Two weeks after a paid for statement by the Honourable Reuben Meade, parliamentary member for Central, had been aired repeatedly on ZJB radio, Mr. Meade has been faxed and mailed a letter containing four requests, including one asking for an apology.

The letter was sent by the firm of Kelsick & Kelsick acting on behalf of the Honourable David S.. Brandt, Chief Minister of Montserrat, drawing attention to certain statements, "made by you in a speech broadcast over Radio ZJB," on five occasions between 15^th February and 18^th February, 2000.

Mr. Meade is accused of libeling Mr. Brandt by statements in his speech: "What is happening at Little Bay. Land for our friends to live the 'Good Life ' through private arrangement without the public knowing the details or even the Minister of Agriculture? Why should Little Bay lands be given out by the CM and not the Ministry of Lands, as happens with all Government lands? We need to find out why and someone clearly has to give a reason why Government property is being given away without public knowledge."

The letter continues: " Your allegations are completely untrue and constitute a grave libel upon our client.

We therefore write to demand that you:

1. Publish by a statement containing a suitable withdrawal and apology in terms to be approved by us on our client's behalf to be broadcast over Radio ZJB at times to be approved by us, and to be published in an issue of The Montserrat Reporter;
2. Give a written undertaking that you will not repeat the publication of these or any similar allegations concerning our client;
3. Pay our client a suitable and proper sum as damages for the injury to his reputation; and
4. Indemnify him in respect of the costs to which he has been put in the matter."

The lawyers acting on behalf of Mr. Brandt ask for a reply by March 6, 2000.

Questions and comments pouring in to us after the news was aired on ZJB radio last night are wondering if the chief minister sues, whether he would sue the radio station also. Some also question the success of any suit, since the paid political speeches are usually vetted by government legal personnel before being aired on radio.

In spite of its lack of sporting facilities, Montserrat has been included for the first time to be in the knock-out competition in contention for a place in the 2002 Soccer World Cup to be held in Korea and Japan.

The Montserrat Reporter went in search of the information, which was somewhat sketchy and brief, after it learned that the Montserrat football team has been preparing since January this year for their first round of matches which takes place in Santo Domingo next Sunday, March 5, 2000.

The Football Association boasts a full slate of officers, including a public relations and information officer, with an established office and full-time secretary.

According to Lionel Nanton, Montserrat Football Association treasurer, the football squad has been going to Antigua on weekends for training. The team has played matches with such teams as the police football team in Antigua.

It was due to leave Antigua, where it has been in training camp since last weekend, Thursday for Santo Domingo with a full complement of 25 players and officials.

Mr. Nanton said, "the team will play against Santo Domingo on Sunday and 14 days later will play the return match in Antigua -- considered for the time being their home ground -- two weeks later on March 19."

He said that the team's trainer and coach, who are from Antigua, will also travel with the team, and he announced at the same time that a German coach is bringing six UK-based Montserrat players from England to join the team in Santo Domingo.

Funding of the Montserrat Association's activities is provided by the Federation of the International Football of the Association (FIFA).

The new Acquisition of Property Act has caused some debate within the Legislature, giving opposition members an early political platform for the constitutionally due general elections in November next year.

The discussion invoked some unusual developments where we heard the chief opposition leader to the bill, the Honourable Reuben Meade, addressing the issue in more than one public statement on ZJB radio. Each time one of the statements aired, it was followed by a recorded statement from former Attorney General Charles Eikins giving an explanation of the Act.

Some argue that the act is unnecessary since a law can be passed to satisfy each occasion when acquisition of property becomes necessary. Others argue that it is dangerous to put the authority to do this so readily in the hands of government. The present government argues, of course, that the governor has even greater powers of acquisition but, not being a resident of Montserrat, has never exerted them, so why would any government want to cause any unjust hardship to its people?

The arguments, of course, can all be relative, but to the ordinary guy, the brief explanation given by the Attorney General does not suffice. When he speaks to section 64 of the Constitution. (See Section 64 of the 1989 Constitution Act on supplementary page 4) The Constitution takes precedence over all other laws and it is therein that people are protected from abuse by would be "so called terrorist acts."

But when the dust settles on this one, we will all wait to see who will be the first to try and abuse it and add a different type of hardship to the ones we face these days, when it seems difficult to feel that we have not been taken back at least 40 years in our history.

Anyone listening to the most recent press conference held by the Chief Minister on Tuesday this week and who realises the severe and degrading difficulties that we can expect to face, must have already been numbed by them. On every single matter that the Chief Minister addressed, he either stated, "we will first have to obtain approval from the UK government" . . . "we did not have the constitutional authority," or "they have stipulated…"

He said of the exit certificate requirement that was re-introduced last month: "They (HMG) have stipulated for e.g. we should have the exit certificate. We have to revisit it…" and the Chief Minister broached some reasons why the certificate can be considered onerous on residents.

"People should pay their just taxes," he said. He agreed that people have lost much and either do not have the money or must use those back taxes to provide employment.

It was interesting to note that the Chief Minister was hoping to find other means to make people pay, but also to find other means to improve revenue, which, he said, can be done by expanding the economy if they assist us. One such source, he said, is in "the off-shore banking and financial services."

More and more we are becoming convinced that, strange though it may sound, the British government or perhaps the civil servants who lord it over us can never see things from a global perspective, and do not wish for the progress of those living in Montserrat. We must never forget Minister Clare Short's chilling words, "No one in Montserrat must benefit financially from the disaster."

Last week we commented on Under Secretary George Foulkes' boast that the soft mortgage scheme had been approved, but alas what did we hear this week. Bank of Montserrat has had to reject the final agreement and the scheme is nowhere near ready to begin. Why? The British government has changed the playing field in many ways, and not even our easy government is accepting the new terms.

What really are they trying to prove? Need we ask the question? - it could not be clearer. Keep us on our knees and at the same pretend that they are interested in our welfare. Maybe we should all move to the timber houses, have them insure them and when the next hurricane destroys them, they will be giving us grant-in aid again.

The Chief Minister’s tone could not go unnoticed. Everyone listening must understand that we need not listen to complaints against one another, but come out and prepare to fight the common enemy. Some time ago the deceased Papa Bird stood up and led his people of Antigua and Barbuda against oppression. We could learn from him. We need to learn how W.H. Bramble, Maas Bob, B.W. Edwards and company brought us to where we were 20 years ago, because we are being forced back 40 years at least.

We have to be more than resilient, we have to move or else we will be forever cutting off our noses, spoling our faces and have them laughing all the time.

Being a native Montserratian, who served six years in the Royal Montserrat Police Force, I am very much outraged regarding the events of the RMPF in recent times. Having worked in the most sensitive area of the force, I was well aware of the operations. It is extremely difficult to comprehend why it is necessary for us to have a commissioner from England, when there are numerous qualified Montserratians at home. I would like to lend my support for the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Simon Morson, and Superintendent John Douglas, in their quest for what is rightfully ours.

Keith Denzil (Duxcy) Morson

Inside Out

For reading meditation- Hebrews 13:7 _21

"the god of peace" (v.20)

Selfless People Are Easy To Approach

A nother practical suggestion suggestion I would make in relation to being a peacemaker is this: be more interested in others than you are in yourself. This will make you an approachable person. Selfless people are easy to approach. Those who are not approachable are those who think more about themselves than they do about others.

Early in my counselling training I was told that I had an air of unapproachability about me, and was advised to examine my self-talk. Sure enough, I found I was saying things like this to myself:"I wonder what people think of me? Will I make a good impression?" " What if I make a fool of myself?" I decided to change my self -talk but my tutor told me I needed to do more than that: I needed to get right down to the roots and find out where such self-talk was coming from. I did, and I found that it came from an unsurrendered self. I had my self in my own hands instead of putting it in Christ's hands. I surrendered- and the change began not from the outside in but from the inside out .A peacemaker needs to be a person about whom others will think: "I can approach that person, for I know I will get sympathy, understanding and an outlook bases on what the Bible says." One of the wonderful descriptions of God is the one found in our text for today: He is a God of peace. And this is why Christ came into the world: to make peace. Paul, in Ephesians 2:15,puts it thus: His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace," So never forget: you are most like your heavenly Father when you are a bridge-Builder, when making peace.

Gracious father, if parts of me are still unsurrendered then help me yield everything into your hands right now. Let there be a divine exchange - me giving my all to you so that You can give Your all to me. Amen.

Montserratians must have suffered shock on Tuesday evening as they heard that the soft mortgage housing scheme suffered another set-back and is not yet ready to be rolled out.

Chief Minister David Brandt said in an interview on Tuesday, "The British Government has approved the scheme, Bank of Montserrat is involved and the government (local) is involved. There was a document put out to the public…and Bank of Montserrat won the bid."

He said that Bank of Montserrat is alleging that the British government prepared a document and sent it to them with things in it that were not tendered for. The CM cited matters regarding the guarantee between the bank and the British and local governments.

Bank manager Gregory Deganze confirms the Chief Minister's report: "It (the agreement document) is substantially different from the tender document that we tendered on," he said only moments after the Chief Minister's recorded press conference.

Mr. Deganze went on to point out that the Central Bank (ECCB) approved our involvement in the scheme for the first amount of money, and it was based on the tender. "We cannot turn around and act on this," he said.

Chairman of the bank, Mr. DRV (Frank) Edwards, moments following Mr. Deganze also confirmed the new position. He said: "I hope it is not off; we responded to an invitation to tender and it is now we are faced with a substantially different situation to what we tendered for."

The Chief Minister also pointed out that the government is now facing disagreement on the amount of money borrowers should be earning before they could qualify for a loan. He said that government is arguing that that persons earning up to $8,000 per month should qualify, whereas the British government wants to reduce that figure to $5,000.

What appeared to be well on the way to commencing is now waiting on response from the UK on the differences which have been communicated to them.

Meanwhile the Chief Minister expressed thanks again for the approval of the continuation of the self-build scheme, expressing further surprise that they (the BG) would not be anxious to see people wanting to help themselves.

The St. Augustine School Sports Day was attended by a large crowd, and consistent with the high standard of discipline in the school, the march pass started promptly at 1pm sharp. The Honourable Chief Minister David Brandt took the salute and later during his speech complimented the students and teachers for the way they conducted themselves in the march pass.

Mr. Brandt also said that many parents are trying to get their children into the St. Augustine School, even parents with children in the Government School, because of the high standard of discipline. He reminded the students that they are a shining light and they must keep on doing what they are doing, because they are an example for all the other schools to follow.

The man in the morning at ZJB, the one and only Basil Chambers had his one year contract at ZJB after the first one expired earlier this week.

Basil has powered his way into homes and heart of persons all over the Caribbean.

Basil started at ZJB then moved on to the Big R A. From there Basil has worked at several radio stations in Antigua and further afield.

At press time this morning, he was hosting a 'special papi-show' program with another great radio personality, Michael Sweeney where he and his callers were allowed to 'papi-show' themselves.

Basil is the host of the morning program from 5 to 10o'clock.

He has undoubtedly brought a new dimension to ZJB and the rest of Montserrat and indeed, we with the rest of Montserrat and the Caribbean wish him well in the future.

The Honourable Chief Minister David S.Brandt said in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon this week that government will re-consider the implementation of the Exit Certificate requirement.

"They (HMG) have stipulated, for example, we should have the exit certificate. I think we have to revisit it -- people who are overseas must be able to come back…we have to increase the population."

Mr Brandt said further, "People should pay their just taxes, but when people have lost so much, then government cannot be too harsh in exacting the just taxes. Many of those who owe taxes in the first place, do not have the money, and in the second place use the money to employ people."

Mr. Brandt was speaking to a question as to the burden being placed on residents for the payment of back-taxes.

On the matter of taxes, however, Mr. Brandt said, "people should pay their just taxes however," but he excused his government for having to go along in doing certain things, because he said: "they are pushing us and sometimes make it a condition for granting aid that we impose certain taxes.

But the chief minister said once again, "To impose additional taxes at this time would create great hardship on our people."

Chief Minister David Brandt called a press conference on Tuesday to report on his attendance of the 38^th Monetary Council meeting of the East Caribbean Central Bank in St. Kitts towards the end of last week.

He reported that the honourables Attorney General and Financial Secretary also attended the meeting. He mentioned that a Legal Reform project was being developed by the Council ministers.

Montserrat could not participate fully in those sessions and discussions such as the Regional Securities Market, requiring approval from the UK government.

With regard to the Regional Securities Market scheduled to start by June 2000, to achieve this, governments would have to implement policies and procedures to improve the cash flow and debt management, and enact legislation for its effective operation.

There were the country reports on the banking sector and statistical reports.

Insurance legislation was also a matter for which the Chief Minister said Montserrat had particular interest. He spoke more than briefly on the reasons why a model act should be in place, which is being spearheaded by the Central Bank. Here, also, the Chief Minister reported that "we (Montserrat) did not have the constitutional authority to address properly the issue."

In the area of off-shore banking, the ECCB was willing to supervise Montserrat's off-shore banking services and "we have written to the British Government to get their permissionm," the Chief Minister said.

In answer to a question, he said that the benefits to Montserrat of having ECCB supervision would be the enhanced jurisdiction that ECCB would bring to the sector.

Mr. Elliot Lionel Beresford Nanton, at the pleasure of Her Majesty The Queen and on the occasion of the Queen's birthday 1999, was created a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).

The investiture did not take place until Tuesday, 29^th February, 2000. Mr. Nanton will no doubt celebrate the occasion every Queen's birthday rather than on the 29^th February, which only comes up every four years.

The investiture was held at the Governor's residence in Woodlands and witnessed by a small cross-section of the community, who shared cocktails with him at the pleasure of His Excellency the Governor and Mrs. Abbott following the very brief ceremony.

Mr. Nanton was called upon by name and the Governor pronounced, "I have it by Command of Her Majesty, the Queen to invest you with the Insignia of a Member of the Order of the British Empire."

The Governor then spoke briefly on the award, saying that Mr. Nanton was included in the Queen's Birthday 1999 list for outstanding service to the community, particularly in the field of sports and other voluntary organisations.

According to the Governor, Mr. Nanton has been involved at the management level and as a player in almost every sport on the island, which, he said, included, cricket, football, athletics, netball and dominoes.

Speaking of Mr. Nanton's most recent and continued involvement in sports, Governor Abbott said:

"He has served both as a player and as president of the Montserrat Football Association for many years and is presently the Federation of International football Association (FIFA) representative on island .He is also the current treasurer of the Football Association."

He recalled Mr. Nanton's involvement in civic activities, which extended to several voluntary organisations such as the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) and the Charter President for the local Lion's Chapter. He is also a member of the Montserrat Legion.

Of Mr. Nanton Nanton's involvement as Disaster Preparedness Committee Chairman formerly for Plymouth and then the Cudjoe Head area, Governor Abbott said, "This is a true example of his interest in his community and a desire to offer assistance, wherever he finds an opportunity.

"This award is intended to recognise Mr Nanton's long meritorious voluntary service. And we look forward to benefitting from his efforts and experience in years to come."

Samantha Donoghue, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lenroy Donoghue, and a former student of the Montserrat Secondary School, Church Road, graduated at Derby University with a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Studies (Honours)

Ms. Donoghue expresses sincere thanks to Mr Mendes, Mrs. Barzey Riley and other teacher at MSS Church Road.

The new Social Welfare system has come into operation this week with the distribution of the first set of Social Welfare cheques on Thursday, 2nd March, 2000.

This represents many months of hard work by a Steering group comprising members of staff from the Government of Montserrat, representatives of NGOs, the Media, consultants and other interested parties. Much has been achieved to get this new system in place so quickly.

The Social Welfare System represents one of the many steps to get Montserrat back on its feet by providing help to the very needy and vulnerable and at the same time by supporting self-sufficiency throughout the community.

The system is a Means Tested one and it uses the very same criteria for all applicants in determining which Household will be eligible for financial assistance. The eligibility criteria is as follows:

• You must be over 60 years and unable to support yourself
• You are unable to work because of long-term illness or disability
• You are unable to work because you care for dependent relatives.

Financial circumstances (among other things) are taken into account when calculating benefit. Those households with income above the limit or with savings which are above the ceiling outlined under the system will not qualify for assistance. However, these households may apply again when their circumstances change.

Those households which are eligible for assistance would be entitled to receive a level of benefit. However, not all households will receive the same level of benefit. This is because different households have different financial circumstances and as mentioned above it is the financial circumstances of the household (among other things) which are taken into consideration when calculating levels of benefit.

To date, most households who have qualified under the system are elderly based households.

The Social Welfare system is a new system, which means that there will be careful monitoring of it to ensure that help is really going to those who need it. The Social Welfare Board, the Working Group, the staff of the Community Services Department and the consultants are working together to continuously monitor this system and are collecting evidence to make sure that a fair, impartial and comprehensive service is provided to the people of Montserrat.

This is the only the first stage in the integrated Social Welfare system and at this point it provides assistance to households for food and basic daily expenses. Help will soon be available with housing, health care, care of the elderly and other aspects of the Welfare system as we strive to complete the introduction of the Montserratian Social Welfare system.

But in order to qualify, a business would be required to "fulfil all its statutory obligations such as payment of National Insurance Scheme (deductions) and PAYE (personal income tax) deductions," a letter from the Ministry of Trade said.
In addition to the tax relief, qualifying firms "will be entitled to a write off 90 per cent of the outstanding arrears of local consumption tax up to the time of the CTCP coming into effect," the letter added.
About 30 businesses stand to benefit under the relief programme, which would run for an initial three years.

The consumption tax is payable on sales and amounts to about 20 per cent on average, which the business either passes on to the consumer or absorbs.
Apart from the tax relief, government is also exempting firms with annual sales of EC$50,000 (US$18,500) or less from the requirement to provide financial statements, but they must provide some form of evidence of operations, such as tax returns.

Once all technical and financial arrangements are satisfactory, Caribbean governments have little choice but to approve requests for flying rights as most are signatories to the Multilateral Air Services Agreement (MASA), an open-skies accord, industry officials said.
The airline was about to sign agreements with a Canadian company for the leasing of at most eight Dash Eight 300 aircraft, each of which can ferry 50 passengers, but the CEO declined to put a figure to the overall investment. "It is quite significant," he said.
With financially-troubled LIAT still offering some of the best salaries in the regional aviation industry, Mr. Filiatreault said he was confident that Caribbean Star would be able to attract and retain qualified and experienced staff.
He also expressed confidence that Caribbean Star could weather the competition from LIAT and another emerging regional carrier, EC Express.

The OECS Secretariat was host to National Disaster Co-ordinators from four Member countries in St. Lucia, Thursday March 2^nd.

The co-ordinators are being prepared for their role in "Emergency Support – Hurricane Lenny," a US$200,000 project which the OECS recently signed with the UNDP.

The project provides support to Member States in two areas; housing retrofitting and institutional strengthening for disaster management.

Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia will benefit from the retrofitting part of the project, with the work done through their National Disaster Offices.The OECS Secretariat used Thursday’s meeting to sensitize the four co-ordinators to the project, develop harmonised work-plans and agree on a voucher system to be used for purchasing materials for the retrofitting.

CDERA – the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency -- will implement the institutional part of the project in all nine OECS member countries – Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the BVI, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Thursday’s meeting took place at the OECS Secretariat in Castries.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts --Firms wanting to participate in the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE) met Feb. 23 in St Lucia at the start of a three-day seminar organised by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank.

The seminar for potential Intermediaries was held at the Bay Gardens Hotel and provided participants with a break down of the Eastern Caribbean securities Market, how to bring securities to the Exchange and the requirements for Intermediaries. Investors wishing to access the Eastern Caribbean Securities Market will do so through two groups of intermediaries- broker/dealers and limited service brokers.

The St Lucia Seminar- Opportunities in Intermediation- targeted potential intermediaries from the Windward Islands. A similar seminar was held from 28 February to 1 March for potential intermediaries in the Leeward Islands .The workshops sought to get membership commitment from delegates to the ECSE.

The Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange will become functional on 10 March 2000, but will become active only after Governments in the ECCB currency area pass the necessary legislation. The ECSE is designed to facilitate the buying and selling of financial products, including stocks and bonds and government securities. It provides investors with a way to participate in the expansion of regional enterprises and make money on their investments at the same time.

Saturday March 11

Jam Session Good Life 9:00p.m.

Sunday March 12

Church Service – Catholic Church Salem 9:00a.m.

Music Film – Feet of Flames Pelican Room Vue Pointe 7:30p.m.

Monday March 13

Volcano Tours Garibaldi Hill 9a.m.– 4p.m.

Street Jam St John’s 6:00p.m.

Cocktail Reception Palmhurst 6:30p.m.

Tuesday March 14

Lecture – Panel Discussion

Dr Howard Fergus Brades Pentecostal

Hon. Michael D Higgins TD Church 8:00p.m.

Wednesday March 15

Round Island Excursion - Ferry

with piped music on board Little Bay 12:15 – 1:45p.m.

Barbecue Night

Sing Along to Irish Music

Irish Dancing

Music Film Tropical Mansions 7:30p.m.

Friday March 17

Freedom Run - St John’s to Salem Park 6:00a.m.

Hikes with Forest Rangers Silver & Centre Hills 6:30a.m.

Quiz Winners & Prize Giving Ceremony Salem Park 9:00a.m.

Cultural Entertainment

Slave Feast Brades Primary

Masquerade, String Band School 2:00p.m.

Junior Calypso Competition Festival Village 7:30p.m.

Saturday March 18

St Patrick’s Day Dinner Vue Pointe Hotel 6:30p.m.

Tel: 664-491-3378/3463 Fax: 664-491-6780 e-mail: gismedia@candw.ag

The Department of Agriculture has set up a Loose Livestock Task Force.

Acting Director of Agriculture Mellissa O’Garro says the task force held its first meeting this week to plan strategy.

However, she says that strategy to deal with the problem will be finalized after the completion of the island-wide animal census is completed.

In related news, Miss O’Garro says the Department of Agriculture is preparing to send a shipment of donkeys off to St. Lucia later this month.

She says the request from St. Lucia is for 50 donkeys, which will be distributed to farmers there.

The donkeys were captured last year and are being kept at a corral in Lookout.

The cost of keeping the donkeys so far has exceeded $63,000.

This covers the cost of capturing and feeding them and building the corral.

Some of the costs have been covered by wildlife protection agencies such as the International Donkey Protection Trust and World Society for the Protection of Animals (WISPA).

A film crew from Ireland is to visit Montserrat in March.

While on island the crew will seek to capture the destruction to the sourthern part of the island by the volcano and the recovery effort that has been taking place since then.

This may include the filming of persons rescuing goods from the devastated area.

The television documentary will also touch on the significance of St. Patrick’s Day to Montserrat and the related slave uprising in 1768.

Chairman of the St. Patrick’s Day Organizing Committee Kenneth Cassell says the documentary will be a useful tool in promoting Montserrat in the United Kingdom and Greater Europe.

Montserrat will host a visit by an Irish MP during the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations from March 11 to 18^.

Montserrat is among member territories of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) invited to its fourth annual Sustainable Tourism Conference in May.

The theme for the Guyana conference is "Keep the Right Balance – Unlocking the Potential."

This year it will focus on the region’s demand for more action in developing regional products which comply with the principles of sustainable tourism.

Topics to be covered include sustainable tourism development at work, providing authentic tourism experiences and management of environmental and health issues affecting Caribbean tourism.

Chief Minister O’Neal says that Mr. Ryan will long be remembered for his contributions to the territory in the fields of education and social work.

The government is still having difficulties collecting taxes.

Of this number $3.8 million were owed by companies, and the remaining $8.06 million by individuals.

Mr. Ryan says some of these arrears have been owed from as far back as1968, but the majority was built up during the boom years in the 1980’s.

Mr. Ryan says the Inland Revenue has had only limited success in collecting outstanding taxes.

In 1999 only 3 percent was collected by his department.

The comptroller says several persons have failed to take advantage of incentive schemes offered by the government and steps are being taken to deal with the situation.

Two senior officials from the University of the West Indies paid a brief visit to Montserrat this week.

Professor Woodville Marshal, pro-vice chancellor and head of the board for non-campus territories, and Marlene Hamilton, vice chancellor of Mona in Jamaica, met with UWI lecturer Dr. Howard Fergus.

Both officials were in Antigua for the funeral Dr. Allister Francis, a former UWI official.

Pro-vice chancellor Marshal was delighted to hear of the good performance of Montserratian students under the UWIDITE programme.

Mr. Lionel Nanton was presented the Member of the British Empire (MBE) medal on Tuesday.

The ceremony was held at the Governor’s residence at Palmhurst and was attended by family members, friends and dignitaries, including the Honourable Chief Minister.

The medal was presented to Mr. Nanton by His Excellency Governor Anthony Abbott.

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Works Rupert Weekes heads the committee.

It was established after the Chief Minister contacted the Head of the Overseas Territories Unit about a grass strip to be engineered at Thatch Valley in light of renewed volcanic activity.

The British Government has subsequently refused to consider Thatch Valley as an option for the airport, while at the same time giving Gerald’s as its preferred choice.

Students at the Montserrat Secondary School have gained on-the-job experience in a number of technical areas.

A dozen fifth form students in Pre-Vocational Programme went on a three-week work experience at various institutions.

Students who took part in the on-the-job experience were exposed to electrical, plumbing, hotelier, restaurateur, and construction work.

Several businesses on Montserrat took part in this venture.

These include Lacolage Restaurant, Tropical Mansion Suites Hotel, Theresa’s Bed and Breakfast, Montserrat Water Authority, Montserrat Electricity Services, Physical Planning Unit in the Electrical Division, Equipment and Supplies, the Port Authority and Galloways Construction.

The Montserrat Secondary School is preparing to host its Annual Sports Meet.

The MSS Sports Meet will be held at the Salem Park April 5^th.

Principal of the MSS Miss Kato Greenaway says, however, that some of the activities will take place at the schools’ compound and at the Salem Park.

The Boys Cross-Country and the Girls Road Race will take place on March 20th and 21^st respectively.

New police superintendent Paul Norris believes community policing is a most effective method in solving and preventing crimes.

The 19-year veteran from the London Metropolitan Police says this practice has been successful in other countries.

He says it is based on trust between the police and the community, but will take sometime to implement.

Natasha Browne has been selected as part of a team of youths to represent CARICOM at an international youth exchange in Toronto, Canada.

Ms. Browne is part of a group of 17 attending the youth exchange, which began on Sunday and will run until March 5.

It is being held under the theme "Racism. Stop It! Action 2000," and will involve participation of 420 groups from around the world.

The main focus of the meetings is child rights and racism.

A meeting in Trinidad last week, which addressed a number of issues affecting youths under the theme Human Rights, Freedoms, and Responsibilities, preceded the youth exchange.

Ms. Browne represented Montserrat at that meeting.

Plans are being made for the celebration of International Women’s Day on Wednesday March 8.

The Ministry of Education Health and Community Services is leading the effort.

The Honourable Minister Adelina Tuitt hosted a meeting involving representatives from both the public and private sector to plan activities for the day.

She says a week of activities will lead up to March 8.

The activities include at least two radio programmes, two public forums and a national symposium focusing on various topics, including women in politics and business and health issues.

Mrs. Tuitt says one of the issues that will get some attention is domestic abuse.

A team of British officials is on the island discussing a comprehensive housing need assessment for the island.

According to officials the main purpose of the assessment is to take account of the needs of the most vulnerable groups of the society.

Since its arrival here, the team, which is from the Department for International Development, has been in close consultation with officials in the Housing Unit.

Meanwhile the United Kingdom Government has released the results of a review of the earlier stages of the Materials Grant Project.

The review noted that the project has made a significant contribution to meet the acute housing shortage on Montserrat.

According to DFID, it is estimated that for every dollar of public spending on the project, $4.3 million of private investment has been attracted.

The review concludes that the materials grant scheme has made a positive impact on the local economy as a direct housing programme has slowed down.

DFID says the scheme has also proved itself to be a rapid housing delivery mechanism, with more than three-quarters of the completed houses constructed within a six-month period.

Montserrat prepares to make World Cup football history this weekend.

The National team will take on the Dominican Republic in the first leg of the World Cup qualifying round in Santa Domingo on Sunday

The squad, which has been preparing for the encounter since January 2, is currently conducting training exercise in Antigua under the watchful eye of trainer Everton Meade.

The team will travel to the Dominican Republic on Thursday, where players will engage the home sides in the historic first leg match of the home and away series on March 5.

March 19 is the date set for the second match in Antigua, the home base for the Montserrat Team.

The Montserrat National side is being bolstered by the addition of several UK based players.

They include professionals Wayne Dyer, Paul Lynch and Dave Harper.

St. Johns chalked up their second straight victory in the Montserrat Cricket Association two-day league on Sunday.

The traditionally strong side from the north defeated Salem Survivors by an innings and 190 runs.

Batting first, Salem could only muster 94. Sylvester Ben Greenaway topscored with 34.

The most successful bowler for St. Johns was Sylvester Allen, who took five for 22,including a hat trick.

St. Johns amassed 367 for three declared, with brothers Jeff and David Layne hitting centuries.

Jeff made 129 not out and David an even 100. Tyrone Greenaway followed with 77.

Behind by a mammoth 273, Salem crumbled to 83 all out. J. Ponde made 24 and Greenaway 22.

Allen followed his five wickets in the first innings with four for 32 to finish with match figures of nine 54. Adrian Carty took three for 13.

The scores in the game: Salem 94 and 83. St. Johns 367 for three declared.

By Peter Adrien

Reflect! From time to time, we are required to pause and reflect. Exile One, the Dominican musical group that internationalized the musical form called Zouk, in their classic Reflexion, called upon us to reflect before and after we act.
It's time to reflect on the developments in West Indian cricket in the last week. In this article we reflect on the Busta Cup finals, the WICB management decisions, the selection of the 20 cricketers for the West Indies camp, and the choice of captaincy.
On reflection, Jamaica is truly a millenium champion. Captain James "Jimmy" Adams lifted the coveted Busta Cup on Monday February 29, 2000, after a convincing win over the Leeward Islands, even if they won the match on first innings.

After he was presented with the Busta Cup by Anna Mohammed, vice-president marketing at S. M. Jaleel and Company Ltd., he was full of praise for the players -- all of whom, he said, played a part in Jamaica's victory, including those who played while he and others were in New Zealand with the West Indies team.
But Adams was being modest when he commended the Leeward Islands players "for putting up a creditable performance." The Leeward Islands performance was far from being commendable. It was in fact their poorest display in the tournament. Their 142 scored in the first innings must be rated even below their paltry 85 against the Windward Islands at the Antigua Recreation Ground in the preliminary rounds.
The performance of the Leeward Islands was nothing but a reflection of the dismal, if not depressing, exhibition of the Pakistanis in the World Cup Finals against the Australians. Thank God, in the Caribbean and in the Eastern Caribbean in particular, we do not threaten the lives of our athletes and their families and burn their houses, when they perform
so irresponsibly.

The Leeward Islanders cannot accept Captain Stuart Williams argument that they will be back firing on all cylinders next year when his decision to bowl first on a placid wicket, to a large extent, cost the people the symbol of cricket supremacy. Did you know there could have been tremendous possibilities in the offing if the Leeward Islands had won the championship? Stuart Williams, himself, could have been in contention for West Indies captaincy.
Jamaica is worthy to lift and hold the Busta Cup. They played like a true champion team. The played with discipline; the batsmen batted with a persistent sense of purpose; the bowlers performed their task with determination; the Captain marshalled his men with courage. When it was necessary, stroke-maker Ricardo Powell tempered his compulsive temperament to hook and occupied the crease in the interest of the team. Walsh and Rose and Gayle and Hinds conditioned Jamaica's victory.

Chris Gayle was named the most valuable player in the 2000 Busta Cup cricket tournament. The 20-year-old left-hander scored 623 runs in seven matches at an average of 56.63 and hit two centuries with a top score of 168 versus Guyana in the semi-finals.
By its approach to the tournament, the Jamaican team indeed set an example for the senior West Indies team - the players adapted to the conditions and played within their limitations. Most of all, in every contest at least one valiant soldier rose to the occasion. When it was not Christopher Gayle with the bat, it was Franklyn Rose with the ball; when it was not Wavell Hinds with the bat, it was the legendary Courtney Walsh with the cherry; and when all of them failed, Nehemiah Perry or Laurie Williams answered the call of duty.
The Jamaicans lost only one match in the tournament to their victim, the Leeward Islands, but played like champions. Congratulation to "boyz from Jamdown", the Bowl King and, now the Busta King.
On reflection, the West Indies Cricket Board seemed practical in their approach. No one will doubt that the team needs as much psychological support as it needs technical and managerial support. The choice of Richard Skerritt as manager is exceptional, as all commentators and critics have argued against persisting with former Test cricketers who lack managerial expertise as managers.

The appointment of Guyanese Roger Harper and not Antigua's Sir Vivian Richards as the new West Indies coach may have left the West Indies Cricket Board under fire in Antigua, but notwithstanding our disappointment over the non-inclusion of the great man in the management team, no one can justifiably question the fitness of Roger Harper.
Did the West Indies Board make the right choice? Tym Glaser of the Gleaner suggested that "as technically weak as so many of their batsmen are these days and as wayward as many of their bowlers are, what the West Indies team probably needs now more than anything else is not a coach but a motivator and if that is so, Richards would have been a better choice.
"Richards would probably be a good motivator, not because he is one of the greatest batsmen of all time, not because of his batting and his approach to the game -- he exuded confidence during his days in the sun -- but because the players admire him and from all reports, wanted him around them."
What does the decision of the West Indies Board reflect? While the underlying motivation of Pat Rousseau and his men may be questioned, we cannot fault their approach to filling the post of team coach. The modern game demands that the technical team have personality, respect, the technical expertise, certification and experience in the specialty. In Richard Skerritt, the team has a disciplinarian, a goal-oriented person, a motivator, and a successful business manager. In Roger Harper, the team finds a world- class fieldsman, a fairly competent batsman, a good off spinner, a natural motivator, a successful coach and a winsome personality.
While we all love Viv, Harper is a total package. But not even time will prove whether the Board was right or wrong in its choice?
On reflection, we ask, will a suitable role be found for "King Viv" in the development of West Indies cricket? Of course! I suspect that Mr. Errol Allen, Deputy Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, headquartered in St Kitts was prophetic when he predicted that Sir Vivian Richards would eventually become the Chairman of Selectors, replacing Michael Findlay. This organizational political action seems so plausible.  We  shall follow it closely.

On reflection, the selectors' twenty core players for the camp are indeed practical in the prevailing circumstances. The major difference between my 20 and selectors' 20 are the inclusion of Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose and Jimmy Adams. The selectors exercised more faith in young Ricardo Powell than I did, and I wish to commend them for that. Maybe I was being too harsh on the youngster. Ambrose and Walsh, whom I excluded, have proven their fitness and have earned their barges. Ambrose topped the Busta Cup bowling average with 31 wickets at 12.03, with a best bowling of 5-39. The value of Walsh's 16 wickets must be seen in the light of his tag-team effort with the young tear-away Franklyn Rose (who claimed 22 wickets), which ensured Jamaica the Busta Cup.
What about Adams as captain of the West Indies team? While Jimmy Adams would not make my senior team with an average of 22.44 and an aggregate of 202 from nine innings, he is definitely the most successful captain in the Busta Cup tournament (the regional trial matches for the Test team). And when one considers that he was vice captain of the senior team, he is the front-runner for the top job. And relative to his competitors - Barbadian Philo Wallace, Leeward Islander Stuart Williams, Windward Islander Rawl Lewis and Guyanese Shivnarine Chanderpaul, he has no rival. On reflection, the selectors will elevate him to the highest position in the West Indian nation by weekend.
Yes, like Exile One said, reflect before you act.

CANA - Antiguan journalist Tim Hector is unhappy over the West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) choice of Kittitian Richard Skerrit to manage the regional team ahead of former Test fast bowler Joel Garner.
Noting he had no confidence in the new West Indies' management team of Skerrit, coach Roger Harper and his assistant Jeffrey Dujon, Hector said the rejection of Garner is the one which offends him most.
"That anyone could have chosen Skerrit ahead of Joel Garner, selector, former "A" team manager and a great Test cricketer in his own right is the insult of insults," said Hector.
"I think the entire management team as selected will have difficulty in the circumstances. It is inconceivable that where the late Malcolm Marshall and Clive Lloyd did not work, this team will work," said Hector.
Hector, who is the editor of the weekly Outlet newspaper here, said had the likes of Ricardo Powell, Daren Ganga, Keith Semple and Colin Stuart received "good grooming by experienced players, we would have seen some probably very good players emerging".
"What those players need most is not so much a training coach but the guidance of very experienced players on how to build and compose an innings," said Hector.
The former cricket commentator also said he sees no good coming from the removal of Sir Vivian Richards as coach.
"The thing we did not need was another crisis. When you induce it yourself, you've got to be without your thinking cap...We are just plunging the thing into crisis after crisis," Hector said.
Skerrit, Harper and Dujon have been given three-year contracts by the WICB to work with the West Indies team as manager, coach and assistant coach.
Their first assignment will be the upcoming home series against Zimbabwe and Pakistan.

Cricket Umpires Appointed For First Half of C&W Series
ST JOHN'S, Antigua CANA - Umpiring appointments for the first half of the forthcoming Cable and Wireless cricket series, as released by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) on Tuesday.
_ Mar 4-6: Board XI - Grenada, Billy Doctrove & Glenroy Johnson
_ Mar 10-13: Presidents XI - Trinidad, Terrance Birbal & George Sharp
_ Mar 16-20: 1st Test - Trinidad, George Sharp & Steve Bucknor
_ Mar 24-28: 2nd Test - Jamaica, Athar Zaida & Edward Nicholls
_ Apr 1: 1st 1-Day - Jamaica, Basil Morgan & Steve Bucknor
_ Apr 2: 2nd 1-Day - Jamaica, Basil Morgan & Steve Bucknor
_ Apr 5: 3rd 1-Day - Antigua, Edward Nicholls & Billy Doctrove
_ Apr 8-9: Two one-day practice matches - Antigua, Clancy Mack &
James Stevens
_ April 8-10: 3-Day Practice Match - Grenada, Glenroy Johnson &
Goaland Greaves.

There is quite a lot of debate world wide about what television shows children should be allowed to watch or what they should not be allowed to. The programs that society deems worthy for children to view are mainly educational or cartoons. My debate today is about cartoons. Cartoons are some of the most violent and mind cultivating programs that are shown in movie houses or TV. Children watch cartoons for many different reasons, and adults are not ruled out. The effects cartoons have on adults are far minor to the effect they have on children. Children are allowed to watch cartoons at a very young age, and this might be one of the problems that are affecting our societies today.

There are some of us parents who seem to enjoy cartoons much more than the children we have in our homes. We sometimes compete with others in the homes for the TV so that we can see our favorite program, cartoons. I am a lover of cartoons myself and, like many children and adults, my favorite show is none other than the world famous Tom and Jerry. This might be debatable but no matter how you like cartoons, they preach and teach one main thing, violence. Tom and Jerry do only one thing, they beat up on each other. Licks and blows from beginning to end. They try to outwit each other . They plan, connive undermine, conspire, and the list goes on and on. But according to society it is OK for children to watch this. Children at an early age see guns, bombs, broomsticks, knives, vehicles and almost anything that one can think about being used to destroy an opponent or used as weapons.

Children should not be allowed to watch many of these cartoons because they start learning too many bad attitudes, devious behaviors, crude and rude ways. Parents’ controls over their children are lost to cartoons because children see how to react to parents’ instruction. My friend Tom, as nice and protective as he might be betrayed in the cartoons, uses too many devious and violent ways toward his enemy Jerry. Some times we see children behaving in a particular manner and we would wonder where they learn the things we see them doing. Well wonder no more; they learn it right in your or their homes.

Many crimes and summary offences are committed by persons within the juvenile age range in Montserrat. The age range between 7 and 16 years is considered in Montserrat as the juvenile age. According to police reports from 1999 to present time, juvenile offences are on the increase on island.

Their juvenile children, because of the unbelievable crimes they commit, embarrass some parents. The crimes, according to the police, range from rape, burglary, housebreaking to petty theft. Even school children from what we consider good homes are continuously suspended from classes. Teachers are threatened and, in a few cases, assaulted by students of different ages. Just recently the Ministry of Education conducted a seminar to look at juvenile behavior on Montserrat.

Because the problem is now raising its ugly head, it is very easy for us to blame it on the volcano and the effects it has on all our lives. We know that living with an active volcano, staying in shelters or living with friends or relatives is really a daunting experience. This was always a problem on island, but maybe not in such enormity as it is now.

In Montserrat, and indeed the rest of the world, there is a favorite saying; "children today are different than children of the past." Based on this quotation I must ask this question. Is it really the truth? Is it really true that children then were so different from children today, or are we failing to really look at the problems and find ways and means to solve them? In the old days parents were more demanding of their children and would punish children for any and almost everything.

The old time way may not meet the approval of our times, but who knows that we may say children were better then. However, I can remember many years ago a very old and now deceased lady told me that, as children growing up they had to walk for miles for water and she and other persons had their way of going off in the grass and doing their thing. Children in those days stole fruits and food, threw stone and committed crimes that were in tune with their time. But today, of course, with technology and our lifestyles, the crimes committed by juveniles are much different.

All I’m trying to say is that really and truly the problem today is not much different than what it was from time immemorial. What I think has happened though, parents have changed and children and juveniles are left to fend for themselves because parents are too busy working hard for that important dollar.

Children and juveniles' best friend and companion is the TV set; they do not play games with each other any more, the society does not raise children anymore. Should I go on? Parents are not in control of their children and that is why juvenile problems seem to be such a big headache today. Let us not fool ourselves; when we the parents take the bull by the horn, the juvenile problems will be solved.

Oh my God! The Politicians, they are confusing us again. Why don't they get with the program, stick with the agenda, and deal with the issue?

The issue is not about acquisition laws; that should have been addressed as early as 1996. Besides, that is something they must deal with anyway.

The issue is tax money -- owing taxes and paying taxes, tax clearance, tax arrears, tax returns, tax refunds and tax arrangements. Most importantly, tax money to help ourselves to take the helpless off Geralds Park. Money to help ourselves to house as many more people as possible and as soon as possible. Money collected from ourselves, by ourselves to help ourselves, to show the world that we are truly resilient, not just tough or stubborn; to show and tell that we are capable of bouncing back.

I know the issue is taxation! Taxing ourselves to match what others give to us, and to save some of it for the days of need.

I am back with another article in the series on taxation. And although I am a little angry with the political 'gobbledegook' over acquisition laws; I plan to stay focused. I will stick with the agenda.

First though, let me apologise for misleading my readers in the February 5 article. The last paragraph incorrectly stated that our politicians manipulated the system of tax laws "to make sure they pay no taxes on their monthly income." It should have been "to make sure they pay no taxes on their monthly retirement income."

In that article I also said that on Montserrat the politicians have always opted to use a system of tax laws to finance the functions of Government. We will now try to show how this concept operates in Montserrat.

In my opinion, the laws of a society are the arrangements, the rules, the guidelines that residents of that society agree to adhere to, so that each resident can achieve and live in peace, in safety and in harmony with all others. That, in my opinion is the purpose for all laws, whether criminal or civil.

Similarly, our system of tax laws is in place because our society, through successive Governments, have agreed to-maintain such laws to finance the services which we require from the Government. These laws also provide for the collection of income tax to allow all of us to live in harmony with one another. Simply put, all of us are in Montserrat because we agreed to abide by the tax laws of Montserrat. And we will not live in St Kitts or Antigua in spite of their tax-free laws.

And until we, by consensus, decide to change our system of tax laws, we will have to pay the taxes that we give the Government the authority to compel us to pay. Otherwise, failure to pay our fair share of taxes will result in civil and criminal penalties. We agreed to all that also. We did!

And what is the obligation put on us by our system of tax laws? It is this: The Government has a claim on us, requiring us to transfer to the Treasury part of our property or income. And what is the criterion for this obligation? It is this: That we are resident of Montserrat and that the source of our income must be from within Montserrat.

Basically there are three different kinds of taxes which we pay in Montserrat: Income taxes, property taxes and taxes on goods imported for use or consumption.

It appears to me, therefore, that our tax system constitutes two principles. The first is that as long as an item is purchased, whether for you or on your behalf, tax is paid. This tax is the money collected by the Department of Customs. The merchant pays the tax in advance, but an old lady or a child for whom the merchandise is bought ultimately pays the taxes. Under this principle, every resident pays taxes in accordance with his consumption needs or wants.

The second principle is that each resident pays taxes on his income in accordance with his ability to pay. And how do we measure one's ability to pay? We measure a person's ability to pay tax on his income by the amount he would have left after paying the tax. The poor man who has nothing left after paying tax is considered unable to pay it; but the rich man who would have a great deal left after paying the same tax, would be considered as being able to pay the tax.

Even so, to ensure fairness, our system of tax laws allows every resident a yearly allowance of $15,000 on earned income before any tax is to be paid. All amounts over $15,000 are subject to taxation.

I hope that I have been able to show that our system of tax laws requires everybody to pay taxes. First, each person pays taxes on whatever he purchases and secondly, if your income is over $15,000, you are likely to pay taxes on the amounts over $15,000.Based on these two principles, our tax system assures fairness; it is comprehensible, it is unambiguous, and it is easy to administer. And there are civil and criminal penalties for failure to abide by the tax laws.

Or you can look at it this way: we agreed to pay taxes for the privilege to enjoy the benefit that comes with living in Montserrat:

• The opportunity to work and earn a living as a doctor, a lawyer or a contractor.
• The opportunity to obtain scholarships for our children because they are Montserratians.
• The privilege to share in the school system, to go to church, or to use the roads.
• The benefits of our water system and our electrical services.
• The benefits of the Port Authority and police protection.

In essence the opportunity to make a living out of the efforts and the service requirements of others.

So why, then, do some of us have a problem with paying taxes? Or why do some of us owe so much in taxes?

Already, I have given you quite a mouthful, so I will attempt to answer those questions as well as deal with some more tax matters in later articles.

In the meantime, here is something else to chew on. Would tax on income deter people who receive high incomes from putting forward their best efforts? I think not. High-income earners have prestige and status as their primary objectives for making a lot of money.

Or let me ask you another question. Do you think that an individual earns a high income through his own efforts alone? Of course not! He requires the services of Government and the efforts of others. He depends upon abilities and the accumulated knowledge of the teachers, the nurses the police and the rest of us.

Please Mr Politician, I can't hear you; would you kindly speak up and speak out on the issue of taxation.

Are we really resilient as we brag? Then we should put taxation back to its rightful place; because it is the only means available to us to help ourselves. So shout it out in every hill and valley, in every church and school. The program is taxation. The agenda is taxation. The issue is taxation, tax arrears, tax refunds, tax returns and tax clearance.

By Justin "Hero" Cassell

Agricultural Development Officer

Week ending 3^rd March, 2000)

"Eat from the Land not from the Can"

The animal census and tagging exercise spearheaded by the Veterinary Division will commence on Tuesday 7^th March from 7:00 a.m.

The exercise will begin in the St. Johns Area and two teams comprising personnel from the Veterinary and Forestry Divisions will conduct it.

Livestock owners who may not be available at the time of the census are asked to register the number and types of livestock they possess with the Ministry of Agriculture or contact the Veterinary Officer, Mr. Thomas Piper, Mr. James Daley or Mr. John Martin on telephone numbers 491-2546/2075.

A fair amount of locally grown high quality vegetables are available this week at the various vegetable outlets. These include: Cucumbers, Tomatoes, String Beans,Squash,

Pumpkins, White Potatoes, Sweet Peppers, Okra, Carrots and Cabbages.

Despite the extended dry spell in the Upper Blakes area the vegetable crops are doing quite well. Since the passage of Hurricane Lenny, only two inches of rain fell in that area. However, farmers in that area are continuing to put in new crops, conserving the limited moisture available by mulching.

In choosing your small ruminant Livestock, there are some popular breeds you can consider: -

A. Goats for Meat Purposes (Meat Breeds)

1. Anglo Nubian (Dual purpose)
2. Boer

1. Milk Breeds

1. British Alpine
2. Toggenburg
3. Saanan

The following are Sheep breeds you can choose from: -

1. Barbados Blackbelly
2. West African
3. Blackhead Persian
4. Virgin Island White.

CHOOSE WELL AND DO WELL!

DFID says, "Don't start from scratch,

For any air strip there's a catch;

Though it's foolish to gamble

On a reopened Bramble,

Don't even think the word 'Thatch.' "

For Montserrat it's not unique

That a proud demonstration of pique

On the part of Clare Short

Delayed the support

Of 'copters to aid Mozambique.

Jus wonderin what will now happen to the unfinished wall around the Salem Park and when it will be completed.

Jus wonderin if $100,000.00 was enough money for the best festival we’ve had in a long time.

Jus wonderin if the report will be published especially when it shows how to make people unproductive.

Jus wonderin if the road from Salem to the Bank of Montserrat is not yet fully repaired, not to mention, the disgraceful road to the only accommodating beach on the island.

Jus wonderin if it is all to discourage people moving back into Salem.

Jus wonderin why the St. Patrick’s activities were moved from Little Bay to Brades School ground.

Jus wonderin why Montserratians stop smiling and are walking around with their faces so long.

Just wonderin how many silent government ministers we have in Montserrat.

Jus wonderin if any attempt was made to model the Social Welfare Service on Montserrat off the UK system and why are they are so different.

Jus wonderin if the Montserrat service was similar to the one in the UK if many more Montserratians who in England would not return home.

Jus wonderin why persons who took up the Caribbean package do not qualify for the same program.

Jus wonderin why the minister who is responsible for the program have not yet address the nation on the topic.

Jus wonderin about animal laughing in Montserrat.

Jus wonderin why the houses at Lookout have no privacy, especially the one bedroom units.

Jus Wonderin why they change the smooth operator on night shift and put on the stumbler who needs fine-tuning.

Jus wonderin why the British always tryin to brain-wash Montserratians.

Jus wonderin if some of our own Montserratian in office are like roast breadfruit white inside and black outside.

Jus wonderin when Montserrat will throw away the 'funk' and start a new fire.

Jus wonderin if the committee that met on the Social Welfare have any guilt when they see there own people whom they sit there and help disqualify.

Jus wonderin if the new Social welfare system would make Montserratians turn to poverty, crime, drugs and prostitution.

Jus wonderin if where the schools are concerned, she is like a fish that starts spoiling from the head.

Jus wonderin why the teachers at all the schools are still complaining more and more about child molestation.

Jus wonderin why some police officers are upset with the presence of the British.

Jus wonderin if it's because they cannot get to have there own way.

Jus wonderin if they really believe Montserratians are fools.

Jus wonderin what become of all the furniture that were in the new police complex at gearbox and the new Harris' police station.

Jus wonderin if any local police officers will the spoils.