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Our Disaster is a Non-Ending Debate

by Bennette Roach

Bowen Wells , chairman of the Select Committee on International Development, opened House of Commons debate of its report on Montserrat and the British Government’s response on a conciliatory note. "There have been some mistakes and failures," he said, "and I am afraid that this debate will, of course, concentrate on them, but before we begin on that criticism, we should also remember the dedicated and sensitive work done by many people on the island of Montserrat, in the Department for International Development and in the Foreign Office, who have done a great deal to alleviate the suffering of the people of Montserrat. . . .

"Many hours of dedicated work have been involved, and we should pay tribute to that."

Each of the committee members in turn sounded a token salute to the various government departments for their dedication and exertions on behalf of Montserrat. That done, as Chairman Wells foresaw, the focus turned to the negative.

The debate touched on many areas of criticism¸ but a major share of attention was paid to the plight of Montserratians who have relocated to England. That issue was addressed at length both by Bernie Grant of Tottenham and Diane Abbott of Hackney, North and Stoke Newington, in whose constituencies many Montserratians have been assigned.

In his response following statements by committee members, George Foulkes, Undersecretary of State, who answered for the government, predictably minimized the complaints presented by Mr. Grant and Ms. Abbott. At one point during her presentation, Ms. Abbott pointedly remarked on Mr. Foulkes’ shaking his head in denial and challenged him to accompany her to visit the bureau about whose conduct she was complaining.

Aren’t They British?

Montserratians who came to Britain, Mr. Grant told the House of Commons, "have been badly hurt by their treatment, as they have always believed that they are British citizens. They may have been called British overseas citizens, British dependent territory citizens or whatever, but they always felt that they were British and that Britain would protect them—Britain was the mother country. As Montserratians have said to me, they fought in the war and did all that they could to assist Britain. . . .

"Montserratians have not had a very good reception; no special arrangements were made. As they have found, a refugee or an asylum seeker has a better chance of being met and properly dealt with than a British overseas citizen. . . .

"(They) have been told that they will be treated as British citizens, which, on the face of it, sounds very good. If one is treated as a British citizen, one is entitled to social security and so on, which sounds fine. However, these people come from a small Caribbean country where they are accustomed to a certain standard of living, warm weather and owning their own homes..

"They have suddenly been thrust—if they are lucky--into cold, damp, mildew-ridden council flats in Tottenham, Hackney or Deptford. Some have been put into bed-and-breakfast accommodation—in one case, a woman aged about 35, her 17-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter were put into one room. . . .

"Those Montserratians have been treated abominably. A measure of how they have been treated on arrival in the United Kingdom is the fact that the group that has been given the task of looking after the Montserratians—belatedly, from January 1998—has been the refugee action group, an offshoot of the Refugee Council. The British Government are treating the Montserratians not as citizens, but as refugees and asylum seekers. Apart from everything else, the status that they have been given has caused the Montserratians great grief, which they have felt very deeply indeed."

No Records Kept

Ms. Abbott reminded the House of Commons "that one of the many indicators of how badly Montserratians have been treated, and how little care has been given to their resettlement, is the fact that although—as we both know—the largest group of Montserratian evacuees is in Hackney, my borough, Haringey, his borough, and surrounding areas, the Government admit, in a memorandum sent to the International Development Committee, that they have not even bothered to keep central records of Montserratian evacuees in the London area?"

Mr. Grant responded that committee members were amazed "to discover that, not only did the British Government not know how many refugees were coming to the United Kingdom, but they did not even know how many Montserratians there were—and there are only about 3,000 of them. . . .

"In many instances, Montserratians have been left without sufficient funds to buy essential items of furniture and clothing. One family came to me who had asked for a social security grant and been told that they could get a loan to buy furniture. We may find it hard to understand how those people felt about borrowing money. They are independent people who have never had to borrow anything in their life, and when they are asked to borrow money from the state, they feel insulted.

"Several families who visited me had little but the tropical clothing they stood up in, yet they were entitled to no help to equip themselves with warm clothing for the British climate. . . .

"There has been no one to assist the displaced Montserratians. At Department of Social Security offices, they are met with hard-faced individuals who say, "We have been told that we need not make special allowances for you, so you must cope as best you can."

"Plunked" Among Strangers

Mr. Grant told the House that a member of Montserrat’s Legislative Council had expressed worry about  "vulnerable people who had been sent to accommodation in the north of England. He told me that ill, frail, elderly people, and some mentally ill people, who were supposed to have gone into that accommodation in Durham for two weeks, had been there for several months.

"Although they are very pleased that the authorities in Durham took them on board, there is no Montserratian community in Durham. Those elderly people have been taken out of their warm sunshine and plunked into an old people’s home or other accommodation in Durham, where they feel isolated. The surroundings are unfamiliar. The people do not eat the same food and they cannot understand what they are saying. One can understand how difficult that is for an elderly person who has been traumatised by the volcanic eruption.

"I know that in my area, in the constituency of . . . Hornsey and Wood Green, a hospice is available, with very nice gardens in the middle. There are many people from Montserrat in the area. We have asked the Home Office why it cannot put those people in my constituency, in the next constituency, or in Hackney, provided that there is accommodation. I am sure that there will be.

"Why is it not possible for the Government to do something about housing? There are a number of specialist Caribbean housing associations, such as Carib Housing and Ujima. There are several other black housing associations, which would have been pleased to house the Montserratians. They know what the Montserratians like; they know what to expect; they would have put them in nice, friendly houses. The Montserratians would have been welcomed and they would have been in touch with their people. Instead, we get stonewalling from the Government generally, or the Montserratians are told, "You go where we send you and that is the end of it." There is no discussion—no communication."

Ms. Abbott’s Plaint

"I am disturbed about the situation of Montserrat evacuees in this country," Ms. Abbott continued. "The Government have not even bothered to carry out a comprehensive survey of the number of evacuees who are here, especially in north-east London in areas such as Hackney and Haringey, where there is the largest group. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office produced a memorandum on the position of Montserratians in the United Kingdom, which refers to benefits and states that districts are able to provide access to a contingency reserve so as to provide loans and grants. The memorandum tells us that the districts have been reminded of this.

"I went to the benefits office in Hackney in my constituency not so many weeks ago. Those responsible had no knowledge of the reserve that is referred to in the memorandum. I want an assurance that benefits offices in areas where we know that there are many Montserratians will be approached and asked to apply for the contingency reserve. In Hackney, Haringey and other areas, Montserratians with no clothes, heating or blankets are turning up at social security offices and are being offered loans. How are they supposed to repay these loans? They are not able to claim on insurance."

It was at this point that Mr. Foulkes telegraphed his disagreement, to which Ms Abbott replied, "The Minister shakes his head. I invite him to come to the Hackney benefit office with some of my Montserratian evacuees, and shake his head at them and see what they say. I represent and live with the people who are suffering, and what the Minister says at the Dispatch Box about how the benefits system is working does not match the experience of Montserratian evacuees when they go to benefit offices and ask for help. The problem is that we have Government documents and soothing words from Ministers, but on the ground, the experience of Montserratian evacuees is very different. . . .

"We have heard of the hard work that has been done by the officials from DFID, and the energy and activity of Ministers, but if there are any true heroes and heroines in this story, they are the people of Montserrat, who have undergone a tragedy and disaster, which we can only imagine, with unparalleled dignity and restraint."

Mr. Foulkes’ Response

The Under-Secretary of State was cursory and just short of patronizing in replying to the points raised by Ms. Abbott and Mr. Grant. He said:

"Resettling Montserratians in Britain has been a complex process involving co-ordination between agencies responsible for housing, social services, benefits, health care, employment and education. There have been teething troubles because it has taken time for some of the agencies to get into gear, and Montserratians have needed help to learn of their entitlements.

"We have taken a number of steps to deal with that. We are supporting Travelcare, the voluntary organisation that looks after Montserratians when they arrive at Heathrow and Gatwick. This year, the Home Office is also funding the Montserrat project to the tune of £800,000. The project provides community support to Montserratians to enable them to get their full range of entitlements.

"In relation to social fund support, most Montserratians in need are receiving not loans but community care grants, and local offices have asked for more money. For example, the Under-Secretary of State for Social Security, my honorable friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham), has authorised £32,165 of additional money for Birmingham and is considering requests from Bristol, South and for Euston. I am sure that he would consider a request from Hackney as well. My honorable friend the Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms. Abbott) can tell that to her colleagues there."

of Montserrat are in an awful plight. I am sure that my honorable friends will realise that there is no monopoly of concern for the people of Montserrat on the Back Benches."

Mixed Reactions

Dr. Tonge voiced a less-than-friendly view of the Government of Montserrat. She said:

"I agree with the commitment made in the first paragraph of the Government’s response, which refers to making ‘it possible for those Montserratians who want to do so, to remain on the island as long as the scientists advise that it is relatively safe for them to be there.’

"However, I was extremely concerned to hear recently that the Government of Montserrat are encouraging people to return to the island while the volcano remains active. I consider that to be irresponsible behaviour. Many of the actions of the Government of Montserrat suggest that they are sometimes more concerned with their position than with the safety of the people whom they represent. Those are harsh words, but I think that they may be true."

Of the chief scientific adviser, she said: "I found one sentence in Sir Robert May’s report particularly enlightening. On page 2, he says:

" ‘We should be wary of placing too much faith in the predictions of future activity as a foundation for making decisions.’

"Elsewhere in the report, Sir Robert says:

"‘Do not place too much emphasis on results . . . never before done a risk assessment on an erupting volcano.’

"Sir Robert May says time and again, ‘Please do not take what I say as gospel. Take it with a pinch of salt, as I cannot make accurate estimations.’"

Finally, in expressing uncertainty about accessibility of the jetty at Little Bay during an emergency, she told the House of Commons: "The eruption on Boxing day last year caused a huge tidal wave around the island that rendered the jetty useless. How will people be evacuated from the island in an emergency?"

The Reporter:

Ignoring Dr. Tonge’s aspersion of the Government of Montserrat, she clearly considers evacuation more sensible than limited occupation. What she fails to understand is that many Montserratrians now in England reluctantly went there not out of fear but simply out of lack of acceptable accommodations on the island. They have been yearning to hear that sufficient housing has become available in the "relatively safe north.," as Dr. Tonge prefers to call it, so that they can return to the familiar environs of home.

Her concern for accessibility of the jetty is well-founded, even if her ill-informed reason for concern is not. The inaccurate account of the effects of the Boxing Day event is typical of the unfounded conclusions about Montserrat that are drawn abroad based on misinformation about the volcano.

There remains a question even now whether there was any tidal wave, much less "a huge tidal" wave, in the darkness of the Boxing Day event. In any case, Prof. Steve Sparks said before his return to England that whatever wave action occurred had no significant effect north of Old Road Bay and none at Little Bay.

Vulnerability to unlikely events from the volcano is of little consequence for a jetty that can be rendered frequently inoperable by naturally high seas.

OTHER ISSUES ADDRESSED

Island’s Lack of Housing

Chairman Wells recalled that former Gov. Frank Savage had recommended in 1995 that 1,000 houses be built. He continued:

"One hundred houses have so far been built. Their construction was authorised by the Secretary of State after 19 lives were lost in Montserrat on 25 June last year. The houses have been erected relatively quickly, but, in the meantime, because of the lack of alternative housing in the north, many of Montserrat’s people have been living in deplorable conditions in makeshift shelters for more than two years, and they frequently have to move from one shelter to another. None of us would want to live in such conditions, nor would we want any of those people to have to continue to do so, but they are still living there.

"Why did that happen? Why were 1,000 houses not built? The reason is that the Government of Montserrat did not want them to be built. They thought that if we built 1,000 houses, it would signal to the people of Montserrat that they must evacuate the island because it had no future and that the people would therefore leave Montserrat; so the muddle continued."

Mr. Foulkes rebuttal: "On 28 January, the Secretary of State for International Development announced our intention to construct a third tranche of 50 houses, and to accelerate the servicing of an additional 120 plots. I am glad to inform the House that my right honorable friend (Clare Short) has now approved £4.8 million for that purpose, and for a further 100 prefabricated houses to enable all those in shelters in the danger zone to relocate to the north.

"That meets in full our July 1997 commitment to provide 250 houses, and increases the total approved for development in Montserrat to £55 million. I hope that that will end once and for all the activities of those who put it around that we are trying to depopulate the island. We are committed to the people and the island of Montserrat, and as long as I am the Minister and this Government are in office, we shall continue to maintain that commitment."

The Reporter:

On Mr. Wells’ reference to the construction of 1,000 houses being opposed by the Government of Montserrat, former Chief Minister Reuben Meade said the chairman was misinformed. Mr. Meade told the Reporter that the 1995 proposal was not to build 1,000 houses but to house 1,000 people. What the Government of Montserrat opposed, he said, was that such "housing" was to be the insubstantial tentlike structures that had been erected early in the crisis at Geralds and quickly blown down by stiff winds. When more substantial metal structures were suggested instead, Mr. Meade said, the Government of Montserrat happily agreed.

As for Mr. Foulkes’ dismissal of "those who put it around that we are trying to depopulate the island," earlier in his rebuttal he told the House of Commons, "The population on Montserrat has fallen—everyone wants to know the exact figure—to 2,850, so we do know how many people now live on Montserrat. We are meeting their needs by providing housing, schools, health services, infrastructure and transport links."

The current total of voucher payments on Montserrat is just barely under 3,000. Add to that those residents, Montserratian and expatriate alike, who do not qualify for vouchers and the inaccuracy—if not the deceptive intent—of Mr. Foulkes’ assertion is obvious.

During appearances at the committee’s hearings, Clare Short and one of her subordinates also understated the population of the island, at that time by roughly 2,000. Any uninformed person taking DFID’s population figures as gospel for Montserrat might well wonder, if there are only 2,850 people there, why would anyone consider the situation "viable"?

The Hospital

Dr. Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park) was a member of the committee delegation that visited the island in autumn of 1997. She was particularly struck by conditions at the hospital. She told the House of Commons:

"The Government’s response mentions the hospital and medical programme on Montserrat. During our visit, I was absolutely appalled by the rudimentary nature of the care at the island’s hospital. One doctor and several demoralised nurses working in an old school building constituted the hospital. The wards were dirty, the paint was peeling, the beds were broken and a few old screens and curtains were erected around a seriously ill patient who had just returned from Guadeloupe, where he had undergone treatment for severe burns received during the explosion last August.

"That was two years after the volcano’s first eruption. . . . The news of the upgrading is welcome. However, the Health Minister on Montserrat said only last week that very little had been done and that health conditions on the island remained appalling. Without returning to Montserrat, it is difficult to know whether the promises have been delivered."

Ms. Abbott recalled:

"In June 1997, 19 people died because of the volcanic explosion. I tabled a private notice question and pressed my honorable friend the Minister on the state of the hospital on the island and housing generally. I am sad that eight months later, so little progress has been made.

"I referred to the state of the hospital, its outside toilets and the disillusionment and demoralisation of the nurses and doctors, and my honorable friend the Minister had soothing words. He may have come to the House today with more soothing words, but for the people in the hospital, including nurses and doctors—in fact, it is a makeshift building, not a hospital—soothing words are not enough."

Mr. Foulkes’ reply:

"We have doubled the sum spent on upgrading the hospital and have now spent some £1 million. We have, therefore, taken account of what my honorable friend the Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington said."

The Reporter:

As the perceptive Dr. Tonge observed, "without returning to Montserrat, it is difficult to know whether the promises have been delivered." The comments of Foreign Minister Robin Cook about the hospital during his recent visit substantiated that they have not.

The Leaflet for Laymen

Dr. Tonge told the House of Commons she was "glad to learn from the response that the Montserrat Government’s leaflet to residents has been distributed and that much effort has been made to inform people of the situation on the island. However, I was very disappointed in the leaflet, which purports to describe the situation in layman’s terms.

"If the health education department from my previous job had seen that leaflet, it would have said that it was incomprehensible to many people. The leaflet is not designed for easy reading. It is complete nonsense to use words such as "prognosis" in a leaflet to be distributed all over Montserrat. I suggest that the leaflet be urgently revised and made readable."

Tony Baldry (Banbury) was equally unimpressed:

"We have heard about good communication with the residents of Montserrat. I confess to having been a tabloid journalist and knowing that the average reading age of a person in the UK is between 8and 10 years. The advice to residents of Montserrat—the leaflet telling them what to do and what the long-term prognosis was for the island—made disturbing reading. I shall quote one paragraph on the assessment of risk which people in Montserrat are supposed to understand. It states:

" ‘The risk assessment based on the assessment of the status of the volcano and its hazards suggests that in terms of fatalities the individual risk to people living north of Lawyers River. . . is ‘minimal’, ‘low’ for those in North Olveston and Woodlands. . .’moderate’ for anyone in the Salem area. . . and ‘high’ in the remainder of the exclusion zone.’

"Pardon? What are people supposed to do with that information? . . .

"We must tackle this as a communications problem. If that is the advice that people are given, the new Department for International Development must ensure that its communications staff put the information into plain English which I and my family could understand, and which the people of Montserrat could understand too.?"

Mr. Foulkes did not address the issue of the leaflet in his response.

Competing Agencies

Many committee members, starting with the chairman, disdained the competing and overlapping layers of bureaucracy seeking to deal with Montserrat.

Chairman Wells said:

"There is no one in that system who has both the responsibility for the government of Montserrat and the money with which to do anything on the island. The result is an elongated, complicated and contradictory system of management on the island. . . .

"We have to sort out, first, the aid management scheme and, secondly, who is responsible for what in Montserrat. We have to give the Governor and the elected Government clear powers, and those powers should not overlap as they currently do."

Ms. Abbott observed:

"First, tremendous difficulties have been caused by the complications of decision making and the divisions of responsibility between London, Barbados and the Governor. There is also the division of responsibilities in the Foreign Office and the Department for International Development. We have seen in the case of Montserrat what happens when responsibilities are divided between two Cabinet Ministers. We have seen that that division of responsibilities does not work.

"In any situation of this sort, the Foreign Office—the lead Department—would have to call on the expertise of officials in DFID. We have seen what happens, however, when there is split responsibility. Through no fault of their own, the people of Montserrat have been caught up in an administrative tangle. Worse, they have been caught up in turf wars. I hope that we shall learn from this and that a system and organisation will be put in place to deal with such problems so that split responsibilities and turf wars are not seen again."

Bernie Grant recalled:

"Last August, the Montserrat Government asked me to visit the island to help them, as there was great conflict between the Governments of Britain and of Montserrat. I was astonished by the chaos that I found when I arrived. Departments were vying with each other, various fiefdoms had been set up, and the Foreign Office was arguing with the Department for International Development, the health Ministry, the observatory and the scientists—it was sheer confusion."

Mr. Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid-Kent) looked to the animal world. He said:

"I do not know, Mr. Deputy Speaker, whether you have ever kept a hamster in your family. One of the characteristics of hamsters is that they pedal like blazes in a wheel. As that wheel is not connected to anything, however hard the hamster works, nothing else happens. From the point of view of the hamster, such activity is purely a matter of personal health. I have the impression that well-meaning officials and Ministers throughout the Government machine have also been pedalling like blazes. Unfortunately, the machine to which they are attached cannot deliver. It is time that something was done about that."

Mr. Foulkes’ response about complicated decision making:

"As my honorable friends said, we inherited that procedure. I was absolutely appalled by the complicated nature of decision making, but the new Government have changed and streamlined it, and have taken Barbados completely out of the loop. The aid management office now reports directly to the Montserrat unit here in the UK, which has speeded up and streamlined decision making. . . .

"I am talking about the delivery of emergency assistance, development aid and support to the island. We are now discussing the matter with the Foreign Office and account will be taken of the Select Committee’s views. However, we must also take account of the fact that the skills for emergency assistance and development are in the Department for International Development, which helps other countries as well as overseas territories. We must also recognise that accountability to Parliament for our money rests in our Department, and we cannot gainsay that.

"I liked the hamster analogy although I certainly do not want to be regarded as a hamster. I want clout, but I also want accountability to the elected House of Commons so that we can have these debates and I can be accountable to Members of Parliament, as I am trying to be today."

On HMG’s Response

Mr. Rowe: "It is nonsensical for the Government to say in their bland reply to the Committee that they accept all its recommendations except the 46 that they are not really accepting."

Mr. Grant: "I found the Government’s response to our report disappointing; with the exception of one of our recommendations, they have not responded positively. The Select Committee will discuss its other recommendations with the Government, as we want proper explanations."

Sir Alastair Goodlad (Eddisbury):

"The Select Committee has produced a useful report. The Government’s response has left many questions unanswered. The Minister has an opportunity today to confirm that the interests of the people of Montserrat are paramount, as both sides of the House would wish, and that they should not be penalised by tinkering with departmental structures."

Chairman Wells:

"The recommendation of the report of the International Development Committee, which has not been resolved by the Government’s response, is that that (complicated and contradictory system of management) should stop."

Mr. Foulkes" response:

"The Development Committee made 35 recommendations in its report: eight have already been implemented; 11 are being implemented; six will be implemented; and four are being actively considered. That is a positive response to the Development Committee. Of the 10 critical conclusions, we have endorsed three and defended our position on seven. For example, it was suggested that there had been no meetings with Caribbean leaders to inform them and discuss the matter. I met Caribbean leaders, chaired by Prime Minister Denzil Douglas, in Antigua on 2 September and we have already had three meetings with Caribbean high commissioners. The Committee proposed a further meeting between the Government and Caribbean regional Governments. Last week, when I attended the Caribbean Regional Forum in the Bahamas, I reported on the position in Montserrat—on what we had done and what the people there wanted us to do. I can tell my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) that the Caribbean leaders welcomed what we had done and paid great tribute to the British Government for what we were now doing."

A Reminder to Mr. Foulkes

Sir Alistair reminded the House of Commons: "I understand that at a press conference on Montserrat on 12 September, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State promised to return to the island in three months to assess progress on implementation of the promises made during his visit. It is now more than five months since that press conference, and the islanders are awaiting to hear when he will fulfil that promise."

Mr. Foulkes replied, "I am prepared to go again, as quickly as possible. My right honorable friend the Foreign Secretary went last week to see for himself what was happening. I hope that when I do go again, the right honorable Member for Eddisbury (Sir Alistair ), who is the Opposition spokesman, will join me. I do not think that he has yet been to see the devastation for himself. The people of Montserrat are in an awful plight. I am sure that my honorable friends will realise that there is no monopoly of concern for the people of Montserrat on the Back Benches."

Mixed Reactions

Dr. Tonge voiced a less-than-friendly view of the Government of Montserrat. She said:

"I agree with the commitment made in the first paragraph of the Government’s response, which refers to making ‘it possible for those Montserratians who want to do so, to remain on the island as long as the scientists advise that it is relatively safe for them to be there.’

"However, I was extremely concerned to hear recently that the Government of Montserrat are encouraging people to return to the island while the volcano remains active. I consider that to be irresponsible behaviour. Many of the actions of the Government of Montserrat suggest that they are sometimes more concerned with their position than with the safety of the people whom they represent. Those are harsh words, but I think that they may be true."

Of the chief scientific adviser, she said: "I found one sentence in Sir Robert May’s report particularly enlightening. On page 2, he says:

"Sir Robert May says time and again, ‘Please do not take what I say as gospel. Take it with a pinch of salt, as I cannot make accurate estimations.’"

Finally, in expressing uncertainty about accessibility of the jetty at Little Bay during an emergency, she told the House of Commons: "The eruption on Boxing day last year caused a huge tidal wave around the island that rendered the jetty useless. How will people be evacuated from the island in an emergency?"

The Reporter:

Ignoring Dr. Tonge’s aspersion of the Government of Montserrat, she clearly considers evacuation more sensible than limited occupation. What she fails to understand is that many Montserratrians now in England reluctantly went there not out of fear but simply out of lack of acceptable accommodations on the island. They have been yearning to hear that sufficient housing has become available in the "relatively safe north.," as Dr. Tonge prefers to call it, so that they can return to the familiar environs of home.

Her concern for accessibility of the jetty is well-founded, even if her ill-informed reason for concern is not. The inaccurate account of the effects of the Boxing Day event is typical of the unfounded conclusions about Montserrat that are drawn abroad based on misinformation about the volcano.

There remains a question even now whether there was any tidal wave, much less "a huge tidal" wave, in the darkness of the Boxing Day event. In any case, Prof. Steve Sparks said before his return to England that whatever wave action occurred had no significant effect.

One Montserratian's Bout With British Bureaucracy

My sister and I arrived in England on Jan. 2, 1998, to stay with our cousin who lives in Hemel Hempstead. He is the only Montserratian that we are aware of living in Hemel. Getting the job seekers allowance was no problem, but the housing proved to be a very big one. First, they did not know anything about the Montserrat package. The housing advice center had to contact the Department of Environment for

information on the procedures to follow and they sure followed them to the 'T'. Because the two of us were not pregnant, old or sick, and do not have children, we were not considered a priority to be housed by the local council. We were told to look for accommodation in the private sector and then claim a housing

allowance. But if you are on benefit, most people do not like to rent you their property.

After about three weeks of scouring the local paper and calling at various agencies, we managed to find someone willing to accept people on benefit.

The house had three bedrooms - two were okay, but the third was what they termed a 'box room'--so we were said to be over-accommodated and they would not pay the full rent of £525 per month. We were told to pay the difference of about £120, but I appealed and got the maximum rent allowed, which was still £40 short of the monthly rent. That we had to pay out of our £49 per week.

In order for us to be housed by the council, I 'borrowed' two of my brother's children. We then became priority and have since been housed by the local council. After doing all that, we learnt the Department of

Environment has issued an advisory stating that once you are from Montserrat you are considered priority and must be housed by the council.

Probem Number Two

A friend of my sister's came to stay with us initially. She had problems also getting accommodation because of her age. She was told because she was under age 25 she was only entitled to a room in someone's house. So she went to Haringay in London and applied for housing.

Haringay told our local council that they would house her provided that Hemel gave her temporary accommodation. Hemel gave her the temporary accommodation and have now housed her permanently, because they feel that Haringay would not have bothered with her. That is after numerous costly trips to London and the local housing advice center.

M.

Montserrat Was Prepared and Waiting for the Eclipse

Montserrat prepared for the big event of the total solar eclipse of February 26, 1998, said to be the last such eclipse visible from the Caribbean in our lifetimes, described as ‘one of nature’s rarest and most impressive sights.’

It had been pointed out, that while it was a wonderful opportunity, "it is essential that potential viewers be aware of the visual dangers associated with the partial phases of a solar eclipse."

To help counter the problems which doctors and ophthalmologists say can result in vision impairing scars or blindness, the Government declared Thursday a public half holiday and sent children home from school at 11a.m. This was to allow proper supervision of children

In addition to features that were run in this medium providing much information about the spectacular eclipse and its dangers, Radio Montserrat launched an awareness campaign early in the week. It included regular messages from the Government Information Unit and the Health Department. This was complemented by a call-in program on Tuesday night which empanelled Dr. Ronnie Cooper, Director of Health Services, and Mr. C.T. John, current Financial Secretary, a Geographer and past principal of the Montserrat Secondary School. They were led with questions from Government Information Officer Herman Sergeant, ZJB reporter Miss Athima Daley and Bennette Roach.

Both Dr. Cooper and the Hon. C.T. John were heard from time to time throughout the week with messages of advice and cautions dealing with the eclipse.

Dr. Ronnie Cooper and the Hon. Charles T. John

A visiting astronomer from Australia added his excitement and stressed the earlier warnings of Dr. Cooper and Mr. John that no one, because it is dangerous to their sight, should look at the solar eclipse during its partial stages.

Dr. Cooper had even suggested that people should be careful about looking out of their houses, particularly those with glass windows, since direct sunlight can come through certain positions in a house.

Mr. John in his introduction to the subject, said: "This generation in Montserrat has seen many natural happenings, which most past generations have never seen, and which many future generations will never see. In that respect we are a privileged group.

"It started in 1986 with Halley’s Comet, which comes once every 75 years. Then there was Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Before that we did not have one for 61 years. Then there is the current volcanic eruption, something most people would have preferred not to witness, but scientific evidence suggests that the eruption before this one was about 400 years ago.

"Now there is going to be a total eclipse of the sun, something which occurs very rarely, the last in Montserrat in 1916, 82 years ago and the next one will be 214 years from now in 2212."

Mr. John concluded his informative review by saying: "Just think that all of these major events, the comet, the (most destructive ever experienced) hurricane, the volcanic eruption and eclipse have been visible to our generation and all occurring within 12 years."

Tourism Director Miss Ernestine Cassell obtained and distributed to residents solar eclipse shades, which read "Safe for direct solar viewing," They also carried the additional warning: "You MUST wear these Glasses ANY TIME you look at a Solar Eclipse, no matter how small a part of the Sun is visible."

There was some skepticism about their safety, but the tourism director said: "These were not the same kind referred to by a Puerto Rican official, who had warned against using similar shades for solar viewing."

As Montserratians battle for survival, wherever they may be sitting out the ravages and discomforts of the volcano at Soufriere Hills, more and more lessons are being learnt.

Surprisingly, perhaps, the question of independence or constitutional change is being discussed more seriously and more often than at any time within the past decade or two. Did the volcano bring this about? Many will agree that it did. Has the new Labour government in the UK contributed to this? Many will also answer this question in the affirmative, adding that the volcano also plays a role in the lessons being learnt in the mother country. This has been stated frequently by parliamentarians there.

This week’s focus on the solar eclipse seemed to distract many people’s minds from the volcano and its activity. Except for light ashing now and then, and activity seeming still to be concentrated on the southern side of the dome, the scientists had little to report. They concentrated instead on attempting to explain Sir Robert May’s recommendations, which he claims were based on the scientists’ reports.

But with all that goes on, and all our hopes and plans, something seems always to come around to haunt us. The volcano has forced many changes in our lives. Can we look forward to its increasing our pride in our own and in our ability to produce and perform as well as those who will always remain foreign to us? Have we so little pride in our own, do we hold them in so little esteem, that we are easily disappointed when we see things done not the way we wished?

We have to believe that this is a condition we were taught. We have to believe that it can change.

One may note that no supporting facts are being stated here. The intention is to provoke thought, even if one has to guess. No hints or clues are given, but it must be said we believe, just as Gov. Abbott said shortly after his arrival here, that "Montserrat is facing extraordinary times and it will require extraordinary action to deal with it."

It is for all of us, not only those of us here in Montserrat, to do something about it. A little soul searching is required and some old habits have to be cast out. It cannot continue to be business as usual. Chief Minister Brandt and his Ministers will have to set the example. Jointly and severally they will have to incorporate the help necessary to achieve some goals. Our Chief Minister has to recognise that there is a kind of lethargy around him that needs attention.

It is very strange that our benefactors continue to say they harbor no plans to depopulate Montserrat, even as they argue that the population remaining here is less than it really is.

From the recent debate in the House of Commons we can believe that there has to be a change of approach in dealing with Montserrat. That does not guarantee, however, that our future development will be given any urgent attention. Our needs may be met from day to day, but our future will have to be looked after by us. It is for this reason that our attitude must change. We must begin to accept one another, set our goals and appreciate achievement.

Hot Mix Plant Almost Ready to Go

Yesterday, permanent secretary Eugene Skerritt at the Ministry of Communication and Works said they are beginning to see the light for the full operation of the hot-mix plant.

He reported, "Shipments of parts such as a pump and a special motor destined for Montserrat reached as far as Chile. These arrived in Montserrat yesterday and once they are installed the plant will be up and running. There is also a mobile unit which they are planning to mobilize to do the patching work at those areas which are bad."

Mr. Skerritt added: "The program of resurfacing will also begin at the same time."

This follows two weeks after a very disappointed Minister of Communication and Works Rupert Weekes told The Reporter very apologetically that the Public Works Department was still experiencing problems in getting the hot-mix plant into action.

Three weeks prior to that, the Minister said that the plant was waiting for some minor parts to be installed.

He said then that it had been reported to him that the shaft in the engine may be bent and the generator inadequate.

"The generator can be replaced on island," he said then, "but they are awaiting the arrival of an engineer to see about the shaft."

The hot-mix plant has been more than a sore point among the disappointments experienced in the development of the north since Sir Nicholas Bonsor back in May of 1996 expressed his government’s agreement to do so.

The plant was ordered during the Reuben Meade administration and was seen then as a top priority to developing the roads that were so badly in need of repair.

FCO Computers for MSS

Two weeks ago Foreign Secretary of State, the Rt. Hon. Robin Cook announced to the Minister of Education, Mrs. Adelina Tuitt and Montserrat that 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.

The number of computers mentioned raised many questions as it worked out at approximately £2,500 which is more than EC$10,000 each.

Earlier this week it was announced that the Governor’s office has tried to allay the anxieties of many with the following announcement: "The use of the figure 10 in relation to the gift of £25,000 for computer equipment for MSS, announced by the Foreign Secretary when he visited Montserrat on Feb 14th was unfortunately misleading. It was only intended to be a rough guide to what might be purchased with the money.

The £25,000 is being made available to the school and, provided it is spent on computer equipment, they are free to purchase what they wish. The School is of course best placed to decide what equipment it requires. If they are able to purchase more than 10 computers with the money or 10 computers and other equipment they might need then all well and good. The equipment does not have to be British".

The Ministry of Education has been looking into introducing full computer literacy program to the school’s curriculum at both primary and secondary school levels. Already there is a subject called Information Technology in the higher forms.

The Computer Unit was contacted with regards to the purchase of the new computers for the school. They responded that they had not been consulted about the computers being offered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretariat, but it is normal that they are in cases where computers are being sourced for the government.

Delta Explosion in Nevis Could Threaten Propane Gas Supply

News reaching Montserrat has been confirmed that an explosion occurred at the Delta Petroleum Station in Nevis on Monday.

The reports stated that a pick-up truck with cylinders had exploded and there was at least one casualty who received burns to the hands and face. The person was hospitalised but the injuries were said to be not life threatening.

The incident did pose some interest for Montserrat as it took place at the site from which Montserrat receives its propane gas, which has been in regular short supply here for one reason or another.

Officials from the Emergency Department here, which is responsible for obtaining the propane gas, reportedly said that some of the cylinders involved in the explosion were those sent there to be filled with propane, but exact numbers were not know.

Delta Petroleum in Nevis has, however, confirmed that it will still be providing LPG to Montserrat, since the incident has not affected their capacity to do this. The next shipment of the cooking gas is expected to arrive here early next week.

Minister Tuitt Off to London for CPA Seminar

The Hon. Adelina Tuitt, who became succesful at the 1996 November polls in Montserrat, having lost her bid in 1991, is currently the Minister of Education, Health and Culture.

Mrs. Tuitt has served in that position since the first coalition government was sworn in last November under the leadership of the Hon. Bertrand B. Osborne, representative for the southern constituency.

Mrs. Tuitt will leave the island on Monday for London to participate in the Commonwealth Paliamentary Association (CPA) seminar.

The seminar is sponsored by the CPA in London, but airfares are being met by the local Association.

The program for the seminar runs for 10 days from 3rd to 14th March, 1998 and will include a visit to Parliament, where the participants will witness Parliament in session during a question and answer period with the Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

They will spend time in Cheltenham where they will study local government.

Among the people who will be welcoming the participants will be the Hon. Bowen Wells, chairman of the House Committee who has visited Montserrat before.

Eclipse Excitement

By Bennette Roach

The Solar Eclipse appeared and disappeared, with the big moment lasting as predicted just under three minutes, viewed by those who did not succumb to what was termed, "the fear of blindness."

It was reported that in Haiti, Haitians stayed behind locked doors during the solar eclipse and left the usually bustling capital like a ghost town and reminded some of past political violence.

It is reported by some, who blamed panelists at Radio Montserrat , that many people in Montserrat reacted in a similar manner to the Haitians, without the locked doors, for fear of blindness. Others took time from the half-day holiday to have mid-week parties, some in good viewing of the volcano, perhaps waiting for some laymen’s predictions that the volcano would do something unusual on the day of the eclipse.

As promised the moon blocked all but the sun’s corona — its flaring outer envelope casting a shadow onto Earth that caused momentary deep twilight.

The spectacle did create a lot of excitement as viewers called in to Radio Montserrat some of them to make sure they had their timing right and some to praise the glory of God. Others just expressed their delight at being alive at this time of history.

The most interesting moment to me was that just before the moon completely blocked the sun, when the pale yellowish light shone seemed like moonlight.

Although this event was said to be quite rare, scientists report that solar eclipses "occur about every 18 months — but the path often falls on a remote area, making traveling to view them difficult and expensive."

The solar eclipse of Thursday was experienced by only 0.3 percent of the Earth and only the Western Hemisphere, where the next one will occur in the year 2217. The next to come Montserrat’s way will be in 2212.

Red Cross and NDF Team Up to Assist Small Business Operators

There seems to be no limit to the efforts of local organisations to carry forward the re-development process of Montserrat. The Red Cross and the National Development Foundation are teaming up to assist small operators on Montserrat.

The Executive Director Roselyn Cassel- Sealy of the NDF said that the British Red Cross will make just under EC$100,000 available in grants to fund small operators through the Montserrat Red Cross and NDF.

Mrs. Cassell-Sealy said that although the funds are not yet on the ground, the terms are now being finalised. She invites small operators already active to contact the NDF indicating their needs and to familiarise themselves with the terms of the grant funding.

SPCU Providing More Assistance to the Business Sector in Montserrat

During the past month the St Patrick’s Co-operative Credit Union has disbursed over EC$180,000 to 36 small businesspersons and farmers as rehabilitation grants.

The Credit Union has been able to source some EC$275,00,000 from the Canadian Co-operative Society to make grants directly to the small business community. The rationale of this assistance, according to Mrs. Roselyn Cassell-Sealy, Executive Director of the Credit Union, is to give small self-employed businesspersons on island a hand up.

"These grants are directed at small operators who are already in business and are either unable to complete structures, replace inventory to comfortable levels, complete the relocation of their operations or replace the most crucial equipment and furniture," Mrs. Cassell-Sealy said. "The grants were not intended to start up business."

The grants were also directed at a small core group of commercial farmers who have been grant funded with seeds, chemicals and fertilizers, fencing, tools and other agricultural input which were required to get them back in operation.

The Executive Director also indicated that the "greening" of the Davy Hill community was also part of the Canada-funded project. She said that she was at this time working with Brown and Root to finalise the placing of topsoil and fencing.

"Each of the 50 homes at Davy Hill will be provided with fencing and the required inputs for a back yard garden," she said.

Mrs. Cassell-Sealy said that in all there were 3 projects of Canadian $50,000. They were for Agriculture, Micro enterprise and a poultry-and-fishermen project. "The provision of funding under the poultry-and-fishermen project will begin in about two weeks and persons already involved in poultry and fishing should contact us at our offices to seek assistance."

The Executive Director indicated, however, that no cash will be disbursed to individuals. Rather, shea said, a case-by-case assessment will be made of the business circumstances of each applicant and the goods and or services required will be provided for the grant recipient. She added that the grant does not provide for the entire provision of fishing boats or engines, but assistance in procuring these may be applied for.

Mrs. Cassell-Sealy said that the Credit Union movement is an incredible force to work with and that the network throughout the world has been the strength, the backbone and the staying power of the St. Parrick’s Credit Union.

Every individual helped on the island is a potential Credit Union member and every member who is still in contact with the local Credit Union through a regional Credit Union keeps the heart of the Credit Union movement beating in every corner of the globe.

Mrs. Cassell-Sealy said that it was important that she add that the assistance to the local movement was not only Canadian. It is basically worldwide.

The Caribbean movement has donated some EC$150,000 to a procurement of land project; the Cayman Credit Union movement has made soft loans of over EC$250,000, and the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions has also made a soft loan of EC$66,000 to the St Patrick’s Credit Union. Now the Irish movement is poised to make its contribution to the sustainability of the St Patrick’s Credit Union by considering the grant funding of some of its lost equipment and operating costs.

The Executive Director said that the St Patrick’s Credit Union will go from strength to strength and will always play a crucial role in the rehabilitation efforts of every Montserratian.

Leaflet for Layment Gets No Rave Reviews from British MPs

In The Reporter of Jan. 23, 1998, the front page story featured an interview with Gov. Anthony Abbott in which he said: "We therefore put together in London a leaflet, which is about to be published and printed and I hope to have it on island. . . . The Foreign Office, the Department for International Development, the chief scientific adviser and the chief medical officer have now had a hand in amending it. The Government of Montserrat also had an opportunity for input. We have now an agreed leaflet."

The leaflet distributed in Montserrat reads in part: "… After studying the implications of these assessments the Government of Montserrat wishes to offer residents of Montserrat the following advice."

The Hon. Chief Minister and other ministers denied any involvement with the preparation or distribution of the leaflet, though acknowledging that they are in favour of informing and educating the public as to the hazards and threats posed by the volcano at Soufriere Hills.

Last week’s editorial of The Reporter, Feb. 20, challenges the meaningfulness and the clarity of the information provided in the leaflet. On the matter the editorial reads: "Chief scientist Ritchie Robertson tries very hard to explain those complicated probabilities knowing very well that we cannot challenge them, especially since most of us will not bother to try and understand them or even care to."

Most interestingly, as Montserrat’s case, and particularly the British Government’s response to the criticisms leveled at them by the Select Committee’s report, were debated in the House of Commons, several of the parliamentarians were critical of the leaflet.

Parliamentarian Dr. Jenny Tonge, member for Richmond Park, said:

"I was very disappointed in the leaflet, which purports to describe the situation in layman’s terms. If the health education department from my previous job had seen that leaflet, it would have said that it was incomprehensible to many people. The leaflet is not designed for easy reading. It is complete nonsense to use words such as "prognosis" in a leaflet to be distributed all over Montserrat. I suggest that the leaflet be urgently revised and made readable."

Member for Gloucester Tess Kingham, in her contribution, had this to say on the same matter: "I confess to having been a tabloid journalist and knowing that the average reading age of a person in the UK is between eight and 10 years. The advice to residents of Montserrat—the leaflet telling them what to do and what the long-term prognosis was for the island—made disturbing reading. I shall quote one paragraph on the assessment of risk which people in Montserrat are supposed to understand. It states: ‘The risk assessment based on the assessment of the status of the volcano and its hazards suggests that in terms of fatalities the individual risk to people living north of Lawyers River. . . is "minimal," "low" for those in North Olveston and Woodlands. . ."moderate" for anyone in the Salem area. . . and "high" in the remainder of the exclusion zone.’

"Pardon? What are people supposed to do with that information?"

Of course, the leaflet was born out of the recommendations of Sir Robert May, who, we were told "stretched" the advice and recommendations of the chief and other scientists who have worked tirelessly at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, to come up with those said recommendations. It was very interesting to learn what was said about Robert May. If after reading this, we have any doubts about the suggestions and references made as to his intention, it is because we have become too gullible.

One of the parliamentarians said as follows: "I found one sentence in Sir Robert May’s report particularly enlightening. On page 2, he says:

"Sir Robert May says time and again, ‘Please do not take what I say as gospel. Take it with a pinch of salt, as I cannot make accurate estimations.’ "

How therefore are we supposed to take the report that he has sent down here to be exercised upon us like the gospel? Should not our government be doing what they have done before, listen to the utterings or the lack thereof from the scientists?

An Outing for the Aged

On Sunday, 15 February, 39 of this country’s elderly citizens, mainly Catholics, were taken on a trip they will remember for a long time.

The day after Valentine’s Day started out with uncertain weather and light ash fall in some areas but by 2 p.m. the sun was out in all its glory and a light breeze floated over the island. Four buses belonging to the Montserrat Red Cross, M. S. Osborne Ltd., the Catholic Church, and one privately owned, went with members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to the shelters to collect the shut-ins.

They were taken from the Salem campus shelter, Scraps Memorial, ODA Shelter in St. Peter’s, Brades Shelters, the housing scheme at Sweeney’s, Country Club, Catholic property shelters, and Hill View Home.

The first stop was at the Lookout Yard, where an able tour guide explained the developments in the area and answered questions from people who were seeing these and many other places for the first time. They moved on to get a view from above and a ride through the Davy Hill housing project, then on to the port at Little Bay. There they were allowed the privilege of driving down to the jetty. Though there were boats in the harbour, they were disappointed at not seeing the ferry, which unfortunately does not operate on Sundays. The tour continued to the Brades area, where they were taken to see the new factory shell, MONLEC’s operating site, and the hot-mix plant.

The tour climaxed with a visit to the Governor’s residence, where His Excellency Gov. and Mrs. Abbott hosted the group. The elderly were treated with refreshments provided by parishioners and the hosts.

The elderly were happy because some of them had never been out of the shelters since they were taken there some two years ago. Some had never been to the far north of the island, and some had never been to the Governor’s residence. To be waited upon personally by the Governor and his wife was beyond their wildest dreams.

The afternoon ended with choruses, prayers, and a blessing by Father Larry and a very moving spontaneous vote of thanks by one of the elderly.

Even though some of the people were blind, they shared the feelings of being appreciated and loved. The Valentine’s Treat, as the outing was dubbed, was considered a success by all involved.

Re-Organising Health in Montserrat

The health re-organization programme which is being compiled by senior Health Program Manger Dr. Tim Carter has been completed.

This re-organisation programme is the direct result of recommendations by the British Chief Medical Adviser, Sir Kenneth Calman when he visited Montserrat.

Dr. Carter confirms that Executive Council has already sanctioned his report. Last weekend Mrs. Adelina Tuitt, the Hon. Minister of Health said in a news interview that at least one of the recommendations will be implemented.

The Reporter spoke with Dr. Carter yesterday and asked him about the report, which he said is to be presented to senior staff in the health department on Friday.

Dr. Carter reported that there are several elements to to the report. "One bit is a series of health programs another bit require actions, some for me, and some for other people, he said. We sere going round looking at clinics to see what improvements should be made to them in respect of the services etc.

Dr. Carter was asked if his report had to wait for approval from Britian and to this he responded: "I have talked it through with people there and they all see it as sensible."

He said however, "There will be some bits that need aid funding and obviously proposals have to be made and submitted for that."

Dr. Carter reported also on the lung tests on children, conducted last week.

Dr. Carter said that in terms of the organisation,"it went very well."

"In terms of the results it will probably be about two months before we put the questionnaire and the lung function tests together. We promised the children that we will get a report in 3 months time," he said.

He praised the school administrators saying that they were considerably helpful. "We got 95% of the questionnaires that were put on Friday back on Monday and the kids did very well also.

Dr. Carter pointed out that the children on island are those who stayed, but added: "We are looking at a parallel about the children who went off island. Looking at some of the data it suggests that parents took children who have asthma etc. off island. It left a population of children who have fewer chest problems than those who were taken off island. We have the information, so we know those who lived in a high dust area."

Dr. Carter revealed that a surgeon is being recruited to carry out the simple functions that are required on island, but contact with better facilities in the neighbouring islands must be maintained.

Business Funds at Last from DFID

DFID has finally concluded its negotiating process for the provision of financing for the business sector on Montserrat. As expected the National Development Foundation (NDF) will be the organisation that will be executing the project.

Mrs. Roselyn Cassell-Sealy, the executive director of NDF, indicated her pleasure that the project was at last on the ground, but was unable to give any details as to the terms and criteria for the loans. She indicated that these could be made public by the middle of next week.

She said the project was first conceived since 1996 when she was invited by the then Chief Minister Rueben Meade to London, to make a presentation of a project for the financing of the Business sector to what was then ODA.

She said that there were many people to thank for the development of the project.

"I first have to thank Rueben Meade for the initiation of the project. I have to thank Angela Greenaway, William Bramble, Frank Black and Nick Bailey for the writing and re-writing of the project. And I have to thank the Chief Minister Brandt for the follow up to ensure that the project was finally approved."

She added that the project will not only provide finance for the private sector but will also complete the NDF Business Centre at Davy Hill with the provision of at least another eight business units for rent to the business community. She anticipates that the offices of the Credit Union and the NDF will be moved to the same area within another two months.

"I am looking forward to not only re-financing the private sector," she said but also the re-vitalisation of the NDF, it self."

The NDF project will give the private sector a significant shot in the arm. A total of some £440,000 will be made available in the first year of the project.

Mr. Nick Bailey at the Aid Management Office here in Montserrat, said he was pleased that the project was now on the ground and that the details will be forthcoming in due course.

Grenada Radio Cuts Off Minister

Grenada, CANA - Grenada’s state-owned radio cut off a government minister who called in this week to a talk show to criticise anti-whaling activists visiting the island and guests of the radio programme. "In your country you are slaughtering harmless animals. But yet in the Third World countries people who are harvesting whales to feed their people, you have a problem with that," Agriculture Minister Michael Baptiste said to members of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

But, a director of the Eastern Caribbean Coalition of Environment Associations, Leslie Pierre, called in saying, I think it is utterly disgraceful that a minister of government could be saying to people who are visiting this country that they are unwelcome.

Holiday in St. Kitts

Basseterre, St Kitts, CANA - St Kitts and Nevis declared an unexpected public holiday Thursday in a move to protect citizens from watching an eclipse of the sun. Government’s decision coincides with appeals elsewhere in the Caribbean against watching the eclipse for fear of blindness. The eclipse occurred shortly after 1 p.m. (Eastern Caribbean time) and lasted two hours and 43 minutes.

St. Kitts Murder Jurors Speak

St. Kitts, CANA - Two jurors in the former Mr Universe Bertil Fox double murder trial said yesterday that a complaint was made to the court during the trial that one jury member was a relative of a party in the dispute. Fox, 44, is charged with murdering his 20-year-old girlfriend, Levoca Browne, and her mother, Violet "Babs" Browne, 36, in September. The two jurors said the complaint was made to the presiding judge, Justice Neville Smith, on the second day of the trial.

Cubans Seek Asylum in Guatemala

Guatemala - Four Cuban men who drifted for a month in a fishing boat were rescued off the Guatemalan coast and have asked for political asylum, Guatemalan officials said Wednesday. According to newspaper reports, they stole a boat in Cuba last month and set out for Florida, but ran out of fuel hours later. "We would rather die than go back to Fidel," Siglo Veintiuno newspaper quoted the men saying.

Barbados Phone Rates Challenged

Barbados, CANA - Barbados’ leading private sector group, Chamber of Commerce, is among objectors challenging proposed rates for digital communication services. The services, Integrated Services Digital Network, allows for multiple services - voice, video and data - over a single line and provides far higher bandwidth than what is available over the existing copper network. A publication, Business Authority, yesterday reported that a meeting with objectors was scheduled for next month, ahead of a public hearing.

OECS-Barbados Confederation to Be Discussed

Grenada, CANA - Confederation between the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and Barbados will be discussed when regional leaders hold an inter-sessional meeting in Grenada next week.

The proposal, put forward by Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur, is not on the formal agenda of the meeting. But Caribbean Community Chairman Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell said yesterday that the matter will come up during talks on the free movement of people and capital through the region.

Jamaica Takes Over Workers Bank

Jamaica, CANA - The Jamaica government Wednesday said it had taken over Workers Bank, a subsidiary of the Corporate Group of Companies, in its latest move against companies facing insolvency.

Finance Minister Dr Omar Davies said the ministry has also taken over temporary management of two other corporate entities, Corporate Merchant Bank and Capital Assurance Building Society. Davies said the take-over was triggered by the "poor and deteriorating financial state of the entities." Last weekend, Davies announced the takeover of the failed Caldon Finance Merchant Bank to protect depositors.

The decision to move in on Caldon followed an earlier management decision to liquidate the bank.

Health & Happiness

How Many People Will Die Before…

I am about to expose a lie so ingrained in public opinion that it will probably take another 30 years to set the record straight.

During that time thousands of people will face premature death every day. And sadly, you could be one of them--even if conventional wisdom says you’re doing everything "right" to avoid this deadly problem.

There are literally dozens of natural therapies being touted as cures for the heart disease plague. But in nearly every case, these therapies are incomplete--and missing the one, critical component that could literally save your life.

And millions of Americans are walking around with a false sense of security that could lull them right into the grave...because both traditional and alternative medicine continue to spread the nonsense that avoiding cholesterol will lead to a healthy heart.

Unfortunately, that belief is nothing more than a very deadly myth.

Understanding this one fact could save your life... Cholesterol is not the primary cause of heart disease.

In fact, leading heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey stunned the medical establishment in 1994 by announcing in Scotland that his four decades of research had thoroughly debunked the cholesterol myth.

But I bet you haven’t heard anything about that study from your doctor. And I doubt you’ve read any of the overwhelming evidence that supports this little known truth. When new research--powerful as it may be contradicts "accepted knowledge" change always comes slowly...if at all.

I want to make sure it doesn’t come too late for you.

You see, as readers of my Alternatives monthly newsletter already understand, cholesterol isn’t the enemy it’s been made out to be. But the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins) in your bloodstream is a certified, surefire killer.

And you could be sitting there right now, happy as a clam, cholesterol "in check" thanks to medication or lifestyle changes—not knowing that the time-bomb is ticking, nearly ready to explode.

But these few, simple therapies could make you nearly heart attack-proof

You’ve probably heard the word "oxidation" thrown around a bit, but has anyone explained to you how it rots your body from the inside out?

When LDLs oxidize, it’s like a fat that’s gone rancid. Your white blood cells—doing what they’re supposed to do—isolate these "fats gone bad" in little foam clumps that catch along artery walls…slowly building an impenetrable wall that restricts your blood flow like sludge in a water pipe.

Believe me, it’s not a pretty picture.

But I will give you a step-by-step program to prevent, stop, even reverse hardening-of-the-arteries caused by LDL oxidation in my Medical Research Report The Real Miracles of Natural Healing that I’d be pleased to send you free, as a no-risk introduction to my Alternatives Health Advisory Service.

And here and now, let me share three easy, proven and safe steps you can take, starting today, to help defuse the oxidation time-bomb:

? If you’re already taking vitamin E, you’re on the righ track. Recent research shows that 400IU of vitamin E daily triples the amount of time it takes for LDL cholesterol to oxidize.

? But here’s how to get 10 times the protection of vitamin E alone. Add tocotrienols to your vitamin mix. This under-utilized relative of vitamin E magnifies that vitamin’s antioxidant effect to turbocharge your clot-fighting power.

? And just a tablespoon of this oil a day could make you nearly heart attack-proof. Here’s a little-known secret behind the lowest heart attack rates in the world—as researched in Crete and Kohama Island off the coast of Japan. It’s alpha-linolenic acid (LNA), found abundantly in old-pressed flax seed oil.

These three inexpensive supplements protect against oxidation and can slash your risk of sudden death more surely than all the cholesterol-reducing drugs in the world. By all means, use every natural method you can to keep your cholesterol within recommended levels. (But please, don’t stop any medication without consulting with your own doctor first.)

And please remember, it’s not high cholesterol alone that kills you. The destructive oxidation of LDL can even stop a person with low cholesterol dead in his tracks. That’s why any cholesterol-fighting regimen is nothing but a sham unless it also includes proven measures to stop the deadly oxidation that really causes heart disease.

Now while I’m still on the subject, let me share an amazing discovery that proves how a simple, but miraculous substance can prevent and even...

Reverse heart disease after years of neglect!

I can’t think of a better way to introduce you to the sort of work I do every month through Alternatives, than to share this life-saving news with you. It’s proof of the power of personal relationships and shows how you can benefit from groundbreaking research because of the friendships and worldwide healing network T I have cultivated.

I’ve been talking with Dr. James Cerda about his extraordinary research at the University of Florida for many years now. Since 1973, Dr. Cerda has studied the role of citrus fruits in human nutrition—a long, hard trial that recently produced one of the most important medical breakthroughs of the years decade.

I can only hope and pray Dr. Cerda’s discoveries will revolutionize the way heart disease is treated in this country. But his simple solution—one that stops, even reverses cardiovascular disease—could put a lot of heart surgeons out of work and while we wait for this news to make the cover of Time Magazine we can start applying Dr. Cerda’s heart-saving research today.

It drops cholesterol and sweeps arteries clear... even on a high-fat diet!

Grapefruit pectin is proving to be one of nature’s most powerful "drugs," providing a unique, one-two punch that lowers cholesterol and halts its oxidation at the same time.

Dr. Cerda’s early research traced grapefruit pectin’s effects in pigs (typically used in atherosclerosis studies because their cardiovascular system mimics our own)—they develop clogged arteries just like humans.

The results were astounding! After one year on a high-fat diet, the animals on pectin had a 30 percent drop in cholesterol, an 85 percent decrease in plaque formation and an 88 percent decrease in the narrowing of coronary arteries.

Later studies with humans confirmed grapefruit pectin’s remarkable efflect on coronary health—without anv dietary changes!

I don’t have room here to go into all the details of these studies. But I will explain exactly how to apply these findings in your copy of The Real Miracles of Natural Healing, a free report sent to all new members of my Alternatives Health Advisory Service.

You’ll learn how a little-known compound found in pectin short-circuits destructive oxidation. You’ll discover which natural substances also mimic that effect—and cut the risk of dying by heart attack in half. And you’ll see how heart patients can stop—even reverse—damage with a unique pectin supplement that could slash America’s death rate from heart disease if the word spreads.

Like I said, you don’t have to wait for news like this to hit the mainstream press.

Alternatives is your direct link to proven medical research, years ahead of most other sources. And the safe, documented, tested and re-tested therapies you’ll read about each month could quite literally save your life.

My Caribbean Essay Contest

Sponsored by Conde’ Nast Traveler in cooperation with the Caribbean Tourism Organization, (CTO) and the Montserrat Tourist Board.

Co-sponsored by American Airlines.

The competition is open to every grade/primary schoolchild in each CTO-member country. The topic for this year’s essay will be, "The Perfect Day on My Island."

Here the student will describe in careful detail:

If someone had only one day to spend on your island, what would you tell them to do?

What do you think they should see, eat and try so they really capture the essence of your island?

Essays will be judged on the following criteria: knowledge of the subject/content, grammar, and style/structure.

Montserrat’s finalist will win a trip to the 1998 Caribbean Tourism Conference in Jamaica, September 1998. At this conference, children will participate in a special program and compete for the overall winning title. Last year’s winner was KRETZN SWEENEY, representing St. John’s Primary School.

This contest is being coordinated through the Ministry of Education and the primary schools.

Annan's Song

by Howard A. Fergus

Kofi Annan is music 

to the ear of greater America 

who richly fear the boomerang

of war, the biology of bombs 

that scud the airways in the dark 

in search of virgin life.

Kofi Annan was the wand 

of harmony the black key 

between white discord 

and desert-brown cacophony.

The Saudis and their mimic 

choirs in America loved his accent; 

he dulled the tone of Washington’s 

crescendo, the hot shouts 

of warheads, so the white house

trained its passion on another bed.

Kofi Annan read the soundings 

rightly in the gulf and oiled the crude-

pitched voice of Iraq to a dulcet, 

like a soft ping of pans.

Kofi Annan African 

is music to the ears of reason; 

he gently pulled the podium 

from the President spouting forth 

belligerence and Saddam changed

his tenor at Uncle Sam’s expense.

Now I and I sing the song of Annan 

wise and dread like Solomon.

JUS’ WONDERIN’

Jus wonderin when fire hydrens are going to be installed at the new Davy Hill Housing Complex or the houses supplied fire extinguishers in the interim.

Jus wonderin why the requirements and standards of the fire department were ignored.

Jus wonderin if Cable & Wireless will supply new telephone directories soon as the current one is so outdated and the operator can offer so little directory assistance.

Jus wonderin why those propane storage tanks at Delta and Texaco in Plymouth are not collected and put in service in the north to assist in alleviating the regular propane shortage.

Jus wonderin why the electrical transformers that are still functional in Plymouth and in areas not in service are not brought in to service in the northern zone.

Jus wonderin if it is not time we shower praise on the efficient Monlec crew.

Jus wonderin how many people accidentally looked at the sun during the partial phase of the total eclipse on Thursday.

Jus wonderin why 3,000 solar filters for viewing the solar eclipse were hardly enough when there are only supposed to be 2,850 of us on island.

Jus wonderin why people chose to stay inside their houses during the entire period of the eclipse rather than run the harmless risk of going about their outdoor business without looking at the partial phase.

Jus wonderin if the promised computers for the school will go the way of housing and take two years before they are installed.

Jus wonderin how many members of government have tried to walk up any of the steep, unpaved streets at Davy Hill.

Jus wonderin whether the newly filled potholes north of Hilltop will still be full by the time the first batch of hot-mix is ready for paving.

Jus wonderin when someone at Radio Montserrat will notice that too many of their taped news programs are barely audible.

Jus wonderin why DFID’s spokesman in the House of Commons thought it necessary to remind the Select Committee and Montserratians that Bangladeshis are people too.

Jus wonderin why at this late date a burro should still be tethered to die of starvation and thirst deep in the Exclusion Zone.

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