Where did you ever hear that a Credit Union could be on the political platform? I just want all people in Montserrat to know that this is the 6^th loan that I got from the Credit Union and every time I go for my loan they give it to me.I want everybody to understand that they can’t mash up the credit Union and that they can't let the PLM Party mash up the Credit Union. No Credit Union member should vote for them. And even if you have other reasons to vote for them, what can we expect from them.

Credit Union Member 

Dear Sir

I wish to use your newspaper to state my displeasure with the kind of political campaigning that is going on in Montserrat right now.

There are some people who all of us must ensure continue to live in Montserrat and look after our interest because they are capable and caring.

And when we let politics and deceitful politicians destroy these people and the companies that they run, then we are heading down straight into hell.

I think that now that we have the right to vote we must keep all these people out of office. They are no good for us. They are putting people's private business all out on the road for everyone to see. They are causing deep divisions in a country as small as ours with their deliberate lies. They are causing panic in our financial institutions. How could these people say that they are giving us plenty love and plenty money? They are trying to make us lose our money; and my God, where is the love?

How can anyone use a report, even if it says what they say from 1997, without saying anything else about now? It is now the people are running, in 2001, and the report was from 1999 and the government haven't released anything about it. I wonder how they really got it.

And then look at who's talking, scandal after scandal, off-shore banking, galvanize, ministers finally giving up in belief of all they could take no more.

We were willing to forget. The campaign was going good. Maybe if this was in the 1980s they could fool us, but I have problems getting this and I don't know with what conscience anyone will vote for these kind of people.

A worried Montserratian

Dear Editor,
I would like to thank the people of Montserrat for their kind hospitality during the visit my father, Charles Salt, and I made to the island from March 16 to March 20. Everyone we met was helpful and friendly, and we very much enjoyed a number of the St. Patrick's Day activities on the island. I would like to specially thank the staff of the Montserrat Public Library and the congregation of the Beulah Wesleyan Holiness Church in St. Peter's for being so welcoming.

Sincerely,

Orientation training for the persons who will facilitate the April 2nd general elections was done this week.

Supervisor of Elections Dr. Howard Fergus said training sessions were held for presiding officers, polling clerks, counting agents and the assistants to the Returning Officers.

He said the training would make officers more able to administer the elections and ensure that everything goes safely.

More than 50 persons, along with tally clerks representing the political parties and independent candidates, will facilitate the electoral process that begins at 7 a.m. on April 2nd.

Dr. Fergus said some of the vote counting will be done manually and some using computers. Six counting stations linked to a co-ordinating centre and Radio Montserrat will be set up at the Brades Primary School.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Office intensified its efforts at instructing persons on how to vote in the general elections.

A call in programme was held on Monday evening on Radio Montserrat at 8 o’clock where Dr. Fergus sat in with journalists Cathy Buffonge and Bennette Roach.

Dr. Fergus said other sessions were held with different groups and workers throughout this week.

Live coverage of the results as they unfold are being planned to be done jointly with Peoples Television and Radio Montserrat.

A Budgetary Monitoring Committee had its first meeting on Monday following a brief opening ceremony

The Honourable Financial Secretary John Skerritt, who opened the event, said that the committee was established to monitor the objectives of the budget and recommend actions where problems arise.

The committee is chaired by the Financial Secretary. Other members include the Director of Development, who is the deputy leader, permanent secretaries, the accountant general, Chief of Staff in the Chief Minister's office, the principal assistant secretary for finance, the budget analyst, and the economic and financial advisor.

Mr. Skerritt ended his opening address with the reminder that in times of acute scarcity, "the greater is the need to budget, to prioritise and to be creative. It is also true that in these stringent times the public and the system in general are less tolerant to even the minutest mistake and are pedantic in reviewing information presented."

His Excellency Governor Anthony Abbott and the Honourable Chief Minister David also addressed the members of the Budget Monitoring Committee.

Governor Abbott said while the concept of budget committees is not a new one it is good for Montserrat at this time.

"I am particularly pleased that the objective is not to see how much one can get from the Ministry of Finance," the governor said. "Rather it focuses on how efficiently the moneys allocated are being spent, designing and evaluating decisions and policies based on performance indicators and recommending adjustments to policy to meet departmental and broader government goals."

He warned that financial planners and government ministers are going to have to be more realistic.

"The principle of Value for Money (VFM) is the watchword for all Ministers and civil servants in Britain," he said."Ministers and civil servants in Montserrat can expect the same standards to be applied to them, as long as British aid funds continue to flow."  

Chief Minister Brandt, who was beginning his last week in office as Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, had some assurance for his successors. "Based on my experience of working with those of you attending this meeting, as well as several other senior civil servants, the new government will be able to rest assured that it will be supported by a team of competent and professional technical personnel," he said.

He expressed his sense of satisfaction that "despite the dissolution of Parliament several weeks ago, and despite the fact that we have had only two ministers in office, the business of government has continued to run smoothly and with responsibility."

He finally warned and his own advice: "Montserrat needs to set an achievable target for coming out of budgetary aid. We must all be painfully aware of the constraints and conditions that accompany budgetary assistance. There can be no doubt the sooner we are able to free ourselves from the need for budgetary aid, the better."  

Governor Anthony Abbott announced his week that the volcano Executive Group had decided to allow reopening of the Western Day Time Entry Zone (DTEZ) for certain limited periods beginning Thursday.

The Eastern Day Time Entry Zone remains closed.

Opening times for the Western Zone, which coincide with the availability of the helicopter, are from 10:30 to 15:00 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The Western DTEZ is defined as Cork Hill, Delvins, Weekes Road, Foxes Bay and Richmond Hill.

This relaxation of the current restrictions follows a downturn in volcanic activity. It is hoped that, if the Soufriere Hills remain quiet, restrictions may be eased further. However, in the event of any escalation in volcanic activity, the daytime entry zone may have to be closed again at short notice. Whilst in the Day Time Entry Zone, people must listen to radio ZJB for any announcements. In the event of an instruction to evacuate the Day Time Entry Zone, drivers are asked to use their vehicle horns to alert others in the area. 

In a subsequent press release, these rules for access were issued:

• A maximum of 10 vehicles will be admitted for the two-hour period from 10:30 to 12:30 each day.
• A maximum of 10 vehicles will then be admitted for the two-hour period from 13:00 to 15:00 each day.
• No one under the age of 16 years will be admitted.
• All persons should be in possession of ash masks.
• Vehicles must be in reliable condition.
• Drivers must drive with great care.
• Vehicles with all occupants on board must exit Belham gate by the time signified as the end of the two-hour period. Failure to do so will lead to the refusal of access on future occasions.

People who wish to arrange access should call at or telephone Salem Police Station. Places will be allocated on a first come first serve basis and daily announcements will be made on radio ZJB. Multiple booking will not be accepted. In the event of a low demand or failure to attend on time for access, places may be allocated.  

The raffle for the cultural centre has raised $35,000.

The Governor’s wife, Mrs. Margaret Abbott, and a group of volunteers organized the raffle, which raised funds for seating for the new centre.

Although tickets were sold throughout the region, most of the money was raised in Montserrat and Mrs. Abbott expressed gratefulness for the support of residents here.  

The recent London Palladium benefit event, "Fred Astaire, His Daughter’s Tribute," met all three of its goals, according to Montserrat Foundation Board member Marcia Mitchell, one of the event’s producers.

“Our goals were to raise funds, to use the event as a forum for getting out the word that Montserrat and its people have a viable future, and to broaden the Foundation’s funding base,” Mrs. Mitchell said.

Foundation Board member Michael Kennedy, who is the Foundation’s liaison in London and who served as financial manager, among other duties, presented a preliminary report to the Board indicating that the funds going to the Foundation will exceed EC$300,000. In all, more than 70 percent of contributions in support of the show were from sources new to the Foundation. The show itself, with donated goods and services, covered all costs of the fundraising project.

Numerous media interviews and talk show appearances in London provided Ava Astaire McKenzie with the opportunity to talk about Montserrat and to help counteract negative “gloom and doom” reports about the island. Sir George Martin, whose hugely successful Music for Montserrat event raised necessary funding to launch the new Cultural Centre, was on the Palladium stage to talk about the island and its future. Both HE Governor Anthony Abbott and Chief Minister David S. Brandt spoke at a fundraising luncheon in London, which was covered by Hello Magazine.

“All four did a marvelous job of getting out the message,” Mrs. Mitchell said.

Foundation Chairman D.R.V. Frank Edwards has expressed deep appreciation to Ava Astaire McKenzie, to Lynda Trapnell of Musical Stages in London, to the event’s organizers, and to the more than 60 cast members who performed in the show.

“This event is Mrs. McKenzie’s gift to the Foundation,” Mr. Edwards said. “She has expressed her desire that the funds go to the new Cultural Centre and programs in music and dance for our talented young people.” Her contribution will be in the name of her father, film legend Fred Astaire.

Mrs. Mitchell said that organizing and producing the event took well over a year of full-time volunteer work. “Everyone associated with the project was a volunteer,” she said. “This includes our great London team, Lynda Trapnell, Bill Deamer, Tim Flavin, and Nick Davies. Even the cast, many of whom are top London stage performers, donated their time, as did our Hollywood stars.”

All Foundation Board members and friends working on the event not only became financial Patrons, but also paid all of their own expenses to travel to and stay in London, according to Mr. Kennedy. He added that they also paid all of their own out-of-pocket costs.

Both Mr. Kennedy and Mrs. Mitchell expressed deep appreciation to all of the Patrons and contributors who made the event possible. Special thanks went to London’s Savoy Hotel, which housed the visiting stars, and to Aer Lingus for their gift of free airline tickets for the stars. In addition, American Airline’s Washington, D.C. office provided free tickets for Jane Powell and Richard Moore. Other major supporters were The Bull Foundation, the Elizabeth Firth Wade Endowment, and the DaimlerChrysler Corporate Fund. Brian Turner, famed London TV chef and owner of Turner’s restaurant, and Veuve Clicquot Champagne, together hosted the after-show reception at the Palladium Theatre.

”The success of the event is a tribute to the work of all involved in planning, organizing, and production - in the US, London, and Ireland, where Mrs. McKenzie resides,” Mr. Edwards noted.. Further, he said, an important key to the project’s success was worldwide respect for the legendary Fred Astaire and his daughter, Ava.  

After two days of deliberations at the Rex Grenadian Resort in Grenada, the two parties agreed that the Working Group will address any outstanding issues within the framework of the MOU.

OECS Chairman and Prime Minister of Grenada Dr. The Hon. Keith Mitchell said he is satisfied with the level of work done to advance the negotiations. “ I believe that we are close to signing an agreement with which we can all be satisfied. It’s been a challenging process, but we have come a long way together.”

Dr. Mitchell said the agreement will have significant benefits for the people of the OECS, including the employees of Cable & Wireless.

In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer of Cable & Wireless West Indies Limited, Mr. Errald Miller said, “ At the outset, I made a commitment to seeing this process through, and we are almost there. While there are still some outstanding issues to be resolved, I am confident that we are at a stage where both parties can be satisfied with the progress made so far.”

Mr. Miller said Cable & Wireless is keen to see the market liberalized and expects that the company will be a major player in the new marketplace.

He restated the commitment of Cable & Wireless to compete in the Caribbean, and said that “the company stands ready to work with the OECS to ensure that this new liberalization process benefits Governments, the company’s employees, customers and, indeed, all stakeholders”.

The two teams have agreed to the principle of rebalancing between domestic and international tariffs, to be substantially achieved during the transition period.

The parties have agreed that the first phase of liberalization would provide for domestic mobile competitors, Internet service providers, competitive provision of customer premises equipment (CPE), and licensing of VSATs for call center/data entry operations.

A signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding is being planned to take place shortly.

Trinidad, CANA - Sexual abuse among young children in Trinidad and Tobago is on the increase, Acting Police Commissioner Everald Snaggs has said.
"We cannot bury our heads and pretend the problem of child abuse does not exist in this country. It does," Mr. Snaggs said Monday at the opening of a four-day training session of police women and social officers on interviewing victims of sexual abuse.
He said in 1999 police investigated 272 cases of sexual abuse among children, while in 2000 there was a "startling increase" of 146 percent to 617 cases.
The police chief said victims of sexual abuse resort to violence and criminal actions themselves when they are unable to cope with the emotional and psychological trauma that accompanies this type of abuse.
The training seminar was a joint effort of the Canadian Gender Equality Programme, the Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the police service.

St. Kitts, CANA - The St. Kitts and Nevis Cabinet on Monday endorsed an initiative of Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas and Attorney General Delano Bart to seek a closer national security relationship with the government of the United States, a statement issued Wednesday said.
The initiative is aimed at "curbing the recent crime wave and anti-social behaviour that has been plaguing the country and confounding the local police force," the statement said.
The request for government to mobilise outside assistance came in response to calls from citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis, the social partners and the opposition People's Action Movement (PAM) following a meeting on Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour held at the Fairview Inn on February 6.
"The initiative on Capitol Hill follows closely the government's action of legislating "special police powers" to members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force in the Defence Force (Amendment) 2001 Act passed on February 28, during a sitting of the National Assembly," according to the press release.
The United States presently enjoys a close working relationship with the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force which over the years has been supplied with coast guard vessels, vehicles, equipment, and engaged in local and overseas training.

Dr. Douglas said the government welcomes the assistance of the United States to local forces in maintaining the national security of St. Kitts and Nevis, especially its campaign against the international illegal narcotics trade.  

His Excellency the Most Reverend Emil Paul Tscherrig is the new Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See, accredited to Antigua and Barbuda.

His Excellency presented his credentials this week to the Governor General His Excellency Sir James Carlisle and later paid a courtesy call on the Honourable Prime Minister Lester Bird.  The Apostolic Nuncio also met with senior officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassador Tscherrig met Prime Minister Bird at the Parliament Building, when the House of Representatives had taken the luncheon adjournment.  The Prime Minister urged the Pope to use the moral authority to speak out on behalf of small states on such issues as Global Warming, Reform of the WTO and OECD Harmful Tax Competition.

Antigua and Barbuda established diplomatic relations with the Holy See on December 15th, 1986.

Ambassador Tscherrig replaces His Excellency the Most Reverend Eugenio Sbarbaro, and brings much experience to his new tour of duty, having served in the Apostolic Nunciature in Uganda, Korea, Bangladesh and finally in the Secretariat of State (Vatican City).

The Apostolic Nunciature in Port of Spain covers a huge geological area, including 12 independent states of the Caribbean.

In addition to being Vatican Ambassador, Father Tscherrig is also the Apostolic delegate, the Pope's representatives to the Catholic Church in various countries.

The Vatican Ambassador also paid courtesy calls on Mrs. Sandra Murphy, the Acting British High Commissioner to Antigua and Barbuda, and His Excellency Mr. Jose Silva Mendez, the Ambassador of Venezuela to Antigua and Barbuda.

Ambassador Tscherrig left Antigua and Barbuda on Thursday.  

St. Vincent, CANA - Lawyer/politician Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, fondly referred to by many simply as "Comrade Ralph," was sworn in Thursday as Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for a five-year term.
Dr. Gonsalves led the Unity Labour Party (ULP) to a landslide victory in Wednesday's general election.

After a nine-month elections campaign dominated by promises of "good governance" and massive job creation, the party romped to victory, taking 12 of the 15 parliamentary seats declared by the Electoral Office.
The ULP, a merger of two opposition forces, routed the New Democratic Party (NDP) after 16 unbroken years of rule. The NDP won just three seats, including that of outgoing Prime Minister Arnhim Eustace.
Dr. Gonsalves, a middle-aged lawyer once billed as a fiery Marxist, has been on the political hustings in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the past 30 years.
He came close to the prime ministership in the 1998 general election, when his party -- a merger of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Labour Party and the Movement for National Unity -- lost by a single seat.
But since then the ULP made heavy inroads into the power base of the NDP, even though losing two of its prominent figures: lawyer Stanley John and Ken Boyea.
Mr. John and Mr. Boyea contested the election under the banner of the People's Progressive Movement (PPM), but the new party suffered a crushing defeat.

In an address late Wednesday night, Dr. Gonsalves called for a healing of the nation after the hard-fought election. He said now was a time for healing, love, peace and unity.
He listed among his government' priorities job creation, education, health, sports, the elderly and the disadvantaged.

K. Dwight Venner, Governor of the Eastern Central Bank, told a two-day conference at ECCB headquarters in St. Kitts that the changes and innovations in the international financial system are among the most profound and far reaching in today’s globalized and liberalized economy.

He gave the feature address in opening the conference on Financial Globalization: Issues and Challenges for Small States at the ECCB Auditorium Tuesday morning.

Mr. Venner said that countries in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union have chosen the domestic financial sector as most appropriate in the development effort, given its comparative advantage over the real sector in terms of technology, the availability of skilled workers, access to information and connection to the external world.

The regional programme of money and capital market development, he noted, seeks to  increase the size of the financial market and allow us for the creation of financial institution, such as the now established Eastern Caribbean Home Mortgage Bank, the eastern Caribbean Stock Exchange, the eastern Caribbean Enterprise Fund and the eastern Caribbean Union Trust

Policy makers, economist and academics from several countries, including Fiji, Malta, the Seychelles, Mauritius and the Caribbean, as well as representative from international organization attended the confrence, which was hosted by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank in partnership with the World Bank and the Foundation for International studies, Islands and Small States Institute, Malta.

By Peter Adrien

Kensington Oval; Ebenezer; oh what a feeling! Could this be the spot for an amazing West Indian triumph? Could the Oval be the place where the West Indies team under new leadership comes of age? Could this occasion mark the return to the winning ways?

Could the Oval signal Brian Lara’s return?           

The Jewish nation is well acquainted with extraordinary interventions. But during the period of the Judges, one such deliverance still holds special national significance. Ebenezer is a memorial of the deliverance granted the nation of Israel by Jehovah from the oppressive and merciless Philistines during the ministry of Prophet Samuel. The stone of power was set up as a boundary of their victory and the enemy’s flight between Mizpeh and Shen, reminding all generations, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”  

The West Indian nation needs a miraculous intervention. Could the Kensington Oval set between the Queen’s Park Oval (the venue for the second Test match) and the Antigua Recreation Ground (the venue for the fourth Test match) be the place where voices are raised in praises to our Christian, Hindu and Moslem, Rastafarian and African gods for a memorable victory? 

We need an unforgettable victory because we are hurting as a nation. Dr. Nigel Camacho’s lamentations on the ill-fated Australian tour still ring in our ears: "To sit down and watch what is taking place Down Under has gone from painful, to cynical, to unbearable, to just plain ridiculous. How difficult it must be for past West Indian cricketers, who helped build a once proud reputation, to endure what is currently taking place. I am certain, even for West Indians who do not like or understand the game of cricket, this must affect them as well. … Right now we are a hurting 'nation'.”

Since the first Test match in Guyana, we have seen some signs of renewal under captain Carl Hooper. The evidence strongly suggests that there is a renewal of cricketing life; a quickening of the process of the cricketing intellect and nerve-centre; and the resurrection from cricketing deadness. West Indies cricket, in all its forms, never died. And conceptually, one cannot speak of the death of West Indies cricket. The death, that is, the state of despondency, the state of indiscipline and indiscretion that hitherto fettered the growth and development of West Indies cricket, crippled performance, induced a spirit of apathy among the Caribbean people and created the ideal conditions for our humiliation, embarrassment and disgrace, seems now to be a figment of the imagination.

If, to some, the ill-fated South African tour in 1998/99 and the debacle at Queen’s Park Oval in the match (against the Australians) which immediately followed, pointed to the “death” of West Indies cricket, the Herculean victory at the Sabina Park (in the Test match which followed) together with the rear-guard action of the West Indian batsmen in the first innings at the Kensington Oval Test (which followed the Sabina game), particularly the charge of then captain Brian Lara in the second innings, certainly signaled the awakening of West Indies cricket.

Now the challenge is even greater for Brian Lara. His team is up against it and badly needs to reverse the trend. For the first time, his place in the team is being questioned; and even his Trinidadian followers are getting impatient with their erstwhile run-machine. I was very shocked when I was asked by a group of knowledgeable and die-hard Trinidadian West Indian cricket fans at the Queen’s Park Oval, “When are you all going to drop Brian?” This would have been unheard of in the twin-island state a few years ago. 

The intervention seemed intelligent and did not appear to be motivated by self-interest. In fact the enquiry is very rational. It is obvious that in the new-look team, Brian Lara is no longer indispensable. He, like any other player, must earn his place on the team or must be replaced by a better performer. And, from being close to the team, I get the feeling that he knows that truth.

And the arithmetic supports their enquiry. The statistics show that Brian is the only one in the batting lineup who has not amassed at least a half-century since his confessed under-performance in Australia. The database shows: Wavell Hinds (56 in 163 minutes); Chris Gayle (81 in 218 minutes); Marlon Samuels (51 in 280 minutes); Ramnaresh Sarwan (91 in 209 minutes); Carl Hooper (69, 53 and 54 not out in 606 minutes) and Ridley Jacobs (93 in 235 minutes). Brian Lara has accumulated 45, 47, 12, and 0 in a total of 299 minutes, and has failed to exhibit the leadership, resilience and tenacity that is expected from a world-class batsman and a pedigree high-value cricketer. 

The youngsters (Marlon Samuels and Ramnaresh Sarwan) are putting Brian Lara under immense pressure to keep his place in the team at a time when his undoing is due primarily to his impatience – that is, his inability to apply himself like he did when he dominated the world. The conventional wisdom among cricket commentators is that the master craftsman seems to be trying to hard. He needs to play natural game.  

Well, he is definitely under pressure (just after two years) at the very same venue where he helped us raise our Ebenezer against Australia in 1999. He then single-handedly led with the flashing blade like Alexander the Great. This time, the clarion call is “produce or perish.” We need him to produce.

The leadership on the field is excellent. Colin Croft is spot on: “Carl Hooper is exactly what the West Indies cricket team needed, at this exact moment in time, as the captain. … Hooper commands respect without conjuring up any arrogance. He instills confidence without any need to overshadow the youth and their exuberance. He hopes this new commitment may be transmitted to some of the senior players who might still be set in their accustomed ways. Hooper's captaincy will eventually be suggested as a combination of the reincarnation of Sir Frank, Clive Lloyd and Sir Viv.”

These are the ingredients for being successful, both in winning Test matches and especially in molding and nursing young people.

Could they rise to the challenges at the Oval? And could this be the time? Will we raise our Ebenezer in Bimshire?

Trinidadian Calypsonian, social commentator and popular prophet David Rudder reminds the West Indian nation to “Give Praise!”  

Just as night follows day, so do consequences follow choices. We the people of Montserrat must make choices at the end of this very interesting 2001 election campaign.

We are supposed to tread through the schemes and plans presented by the politicians and choose the ones that we believe could represent us and protect us. Or so we hope.

But unfortunately the grandiose and high-falutin' plans and schemes presented during the election campaign are early warning signs that Montserratians should be protected from their politicians.

It seems that no matter how we vote, there will be unexpected consequences. And it does not matter which nine candidates get elected, they all have grandiose schemes. They will need immediate de-programming. They will need to touch base with reality and possibilities. They will need to be reminded of some simple truths -- truths that might ease the consequences of our choices.

The most important of these truths are: Firstly, no "quick fix" exists for the po1itica1 and economic revival of Montserrat; and secondly, the essence for our continued existence on Montserrat depends on our embracement of a significant number of truths.

I will attempt to share with you my opinions as to what are some of these truths.

The truth is... Britain has no plans to take 4,000 more Montserratians to the U.K. So those of us who choose to be here should settle down without fear of being forced to leave Montserrat and its volcano.

The truth is... Britain will not allow Montserrat to sink. Britain will continue to offer financial and technical support as long as it is necessary. But Britain will insist that proper procedures must be followed for requesting, implementing and accounting for the support.

The truth is... Montserrat must continue to manage its finances and develop its economy to achieve a balanced budget in the shortest possible time.

The truth is... Montserratians are not over taxed. But the success of our tax system rests with the acceptance and application of procedures for fair taxation and consistent collection of taxes due. This must be coupled with the application of procedures for controlled Government spending and the application of systems to encourage savings and investments, nationally and individually.

The truth is… our philosophy towards private ownership of lands has had the most retrogressive effect on our recovery from the volcano. The truth is... Most of the available lands have been allowed to lie unproductively idle, without a fruit tree or without a fowl pen; because it is "so called" privately owned land.

The truth is... Montserrat needs a land policy that will incorporate the involvement of experienced, modern developers to create affordable properties. Montserrat must never allow another Barzey's to happen, where persons cannot get electricity to their houses six months after they are built.

The truth is... Montserrat needs a town centre for its social, commercial and government business. And Little Bay will be that centre. The truth is... Even those who are busy establishing their businesses on Brades main road will be among the first to set up business at Little Bay.

The truth is... The people of Montserrat need an airport. And Gerald's will be used for that facility. The truth is... Even those who have a fixation on Thatch Valley will be among the first to praise the completed Gerald's Airport facility.

The truth is... Most Montserratians want to live a peaceful life with just enough money, just enough comfort, just enough happiness, just enough things.

The truth is... Many of us fear that in spite of the elections, the state of affairs will not improve.

The truth is... Britain has assisted us to introduce and develop modern systems which would improve the quality of life for all Montserratians, systems such as the social welfare program and hopefully a national health insurance scheme.

The truth is... From the depths of my heart, I can say, God Bless Britain and may the Lord continue to have mercy on Montserratians.

Do you agree with me that the way forward for Montserrat is to accept simple truths, and to work co-operatively to achieve possibilities in the shortest possible time? If you agree with me, then, why have we listened to the grandiose impossible schemes and plans of the candidates?

The truth is... What else could we do, but to listen and vote or not vote? We could also hope that somehow nine elected parliamentary representatives would quickly recognise the truth... That, what is good for politics and politicians is not always the best for Montserrat.

However, in spite of what we believe, or how we plan to vote, the ultimate truth is… We are all free to choose; But choices will lead to consequences. 

By Jones Sappiro

Really, tell me. Is who you want to run this country? You could pick the dream team. You could go for the boys from the lodge. You could pick the candidates with their one-man manifestos or you could vote in the bunch of terrorists who will assassinate characters and institutions at will.

You know life really funny. I listen to the independent candidates talk about how the parties are nothing but hurriedly thrown together groupings and how the party members have nothing in common. Okay there is some truth in that. When you put a pan-Africanist with a man charged with corruption and fraud and a goodly doctor together there really is not a lot in common here.

But when it comes to the lodge boys, well yes they have a lot in common. Don’t pay no mind to how they themselves are hurriedly thrown together. They should have formed a party at the beginning of the campaign, not at the end.

Look at the candidates who still running their one-man campaigns with their one-man manifestos. Are they really serious? They still talking about working with the best nine and they still have out their own manifestos. Come on guys, get real and give us all a break.

You want to talk about the dream team? Now that is team. That is the team that done gone clear. That is the team. The Y2K ready government. The government with the plan. The government of men and women who could walk with kings, have a drink with lowest and call up funders on the phone.

So is only the terrorists left. And tell me what are we going to do with men and women who terrorize whole financial institutions, assassinate people children good character, abuse spouses, put their children at risk, lie, get charged with corruption and rob and rape their own nation.

Hey all joking aside is who you voting for? Montserrat is at the crossroads. You cannot take a chance! You have to pick a group of people who will take Montserrat out of its economic slump. You have to choose a group of people who funders respect. You have to choose a group of people who over the years have proved that they have the people at heart. You have to get Montserrat a Government that has the capability to lead the country out of the mess that the volcano and the past governments have put us in.

Look at what is going on right now. There is a bunch of terrorists out there telling you to destroy a financial institution that has been here for over 50 years because they want to be in government at any costs. Look how they going all the way to Nevis for a man who has abandoned Montserrat to get him to destroy another institution with stupid lies and prevent it from raising money in the future by insinuating that there is a problem with it. The man so lie that he even lie about the auditors. Who are these people working for? Not the people of Montserrat! They are putting poor people’s money at risk. They are messing with Montserrat’s ability to raise funds in the region and internationally. They are assassinating every Montserratians with their nastiness and deceit and lies. These people are terrorists.

I tell you, every credit union member and every small business person should sue these people for trying to destroy their future, their life savings and the only institutions that have been here helping them out since the volcano began. So is these terrorists you want to put in government? Well God help us all. Because is now that we going to be living like refugee in other people country.

By now everyone done hear how the British just cannot work with a man, or is it two men? who they know is guilty of crimes of fraud and corruption against the nation. Men who fellow Montserratians set free who now come back to haunt us like so much jumbie. Men who call the British foolish and tell the world how they fool the British. Men who in the darkest days of Montserrat blatantly tried to rip off the country to put money in their own pockets and free roofs over their own heads. Men who just like Hitler are rabid dogs panting for power.

And is these terrorists and assassins telling you to vote for them? Hey, tell me, tell me really is who you voting for? Tell me is who you really want to run this country?  

The Preceding is a Paid For Political Article

Bennette Roach, president of the St. Patrick’s Co-operative Credit Union, responded this week on Radio Montserrat on to a political campaign attack on the Credit Union and its manager by the New People’s Liberation Movement (NewPLM) leader John Alfred Osborne.

In remarks recorded at a political campaign meeting in St. John’s, Mr. Osborne said, “I told you all that Roselyn Cassell should not go up for politics and likewise she should not run. Ladies and gentlemen she is the chief executive of the Union the Credit Union and all of you if you have money there you cannot get it because the Credit Union is bankrupt and you know how it bankrupt because she lend the money to herself and she no pay it back.”

Mr. Roach, acting on the decision of the Board of Directors of the co-operative society broadcast this reply to the attack by the 64-year-old NPLM leader.

 “The St. Patrick's Co-operative Credit Union is astounded that any person could bring the organisation on to a political platform, not to praise it for its stalwart performance in its contribution to the people of the island of Montserrat, but to bring it to ridicule and harm.

"What is worse is that the information being used to do this was dishonestly represented and misrepresented.”

Mr. Osborne based his revelation on a report which he said: “…in my hand here they don’t know that I have it, but this comes from the Governor’s office…Mrs. Roselyn Cassell has four loans which she lent to herself without the authority of the other members of the board, this is what the report says.”

I  then briefly explained the management of the Credit Union, that it is headed by a Board of Directors who set the policy and guidelines for the operations of the Credit Union and who are elected each year at an annual general meeting; that a Supervisory Committee (the watchdog for the members, also elected at the AGM, oversees even the board's activities, and the entire operations of the organisation; that the Credit Committee deals with loan applications of members with another committee called the Education Committee.

I pointed out that loans to staff (every staff member, no matter its size or any matter relating thereto) must be approved by the board of directors, and briefly outlined the problems faced during the first years of the crisis.)

His radio statement then continued:

I cannot sit here and make it appear that we didn't face problems like every other financial institution in Montserrat during this period, and probably moreso. Because our organisation is so people-based and run by its members, many, many of whom, including staff, were forced to evacuate, we scrambled for at least two years just to get people to fill committees for it to function.

It must be noted that the Board of Directors sets and approves loan policy and I will refer specifically to a note by the lady in her findings, which I believe is the section being misrepresented by the NPLM leader:

"It is a normal internal control procedure that no one individual should be responsible for transaction in its entirety. The executive director APPEARS to have unusual and significant control over the approval and disbursement of loans; she reschedules loans outside the loan policy and there is often no evidence to suggest the involvement of another individual.

It is true that Dr. Chadderton said that this "APPEARS" to be the situation, but it is at this point she should have sought clarification from myself, or the treasurer or some other board member.

"Her recommendation which followed immediately -- 'The internal control procedures of the organisation should be reviewed and strengthened as soon as possible' -- could have been avoided as her finding was already erroneous and unnecessary. That situation could never exist at the Credit Union except with the express authority of the Board of Directors.

The report, Mr. Osborne said, he obtained from the Governor’s office. The Governor has told me personally that he did not speak to anyone about any organization in Montserrat nor did he give any report to anyone.

The report, which is still to be discussed by Executive Council of Government following the response by the Credit Union Board of Directors, is dated 15^th November, 1999, and deals with the co-operative's financial statements for 1996, 1997 and the unaudited 1998 accounts.  The report took several months before it reached the CU's Board and a response was immediately passed on the Registrar. Since then three different firms of auditors have been appointed to carry out a full audit, with no reported conclusion. "Meanwhile the CU, which was prepared to wait for report by the auditors hired by government, has finally had to hire a firm of auditors to obtain audited statements to hold its now overdue annual general meeting.

The Board welcomed the now so widely misrepresented report, which followed a more than brief investigation by a Dr. Robertine Chadderton following the invitation which gave terms of reference that began: 'A difference of opinion arose during the course of the conduct of the 1996 and 1997 audit and even though the audits were completed, it was decided in the best interest of the organization to seek an independent opinion.'

The lady in her report stated very clearly: 'The work was carried out during the period September 30, 1999, and October 1, 1999. A full financial audit was NOT carried out since that was not the focus of the investigation.'

In many areas of the report the lady understandably used the words, 'it appears,' acknowledging that she did not -- as she could not -- do an in-depth study of the affairs of the Credit Union. Indeed she NEVER spoke to a single member of the executive body of the organisation, including myself as president. The report obviously had several misunderstandings of the true position of the Credit Union which, as naturally would be expected, was in no better position that any of the other financial institutions in Montserrat at the end of 1997. The report was done at the end of 1999 and it is now the end of March 2001.

The report focused on our of hundreds of delinquencies, only five staff members, all but one of whom, like many others, evacuated the island. That was at the end of 1997, but no update as of the situation two years later was presented that would show the improved situation. There is no Montserratian who could probably claim that at no point in 1997, were they not delinquent on their loans, not to mention those who would have left Montserrat, due to the volcanic crisis we faced, when the British Government worked hard to get every Montserratian to leave.

At no point in the report did it say even then that the Credit Union was bankrupt, although it is understandable, while not quite clear,  the lady's findings which said: 'Despite the growth in the members' investments (share savings, deposits, Christmas Club savings), The Credit Union is questionable as a financially solvent institution."'

Like every other financial institution in Montserrat then, the Credit Union was on the brink or below, but because of Credit Union philosophy being a people-first based organisation, it hung on; extending itself through the help of its sister organisations throughout the region and farther afield, it survived.

It is sad that today Mr. Osborne could still not bring himself to apologise and retract the statement he made about the bankruptcy of the Credit Union and the incorrect statements about the CU's outstanding executive director, who now offers herself as a candidate and happens to be in opposition to his party.

There is no Credit Union member at home or abroad -- and by extension their family -- who will not express their gratitude to the Credit Union for being there, assisting them through loans and otherwise, in just about every sphere of life, including the most focused-on need today, housing in Montserrat.

I asked Mr. Osborne, after explaining the situation demanded by his pronouncements, to retract or take back the statements he had made since they were erroneous, misleading and misrepresenting facts which were in any case far from current today.

The broadcast was on Tuesday evening and on Wednesday morning I was awakened by Mr. Osborne. He claimed he did not say the Credit Union was bankrupt. I read a transcript for him of what he had said, whereupon he said he doesn't recall saying that, but hearing what I said and what I further explained to him, he would go to ZJB later and would make a retraction. Mr. Osborne had agreed that he was dealing with a report dated 15^th November 1999, but said he wasn't even aware that it dealt only up to 1997, four years ago.

He pointed out that all he wanted to do was challenge Mrs. Sealy, who was presented as a strong leader, and that in politics you did anything you could to discredit your opponent. Mr. Osborne told me things I am sure he would not wish me to repeat about his usual campaigning strategy, which I am also sure would not be unusual to you.

In last night's ZJB newscast, Mr Osborne said: 'Mr. Roach said to me that I said the Credit Union is bankrupt. I can't remember saying that and I would never have said that. If I can remember correctly what I said (stammering) my colleagues -- I asked them what they understood me to have said -- was that if the Credit Union was in deficit of approximately $1 million , and the shareholders or the depositors, if they go and ask outright to withdraw their money, the Credit Union would be bankrupt. I don't want the general public to believe that I am against the Credit Union, and if I did say the Credit Union is bankrupt, that's a mistake, because that was never my intention to say the Credit Union is bankrupt.'

The transcript given at the beginning of this was from a recording done at the meeting at which Mr. Osborne began his attack.

Sadly, even before I heard this poor attempt at a retraction I had received information, confirmed by members of my staff, that they received in the mail a document purported to be a copy of the Report since it carried the title "REPORT TO THE REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVES ON ST. PATRICK'S CREDIT UNION by Robertine Chaderton Ph.D., FCCA - November 15^th, 1999.

It is unbelievable that any group of persons seeking to be elected to take over the reins of government would circulate a document that contains information which are private to a body of people whom they call brothers and sisters, before those persons to whom the report refers or concerns have perused it themselves. It must be irresponsibility beyond description for anyone to go to this length in an attempt to govern the very people they are trying to discredit and destroy, in this case the Credit Union and its members.

What everyone will find is that no where in the report does it say things that are being said about the report.

Bennette Roach also is publisher and editor of The Montserrat Reporter. 

Jus wonderin if there is electricity to the houses on Isles Bay hill, why can't phone lines be strung on the same poles as the power lines.

Jus wonderin the photo shows the C&W "mobile relay station" on top of Garibaldi Hill. It doesn't look very mobile, being made out of blocks and concrete; it also has two solar panels, so why does it have to rely on a generator.

Jus wonderin when awe a go stop talk about one another so bad even at dis election time.

Jus wonderin wha de man dem gat why the Jamaican and Guyanese a hang pan dem so.

Jus wonderin why me love to read jus wonderin.

Jus wonderin jus mek me laugh and crack up.

Jus wonderin who don't know what to make of all dem candidates.

Jus wonderin if and when one of dem party win if dem a go give a jam dung holiday.

Jus wonderin if jus wonderin can make jus wonderin page a bit longer and sweeter.

Jus wonderin if beef and pork so sweet wha awe a go do about de foot and mouth.

Jus wonderin wha we a go do bout NPP+PLM.

Jus wonderin about jus wonderin and wha awe a go do when they run out of words.

Jus wonderin if Jus wonderin a go take a holiday after election.

Jus wonderin if a love song or poem can touch the softest part of their heart and warm dem up.

Jus wonderin if jus wonderin fans dem run out of words.

Jus wonderin when you jus wonderin a go put jus wonderin in de book of world records.

Jus wonderin why lookout people and dem jus love to lookout so and wha de reason.

Jus wonderin if road dem in a lookout a one race track why the drivers can't take dem time.

Jus wonderin wha awe ago do bout the cattle dem dung a Thatch Valley dat a eat dung we plants dem.

Jus wonderin if it is really true and who know that Christianity and Politics don't mix.

Jus wonderin if the winning party will give a holiday so we can celebrate.

Jus wonderin if both party leaders were not to win their seats who of the rest of them will be Chief.

Jus wonderin if the other will really accept and work together for our sake.

Jus wonderin if a sweet awe de man dem sweet so why de Spanish women dem a hang pan we so. 

Jus wonderin wha de I DO mean in a marriage.

Jus wonderin if one and one mek two what is yes and no.

Jus wonderin why we can't help one another instead of fighting one another.

Jus wonderin wha wrong wid awe.

Jus wonderin why we de people no run for awe self.

Jus wonderin out loud what ever happened to first love.

Jus wonderin what is wrong with love, kisses, romance, joy and happiness why some men and women do look so down in the dumps at mornings.

Jus wonderin why LS never speak on domestic violence and missing funds.

Jus wonderin who claimed the Montserratian by boat on the breezy Hill.

Jus wonderin who thinks that the cleaners forget when she stop their pay during school holiday while she and the other teachers still collect their salaries.

Jus wonderin if the cattle farmer think we forget how he used to terrorize the farmers up East.

Jus wonderin who is the big executive that is under serious investigation.

Jus wonderin who could be so brazen to go seek political office.

Jus wonderin if the campaign of lies backfiring and mashing up the new old party plan.

Jus wonderin how dey plan to fight down the popular girl now?

Jus wonderin if dey goin have enough money to pay de girl.

Jus wonderin if Montserratians see how politics fall deep down in the gutter.

Jus wonderin if de belly will tek ova in dis election or awe will let common sense, pride and conscience wuk.

Jus wonderin what is the difference between the two parties and the group of independents.

Jus wonderin how much reconciliation the one party must make to change the old ones and curb the young ones.

Jus wonderin if there will be any battles be among the bigger intellectually skilled group.

Jus wonderin if the skills of the third group will fit in with either of the other or a mix of the groups.

Jus wonderin what the fights will be like or whether candidates will keep their word to work for the good of Montserrat if teaming up becomes necessary.

Jus wonderin if God gracing this country with a good watch on us.

Jus wonderin if it is true a country gets the government it deserves.

Jus wonderin how our heart will deal with it.

Jus wonderin if there will be any sadness in the next Montserrat Reporter.

Jus wonderin if the election will finish in one go.

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

C Weeks

Returning Officer.

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.

Office of Supervisor of Elections

Government Headquarters

Brades

Montserrat