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NPLM Four Applaud CM as Strong Leader

CM John Osborne

Hon Margaret Dyer-Howe and Hon Idabelle Meade

Hon. Dr, Lowell Lewis and Hon. Claude Hogan

Four of the elected members of the New People’s Liberation Movement (NPLM), Mrs. Margaret Dyer-Howe, Dr. Lowell Lewis, Mrs. Idabelle Meade, and Mr. Claude Hogan, back-bencher, have stated their support for their party leader and Chief Minister John Osborne:

 “We hereby affirm our full support for the strong and unwavering leadership, which continues to be provided by the Honorable John Osborne and consider his leadership to be the best we have had in this country for the last several years.”

This declaration was made in response to a statement by elected party member John Wilson (pictured left) in the last Legislative Council meeting held on the December 23, 2002. Mr. Wilson expressed disappointment ""in the fact that over one year, I have not had much of that strong leadership that Montserrat requires, strong political leadership, that will take Montserrat where it ought to go.”

Mr. Wilson added that it is his wish to see his fellow party members work closely together in the New Year, thus making them better able to deal with the problems the island presently faces.

“I wish that in the New Year that maybe a closer linkage in my grouping and that together, not singly or not two, but together as a strong group whom the people of this country supported and put in place -- a strong political group that we can provide strong guidance and leadership that Montserrat requires. I certainly do think we have the material we need to develop the will.”

In a Radio Montserrat (ZJB) News Report, Mr. Osborne said that he felt that the statement made by Mr. John Wilson about him not providing the leadership that the party needs was a personal attack on him.

Contradicting himself the CM continued: “I don’t know what he wants me to do, because he has been in the party from the beginning and has not made any suggestions as to what I should do. I asked him what is it that I am not doing that he feels I should do, and he has never made any recommendations. I gather what he wants me to do, is to make a big fuss with the British Government, which I am not going to do.”

Mr. Wilson in the meantime, like others in the party, maintains that part of his statement as to do with the fact that the party does not meet ever, to discuss anything, negating his chances to be heard.

But the CM commented on that: “What he said about me not calling any meetings does not mean that I am a weak leader.”

The back-bencher confirms to the Reporter what Mr. Osborne said in his statement on ZJB, “Mr. Wilson responded that when he made the statement, he was not directly referring to the Chief Minister. But I said to him, if it’s the leader of the party, you must be referring to the Chief Minister…”

CM Osborne also said that he asked the member to clear the air and say that he was not directly making reference to him. Mr. Wilson in the meantime told The Montserrat Reporter that he sees no reason to do this as he believes in the statements he mad. “I never intended to pull anybody down,” he said.

Opposition Leader Reuben Meade commented, “The Chief Minister is being extremely childish.”

“Mr. Wilson’s statement, if the Chief Minister wishes to check the pulse of the people, it is indeed correct. His call for the Party to work together as a team, not singly or not two, but together as a strong group whom the people of this country supported, is indeed an honest call.”

“Based on his view with what is happening with the Party and the Government, it is for the Chief Minister and his Ministers to get their act together and stop the bickering,” Mr. Meade said.

One party member noted that this “Spat is an ongoing feud over leadership acumen and that the entire fiasco is damaging to the party”.

Meanwhile ZJB reported having interviewed ‘the man on the street”, most who felt that Mr. Wilson should not apologise as they shared his sentiments.

Some CRM Airport Questions You're Not Supposed to Hear

Once again The Montserrat Reporter has been called upon to help promote the struggle against a form of censorship becoming more prevalent in which the powers will go to any lenghts to muffle any disagreements or opposition.

The Committee for the Redevelopment of Montserrat (CRM) have reported that on Dec. 23 was since the they voiced and recorded at ZJB the following ‘paid-for’ radio spots to be aired. But after several days the spots were not aired and management advised them that they were categorised as scare tactics, to put people against the building of the airport at Geralds, and some of the text should be amended.

CRM also reported that one other member of government with direct connection to the airport construction also commented and said that the sports spots should be delayed so that there can be a semblance of balance.

RADIO SPOTS

(In each spot, the question was directed to the Honourable Chief Minister John Osborne, Hon. Dr. Lowell Lewis, Hon. Mrs Annie Dyer-Howe, Hon Mrs Idabelle Meade).

Question (1):

The Committee for the Redevelopment of Montserrat (CRM) requests that you consider the following scenario.

A Twin Otter aircraft has begun its takeoff run with pilot and passengers on the proposed 540-metre-long Gerald runway.  While on that run, more than once within a seven-year period at W.H. Bramble airport, one engine fails or catches fire.  In these cases, it took more than 740 metres for those Twin Otter aircraft to come to a safe stop.  Now, whenever similar incidents happen on the too short Geralds 540-metre runway, the Twin Otter will go over into the 200-ft. deep Cat Ghaut with catastrophic consequences in terms of serious injury or loss of life.  Hence, why have you the Government agreed to build and use a runway at Geralds that is shorter than the minimum 695 metres required for safe operation of Twin Otter aircraft at sea level?

We all agree that we need an airport, but why are the lives of Montserratians and visitors to Montserrat being put at risk in this manner.

Question (2):

Is the flying public aware that the too short 540-metre runway at Geralds

will not allow for night flying?

'British Government has repeatedly stated that the ferry will be withdrawn when this proposed runway is completed.  Hence, what is going to happen when, as on December 14^th, 2002, approximately 195 people came into Antigua from England in later afternoon, not to mention when conferences are to be held  in Montserrat.                                     

Neither Twin Otter or nine-seater Britain Islander will be able to bring over all of these people with their luggage before nightfall, thus the old problem of overnighting in Antigua and spending money that should be spent in Montserrat. Delayed baggage, and all the other frustrations of past years will once more arise and continue to plague Montserratians, visitors and business people.

Question (3)

Within the air transport industry the safety of human life is the most important concern.  Thus, in constructing airport runways to accommodate specific types of aircraft, governments or airport authorities will ensure that these runways are long enough for the specific types of aircraft to come to a safe stop in case flights have to be aborted or cancelled due to engine failure or other mechanical breakdown during their takeoff run.

Consequently,wherever a runway must accommodate a 19-seater Twin Otter aircraft, according to the manufacturer's manual, the runway length must be no less than the 695 metres (i.e.2,259 ft) at sea level.  For the Dash 8 aircraft the runway length must be no less than 1,000 metres ( i.e. 3,250 ft ). Please note, the W.H Bramble was 3,400 ft.

Kindly explain to the people of Montserrat and all who will be travelling to and from Montserrat by air why the Government of Montserrat proposes to construct a short 540-metre (i.e. 1,755 ft) runway at Geralds, which is much too short to accommodate a Twin Otter aircraft, when the manufacturer clearly says that at least 695 metres are required in case a flight has to be aborted at takeoff, and bearing in mind that at the end of this too short 540-metre runway is a 200 ft ghaut or ravine.

Question (4)

On page 14, para 10.3, Volume 2 of Halcrow's Geralds Inception Report , this consultant states that "an initial risk assessment indicates that the risk of an aircrft overrunning the ends of a 500-metre runway at Geralds would be in the order of 1 in 100, 000.  The overrun risk levels assessed would fall into the remote classification."  This implies that the Halcrow runway design at Geralds provides an acceptable level of safety.

However the British Civil Aviation Authority, under its Safety Management Systems for Commercial Air Transport Operations, indicates that even when the likelihood of an event (e.g. an air crash) is classified as "remote," there is an unacceptable level of safety when factors such as the severe terrain existing beyond the runway creates a hazardous or potentially hazardous situation.

People of Montserrat, a Twin Otter aircraft that overruns the runway at Geralds will cause serious injury or death.  In view of the British Govemment's own Civil Aviation rules, which would define an aircraft overrunning the Geralds runway and ending up 200 ft down in Cat Ghaut as a hazardous event and therefore unacceptable, why is the Government of Montserrat prepared to persist with this Geralds airport project? 

EDITORIAL

"Tardy Declaration of Faith in CM Fails to Blind the Watchful People"

Last week we ended our Editorial wanting to see whether the honourable member and/or the Minister would be forced to apologise or get fired. It was pointed out “a poll will show that a huge majority, both of the elected and the electors, will agree with the messages.”

What eventually happened surprised no one and we discovered that the media was blamed for a matter that the media had said nothing about, even though it was almost like a theme in the Legislative Council on December 23, 2002, beginning with the honourable Chedmund Browne.

It is unfortunate if not disgusting that the honourable John Wilson’s words, should have been taken personally by the Chief Minister, even though it began with a former member of the governing side, and was later supported by the "solo" minister in his New Year message. That mesage admitted collective responsibility for the lack of direction for this struggling island. 

He was clearly not alone who said, “who the cap fit….” Therefore an apparent admission of guilt must force a statement which acclaimed Mr. Osborne the best Chief Minister in recent times. It was quite belated in the first instance to be disassociating themselves from the dissenting member’s statements. If they didn’t agree with those statements in the Legislative Council House, that was the place to get it on the record and into the minutes of the honourable House.

It must be known that they (NPLM members) were the ones who brought the media into the matter. It was their own ignorance of and denial of the fact that the people of Montserrat shared the general view that there was little confidence in the performance of the political directorate. Shifting blame back and forth between the Governor and the Chief Minister for the inadequacies and fall-outs from the most recent evacuation order from Old Towne and surrounding areas is a glaring example.

The media, when it is canvassing opinion, does not tell people what to say. So when the man on the street shares a common view that the political directorate do not know what to expect, that is an indictment that they have lost touch.

All that has been achieved by trying to the get the honourable member to apologise when he was doing the honourable thing by representing the views of the majority of the people who elected him, is to emphasize the truly sorry state in which Montserrat finds itself today.

Exactly one year ago we warned, “mediocrity, laziness, cowardice, failure and selfishness must change within organizations, associations, groups and individuals with specific aims to grow certain areas of our economy.” We generalized that this was a political challenge to their leadership.

That the year ended with a show of selfishness and our ministers, forced out of allegiance rather than conscience, to massage a dying ego, is a disgrace to the forward thinking that is necessary, to use the words of John Wilson, to “take Montserrat where it ought to go,” and those of Dr Lowell Lewis regarding “effective government.”

We had warned, “the ferry rates will go up, the helicopter rates will go up, maybe substantially; taxes, direct and indirect, (including property taxes), licences, rates and fees of all description will go up; electricity, water, and anything imaginable will go up. The result is that everything will be increased, the cost of living will go up.”

The directorate could not have been unaware of what lay ahead. Can they say that this didn’t happen and can they show how this unfortunate situation will be reversed? Just as before they know the predicament today is worse than it was because all those things happened. It is not enough for the British to change their hardened minds, we need to look elsewhere and most of all listen to the main stakeholders who feel it most, the residents of Montserrat. And if what they believe is the leadership needs to be changed to achieve progress,. then that is what must happen. Anyone who wants to treat this personally, then ‘who the cap fits they should wear it.’

Except for the editorial, opinion articles expressed in these pages are not necessarily those of the Montserrat Reporter editors, employees or advisers.  Readers are encouraged to submit commentary articles.  All viewpoints, unless libelous, in poor taste, or anonymous, are welcome.  Send your contributions to The Editor, P.O. Box 306, Olveston, Montserrat, W. I., e-mail: editor@montserratreporter.org or monrep@candw.ag.  Manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by a return stamped envelope.  The Montserrat Reporter is a privately owned independent newspaper.

Jus Wonderin items may be called in at telephone 491-4715 or Fax 491-2430 or e-mail.

Correction

The Friday, January 3, 2003, issue of The Montserrat Reporter incorrectly reported that the local Red Cross received a donation of US$1,000 from Carlton "Funkyman" Allen at the recently held Funkyman Award Show. The actual amount of money received by the Red Cross was EC$500. We regret the error.

SCRIPTURE VERSE THIS WEEK

What Keeps Us Going

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. – Philippians 1:21 

Isaac Asimov tells the story of a rough ocean crossing during which a Mr. Jones became terribly seasick.

At an especially rough time, a kind steward patted Mr. Jones on the shoulder and said, “I know sir, that it seems awful. But remember, no one ever died of seasickness.” Mr. Jones lifted his green countenance to the steward’s concerned face and replied, “Oh, don’t say that! It’s only the wonderful hope of dying that keeps me alive.”

There’s more in Mr. Jones’ words than a touch of irony. As a Christian I hear echoes of Paul’s words to the Philippians. He said that the wonderful hope of dying kept him going (Philippians 1:21-23). Yet he wasn’t merely looking for relief from his suffering. Paul’s hope was rooted in Christ, who died on the cross for sinners, rose from the grave, ascended to heaven, and would one day take Paul into His presence.

How did this hope of seeing Christ, either at death or at the Lord’s return, keep Paul going? It gave meaning to every moment. It gave him reason to live for Christ. It also gave him incentive to focus on others who needed his encouragement.

He said, “For to me, to live is Christ, and die is gain.” (v 21).

Father, thank You for the risen Christ. He is our reason for living. -MRD 11

A wonderful joy is now flooding my heart,

Giving assurance that will not depart.

My Savior is living and reigning above;

Life has rich meaning because of His love. - Bosch

Those who are prepared to die are the most prepared to live.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

When the CM's Away, VEG Rushes to Heighten Dismay

Dear Editor,

Why is it that when the Chief Minister is off Island for meetings or whatever, the activity on the mountain escalates and the governor has to call an emergency meeting of the Volcano Executive Group (VEG) and another pronouncement comes down. These vary from shutting the gates on certain days, to telling us how we have been bad boys for not running from our homes fast enough when the siren goes. Oh, I forgot, the sirens are "the last resort". Therefore, if we are not sitting by the radio, we might very well miss the message.  More about that in a moment.

From what I have been able to determine from standing at the checkpoint last Friday, the people who didn't run fast enough were new returnees who had not been given all of the lectures and explanations that we "long timers" have gotten. In fact, the authorities have not had a siren test in donkey years to familiarize the visitors and others with the sound of the siren and how they are to react. Not only that, when Glen Thompson was making the announcement of the evacuation on ZJB, I very vividly remember him saying that the area would remain closed for the day. The message from the VEG meeting was that "people must drop everything and run at the sound of the siren and not secure their homes because when the activity dropped, they could go back and lock up". The gate remained closed until Monday morning. I know for a fact that people left their homes unsecured, with pots boiling on the stove, so to speak. And if the people in Isles Bay had obeyed the reminder to go to the top of Garibaldi Hill rather than try to cross the Belham Valley, they could have been there all weekend. These messages are in conflict, as has been most information that has accompanied this evacuation

As for the sirens, when the idea is to evacuate as quickly as possible to "save lives," why would the easiest and fastest way of notifying people be the "LAST RESORT"?   Why were hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on a "LAST RESORT"?

Do they expect people to run next time they call an emergency when they have no idea when they will be able to return to secure their homes?

Paul Breuer

Old Towne

Interested Reader Seeks Info on Private Schools

Dear Editor,

I was interested in maybe purchasing a villa on the rock and wanted to know if any private schools exist on the island. I enjoyed reading your newspaper. Thank you and have a wonderful day.

Is it Time to call in Caribbean Volcanologists from Trinidad?

Dear Editor,

There seems to be a lot of rumbling lately, but it isn't all coming from the volcano.

Talk on the street is that people are getting very fed up with the scientists who are monitoring the volcano. Over the past year their credibility has eroded significantly.

The most recent "credibility gap" is of course related to the evacuation. Though, that really isn't so recent anymore, is it? When the local citizens were first told at a public meeting that the evacuation was to start in two days, it was stated several times, at least, that evening that the danger from the volcano was imminent. "It could happen now, tonight, or tomorrow," people were told repeatedly. People left the meeting shaken, full of fear and anxiety.

This is easy to understand since not two days earlier two of the scientists (one quite senior) had told people that the area was safe and it was "very unlikely" that the area would need to be evacuated. The very day after the meeting one of the two previously mentioned scientists appeared angry that the order to evacuate had taken place and said privately to people that in his opinion it wasn't necessary. When people who are considered to be the experts in an area say one thing one day to a person and another thing the next day to someone else, it does little to instill faith in either their ethics or credibility. Nearly three months after the call to evacuate, the volcano is still doing what it's been doing for seven years, going down the other side.

People were also told at that meeting that once the dome collapsed they could return to their homes. Since then, there’ve been dome collapses (to the other side, of course) and the area is still closed.

When the area was closed once before, those homeowners who were willing to accept the responsibility were allowed to stay. Those who were uncomfortable left. It worked. Why not now? These same scientists have also said it's highly unlikely that a flow to the Belham area could come all the way down the mountain at one time. It certainly never happened on the active side of the volcano. Every one of us has seen how flows progressed in steps down the mountain, each time taking vegetation as they went making it easier for the next flow to progress faster and further.

So, we've been told: -- It's imminent, could happen "yesterday"; It won't happen; We'll reopen the area after the dome collapses (and don't); It's extremely unlikely a flow will start and go all the way to the bottom at once, but you can't go in.

And they had the sirens blow to pull people out of the area for a relatively small flow that went, for the most part, the other way.

Even if this team is competent, and one would hope they are considering the size of the salary that each one gets, they go to the very bottom of the class when it comes to their communication skills, empathy and ability to effectively deal with the public. They've made far too many errors when the stakes are too high. Can we afford to support people who so totally lack professionalism when it's the country that will be the loser? Perhaps it's time for a change. Once the credibility is gone, so is the effectiveness. How about a clean slate with professionals from the area. Who better to know the complexities of Caribbean volcanoes?

And the activity continues down the other side.

Concerned

Mountain 'Magic' Just So Much Abracadabra

Dear Editor;

Well, the mountain was "extremely active" for the third weekend in a row!  It just mystifies me how the mountain can remember that it is now the weekend and it will have to become just a little more active so that they will declare the gate closed.  Just like on Wednesday it knows that the gate is closed and other days from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 a.m. the gate is closed and therefore it is time to act up.  Of course, during the 9:00 to 2:00  period, it knows to be generally calm so no one gets hurt and HMG is safe from further legal actions.  Last Friday at 11:15 a.m. it had a little "heartburn" and burped by accident and put the MVO into panic mode.  BAD VOLCANO,  don't get them all in a dither just before their Friday night "Poppyshow."

Sorry folks, last I remember, volcanoes don't work by calendars or clocks or other manmade time sources, so how can it "just magically" act up on weekends?   It is particularly amazing when the Commissioner of Police can predict on a Sunday afternoon that the gate will definitely be open on Monday morning.  More magic? I smell a rat or maybe a nest of rats. 

Cat in the Hat, looking for the rats. 

Glimpse of Island Wins Reader Thanks

Dear Editor,

Great job!!  Compliments to the reporters.  I've enjoyed reading the articles and getting a glimpse of life on your beautiful island.

Thanks,

Montserratian Abroad Grateful for the Website

Dear Editor,

How easy it is to take some things for granted, being able to turn on the radio and listen to ZJB or get the latest copy of the Montserrat Reporter to know what's happening in my beloved "land of my birth."  However, now living in the UK I cannot do that and I sincerely thank you for your website.  Unfortunately having just moved, I was unable to be home for Festival 40.  But from all preliminary reports it was a smashing success and now I am impatiently waiting to read about it on what has now become my favourite website.  Continue the good work linking Montserratians abroad to what is our true "Motherland."

Myrle Roach.

Montserrat is Urged To Join Island Games

Dear Editor,

I am an occasional reader of your publication through your website, and I am writing to try and use your paper to make a suggestion to the people of your beautiful island - and that is for your island to compete in the Island Games, which is a biennial competition devoted entirely to small islands -- both inside and outside the Commonwealth.

The Island Games even include islands with populations smaller or as small as your own -- among them Alderney, Shetland and St. Helena, with this year's games being held in Guernsey!

I believe, therefore, that your island and your island's sporting achievements would benefit greatly from being a member of this competition, which stretches across 15 sports, including such variety as soccer, athletics, archery and sailing (though, unfortunately, not cricket!). They are sports that I believe your island, unlike the Commonwealth Games, would be able to put in some serious competition -- the kind which a nation needs to develop itself at a sporting level. It also has the very desirable effect of giving you another chance to prove to the world that your island is more than just an erupting volcano.

Concluding then, I would strongly encourage you, your sporting authorities and your island's government to look into joining the Island Games Association to be ready for participation in the 2005 Island Games in Shetland, so that you can help develop your island on a sporting level and make the people of Montserrat an even prouder people.

FEEDBACK

Writer Sees Quick Jump to Judgment

Dear Editor,
I read the Article (Re: Returnee Blames Post Office For Loss of $2,400 in Items), dated 3rd January and was amazed at how confident the lady visiting from America was that her items were stolen in Montserrat. I am not pretending to know all the details about her case but I think that for too long Montserratians visiting from overseas who find contents of their packages missing always believe that the locals are responsible. I am a worker within the Postal service in England and can bear witness to the amount of steps that are taken to prevent workers from stealing other people’s property.  The aim of my few lines is just to highlight that there are thieves everywhere, not just in the Montserrat Postal Service, but in America, England and many other places.

LOCAL NEWS

VEG tighten  rules regarding exclusion zone

According to a Press Release on January 14, the Volcanic Executive Group (VEG), have expressed serious concern that people were still in the evacuation zone, more than 20 minutes after the alarm, (which indicates immediate evacuation) was sounded on Friday, January 10.

This warning comes on the heels of the volcanic activity which occurred on Friday, January 10, where MVO scientists report that pyroclastic flows from the volcano reached Dyers Bridge.

According to a Press Release from the VEG, they met on Monday, January 13, and assessed the effectiveness with which the evacuation of areas surrounding the Belham Valley had been conducted.

The rules regarding entry into the zone include; getting the proper authorization from the police before entering and leaving the zone, driving a vehicle which permits rapid exit out of the area, exiting the area immediately without waiting to collect equipment or securing property, once the alarm has been sounded.

For those people in the areas of Iles Bay, on hearing the alarm they are advised to immediately proceed to the top of Garibaldi Hill and should not attempt to cross the Belham Valley.

CM Party Briefed On Airport, He Has Talks with Clare Short

Honourable Chief Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development John Osborne left the island last Friday for London.

There, he and a delegation including Airport Manager, the Honourable Claude Hogan, and Deon Weeks, Assistant Resident Engineer for the Geralds Airport Project, were scheduled to meet with British Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short for talks.

According to a press release from the Chief Minister’s Office, on Monday, January13, the Chief Minister was due to receive a full technical overview of the revised program for the implementation of the Geralds Airport Project.

The following day, he was expected to hold bilateral talks with Ms. Short, and on Wednesday, officials of the Halcrow Group (the Project Supervisor), a team from the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Government delegation were expected to finalize and adopt a financial framework to cover the full cost of the airport project.

Implementation of this project is expected to begin in February of this year and run to June 2004.

DFID and the European Union (EU) are jointly financing the Geralds Airport Project at a cost of EC$42.6 million. 

UK Sets Up New Civil Aviation Safety Regulator for all OTs

A new company to help regulate the safety of civil aviation in the UK's Overseas Territories* has been set up by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) under Directions from the UK Department for Transport (DFT).

The company, a CAA subsidiary known as Air Safety Support International (ASSI), will help provide more cohesive and prominent oversight of aviation in the Overseas Territories. It will be responsible for supporting their existing civil aviation authorities in the safety regulation of all aspects of civil aviation, including the licensing of personnel and airports and the certification of aircraft, airlines, and air traffic control.

ASSI will begin operations on 1 April 2003 and will work from offices in West Sussex in the UK and an operational base in Antigua. At least nine of its 26 staff are expected to be based outside the UK, the majority in Antigua.

The DFT’s Transport Minister, John Spellar, added: "The Territories already work hard in this challenging field and take their responsibilities seriously.  The new arrangements build on those efforts and will help the Territories to ensure high levels of safety. They will also enable the UK to demonstrate full compliance with our international obligations."

Richard Profit, Group Director of the CAA’s Safety Regulation Group, explained: "A safety audit of the UK by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) raised a number of issues over the UK’s supervision of regulation in the territories. The establishment of ASSI will address these areas and support the provision of first-class regulatory oversight.”

The Governor in each Territory will retain overall responsibility for safety regulation of its aviation industry, but will delegate this to either the existing local Government body or to ASSI or, in some cases, the existing local Government body with assistance from ASSI.

The Overseas Territories covered by ASSI are: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena and Dependencies, and The Turks and Caicos Islands. In the future, ASSI's remit will be extended to other Territories which commence civil aviation activities.

Montserrat Naturalization Applicants who relocated get special waiver

People, who applied for Permanent Residence/Naturalization but subsequently relocated abroad during the volcanic activity, are finding out upon their return to the island that the time they spent in Montserrat before relocation is not being treated as part of the qualifying period for permanent residence or naturalization.

A Government House Press Release on Tuesday, January 4 stated that the reason for this, “is because the provision in the British Nationality Act 1981 states that an applicant must not be absent from Montserrat for more than 450 days during a five year period.”

According to the release, this Act gives His Excellency the Governor, discretion in certain cases to overrule this requirement if the circumstances warrant it, and that the Governor-in- Council also has similar discretion with regard to the Immigration provision for the granting of permanent residence.

The Release further stated that after discussions with the Executive Council, “His Excellency the Governor has said that, in future, he will treat an applicant for naturalization who has returned to take up residence in Montserrat, as having fulfilled the requirements of residency where the an applicant can show that their absence from Montserrat during the relevant period was due to volcanic activity.”

Executive Council has also agreed that they too will give similar discretion in the case of applicants for permanent residence. 

Unknown Source Sickens People, No Bacteria Found

Last weekend, a number of people reported suffering from diarrhea and vomiting and some had to be hospitalized.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Joseph Haws said that based on tests conducted by the Health Department and others, no specific source for the virus has been pinpointed, since the locality of the cases were so diverse. “If there were a cluster of people from the same locale reporting ill, then the source could be identified,” Dr. Haws said.

He said ages of those affected ranged from just under 5 years to just over 35 years.

Officials at the Montserrat Water Authority (MWA) confirmed that the virus is not water borne, since water samples taken from the distribution system indicated that it is bacteria free.

Manager of the MWA Emile Duberry said, “The tests indicate that we fall within the World Health Organization (WHO) standards of potable water, i.e. to maintain a level of 0.3 residual chlorine in the pipe water distribution system.

Dr. Haws suggested that the ‘bug’ might have been seasonal, “due to the fact that people might have eaten left over food and might not have re-heated properly,” he said.

He added that no new cases have been reported and those that were reported have subsided. He stressed the need for people to practice good hygiene and reheat foods properly.

Most of the affected were treated and sent home.

National Trust to get electricity from use of Solar Panels

The Montserrat National Trust will very soon be able to generate its own electricity to illuminate their botanical garden, irrigate their vegetable garden and propagation unit.

Mr. Tony Maloney, Interim Director of the National Trust explained that this electricity would be sourced from a solar powered project. Construction of the six solar panels have been completed, the only remaining aspect to be completed being the installation of the converter, which will convert the solar energy to electrical energy for use in the building and gardens.

He noted that solar power, reduces the effect of green house gases emitted into the atmosphere, and pointed out that apart from the National Trust’s objective of preserving places of architectural interest, historic and natural beauty, their focal interest is in protecting and enhancing the environment, hence “the interest in developing a solar power project.”

Mr. Maloney added that this project has particular merit for areas which currently do not have electrical services yet, and said:“By employing this technology at the Trust, I hope the public’s interest will be stirred in using resources that have low to nil environmental impact, which I feel, will complement the island’s tourism product.”

Mr. Maloney also said, “The Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) Environmental Project Department funded the project at a cost of EC$56,000, dispersed by the Governor’s Office.”

He said the Trust was deeply grateful to the assistance rendered by the chief engineer of the Montserrat Electricity Services Ltd (MONLEC), who helped in the assembly of the components for the solar power system, free of cost. 

MP Hogan Says Montserrat Needs Gains from the MVO

“The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) needs to operate more like an organ of the Government of Montserrat and in the interest of Montserrat,” Member of Parliament the Honorable Claude Hogan said at the last Legislative Council meeting held on the 23^rd December last year.

This is evident, he said for a number of reasons; “The MVO, like any other company which provides a service to the people and Government of Montserrat, should be putting money into the Government Treasury, but rather this is not the case.”

“Secondly a cost should be attached to the use of the services that the MVO provides to other universities and geological societies, and that money, he said, “should go the Government of Montserrat.”

“The research is for free, and the only ones that benefit are those who work for a particular project,” he said.

He noted that it only costs the Government EC$40,000 a year to subscribe to the SRU to monitor the volcano, whereas they have to give EC$2 million to operate the MVO.

“We are losing our intellectual property rights and potential financing for the Government of Montserrat,” Mr. Hogan said.

He pointed out that the only tender put forward) for monitoring the volcano for the next five years has come from the British Geological Services (BGS.

Mr. Hogan questioned why the Seismic Research Unit (SRU) at the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad has not been included in the tendering process and why no other international observatories or units had been approached about monitoring the volcano.

Gasoline Prices Remain Stable Here for Time Being

Montserrat has not been affected by the recent increase of gasoline prices that have affected some of its’ neighbors and other countries in the Region.

Mr. Basil Lee, Operations Manager for Delta Petroleum Products Ltd, Montserrat, noted that fuel prices have not been increased locally as yet, as the last shipment of fuel, which came into the island, is from their bulk storage.

He noted, however, “We have to wait and see, as our head office in New York determines the price at which we sell.”

He explained that Delta Petroleum, an American company with its headquarters in the United States, buys their fuel from Hess’ Refinery in

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

On Wednesday last week, the company received about 115,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 75,000 gallons oil.

The present wholesale price for gasoline is EC$6.15 per gallon; diesel is EC$5.96 per gallon, and liquid petroleum gas (LPG), from Trinidad, is EC$135 for 100 lbs. and EC$27 for 20lbs.

The present retail price for gasoline is EC$6.50 per gallon, diesel is EC$6.25 per gallon, and the 20lb cylinder LPG sold at the gas stations is EC$32.00. The 100lb LPG cylinder which is sold directly to customers is EC$135.00.

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Caribbean News Report, many countries in the Region are already experiencing a sharp hike in fuel prices over the past few weeks. This is mainly due to the recent strike action of oil workers in Venezuela and the possibility of war between the United States and its allies and Iraq.

The public transportation system has suffered the most in these countries, as many mini-bus owners and operators have had to increase their bus fares to facilitate the price increase for gasoline and diesel fuel.

In Guyana, the Government refused to hike the prices of bus and taxi fares, causing many mini-bus operators to strike.

Schools in Jamaica were forced to close, while in Haiti there has been an increase of 96 percent in kerosene prices, forcing many residents to live in darkness.

Church of God of Prophecy Marks a Century of History

 by Tomeka Jeffery

On Sunday January 5, Church of God of Prophecy began the New Year with the celebration of Heritage Day. Members and visiting friends of the church acknowledged its history with a flag-raising ceremony.

Pastor Melroy Meade explained, "Sunday was the pre-celebration for their hundredth year anniversary.

He added, "Heritage Day is the remembrance of the origin, tradition, past achievements and progress of the church over the past years."  

Sister Vinita Cabey highlighted the church’s history, which originated in Cherokee Country, North Carolina, USA, on June 13^th 1903.

“The deceased Sister Hanna Ryan, former missionary, in her return from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, started the Church of God of Prophecy in Montserrat,” she said.

“The Church of God of Prophecy, formally known as the Pentecostal Church of God took, its growth from a Methodist and Baptist background, with the Pentecostal influence," Sister Cabey said.

“The Church was established in 1939 and dedicated in 1940, in which Brother Lewis from Barbados was the officiating Minister.”

“During the early 1950’s to mid 1960’s the church leadership included; Bishop Francois, Brother Gatewood Meade, Pastor Cooper White, Cintellia Daley, Josephire Allen, Sarah Ryan, Kingsley Meade and William Meade.”

Sister Cabey said, “Church of God of Prophecy in St. John is presently the only remainder of six branches in Montserrat, due to the volcanic eruption in 95.”
Pastor Melroy Meade presently serves as Pastor and District Overseer in Montserrat.

The service consisted of singing of the National Anthem, planting of the National flag by His Excellency the Governor Anthony Longrigg,

followed by the presentation of the Church Flag, under the banner of Love, and the Dedication of the Church Sign.

Young Montserratians Learning Gymnastics

Montserratian children are being given the opportunity to learn the sport of gymnastics locally.

United Nations Volunteer, Mrs. Tammy Foote, a professional occupational therapist attached to the Community Services Development, was a former gymnast and cheerleader in Junior High School and at the University of Eastern Michigan, USA.

Starting with circular flat sponges, she began teaching gymnastics to children at Woodlands Beach in September 2001.

To date she has acquired eight gym mats, a crash pad, vault, spring board, balance beam and cylindrical roller, courtesy of the Governor’s Office.

The Salem Primary School building is used for practice sessions. Two classes are held every Friday afternoon; beginners and intermediates.

Mrs. Foote said her trainees have participated in the Children’s Celebration of the 50^th Queens Jubilee, entertained various senior citizen groups and performed at the opening ceremony of the 2001 Festival Celebrations.

The combined classes contain a core group of 20 children and “a steady flow of new students,” Mrs. Foote said.

“Apart from the fun involved and providing the children with an activity to do in the afternoon, gymnastics is a basic sport, which offers flexibility, strength and coordination, which they can use for other sports, and it is not an expensive sport,” Mrs. Foote said.

Presently, a dollar is charged per child per class. This dollar, Mrs. Foote said, “Goes to having year-end parties and the buying of uniforms for the children.”

“What I found is when the children pay a dollar, they tend to take the class more seriously and pay more attention, rather than just use the class to play. They behave more responsible,” she said.

On the question of whether gymnastics presents the danger of injury for young children, Mrs. Foote said she disagrees, because “The children learn motor planning skills -- before the children actually perform a stunt, they are able to logically plan their sequence of moves first; they know where to put their body in relation to space.”

She said her greatest joy comes from “Seeing the excitement, delight and surprise of the children, when they accomplish new moves or score perfect tens, and firmly believes that at least two children from her present group have the potential of carrying the sport to the collegiate level, if they continue.”

Mrs. Foote said she is hoping by year-end to have an ‘inter-meet’, or local competition for the children, where they will compete according to international rules. And it is her dream to see Montserrat represented at international meets and possibly the World Olympics.

ECCB Invites Entrants In 8^th Essay Competition

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has announced its eighth Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) essay competition.

The announcement came in a press release from the ECCB in connection with the Bank's annual Community Outreach Programme. 

The competition is open for students’ ages 15-18 years.

The topic for the competition is: "Charting the course for sustainable tourism development in the OECS; is there a need to redefine the Tourism product?"

Through the annual competition, the Bank will disburse a total of EC$15,000 in development grants to the top three entrants and their respective schools.

The entries are to be submitted to the Headquarters or its agency office in the member territories by Friday, May 16, 2003.

There will be a 1^st to 3^rd prizes for winning entries by the students. Their schools will also get grants. A prize will also be given to the school which sends in the most entries.

Community Services Readies New Projects

The Community Services Development Department has a number of projects outlined this year for Montserrat.

Principal Community Services Development Officer Mrs. Laura Scotland said that this year “the Department is focusing on developmental projects rather than welfare assistance programs as in the past years.”

Mrs. Scotland explained that these projects are expected to start within the next three months.

The projects include training courses for community officers; initiation of youth policies; skills training for parents, school leavers, unemployed people and the elderly; expansion of the Social Welfare Scheme, health programmes and summer workshops for children.

The Department for International Development (DFID), the Government of Montserrat, the Basic Needs Trust Fund, the Caribbean Technological Consultancy Services (CTCS) and the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) are funding individual projects.

Senior BOT Police Officers To Study Management Here

Senior police officers from the other British Overseas Territories will join senior members of the Royal Montserrat Police Force here in a senior management course, which opens Monday, January 20^th.

The sessions will be conducted by two officers from the London Metropolitan Police Force.

One of the sessions will feature Bennette Roach, publisher and editor of The Montserrat Reporter, and Herman Sergeant, acting manager of ZJB Radio, who will lead a discussion on "Press Involvement."

Superintendent Paul Morris said the senior management course is one of a series of training programs being held this month for the Montserrat force.

Last week, 14 police officers participated in a one-week refresher course in firearm training, he said.

Although the RMPF usually send officers abroad every year for training, Supt. Morris said that this year Sergeant Kath White, an operational firearms instructor within the London Metropolitan Police Force, was invited to Montserrat to conduct the course.

The training included classification of firearms, the limits to which officers are allowed to use them, the responsibilities that are associated with having firearms, human rights issues related to the use of firearms, and safety -- of the general public, of officers themselves, and of suspects.

He added that the police also learned techniques for searching open country and buildings, and about legislation regarding the powers of entry into buildings.

Sixty-two men and women make up the Royal Montserrat Police Force. 

REGIONAL NEWS

Death Threats Continue Against Dominica Leaders

Dominica, CMC - Dominica police have confirmed that death threats are continuing to be made against top ranking government officials, with House Speaker Alix Boyd-Knight, the latest to fall victim.
Police Public Relations Officer Cyril Carrette said a white powdery substance was found in a letter at the Speaker's office on Wednesday morning.
According to Mr. Carrette, the letter was dated January 13, 2002 and addressed to Ms. Boyd-Knight but also repeated threats against the lives of Prime Minister Pierre Charles and unnamed Government Ministers, as well as prominent attorney-at-law Anthony Astaphan.
He said the letter, sent by a fictitious group called the Antigua Dominica Mafia Defence Force, makes reference to the aluminium plant in Dominica and the Layou River Hotel, alleging that the Prime Minister got money from those deals and built a castle in Grandbay in the south of the country.
Police said they also received warnings that the group was also planning to attack a major supermarket in the capital Roseau, before the end of next Saturday.

The supermarket, J. Astaphan and Co. Ltd., is one of the largest in Dominica and is owned by the family of Anthony Astaphan, who is a supporter of the ruling Dominica Labour Party. He is also heading investigations into allegations of corruption in the former United Workers Party administration.
As police investigate the latest threats, which Prime Minister Charles said were designed to paint a negative image of Dominica, the Opposition UWP has sought to clear its name of any involvement.
UWP Leader Edison James has described as "ridiculous and depraved" suggestions that the party was involved in any plot to assassinate the Prime Minister. 

St. Lucian Urges Region To Harness its Resources

ST. Lucia, CMC - St. Lucia's Minister of Agriculture Calixte George has called for a more united approach by Caribbean states to ensure that the region is not further disadvantaged by globalisation and trade liberalisation.
Mr. George told a meeting of the St. Lucia Agriculturists Association on Wednesday that in addition to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), regional states now have to keep abreast of negotiations in other theatres such as the Free Trade of the Americas (FTAA), the Caribbean Community Single Market and Economy (CSME) and between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific States.
"Each of these present new challenges and opportunities and each will influence the way in which we trade in agricultural products", he said.
But he said that St. Lucia, like all other small island developing states, had minimal influence in these negotiations and very often its requests for special and differential treatment, on account of its vulnerabilities, were ignored.
"For us to survive in this new world order we must present a united front," he stressed.
The region's strength, he said, is in its numbers, "and we must harness the collective resources of the OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) and the wider CARICOM Member States if we are to ensure that we are not further disadvantaged by globalisation and trade liberalisation".

Strike action declared against GBN, as media company sacks protesting workers

ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada, CMC - The militant Technical and Allied Workers Union on Thursday formally declared a full-blown strike against the Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN), after the media company began issuing letters of dismissal to over 20 unionised employees who have been off the job since last week.
TAWU is also warning that GBN's actions threaten the overall peace and stability of the country, while calling on "all sections of the Union as well as other workers to rally to the cause of GBN workers and to stay tuned for further announcements and actions".
The stepped up action against the company, which is 60 per cent owned by the Trinidad-based Caribbean Communications Network and 40 per cent owned by the Grenada government, also comes in response to what TAWU views as "the  absurdity and ridiculousness of the Company's actions" in withdrawing letters of retrenchment issued to four of 10 targetted staffers on January 7, and then proceeding Wednesday to fire even those workers whom it had already retrenched.
But labelling TAWU's behaviour as "reckless", GBN said it was left with no other alternative but to take disciplinary action against all workers who participated in "wildcat industrial action", which the Company said jeopardises its efforts towards viability.
In light of a work stoppage called for by the Union after management issued the letters of retrenchment last week, GBN said it was also forced to take action to protect the integrity of the Collective Agreement "as it would not be worth the paper that it is written on if every time there is a disagreement over an interpretation of a provision, the procedure for the settlement of such differences is not followed, but instead the union and workers engage in wildcat industrial action".
The Company also rejected recommendations made by Labour Minister Lawrence Joseph for settlement of the dispute, saying that although it agreed that the procedure for the settlement of industrial disputes as laid down in the Collective Agreement ought to have been followed, GBN did not agree with his interpretation of Article 21 of the Collective Agreement and further that even if it did agree, "to implement his recommendation could result in the total closure of GBN".
The Labour Minister intervened in the dispute after the Union threatened to escalate its protest action.
He has sided with the workers and their union in calling for the letters of termination to be revoked and the affected workers reinstated to make way for the immediate restart of discussions between the two sides on a proposed policy of retrenchment.
But amid a cost cutting exercise started last year at the company, GBN has refused.
TAWU is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting of all shop stewards and union activists at 5PM Monday at union headquarters here. 

Barbados Opposition Moves To Replace Controversial MP

Barbados, CMC - The main opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has moved to replace controversial rural St. Lucy parish MP Denis Kellman after he failed to support a resolution moved by the leader of the two-man opposition in Parliament.
At a spirited meeting of the DLP's General Council at party headquarters, just outside the city, on Wednesday night, it was decided that Kellman would not be the party's candidate for the upcoming elections.
In making the announcement, Party Spokesman Dennis Lowe said the General Council has also instructed the DLP Executive Council to proceed with the selection of a new candidate for the rural constituency.
The action came as a direct response to Mr. Kellman's refusal to support a private members' resolution moved by Opposition Leader David Thompson during Tuesday's sitting of the House.
Mr. Kellman took the Chamber by surprise and forced a 10-minute suspension of the sitting after he snubbed the resolution, aimed at reducing the number of MPs required to form a quorum for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which Mr. Thompson chairs.
Mr. Kellman said, the amendment should not be based simply on numbers.
He added that Thompson's resolution, though sanctioned by both the DLP Parliamentary Group and the General Council, was not in the interest of the Opposition and he could not support it.
The resolution was eventually defeated.

Antiguan Principal Charged With Aiding Sniper Suspect

An Antiguan judge has charged a woman with conspiracy for allegedly signing a passport application falsely vouching that U.S. sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad was an Antiguan citizen.
Janet Harris, the principal at the school Muhammad's three children attended between 2000 and 2001, was charged with two counts of conspiracy Wednesday for allegedly signing the applications of both Muhammad and an alleged Jamaican associate, Norman Manroe.
Ms. Harris was detained on Monday at Greensville Primary School.
In an application for an Antiguan passport in 2000, Harris certified that Muhammad was an Antiguan and that she had known him for 18 months. But according to a government-appointed task force, Ms. Harris later said she had only known the U.S. Army veteran for about two months.
Muhammad allegedly falsified his U.S. birth certificate to make it appear that his mother was an Antiguan, Eva Ferris. Authorities say Muhammad used the Antiguan passport to remain in the Caribbean country without needing a work permit.
He allegedly made his living helping immigrants, mainly Jamaicans, falsify documents to travel to the United States.
Muhammad, 42, and 17-year-old Jamaican John Lee Malvo are accused of killing 13 people and wounding five others in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., last year. They are being tried first in Virginia in separate trials.
Ms. Harris was released on $2,500 bail, pending her next hearing on April 3.
If convicted, she could face up to five years in prison.

Jamaican Professor Hall Is New CXC Chairman

Professor Kenneth Hall, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, is the new Chairman of the Caribbean Examinations Council.

Professor Hall was elected on Friday, December 6, during CXC’s 33^rd Council meeting held at the Jack Tar Village Resort in St. Kitts and Nevis.  His appointment took effect from January 1, 2003.

He brings to the Council a wealth of experience in education administration at regional and international levels.

A Jamaican national, Professor Hall has held key academic and administrative positions in the Caribbean and North American. In 1994, he joined the CARICOM Secretariat as Deputy Secretary General, overseeing the Divisions of Finance, Corporate Services and Information and Communication.  He previously worked at the CARICOM Secretariat between 1975 to 1977 as Chief of Research and Director of the General Services and Administration Division.

Professor Hall has published books, articles and reviews on various issues

Professor Hall succeeds Sir Keith Hunte as Chairman of CXC in a year during which CXC celebrates its 30^th anniversary. 

As Chairman, Professor Hall will be working with Council members, staff and resources persons to enable CXC to meet the new and changing demands of the region. 

Trinidad & Tobago Acts To Re-establish Gallows

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC - Trinidad and Tobago is drafting new legislation to allow for the execution of convicted killers, Attorney General Glenda Morean Phillips has said here.
"We may or may not succeed, because of the fact even if you have legislation, that legislation would be subject to challenge. But as a Government we have to do something and we're doing it," Ms. Morean said on television here Sunday.
The Privy Council -- the Commonwealth Caribbean's highest court -- has ruled that states cannot carry out the death sentences while human rights petitions are pending.
In a bid to circumvent that ruling a few years ago, Trinidad and Tobago withdrew from a number of international human rights organisations, even though the present Patrick Manning administration has indicated it will seek re-admission.
The country's attempts to resume hangings have also been affected by the ruling by the Privy Council that condemned persons had the right to be heard before the Mercy Committee and that if not satisfied with the decision of the Mercy Committee, had the right to apply for judicial review, a decision court observers here say could take more than five years.
In its 1993 ruling regarding the murder case of Jamaicans Pratt and Morgan, the British law lords further upheld that states had five years to carry out the death sentence or that the killers must be spared, while in March last year, the Privy Council ruled that  imposing the mandatory death penalty for a murder was a violation of the Constitution of some Caribbean states.  There are 68 men and five women on death row in Trinidad and Tobago.  

Jamaica Begins Rating Plan On Inappropriate Programs

Jamaica, CMC - A new programming code, designed to protect children from inappropriate media influences, took effect here on Monday.
The new code, being introduced by the Broadcasting Commission, stipulates that radio and television stations rate all programs and, in the case of TV, provide on-screen advisories for materials not suitable for children.
Subscriber TV operators will be required to apply ratings to certain channels and filter those that are rated for adult audiences only.
Under the new regime, the Broadcasting Commission requires that local radio and television stations must transmit only programmes suitable for family viewing during the prime time hours 6-9 p.m..
"The broadcaster is required to rate whatever is being transmitted, look at a programme, determine the levels of violence and sex that would be inappropriate for children, and inappropriate language, and then give an appropriate rating to the programme, to advise whether there is to be parental guidance or if the programme is suitable for a general audience," explained Cordel Greene, Executive Director of the Broadcasting Commission.

Over 11,000 Jamaicans Work in ICT Industries

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS)--There were 11,873 persons employed in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector as OF March 2002, 60 percent of whom were women, whilst investment spending on capital equipment and training, exceeded $6.8 billion for the 2001/02 fiscal year.

Julian Robinson, Investment Promotion Manager at Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), revealed the figures in a recent interview with Jamaica Information Service News.

He said a recent study commissioned by the investment and promotions agency indicated that the employment figure represented an increase of 36 percent from 8,741 in March 2000, with an 18 percent growth rate per year over the two-year period. A total of 2,369 jobs were added in 2002, Mr. Robinson said.

Undertaken by Research & Analysis Associates (RAA), the survey revealed that companies, whose main business was data processing, were the leading sources of new jobs, accounting for 60 of every 100 new jobs added to the sector since March 2001.

Data processing and voice telephony sub-sectors were the leading sources of jobs, employing 2,913 and 4,031 respectively. Women held six in every 10 jobs in the sector.

In addition, nearly $7 billion was spent on capital equipment and training during the last financial year. Of that amount, over $6.7 billion was spent on capital equipment, while another $100 million was spent on training.

The survey showed that the voice telephony and data processing sub sectors, accounted for $900 million of every $1 billion spent by the entire ICT sector on capital equipment and training.

Youngest Lone Sailor to Cross Atlantic Greeted by Antiguans

Sebastian given a hug by his mother

Antigua --Fifteen-year-old Briton Sebastian Clover sailed into historic English Harbour Sunday morning to a rapturous welcome as he became the youngest sailor ever to cross the Atlantic solo.

Before Sebastian Clover dropped his sails to enter the harbour, he was met by his mother, Delores Clover, who was in Antigua days before his arrival, and his father, Ian Clover, who arrived a day earlier. 

Dolores Clover rode in a powerboat alongside her husband for the last 5 miles (8 kilometers) of his trip.

When asked why he and his son undertook the 2,700 mile (4,344 kilometers) solo voyage across the ocean, Ian Clover replied: "sheer lunacy."

"There cannot be a good reason for doing what we have just done," the 46-year-old sailing instructor said.

The two set sail Dec. 19 from Spain's Canary Islands, but separated on Wednesday of last week as the rudder on Sebastian's boat broke. Ian Clover said his son had fixed the rudder and continued on his way.

The worst moment was when he could not contact Sebastian because his son's cell phone battery had run out, Ian Clover said.

"The previous day he had been followed by a pod of killer whales, and the following morning I could not contact him. That was scary," he said.

An official welcome party was arranged Sunday evening for the Clovers during which they were presented with gifts and tokens of appreciation by Government and Tourism officials for giving Antigua and Barbuda international exposure.

Governor General Sir. James Carlisle greets Sebastian

Deputy Prime Minister Robin Yearwood, who is also an avid sailor, read from a congratulatory note sent by Prime Minister Lester Bird, who was off island.

In the letter to Sebastian Clover, Mr. Bird said,

"It is of special note that you chose English Harbour to culminate your historical journey as this location is one of our most historical assets since it was the place where the legendary British Admiral Horatio Nelson sailed to in 1784 and established Britain’s most important Caribbean base.  This area has also transformed Antigua and Barbuda into one of the Caribbean’s premier tourist destinations.

"Your achievement is of momentous significance to us, given that you have had Antigua in sight since you were 12 years old.  Your determination and commitment to the task set out to accomplish is admirable and should be a model to every teenager around the world."

Among the gifts the Clovers received was an all-expense-paid first class trip for four to Antigua on Virgin Atlantic and a seven-day stay at one of Antigua's top resorts, the Curtain Bluff Hotel.

Photos were presented of the family's historic moment along with a model boat and an assorted box of Sebastian's favourite chocolate.  Delores Clover was presented with a bouquet of flowers for the courage she displayed during the entire affair.

Digital Photos: Colin James and Maurice Merchant

CARICOM Leaders To Review Economy

Dominica, CMC – Economic matters of critical importance to the region’s future development will go before next month’s Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Intercessional meeting in Trinidad, Secretary General Edwin Carrington has said.

The Secretary General met here last week with Prime Minister Pierre Charles, who has just assumed the chairmanship of the 15-member grouping, to discuss, among other things, plans for the February 14-15 meeting.

According to Mr. Carrington, a number of critical areas are expected to be explored at the Port of Spain meeting -- among them the state of the regional economy.

On the heels of the convening of a special economic summit in St. Lucia last August, he said further discussion would take place on the framework for stabilising and transforming Caribbean economies, which have been reeling from a series of external as well as domestic developments.

The Trinidad meeting will also discuss progress on the implementation of the Regional Stabilization Fund to assist the region’s most vulnerable economies, including Dominica.

Discussions are also expected to be held on CARICOM’s achievements over the past thirty years, and plans for the way forward for the Community.

Prime Minister Charles took over as chairman from Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo at the start of this month.

Bishop Dorsette:  A  Racist?

(Excerpted from Antigua GIS, and The Informer a newspaper supporting the Lester Bird government)

Last week on Observer Radio, Bishop Ewing Dorsette made a shocking and reprehensible statement. . . . He decried the colour of the majority of Market Street shop owners and called for people of his colour to replace them.

Every Christian knows that Jesus came for all of us.  He did not stipulate that he came for people of his own colour. . . .

Bishop Dorsette's statement . . . strikes at the heart of Christian teaching and it threatens the peace of our multi-ethnic society. . . .

What is the spiritual, moral and social implication of Bishop Dorsette's statement?

Spiritually, it is a violation of the Christian ethos.  It seeks to deny the right of a people of a different colour from Bishop Dorsette to own businesses on Market Street.

It is an immoral statement, lodged as it is in racial sentiment.

Socially, it sows the seed of resentment and division in our society. . . .

When he makes racist statements and calls for people of one colour to displace people of another, he lets loose a poison in our society that would upset the peace and tranquillity of the community and destroy our social and economic well-being. . . .

Sadly, Bishop Dorsette is one of the persons placed on the Electoral Commission by Opposition Leader Baldwin Spencer.

As an Electoral Commissioner, Bishop Dorsette should be fair and impartial in his representation of the interests of all Antiguans and Barbudans. . . .

Bishop Dorsette also owns a business on Market Street.  He is able to do so through the assistance of persons not of his colour.  When he was given the opportunity to own that business, did he take account of the colour of the people who helped him?  And, does he turn away customers who are not of his colour? . . . 

Bishop Dorsett . . . should also hearken back to the words of the Father of Our Nation, Sir V.C. Bird, as he accepted Independence on 1st November, 1981. He said:

 “My people, we are a multi-racial society. Our forefathers were African, English, Welsh, Scot, Portuguese and more recently Lebanese and Syrian. Tonight, those distinctions no longer apply. Tonight, we are all re-born Antiguans and Barbudans, each with a role to play, each with a contribution to make. . . . As we oppose racial bigotry and prejudice in other lands, so we must practice what we preach.” . . .

Under successive Antigua Labour Party governments, Antiguans and Barbudans of every colour have been empowered and today black, brown and white Antiguans own more businesses than at any time in our history. 

Black Antiguans have been particularly successful in the rate at which they have been transformed into owners and landlords.

Bishop Dorsette was not only wicked in his remarks, he was also wrong.

He should apologise.

And his peers in the Christian Council and the United Evangelical Association should censure him sharply. 

SPORTS

Youth Vibrations

Youth Link

Lets’ Talk

Welcome to “Youth Link”, a new write in programme specifically designed for youths with problems or who just simply need advice. 

You can write to:

"My teens never listen to ME."

Parents are always concerned about their Teens, what they do, where they go and the company they keep.

Most teens seem not to acknowledge advice, parents say.

But the true is, they do listen.

Shocked?

Don't be, teens are refractory, not willing to admit their wrongs, the

 behavior is known as, protecting their individual freedom.

Teenagers' long for independence, they like to discover and experience things for themselves, it is said during the adolescence stage most individuals become extremely curious and experimental.

 Most Adults claim, as a teenager, they experimented with many drugs and involved in promiscuous behavior and wished they did things differently or had parents who cared. 

 Although, individuals, during teenage stage may have the longing to be independent, teens need parental guidance and support, most of then will not admit it.

Most individuals tend to be most irritable at this stage, and may display juvenile behavior; this action is usually displayed for attention and love.

Most parents neglect their teen during childhood, making it difficult to develop a relationship during the teenage stage, parent need to be both parents and best friend to their teens, getting aquatinted with their friends and where they spend their time.

Approaching your teen as a friend instead of a parent is the best way to develop a good relationship.

 How to talk to your Youths

• Listen to what they have to say

• Don’t jump to conclusion

• Allow them to take part in decision making

• Listen to their idea, and make suggestion where it is needed

• Get the family involve in activities together, example playing games, picnic or simply watching a movie

• Being open with them and allowing them to be open with you

• Commend them, when they excel.

Two Montserratians to Attend Global Youth Seminar on Needs

The United Nations Caribbean Office on Drugs and Crime, along with Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), will be hosting the Global Youth Seminar for youths and workers on needs, which will be held in Barbados.

Alicia Galloway and Jermine Wade, Ambassadors of the Caribbean Youth, will be representing Montserrat in the Regional Training five-day seminar, which begins on Monday January 20.

The Global Youth Network against Drugs Abuse emerged out of the "Banff Youth Vision Jeunesse Drug Abuse Prevention Forum" in Canada in 1998.

One of the main function of the Global Youth Network project is to reach out to a worldwide audience by organizing regional training seminars in order to provide instruction for youth and youth workers throughout the world.

The objectives of the workshop are to:

• Build the capacity of participants to do more effective prevention work with youth;

• Develop skills in assessing existing resources and programme;

• Teach the skills necessary to carry out needs assessments in the home community;

• Build bonds amongst the participants to facilitate networking

• Promote the use of training information so that it will be disseminated to youth groups Nationally; and

• Provide feedback to the UN office on drugs and crime and on changing trends of drug use in the Community.

The seminar will have 24 participants from across the Caribbean. Various groups will be invited to attend the final day of the conference, including ministers responsible for youth affairs, Youth workers and NGO's.

Five ways to prepare for an Exam

·        Set up a time table or schedule, to assort the amount of time you have in the day

·        Make a list of the particular areas in the subject/s you have problem understanding

·        Organize the amount of time you will spend on a particular subject, spent more time on weak areas.

·         Study with a friend, to compare ideas from different angles

·        Regular exercise, example Brisk Walking or Jogging. 

FEATURES

Tourism Highlights

Main Promotional Tool Of The Montserrat Tourist Board, Ready For Dissemination

The new 24-page Holiday Montserrat brochure is off the press.  This handy vacation guide is lavishly illustrated and is packed with information on history, physical features, climate, how to get here and passport and visa requirements.  There is also information on accommodations, beaches, hiking, diving, fishing opportunities and places to dine and shop.  Photos and text are devoted to the volcano, its history as well as the best places to safely view it.

A Calendar of Events for 2002/3, new developments on-island and off-island excursions also serve as a helpful guide.  There are lengthy features on the island’s art and culture, the volcano, diving, the purchase of real estate, the new airport planned for 2004 and the personal experiences of one of Montserrat’s recent visitors.

An informational booklet, a 12-page A5 sized guide, was also produced by the Montserrat Tourist Board for the yachting market.  This guide helps to augment the Holiday Montserrat Guide, which currently serves as the main promotional tool of the Montserrat Tourist Board. 

We're a Caveat for Other OTs: Let Potential Buyers Beware

By S. Simpson

Much has already been written about the ill-considered, unnecessary evacuation of those living along the margins of the Belham Valley and the disastrous effects this imperious blunder has had on Montserrat’s fragile economy.  Nevertheless, an idea has come to light that I feel should be explored and acted upon. Although it may not be of any help to those of us who are in exile, this idea can and should be of assistance to people in other UK overseas territories and I seize upon it as an idea whose time has come.

In 1994 when my husband and I were making the decision to buy property in Montserrat, we were greatly influenced by the fact that it was an island governed according to British law.  Apart from all other considerations, this was a motivating factor in our deliberations.

It appears, however, that this law has been retracted or at least suspended.  While it is doubtful that such an event could occur in England itself, it is clear that those in authority don’t object if what amounts to government seizure of private property takes place in overseas territories. It follows, then, that this question should be raised in any other dependent territories:  “If this is what happened in Montserrat when the chips were down, could it happen here as well?”  Apparently, the answer is, “Yes, it could.”  Although we are told by the perpetrators that everything that has been done to us is legal, one can only surmise that this regime has a highly original definition of legality.

Those considering buying real estate in other territories should have an opportunity to be informed of what is happening in Montserrat before spending their money.  For example, it never occurred to us at the time of purchase that, in the event of possible natural disaster and after having been warned, we would not be granted the option to decide for ourselves what to do, i.e., to remain in our homes or abandon them with all our possessions – everything, in effect, we had worked for all our lives.  In our naiveté we thought the English were too civilized not to treat us as adults capable of making an informed decision concerning our own lives and our own property.

Wouldn’t it be just – even charitable – for us to make it known to all the UK territories exactly what they may be in for in case of conceivable catastrophe?  Shouldn’t we do the decent thing and create a Web page, if one doesn’t already exist, listing all the UK territories and urge the viewer to click on the words “Real Estate,” “Property” or “Investment” which would then trigger a description of Montserrat’s plight and the reasons therefor, with the caption “Beware!  Don’t let this happen to you!”   This would at least give investors in other territories a fair chance to know what could befall them.

But why stop there?  Why not make the whole world aware of what’s going on here?  We may not amount to more than a blip on the scale of international importance, but there are plenty of fascinating human interest stories taking place right here and right now.  We could explore the present daily lives of the disenfranchised evacuees and then portray in detail the recently created luxurious lifestyles of our intrepid, risk-taking newly enfranchised, who appear to be having the time of their lives at our expense.  This could result in more than a Web page or an article – it could become a book!  Anyone know a publisher?  Hmm, maybe even movie rights.....a mini-series.....                                               

We murder the best in and of us!

By Claude Gerald

Again the creative brilliance of a known technocrat faces a destructive assassin.

The Christmas Eve arrest of the Accountant General signifies heartfelt worry for the sustainability of a society where its best continues to be ravaged into darkness by seeming acts of spite, bad mind and incompetence. This is déjà vu and an uncharacteristic hopelessness sets in as one tries to rationalize the unfurling events. The incarceration some years ago of a consummate lawyer of humble origin jumped at me, as this one does, as we surrender being our brother's keeper to the vampires of the system, clothed in their perverse and mediocre garb. His assassination was part of the Montserrat social fabric in which we murder the best in and of us in order to preserve the worst of us.

There was no joy at this joyous season when a mother with her young kids must be additionally stressed by facing charges in a court of law in the midst of goodwill celebrations and compliments of the season. Charging with haste at this time is distasteful and raises suspicion as to intent.

It is an open secret that the arrestee was sent home some 10 months ago on full pay pending the outcome of a high-priced, near six figures Commission of Enquiry, out of proportion to the sum the state has charged is involved. No official suspension, note well. No communication between those who assisted in or who gave the go ahead to send her home and herself for months. This mother, this highly competent professional, languishes at home, having to be fed by rumours this while, even though the commission submitted its report several months ago. Loneliness was her companion as she awaited word from Her Majesty's representative, often called the Governor. Incapable of enduring more suffering that engulfed her family and friends, she initiated contact, raising questions designed to bring relief and closure. Famous for snobbery and not answering, His Excellency ignored, until legal counsel was engaged and suddenly after months of pussyfooting tomfoolery, elements of a spiteful arrest emerged. It may not be coincidental on analysis.

There is a twist to this arrest that smokes! Whilst in the wilderness the arrestee plied her accounting trade to conduct an internal audit to assess the financial management and general business practices, including verification of funding executed by the Montserrat National Trust. The Trust faces much scrutiny of its immediate past dealings.  The main source of funds is through the Governor's office. The findings are believed to place the Governor's office in a bad light, pointing to one-sided documentation in transfer of and the initiation and approval of funds. This reportedly inflamed an obviously thin-skinned Governor, who favours an outing of the offending part in the finding. Could he have viewed the analysis in a tit-for-tat light as though a retaliatory game of youngsters at play?

This process seems somewhat eerie and incredible and the state may be destroying confidence in its institutions, including the Police. Some opine that this protective arm is under instruction, lacking the independence which should divide it from high-level manipulation. Its leadership seems as pliable as putty and its investigative competence and professionalism tested. If correct, the Police Force must not hesitate to stand on policing principles, just as other professionals in this sorry episode should, and refuse to be nudged by any distorted prosecutorial interests.

One is not exulting alleged wrongdoing of any kind. One is advocating against a system that promotes the lynching of its best. One is rallying against the first among equals policy that blinds the eye against spotting the favoured that get state protection, and denouncing the incompetent decision-makers who promote their kind that breed their kind, ad nauseam.  One is exposing a system that values the valueless and places them at the top end of the totem pole, with meritocracy replaced by inadequacy. One is bewailing the creation and edification of dunces that weaken the social and public fabric and calling for transparency at the highest levels of administration -- and demanding an end to the witch hunting that is aligned with actors not yet ready for the job and responsibilities of their office.

But contrast this with the devaluing of the crown's symbol recently in which our passports were reportedly footballed to friends as if they were personal property. Condemned in the court of public opinion, the main actor, frightened to death, was reportedly willing to surrender, but was covered and pardoned by high-powered well-wishers and honoured by the Queen to boot! This player was sanitized and remained seated in office as the Police conducted so-called investigations, as lesser players faced the wrath of the court. As the glare of prosecution eased, the previous excited manifestation of power returned powerfully. In a decent society, official suspension along with a thorough investigation is the norm. The well-connected, often the incompetent who plays the pious nice boy/girl game well, prevails every time, all the time. Assertive brilliance and a tendency to independently lead without dancing to the drumbeat of anyone is a recipe for disaster in this dog-eat-dog society.

When we destroy our celebrated own we are creating room for others from the outside to fill vacancies. Growth is diminished and confidence in nation building devastated. This arrestee has sterling virtues, in fact enviable ones, and no one is qualified to condemn. That definition is God's. We use the big foot on our best because we jealously cannot come to par and raise the bar. So we badmouth and look for and accentuate frailties in others, thinking that we will in turn look good. How warped and depraved!

Let the self-righteous not be fooled by being distant. That would not consecrate as each has a skeleton closeted. The inside traders whose knowledge favours their profiting from house renting and car dealings need not chest out; those who beat the taxpayer overtly and covertly should own up or shut up; and those who manifestly deceive the court through false affidavits designed to pervert the course of justice, should both keep quiet and transform.  This is not anybody's world, it is ours, and we must remember that it is when we give of ourselves to others that we truly give.

May Jehovah, the all righteous, abide with this outstanding national, mother, wife, friend and grant her strength to face down the plots and plotters clothed in their glorified disguises waiting to prey on and ethnically cleanse the gifted. He knows the heart and is the great judge and his ways are not the ways of men. Victims must go forward, lifting their heads high even as they prayerfully smile away their troubles. Their God is Jehovah and invariably their oppressors fail to grasp that important concept. Or can they? 

Today is for me as tomorrow for you. Let us be our brother's keeper always.

Ceegee15@hotmail.com 

LOOKING BACK AT A GREAT JAZZ EVENING

By Cathy Buffonge

Entitled Christmas Jazz, a most enjoyable evening of jazz music was held at Grand View Bed and Breakfast during December, showing what versatile musical talent we have locally and regionally.

The first section of this informal show featured locally based musicians from the jazz band “Touch of Class.” They were UN volunteer Atsumi Kani, singing in her unique style, jazz musician Ian Young on clarinet and keyboard, Sonny Lea on keyboard, and French/Brazilian musician Joel Maranhoe of the MVO, who sang and played the guitar. Joining with them were vocalists Clover Lea, and newcomer to the jazz scene Paul Morris.

This versatile group of musicians captivated the audience with their special brand of music, all in a jazz style, including "Green Dolphin," "No more blues," "Summertime" and "It ain’t necessarily so," as well as two Brazilian numbers sung by Joel. 

The climax of the evening came with the band Pan Jazz Connection of Antigua, featuring Vince on keyboard, Vincent ‘Baboo’ on steel pan, and William on bass guitar.  These skillful musicians, who obviously enjoy their music, thrilled the audience with a host of brilliant and complex jazz arrangements of well loved tunes, like "Que sera sera," "All of me" and even "Winter Wonderland" The steel pan gave the jazz a special character, making it a truly Caribbean experience. This was the second musical visit here by the group, who perform in Antigua’s Hawksbill Hotel every week.

Later the floor was cleared for dancing, and Pan Jazz Connection continued by playing a variety of dance music, again in their own special style. The show, which played to a full and overflowing house, was introduced by Richard Aspin, and was sponsored by Family Radio’s Classical Jazz programme together with Grand View.

The Bed and Breakfast on Baker Hill provides a great venue for this casual but special event, which seems to be growing each time it is staged. Usually entitled Sunset Jazz, this was the sixth in a series staged at Grand View, and proprietors John and Theresa Silcott have already enlarged their conference and bar area so that more people can enjoy the jazz experience. Seats are set out in an informal style while there is also room outside for informal listening and viewing. The bar kept folks refreshed while they listened, and dinner was also available. The next event to be staged here may be for Valentine’s Day.

Tribute to the late Miss Rhoda Burns by David Brandt

My friends, I’m deeply honoured to have been asked to say a few words on this truly sad occasion. I have known Rhoda for almost my whole life, in the general way that all Montserratians know one another. But it wasn’t until I had the privilege of working with her that I got to know who Rhoda Burns truly was. And from that knowledge, to grow to deeply respect, admire and love her.

Rhoda was a life-long civil servant who served under all six of Montserrat’s Chief Ministers. She didn’t always work in the Chief Minister’s office, nor did she work directly with each of us. But I’m sure those of us with whom she did work, will tell you she ought to be the model for civil servants, particularly top-level civil servants.

I was lucky as Chief Minister to have her as my Senior Assistant Secretary. I know, without her good judgment and sound work ethic my successes would have been fewer and my mistakes far more numerous.

You could bank on Rhoda’s goodwill. And yet, no one could ever accuse her of being a ‘yes-woman’. If she disagreed with some measure you wished to pursue she would tell you in no uncertain terms. After that, if you still wished to continue, she saw it as her duty to help you. And she did so without rancor. She would never seek to frustrate and impede your efforts. She didn’t look for every opportunity to bad-talk and belittle you. On the contrary she would make a point of defending you in public.

Over the years, she developed a reputation for having a mouth so tightly shut that not even friends or family could pry it open. If ever there was a leak of information on some important matter, you could bet your life it didn’t come from Rhoda. She knew what was confidential and she kept it that way.

Rhoda was a true humanitarian. Kind and considerate. She knew who was sick, who was dying and who had just died. And she made sure that I knew as well and offered condolences to the bereaved family. Whenever some needy person came to the Chief Minister’s office, in dire need of assistance, she would invariably know who they were and would say to me, “We really need to help this person.” And we would usually find a way to do it.

Rhoda was not a clock-watcher. She didn’t arrive at work well after 8 0’clock and was packed up and ready to go home long before four. Whenever there were matters of importance, she was prepared to put in whatever time was necessary to get it done timely and properly. Mediocrity was her enemy.

That is why when South Bank & Trust Co. Ltd. was opening a representative office in Montserrat, I had no hesitation in recommending her to them to manage the office. And I’m not surprised they told me on numerous occasions how thoroughly satisfied they were with her.

Even when we no longer worked together our relationship did not diminish. We had become friends. And it was a friendship that was beyond both government and politics. I’m going to miss her terribly: some delightful little goody she would bring me from her garden, the phone call just to say an elderly man asked about me and I must find time to pay him a visit.

If I had any say in this matter, I would not be here today. I would not be doing what I’m doing now. Rhoda’s passing seems so untimely, so unfair, so un-called-for. It’s a grim reminder that we are not in charge. There is a higher power that grants life and takes it away as he chooses.  And in the end pump and ceremony, pompousness and boastfulness a world of possessions matter nothing.  Solomon the richest and wisest man in biblical times tells us it all amounts to vanity. 

He said:  “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought and on the labour that I had laboured to do and behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit”.

Job says: “naked came I out of my mothers womb and naked shall I return hither” And that all of us will come to this same appointment on a day, at an hour that we know not of.

The conclusion then cannot be clearer. We must live each day in a state of readiness, guided by the principles for good living that our Almighty Father has given us.

Mark Twain once said: “Let us endeavor to live in such a way that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”

Which of us is not saddened by Rhoda’s passing?

Let me extend to her family my deepest condolences, those of my wife Verna and my family and those also of South Bank & Trust Co. Ltd.

Rhoda lived a good life. We will remember her fondly. And we will be comforted by the knowledge that she has gone on to a better place.  May her soul rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon her. 

The Volcanologists' Prayer

Oh great and powerful Excellent One

We humbly beseech thy favor in our prayer.

We thank thee for thy beneficences:

   for our luxurious, abundant, exuberant living;

   for villas beyond our wildest dreams -- four

to six bedrooms for each lowly volcanologist;

  for a sparkling swimming pool per person;

  for the plethora of bikini-clad beauties so

willing to learn.

We beg thee to look favorably on our feeble

little fifth-rate volcano. Keep it healthy and

steaming. Cherish it as we do.

We thank thee for thy acceptance of our

poorly researched reports and our general

ignorance and indifference to the standards

of science.

We beg thee to continue to smite those who

question your ultimate wisdom and those who

show independent intelligence.

For all of these favors we thank and praise thee

And beg for their continuance. -- 'MBO'
                                              Cassandra

VOLCANO LIMERICKS

Property Rites

Attention you folks in the north,

An edict has newly come forth,

We must take a new look

And record in the book,

How much all you own is now worth.

Air Tourist Forecast

Claude Hogan's projections are tall,

The airstrip sounds more like a mall;

It seems that consultant

Has made him exultant;

We wouldn't have room for them all. 

JUS WONDERIN

Jus wonderin who comprise the Committee who nominates people for MBE’s.

Jus wonderin now that Festival has come and gone, what else is in the cards for attracting the permanent return of our fellow Montserratians.

Jus wonderin if the ruling party could withstand any further deterioration.

Jus wonderin who is really causin the deterioration.

Jus wonderin who is the common denominator of the problems.

Jus wonderin if that is the common cause of all our problems.

Jus wonderin since the calls for new direction at the last Legislative Council meeting, if it will happen and how soon.

Jus wonderin if the deputy  is next on the hit list.

Jus wonderin how many pawns vying for vacant positions in the ruling party or else where.

Jus wonderin if there is a conspiracy of varying sorts.

Jus wonderin if we back to the three blind mice.

Jus wonderin if the saying ‘In a blind man’s world, the one-eye man is king’ reminds us of anything or anyone.

Jus wonderin if it because the MP’s are generous with people, they are backbenchers.

Jus wonderin how much money we can expect from HMG this year for our projects in addition to what we just got to pay off old projects.

Jus wonderin why the school bus conductor doesn’t help the little children settle into the bus.

Jus wonderin if the song ‘No Hassle Me’ really came into effect.

Jus wonderin if there were any ‘snake and ladder’ games at the Calypso finals.

Jus wonderin if she wid de Prince.

Jus wonderin when if they goin travel together this time.

Jus wonderin who is like de mahogany wood more than de cedar wood.

Jus wonderin all who talk to they picknie before dat song.

Jus wonderin who or if they had auditors and accountants to compute them judging scores.

Jus wonderin with so many new traffic signs around the place, how many drivers will obey them.

Jus wonderin why some people spend so much time minding and meddling in people’s affairs that they fail to find out about more important things, like the volcano.

Jus' wondering why the lady guv when wearing dat wet, unlined bathing suit that left absolutely NOTHING to the imagination wasn't arrested for indecent exposure when with children at Woodlands Beach.

Jus' wonderin if the children got more of an education than their parents bargained for.

Jus' wonderin why some of the adults who were so shocked at the appearance didn't tell her to "cover up".

Just wonderin why some people always like to be like de neighbor in the song ‘Maco Neighbor’.

Jus wonderin if Jus Wonderin is a ‘Maco Neighbor’.

Jus wonderin if the volcano saying Bon Voyage too.

Jus wonderin if the fire worker doesn’t know that water outs fire and de police will have to investigate the fire.

Jus wonderin if and when the raffle is drawn, who the winner will be.

Jus wonderin why our society turns a blind eye to child sex, its abuse and accepts it as a norm.

Jus wonderin if some of these bank staff of need a lecture on pleasant facial expressions.

Jus wonderin if the civil service will be put under a further strain when pension transfer comes around.

Jus wonderin if everybody will pack up this year and decide to go to England.

Jus wonderin how come three wreath