Horrifying and Dramatic Devastation
by Bennette Roach
Nothing left of the St. Patricks Police Station,
"What I saw today was horrifying. It was dramatic. It was particularly distressing to see for myself the devastation which the volcano has caused to the towns and villages at the south of the island, which is where most of the people used to live." Robin Cook
British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook made his
five-hour visit to Montserrat as planned on Saturday, February 14, landing with entourage
at Geralds Heliport at approximately 11.15 a.m. and leaving at 4.30 p.m. He was greeted by
an episode of activity at the volcano as ash clouds rising from the volcano were seen even
at Geralds.
He made the usual rounds beginning with a helicopter fly-over of the volcano and its ravaged areas, later visiting shelters, the hospital, the Lookout housing project, and the Montserrat Secondary School. He did not visit Shanty Town, less than a minute’s walk away, as many had hoped, and finally boarded the helicopter back to Antigua, from where he returned to London later that night.
HE Governor Abbott had warned that because of his
tight schedule, Mr. Cook would have insufficient time for a full conference. ZJB’s
Rose Willock did sneak in some questions as he made his rounds.
During those conversations Mr. Cook in one instance made it clear that the Montserrat Building Society, being a private institution, will have to fight its own battle in overcoming its difficulties.
It did not matter to Mr. Cook that in the spirit of helping people who have lost their houses and still owe their mortgages, they would need the additional assistance to recover from the volcanic disaster. "It is not a public institution," he told Ms. Willock. "We cannot bail out a private financial institution. We can no more help them than we can help a private institution in Britain."
As far as assisting people who find it difficult in England to return to Montserrat, he said:
"We have opened our doors to those who wanted to leave Montserrat and settle there, with access to our welfare benefits. They have been given the right to work. We recognise we do have a duty and responsibility to those in Montserrat who wish to come to Britain. We have flirted with the idea that at a future point we would assist with passages for those wishing to relocate to Montserrat, but it would be premature to do that now."
Mr. Cook was followed by international, regional and local journalists, who tried to catch his comments and made use of two brief press briefings. One such briefing took place as a doorstep conference right after lunch at the Governor’s residence in Woodlands.
There in an opening statement he referred to, "the economic and social future for all those people on Montserrat, who have chosen to make their future on the island. Let me stress, Britain has no wish, no intention, no secret plan to abandon the island. On the contrary , Britain is investing heavily in order to help the islanders recreate a society, a community and an economy for themselves on the island. Britain has committed over £50 million in development aid for Montserrat. Three quarters of that has already been spent_
"So Britain is strongly committed to the future of this island, and so long as the scientists tell us it is safe for people to remain in the north of the island, we want to work with the people here to turn this into a viable and successful society."
That, he said, was one reason for his visit. The other reason, he said, was "because of our commitment to work closely, in good communication, in consultation, with the peoples of all of our dependent territories. A fortnight ago I announced the outcome of our review of our approach to the dependent territories, the first such review for a number of decades in the British Government."
He referred to his meetings with Chief Minister David Brandt on several occasions during the last few days in Britain, the Bahamas and so far during his visit here, where they have discussed several issues. "I am delighted," he said, "to share what I
think I might describe as a platform with him."
The Foreign Secretary spoke of the new ministry being set up to be headed by Baroness Liz Symons and the new partnership with the Dependent Territories.
Mr. Brandt, in response, welcomed Mr. Cook on what he deemed, "an important day for us because we are in the midst of a crisis, and we realize that because of your position you have many important and weighty things to consider and to deal with. There is Iraq, for example, and yet you have taken some time out of your busy schedule to come to Montserrat and see for yourself the situation here."
Mr. Brandt, however, was skeptical, as he has been for the past several weeks. "I would like to hope," he said, "that when you leave here that the perceptions which Montserrat have in relation to the United Kingdom will be eradicated, in the sense that you will be able to go and tell your colleagues, ‘Well you have read. You have listened to others. But I have seen.’ When you notice that people are still living in shelters you’ll be in a stronger position to make a stronger case to your colleagues that this should not exist in an overseas territory. Speaking to you today, I distinctly get the impression that you are going to do that and we will see a difference."
Mr. Cook did take notice because in the extremely brief press conference held before his departure he said, "First I saw the shelters, where we saw people living in very difficult circumstances, which are wholly unacceptable in a modern age."
It is hoped Mr. Cook will be the last visiting official to deplore the shelters. Every official visiting Montserrat has had the same thing to say, be it the Prime Minister of Jamaica or St. Kitts or a Minister, Baroness or high official from Whitehall.
No one had the opportunity to ask Mr. Cook his thoughts about the £36 million already spent, to which he alluded when he said:
"As well as seeing the aftermath of the crisis and the hardship and unacceptable living conditions which that crisis created, I have also seen the hope for the future and what is being created here by the investment of the funds from our Department for International Development."
Speaking of the hospital, he said: "It’s a very touching, moving memory of how makeshift has had to be the response to the crisis."
At the doorstep conference it was suggested to Mr. Brandt that his remarks seem to imply that, "although you have hopes for the future out of this visit, you’re not yet satisfied you’re getting the commitment and the funds you believe you need from Britain to keep the community here viable."
The Chief Minister responded: "I believe with the coming here of Robin we have set a new stage. And I am convinced that he will go back and put our case and that something will result quite quickly from his representations."
When asked about the current situation since Minister Clare Short made her rather controversial remarks about golden elephants, Mr. Cook sakid he has had several meeting with David Brandt during the last two weeks. "Well, Clare herself has made it clear that she wants to have a positive approach to the island and put that behind her. I would say quite a few foreign ministers around would like to have seen me three times in two weeks, which is what David’s done, and it’s gone very well."
In spite of the continued pronouncement of Britain’s commitment to the livelihood and existence of Montserrat, Mr. Cook was challenged on the delays in making good the commitment by getting the funds on the ground for certain projects, such as mortgage financing and small business loan schemes.
He explained: "First of all, both of those schemes are schemes that we will be part financing and subsidizing, but they are schemes that will be channeled through financial institutions. At the moment, we are in dialogue with the private sector banks to try and find a way in which we can deliver those particular projects. But we are committed to them and the money is provided for them."
He added, however, that these would be among his top priorities when he returned to England. "In particular," he said, "I will be making sure that we do inquire and chase up and make sure that the soft loan scheme and the assistance for businesses is put in place. It’s on the way, but a number of people have raised that with me."
It was while responding to this issue he revealed that only £36 million of the committed funds has been spent. He had a question of his own, one similar to what we have heard many times before, as he stressed their commitment: "Would I be here as the first Foreign Secretary to visit a dependent territory in the Caribbean ever, would I be here today if I were secretly planning to close this place down?"
Mr. Brandt was pressed on his conviction about the commitment when he was asked: "Chief minister, as things stand, is there a threat to the long-term survival of Montserrat as a community?"
"Unless something is done," he replied, "there will be that threat. But I have every faith that after this visit something will be done and done quickly."
The Foreign Secretary said he would also be giving some priority to the question of citizenship upon his return, particularly the aspect of reciprocity. "I’ll be taking back that warm welcome to that plan, which I hope will be a factor in our future discussions in London as we take forward that proposal," he said.
I asked Mr. Cook what the complexities were on the question of citizenship that he had referred to earlier.
After pledging that they are "anxious to do is what is right" and mentioning some of the real benefits he saw for Montserrat, he said: "We have got to look very carefully to make sure that any citizenship that we extend to people of the dependent territories does not create an entitlement or a case for people who are not in the dependent territories, who are not themselves people with citizenship in Montserrat."
He ended the last press conference quite abruptly, looking to be a very tired man, as most of those present, and particularly the journalist, again realised that five hours is far too short a period for a visit of such a high British official.
At the hospital, the geriatric home and the Secondary school accommodations he was able to speak with members of the staff. And just as he was greeted when he arrived, the volcano put on a display of dark ash clouds, encouraging them to take another fly-round by the helicopter on his way out to Antigua.
Cook recieves Valentine flowers from Hon. Adelina Tuitt
"Cook May Not Make a Difference - We Have to do it Ourselves"
Once again another visiting official, this time, a historical first trip to one of their dependent territories in the Caribbean, the Rt. Hon. Robin Cook joined many others in condemning the shelters and other facilities provided and occupied now for the better part of two years.
One thing proven by the visit is that it is quite apparent that conditions will not change much until Clare Short, who is directly responsible for approving the funds to be spent on this volcano ravaged 39 square miles of land, sea and mountain, pays a visit.
Robin Cook was able to speak only in rather general terms, although he revealed more of the truth by deviating from the commitment of £51 million to an actual figure spent of £36 million.
We can now expect that the Management Aid Office might be more ready and willing to divulge a fairly detailed-break down of how this money has been spent and what the rest of the £51 million is expected to take care of.
It is somewhat disturbing to hear Robin Cook continue the pitch of how grateful we ought to be since the British are providing electricity, water, ferry helicopter etc. to keep Montserrat going. Sometime around 1993, when the Country Plan was agreed to by the Reuben Meade Government, Britain had expected to make available some £25 million available to Montserrat over the next three years. Included in this was about £9 million for a new airport.
It should be noted that the hospital upgrade, the library and the new government headquarters were not included in these funds.
Now, after spending very little of the £25 million pounds, the volcano came bang and disrupted the expenditure, now replaced by emergency and survival funds. The point is that the £36 million spent to date, almost three years after the volcano started and five years after £25 million pounds was promised, in simple terms should not make it appear that what Britain has come up with is so overwhelming.
A deeper look into the five year plan being approved back in 1993 would no doubt over a period of time, have taken the expenditure to higher sums.
As Robin Cook saw what the £36 million had accomplished, one can imagine his thoughts as all he muster was: "So the message I take away with me from this afternoon is that there is hope, that our investment is making a difference, and it is a clear sign of our commitment to building an acceptable modern future Montserrat."
As he expressed his sorrow at what he had seen, he could not have been happy, since he didn’t just ride around in the helicopter, having to had drive from Olveston to St. John’s.
Will he go back to Britain and say,’ we must see to it that the people of Montserrat get the funds they need to put their lives back to some degree of decency’? Or will he say, ‘we have spent so much already, but I don’t see it’?
Governor Abbott had agreed that every official who comes to the island always leaves with a different perspective of things. That had not made much difference. Can we hope that Robin Cook will make a difference? There is doubt in that, since he spent time explaining why some things took long and sought to brain wash us further on Britain’s walterable commitment, "to the economic and social future for all those people on Montserrat who have chosen to make their future on the island."
If one must pay attention to his words, he must be told that the future of Montserrat is not just for those who are here now, but for at least 50 percent of those outside waiting to return.
It is here that our Government has to show some initiative and begin to seriously plan our future, not just relying on British funds, but from whatever source, including our own. We must begin to do those things that we can, from the ground.
It is very obvious that in the minds of the British we are indeed still looking for gold, and maybe we should. But how and why is the feeling so strong that it is allowed to slip every now and then in its different forms. Again Montserrat and its people must not just show the fortitude we hear praised so often by visiting officials, but some initiative about securing its own future.
Our Chief Minister once again did not lose the opportunity to thank the British for their aid, but asked for their commitment to be fulfilled, and in a timely manner. That is not asking for gold.
I will stand alone
In your defence
never to sit on the fence
Since ‘88
The pain has been great
Hug the ball, Carl
‘Til the scoreboard is fat, fat, fat
For generations to come, to recall
Do a Gibbs
Outdo a Roger
You can
Raise the dead of Sir Frank
He too knows you are no prank
Hold every catch
For the man of the match
By Claude Gerald
Written&Published
1993 - Pakistani Tour to West Indies
Didicated to C.L Hooper
Your type never was
Never can be
From histroy’s dawn
To Eternity
Rarest species, singulary endowed
Just like the Montserrat Oriole.
Treasured, labelled endangerd.
Accolades emblazoned,
Befitting royalty.
Majestic, celestial,
Symphonic, quintessential
Eyed for preservation
To clonist reveal
To be enshired
As the ideal
On the cricket field
For all prosperity
The shots sparkle
Like Raindrops at Bourda,
From Down Under
To over Yonder
Baawhoo! Over x-tra cover
Hooops! dabs late,
Real fine
No keeper’s slipper’s bait
Simply Great
The soul is soothed
The spirit lifts.
Tranquility eternal.
Living, unconditional.
Soufriere Hills, fade to nil:
C L Hooper, Oh! What a thrill!.
by Chedmund Bronwe
Once again Montserratians all seem to have missed the main point and are uselessly wasting valuable energy on the effects rather than attacking the cause.
While we waste valuable time discussing privileged rights for particular groups, the Rights of Montserratians to make decisions for themselves, in their best interest continue to be eroded.
The issue here is not about giving rights to whoever, the issue is whether MONTSERRATIANS have the RIGHTS to make their own decisions, in their best interest.
If we do not, then the question is WHY NOT?
The British are going to impose their gay law on us. WHY?
Simple. We are still a colony and as such they can do anything they want and make us accept it whether we like it or not.
In case any of you doubt this read the sorry excuse that passes for our constitution.
All this is just camouflage. When they don’t get agreement and the people refuse to be coerced into doing their bidding then they just go ahead and do it anyway.
WHY? Because they can and so long as we are a colony, we can’t stop them. That’s the reality.
The British imposed the immigration act 1970. It stopped us from going to England.
The British imposed the life imprisonment act 1990. It stopped us from applying a death sentence.
The British imposed a constitution act 1989. It stopped us from having any administrative say so or control in our own affairs.
I could go on and on.
None of these acts or the so many others were discussed and passed in our local legislature. None of them had the approval or involvement of the local populace.
They were written in England, passed in England and imposed on Montserrat verbatim without question.
In the exact same manner, the British will impose their gay act. They will also impose citizenship on us in the same way.
The people of Montserrat unanimously voted against any accommodation with England just a few weeks ago.
Now despite that vote we are going to be made citizens of England. We said no, and we don’t have enough sense to know what’s good for us they are going to give it to us any way. That’s the way it works.
They offer something and you say yes and they say the people unanimously said yes. You say no and they give it to you and tell the world the people unanimously said yes.
The issue here for Montserratians is the RIGHT to DETERMINE our own DESTINY. Our present status does not allow us that right.
Until we address and correct our COLONIAL STATUS in a way that allows us the RIGHT to make a decision in our best interest, then the British can and will do whatever they want and no amount of whining, complaining, fantasising, wishing, or intellectual posturing is going to change that.
Address that!!!
Minister Bramble at Ministers Meeting
Minister of Agriculture Trade and Environment the Honourable P.Austin Bramble is represented Montserrat at the inaugural meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council of Ministers in Nassau, Bahamas.
The Council came into being with the entry into force of Protocol I, which amends the Treaty of Chaguaramas. The Council of Ministers replaces the Common Market as the second highest organ in CARICOM after the Conference of Heads of Government.
The Ministers deliberated a proposal for establishment of a regional coordinating mechanism for drug control programs and establishment of a regional accreditation mechanism to facilitate human resource development, and in particular the free movement of persons within the Community.
Minister Bramble who serves as a nominated member in the Legislature was a signatory to the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973 when he served as Chief Minister of Montserrat.
Sources stress that his participation in the meeting "highlight’s Montserrat’s continued commitment to the regional integration process despite the difficulties posed by the ongoing volcanic crisis."
Temporary Government HQ Under-Way
Brown and Root have reported that site preparations for the temporary government headquarters at Brades are underway following the ground-breaking ceremony there last month.
The office complex will consist of 100 porta-cabins of the flat pack design, which are already on island. The layout and configuration of the site has been designed by local architect Kenneth Cassell.
It is hoped the complex will be ready next month, thereby freeing up homes in the north currently being used as office space.
The latest news about the units for the CARICOM village which have been pre-fabricated in Cuba is that they have been shipped to Montserrat and will reach here by month end.
The village, to be sited at Lookout, will have its basic infrastructure put in place by British funding, while the actual installation of the 24 housing units will be carried out by a unit from the Jamaica Defence Force.
Robin Cook to Fund Library Facilities and School Computers
During his visit today to Montserrat - the first ever by a British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook announced that the Foreign Office would provide £48,000 to assist the relocation of the library from the Central Zone to a site further north of the island.
In a separate visit to the Montserrat Secondary School at Lookout, he announced a £25,000 donation of 10 new computers for the school’s computer laboratory.
Since the evacuation of Plymouth in 1996 the public library relocated to an unfurnished house in Woodlands. Conditions in the library for both staff and users are reportedly cramped and unsuitable.
The Library authorities proposed re-housing the library at Brades in 14 portacabins four of which have already been donated by UNICEF. The Foreign Office will fund the remaining 10 portacabins plus site preparation, road access and services at a cost of around £48,000.
The Montserrat Secondary School at Lookout has a computer laboratory of some 30 computers. Reportedly half of these are old or obsolete. Cook in his announcement to the Minister of Education, Mrs. Adelina Tuitt said the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will fund the provision of 10 new computers running the latest software at a cost of around £25,000 including freight.
A BBC team recently concluded filming a Montserrat documentary on island and are now back in Britain cutting the filmed footage. TV viewers in Britain will have the opportunity to see the documentary, which was specially prepared for younger viewers, on BBC 1 on Friday, 20 February at 4.55 p.m. It will feature the effects of the volcano on children in Montserrat.
Visitors to Local Red Cross Branch
The Montserrat Branch of the British Red Cross has been receiving manpower assistance from representatives of the British Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross / Red Crescent Societies.
The visitors were Paul Anticoni and Jo Baker of the British Red Cross and Marja Naarendorp of the International Federation based in Kingston, Jamaica, who have been helping to strengthen the management and finances of the local branch as well as assisting in programme planning.
Red Cross Counselling Workshop
In other Red Cross news, several Montserratian Red Cross members, as well as their Antiguan counterparts, are expected to attend a workshop next week in St. John’s, Antigua, to train in counseling techniques.
The sessions will be of particular interest to Montserrat as it is thought that regular counseling sessions are needed to relieve the stress caused by the volcanic crisis.
Following the workshop, the Montserrat Red Cross, in cooperation with the local branch of Partners of the Americas, is expected to host a series of counseling sessions for residents.
The usual rough seas experienced in Montserrat during the winter months have been adding the inconvenience and shortage of propane gas in Montserrat.
As the week ended there was still no cooking gas on island. A large number of empty cylinders was sent to Nevis for filling by the Emergency Department but rough seas in these parts have prevented the boat from sailing from Nevis.
Meantime, it is reported that there are adequate amounts of petrol and diesel on island. A shipment was received before the present bad sea whether began.
The rough seas also slowed down travel on the ferry this week, adding to the uncertainty of helicopter travel earlier in the week because of the ashy atmosphere over Monterrat and even extending to neighbouring Antigua.
It was reported this week that the Emergency Department, which falls under the direct control of the Governor, continues to plan for the evacuation of Zones 3 and 4 on the Montserrat map contained in the recently issued brochure "Advice to the residents of Montserrat".
Following the strong recommendation of Sir Robert May, Britain’s chief scientific adviser, people living in these areas, previously referred to as the Central Zone, are asked to leave the area and move north of Lawyer’s River. The advice brochure issued to every Montserratian states that major events can happen without warning, leaving insufficient time to move people to the safety of the north.
The report continues that measures are now in hand to move all government offices and business places to the north of the island and it is hoped that residents will follow suit.
The Emergency Department hopes that the total evacuation plan for the area will never have to be put into place, but in the interests of proper disaster planning it is imperative that such a plan exists in case volcanic activity switches and impacts the Belham Valley.
Further reports stated that all the residents of the Central Zone have been surveyed over the last few evenings by members of the Search and Rescue teams.
The survey was to determine the exact location of every house and the number of residents living there. The results will help in planning the evacuation exercise.
Brandt and Bramble at UK-Caribbean Forum
Chief Minister the Honourable David Brandt led a Montserrat delegation to the Caribbean Forum in Nassau, Bahamas.
He was accompanied by Minister of Agriculture Trade and the Environment P. Austin Bramble who had traveled earlier to Nassau for the CARICOM Council of Ministers Meeting.
The Caribbean Forum was attended by British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook who was also representing the European Union. It gave leaders an opportunity to exchange views on overall economic stability in the region and what could be done to alleviate the difficulties.
Portions of the meeting, were closed to the media, was focused on economics and trade but was certain to touch on controversial Caribbean issues including drug trafficking, London’s recent proposals for a new relationship with its Caribbean colonies, and the passage of ships carrying nuclear waste through the region.
A Reuters report said that Robin Cook told the Caribbean leaders that he sought a global economy where small countries could compete with world powers, and pledged Britain’s help in the war on drugs. He said the global economy must be structured "for all countries to benefit, not just the strong."
"The global marketplace is now a reality," Cook said. "The economies of the world are intertwined."
"What is required is not just a level playing field, but fair competition between all the players on the field," he said to applause.
As expected the leaders also discussed Britain’s relationship with its colonies/dependent territories. As well as drug trafficking and nuclear waste shipments through the Caribbean.
With negotiations between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states on a new cooperation agreement to replace the current Lome Convention due to start in September, Caribbean nations pressed Britain to carry their plea for extended preferential trade status to Europe.
The Caribbean region was stunned last year by a World Trade Organization ruling that Europe’s banana regime violated free trade rules.
Some Caribbean officials said the loss of preferred access to European markets could crush the banana-dependent economies of the Windward islands.
Caribbean officials hailed Cook’s call for a global marketplace in which small countries can compete. Cook said: "The new Lome V agreement would stretch until 2005. That’s seven years from now. That’s quite a long time."
Cook speaking on the drug issue during his opening remarks to the meeting said that combating the global drug trade was a critical issue to the European Union and Britain. The remainder of the meeting was closed to the media.
Citing that the scattered islands of the Caribbean are favored way stations for South American drug cartels transporting cocaine to the rich markets of the United States and Europe, he said about half of the cocaine transported through the Caribbean each year ends up in Europe.
"Drug dealers show how effective international cooperation can be. We must be even more cooperative at international level to outsmart and outmatch the drug dealers," he said.
The passage last week of a British-flagged ship carrying high-level nuclear waste through the Caribbean Sea en route to Japan was another source of discussion.
The "Pacific Swan," carrying 24 tons of reproduced nuclear waste from France, was dispatched, contrary to the desire of Caribbean Community nations.
Britain sent experts on the nuclear shipments to the meeting to assure officials and Caribbean media that they were safe. But Caribbean leaders were unconvinced.
"It is very disturbing that we don’t have any say in the transportation of nuclear waste," Anguilla Chief Minister Hubert Hughes told Reuters. "You only need one accident. We will never believe (the assurances) Anything can happen."
He trip will include an over-flight of the volcano and devastated areas in the south and visits to British-funded projects in the north of the island.
Psychiatric Care Department Handles the Pressure
By Hilton Samuel
With 74 mentally ill patients to handle out of a small office with no telephone, psychiatric nurse Madge Donoghue says she is managing to cope despite the limitations.
Speaking with the Reporter on Wednesday, the nurse with more than five years’ experience said the mentally ill are not effected by the stresses of relocation in the same way as well Montserratians, because they are somewhat used to "toughing it out" on the streets. She said, however, that efforts to house these persons in shelters have proved more difficult than expected.
"When we took one person to the Brades shelter," she said, "the residents there kicked up a fuss. In fact they did not let him sleep in the shelter that night. He had to sleep outside until in the morning, when someone let him in,".
She said that this reaction is due to the misunderstanding the public has about mentally ill patients. This false impression, she said, leads people to harass, provoke and abuse the mentally disturbed person undeservedly.
"No human being should be treated that way," Nurse Donoghue said. "There is a thin line between the sane and the insane. Once treated they are able to function just like anybody else. It is no different than a diabetic who has to take his treatment."
Patients should be respected as "family and fellow citizens," she said.
Commenting on the general population, Nurse Donaghue said she notices that people are more "touchy and easily irritated."
"This is due to the fact that many persons do not have the normal amount of space that they are accustomed to in their own homes," she said. "They are not used to living with so many others, under such crowded conditions. They do not have enough room to maneuver and this can increase the stress levels and lead to aggression.
"Even in the schools teachers are telling us they have never seen children behave like this before. They stone each other. This is because of the pent up energy they have inside."
The nurse recalled a conversation with a man who has a good paying job and other luxuries of life, yet complained that "somehow something is wrong" in his life. That mysterious something, which, she said, he could not verbalize, might be due to the unconscious stress accumulating from the uncertainty of the volcano and the loss of property that many persons experienced.
To cope with stress, Nurse Donoghue said, people should have proper rest and sleep.
"Lack of sleep, as many people are experiencing in crowded shelters and relocated homes, leads to tension, misery and irritation," she commented.
She also said relaxation through calming music and regular sea baths could help to alleviate stress.
"Another way to reduce stress is to talk with someone about things that are bothering you. Find someone who is trustworthy and in whom you can confide. Talking helps to release the burden," she explained. Pastors and teachers are examples of persons that she said can be used as counselors.
"The office is always open. People can drop in any time, even if it just to talk," she said, referring to the small office in Sweeneys. She was careful to point out that the psychiatric office is not only for the mentally ill.
Nurse Donoghue hopes to start an adolescence club in the near future in an effort to help young people.
"You must start with the children. We expect them to form their own groups where they can have their own activities including discussions going out on hikes and other sporting activities," she said.
Brown & Root Speak About Their Montserrat Assignment
On Friday of this week, the Reporter conducted an exclusive interview with Brown & Root’s manager Leo Bedford. He was invited to talk about his involvement in Montserrat and how the firm got selected for the work it’s doing.
He began by speaking briefly about his company: "We’ve always been registered as having a capacity for relief and emergency operations globally as a company. As such we were invited to tender competitively with other UK companies by the Department for International Development and quite obviously we won that competitive tender."
There were some suggestions that the Montserrat contract was handed to them without tender, so when asked why Brown & Root won the contract, Mr. Bedford responded: "I believe we won it because our tender documents made no preconceptions about how we were going to solve the problem, or the issue that was presented to us, which was the housing of up to 1,000 people in a very short space of time."
There was another condition which Mr. Bedford thought they understood and it was qualified by the requirement to consult broadly with local government, local people, and maximize the use of local resources. "By resources I mean the contractors, the merchants, and all the business people on the island, in order that the most amount of money went back into the local economy to help regenerate the economy," he said.
As to how they have progressed, having completed a part of the project, he said of his experience to date: "I won’t claim that we’ve got it right 100 percent from the start, but I’ve always said that the pace of this contract and this requirement has meant that it’s a continuous learning process. We’re forever refining and, hopefully, improving the way we operate and coming closer to the correct balance of how perhaps we would like to run a project to suit our purposes and how projects need to be run to suit the local purposes. It’s very much getting a balance between the two."
How difficult was it on the way, he was asked.
"Because of the pace at which we actually had to get started," he said, "we had to impose, and that’s probably a fair word, systems of work that we were familiar with and that we knew had a good chance of working. The down side of that is that the local contractors and merchants were not as familiar or weren’t familiar with those. Therefore it was a difficult process for them to come and meet those requirements." But he added: "That’s not to say the goals weren’t the same, or that we didn’t have a common aim. It’s just, if you like, the way of documenting or putting down the requirement on paper. Perhaps it didn’t suit all purposes at the beginning."
I asked him how they went about co-opting and contracting with the contractors. He confided:
"The process we use is one where we will define a job, we will put together a scope of works, the material requirements, a bill of quantities, and based on that, using our experience, we will put in a budget estimate price, which then has to go to our client (DFID) for approval before the job, or that particular project, can even begin.
"We will then go out to tender with a scope of works and ask the local contractors to price that work. So long as the two are not diametrically opposite one another, we have a reasonable basis for negotiation to get the right price for the work."
Working with the local contractors has not always been simple but Mr. Bedford feels that it is working out well so far: " When we first brought out the contract, particularly for the blockwork housing at Lookout Yard, which was probably the first major contract for works that we took out here, the format that we asked for contractors to apply to us was not one that they seemed 100 percent comfortable with. We had actually based it, and we’d done a lot of work in transferring our estimates into a format that we took off a previous contract that had been awarded on the island. Even then it didn’t seem to fit. They weren’t comfortable with it because it wasn’t for a housing project, it was for a different project."
The sewage plant installed by Brown & Root created a lot of publicity for the company. Mr. Bedford expressed his feelings on the matter and gave some explanations as well. He said some approval planning had to be short circuited because of the circumstances. He also felt, however, that people had justifiable concerns:
"There was an awful lot of public debate and criticism of the sewage plant and of the way that we brought it onto the island, a lot of which was attributable again to the speed at which we had to do things. There wasn’t time to go through a full formal planning approval of a submission and studies . . . . There wasn’t a well-informed decision taken to bring the plant onto the island. I think the majority of concerns about the plant are fully justifiable."
Pointing out that the sewage system is a new concept for the island, he explained: "It is a very natural aversion to change or newness that we all suffer, worldwide. I think ultimately, we now have a plant up and running. It doesn’t smell, it is producing clean water discharge, which has the same look, quality and smell as rainwater, and is suitable for agricultural use, so it’s harmless to flora and fauna."
He said various people are looking at the possibilities for reusing the outflow from the plant but that there are some difficulties involved. "The very nature of the system is that the water ends up at the lowest point on the site," he said, "and it takes some effort to bring the water back to the top of the hill where it’s needed to be used."
What if the plant broke down? He confidently explained: " One of the fundamental criteria for this plant is to keep it as simple as possible from a mechanical, electrical perspective, in order that the least number of things could go wrong with it. Given that it is a new technology to the island, it is best that we start slowly before we get too complex.
"There is not a lot of mechanical or electrical components. Where there is a need for such components, there is an identical secondary system. So there’s two of everything, in effect. Only one of each is required to run the plant correctly. Therefore, if one thing goes wrong, there’s another one ready there on site to replace it, whilst the failed component is being repaired. On site now there is also a spares pack which should sustain the plant for five years of operation.
"So even if something does go wrong, the parts hopefully are there to repair it. Also the information is being transferred to the Water Authority, who have taken responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the plant. They know exactly who to go to and how to get additional spares onto the island. So there is a chain established."
Wouldn’t there be an offensive smell in that eventuality? Mr. Bedford quickly conced ed: "Yes, there would be a smell at the site of the plant itself, no getting away from it, but it would be a contained smell. The out-fall from the plant would be the same consistency as the out-fall from a septic tank which would normally be taken into a soak pit. For that reason, the Davy Hill plant, the out-fall, as a precaution, is piped down to Carr’s Bay and there is a soakway dug underneath Carr’s Bay."
In the worst case, he said, "that is regarded as being a safe fallback with negligible risk to even the beach quality for swimmers or the marine life itself. However, it is still only a temporary measure whilst we put in place the preferred option, which is a deep well effluent disposal."
The manager mentioned that this type of sewage plant is used world over: "The particular supplier we used gave us a list of hotels in the Florida Keys that use their plants. We all know how particular hotel guests are about the area they’re visiting."
While they are approaching the end of their initial contract, Mr. Bedford said: "As has been announced recently, there is approval or near approval to service the next 150 plots at Lookout Yard, which we would anticipate doing, having put the plan together to do that."
As he looked forward to carrying out more works he spoke of lessons learnt. "Certainly I believe we have learned a lot of lessons and where would you get more work associated with that infrastructure, such as additional housing to manage? We would put those lessons to practice. We hopefully would achieve more cost effectiveness, faster building and a more satisfied group of contractors."
"We have made a commitment," he said, "to the client immediately, ourselves and to anybody else who’s listening, that we would be here to support the rebuilding effort of Montserrat as long as we are wanted and needed."
Very early and even beforeBrown & Root began working in Montserrat reports circulated on the island that they carried a bad reputation. I asked Mr. Bedford to tell a bit about the company and to comment on the reports.
"Brown & Root is a global corporation, with head offices, or regional offices, as they’re known, in the United Kingdom, America and Singapore. Worldwide we employ something in the region of 70,000 people from those three offices and have a turnover of U.S.$7.3 billion. As a company, we did a lot of work in St. Thomas as part of the hurricane relief effort there. That was run out of the U.S. office and it’s difficult for me to have specific details. Generally speaking, the Caribbean would come under the American office. It is purely that this contract was let through the United Kingdom government that the UK offices are involved."
"Quite simply there was some bad press in the Virgin Islands about a Brown & Root contract on which part of the job was to refurbish an oil and gas processing plant. Two concerns were firstly that there had not been sufficient nationals in St. Croix employed on the job and secondly that they hadn’t been fairly recompensed for the work that they did. Both of those allegations are unfounded. Brown & Root employed some 500 of the 1,500 individuals involved in that particular job. The Virgin Island Code defines resident worker as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States and as such that definition means there were no laws violated in any of the employment practice there.
I pointed out to Mr. Bedford that one of the complaints was that they did not advertise available positions, He said:
"While Brown & Root were not required, therefore, to hire Virgin Island residents, it’s obviously good business practice to do so in that it’s more cost effective, and Brown & Root went to every effort to assure that the maximum number of eligible Virgin Island people were employed. Vacancies were registered with the Department of Labor. Numerous recruitment ads were placed on the island."
"Pay rates were determined and signed without regard to race, to sex, to color, or national origin. Craft rates were uniform across the board, so that job got that pay regardless of who was doing it. The criteria for the selection of the people were uncompromising in providing for the safety and health of the work force. Therefore, any person requesting work there was given a safety comprehension test, and it’s the same test given to some 2,000 applicants within the region. It was only on the basis of those tests that people were disqualified for working there, if they weren’t found to be suitable workers.
"Over half of the work force we employed were local nationals. That included 20 percent of the supervisory and management posts. We cooperated fully with the Department of Labor over there and they themselves praised Brown & Root as being informative and providing the information requested. We can do no more than cooperate with the authorities."
He compared the assignment there with the one in Montserrat.
"It was an entirely different scenario from here," he said. "We’re talking about an oil and gas processing plant, which, by its very nature in dealing with volatile and toxic byproducts and materials, has to have very, very specific controls and safety procedures. It is a complex job. One couldn’t expect to find that many qualified people on a small island to fulfill all of the roles required to insure that that job is done safely.
"Here we’re talking an entirely different scenario, because we deliberately come on the island and use, where possible, local traditional techniques, materials, crafts, to fulfill our projects. Therefore, we start on the basis of 100 percent local involvement and only look elsewhere when the resources do not cover our needs."
If I spend my time on other work, then I am in conflict with the terms of my British contract. Having said that, on a number of occasions where private industry have gone to the British Government via the Aid Management Office for help and support, we have been tasked to assist them. A particular issue being the containers, for example, when the Chamber of Commerce requested a lot of storage capacity when their members were required to get their materials out of Salem. We have supplied over 50 containers to the island for that purpose, amongst others."
The manager said he observes a slowing in the process of development but feels "what has happened is a slowing down of that process to evaluate what the true need is, both in terms of quantity and type of housing¸ where the special needs are, and what size of family units we should be building."
As to the future for housing development, he explained, "When the original plans were drawn up, for what we would set out to achieve on the island, we started with two-bedroom houses because they are the most versatile unit . . . . But we said, as we went on, we’d collect and we’d be given the data that allow us to identify what the right balance is. Therefore the next phase is three-bedroom, one-bedroom, bigger, smaller units to be brought in. So this is very much in line with what has always been the intention."
Asked to comment on working relationships with local government and people, he said: "There’s a ready working relationship. There was always going to be differences of opinions and friction, and I believe we’re coming around to seeing one and another’s points of view. It’s always a two-way thing. One or two things have been blown out of proportion, such as the sewage treatment plants."
Mr. Bedford said of their own public relations. "Our oversight was that we were very much focused on the task in hand. We were working and put a lot of effort in the task, perhaps didn’t find the time, one must find the time to step back and see where we can pick up on the peripherals, on the tertiary activities that need to go on and justify any project.
"Public relations or information is one of them. Certainly we have learnt by, if you like, bitter experience, that the people on Montserrat are very, very information hungry."
I asked would Brown & Root be willing to assist the island in putting together some form of implementation plan and working along with the Sustainable Development Plan.
"You’re talking about taking something from a concept to a measurable, quantifiable plan," he said. "That’s exactly what Brown & Root do. We have that capability at Brown & Root. We are a commercial organization so it would have to be by a commercial arrangement, but we could comfortably, competently step into a role like that or to assist in that role."
The Montserrat Tourist Board announces probably the most spectacular astronomical event that most people will experience in their lives: The Total Solar Eclipse to be seen on Montserrat Thursday, February 26, 1998, at 2.30 p.m., when the entire island will be plunged into a strange twilight for the next three minutes.
Unfortunately, there is a WARNING that all viewers must heed:
"It is harmful for anyone to look at the Eclipse without SPECIAL eye protection. This may result in permanent eye damage or blindness".
The Tourist Board and staff join all other concerned institutions in appealing to everyone about their safety in this event. Parents, please monitor your children very closely on February 26, 1998.
Wondering where could be a good location to view the Eclipse, and what to do on the afternoon of the event?
Stop wondering! Follow the Rainbow and "Eye the Sky" from opposite the People’s Place, Hill Top, St. Peter’s . There will be fun for all at People’s Place, Treasure Spot, Cudjoe Head Centre, Moose & Ida’s Food, Little Bay, Pop’s Place, Davy Hill, Cockpit Bar, Geralds Heliport and Laud Hailes in St. John’s.
Musical entertainment while you share experiences of one of the most awe-inspiring of all natural events. Play a game of dominoes, chinese checkers, monopoly, scrabble, draughts or solitaire.
Available for sale will be T-shirts, food/drinks and snacks.
from Bottom Line/Personal
...even broken resolutions have benefits? People who make New Year’s promises to change bad habits and then break the resolutions within a month are at least twice as likely as people who make no resolutions to change the habits anyway within the next six months. Helpful: Change your attitude when making a resolution. Example: Instead of focusing on losing weight by no longer eating indulgent foods, concentrate on the health benefits of exercise and better nutrition.
James Prochaska, PhD, director, Cancer Prevention Research Center, University of Rhode Island, Kingston.
...adding potassium to the diet will lower blood pressure in some people? Best: A total of four or five potassium-rich foods daily. Including: Baked potatoes with skin.. .bananas... cantaloupe...orange juice...raw or cooked spinach.
Robert Hackman, PhD, director, complementary and alternative medicine research, University of California at Davis.
...energy bars won’t make you feel more energetic? These chewy, high-carbohydrate confections can deliver needed energy to people running marathons or involved in other lengthy high intensity exercise. But they are not a panacea for stressed-out or worn-out people. And...athletes can find a cheaper source of needed calories.
Bonnie Liebman, MS, director of nutrition at Center for Science in the Public Interest 1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Ste. 300, Washington, DC 20009.
...80 percent of cat bites become infected—because of germs that cats carry in their mouths? Hand bites are especially dangerous. Self~defense: See a doctor—or go to an emergency room —as soon as possible aiter a cat bites you. Interesting: Only 5 percent of dog bites become infected.
Jay Siwek, MD, professor of family medicme, Georgetwown University Medical Center, Washington, DC.
...stuffed animals are not good toys for babies younger than nine months? Stuffed animals can collect dust, aggravate allergies, shed hair and stuffing, and lose plastic eyes or noses that could then be swallowed. Better for very young children: Push toys...busy boxes with switches and levers to push and noises to make...sturdy picture books the pictures may be meaningless to young children, but they enjoy moving the pages back and forth.
Complete Book of Baby & Child Care by Paul Reisser, MD, chief of staff, Columbia Los Robles Medical Center, and family physician, Thousand Oaks, California (Tyndale House/$29.99).
MUCH MORE POWER TO YOU
by Harold H. Bloomfield,
In This Increasing Unsafe World our personal safety depends not only on how well we protect ourselves from physical harm, but also on how we shelter ourselves from assaults on our emotions and well-being.
In my years as a psychiatrist, I have found that the loss of control that we feel during harsh emotional encounters—with strangers, coworkers, friends or family—can be as traumatic and long-lasting as physical attacks.
Equally damaging is what I call an inner mugging, in which you are sabotaged by your own negative thoughts and feelings.
EMOTIONAL UNCERTAINTY
Our emotions function as a warning system, alerting us to threats and spurring us to take defensive action.
But unless strong emotions—fear, anger and hurt—are rationally assessed and redirected when necessary, they can dominate behavior. That curtails our confidence and effectiveness.
By developing emotional management skills, you will be better able to express your needs and expectations to yourself and others. You will be well equipped to take the risks necessary to grow, thrive and learn from your mistakes.
When our strong emotions are left to dominate and rule our behavior, we live "disconnected" by fear from everyday life, feeling like victims even when no real threat exists.
When feelings of fear or hostility are persistent, there is also the danger that they will contribute to heart disease and high blood pressure...and compromise our immune systems.
SHIELDING YOURSELF FROM HOSTILITY
The key to regaining control over strong emotions is a series of mental/emotional shifts. You must consciously develop a strong inner reserve of calm, confidence and mental-shielding from hostility.
By creating an inner core of safety, you will no longer need to raise your hand or voice in an effort to deter or defuse perceived attacks on your emotions.
Example: Sit quietly, and breathe deeply until you feel completely calm. Vividly picture a real-life experience thatmade you feel safe. Or imagine a strong sense of safety.
When the picture is clear, come up with a "sensory signal," such as pressing your thumb and index finger together. If you repeat the exercise frequently, you will be able to elicit the feeling of safety every time you use your anchor touch.
Maintain calm energy. To prevent fatigue and tension from depleting your energy, routinely activate your brain’s "alertness switches." These are dramatic changes in your activity that will automatically cause you to become more aware of your surroundings and other people.
Alertness switch #1: A two- to five minute break from work at midmorning and mid-afternoon. Working nonstop decreases your awareness.
Alertness switch #2: Periodic physical activity. Even a few minutes of muscular movement every hour, such as push-ups in your office, increase energy and alertness.
You may also consider trying regular meditation. Two 20-minute sessions a day during which you sit quietly and breathe deeply foster mental and emotional composure.
Control your conflicts. How you engage those who confront you will dictate the quality of your emotional safety. It is essential that you manage your responses from the first confrontational moment. Strategies for side stepping emotionally charged reactions. . .
Helpful: Practice tuning in to your physical and emotional sensations while you are calm and relaxed. This exercise will help you condition yourself to remain present and mindful under stress.
It’s also beneficial to limit impulsive reactions, which can escalate disagreements and delay the best responses. Remaining calm may dissolve tension without any further action. Helpful. . .
Identify your feelings and determine how best to guide your emotional
energy. Remember, calm does not mean frozen or dispassionate.
Both withdrawal and pushing back can elevate hostility. Instead, surprise and disarm the conflict with two or more deescalating phrases and/or two or more unexpected actions.
Example: De-escalating phrases such as "I understand," "Please explain" and ‘’You seem upset" extend empathy. This understanding and acknowledgment allows a hostile person to save face, which can help defuse anger.
Important: While using your deescalating phrases, keep your voice steady and at its lowest pitch but in a slightly louder than-conversational volume. Maintain a level, rather than a questioning, intonation.
Protective actions to defuse hostility might include taking a step away. . .folding your arms in front of you as a symbolic shield...or combining emphatic words and actions with a turn to the side to preserve your personal space.
Practicing these principles can change the quality of your energy, allowing you to avoid hostility and keeping you safe from real or perceived challenges to your emotional safety.
February 12, 1998
WASTE WATER TREATMENT
The Brown & Root Ltd. news bulletin in the Montserrat Reporter of February 10 mentioned under "Sewage Collection and Treatment", that, "the treatment plants have been the subject of much public debate, which warrants response in a separate bulletin". The following makes good that promise.
INTRODUCTION
The centralised wastewater collection and treatment process was introduced to Montserrat by Brown & Root Ltd. because the low permeability of the ground and the high volumes of liquid waste from the proposed housing developments meant that the traditional septic and soak system was unsuitable, unhealthy and unsafe for the particular locations.
HOW THE TREATMENT PLANT WORKS
The Process. The waste is processed using a technique called ‘extended aeration’. This technique or ‘process’ uses oxygen breathing bacteria to dispose of or ‘digest’ the sewage. To achieve this, compressed air has to be pumped into the wastewater to allow the bacteria to breathe while digesting the organic material already present in the domestic sewage.
Collection. The waste from the houses falls to the plant under gravity through a network of underground pipes. It enters the plant via a collection basket where large non-decomposable matter which should not be there is removed - e.g. bits of clothing, toys, etc!
Aeration. The liquid waste first enters the ‘Main Tank’ where it undergoes the aeration process. Blowers produce compressed air which is fed into the tank, providing air for the bacteria to breath and also stirring or ‘agitating’ the waste to break up the solid material.
Settling. As new material enters the main tank it forces processed liquid from the main tank into the settling tank where the small amount of remaining particles drop or ‘settle’ to the bottom, resulting in a clear liquid. The settled solid or ‘sludge’ is pumped, using compressed air, back into the main tank every day during the maintenance check.
Sludge. Fully processed sludge collects at the bottom of the main tank and is routinely pumped out into the ‘sludge tank’. The sludge tank is a storage tank for the concentrated solid material that has been processed and contains no further active waste. The tank is emptied every month and the inert sludge can be disposed of in drying beds or in a solid waste disposal pit. The residue is also suitable for use as agricultural fertilizer. It does not smell.
Chlorination. The processed water from the settling tank passes into the ‘chlorination tank’ via a ‘chlorinator’ which adds chlorine to the water. The chlorine kills any remaining bacteria, before being removed itself, leaving treated water that is harmless to flora and fauna and could potentially be used for agricultural purposes.
The resultant water is equivalent in look, taste and smell to rain water.
RELIABILITY
Reliability is an important aspect in the operation of a wastewater treatment plant. The plant is designed to be as simple as possible with the minimum amount of parts which might go wrong. However, where electrical or mechanical systems are needed, the plant is equipped with identical secondary systems to ensure it will continue to operate should one system require maintenance or repair. The secondary systems include:
Power. A dedicated standby generator has been provided to operate the blowers if electricity from the mains is unavailable.
Blower Motors and Air Compressors. Two blowers, two air compressors and two electrical distribution panel assemblies have been provided. The plant only requires one of each assembly to operate at any one time. The second is used as a back up.
Spare Parts. A large spares pack, sufficient for 5 years worth of operation, has been provided.
It has been suggested that the plant is "second hand", implying that it is less reliable than it could be. In FACT, only the metallic tanks are ‘re-conditioned’ but still come with the manufacturer’s ‘as new’ guarantee. ALL electrical and mechanical equipment, pipes and seals, connections and welds are BRAND NEW.
FAILURE
Worst Case. In spite of the above, the ‘worst case’ scenario must also be considered. This would be if all the blowers shut down, chlorine tablets are not replaced, and a suitable compressor cannot be obtained on the island within 3 to 4 days. In this event, the plant would act as a very large septic tank with 3 separate compartments. The effluent would be no worse than that from any traditional septic tank which passes into a soak pit.
There can never be discharge of raw sewage or solid effluent.
Containment. Specific measures to deal with this highly unlikely scenario are:
Davy Hill. As a precaution, the outfall from the Davy Hill plant passes down a pipe into a soak pit dug under the beach at Carr’s Bay. Even if the plant were to fail, there is no risk to the beach or marine life.
However, this is still only a temporary measure while a permanent solution is found; the preferred option being deep well disposal.
Lookout Yard. A pipe carries the outfall away from the Lookout Yard plant into a 20 foot deep trench along the top of a steep-sided and uninhabited ghaut. The pipe is ‘slotted’ which allows the effluent to seep out over a distance of 800 feet then soak harmlessly away.
MANAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM
The Montserrat Water Authority has been mandated to manage the Sewage Treatment Plants and personnel have been instructed in the operation and maintenance of the equipment, fault diagnostics and repair as well as monitoring and testing the quality of the treated water discharge. Further training is programmed for MWA workers in neighboring islands where similar plants are operational.
The Montserrat Water Authority has stated that:
"Chlorine residuals taken at the Sewage plant at Davy Hill indicate that the wastewater from the treatment plant is safe and within guidelines for effluent discharge into the environment"
The Authority is working on plans for a laboratory with storage space for supplies and equipment to carry out chemical and bacteriological analysis on island and to ensure that the plants continue to function properly.
REGULATION
In all areas, the plants must comply with the requirements for, and seek, planning permission. Amongst others, approval for works requires the consent of the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade and Environment, the Health Department, the Physical Planning Unit and public pressure groups.
The quality of the treated water discharged from the plant must comply with the standards set by the Caribbean Environment Health Institute (CEHI) in St. Lucia. These standards have been validated by CEHI for the specific environment in which the plants are operating
BROWN & ROOT LTD
Leo Bedford
Project Manager
Jus wonderin if Robin Cook will encourage Clare Short to visit Montserrat.
Jus wonderin how far the two Chief Ministers got in reconciling their political difference during their trip to London.
Jus wonderin if the foreign secretary was soothed any by our lady Minister’s valentine flowers, since he was unable to travel with his new flame.
Jus wonderin whether Foreign Secretary Robin Cook had time during his whirlwind visit to drink some water from the tap at Runaway Ghaut to assure his return for a more leisurely visit.
Jus wonderin whether "a private institution" like the Montserrat Building Society is owed no support when its mortgage portfolio was devastated when insurance companies over irresponsible apocalyptic predictions by a member of the government rejecting such support.
Jus wonderin why escorted convoys into the Exclusion Zone haven’t resumed despite the relative quiet of the volcano.
Jus wonderin how the authorities are confirming ownership of the transient cattle soon to be sold and shipped Dominica.
Jus wonderin when the term "high seas" will no longer be appropriate as a description of Little Bay.
Jus wonderin whether the multitudes of scavenging dogs means that WSPA brought some back to the island on its last visit.
Jus wonderin what is going on at the Aid Management office.
Jus wonderin where the government essential workers are going to live from April.
Jus wonderin where I could find a piece of land in the safe zone less than $10 per sauare foot.
Jus wonderin how they will decide who gets the houses at Lookout.
Jus wonderin what route the soft loans for small and medium size business is taking to reach Montserrat.
Jus wonderin if the people living at the new Davy Hill site don’t go out at night.
Jus wonderin who decides what colour paint should the residents of Davy Hill use.
Jus wonderin who’s left at Cable & Wireless.
Jus wonderin what happen to the lights at the Port this weekend.
Jus wonderin what’s bubbling up from the sand at Carrs Bay.
EASTERN CARIBBEAN CENTRAL BANK
V a c a n c y
Applications are invited from suitable qualified citizens of the OECS member territories and Anguilla to fill the post of Client Relations Officer at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Basseterre, St. Kitts.
Applicants should have.
• A Bachelors degree in Marketing and Management Studies or equivalent.
• Ten (10) years Banking experience.
• Computer skills, especially Windows NT.
Duties
1. Developing and maintaining a comprehensive client database which would assist management in formulating policies, programme and services to suit its various clients.
2. Serving on the Relations with Financial Institutions Committee to discuss various issues (including but not limited to monetary policies) which affect the Bank’s relations with financial institutions.
3. Representing the ECCB at meetings of its various clients to maintain contact and to provide intelligence to management on clients.
4. Assisting in the formulation and implementation of policies which enhance the relationship between the ECCB and its clients.
5. Evaluating existing client services and programmes and making recommendations for improvement in the provision and marketing recommendations of these services and programme.
6. Researching, analyzing and making recommendations on potential services which may be offered to clients.
7. Researching, analyzing and monitoring economic, financial and technological developments that may affect the current and future needs of the ECCB’s client base.
8. Liaising with units and departments regularly to identify and monitor areas of concern with respect to client relations and assisting with formulating solutions and policy initiatives.
9. Serving on the Commemorative Coin Committee to assist with developing and evaluating marketing efforts with respect to commemorative coin.
10. Preparing quarterly reports to management on the state of client relations.
11. Assisting with the planning and implementation of ECCB’s promotion and public relations activities.
SALARY
Salary will be commensurate with qualification and experience.
Applications stating qualification and experience with the name and address of two references should be forwarded to:
Bank Secretary Eastern Caribbean Central Bank PO box 89 Basseterre ST. KITTSTo reach no later than 6th March, 1998.
Applications which do not meet the minimum requirements indicated above will not be acknowledged
Montserrat Land Development Authority
Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons for the post of Manager, Montserrat Land Development Authority.
The successful applicant will be required to encourage and secure the efficient and economic utilization of land vested in the authority, and the management and disposal of all public housing and land acquired by Government of Montserrat.
The post will be on contract basis for three (3) years and the salary will be commensurate with qualification and experience. Preference will be given to applicants with recognized qualifications and/or experience in the following areas:
General Land Management.
Social and Economic Implications and Housing Development and Housing Estate Management.
Real Estate Development and Marketing.
Land Usage and Land Planning.
Accounting and Financial Management.
All Applications should be addressed to the chairman, Montserrat Land Development Authority, P.O. Box 272, Brades, Montserrat to reach no later than 28 February 1998.
The Roman Catholic Church is seeking to buy a plot of land in the Brades/Manjack to St. John’s area. Close to the main road if possible. We have lost our Church Buildings in Plymouth and in St. Patrick’s and so need to secure a plot to build a church and presbytery in the future.
While not interested in selling, would you consider selling to have a church built on your family land?
Contact Fr. Larry P.O Box 192 Montserrat (491 2302), Or Mr Cedric Osborne ( 491 5318).
Forward all Questions, Comments and Suggestions to: roachb@candw.ag
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