "dependency" should usurp the wishes of a duly elected government. That is: Either the Montserrat Government should be the ONLY body making laws for Montserratians, or the Montserratian people should have a say in electing the UK legislators, if they are to have authority over us.

Scotland is a part of the UK and has representatives in the UK parliament, (and government for that matter). But Scotland can and does have different laws from England. Their laws differ in tune with the wishes of the Scottish people.

Why then should Montserrat in the 21st Century be dictated to just as in old Massa days?

We are all familiar with the ranting and raving of Brits when EU measures are adopted, even though they have strong representation and veto powers in that organisation. Brits don't like it, even with representation, but yet are happy to force the same situation on us without representation.

The UK is a member of the EU and the UN, but any measures adopted by those bodies must be further ratified by the member countries to become law.

According to the United Nations declarations on Self-Determination, Montserrat and all other Dependent territories should have had those same rights by the dawn of 2001.

Once again I offer the following UN declaration; 'The Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples - resolution 1514 (XV)'.

The Declaration states that "the subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the United Nations Charter, and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and cooperation, and that steps should be taken to transfer, unconditionally, all powers to the Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories so that they might enjoy complete freedom and independence".

By retaining these powers to unilaterally legislate for us, the UK is denying us a fundamental human right, in direct contravention of UN dictates.

Unlike the Gay Laws; there was no opposition from any quarter in UK Government and Parliamentary Opposition, The EU Members, or the remaining Colonies to the granting of optional British Citizenship to the people of the remaining Dependent Territories.

So how come Gay Laws were forced through with special powers while the Citizenship measures are left in limbo without the decency of an explanation to those who may have been looking forward to the opportunities it may have afforded them?

What we have in the 'Dependent Territories' is a ridiculous situation where, for some matters, we are treated like a Home Territory, while for others we are treated as a Foreign Territory (see the definition of the acronyms DFID and FCO).

How say you British members of the EE, to these inconsistencies and the IMPOSITION of laws on foreign countries?

How say you Montserratians to the fact that a UK MP from Rotherham or somewhere in Wales, can still legislate for you in the year 2001?

Dear Editor,

Does anyone know the degree of destruction occurring at Isles Bay beach by sand mining? Does anyone care? Would anyone care to remember the Chief Minister's pitch when he opened the beach to mining, brushing aside the law that prohibits it?

Remember, he said this was for the struggling Montserrat family striving to build a home. The sand was to be loaded by hand into their little pickup trucks and could be had free of cost. Remember? A few people have complied with this and would have had no adverse impact on the beach.

It took the commercial contractors less than two weeks to show up with large dump trucks. For a little while the sand was hand-loaded. Now they openly bring in their own front-end loaders and a string of large trucks. Thousands of yards of sand have been taken. This is being sold -- not given -- to struggling families. The government aids the companies by moving the sand to firm ground with the government's large front-end loader.

Considering the government's involvement, it is impossible that they are unaware of the amount of sand removed. Why have they not levied a tax that would at least repair the roads damaged by the heavily loaded trucks? But perhaps I expect too much of our politicians. Is it possible that funds from the sale of the sand have found their way into government pockets?

There is no indication of cessation of this mining. This is one of the few remaining stretches of beach on this island. Soon turtles, tourists and the people of Montserrat will regret its loss.

Nature may still have the last word. In their greed, the construction companies have mined below sea level and close to the waterline. At high tide, waves wash into the low areas, saturating the sand with salt. This is scooped up as avidly as any other.

Construction with this salt-soaked sand will rapidly deteriorate. Caveat emptor -- buyer beware! By allowing government and commercial interests to ignore the law and destroy a precious natural resource -- citizens beware!

Cassandra

Dear Editor,

Nearly two years ago, when the Daytime Entry Zone was routinely open to daytime entry from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., I purchased a four-wheel drive vehicle to assure easy trans-Belham passage to and from our property in Foxes Bay. The vehicle was of Japanese manufacture and had been driven by a previous owner in Japan.

It was readily licensed by Montserrat before the dealer delivered it to me in 1999. A year later it was readily re-licensed by Montserrat when I took it in for annual inspection.

I planned to take it up Mahogany Drive on Tuesday of this week to repeat the annual ritual. On Monday night, I learned for the first time on ZJB news that no vehicles with amber fog lights would be licensed for 2001.

My vehicle had fog lights when it was originally registered. It had fog lights when it was readily re-licensed a year ago. For all I know, they could have been factory installed. If they were legally acceptable in 1999 and 2000, when did they become illegal, by what act of the Government of Montserrat, and why did I hear nothing of that change of the law until January 8, 2001?

Happily for me, the business that sold me the vehicle removed the suddenly offending fog lights at no charge. My vehicle has been re-licensed until 2002. The fog lights are now stored in the garage against the day when common sense might be restored to motor vehicle regulation on Montserrat.

I have no problem with reasonable and equally applied standards of auto safety regulations. But when and why did those fog lights become a safety or traffic hazard on Montserrat, when in many jurisdictions they would be considered a wise and additional element of safe driving?

As a permanent resident of Montserrat, I willingly obey the laws of Montserrat, and I welcome strict and equal application of standards on motor vehicle registration. So I eagerly look forward to seeing no more recently re-licensed vehicles with bare white bulb brake and indicator lights that legally should be covered by the required red and amber lenses.

Old Towne

The UWI School of Continuing Studies announces the use of its new teleconference and computer facility at Salem.

Originally, the small building was intended to be built by loan funds provided by the Caribbean Development Bank and IDB totaling $254,718.00, but this proved inadequate. The grand total reached $526,284. Completion of the building was made possible by a grant of $269,135 by the British Department for International Development (DFID) through the Government of Montserrat.

The UWI is extremely grateful to DFID and to Chief Minister David Brandt for his personal intervention to ensure the DFID funding. The Development Unit assisted in writing up the project, as did the Ministry of Education in administering the funds.

K.J. Cassell was the architect, with Tuitt and Tuitt Construction as builders.

An official opening of the facility will be held when opportunity serves, but it goes into service at the beginning of the next semester in mid-January.

The University wishes to take this opportunity to thank the management of Cable and Wireless for hosting the teleconferences in their conference room for nearly two years. The magnanimity of Manager Mr. Neville Dublin and his staff cannot be over-emphasised. We are further indebted to Cable & Wireless staff for their generous assistance in facilitating the transfer and installment of the equipment at the new site.

Montserratian Distance Education students stand to benefit from the new facility, including the new equipment. It provides not only teleconferencing but also Internet access.

The next step is the building of a UWI office for which there is no special funding. The School of Continuing Studies is ready to accept pledges of support, however small. These may be a few blocks or acouple bags of cement. Interested persons are invited to telephone the Resident Tutor at Manjack.

John Ryner of Salem, said by the police to be a mentally challenged patient, was found within hours after he had been reported missing for some days by residents in Salem.

The man was reported missing by Mr. John Wilson, proprietor of Wilson's Restaurant, on December 21, 2000. According to the police, within four hours and after investigations Ryner was discovered in the abandoned exclusion zone of Plymouth "lying on the wet ashy floor of the Government Headquarters building."

Acting Commissioner of Police John Douglas reported that "Ryner, who appeared to be in good physical condition, was questioned and taken to the Salem clinic, where he was treated and discharged."

Commissioner Douglas said that it was the efficient response of the public in reporting the matter and the investigation that led to the early and safe recovery of Mr. Ryner.

Meanwhile the police regrettably reported that there has been no sign or any information leading to the whereabouts of Samuel Ryan who has been missing since mid September last year.

The Montserrat Cricket Association invites players to register with the following team organisers in preparation for the Cable & Wireless Two Day League which will commence on Saturday 13^th January.

• Cudjoe Head - Leroy Bramble
• Montserrat Secondary School - Glenn Francis
• Eastern / Salem - Roy Greaves/Harford Bramble
• St Johns - Tyrone Greenaway/Jeff Lane

The competition will be restricted to four teams in order to provide regular competition for those taking part.

The two leading teams will contest the final on 24^th & 25^th February.

Montserrat is blessed with a wealth of choral singing talent, and for many years the island's two main choral groups, Emerald Community Singers (see previous Reporter) and Voices have delighted audiences with their performances. During the Christmas season especially, they have become an established part of the Festival programme, keeping up a high standard of excellence in spite of the reduced population.

With the relocation of many Montserratians to London, some of this talent and love of music has been exported and multiplied, resulting in the formation of the Alliouagana Singers of London, and adding yet another choral group to this year's Festival calendar for our enjoyment. The Alliouagana Singers continue the tradition of excellence established by the two "parent" groups.

Voices held two concerts during the week before Christmas, and as always gave an impeccable performance to a packed house. They were joined this year by several members relocated to various Caribbean and overseas countries, who came back for the occasion. During the first half of the programme the group, in rather formal red and black, performed religious, Christmas and inspirational music, starting with Joe Jackman's "Carib Isle" and including a lively version of "Every time I feel the spirit". Other highlights were "Lean on me" and "Something inside so strong," ending with the very moving African song of tragedy and loss, "Oluwa," sung by Andrea Lee, who brought many to tears with this song a few years back.

The second half of the programme saw Voices in their colourful folk outfits, and the mood light hearted, with Caribbean folksongs, calypso, reggae, and some contemporary Caribbean compositions. There were several favourites that they have performed before, including "If you want to see talent see it ya!" and "One han cyan clap." The men's and women's songs giving their views on life and the opposite sex were also popular. It goes without saying (but has to be said for our overseas readers) that the group's harmony, presentation and timing was as always faultless, enhanced by good lighting and general production, all brought together by the high standards of the group's long-time coordinator, Anne Marie Dewar.

The Alliouagana Singers, comprising (for this visit) around 21 singers and musicians, performed on Christmas Eve, and took the audience by storm, resulting in a repeat performance by popular demand. In the first half of the show the group, wearing majestic African costumes, performed inspirational songs in a lively style, including two traditional South African songs - "Freedom is coming" and "We shall not give up the fight." "Love changes everything" brought back some memories of a brilliant Voices concert a few years back; and the group's arrangement of "Leaving on a jet plane" was made topical by the relocation experience. The group's dynamic director, Gary Palmer (a long-time Montserratian UK resident and a professional performer), with his very energetic directing style, also delighted the audience.

The second half of the concert, as with the other two groups, saw a change of costume and a switch to Caribbean songs - reggae, folk and others. Montserrat songs included Hero's "Cost of living too high," David Edgecombe's "Coming home to roost," Randy Greenaway's "Nature Lover's Fantasy" and Clover Lea's lovely song "The Montserrat Oriole." The last song on the programme was Arrow's "Montserrat English" ("this is Montserrat culture and we'll be proud of it forever"). The singers blended in beautifully, and again their lively actions and expressions contributed to a most entertaining performance.

All three choral groups performed outstandingly. All the choral singing concerts were held at the Pelican Room of the Vue Pointe Hotel, which is an excellent venue although not quite large enough for the number of people who would like to see these shows. Montserrat's choral groups have a strong tradition of starting on time, and "Montserrat time" is unknown to them -- it would be nice if this example could be followed by some other Festival shows.

The Festival Day show was held on Jan 1^st this year, followed by the New Year's Parade on Jan 2^nd, because December 31st fell on a Sunday.

Three masquerade groups took part in the Festival Day show. The National Masquerades, now renamed the Hybrid Masquerades, gained first prize, and are the most experienced group, having performed at Carifesta and on numerous occasions during the past two years. These skills are now being passed on to two new groups - the Davy Hill masquerades and the St. John's masquerades, both involving young adults and children.

The effort put in by these new groups is most praiseworthy, as children learn the complicated steps and rules, enabling the traditional culture to be passed on, and also adding to the children's self esteem and enjoyment.

Perhaps too, importantly, the youngsters are learning the importance of teamwork, self discipline, and doing things the proper way. The Rotary Christmas Feste held on Boxing Day was also a most successful focus for masquerades, and the informal setting was ideal as the dancers performed on the grass surrounded by a circle of appreciative admirers, young and old.

There were three children's costumed troupes, and this part of the competition was won by St. Augustine's school, with their presentation "Heliconia Fantasy," featuring the children in yellow and green. Their King and Queen of the Band were outstanding, with beautiful green, yellow and red costumes representing the Heliconia and the Montserrat Oriole. Brades School came second, also in green with red and yellow patches, and their very creative King and Queen of the Band costumes were also beautifully made, representing music and drums, in green, gold, red and purple. The Davy Hill troupe, appearing for the first time, wore turquoise and blue, with balloons and a long white streamer, representing "Dreams." In general, however, the troupes were less spectacular than on some previous years.

There were three cheerleading groups this year. Culture is not static, but is dynamic and changes over time, so perhaps we can say that cheerleaders have become assimilated into local culture, since they have been a part of the Festival now for at least 12 years. On the other hand, they can also be viewed as a symbol of the cultural imperialism imposed by too much American TV.

Anyhow, it seems that the girls love it, and so do the audience, so it seems to be a case of "if you can't beat them join them," and on the positive side it provides exercise, teamwork, pride and enjoyment. However, it's important to teach the girls to dance decently. Some quite young girls take part in these groups, and teaching these youngsters sexy and suggestive dancing at this young age can send the wrong message and pave the way for problems later on.

The winners were the Energetic Cheerleaders, trained by Dalia Dew, who were much improved from earlier in the Festival, and looked smart in their yellow and white costumes with gold trimming. In second place were the Explosion 2000 cheerleaders, in red tartan and white, followed by the Emerald Starz in green and white.

Also taking part in the Parade was a T-shirt troupe organized by the Health Promotion Unit, with their T-shirt slogan "Say Yes to life, No to AIDS" and featuring brightly coloured headgear in the form of condoms. The winners of the Miss Unity, Talented Teen, Prince and Princess and Calypso Queen headed the parade in the back of pickups.

The show took place at Festival Village at Little Bay, while the Parade started at N and B Servicentre at Carr's Bay, ending up on the stage at Festival Village. Both events started at least an hour late, which seems to be the norm. The music truck for the Parade was ready and the troupes were gathered, leaving one to wonder why the delay yet once again.

The music band left something to be desired, at first giving the impression that "anything will do" for the Parade, until they eventually struck up with the popular local calypso "pappyshow meself" as their road march tune. The prize winners were announced quite casually at the end of the afternoon, taking many unawares, with the advertised prize-giving ceremony apparently being postponed.

by Bennete Roach

The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) will hold its latest risk and hazard assessment meeting on Montserrat from 15 to 17 January 2001, according to a release issued yesterday. This is the next in the regular series of twice yearly meetings to discuss the recent activity of the Soufrière Hills volcano, and to evaluate the likely risks from the volcano over the forthcoming months. The last meeting was held in April 2000.
According to a CANA report Dr. Gill Norton chief scientist and Director of the MVO said that the scientists will be "redoing the Risk and Hazard Assessment for those areas and in fact for the whole volcano to try and understand a little bit more about what's been going on over the last eight months and try and give a reasonable assessment of what's most likely to happen in the next six months."

Dr. Norton reportedly said further: "We also have to consider what's the likelihood of the eruption accelerating, going back into explosive activity like we had in 1997, and potentially even going worse than that."
The participants at the risk meeting will include Prof. Steve Sparks (Bristol University, chair), Dr. Willy Aspinall (independent), Dr. Keith Rowley (independent), Dr. Simon Young (independent), Prof. Barry Voight (Penn State University), Dr. Gill Norton (MVO), Dr. Richard Herd (MVO), Dr. Glenn Thompson (MVO) and Mr. David Ovadia (British Geological Survey, observer).

A short summary of the main findings of the meeting is expected to be released approximately one week after the conclusion of the meeting, with a final detailed report to be submitted one month later.

Small nations under attack from the world's wealthy countries as "tax havens'' laid out their grievances Monday over a campaign to get them to remove the cloak of secrecy from their offshore financial industries.

Representatives of nations on an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development blacklist sat down with OECD officials for the first time in Bridgetown, Barbados, to discuss what they see as bullying tactics they fear could wreak havoc on their fragile economies.

The OECD, which groups 29 leading industrialized countries, is demanding an end to what it calls "harmful tax practices" in the offshore financial centers that in recent years have flourished in many small nations in the Caribbean, the Pacific and elsewhere.

As part of a wider campaign against international financial crime, the OECD is demanding greater transparency in the centers' dealings and a greater exchange of information in order to cut down on tax evasion and tax abuse.

The group infuriated many nations last June when it unilaterally issued a blacklist of 35 countries or territories, later reduced to 33, that it said must agree to cooperate with it by July or risk sanctions.

The meeting in Barbados, a busy offshore center that was named on the list, is an attempt to end the rancor and work toward mutually acceptable regulation on the politically sensitive issue.

Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur, host of the meeting, politely chastised the OECD in his opening speech for its perceived high-handedness.

"No country or group of countries has a monopoly on defining the way forward," he said.

Mr. Arthur said countries had the sovereign right to set their own tax rates in order to gain a share of the international financial services market.

"Those who gain market share call it exploiting the competitive advantage. Those who lost the market share call it harmful," he said.

OECD Deputy Secretary General Seiichi Kondo sought to assure the small nations that the OECD was not trying to dictate tax rates and stifle competition, or to destroy the financial services industries of those countries.

"We are not trying to set minimum tax rates or in any way interfere with the legitimate concerns of individual citizens to protect and maintain their privacy. What we want to defend are the interests of honest taxpayers in all countries around the world."

The OECD has drawn up a framework memorandum on eliminating harmful tax practices. That would give the offshore centers until the end of 2001 to set out a detailed timetable for dismantling "most harmful" measures. By the end of 2003 they would have to cooperate fully with tax authorities in other countries investigating tax crimes and by the end of 2005 provide "effective exchange of information" on all tax matters.

Kondo also referred to the contentious blacklist and said he hoped there would be no names on it by July, a provisional deadline set by the OECD for the offshore centers to agree to cooperate.

Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon called on the OECD to scrap the deadline and its framework.

The Commonwealth, which groups Britain and its former overseas colonies,co-sponsored the Barbados meeting. Many of the threatened nations are Commonwealth members.

McKinnon echoed the fears of the small nations that a weakening of their financial sectors could seriously damage their economies, which have little else to rely on other than tourism.

"Some states have financial systems that need to be improved. However, they should not be blamed or punished but should be assisted out of their predicament," he said.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia -- Two persons were fatally injured shortly after 6.30 a.m. on Old Year's Day when men armed with cutlasses and oil chopped and set ablaze worshippers attending mass at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Castries.

The dead were Sister Theresa Eglin, who was clubbed to death on the spot, and an unnamed man who died later in hospital of injuries suffered in the attack. Sister Theresa had served here as an educator for many years.
Two Castries men, Kim John, 20, and Francis Philip, 34, were later charged with the attack, which Dr. Kenny Anthony, St. Lucia's Prime Minister, described as the work of "sick and demonic" minds that would not be allowed to go unpunished.

"The evidence of the monstrosity of the act was spread out inside the church. There was blood in the spots where persons were hacked, burnt Bibles, a desecrated altar and other church furniture either burnt or upended in the melee," Dr. Anthony said in a statement.
About 12 other people were taken to hospital for treatment for cutlass wounds and burns. Several others were injured in the stampede as worshippers sought safety from the flames and the cutlass-wielding men.
Among those detained in hospital was the main celebrant of the morning service, Father Charles Gaillard, who was doused with petrol and set alight, along with the main altar.
Hospital sources described his condition as critical.

Monsignor Theo Joseph speculated that an anti-Catholic group was behind the action. He said an anti-Christ symbol embracing the Crucifix had been posted on Catholic churches ahead of the attack.
One eyewitness said the group entered the church "calmly, methodically and purposefully," and went about setting fire to people and hacking others with cutlasses and machetes.
"It was like a scene from hell," remarked radio commentator Cletus Springer, who attended the morning service.
In a press briefing in the aftermath of the incident, Father Patrick Anthony said that people were saying they were waiting to see what the church would say about hanging anyone in the aftermath of the attack.
Father Anthony pointed out that while the church abhors the act of violence, it holds no animosity for the two men charged in connection with it.
"As Catholic Christians, our theology is that you always forgive the sinner and hate the crime, you abhor the sin of the crime but you never hold anything against the person committing the offence," he said.
Both Archbishop Kelvin Felix and Cathedral Administrator Monsignor Joseph indicated their intentions to meet and speak with the two men charged with murder, arson and other related offences.
Meanwhile, Sister Theresa was buried here Jan. 6 after an elaborate and stirring ceremony attended by several political and religious principals. The mourners included the Papal Nuncio, the personal representative of Pope John Paul the Second, who conducted the service along with Archbishop Felix.
OECS Chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell of Grenada, Director General Mr. Swinburne Lestrade and the Staff of the OECS Secretariat expressed profound sorrow to the families of the injured and extended condolences to the Catholic Church and relatives of Sister Theresa Egan of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny.

The OECS statement called the incident "an unfortunate reminder of the ills that threaten the beautiful islands of the OECS and the rest of the Caribbean, in particular the depths of a social deviance that appears to be fed by a diet of sub-cultural venom and violence, abetted by the global communications and global media."

share the considerable grief of the Government and people of St. Lucia in the aftermath of the end-of-year carnage that took place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Castries.

Several veteran politicians in Grenada have come together to form a new political organisation.
The United Labour Congress (ULC), led by Opposition Leader Michael Baptiste, was launched at a news conference in St. George's Tuesday.
The ULC is the merger of two recently formed political bodies - the People Progressive Action (PPA), led by two former government ministers, and the Grenada United Workers Party (GIWU), formed by Mr. Baptiste shortly after he was fired from government.
"We have agreed to amalgamate our political organisations to forge a togetherness which we are certain can be seen by the electorate as an alternative to the New National Party Government," Mr. Baptiste told a news conference.
The ULC is expected to be formally launched as a political party at a convention to be held later this year, bringing to six the number of registered parties in existence.
This latest merger is seen here as a fresh attempt by opposition forces to create what they call a "viable alternative" to Dr. Keith Mitchell's New National Party, which controls 14 of the 15 seats in the House of Representatives.
"This organisation is willing to stand by its mission statement as we commit ourselves to facing the task ahead in holding dialogue with individuals and hope that other political parties and organisations would join with us in this struggle for freedom and democracy," said ULC's interim chairman Kenny Lalsingh.
ULC's mission statement includes a promise to fight bribery and corruption.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CANA - The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) may intervene in the political impasse between President Arthur Robinson and Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, the Trinidad Guardian newspaper reported on Wednesday.
In a front page story headlined "CARICOM to Enter T&T Row," The Guardian said that Prime Minister Panday had been briefing some of his colleagues on the issue and that the matter is likely to be discussed formally at a meeting in Jamaica next week.
The paper said "the matter is to be included on the agenda of the reconvened Canada-CARICOM summit, scheduled to take place in Kingston on January 18 and 19."
"Panday will bring regional heads up to date on the issue and to benefit from their views at a special caucus on the opening day," the Trinidad Guardian said quoting informed sources.
Mr. Panday and the Head of State are at loggerheads over Mr. Robinson's refusal to appoint seven defeated candidates of the ruling United National Congress (UNC) as members of the new government.
Mr. Robinson has said to appoint the seven, including Roy Augustus, the man tipped to become the National Security Minister, "is not only a rebuff to the electorate, it may even be considered by some to be an act of revenge."
Mr. Panday has accused the Head of State of seeking to re-write the Constitution and the matter has split the population.
The Guardian said that St. Lucia's Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony is likely to visit Port of Spain following the Jamaica meeting "to assist in finding a possible solution to the impasse."
The paper said that Dr. Anthony had been invited in his capacity as the CARICOM Head of Government with lead portfolio responsible for Governance and Justice in the Community.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines' Prime Minister Arnhim Eustace has been holding discussions with senior officials of the United States carrier American Eagle, following last week's suspension of direct flights between San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Vincent's ET Joshua Airport.
Mr. Eustace told reporters Tuesday that he expressed concerns at the withdrawal of the service given that American Eagle provides the only direct air link with the United States, which is a major tourism market for this country.
"In those discussions it was clear to me that American Eagle is not in agreement with the FAA (United States Federal Aviation Authority) decision to ask them to curtail their flights into St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
"They believe that they have the law and the regulations on their side," Mr. Eustace commented.
He said the airline's officials are having consultations with the FAA "both in Atlanta and in Washington with a view to resolving the situation....
"They do not believe that the reason presented, which has to do with the ability to abort a landing, is in fact fair."
When the airline suspended its daily direct service to St. Vincent last week, the manager of the local American Eagle office, Ricky Deane, said this came as a result of a directive from the FAA, which conducted a recent airport audit here.

"Unfortunately, WINAIR has not yet been successful in securing the necessary route right approvals between St. Maarten and Santo Domingo so the commencement of this scheduled service has to be postponed," LIAT said in a statement on Tuesday.

Antigua (GIS News) -- "Without containers there is no mosquito, without mosquitoes there is no Dengue. Get rid of breeding places in your surroundings."

These words constituted the main goal of the Caribbean Epidemology Centre (CAREC), which held a brief Conference at the Ministry of Health this week. Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Alexander, stressed that Antigua is presently bordering on the brink of what could be a potentially dangerous epidemic. She surmised, "we have the conditions for an epidemic."

The condition for this imminent danger stems mainly from the provision of ideal breeding places for the mosquitoes as well as the lack of concern on the part of the public in relation to the dangers caused by these pests.

Lionel Michael, Chief Health Inspector, attacked the complacency of the community, arguing that the fight against mosquitoes "is not a problem for the Health Department alone."

He said the main weapon to effectively combat this problem is "reduction of the source of breeding for mosquitoes" as well as "active and aggressive participation of the community."

Antigua health authorities say there's a new strain of Dengue Fever in the country, and four of the five confirmed cases have that strain.
Health authorities are threatening legal action against those found with mosquito breeding grounds.
They are waiting on the Trinidad-based Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) to complete tests on blood samples of 41 suspected cases. Preliminary tests have shown that at least four of those have tested positive.

"Sir" Carl for West Indies captain! Why not? A section of the cricketing West Indian public including yours truly are convinced that we need "Sir" Carl for his batsmanship and leadership just as much as we need Sir Viv for his intellectual memory and his coaching skills.

I have been contemplating on this issue since the appointment of Brain Lara as captain of the West Indies. I became much more convinced since the advent of Adams. After re-reading my novel, "To Sir With Love" by E R Braithwaite, I am almost sold on the option. I find a significant parallel between Braithwaite (as he is called in the novel) and that of our unofficial knight of West Indian cricket, Sir Carl Hooper.

"Sir, we want to tell you how very grateful we are for all you have done for us, all of us." This was the emotional but honest confession of Moira Joseph at the class presentation award to the Negro immigrant teacher, Braithwaite.

The Negro teacher had given his best under the difficult and frustrating circumstances; he had been treated with prejudice by the very young people that he was trying to civilise; he felt unappreciated throughout but was determined to make a difference. And a collective token was symbolic of his accomplishments. He had not only reached their hearts but had made them fit persons for society. And for that, they were eternally grateful.

Carl Hooper enjoyed, if not endured, a love/hate relationship with the West Indian cricketing public. The ladies loved him for his sex appeal, for his "cool-cat" attitude, and finesse. He was loved by the young generation, because they say he is "Kool." The cricketing fraternity loved him for his craftsmanship, his artistry and showmanship. He is classical cricket personified; a symbol of the artistic apex of cricket as an artform; and a craftsman par excellence.

In this first of several articles in which I will endeavour to discuss with my readership some vexing issues critical for structurally adjusting the Millennial West Indies Cricket Team, I crave your indulgence to initiate a discussion on the fitness of "Sir" Carl Hooper for the captaincy of the West Indies team.

The evidence of team malaise that is destroying the regional team is so obvious that I will not try to quantify my discussion with statistics. In some of the cases, and for some of the players and technical staff, the statistics are so disconnected with their present ability and performance that that smoothing effects of arithmetic averages have become too simplistic to attribute any weight to them in any meaningful discussions, about these players.

Carl Hooper’s candidacy need not be discussed in the context of averages for two reasons. First, his cricketing ability is internationally accepted.  Second his leadership quality is well established in the context of his performance for his country of Guyana and in his capacity as vice captain of the West Indies team before his sacrifice by the Lara faction in the team, the selection and the Board.

Like Braithwaite, our behaviour towards Carl Hooper has reflected the duality of our social system and the punishing behaviour that is unleashed against those on whom we placed regional imagination particularly when they fail us. While Carl Hooper moved and excited the cricketing public, many were impatient with him for his spasmodic productivity. We forgot his all-round skills, and punished him for under-performing as a batsman.

Our actions are informed by the received view that a batsman of his calibre under-performs inasmuch as he does not rank with the great batsmen in terms of his batting aggregate and average. But many proclaimed him an established batting all-rounder by the time that he was forced by circumstances surrounding the team and his family to retire from international cricket.

Things are so bad in West Indies cricket, what we need now is a rescue mission. Make no mistake about it, given the evidence before the jury, Carl Hooper remains the best batsman, in terms of class, that West Indian cricket has seen, and perhaps, will ever see.

More than that, even Hooper’s antagonists will agree that he is the best technically and methodologically sound batsman in present day West Indian cricket. I will even go further to say that Carl Hooper is arguably the best equipped to play the modern game. There are several reasons for arriving at this conclusion.

First, he is the only cricketer who is still playing the international competitive game, and who is best technically equipped to play speed and spin or to counter attack the enemy in the front line.

Second, he is the most temperamentally equipped to play the game of endurance – and his performance against England in 1998 at the Queen’s Park Oval, when he batted throughout the innings on a difficult, if not unfit pitch, to ensure victory for the West Indies. In that innings, he showed his leadership in nurturing his lesser batsmen, carrying motivating them to perform, as he did for David Williams.

Third, he is the best candidate to revive a team that is in the abyss, if not the grave. Carl Hooper’s fitness is also based on the fact that circumstances or developments have made him the only available senior cricketer who is not contaminated in the debacle in Australia; the only cricketer who has form and years of high-quality cricketing skills who is capable of setting an example for the young cricketers, having escaped the cancer in the West Indies camp, which is transforming highly potential, and talented players into mediocre and indiscipline cricketers.

Fourth, Carl Hooper is loved by his country, and highly respected in the region. He continues to influence many of the young cricketers by his leadership skills.

I envisage a Hopper/Richards team unleashing a new spirit in West Indies cricket. Why do I think so? It is well established that there is presently no one on the current team who is capable of leading the team, setting a new standard for the youngsters, and bring into the team a leadership and management style that will command the respect of the regional and international cricketing public.

I sincerely think that Carl Hooper (not Brian Lara, not Jimmy Adams, not Sherwin Campbell) is the "fit person" for the captaincy of the West Indies team.

What do you think? Rally "round the West Indies team, and let the debate begin.

PHOTO CAPTION: Carl Hooper, best candidate for West Indies Captain (Photo: Peter Adrien)

The Windward Islands are favourites! Yes, the Windward Islanders could be become the 2001 Champions. The southern boys are poised for a "New Day" – a day to win the regional four-day championship.

A lot is going for them. Fresh from their double victory in 2000 (the Under-19 and Red Stripe Bowl One-day victories), the Windward Islanders are favourites.

The southern boys have "the black smith" and "the hard currency"; youth and experience; variety and depth; leadership and team spirit; resilience and determination; and they are on a mission. Despite the absence of their two quickies, they are front-runners.

The Leeward Islands have opted for a developmental team but he Windwards are the ones most likely to turn the table and make our predictions look stupid. But while they have the potential to upset and even to win, with the likes of the informed Stuart, the promising, Junie Mitchum, the talented Runako Morton, they will depend on the consistent performances of Captain Stuart Williams and Runako Morton.

Although, we are reminded of the glorious uncertainties of the game, my favourites are the Windward Islands and Barbados, in that order. Barbados is a definite front-runner. They have a good blend of experience and youth, and have the variety that makes them very competitive. The Barbadians have youth and experience as well as variety in both departments. Moreover, they have always been a competitive team.

Jamaica, the 2000 Champions, are a fighting team, even if the core of the squad is on West Indies duty. There is a good mix of batters and bowlers. And there are a number of young players who have been exposed to cricket at the competitive level.

The former West Indies vice-captain Carl Hooper will lead Guyana, which will have the services of the young batsman, Ramnaresh Sarwan. They include a number of experienced players in Keith Semple and Neil McGarrell, and have a good blend of youthful talents. This is an ideal environment for Sarwan, who was literally destroyed by the technical vampires on the tour of Australia. But we expect him to be back. Form and confidence are temporary but class is permanent.

But will the 2001 regional competition -- in spite of the inclusion of English "A" team and a West Indies "B" team -- add significant value to the development of West Indies Cricket? The purpose of the annual regional tournament is to identify the cricketing resources, to separate the base materials from the authentic materials, and to nurture players for the higher level – the Test level.

This project assumes that for the duration of the four-day tournament all players would be afforded an opportunity to showcase their talents and skills before rational, intelligent and mature selectors. The players would be chosen on the basis of meritocracy and performance, and current form. The arithmetic of the individual performances, as well as the quality of the performances, would determine the choice of players.

While individual past performance and the development plan of the team would always influence the selection process, age-difference, personal prejudice, individual differences, and social affinity would not overly influence the choice of players. Individual preferences, national interest, and sectoral interest would not tarnish the choice of players. The best of the lot (the crème de la crème, if there is still such a category in West Indies Cricket), would be selected onto the senior team to represent the West Indian nation.

Should the West Indies team make it into the finals of the Carlton & United series to be played between Australia, West Indies and Zimbabwe, the core of the senior team would not be able to participate in the trial tournament until the seventh round, which bowls on February 16, 2000. That is to say, the core of the senior team which (most of all) needs to go on trial (if not a murder trial) would not be given the chance to showcase their skills or lack of it, in a different environment and in circumstances created for all competitors. The selection for the tour of South Africa, which begins on March 04, 2001, would not, therefore, be done in the context of a level playing field.

But more than this, the quality of the 2001 tournament could be diminished given the absence of the keen competition which would emanate as each player fights for a place in the senior team. The assumption is that when the tournament starts, every player, no matter how brilliant, must participate within the game principle of competitive athletics. Like the champion athlete must qualify for the finals, each cricketer must perform to ensure his pick. This would most likely not be the case in this year’s Busta Cup and the selection for the home series.

Now this is a very serious concern, inasmuch as there are no representative games (Board XI or President XI or West Indies "A") scheduled for the touring South Africans visit.

One would hope that sanity would prevail and players like Jimmy Adams and Sherwin Campbell in particular, who need to be rested from the Test team, would be considered by the selectors without fear and favour. One would also hope that the quickies – Nixon Mclean, Marlon Black and Colin Stuart -- would be given no preference over the likes of Pedro Collins, Goldwyn Prince, Reon King, Corey Collymore, Franklyn Rose and company, if they deliver the goods and are teachable.

It would be offensive to have the same under-performing players who have shown that they are no longer internationally competitive thrust in our face. We would be seriously offended should the selectors disregard current form, emerging talents and genuine passion for "the old wine" that has no taste, no odour and no sting.

Moreover, some of the competing teams would be impaired somewhat by the absence of critical players. For example, The Leeward Islands, which represent the new approach to Leeward Island cricket, will be without the reliable and crucial Ridley Jacobs. Jamaica will be without James Adams, Wavell Hinds, Courtney Walsh, Ricardo Powell, Laurie Williams and Marlon Samuels. Guyana will be without the services of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Mahendra Nagamootoo and Colin Stuart. Barbados will be without unproductive Sherwin Campbell (and may not miss him). Trinidad and Tobago will be without Brian Lara, Marlon Black and Mervyn Dillon.

The Windward Islands, the definite front-runner in the 2001 Busta Cup, will be without their front line bowlers – Nixon Mclean and Cameron Cuffy. The latter is arguably the most effective, if not penetrative pacer in the region. This is an indictment of the selectors who opted for Marlon Black and Colin Stuart and Kerry Jeremy, and left the most effective seam bowler in St. Vincent and the Grenadines while we are being battered and whitewashed in Australia.

How long will we stand aside and allow these blind men (the selectors) to lead us astray? How long will the OECS population – the small island people – allow Mike Findlay and company to take us for a ride? It is evident that since the days of the quota system, nothing has changed for cricketers from the small islands. It seems that players from other Caricom cricketing countries only have to exhibit "potential" to be drafted into the senior team but the OECS players have to "prove themselves over an extended period" before they are considered. And when they are selected, these players are used, abused and refused or given tenure, which is often "solitary, nasty brutish and short."

This 2001 Busta Cup, however, is an opportunity. The senior team is in crisis and almost every position is there for the taking. We will address this issue in a subsequent column.

The ball has been bowled; the Busta Cup has started; let us go and look for the stars!

PHOTO CAPTION: Rawl Lewis, captain of the Windward Islands (Photo: Peter Adrien)

Years of the Gregorian calendar, which is currently in use today, are counted from AD 1. Thus, the 1st century comprised the years AD 1 through AD 100. The second century began with AD 101 and continued through AD 200. By extrapolation we find that the 20th century comprises the years AD 1901-2000. Therefore, the 21st century will begin with 1 January 2001 and continue through 31 December 2100.

Similarly, the 1st millennium comprised the years AD 1-1000. The 2nd millennium comprises the years AD 1001-2000. The 3rd millennium will begin with AD 2001 and continue through AD 3000.

Many initial epochs have been used for calendrical reckoning. Frequently, years were counted from the ascension of a ruler. For a calendrical epoch to be useful, however, it must be tied to a sequence of recorded historical events. This is illustrated by the adoption of the birth of Christ as the initial epoch of the Julian and Gregorian calendars. This epoch was established by the 6th century scholar Dionysius Exiguus who was compiling a table of dates of Easter. Dionysius followed previous precedent by extending an existing table (by Cyrillus) covering the period 228-247, reckoned from the beginning of the reign of Emperor Diocletian. However, he did not want his Easter table "to perpetuate the memory of an impious persecutor of the Church, but preferred to count and denote the years from the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ." To accomplish this he designated the years of his table Anni Domini Nostri Jesu Christi 532-550. Thus, Dionysius' Anno Domini 532 is equivalent to Anno Diocletiani 248, so that a correspondence was established between the new Christian Era and an existing system associated with historical records. What Dionysius did not do is establish an accurate date for the birth of Christ. While scholars generally believe that Christ was born a few years before AD 1, the records are too sketchy to allow a definitive dating.

Given an initial epoch, one must consider how to record preceding dates. Today it is obvious that a year designated 1 would be preceded by year 0, which would be preceded by year -1, etc. But since the concept of negative numbers did not come into use in Europe until the 16th century, and was initially only of interest to mathematicians, its application to chronological problems was delayed for two more centuries. Instead, years were counted from a succession of initial epochs. Even as Dionysius' practice of dating from the Incarnation became common in ecclesiastical writings of the middle ages, traditional dating practices continued for civil purposes.

In the 16th century Joseph Justus Scaliger tried to resolve the patchwork of historical eras by placing everything on a single system. Not being ready to deal with negative year counts, he sought an initial epoch in advance of any historical record. His approach was numerological and utilized three calendrical cycles: the 28-year solar cycle, the 19-year cycle of Golden Numbers, and the 15-year indiction cycle. The solar cycle is the period after which weekdays and calendar dates repeat in the Julian calendar. The cycle of Golden Numbers is the period after which moon phases repeat (approximately) on the same calendar dates. The indiction cycle was a Roman tax cycle of unknown origin..

In the historical system of dating, AD 1 is preceded by 1 BC; there is no year 0. In the astronomical system, AD 1 is designated +1; this is preceded by year 0, which is preceded by year -1. The historical system was introduced in the 16th century. However, the astronomical system was not introduced until the 18th century.

By Dr. Howard A. Fergus, UWI

Montserrat’s next parliament will be without nominated members, but the current constitutional impasse in Trinidad reminds us of an analogous situation which occurred in Montserrat. After the 1996 elections, Mr. P. Austin Bramble, who had lost at the polls, was appointed as a Nominated member. There was no strident protest against the move in parliament, although one member did make dissenting noises in cross-talk (sotto voce).

The problem came when Mr. Bramble was elevated to the status of Minister. The protest was vigorous, resulting in a bi-partisan opposition walkout and a threat to boycott parliament until the situation was reversed. Something similar occurred in Anguilla when the Governor nominated to Council a candidate who had failed at the polls. There was protest and Mr. Speaker did not administer the oath of office to the member.

In these matters we need to make a distinction between what seems morally untenable and what is constitutionally acceptable. There is nothing, as far as I am aware, in the constitution of Trinidad and Tobago to prevent the appointment of a candidate who lost at the polls as a senator and consequently as a cabinet member. Nor does the constitution of Anguilla forbid the appointment of such a person to nominated membership. And as I have written elsewhere our constitution is clear on the constitutionality of making Ministers of nominated members.

With the greatest respect, while the President of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Mr. A.R. Robinson, may have reasonableness and morality on his side (and I say may), the constitutionality and legality of his actions may be a different matter. And this was generally true of both the Anguillan and Montserratian experiences. There is absolutely nothing new about senators becoming Ministers in the region and the Commonwealth, and losing at the polls is not a disqualification for appointment to the senatorial benches.

Whether we are colonies or sovereign states,, we have to abide by the constitution for the time being, until we can change what we are not satisfied with. And changing a constitution normally requires more than a simple majority in parliament. In many jurisdictions it needs about two-thirds of the members sitting and voting.

Just saying no to sex works, at least for a while. A study found that teenagers who publicly pledged to remain virgins until marriage delayed having sex about 18 months longer than other teens.

Ironically, the more popular taking the pledge becomes in a school, the less effective it becomes.

Among those who formally promised to avoid unmarried sex, about 50 percent remained virgins until about age 20, said Peter S. Bearman, a Columbia University sociologist and co-author of a study in the American Journal of Sociology.
Among nonpledgers, he said, 50 percent were no longer virgins by age 17.
"The average delay among pledgers is 18 months," Bearman said in an interview Wednesday. "That is significant. And that is a pure pledge effect."
Bearman and his co-author, Hannah Brueckner, a sociologist at Yale University, analyzed the effect of virginity pledges on the behavior of teenagers enrolled in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a federally funded survey of children in the 7th through 12th grades.
Data from the study suggested that by 1995 a church-led, voluntary effort had prompted about 2.5 million teenage boys and girls to make spoken or written pledges to refrain from sex until marriage.
In their study, Bearman and Brueckner analyzed data from interviews of 20,000 teen-age virgins in 1994 and 1995. A follow-up survey in 1997 included 14,000 of those in the original study.
The virginity pledges seemed to have the greatest effect on those who took the oath at age 16 to 17, while there was little effect found for those pledging at 18 or older. The effect of pledging earlier, at age 14 or 15, depended on the students’ social environments, the study found.
Ironically, Bearman said the more popular taking the pledge becomes in a school, the less effective it becomes. The maximum effect, he said, comes when about 30 percent of students in a school pledge. As the total reaches 40 and 50 percent, the pledge effect is eroded.

In effect, he said, as soon as the virginity pledge becomes too common "and something that everybody does," the persuasive, social impact is lost.
Another part of the study found that when pledgers break their promise and first engage in sex, they are more likely to do so without using a contraceptive. Bearman said this is not surprising, since it would be illogical for a student both to pledge abstinence and to carry a contraceptive.

Jus Wonderin; what with all the talk of Autism, brain damage and bowel problems; and who knows if Ash will be blamed if problems do occur. God forbid.

Jus wonderin if some men can’t see the beauty they have.

Jus wonderin why dem no mek up dem mind and take hold of them hormones.

Jus wonderin why the down-graded lady can’t enter the pizza shop.

Jus wonderin why that girl at that certain bank no find she own property and come off other’s own

Jus wonderin why bus pappy show he self on stage with a serious song.

Jus wonderin if the phone boy knows that sleeping around could be domestic violence.

Jus wonderin why that girl from Salem don’t stop bad talk her friend.

Jus wonderin if she think she is in a better position that her friend.

Jus wonderin how many more people on Montserrat that have grudge against one another.

Jus wonderin which one of them really had the best dress.

Jus wonderin why the Dominican wouldn’t smile.

Jus wonderin if fire was under the airline worker foot why she was doing the stampede.

Jus wonderin if dem no hear the cries of labour speaks over and over again fo raise de pay.

Jus wonderin what kind of nail business is running at GHQ when as soon as they go on they fall right back off.

Jus wonderin if lipstick is out of style for them.

Jus wonderin why don't stop tamper and concentrate on the Unit work one by one.

Jus wonderin how we are suppose to live with the cost of living so high, so high.

Jus wonderin if they don’t know that the poor man is feeling it in the pocket.

Jus wonderin why the chap at the telecommunication place don’t open his eyes and see.

Jus wonderin why his choice is every body’s own.

Jus wonderin why everyone seemed so brokes durin Festival.

Jus wonderin if sexual harassment is common place in the police force.

Jus wonderin if it is a common practice to cover up and sweep under the carpet sexual harassment there.

Jus wonderin where the husband is vacationin while the wife was accompanied to Trinidad and Guyana.

Jus wonderin why the DIFID staff was the props for the Monarchs’ song that featured them.

Jus wonderin if they were mockin us and sendin us a message at the same time.

Jus wonderin why we wonderin, who wonderin, what we wonderin, where we wonderin, and when we wonderin .

Jus wonderin if the CM wonderin when he can call the election.

Jus wonderin how we go exercise we 9X, when 16 want to run wid de the one chief.

Jus wonderin why the refuse when asked before and asking to join now.

Jus wonderin how many of dem really want to see this place survive and succeed or is the same Dfid money they looking for.

Jus wonderin why now a days the CM looks so worried.

Jus wonderin if the Central boss couldn’t organize Salem Day , how he goin organize the runnin of the country.

Jus wonderin if the Agriculture staff have to wait till election to get them ham and turkey dem say de minister promise dem.

Jus wonderin where John is.

Jus wonderin if the calypso ‘JUS WONDERIN’ no spot on.

Jus wonderin if DIFID personnel and the candy-man nar interfere in a arwe politics.

Jus wonderin if they prepared to duck or tek de punch.

Jus wonderin which persons at DIFID might benefit from the White Paper.

Jus wonderin what the Geralds airstrip has to do with elections.

Jus wonderin if only one politician recognise the wrongs and mistakes of the day and not afraid to give some suggestions.

Jus wonderin if de church will marry homos.

Jus wonderin if is because they don't want to go to the barber why the man dem a grow dem hair rasta,.

Jus wonderin if dem wey a gloat understand wha de new law say about privacy, public and consent.

Jus wonderin if de beautiful glow from the mountain at nights is a good or bad sign.

Jus wonderin what that brown boy goin do now his candy gone for white chocolate.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons for the position of Parliamentary Counsel in the Legal Department.

• To prepare and to draft statutes and other legislative enactment.
• To draft Statutory Rules and Orders, Regulations, Proclamations and other documents of a general nature.
• To advise Government ministries, departments and statutory and other bodies on matters involving the construction, drafting and revision of legislation and to undertake and assist in the drafting and revision of such legislation.
• To assist with the preparation and gazetting of bills and their passage through the Legislative Council.
• To liaise with local attorneys or other interested parties to effect a process of consultation about impending or planned legislation or amendments thereof.
• To undertake such other duties as the Attorney General may from time to time assign.

The applicant should:

• be qualified as a Barrister or Solicitor of a Commonwealth country;
• have at least five (5) years post qualification experience in legal drafting;
• possess excellent written and oral communication skills;
• be computer literate.

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

The appointment will be on contractual terms to the Government of Montserrat.

REMUNERATION

Salary is the scale M11-7/9-5, that is, $48,912 - $54,348/$51,624 - $57,072 per annum.

ALLOWANCES

• Travel - $700.00 per month
• Legal Service:
  • $4,000 per month - officers with minimum of five (5) years legal practice after professional qualification;
  • $2,000 per month - officers with under five (5) years legal practice after professional qualification.
• Housing - $800/$1,200 per month (for officers recruited from overseas).

Applications should be accompanied by:

• full curriculum vitae
• certified copies of relevant certificates
• and two (2) original letters of reference 

addressed to:

The Permanent Secretary

Administration

Government Headquarters

Brades

Montserrat 

to reach her no later than 28^th February 2001.

POSITION:

Applications are invited for the position of AGRICULTURE ECONOMIST with the OECS Secretariat, St Lucia.

• To prepare technical and policy documents in aspects of agriculture and agricultural diversification
• To prepare economic and social analyses and reviews of the agricultural sectors of member countries;
• To review and make recommendations on the enabling economic environment for the growth of agriculture; and
• To serve as the Secretariat’s focal point for purposes of liaison and coordination among member counties and with regional and international agencies;
• Generally to contribute to the growth and diversification of the agricultural sectors of member countries.

The position requires postgraduate qualifications in economics and /or agricultural economics.

Emoluments will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Applications, with three recent letters of reference, should be forward to: 

POSITION:

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons to fill the post of OECS Sports Coordinator, to be based at the Secretariat of the OECS in St Lucia.

The successful candidate will be dynamic, have good communication and ‘people’ skills, have a track record of successful sports administration and marketing and resource mobilization, and demonstrated capacity to function successfully at a regional level.

The Sports Coordinator will be required to work with national sports authorities of OECS Member Countries to ensure a well coordinated and implemented sports development programme for the OECS Region. He/She will also be required to lend support to national sports authorities through various means, including resource mobilisation for sports development programmes at national and regional levels.

The salary attached to the position is dependent on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Applications should reach the: 

by 17^th January 2001.

An airport at Old Cow? Dr Lewis throws in another idea.

Read about this and Big Belly Philip in the January issue of

The Caribbean Tourism Organization invites Caribbean citizens of CTO member countries to apply for its 2001 CTO Foundation Scholarship programme.

It is designed for individuals wishing to pursue a master's degree in tourism and hospitality studies, for a period of one year to 18 months, beginning in August/September 2001.

The Fund was established in May 1997 to assist in the development of a cadre of highly skilled Caribbean tourism professionals and to associate with this purpose the memory of former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Right Honorable Michael Manley, by linking his name with the pursuit of excellence in Caribbean tourism. So far five (5) scholarships have been provided to Caribbean nationals.

Funding and other support for the scholarship programme have been supplied by American Airlines, American Express, Architectural Digest -- through a partnership with the World Studio Foundation -- Travel Agent Magazine, CTO Chapters and various fund-raising events of the CTO.

Candidates should have proof of acceptance in the programme of studies they wish to pursue.

The deadline for applications is April 27, 2001. The 2001 scholarship winner will be announced by May 2001 latest. Shortlisted applicants must submit to an interview.

Applications forms can be collected from the Montserrat Tourist Board, Salem, Montserrat.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization invites Caribbean citizens of CTO member countries to apply for its 2001 study grants under its CTO Foundation in the amount of US$500 to US$2,500.

Grants are intended for persons pursuing any post-secondary level of studies in the tourism/hospitality sector at the certificate, diploma or degree level from June 2001 and onwards. Grants are also being offered to persons who are currently working in the tourism/hospitality sector for whom having a second language would be an important asset in their job, and who genuinely want to improve their language proficiency in English, French or Spanish through formal, intensive, language training programmes, preferably in an English-, French- or Spanish-speaking country in the Caribbean, Applicants should seek to demonstrate the need for support.

The Foundation was established in May 1997 and its main purpose is to assist in the development of a cadre of highly skilled Caribbean tourism professionals. So far 20 study grants have been disbursed,

Funding and other support for the study grants have been supplied by American Airlines, American Express, Architectural Digest -- through a partnership with the World Studio Foundation -- Travel Agent Magazine, CTO Chapters and various fund-raising events of the CTO.

Application form and related information can be obtained from the Ministry of Tourism, the Board of Tourism and the Ministry of Education in the 33 member countries of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and from all CTO offices. Interested applicants can also apply on line using CTO’s website. The address is www.caribtourism.com. Before an award can be made candidates should have proof of acceptance in the programme of studies they wish to pursue.

The deadline for applications is April 27, 2001. The 2001 awardees will be announced by May 2001 latest. Shortlisted applicants must submit to an interview.

Application forms can be collected from the Montserrat Tourist Board.

THANKS

The family of the late Antoinette Ryan wish to thank all those who gave comfort and support in their recent bereavement.

Thank you all for your prayers, cards, visits, telephone calls, flowers and also the many ways in which you gave practical assistance.

We treasure the memories of Antoinette that you shared with us and continue to find in them a great source of comfort and consolation.