The new air terminal building at Gerald’s was officially opened last Friday in a ceremony attended by His Excellency Governor Anthony Abbott, Chief Minister David Brandt, Minister Idabelle Meade, heads of departments and DFID officials.

Governor Abbott said the opening of the terminal and the recent improvements to the terminal at the heliport will improve working conditions for the customs and immigration staff, along with MAS, and contribute to improving Montserrat’s image.

There seemed to be some delay in opening the building which had been completed some time ago. This no doubt prompted the Governor to praise the heliport personnel for their patience for working in less than ideal conditions.

waiting area inside the new terminal

Commenting at the ceremony, airport manager Norman Cassell said the opening of the new air terminal building was the culmination of a lot of hard work.

Meantime, for the past few weeks the new helicopter put into operation by Bajan Helicopters, has been making the runs between Antigua and Montserrat and carrying out the monitoring services for the MVO. It had been using the new helipad for some time now.

The new helicopter, which Bajan Helicopter owners boasted was similar to the old one, is air-conditioned and has 11 seats. However, Montserrat Aviation Services (MAS) manager confirmed that only eight seats are available to the traveling public, with the same rules in place that only six seats can be confirmed prior to 24 hours before time of departure, the other two to be held available to that time for DFID and government officials.

There is a grave disadvantage to the new helicopter and its unused added seats; one of the helicopter pilots confirms that it restricts the baggage capacity of the craft. MAS office now sports a sign that advises only carry-on bag sizes will be accepted on the helicopter.

The reaction to this is that the service has become poorer instead of improved, causing the general feeling that it is just another way of forcing the issue of acceptance of an airstrip at Geralds.

A woman was raped by a prowler early Tuesday morning in her Isles Bay home when she left her locked bedroom in the vain hope that an unreliable cellular telephone in the kitchen might allow her to call for help.

A suspect has been arrested, charged and detained in the case.

The woman told police she had hoped the young prowler was still outside, but he had gained entry to the house, apparently by removing a louvre. She was assaulted before she could reach the phone in an attempt to see if it would work.

After the attack, her assailant passed out on the floor, she told police. She spent the next three hours, she said, safely back inside her locked bedroom, waiting and hoping to escape. She did so at first light, when she risked further injury by jumping from a high gallery to rush to neighbors, who called the police.

The police responded promptly to find the suspect still in the house. They later attributed his passing out and remaining on the scene to drunkenness.

Tuesday's attack was the second recent sexual assault in Montserrat. A resident of Old Towne was raped last year and a suspect has been sought since. The Reporter was told that the suspect in Tuesday's incident is assisting police in that case as well.

The Isles Bay incident has caused increased apprehension there, particularly among women residents, about the ongoing lack of reliable telephone service in case of emergencies such as this. One resident reported angrily calling Cable & Wireless and demanding to know whether it would take a murder to prompt them to act. Most of the community is now calling for proper and reliable phone service

Water and electricity have long since been restored to the community, and an increasing number of property owners have returned to live in their homes. But telephone service is available only by cellular sets, which rely on a C&W station at the top of Garibaldi Hill. Although electrical service has been restored to Isles Bay residences, the station atop the hill reportedly still has to depend on an unreliable generator.

C&W mobile relay station at Garibaldi Hill

A spokesman for Cable & Wireless told the Reporter that they have been forced to rely on the generator while they await help from the Government of Montserrat to pay the estimated $90,000 needed to supply electricity to the Garibaldi Hill station. Cable & Wireless paid for construction of the road to the station. The generator is out of service until the arrival of a replacement part, the spokesman said, so phone service will remain unreliable until then.

problematic generator

As a result, Montserratians attempting to call Isles Bay residents frequently get a recorded C&W message reporting that the telephone is either "out of range" or "out of service." Even when they do have phone service, some Isles Bay residents are frustrated by their ability to make outgoing calls but not to receive incoming calls.

The politicians, the public generally and the Elections Office are all trying to deal with the unfortunate early call for general elections, which were constitutionally due in November of this year, with a further 90 days before the actual date of the elections.

When the legislature was dissolved it was mentioned that the Elections Office would be key to the actual date for the elections. As of that date 90 days were available, but the date was quickly set for April 2, 2001, only two months later.

The election will take place, but only after some hard work which still involves ironing out hazards and shortcomings of the new system along with the logistics for the actual voting and counting of votes afterwards on election day.

There isn't anything simple about this voting-at-large system, which requires each person to choose as many as nine candidates - but no more - on a single ballot. The addition of photographs on the ballot will be of some help, but because of the way the ballot is designed it will demand from every voter a definitely high level of intelligence and education (i.e. knowledge and understanding of what constitutes a valid ballot).

Voters are going to have to curb their pride, if they consider they have spoilt a ballot, to ask for a new one. The worry here is that at the end of the day, there could be many spoilt ballots.

Fortunately, the education of the voting system has been taken to the television and we can hope that most if not all voters would have seen and retained the most relevant information provided.

One of the most important points voters will have to remember is that the X must be placed to the right of the person's name for whom they intend to vote. For those voters who will use just the photograph as their means of identifying the candidate, it will be most important that they do not put the X just next to the photo, whether on the left of right.

Of course that problem could have been eliminated by a different design of the ballot, especially when considers that voters will be looking at a ballot with 26 photos and names, etc.

Politicians or candidates will be wise to be vigilant and join the education process in guiding their supporters and voters at large as to how to vote, thus assuring they are fully prepared well before they enter the voting booth to vote for the people of their choice.

It is bad enough that some Montserratians feel disenfranchised for this general election. Every voter must make it their business to vote and do it right. The Montserrat Reporter is conducting a mock-voting on its web site at http://www.montserratreporter.org, http://www.montserratreporter.org/election/polling_station.htm which is providing a lot of insight as to how people at home and abroad are thinking at this time and about the composition of government and legislature they want to see take office.

It is widely believed that about two thirds of the 2,953 registered voters will vote this time, based no doubt on the fact that in the past that has been the percentage of registered voters who went to the polls. That number should increase providing candidates can be effective enough to make people want to come out and vote.

There are still a few among prospective voters who like the entertainment at campaign meetings as some candidates deliberately attempt to mislead them with matters irrelevant to any decision they would make. We hope that every single voter will be able to discern the difference as we come down to the end of the campaign.

One more point as to why the education system is so important. If arrangements are not put in place to shorten the voting time, although there are only 2,953 voters, the time for casting a ballot could be nearly nine times what it was in the past and the counting will be just as long.

Read 1 John 5: 14-15

The Lord will hear when I call to him.

Psalms 4:3 (NIV)

The answering machine picked up the call. "If you would like to leave a message after the tone, we will get back to you as soon as possible". The voice was brisk and businesslike.

Feeling rather foolish, as I always do with answering machines, I made my request into the silence. There was no reply, no indication that anyone had heard my words. Would I really get an answer? There was nothing to do but hope for the best and trust that the machine was reliable. Sure enough, someone heard my message and then responded; on Sunday, my request appeared in the church bulletin.

Recording a message on an answering machine reminds me in some ways of praying. At times we feel as if we are speaking into silence. Has anyone heard my thanks or petition? Will anyone reply? We have no way of knowing for certain that God has heard our prayers. We can only trust and wait.

Eventually the answer comes, sometime sooner than we expect, sometimes after a long wait. When God answers I feel ashamed and humbled that I doubted.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for the assurance that you hear and answer our prayers. Amen.

Thought of the day.

God hears and answers prayer.

Sheila Kilpatrick (St. Andrews, Scotland)

Prayer Focus: FOR A COMMITMENT TO PRAYER

Hopefully, a process will be initiated to disclose the improprieties, if any, documented in relation to improper use of public funds. As the general public around the world watches the everyday life of the people on Montserrat with loving concern, giving support in different ways, praising the sacrificial and dedicated commitment of the people to hold fast to their precious homeland, it is increasingly important to retain a foundation of truth and honesty on which Montserrat can continue to develop and appear in the utmost beauty.

Lynda Tae Reed

Thanking you kindly.

Dear Editor,

Please allow me to salute our Forest Rangers for their commitment to Montserrat, which was certainly shown last Saturday, St. Patrick's Day. Our group hiked and sometimes climbed to Killiecrankie, then up and down to Sappit. It was a strenuous hike and climb, but very enjoyable. They took very good care of us, especially on some of the "hair-raising" parts.

Some of our group were unaware of the sound of the Oriole, and although we did not see one we all now know what to listen for on future "walks." It was also amazing to see the terrain over which our water travels from Killiecrankie spring. To think those pipes were laid decades ago and have been kept in working order by the MWA. Our admiration goes out to them.

I have only one suggestion for future organised hikes. Maybe they could be graded on a scale of perhaps1-5. I for one would not have taken the chance of an accident on this particular hike; but thanks to the wonderful care and concern we were given, none of us came to any harm.

Thanks guys,

Maureen Hodd

Dear Editor,

Good morning, good morning, good morning, goood morning. That’s the sound of the morning man on Radio Montserrat (ZJB). The man himself, Basil Chambers, the calypsonian "Mmmmm," was granted another one-year contract from the Government of Montserrat.

Basil has earned himself a tremendous amount of respect and acclaim on his ZJB morning programme. He is now rated among the top and likes of Albert "Dubai" Richards and other well-known radio personalities from Radio Antilles and ZJB.

The Friday morning programme is probably the most listened to radio programme in Montserrat and all the other neighbouring islands, wherever ZJB can be heard. With his new adopted Friday morning name, "The Papyshow Man," Basil has touched persons of all walks of life.

One former radio personality and now high-ranking government official was overheard saying that if ZJB had two other announcers like Basil, the station would be one of the best in the Caribbean. For those of us who are privileged to know Basil know that he takes his job very seriously and is one of the many committed Montserratians who could have been making a lot more money working in some other regional or international radio station.

His new one-year contract started March 2, 2001, and leaves one to wonder why only one more year. However Papyshow man, keep up the good work. A morning without your voice is like a morning without breakfast. You are a true son of the soil and although we Montserratian hardly give compliments to persons who deserves it, we are proud of you and really enjoy listening to you. Just hope that after this contract is over, someone will make sure that you are given a contract for no less than five years. You are highly regarded in all the neighboring St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua and other islands. Relocated Montserratians in these islands are transfixed to their radios every morning. By the way, play the tune for me again, Papyshow youself.

Big Up

Customers of Cable & Wireless will have a chance to have their say on the company’s performance, when its twice yearly "Voice of the Customer" customer satisfaction survey begins on Monday March 19^th.

The "Voice of the Customer" is a new approach to customer research by Cable & Wireless. Peter Halstead, Vice President for Customer Service for Cable & Wireless Caribbean and Atlantic Islands, says: "This survey has been developed with our Customers' help and allows them to give us their feedback on the products and services we provide.

"In the past the results for each section of our survey were measured equally. But with our new ‘Voice of the Customer’ methodology, we are able to prioritise those service areas that our customers tell us are most important to them."

"We’d like to thank all those customers who took the time to participate in our ‘Voice of the Customer’ survey," Mr. Halstead said. "Their responses have helped us to zero in on the areas they feel are most critical to satisfying their needs."

Two of the areas that were highlighted are provision and restoration of telephone service. As a result of this feedback, all efforts were placed on improving these areas, and in line with the Customer Service Charter, Cable & Wireless can now report that regionally the company is providing over 9a5 percent of telephone lines in less than 15 working days, and repairing over 95 percent of all telephone lines in less than 12 working hours.

The company is also focussing on making sure that telephone lines are more reliable, and reports a dramatic reduction in the quantity of reported faults.

Mr. Halstead said that the new survey allows Cable & Wireless to determine both the current level of customer satisfaction, and the perceived value and benefit of the changes suggested by the respondents in the survey.

The "Voice of the Customer" survey will be conducted from the Cable & Wireless telesales unit in St. Lucia. Data collection will continue through the end of April and the results will be shared with businesses and their customers in June.

For three days during St. Patrick's Week a most fascinating array of African objects was on display at the Montserrat National Trust's newly built Natural History Centre in Olveston. The collection was brought specially from Guadeloupe by Ms. Sonny Bagoe Tancons, a resident of Guadeloupe who is Martiniquan by birth and grew up in French-speaking West Africa. Ms. Tancons, a professional tour guide who takes guided tours to West Africa, was on hand to explain the exhibits and share her wealth of knowledge about African culture.

On display were African musical instruments made from calabash, clay, bamboo, animal skins and other materials These included the Kora (an ancestor of the guitar), calabash shak shak, bone guiro, horse-hair stringed violin, sanza (hand piano), hand made xylophone, and drums such as the shakara drum, and calabash drums floating on water. A nearly flat winnowing basket, used for separating grain from husks, could also be used as a musical instrument, with the sound of the shaking grain providing a percussion effect. Other musical instruments were illustrated through drawings, photographs and written explanations.

A centrepiece of the exhibition was a tall stilt figure reminiscent of Miss Goosie, called "Gueibli Glenble" (I hope I have got that right). Ms. Tancons explained that it represented a part man, part woman who would come into the village after two weeks' mourning for a loved one and allow those left behind to get on with their lives. Small cowrie shells, beads, grass and other natural materials were a part of this figure's decor.

Weaving was also featured, with a small hand-held loom on display and samples of the brightly coloured strips of cloth which it could make. These strips, traditionally just a few inches wide, would be sewn together to make fabric for clothing and other items. Mud was among the natural materials used to decorate the cloth.

The exhibition also included a sheepskin water carrier, coconut stick broom, straw fan, hair decorations, wooden afro-combs, beads, cooking pots from calabash and clay, and models of a fire stand called a "trois trois." There were also symbolic objects used for voodoo ceremonies, while a harvest ceremony was illustrated pictorially. In the food section were several dried ingredients and seasonings, including millet seeds, dried okra, small dried beans, salt made from ashes, dried sorrel, hot pepper and palm oil among others.

What was striking was the use of natural materials to make many of the items, and the ingenuity with which they were made. It also appeared to confirm that some aspects of African culture have indeed survived and evolved in the Caribbean. It was also interesting to note that many aspects of African culture seem to extend all over West Africa and are not confined to a particular country.

This was a truly amazing exhibition, especially when one realizes that Ms. Tancon brought everything with her on the flight from Guadeloupe and then by ferry to Montserrat, and that this is only a portion of her collection. Everything was well labeled, with explanations in French and English, supplemented by Ms. Tancon's knowledgeable in-depth commentary. Many adults and a class from the Montserrat Secondary School visited the exhibition, but it would have been nice if more school children, both primary and secondary, could have seen this unique display, which gave us a new insight into African culture.

New procedures designed to govern the mining of sand at Isles Bay, which were scheduled to begin Thursday, were postponed by the Department of Agriculture a day before they were to start.

The abrupt change came after the Honourable Idabelle Meade, acting Minister of Agriculture, Land Housing and the Environment, declared she is not in favour of any policy that would further increase any burden on the people of Montserrat.

"I will not support such a policy, especially at this time when poor people are trying to re-establish their homes," she said.

The department's said last week that the new measures would include the need to obtain certification and paying a fee for sand mining.

It said this week, however, that the new procedures will be reviewed after the general elections. The release said the department continues to be concerned about the indiscriminate removal of sand from Isles Bay and the deterioration of the beach.

The public is reminded that sand should be removed only from the stockpile without the use of mechanical loaders.

The department says the sand delivery officer will continue to direct the removal of sand from Isles Bay on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 12 noon and again from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.

The Governor’s Office has declared an exceptional holiday April 12^th to celebrate the cricket match between UWI Vice Chancellor’s X1 and South Africa on that day.

Government House says the decision follows close consultation between the Governor, the Government of Montserrat, and the West Indies and South African Cricket Boards.

A public holiday was one of several requests made by the match organisers.

Governor Abbott consulted with all concerned including business representatives before granting the holiday.

He said he hopes that the public holiday will allow everyone the opportunity to attend the match and support what will be an important milestone for the island.

The Montserrat National Trust has announced it plans to reactivate the position of Environmental Educator.

The move comes as the Trust prepares to open its botanical garden and natural history centre, rehabilitate the Carrs Bay wetlands and the botanical trail.

According to the National Trust, the environmental educator will play a critical role in informing the public on these programmes.

Meanwhile, the environmental preservation organization announces that its long-term plans include the preservation of historical sites, the construction of a museum, the restoration of Lime Kiln beach and the development of trails and campsites.

The Trust said it will continue to work with the Governor’s Office, DFID, the FCO, and community groups to protect and preserve the environment.

The Golden Years Home for the elderly last Friday received well-needed fire extinguishers.

Secretary Arthur Jeffers of the Emerald United Club of London, who was the bearer of the donated gifts, said the group became concerned after a visit last year revealed the need for fire extinguishers and other safety equipment.

Mr. Jeffers said the club does not confine its assistance to the elderly, and will always be willing to assist in the total redevelopment of Montserrat.

Expressing thanks to the group and other Montserratian groups on behalf of the Home, Florence Daley, Chairperson of the Golden Years Foundation, says the extinguishers will greatly improve safety at the home.

A live band from overseas took part took part in Montserrat's St Patrick’s Day Celebration for the first time in the history. The AXA Band, the number one jam band out of Anguilla, performed live for three nights on island, free of cost to the St Patrick’s Day Committee.

Mr. Carl Irish from St. Patrick’s Village, who now lives and works in Anguilla, organized things there, as Mr. Cecil Cassell of the St. Patrick’s Committee did here.

Mr. Irish thanked Jed Hunte, the band's manager, and all its members for offering their services free. He went on a one-man campaign to raise the funds to travel to Montserrat.

The members of the band said they were very happy to be able to come to Montserrat and hope to return in the near future.

The St Patrick’s Day Organising Committee expressed its thanks to Mr. Irish, management and members of the AXA Band, and to the major sponsors in Anguilla.

It also acknowledged the local efforts of Mr. Lawrence Daley, sound systems, Mr. Dave Williams and crew, management and staff of Tropical Mansion Suites, Arrow, and Mr. David Tuitt.

As we continue to follow responses to the threat of the dreaded Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD), a number of CARICOM countries have taken preventative steps to ensure that the disease does not have a severely negative impact on the livestock industries and the economies of the Region. Disinfectant mats have been commissioned at air and seaports to intercept the pathogen through visitors from Europe. Additionally, some Caribbean countries have suspended trade in all meats and animal products until such time that it is clear that the affected countries have the situation under control.
Many regional veterinary authorities have clearly shown their resolve to keep FMD out at all costs. Caribbean islands with their fragile and vulnerable livestock industries cannot withstand the shock and recover quickly should FMD strike. However, according to CARICOM's Assistant Secretary General for Regional Trade and Economic Integration, Mr Byron Blake, a common and co-ordinated approach is necessary for greater effectiveness. To this end the Region's Public Health and Veterinary officers will meet next week in Guyana on 27 March 2001 to formulate a regional initiative to tackle FMD and Mad Cow Disease, both of which are potentially devastating diseases which have so far affected meat and livestock industries in United Kingdom, Asia and Europe. In the case of the former disease, its impact has further extended to Argentina and the Middle East, both with which the Caribbean countries have established trading patterns.

The 238 known victims of the Christena Disaster, the local ferry which sank in the channel between St. Kitts and Nevis 31 years ago, will have a memorial erected in their honour.

The memorial will be placed at the waterfront entrance to the Alexander Hamilton Museum in Charlestown, Nevis.

Cable & Wireless, sponsors of the Cable & Wireless 2001 series between the West Indies and South Africa, continued their tradition of helping local organizations during the home series last week when they donated the first set of Cricket gear to a local school in Trinidad and Tobago.

The 114-year-old Arima Boys' R.C. School in South Trinidad became the first such beneficiary upon the acquisition of US$1,000 worth of cricket gear from Cable & Wireless on Friday. West Indies fast-bowler Mervyn Dillion, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, presented the gear on behalf of Cable & Wireless at a ceremony at the school, which was the Trinidadian National Primary Schools' Cricket Champion for 2000.

School Principal Gabriel V. Cumbermack, gratefullly accepted the donation, and said the inclusion of headgear in the gift package represented "a boon for primary school cricket".

"The advent of such corporate sponsorship in recognition of the nursery ground of primary school cricket, which lays the groundwork for the development of our regional and international cricket, is great," the principal said. "For this, Cable & Wireless must be congratulated and hopefully other such entities and citizens will follow the lead taken."

Cable & Wireless' Corporate Sponsorship Manager, Rhonda Kelly, said the gesture formed part of the company's overall efforts to support both regional cricket and the Caribbean people in general.

Further donations to other regional charities are scheduled throughout the Cable & Wireless Series that extends until May 17.

The man who rescued the missing Slovenian tourist in Nevis has received a $10,000 reward.

Mr. Anton Tomazic presented the cheque to Mr. George Smithen and reiterated his gratitude for the man's saving his life. In acknowledging the tourist's appreciation, Mr. Smithen said that he was going to bank the money.

Anton Tomazic went missing on February 28th after going for a hike on Nevis Peak. He was discovered on March 9th by Mr. Smithen who, aided by a friend, took him to the hospital where he was treated for kidney failure.

Grenada, CANA - Passengers arriving at the ports of entry in Grenada will have their shoes disinfected as the government steps up efforts to keep out the highly contagious foot and mouth disease.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell announced Sunday night that mats sprayed with a special disinfectant will be placed at the main ports of entry and chemicals will be used on animal products coming into Grenada.
"We have to do what other countries have in fact done. Barbados and Jamaica have already taken steps to use certain chemicals to ensure that people do not bring their diseases into our country," Dr. Mitchell said.
He told a meeting of the ruling party's General Council that foot and mouth disease posed a real threat to the country's livestock industry.
Last month the government slapped a temporary ban on chicken and pork imports from the European Union following the outbreak there of foot and mouth and mad cow diseases.

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua, CANA - Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Lester Bird, speaking as Finance Minister, announced Wednesday that workers would be retrenched and a work-experience programme in private businesses would be scrapped.
Presenting the national budget, Mr. Bird said there would be "an analysis of each ministry and government department to ensure that each post is necessary and that people are all productively employed."
Where it is found necessary, there will be retrenchment, Bird, he said.
Estimated expenditure for the 2001 fiscal year is EC$511.8 million (US$189.5 million) while recurrent revenue is EC$503.1 million (US$186.3 million), leaving a deficit of EC$8.7 million (US$3.2 million); 20.5 per cent of the expenditure is expected to service the public debt of the twin-island state.

Mr. Bird said government expects to collect EC$79.2 million (US$29.3 million) from direct taxes, EC$353 million (US$130.7 million) from indirect taxes and EC$70.8 million (US$26.2 million) from non-tax revenue.
The Prime Minister called on the private sector to employ persons who benefited from public sector training and experience, and start paying persons attached to their businesses but currently compensated by government to the tune of EC$9.3 million (US$3.4 million).
In addition to re-confirming a freeze in employment "apart from exceptional circumstances," Mr. Bird announced that government would no longer increase salaries for established and non-established workers on an ad hoc basis, and that there would be a "downsizing and amalgamation of government work programmes."

These measures are expected to reduce payroll expenditures in 2001 by approximately EC$23 million (US$8.51 million).
Among new tax measures are a 2-percent tax on all remittances through Western Union Money Transfer and a 3-percent tax on the gross earnings of offshore banks, trusts, insurance companies and online gaming operations.
The 3-percent tax on offshore banks and Internet Gambling operations, he said, would compensate government for the increasing expenditure involved in regulating both sectors and meeting the costs of international efforts to safeguard them.

Trinidad, CANA - A husband and wife in Trinidad were sentenced to death Thursday when a court found them guilty of killing their daughter.
Kenrick and Chandroutie London appeared unfazed when the 12-member jury found them guilty of murder and when the death sentence was passed on them by Justice Hubert Volney at the First Assize Court in San Fernando.
The couple was on trial for killing their two-year-old daughter Vidya sometime between 1993 and 1997.
State prosecutor Roger Ramgoolam said the couple buried the girl while she was still alive in the cesspit of an outhouse.
In conflicting testimony, the 37-year-old husband told the court that his 28-year-old wife was responsible for killing their daughter, who had been sick for several months and that his wife got up one day and put her in a bag. The wife said she missed her daughter when she awoke one day but was told by her husband that the child was fine. She said she never asked him about the child's whereabouts again.

Antigua, CANA - The Antigua and Barbuda government on Monday threatened to end Cable & Wireless' monopoly as the international telecommunications provider if it does not agree to lower its rates in an effort to increase investments.
Governor General Sir James Carlisle made the announcement in the traditional Throne Speech to declare this year's parliamentary session open.
"In this regard, my government intends to enter negotiations with Cable & Wireless with a view to reducing their charges for international communications," Sir James said.
"If these negotiations fail, my government will allow other companies, including the Antigua Public Utilities Authority, to bid to compete against them," he told a sitting of members of the House and Senate.
Sir James said the state-owned Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA), which already holds the monopoly as the local land-line provider, would by the middle of this year become an Internet Service Provider (ISP) "in competition with Cable and Wireless."
He said currently the high cost of telecommunications was hindering the greater development of companies doing international business.
Alongside the British telecommunications giant and the local privately owned Airtel, APUA is also a cellular provider and so rakes in hefty interconnection fees from them.
Cable & Wireless has already announced plans to lay off hundreds of workers in the Caribbean, citing expected competition and the need to keep costs down.
The Antigua and Barbuda government will also this year replace the 49-year-old Telecommunications Act with modern legislation and policy to govern the orderly development of the telecommunications industry in a liberalised market.

One adult and three students were among the injured, said Capt. Bill McClure of the El Cajon Police Department.

Police said they arrested Jason Hoffman, 18, a student at the school. Hoffman was wounded in a the mouth and the buttocks during an exchange of gunfire with police. He underwent surgery, but his wounds were not thought to be life-threatening, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Two adults had minor injuries, McClure said.

The El Cajon shooting represented the 18 school shooting in the U.S. in the last 10 years.

In Washington, meanwhile, a Secret Service study into school-shooting incidents found that most of the attackers were on what researchers called a "path to violence."

The report cautions adults to be alert to warning signs and to be on the lookout for the pattern of behavior described in the report.

The Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center, which began to look at school shooting incidents in September 1999, examined 37 incidents involving 41 perpetrators. Besides reviewing case files, the Secret Service researchers interviewed 10 perpetrators in person.

The interim report, released in October, found incidents were not impulsive -- rarely were there cases where a student just "snapped." Instead, the incidents were the end results of an observable and understandable pattern of thinking and behavior.

All the shooters were boys or young men, ranging in age from 11 to 21, with family backgrounds ranging from intact families to foster families with a history of neglect. Some perpetrators were excellent students; some were failing. Some were popular; some were socially isolated. Very few had ever been diagnosed with a mental illness.

There was one common theme: depression.

The Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI), based in St.Lucia, joined with the global community yesterday in observing World Water Day.

The theme for World Water Day 2001 is "Water for Health: Taking Charge," emphasising the important contribution water makes to health, and how it can reduce disease.
This year's observances coincide with a renewed thrust throughout the Caribbean region aimed at improving the quality of our water, especially in relation to its impact on human health.
Indeed, as far back as 1979, when CARICOM Ministers responsible for Health approved the Caribbean Environmental Health Strategy which, in turn, led to the birth of CEHI in 1981, there was the understanding that the supply of safe water to our populations was an indispensable pre-requisite of our rendezvous with the future.
The Caribbean is not faced with a worst-case scenario. The region's societies have, for the most part, seriously undertaken the work of achieving high levels of piped water coverage -- though important issues related to the reliability of supply, quality of supply and the sanitary disposal of liquid waste remain challenging.
Major issues include the discharge of toxic waste, the pollution of both surface and ground water and critical shortcomings, in some territories, in the area of water quality assessment and management. The region still needs to upgrade the capacities of its laboratories and develop its human resource base in this vital area.

CEHI has been systematically working toward improving outputs in water quality surveillance systems throughout the Caribbean and has viewed it a major institutional function.
The single most important intervention the region can make, according to the CEHI, is to mobilize public to view management of water resources as vitally important.

PORT OF SPAIN, (Reuters) - West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh made history on Monday when he became the first man to take 500 test wickets.
Walsh, 38, playing his 129th test and in his 17th year of five-day cricket, reached the landmark by taking two wickets in the same over during the second test against South Africa.
First, he had opener Gary Kirsten caught behind by Ridley Jacobs for 22.
Two balls later, with the crowd already in a state of great excitement, the Jamaican veteran had Jacques Kallis leg before without scoring.
The crowd at the Queen's Park Oval, where Walsh also took his 400th test wicket almost exactly two years ago, went wild as the umpire's finger went up after a short but agonising delay.
Walsh, almost certainly playing his last series, was mobbed by his team mates, given a standing ovation and embraced by the South African players when he went off at the tea interval shortly afterwards. Security guards had to stop ecstatic fans from climbing the perimeter fence to mob their hero.
Walsh became the West Indies leading test wicket-taker by passing Malcolm Marshall's mark of 376 in November 1998. He joined India's Kapil Dev and New Zealander Richard Hadlee in March 1999 as the then only bowlers to take 400 test wickets.
He has been the leading wicket-taker in tests since March last year, when he overhauled Dev's record of 434.
His total includes 21 five-wicket hauls in an innings and three of 10 in a match. Best bowling figures -- seven for 37.

They celebrated! They blocked the road, stopped the traffic and played "Mas" even if they lost the match. They seemed not to care that some of the golden accolade was bestowed on their opponents. Some of the golden handshakes meant for the locals were painfully but heartily given to the visitors.

The prestigious Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) planned the second Test match between the West Indies and South Africa as part of its 50^th Anniversary of the first Test Match at the Queen’s Park Oval, the home of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club with a two-fold purpose.

It was meant to celebrate with Courtney Walsh the (anticipated) achievement of his 500^th Test match wicket as well as to celebrate a victory by the West Indies in Courtney’s honour. The select propertied class that rule the QPCC planned the events in order to objectify the feat (should it happen) and to immortalize the cricketing venue.

Up to the final day, the Queen’s Park Cricket Club elite membership, the thousands of West Indian supporters who crowded the grounds as if unmindful of the prohibitive cost of attending the Test match, as well as the millions who followed the fluctuating fortunes of their team over television, radio and the internet, must have thought that they were seeing a glittering like unto gold.

But in less than two hours of play, it was very clear that the metallurgists would have to provide a second analysis to ascertain whether this metal was indeed good gold. Well, it was obvious by lunchtime when the West Indies went in at 85 runs for the loss of five wickets. The chase for 232 runs seemed very difficult.

When, with the dismissal of the honourable Courtney Walsh, their team was finally restricted to 162 all out, the golden handshake was deservingly given to Shaun Pollock, captain of the competitive South Africans. The former racists managed to come from behind to clinch a victory that was well within the West Indian grasp, defeating Carl Hooper and his West Indians by 69 runs on that memorable 50^th Anniversary of the famous Trinidadian cricket ground.

The developments did not restrict West Indians from expressing themselves. A section of the West Indian crowd (led by the festive Trinidadians) transformed an adjoining street into a Carnival stage and even pulled some celebrating South Africans into their reveling and "partying" that went until late that night. They "wine"; they danced; they pranced; and they drank and celebrated. They feted as if the West Indies team had won the match. One passerby remarked: " It’s a good ting that dey did not win de match; dey woudda party all night."

Did they have a right to block the street and "to get on bad"? Did they have a right to "jump up and tay-lay-lay"? Did they have a right to celebrate as they did? Those of us who were privileged to witness the game or the duel, would certainly agree that the mixed crowd of Trinidadians, other West Indians, and South Africans had a natural right to celebrate until morning, even if their team lost a match that they thought it should have won.

First, the knowledgeable crowd was celebrating a well-fought 50^th Test Match at the Queen’s Park Oval. It was a Test Match in the ideal typical sense. It had all the ingredients of a great Test match, something, which many West Indians had been longing for. It mirrored the interplay of psychological warfare; the competing tactics of the opposing captains; the fluctuating fortunes of two evenly matched teams; the challenge and resilience of two batting teams; the attacks and undermining of the batting of both teams by the use clever maneuvering by the captains; the exhibitions of high-quality craftsmanship (in both the batting and the bowling departments); the nail-biting and nerve-racking moments; and periods of high entertainment content.

Even if the former apartheid nation won, the cricketers played good cricket; and exhibited fairly good sportsmanship, even if they were sometimes annoying when they were frustrated. On the final day of the contest, the better team won match. Full stop.

The celebration spoke to the mood of the people. It said, "Congratulations are in order." And that is noble for a civilized West Indian nation. This made me proud to be a West Indian. And I tell you the truth, if you were there, you would have been proud to be West Indian.

Second, they were celebrating the revival of West Indies cricket under Carl Hooper. The placards that some of them portrayed or displayed said it all. They said, "Lara and Hooper are we boys." Every time he walked in to bat, the crowd gave him a hero’s welcome. I tell you the truth; the people love Carl Hooper. And conscious that they were been captured live on television, during the match they sought to send a clear message to those who wish to divide them. They want the politics of nationalism and hate out of West Indies cricket.

Third, and most important, they were celebrating the "near-immortality" of Ambassador Courtney Andrew Walsh who on Monday March 19, 2001, became the first bowler in Test cricket to collect 500 wickets. He became the greatest Test wicket taker in history, beating his previous best (having overtaken India’s Kapil Dev 434 wickets in 2000).

Courtney Walsh's achievement may last longer than that of the legendary Brazilian soccer player, Pele. While some prolific soccer player may enjoy the blessing of long life and physical health to overtake Pele’s 1,000 goals (scored some 32 years ago), the likelihood of some fast bowler or any bowler for that matter undoing the great Jamaican is almost unthinkable.

Courtney’s achievement may be likened to that of a man taking residence on Mars – going where no one has ever been before. This record will be very difficult to break by any fast bowler given the degree of endurance that it requires. This has been a near-superhuman effort by Walsh. Any slow bowler who attempts to undo it will have a monumental task to accomplish. Moreover, he is adding more to the tally. He now has 504 wickets.

I suspect that the crowd was celebrating because they somewhat suspect that no man will ever reach there; and no one will ever replace him. What a feat! Congratulations "Sir Courtney."

I am glad that I was there. I am glad that I was party of history. I was part of West Indian history. Amen!

Now, let’s celebrate our support for the team!

The old adage - you are what you eat - is increasingly relevant today. You are determined to a large extent by the quality of what you imbibe and eat. Quality therefore conditions your thoughts and actions, your mental and spiritual states and sense of well-being in general.

Modern living with all its numerous conveniences has compromised the integrity of our lives in many ways. We thrive on and are caught up with modern gadgets and cannot seem to do without them. We use them at will without even the least query as to how some of these conveniences impact on our lives.

Microwaves are that form of electromagnetic wave that contains the most energy. They are used in microwave ovens, but also in radar, radio and TV communications via satellites, in cellular phones as well as industrial appliances.

The microwave oven and the cellular telephone are examples. We will look at what the research is saying. The Germans invented the microwave oven during the Second World War to heat food for the troops who were on the front line. Their negative effects on health have been an issue since those early days but these were hidden by the Allies and taken to the USA and classified as military secrets. Much later, in 1976 the Russians prohibited the use of microwave ovens and sent out an international warning against their use,- as well as of other microwave devices. Reports suggest that the USA has not yet acted on any of these findings and there is the suggestion that big business is not wanting the public to be informed.

What are some of the main concerns? If you microwave meat, cancer-causing carcinogens are created. The same applies for milk and grain and even a short exposure of raw, cooked or frozen greens causes a conversion of plant substances into cancer-provoking matter. Further they found that the body has a reduced ability to accept certain vitamins and fatty acids and the body becomes stressed, with high blood pressure, and the white blood vessels tend to mutate with an increased production of cancerous cells in the blood. Microwaves have a marked effect on the brain’s activity and this can cause memory failure along with damage to the nervous system and disturbances to the hormonal balances of both men and women.

It must be made clear that these effects are correlated with long-term use and that some people may be susceptible even with shorter term usage. Although the ovens have become more sealed when they are closed and in function, yet some microwaves escape from them and can have an effect on people in close proximity. The microwaves make the molecules in the microwave foods vibrate at enormous speed, so much so that the molecules can change and simply become torn from each other. Therefore the structure of the food is affected adversely.

Montserratians are on a microwave! We must check ourselves fast. We cannot afford these luxuries that have questionable values to our bodies. If one has to use one has to do with caution as more suspicions are emerging of the perils of that convenience in the kitchen.

(Claude Gerald is an Agricultural Economist who promotes wholesome living through wholesome eating.)

Community Psychiatric Nurse

If someone you love is diagnosed with a mental illness, how can your family help? Your family should work together with the person who is ill and the team of mental healthcare professionals. Learn all you can about the illness; understanding can help you cope. Take things slowly, step by step. The speed of progress is not as important as the direction.

As people begin to get better, it is important to prevent a relapse (recurrence of a psychotic episode), since a relapse can be demoralizing for everyone involved. To help maintain the recovery process:

• Identify reasonable goals that are obtainable in the near future. Setting expectations too high sets everyone up for stress and failure. Encourage and recognize progress, even if it is less than was hoped for. Goals for some people may be taking a course at school or part-time volunteer work; for others, getting out of bed or coming to the dining table is an accomplishment.
• Learn to reduce stress. The sorts of stress that most people handle every day may have much more impact on someone who is ill. Stress can make people with mental illness vulnerable to relapse.
• Talk to each other and to the healthcare team. Communication is important if you’re all going to work together.
• Be encouraging and supportive. A critical, over-involved, overprotective attitude may be threatening to people who are ill and may undermine their confidence.
• Learn problem-solving techniques. It’s important that people be able to solve their own problems. However, you can all work together to identify problems and possible solutions.
• Be sensitive. Avoid comparisons to friends, colleagues, or family members. Other people’s success at work, school, or in their social lives may only emphasize how far behind are people who are ill.
• Encourage compliance in taking medication. Families should encourage loved ones to follow the clinician’s instructions regarding their medication. Without nagging or criticism, you can help them remember to take their medication by pointing out how much they have accomplished.
• Avoid relapse by knowing the early signs. If you notice your loved one losing interest in things, becoming increasingly depressed, having difficulty concentrating, withdrawing socially, having difficulty making decisions, having sleep problems, feeling over committed or over expansive, or if you notice other feelings or actions unique to your loved one, call the clinician immediately. Getting professional help early enough may prevent a relapse.

Remember, your family doesn’t have to go it alone. There are available treatments, and people who can help.

From all accounts the St. Patrick's Day Week of Activities was for the most part a success. The visitors who came were glad they did and enjoyed their stay.

Needless to say the success of the week had to do with teamwork as well as commitment, dedication and energy of team members.

Cecil Cassell of the Chief's Minister's Office must be singled out as being integral to the success of the week. He went far behind his own job requirements to support and execute much of the work that needed to be done. At no time he said, "this is not my job." He attended every meeting and was willing to go the extra mile to ensure the success of the events.

Rose Willock, Vereen Wolcock and their team must be complimented on the arrangements for the St. Patrick's Day itself. There were lots of traditional foods and traditional games. From all reports 1,000 people or so who came enjoyed the day.

Katrina Lee, our financial controller, was there at the gates for all our functions and stuck with her task even when the attendance was less encouraging than expected.

Reuben Meade Jr. and his team came in at the last moment to rescue the Freedom Run when it was discovered that expected organisation and arrangements for the event had not been made.

Mention must also be made of the willing support and cooperation of Mr. William Wall. The arrangements he made to have the ferry wait in Antigua on Wednesday 14^th March and Friday 16^th March to accommodate our visitors from the United Kingdom and the band from Anguilla speaks volumes for his love of country and desire to make our cultural events a success. Mr. Wall and DIFID must also be lauded for making the ferry available for the round the island tour, an event that is becoming more and more popular each time. So many visitors have expressed their gratitude for being able to see for themselves the extent of the devastation that the Soufriere Hills volcano has caused. This event, in particular, is crucial to the financial success of the week, making it self- supporting with no impact on government's budget.

We are grateful to Mr. David Lea for showing the Documentary of Montserrat, "Dust in the Wind," produced by the Irish Television Crew last year during the St. Patrick's Day Week of Activities.

Those who saw the exhibition featuring the Ethnographic Collection of African artifacts voiced their appreciation for the exposure. This was made possible through Mrs. Pat Ryan and Mrs. Bagoe Tancous, Marie Anderson of Guadeloupe.

The Emerald Community Singers helped made the Barbecue and Cabaret at the Vue Pointe an enjoyable evening. So too did Mrs. Smith and Cheryl Cassell, with their display of fashions. In this connection special mention must be made of the young dancers who treated us to an exquisite performance of Irish Dance. They were ably coached and directed by Mrs. Margaret Abbot, to whom the committee is most grateful.

Last, but by no means least, we must recognise the input of His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Anthony Abbot, for hosting a wonderful reception for the visitors. His stage performance with Arrow and the Emerald Community Singers was a fitting climax to the week of activities and would be remembered by many who were present.

Let me therefore say a big thank you to all the above and all others who helped to make the St. Patrick's Day Week of Activities 2001 an enjoyable event. Let us hope that we can continue to highlight our culture so that it can be a source of enrichment to our lives while bringing some economic benefit to our country.

A caretaker wants to assure

Sand mining remains quite secure;

There'll be no delay,

So bulldoze away;

We now know you're aiding the poor.

Although the new copter is great,

Some travel may still have to wait;

So what is defeating

Additional seating,

And why can they only take eight?

Jus' wonderin' why the Honorable Minister thinks the "poor people" will benefit by re-opening Isles Bay Beach to sandminers when the sandmining companies are the ones who take free sand and make money selling it to the poor folks.

Jus wonderin if it is true one prison officer is terrorising the Salem bars, who and where he is from.

Jus wonderin if and why the Peoples TV is experiencing problems broadcasting its programs on time on Cable TV.

Jus wonderin which one of the politicians was nearly arrested because of his party leader.

Jus wonderin why one politician claims that e me a the one fu introduce free secondary education in a Montserrat.

Jus wonderin if Bramble a go leh dem tek way e fame.

Jus wonderin if one politician say how our memory short really want our memory to be good now, seriously!

Jus wonderin if that politician lose a part of e brain/memory.

Jus wonderin if Cable and Wireless system could have prevented the rape.

Jus wonderin why the heavy roller is rolling heavy on one side, and if the rolling is now for off shore banking.

Jus wonderin how politicians who only believe we must be nicey, nicey with the British could really represent us.

Jus wonderin how many of them politicians can really be 21st century politicians and if we should go back three decades and to the back-handed dealings.

Jus wonderin if the Castles helped the roller to roll for four years and he is now fighting against his allies.

Jus wonderin if it is true that the bass is saying who will, or not win in the party.

Jus wonderin if any politicians will eventually leave a party before Election Day.

Jus wonderin why, what and who the police is afraid of.

Jus wonderin why the lady was moved from administration.

Jus wonderin if one party wins the election if they can cope with the twenty first century.

Jus wonderin why the lady minister is so quiet.

Jus wonderin how many government jobs will become available in the next two months.

Jus wonderin if the folks on the EE think they know what is best for us and have even most of the answers.

Jus wonderin if them two x chiefs are holding secrets for each other.

Jus wonderin why the culture lady was not at festival village on St Patrick's Day and the other culture big-lady did not visit any of the festivities at Festival City.

Jus wonderin if any or our Cable and Wireless workers will be laid off like they plan all over.

Jus wonderin where that radio man get so much power.

Jus wonderin who really run tings at radio headquarters.

Jus wonderin who gave the name to the church that will be built at Lookout.

Jus wonderin if the congregation should have been involved in the new church name.

Jus wonderin where the twenty-sixth candidate came from.

Jus wonderin why the EE seem to be down grading two of our famous characters.

Jus wonderin why the administrating lady thinks that she should personally chose her replacement.

Jus wonderin if DFID really funding some political candidates and or party.

Jus wonderin if we are all in for a political surprise.

Jus wonderin if the chief is planning to hit the campaign trail.

Jus wonderin what the average age is of both parties, and the independents as a group.

Jus wonderin which one of the three groups average age is over 55.

Jus wonderin if we could trust their health and if some of them should not do like the incumbent three and back out now if they really love Montserrat.

Jus wonderin which of the parties having nothing but struggles for power and already should be weeding out the bad and the really ugly and the dead and lame.

Jus wonderin if that Jus Wonderin about going to church didn't mean "which politician does NOT go to church."

Jus wonderin where conspiracy and corruption stand up in this campaign and what stance any of the candidates will take against these evils.

Jus wonderin who sorry they did not get into the race and what is motivating them so now.

Jus wonderin if any of the candidates will get over 1,000 votes.

Jus wonderin if the election will be watered down to a popularity contest and who get the most votes should not be the next Chief Minister.

Jus wonderin if there is a single voter in Montserrat who will sell their votes.

Jus wonderin if them Jus Wonderins lean fair.

From The Pan-Afrikan Liberator Monthly Newsletter - August 2000

The voters then align themselves with a Party based upon any number of variables, and become supporters and followers of that Party. Based upon thoughts and ideas generated on the platform, and documented in Party Manifestoes, the voters have an understanding of what each Party intends to do during its five years in office.

Each Party presents and promotes an agenda, seeking the popular support of the People. The People, in turn, through a majority vote, endorse an agenda which gives the winning Party a mandate to carry through its platform and manifesto during its five-year term.

In theory, and several times in practice, this type of system has allowed for the cohesive continuity and the application of the collective will of the People in the improvement of their quality of life. At other times, it has split the cohesive unity and damaged the collective Spirit.

However, the limited number of voters dictates a limited number of Parties. Because of this, the splintering of Our Cohesive and Collective Power has never progressed beyond the next five years.

Any group with a solid agenda, contesting another group whose five-year performance has been poor, has the opportunity to unite the cohesive will and the collective spirit of the people.

In Montserrat’s short voting history, no more than three Parties have ever contested an election at any one time. Under this approach, there were few Independent Candidates and their chances of winning, were distant possibilities.

While the flexibility of choice was limited to Party selection, the chance for Progress, Development, and Improvement in the Quality of Life could be promoted, assessed and mandated by the voters, before those who were elected took office.

The Voting At-Large System, does not eliminate Party politics. It offers voters more choices and greater flexibility when electing their political representatives. The At-Large system also has the potential to produce more effective and accountable leadership because voters will have the opportunity to select the best qualified candidates who all represent the same constituency. Under this new system, Parties and Independent Candidates will also compete for the public’s attention.

While these could be considered improvements, the major flaw of the At-Large system lies in its potential to devastate the cohesive unity of the Society, much like our volcano.

The frustrations and disappointments that the Party System has generated over the years has created a pessimistic mentality among the voters even though it has had limited success in its few good periods.

Last election:--

• Three Parties and a host of independent candidates competed for the seven seats without any agenda, manifesto, ideology, program or message that appealed to the Masses.
• One Party failed miserably during its term in office; another could not gain the popular support of the people; and the third, based its support on an old Party structure without an ideology the people could understand.
• The election was characterized by substandard party groupings, alliances based upon opportunity rather than on National Policies, and Independent candidates with little or no exposure.
• There was very little that the people could grasp or follow, and the absence of decisive, effective leaders in whom they could place their trust.
• The seven elected members could not produce an agenda or plan endorsed by the people, nor could they project an ideology that would create a foundation upon which the people could build.

Consequently, the people have suffered a lame-duck government for almost five years with a variety of combinations of seven out of the nine Legislative Council members sitting on the Executive Council during its tenure. This resulted in strange groupings, with agendas of their own, setting an agenda for us.

Under the old Party System, the possibility to correct five years of inadequacy would have been a given. Unless adequate preparations are made, it is likely that the next five years will be worse than the previous five under the Voting At-Large system.

• Poor performance from those we elect;
• Voters frustrated with politicians who ask for their opinion once every five years and then rule them with benign contempt until their time is up;
• The likelihood that each voter will have to select nine candidates from as many as sixty candidates, leading to poor choices being made, which, in turn, will lead to further erosion of the system and the demolition of the People’s cohesive will and collective spirit;
• Nine individuals, without an agreed plan designed to benefit the people;
• A combination of five individuals willing to be bought for five years;
• Strangers putting their agenda in place while the People continue to languish with little hope of progress or improvement in the quality of their lives.

Unless the Political Activists, the Political and Social Scientists, and the aspiring Politicians start educating themselves and the voters now, the possibility that the Social and Political fabric of Our Society will be shattered beyond repair is virtually certain. Once established, the exploiters and opportunists will ensure that it is never made whole again.

Without a unified and cohesive agenda, without a mandate from the People for a five-year plan, there will be just another five years of lame-duck combinations, with Ministers securing their salaries for as long as they can.

If we ever hope to escape from British colonial clutches, we cannot allow this new at large system to become a free for all. Our would-be politicians must:

• unify on a common theme, and present some clear choices and direction for the voters, else, our political fabric will be torn to shreds
• have an agenda that goes beyond personal aggrandizement and power so the new system will ensure that the people of Montserrat escape from the clutches of the colonial system.

Without an agenda and a mandate from the people, there will be no progress for the People of Montserrat, as We make Our way out of the conditions that placed Us here.

Fellow Montserratians, the elections are only one week away. On April 2^nd we all have to make a very important decision. We have to decide on the next government of Montserrat.

We have to decide, and not leave it to chance. The new electoral system creates a situation where one cancels out their choice by voting for both sides, and if you make a choice of a government, but give one or two votes to independent candidates, a popular independent, getting votes from both sides, may get more votes than four or five members of the team you want. As a result, the team you want to win will not form the government.

It is therefore important that if you choose the NewPLM and want me to be in your next government, that you give us all nine of your votes.

In 1996, I pleaded with the winning independent candidates to form a government of National Unity.

The only response I got was, "The election over, is only four jobs to share now."

You do have a choice. You can vote for candidates as individuals and leave it to chance as to who forms the next government.

But Montserratians, and all residents of our homeland, this is something that we cannot afford to do.

We cannot afford to risk putting in charge of this country, again, somebody that makes decisions that hurt people. The leader of the NPP can read, write, see and hear, yet he continues to make statements such as " nobody can tell what the volcano may do." He needs to watch a pot of milk boiling over to get the message and forget about the butterflies.

I cannot understand why the library project was not transferred from Plymouth to the North, why millions of dollars of work was allowed to continue on the hospital after it was obvious that Plymouth would be covered. Why the port workers and refuse collectors were put out of work. Why the rice factory was not transferred to the North so it could continue bringing us money. The list of bad and harmful decisions, which were made in the past; are well known to everyone.

I can excuse ignorance, but I cannot accept dishonesty, such as inviting CARICOM Nationals to a party at the Vue Pointe Hotel and telling them that the NewPLM is going to send them all home. Nothing could be further from the truth. We in the NewPLM are committed to Caribbean Integration and unity, and would like to see a situation where we could work in each other’s territories without work permits.

A large part of our work force was lost to the United Kingdom and will not return without incentives, and it is therefore important for our CARICOM Nationals to stay to help our economic recovery.

We have been given $40 million to spend on housing over the next three years. About half of that should go on salaries and wages and we hope that these salaries and wages will generate more housing construction and business development. We want those Caribbean Nationals who have chosen to live here to be secure, and to aspire to having a home and a family like all Montserratians. We are committed to making sure that those who live in Friths and areas near to Belham Valley will have safe shelter and support right here in Montserrat, if ever they have to move temporarily. They will not have to run for the boat. They won’t have to risk losing their household furniture and belongings that they have worked hard to get.

The New PLM will manage the housing developments in such a way that money filters down to the small man. That it becomes plenty love and money for everyone, not just the close friends of those in power.

The election of the NewPLM will mean a new era. Our supporters will know they have a continuing say in decisions of Government. The people of Montserrat will see the rise of many locally owned profitable businesses. There will be restoration of reliable, cheap shipping services; we will not run out of cement or nails. There will be prompt implementation of housing and other projects with surgical urgency, proper supervision and provision of health services, growth of manufacturing and export businesses and more regular television programmes by Tropic Film Studios.

We cannot leave the choice of our government to chance. Pick a team that will have Dr. John Osborne, Mrs. Annie Dyer-Howe, Mr. Chedmond Browne, Mr. John Wilson, Mr. Joseph Meade, Mr. Claude Hogan, Mrs. Idabelle Meade, Mr. Eustace Dyer and your humble servant, Dr. Lowell Lewis, in your government. We want to be there to make the right decisions for you. Do not leave it to chance. Pick our team by voting for the NewPLM, the New People’s Liberation Movement.

Thank you.

Fellow Montserratians, friends, and supporters everywhere, we will be called upon to make important choices on the 2nd of April and the decisions which we as individuals make on that day will effectively chart the course which must be followed for several years to come. The importance of making the right choices cannot be stressed too much.

Men and women of integrity, honesty, ability and determination must be selected. Our new leaders must come with new ideas, knowing when to give a little and when to stand firm. They must demonstrate a sincere willingness to learn and they must never be allowed to forget that the people who elected them are their bosses. Our leaders must not demand or seek gratitude from the electorate for what they try to do. When a political leader says that the people are not grateful for what he thinks he has done it is an affront to Montserratians and such a leader does not deserve public support.

It is a known fact that the leopard does not change its spots and it can be argued that people do not really change their ways. They may make some minor amendments to suit specific circumstances but fundamentally they remain the same. So, in making our choices on election day it would be well for us to reflect and choose candidates who have not been tainted by any perceived or real dishonest act and who may have repented of such an act, remembering that open confession is good for the soul and, in our case, the people.

We must select candidates of known ability and integrity. Candidates who have stood with us in our times of greatest difficulty to offer even a kind word to those most afflicted by natural disaster, be it hurricane or volcano. We must ignore the heartfelt cry of the loosely put together parties who try to make us believe that coalitions cannot work for Montserrat. The parties are both hastily assembled coalitions. There have been few or no long-term affiliations within either of them and I will say that most of the individuals in these groupings have failed to demonstrate the courage of their convictions, that is, when their former associations are considered.

This brings me to the point where I invite our bosses, the electorate, to consider me, Eddie Edgecombe, and indeed other independent candidates in light of what I have stated. Even a cursory examination will reveal that I am eminently suitable to lead us on the path to sustainable recovery. Any new leader must be capable of unifying our country. I will bridge that great divide which currently exists between the major political factions in our society. With my leadership we will become a unified people again and be able to demand world respect and commendation.

So, on April 2^nd VOTE EDDIE EDGECOMBE - I WILL AND CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

FORM NUMBER 11 A

TAKE NOTICE that a poll will be taken for the election of all members to serve in the legislative council. The poll will be opened on the 2^nd day of April 2001, at the hour of 7 o’clock in the forenoon and keep opened till the hour of 6 O’ Clock in the afternoon in the following polling stations, that is to say-

Polling Address of Polling Stations Voters allotted thereto:

Division

1. Montserrat Secondary School Polling Station 1-Surnames A-H
2. Montserrat Secondary School Polling Station 2- Surnames I-Y
3. St. Peters Community Centre Polling Station 1- Surnames A- H
4. St Peters Nurses Home Polling Station 2-Surnames I-W
5. Brades School Polling Station 1-Surnames A-K
6. Brades School Polling Station 2- Surnames L-Y
7. Gwen Fenton’s House Polling Station 1- Surnames A-D
8. Wesleyan Holiness Church Polling Station 2- Surname E-Y
9. EOC Polling Station 1- Surnames A-H
10. EOC Polling Station 2- Surnames I-Y
11. Lookout School Polling Station 1- Surnames A-K
12. Lookout School Polling Station 2- Surnames L-W

The Candidates in the above election are as follows-

Candidates

• BRAMBLE, Hylroy L
• BROWNE, Chedmond
• BROWNE, Claude Austin A
• BUFFONG, Vernon
• CASSELL, Justin N
• CASSELL-SEALY, Roselyn
• DALEY, Lenroy ‘Slym’
• DYER, Eustace
• DYER-HOWE, Margaret ‘Annie’
• EDGECOMBE, ‘Charles Eddie’
• GREAVES, Clarence E
• HOGAN, Claude E S
• IRISH, Christopher S
• JAMES, Victor
• KIRNON, Charles T
• LEWIS, Lowell L
• MALONY, Anthony
• MEADE, Idabelle
• MEADE, Joseph
• MEADE, Reuben T
• OSBORNE, James R
• OSBORNE, John A
• ROMEO, Donaldson
• TUITT, Adelina E
• WATTS, Camilla A
• WILSON, John

The number of votes given to the several candidates will be counted on the 2^nd day of April 2001, at the Brades Primary School Compound of which all persons are hereby required to take notice and govern themselves accordingly.

Dated this 20^th day march 2001

DID YOU KNOW THE FOLLOWING?

1. If you put more than one X against a candidate's name all of the votes on the entire ballot will be rejected.
2. You cannot put the X any place on the paper other than to the right of the name in the box provided.
3. A tick √ against a name will not count as a vote.
4. Your signature on the ballot will result in the rejection of the entire ballot.
5. If you make more than nine Xs on the ballot, all the votes will be rejected.
6. You do not have to vote for nine persons if you do not wish to. You can for any number of candidates from one to nine.
7. No voting symbol other than an X will count.
8. You should not place your X on the photograph of the candidate for whom you are voting.
9. You should not place your X in the box which contains the name, address and occupation of the candidate.
10. There are 26 names on the ballot paper -13 in each column; and the surnames are all written in alphabetical order.