RC School, Red Cross Share First $80,000 From London Concert
by Bennette Roach
Two Montserrat institutions this week received a total of US$80,000, the first donations to be made from the funds raised last September by the "Music for Montserrat" concert in London.
St. Augustine School received the first check, US$50,000, which was presented last Monday by Gov. Anthony Abbott. The second, for US$30,000, was presented on Friday by Gov. Abbott to the Montserrat Red Cross for the Golden Years Home Project.
(Left) St. Augustine School's temporary home, (Right) Gov. Abbot and Mrs Lystra Osborne
Golden Ages Home nearing completion
"Music for Montserrat," which was staged by Sir George Martin, raised more than Pounds 500,000, according to former Montserrat Governor David Taylor, one of the London trustees charged by Sir George and Lady Martin with overseeing the funds. Gov. Taylor, who was visiting the island, attended the Red Cross handing-over ceremony.
Sir George Martin, well-known to
many Montserratians, owned the prestigious Montserrat Air Studios at Water Works, which
were wrecked by Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
Mrs. Eileen Edwards, principal, accepted the check for St. Augustine School. Mrs. Lystra Osborne received the donation on behalf of the Red Cross. Both expressed their gratitude to Sir George and Lady Martin.
"For some time now," Mrs. Edwards said, "our facilities have been inadequate to meet our needs — two classrooms are presently held in the car park under less than adequate conditions.
"This donation will be of great assistance to us in expanding our facilities to provide a much improved learning environment for our school."
There are 86 students at St. Augustine School. About 95 percent of the original student population relocated overseas since the volcanic crisis started.
Mrs. Osborne expressed her happiness at the contribution, particularly because it goes toward the Golden Years Home, a near-$2-million project due to be completed in June.
Former Gov. Taylor said he was in Montserrat to seek out areas where other concerts could be spent. "I am a member of the trustees and what we have to do, is try to spend the money as sensibly as we can," Mr. Taylor said.
He pointed out that some Pounds50,000 of the money is "being allocated for Montserratians in the UK."
Mr. Taylor spoke of the Montserrat Project headed by Miss Lazelle Howes, and people "who have particular problems in obtaining benefits from the Social Security, who may have got accommodation, but may not have furniture and may not qualify for a loan to buy furniture. Pounds 1,000 or so can be made available to them to do that."
Of Sir George, Mr. Taylor said: "He put on this concert on 15th September, 1997. The artists performed well and they made a substantial sum of money. Only George would have had the ability to get together such a cast of stars, which included Elton John, Paul McCartney, Sting, Eric Clapton, Arrow, just to name a few."
All of these stars had recorded their music at the facilities at Air Studio.
Also visiting with the Red Cross Society this week was Mr. Jeff James of Helpage International in Jamaica. He said this was his second visit to Montserrat and was planned to coincide with Mr. Taylor’s stay and to update himself with the latest situation in Montserrat.
The Old People’s Welfare Association (OPWA) is an affiliate of Helpage International.
Brandt Speaks to Montserratians
by Staff Correspondent
Chief Minister David Brandt has been in Antigua where he was due to meet Montserratians this week-end.
Ahead of his meeting with relocated Montserratians on Sunday, on Thursday night Brandt was the special guest on the ABS Television, ‘Justice’. The programme focused on Montserrat, its present state and relations with Great Britain.
Chief Minister Brandt addressed the pace of development, and spoke of plans for accelerating the recovery as it relates to infrastructure and housing in the North of the Island. He said his administration had not lost sight of the difficulties but is resolve to cope with and overcome all the hurdles brought on the current crisis. On relations with Britain, Britain, Brandt said Montserrat will continue to seek for improvements in the present constitutional arrangements but the question of independence could not be a priority now and in the foreseeable future.
He said under the present constitutional arrangements, Britain still has a moral obligation to see that reasonable needs of the Island are met. As usual he expressed deep appreciation for the level of assistance received so far. Brandt also fielded several questions from Montserratians living in Antigua. Mr Brandt.
"Montserrat Looks Down the Road, But Where is the Map to Guide it?"
Chief Minister David Mr. Brandt, during his weekend visit to Antigua, spoke to listeners of the ABS Television program "Justice." He addressed such issues as the pace of development and plans for accelerating the Montserrat recovery as it relates to infrastructure and housing in the North of the island.
But the pertinent questions are whether Montserrat is moving towards a "Recovery," and whether there is a plan for this "Recovery." There is a general feeling that there is little or no direction, and this feeling is not without justification.
The main reason for this feeling seems to be that our government has no control over what is happening, what is about to happen, or what will happen, as far as Montserrat’s future is concerned.
The British Foreign Secretary the Rt. Hon. Robin Cook, was the last British politician to visit Montserrat. In one of his statements while here he referred to, "the economic and social future for all those people on Montserrat, who have chosen to make their future on the island. . . We want to work with the people here to turn this into a viable and successful society."
It may be important to note the reference to those "who have chosen to make their future on the island." If the reference was to the 3,000 people or so remaining on the island, it is possible that the wheels will grind even more slowly, never mind the commitments of what is considered huge sums of money. One of the grinds is the approval of the ‘housing mortgage scheme’. And even though the National Development Foundation is well on its way to approving small business loan applications, there may be some embarrassments ahead.
Little is forthcoming, however, from our decision-makers in terms of the way forward and their plans for the future of this island. There must be some plan which is indigenous to us; there must be some counter proposals to any that have been put forward by either side. What are they, and why are we not hearing about them, talking about them or implementing them? Where are our own initiatives? What are the efforts to get this housing mortgage scheme going?
In conversation with Governor Abbott he remarked about how slowly British Aid operates and suggested that Montserrat has been very lucky so far in obtaining the aid it has during the crisis. We have heard it said that we are past the emergency stage. Does this really mean that any project will take two to three years or longer before it gets off the ground?
In discussions with our local officials the question of finance keeps coming up time and again. We must ask the question. Do we have to depend or wait on Britain for every single project or idea that we have? Do we really need their approval in the first place before we can make a move in any direction?
If we compare the staffing complement of the Chief Minister’s office with that of the Governor, for example, we will see a terrible imbalance. Does this suggest that the Chief Minister has so little to do that he can make do with so few? Is it any wonder that we seem to be going nowhere, to be hearing so little?
Residents are beginning to think and talk more and more seriously about looking forward to the end of the volcanic activity, with the feeling that we are close to the beginning of the end. (See latest MVO Reports in Features Column).
These reports seem to contrast slightly. One is longer and the other more in keeping with recent times. Could this support the strong feeling that seems to prevail? Whatever the answer, our position should be to believe the British and vigorously and press, but, with or without them, move to plan and begin to implement those ‘plans’ (??) immediately. It would seem that all we have been able to do so far is avoid total evacuation of Montserrat. Then what? There is much to be done.
Media's Montserrat Is Too Often Violence, Immorality and Squalor
by Chanelle Roach
Last year, I came across an article in the Times (UK) newspaper which had as its title, "Montserrat Youth Turn to Sex and Drink in Despair." The piece detailed how women had turned to prostitution, and my peers to alcohol, and that they had found solace in this. What struck me was the fact that this article had been written a week after the June 1996 tragedy, on July 5th, to be exact. At the time, we did not know that 19 or more people had been killed, nor the extent of the destruction — the area had not cooled, but we knew enough then to be deeply grieved by the events. I could not believe that in this supposedly reputable paper, at one of our most difficult periods, this article was the reporter’s sole means of chronicling what we were experiencing.
It turned out that the reporter had interviewed two men at a shelter, and his expose_ of what he termed the "terminal decay" of Montserratian society was based on their expert opinions. One of the men even volunteered that because of the decline in morality, he had, in fact, sent his family to an environment obviously devoid of any such societal ills: England.
This week, I read another author’s description of her visit to a shelter. It appears that she was thankful for the smell of grated ginger, which masked the smell of the "unwashed bodies." She mentions the "vacant looking" occupants, namely an old man, and a young man with his "mouth hanging open," who was touching himself inappropriately. Her interviewee was an elderly woman who could not remember the number of children she had had, but who was sharp enough to remember to put in her dentures for her few seconds of fame and to comment on the loose morals of other women in the shelter, which was remarkable given that she spent "morning, noon and night" in prayer. I found it interesting to compare the author’s report on the shelterees with another of her articles on an expatriate couple, who are, apparently, the very "essence of commitment."
The portrayal of Montserratians by the international media angers and saddens me. Our experiences have become a minstrel show, and the world, our stage. If much of what is produced is to believed, no-one of Montserrat is capable of saying anything intelligible; we are a violent, immoral society and the squalor in which most of us reportedly live almost becomes us, for we are content to burst into song and smiles at the sight of a camera. Some of our brothers with mental health problems had become our spokespersons for a while, and it could have been assumed that the majority of us went around with matted hair, few teeth, half naked and filthy.
The media are not going to change. Stories need to be sold; our nightmare is another man’s golden elephant.
We, on the other hand, can change. Ash is not known to corrode self-respect and pride, and it is not to our benefit to remain passive about the portrayals. We have been more passionate about things that are far less important. Our naive belief that the stories we tell are anything more than what they really are, just another story to a reporter, has to end. We must be aware that anything that we say can be taken out of the context in which it was originally meant, as it is the sensational and base that sell.
A month ago I observed a camera crew at the primary school and how the children swarmed around it. In the reporters’ home countries, they would not have been able to enter school premises freely, or videotape children without permission. I wondered then, if there are protocols in place for the visiting media. I assume that they exist for interviews with government officials, but wonder if this applies to the rest of the public.
Montserratians who will argue the freedom of speech issue here, should realise the inherent hypocrisies in such arguments; we have, for example, deported good Fathers for saying far less about us.
In all fairness, I must say that some reporters have produced stories and documentaries that have shown their awareness of and empathy with the pertinent issues which affect us. When our social problems have been presented, they have been presented in context and suggestions for solutions have been offered. These examples of ‘good practice’ in the media seem to be the exceptions, however, rather than the norm.
The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Martin J. O'Malley, Jr.
To feed the hungry
To shelter all the homeless
To clothe the Naked
This is all our Great God’s Plan
And mine, an African Man
In Oslo they gave
Me, a prestigious Award
The Nobel Peace Prize
In Memphis my Award was
The lone assassin’s lead gift
Do not speak of my
Education, my degrees,
Material things
I died a Baptist Preacher,
Reaching out for Freedom’s Hand
Lead! Great Africa!
You are all Time’s Noblest Song!
You where we began
From pure homo erectus,
Evolved homo sapiensMartin J. O’Malley, Jr. 222 Paulison Ave., A-5 Passaic, N.J. 07055
Manjack Fire Victims Given $20,000 in Aid
The 32 victims of a fire that destroyed three of five shelters in Manjack March 7 have been given $20,000 from the Volcano Relief Fund.
In announcing the award, Dr. Howard Fergus, Chairperson of the Volcano Relief Fund Committee, said the committee sought to respond speedily to the recent fire, which he called "a disaster within a disaster."
"We have a assigned a maximum of $20,000 for those victims," he said. "I would like on behalf of the committee to convey our sense of grief at their distress."
A concert to be held on March 28 also will benefit the fire victims.
A concert organizer said that some of the monies from the concert will be used to "help those people that are from the homes which the fire Destroyed."
Dr. Fergus Named to OECS Task Force
UWI Resident Tutor Dr. Howard Fergus has been elected to represent Montserrat on a nine-member task force established to enhance cooperation between Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Islands.
The task force will identify areas where the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Barbados can deepen economic and functional cooperation and set the stage for a form of confederation between the islands. It is led by two chairpersons, Sir Henry Ford of Barbados and Ambassador Lemour of St. Kitts/Nevis.
Island Nutrition Program Called Essential to Future
After spending several days investigating the food and nutrition program on Montserrat, Nutritionist Laura Richards of Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute has concluded that it needs to be preserved.
She also observed that a lot of the services in terms of counseling and follow-up need to be strengthened.
A major concern, she said, mentioned by many nurses, is that chronic disease patients, for whom proper diet is essential, are no longer able to comply with their diets. Someone must be available, Ms. Richards said, who can work with these patients and assure their return to balanced diets with the types of food now available on the island.
Two other concerns she identified are care of the elderly and of children.
"The elderly have now grown to a sizable part of the population that requires intervention from the state," she said. "And we cannot forget the children. We need to focus on them. We need to look at their nutritional situation, which will impact directly on their ability to be productive and to contribute."
Children's Magazine Seeks Young Montserrat Authors
"Scribbles," a twice yearly children’s magazine published in Jamaica, has invited Montserrat children to contribute to its November issue, which will have a special section on Montserrat.
Managing editor Cheddy Robertson says the magazine aims to encourage children 9-12 to read and write for fun.
Schools and the public library are working with children to prepare for the magazine short stories and poems about how the volcano has affected their lives.
Works can be submitted to the library for forwarding to the editor of the magazine. Children are also encouraged to visit the library to read the copies of the new magazine.
Brown & Root Upgrade Employment Contracting
Brown and Root, the parent company in charge of building homes for relocated Montserratians in the safe zone, this week announced measures to be more efficient in its employment and subcontracting procedures.
Persons interested in working and securing contracts with the company are asked to register their interest in various fields related to building projects at the office in Palm Loop, Woodlands. These include building contractors, truckers, surveyors and associated services.
Submissions should be addressed to John Richardson, contracts administrator.
Only persons who register can be guaranteed notification of future tenders, a release from the company said.
The Red Cross and the Community Services Department are jointly sponsoring a swimming clinic for children of primary school age.
The clinic, which will run from April 9-19, is aimed to developing in children the crucially important and fun activity of swimming. It is hoped that at the end of the clinic student will not only be able to swim but also to apply the knowledge gained to help themselves and others.
Children's Fares Reduced For Ferry and Helicopter
Children between ages 5 and 12 will be able to travel to Antigua by ferry or helicopter at half fare, starting March 23, the Ministry of Communications and Works announced this week.
Children under 5 will travel free of cost.
Minister of Communications and Works the Honorable Rupert Weekes said the reduction "is a continuation of the Government of Montserrat’s efforts to ease the hardships placed on the population by the ongoing volcanic crisis."
Coming ahead of the Easter and Summer breaks, the reduction "will make it more affordable for parents who wish to travel with their children or send them on overseas vacation," he said.
The ferry and helicopter services were introduced after the closure and subsequent destruction of the W.H. Bramble Airport in 1997. Each service operates six days per week between Montserrat and Antigua.
Full-fare tickets cost $150 round-trip on the ferry and $178 on the helicopter.
Chief Minister Laments The Late S.P. McChesney
Chief Minister the Hon. David S. Brandt has expressed condolences to the family of the late Samuel Parker McChesney.
In a letter to his son Samuel P. McChesney III, Chief Minister Brandt praised the elder McChesney for his untiring efforts towards the socio-cultural and economic development of Montserrat, for which he was decorated by the Government of Montserrat with the Recognition Award.
Mr. Brandt wrote: "It is by his legacy that we the people of Montserrat are emboldened to safeguard and renew the spirit of accomplishment which has been challenged by the Soufriere Hills Volcano since July 1995."
The Chief Minister, like so many Montserratians a protege of Mr. McChesney, said he "will be remembered in all his facets of leader, banker, humanitarian, and a genuine man of the people.
The American, who died on March 7, was Founding Father of the modern Emerald Isle. After his retirement in 1962 McChesney and his wife Meg moved to Montserrat.
Among the still functioning institutions he founded and helped to build are:
(a) The Montserrat Rotary Club - a testimony of his global views;
(b) The Montserrat National Trust - embodying his deep love for the environment and the preservation of the island’s heritage;
(c) The Montserrat Foundation - the embodiment of his predisposition to promoting the attainment of wisdom towards building self-sufficiency and equality among men;
(d) The Montserrat Building Society, for which Mr. McChesney is listed as the longest-serving president, from 1970-79, underscoring his vision that a people can succeed through thrift and enterprise.
Dr. Ravindra Hyumia, the new resident surgeon at the Glendon Hospital, has signed a one year contract with the Government of Montserrat. Dr. Ravindra replaces Dr. Procrash, who left island last year October.
Acting Director of Health Services, Dr. Ronnie Cooper, welcomed the surgeon to the island this week.
"Dr. Ravindra brings to the department a wealth of experience in general surgery, accidental emergency, obstetrics, gynecology and orthopedics," Dr. Cooper said. "We will be able to treat more emergencies on island and this will reduce the number of people who have to go off island to Antigua and St. Kitts."
Dr. Cooper also announced the visit of daughter of the soil Dr. Brenda Osborne, who is coming back to Montserrat this weekend and will do a free clinic at the Cudjoe Head Health Center.
According to Cooper anyone who has a child with a health problem should call 491-5211 to make an appointment for the free clinic.
The British Virgin Islands will host the 30th meeting of the Heads of State of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in May. The proposal was formally approved by the Executive Council this week.
In making the announcement, BVI Chief Minister the Hon. Ralph T O’Neal said preparations for the sub-regional summit are already underway.
The BVI played host to the OECS Summit in May 1987, when St. Vincent’s Prime Minister James Mitchell re- introduced the idea of political unity within the Eastern Caribbean.
Broadcaster Urges Islands to Cultivate Local Talent
A Cayman Islands broadcasting executive has called for broader training by Caribbean radio and television stations of resident talent to eliminate the need for recruiting non-nationals.
Jim Crockett, Director of Broadcasting for International College of the Cayman Islands, said this week, "Too many stations can’t find qualified on-air personnel, and have to import ‘expats’ to fill in the gaps: ICCI wants to help turn this around. We have the on-campus studio, experienced instructors, and accredited institution. Mr. Crockett also is in charge of the college’s radio station, ICCI-FM Radio in the Cayman Islands, and teaches broadcasting classes.
"In approximately 18 months, taking classes full-time at ICCI," Mr. Crockett said, "a person can earn an Associate of Science Degree in Business with a Broadcasting Management concentration."
He said radio and television station executives might choose to provide scholarships to bright young future-broadcasters, who could then join the station as experienced broadcasters, or give additional training to talented employees.
In operation for 28 years, ICCI is accredited as a senior college by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, and offers courses leading to Associate, Bachelor, and Master’s degrees.
It accepts students at any of four quarters of the year. Its address is:
International College of the Cayman Islands P. O. Box 136 Savannah, Grand Cayman Cayman Islands Telephone (345) 947-1100 - FAX (345) 947-1210 E-mail address is: icci@candw.ky.Tortola's Immigration Policy Defended
Proposed changes to the British Virgin Islands immigration policy will have no adverse effect whatsoever on the local economy; quite the contrary, says BVI Chief Minister the Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal.
Mr. O’Neal made the remark during a press conference on Monday in response to a journalist’s inviting him to comment on a letter to the editor published last week.
"If you would look at the figures," Mr. O’Neal said, "and the number of people who have been admitted to the Territory to work in the tourism industry and financial services industry,and probably if more attention was paid to what I said, he (the writer of the letter to the editor) may not have made such assumptions."
Commonwealth to Weigh Conduct of Elections
London, CANA - Chief election officers from 43 Commonwealth countries meet in Britain next week to look at improving the conduct of elections, the Commonwealth Secretariat said this week. "As part of a programme to strengthen democracy in the 54-member association, participants will consider all the principal phases in the electoral process," the Secretariat said. The conference is the largest such meeting to be organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Jamaican Minister Says Worst is Over
Colombia, CANA - Jamaica’s Finance Minister, Omar Davies, is convinced that the country has passed the worst period of a financial crisis, which saw the collapse of a number of banks.
"What is important is that when we come out of this, we have a stronger, better-capitalised and better-managed financial sector with fewer institutions," said Davies. "We are encouraging and seeking external private sector investments if necessary, with both equity and management skills."
BVI Look to Financial Sector to Help Stop Money-Laundering
When the Rt. Hon. Robin Cook presented his new partnership plan to the Dependent Territories earlier this year January, among his wishes for the territories was that they would take the necessary steps to deal with money-laundering and drug money.
Montserrat has had its share of problems with off-shore banks and presently, not necessarily because of the volcano do little business in this very lucrative sphere of business, but the British Virgin Islands, Tortola has been one of the territories doing very well in the business.
The message is clear! Only financial institutions that pass a fit and proper litmus test will be allowed to do business in the British Virgin Islands.
This was reiterated at a press conference last week at the end of a 2½-day "Due Diligence and Compliance Conference" held at the Prospect Reef Resort. The conference brought together regulators and practitioners from Europe, the United States and the Caribbean.
According to Samuel Lohman of Lohman & Associates in Geneva, anti-money-laundering legislation is here to stay. "It’s a recognition that in order to get at the criminals, you need to enlist the assistance of the financial services sector," he told journalists.
In other words, it’s not just illegal to sell drugs on the streets, it’s illegal to accept those funds and in any way nurture, recklessly or in circumvention of the law, the ill-gotten gains from criminal proceeds, he explained.
"I think it was an emphasis on the legislative, regulatory, academic and practical review, an effort to give the participants an insight into the current state of affairs and...enable them to build their own in-house compliance programme," Mr. Lohman said.
Michael Levi, Professor of Criminology at the University of Wales, said one of the very important functions of this conference was to try to reposition the BVI to face challenges in the legal and commercial environment, rather than react to events, particularly scandals, after the event. "That kind of vision and foresight is all too rare in the financial services sector," the Mr. Levi said.
In the long term, he said, a lot of the profit of this industry will come not from mere incorporation, but also from administration, and it’s the repeat longer term business that will be crucial to the prosperity of the islands.
Mr. Levi said it is very unlikely that any jurisdiction, whether offshore or
onshore, will escape scandal. "Fraud risks and money laundering risks cannot be factored out...but the important thing for the BVI, is that if such scandals do occur...that they should occur in a context...of a very well regulated financial industry," he said.
The conference was also welcomed by Martin Comley of the National Criminal Intelligence Service in the U.K. "As a Police Officer who has been charged with trying to strip the assets of crime for the last ten years," he said, "I’ve learnt how difficult it has become."
Mr. Comley said there are four parties that must be involved in the fight - government, regulatory bodies, law enforcement and the financial sector. "It will only be a better thing for the British Virgin Islands - you sit together, you talk about it and you have a resolute message to criminals - ‘Don’t come here, send the business somewhere else’."
Mr Michael Riegels, QC,, BVI Bar Association president, said of the conference: "I think what we learnt were practical methods of setting up our in-house systems to keep an eye on crime, and identify and recognize money laundering in all its numerous disguises."
Robert Mathavious, Director of the BVI Financial Services Department, said the new millennium will usher in new ways in which business has to be done. He referred to a statement by Chief Minister the honourable Ralph O’Neal, who said effective legislation attracts the type of business the territory wants, it does not deter it.
As for the future of the local offshore industry, Mr. Mathaious said we can expect to see government giving legal status to the Code of Conduct recently ratified by the Association of Registered Agents and the establishment of a joint anti-money-laundering steering committee that will comprise ARA members, representatives from the Bank Association and the Bar Association, customs, financial regulators and Policemen.
Jamaica Detention Law Assailed in Parliament
Kingston, Jamaica, CANA - A Jamaican parliamentary committee wants changes to a law on police powers and detention of prisoners, government said yesterday.
The call was made Tuesday against a background of prisoners’ deaths at police jails and concern that the rights of citizens were being trampled by the police because citizens were ignorant of the law.
Parliamentarian Canute Brown said the law on detention of persons should be amended to safeguard against arbitrary arrests and detention by the police.
St. Lucia Teachers March Against Violence
Castries, St Lucia, CANA - St Lucia teachers marched against violence this week, after a student injured a principal in a cutlass attack last week. Teachers union President, Virginia Albert, said the march included not only teachers but members of the public, the private sector, and parents.
Former St. Kitts PM Opposes Secession
St Kitts, CANA - Former St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Kennedy Simmonds has called for St Kitts and Nevis to remain one state, while politicians in Nevis press for secession.
Dr. Simmonds, who said family ties between Kittitians and Nevisians have always been strong, spoke against the background of Nevisian Premier Vance Amery’s call for his island to secede from St Kitts. Simmonds said he wanted "to see St Kitts and Nevis remain together ... one nation indivisible under God."
East Caribbean Union Draft Treaty Circulated
Bridgetown, Barbados, CANA - A draft treaty on a proposed confederation of eastern Caribbean States has been sent to heads of government of the region by the Permanent Secretary of St. Lucia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Earl Huntley.
Huntley told CANA at the weekend that his reason for bringing the draft treaty to the attention of some heads of government, including Prime Minister Owen Arthur of Barbados, who may be unaware of some work already done, "is to facilitate and expedite consideration of plans for a confederation of the OECS and Barbados".
The document’s circulation coincides with new arrangements to promote a confederal-type union between Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Cuba to Strengthen Links With Caribbean Nations
HAVANA - XINHUA - Cuba will strengthen its economic ties with Caribbean nations, official Cuban sources said Friday.
A Cuban government delegation will start a Caribbean tour Monday, which includes visits to the islands of Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Raul Taladrid, vice minister of foreign investment and economic cooperation, who heads the delegation, said it would sign a framework accord on the development of cooperation in Dominica.
In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Cuban delegation will attend the first session of the joint commission for economic and technical cooperation of the region.
The delegation will meet with businessmen of the three countries to seek opportunities in the archipelago.
Relations between Cuba and the Caribbean nations have been developing following an invitation by the Caribbean countries to Havana to join the Group of Nations of Africa-Caribbean-Pacific as an observer.
U.S. to Allow More Food, Cash, Air Travel to Cuba
Compiled from Dispatches
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright announced Friday the easing of U.S. sanctions imposed against Cuba in 1996.
Tough U.S. measures, embodied in the Helms-Burton law, were enacted after Cuban aircraft shot down two small American planes carrying four Cuban-American members of Brothers to the Rescue.
The changes are intended, Ms. Albright said, "to reach out to the people of Cuba to make their lives more tolerable." They would:
Allow for the shipment of food to the Cuban people.
License more deliveries of medical supplies to Cuba.
Allow charter flights to Cuba for humanitarian purposes.
Permit Cuban-American families to send up to $300 to their relatives in Cuba every three months.
President Clinton said the changes are meant "build further on the impact of the pope’s visit, to supporrt the role of the church and other elements of civil society in Cuba and to thereby help prepare the Cuban people for a democratic transition."
Reactions were mixed in Cuba, the United States and abroad. Fidel Castro and his foreign minister reacted differently. Castro said in a CNN interview the move was "really positive and constructive" but called for a thorough analysis. In Geneva, Roberta Robaina denounced it as "scraps disguised as humanitarian aid. We won’t sacrifice our principles in exchange for imperialist pardons."
In Washington, the changes were warmly greeted by Democrats in Congress and by private groups that provide humanitarian aid to Cuba. But House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Republican, declared, "Fidel Castro is a murderer, a tyrant and a thug. Any weakening of the U.S. sanctions against Cuba will be seen as a victory for his brutal, iron-fisted tactics. When it comes to Cuba, why does the administration always trade something for nothing?"
Ms. Albright insisted that the measures "do not reflect a change in policy toward the Cuban government. That policy has been and remains to seek a peaceful transition to democracy. We seek to increase multilateral support to press for political openness in Cuba and respect for human rights."
The step was not unanimously approved in the Cuban-American community, where some fear even the humanitarian aid might help Castro rather than those in need.
Father Miguel Loredo, a Cuban exile and now a Catholic priest in New York, said, "We have had the experience of cases before when the Red Cross or others sent aid to Cuba, but it was sold to tourists or placed only in the hands of the government or the people on top."
At the United Nations, meanwhile, a report released also on Friday, said the 38 years of U.S. embargoes against Cuba gave Fidel Castro a "ready pretext" for repressing the Cuban people. The report went on to criticize the Castro government for its violations of human rights.
West Indies cricket team seem set to win the current test series against England by the end of Friday and by our press time seemed sure and even poised to increase the lead to 3-1.
When rain prevented a small time for cricket on Friday after Lara had won the toss and put England in to bat, and with England finishing the day losing two wickets to local hero, fast bowler and world renowned Ambrose and in what could be his last Test before his home fans the writing seemed to be on the wall.
West Indies might have been lucky when rain washed out what had promised to be an exciting finish, allowing just 18 overs on the final day in the Barbados test match. West Indies set over 375 runs to win had finished the previous day well poised having not lost a wicket and scoring over 80 runs. But the rains came the following day completely washing our play.
The crowd came prepared - Photo By gordon Brooks
With the rains following the teams to Antigua and with England scoring a paltry 127 in their 1st innings, Englands hopes to at least even the series went out the doors.
Coping With Stress
Stress Can Appear Unprovoked/Uninvited
by Psychiatric Nurse Donoghue
COPING WITH STRESS
One needs:-
Loving relationship/supportive familyDeal with situations as they arise Talk to someone who cares and understands your problemDo not give up; if your cloak is taken away give your tunic and start againTrust in the Lord and keep the faith; know your limitsTRY A FEW OF THESE
Get adequate sleep and rest
Take care of your appearance and physical needsMake time for fun Eat a healthy dietRelax and listen to soothing musicRelax and read a good bookPlay board games with family/ friends Walk, jog or swim briskly 3-4 times a week Avoid the sea when rough or heightened volcanic activities.
Facts About Marijuana
Marijuana blocks the message going to your Brain and alters your perceptions and emotions, vision, hearing and coordination
Woodlands Hotel, Offices Could Start Montserrat's Turnaround
Montserrat’s Planning & Development Authority (PDA) issued "Approval in Principle" this week for the planned development of a hotel and office accommodations in Northern Woodlands. The proposed project will be the first substantial development on this Caribbean island initiated by the private sector since a volcano that had been dormant for nearly four centuries awakened with a vengeance nearly three years ago.
The planned development for Woodlands is situated north of Lawyers River in the northern sector of the island, an area that the Montserrat government deems safe from volcanic activity. It is a joint venture between Woodlands residents Mike & Donna Emmanuel, and Landbase International Ltd., a real estate consulting, development and finance company.
"Approval has already been granted the elaborate plans for the re-construction on the site of an old stone ruin," said Mr. David Hodd, a Montserrat architect whom the Emmanuels have contracted for the project. "After reconstruction, the historical Plantation House on the site will become an attractive restaurant and bar, while still resembling the original structure as closely as possible," Hodd said. "News of the approval is most welcomed at this time," he added, "when so much of what is heard about Montserrat details the devastation that the southern part of the island has suffered from the volcano activity. This is a definite indication of the commitment by all parties concerned to reestablishing and revitalizing Montserrat in the northern safe zone."
Mr. Emmanuel, the project’s progenitor, explained, "I have wanted to pursue the Woodlands development for a long time. We are pleased that we’re now able to move forward with Landbase International as a partner, and with the blessing of the PDA."
The developers of the proposed property envision a hotel with 52 guest rooms - designed in the West Indian style, including a swimming pool, surrounded by elaborately landscaped grounds; conference facilities; a restoration of the Old Stone Ruin that had once been the Woodlands Estate Plantation House, which will house a restaurant and bar, with both indoor and outdoor dining areas.
"At present we are finalizing the design aspects of the facility so that we can complete our costs analysis in preparation for meeting our financing requirements," Emmanuel said. "We are also hoping that this project will be part of a larger coordinated effort to restore tourism on Montserrat, and certainly represents a milestone in the overall recovery of the island."
The project at Woodlands also exemplifies the continuing efforts of Landbase International Ltd., to assist Montserrat in achieving that objective. Last September, Landbase presented a conceptual proposal to develop a new town and port facilities at Carr’s Bay and at Little Bay in the north of Montserrat, intended to supplant those formerly situated at Plymouth, the island’s capital which was destroyed by the volcano.
Since then, studies undertaken pursuant to a Physical Development Plan for the north of Montserrat, and funded by the British government, have concurred with the proposals tendered by Landbase International.
Landbase International, Ltd., has successfully recruited support for the development. A key component of the Landbase concept is the formation of a non-profit trust - dubbed The Montserrat New Town Trust, to undertake the development of the new town. Under the proposed arrangement, the government of Montserrat would retain ownership of the project, while the Trust would reinvest its profits in Montserrat for the benefit of the island’s residents. The Montserrat New Town Trust has been formed as a non-profit entity to raise financing for the new town. The Trust is set up to ensure that all profits from the development are reinvested in the New Town Project and that ownership of the public parts will remain with the people of Montserrat. Landbase will take a consulting and management role and will receive professional fees for their services.
According to a statement released by the developers, the new town is to be "carefully designed to meet the business, social and economic needs of Montserrat well into the next millennium." It is also proposed as a celebration of Caribbean architecture and culture that will attract visitors and commerce from around the world, invigorating the island’s decimated tourism industry.
The project proposal indicates that it would take from five to seven years to complete, and perhaps another three years to come to "maturity," and that Montserratians themselves would be involved in the project during each phase of its development.
by Dr. Howard Fergus
St. Patrick’s Day, 17 March, 1998, marked the second anniversary of the death of Robert William Griffith (Maas Bob). A dramatic and flamboyant political figure in his day, he "chose," as it were, a most significant day on which to die.His death day underscored his claim to a place in the Montserratian hall of heroism.
Born in 1904, Robert Griffith was a Methodist and middle class, and his father was a manager on Weekes estate. He was the first to organise the poor, oppressed working class people into a labour movement in the early 1940s. He had another first when in 1943 he was the first Montserratian outside the traditional merchant and planter class to win a seat on the Montserrat Legislative Council. Griffith believed in sub-regionalism, and it was with the assistance of Vere Cornwall Bird of Antigua that the Montserrat Trades and Labour Union was established and registered in 1946.
Griffith did not hesitate to use the strike weapon even if occasionally the warrantability was doubtful. In 1950 a warship was called in and he narrowly missed prison, but one doubts whether he would have bothered over that brand of martyrdom.
Griffith deserves national credit for pioneering the inevitable struggle of the working class and paving the way for the work of W. H. Bramble.
Together they pulled "slave middens down" and started to make emancipation a reality. Thought needs to given be given to "immortalizing" Griffith by inscribing his name on some national building or monument or landmark.
The reconstruction process affords an opportunity to do this.
In 1987 I suggested that St. Patrick’s Day should also be designated Heroes Day; and in a unique ceremony in the Legislative Council (supported by the then government) the photographs of all once Chief Ministers were unveiled. Although not a Chief Minister, Robert Griffith’s was included.
By dying on St. Patrick’s Day, Griffith, I take it, agrees with me that that day is also heroes’ day.
Jus wonderin if DFID personnel are going to move into shelters with the residents from Salem, Olveston, Old Towne and Woodlands.
Jus wonderin how they will manage without the swimming pools.
Jus wonderin who is the animal doctor who is apparently dispensing medication to residents and jus wonderin if HMG will give them a license to do so after all their down time.
Jus wonderin if it is true that someone is putting nurses out of homes with only one day’s notice to house foreign medical staff.
Jus wonderin why the government officer could not give the child her own passport when the officer knows the child lives in one Caribbean country and the mother is going to live in another.
Jus wonderin which employers were being referred to as being vicious, greedy, little moneygrubbers by the workers’ voice.
Jus wonderin where the small business money still is when every businessman in Montserrat has been waiting with bated breath since last year.
Jus wonderin why the Number one Englishman is chastising and investigating the Number one local Health Officer. Jus wonderin if the dog doctor has anything to do with it.
Jus wonderin who wants compensation for their orchids when people still living in shelters and can’t even get money from the insurance companies for the house the volcano burned up.
Jus wonderin if the politicians want to lead the business community further into the valley of the shadow of economic ruin, by making it easier for Montserratians to spend all their money in Antigua.
Jus wonderin if the politicians are helping those others to ensure the economic collapse of Montserrat.
Jus wonderin what the British have against the Bank of Montserrat.
Jus wonderin why the ladies in the Government Unit block the businessman from getting one single, solitary photo copy when the businessman uses up all his toner just to photocopy hundreds of paper for other government departments. Wonder if the ladies will ever understand that we are all in this together.
(Department for International Development)
EMERGENCY HOUSING
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Future Construction Works
By Brown & Root Ltd.
In order to maintain an equitable system for contracting works, services and supplies for future projects on Montserrat, all qualified parties are invited to register their interest in the following fields:
1. Building Contractors and Associated Services.
2. Trucking (5-ton capacity vehicles and upwards, flatbeds and tippers).
3. Plant and Equipment hire.
4. Building Materials.
5. Professional services (Architects, Land Surveyors).
Written Expressions of Interest should be delivered, posted or faxed to Brown & Root Office, P.O Box 525, Palm Loop, Woodlands, Montserrat (1664 491 6276) marked for the attention of John Richardson, Contracts Administrator. The closing date is 27th March 1998. Only the organisations that register with Brown & Root Ltd. in response to this invitation can be guaranteed notice of future tenders
Leo Bedford
Project Manager
VACANCY
JOB DESCRIPTION:
DIRECTOR MONTSERRAT BRANCH BRITISH RED CROSS
Responsibilities:
The Director is the chief executive officer of the Montserrat Branch of the British Red Cross and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Branch. The Director is responsible to and works closely with the President of the elected Governing Board.
Specific responsibilities are:
Experience/Qualifications required:
Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Applications stating qualifications and experience should be addressed to the Director, Montserrat Branch British Red Cross, P.O. Box 61, Montserrat to reach no later than April 6, 1998.
ORGANISATION OF EASTEARN CARIBBEAN STATES (OECS)
EDUCATION REFORM UNIT
New Position - ECERP Programme Officer
The OECS is currently embarking on an Education Reform Strategy across its nine member states. The Strategy is being supported by the CIDA-funded Eastern Caribbean Reform Project (ECERP). Under this project a new position Program Officer is available immediately.
ECERP is jointly managed by the OECS Education Reform Unit (OERU) within the division of Functional Cooperation at the OECS Secretariat, and by a Canadian Executing Agency (CEA), namely TECSULT -EDUPLUS. The ECERP Programme Officer will therefore report to the Head of the OERU in St. Lucia and the Canadian Project Manager, in Montreal, Canada.
Duties:
Qualifications\Experience:
Terms of Appointment:
Information on remuneration and related matters can be obtained from the Technical/Administrative Officer at the OERU (Phone 758-452-2082 Fax 758-453-0841)
The successful candidate will be expected to take up position by May 1st, 1998 Candidates must be Caribbean nationals.
Application Procedures:
Interested, eligible candidates are invited to apply in writing to
The Head, OERU
P.O Box 179
Castries, St Lucia.
Applications should include a Cirriculum Vitae and references confirming the required experience and sills, and should reach the OERU not later than April 15th, 1998.
Only short-listed candidates will be notified.
Forward all Questions, Comments and Suggestions to: roachb@candw.ag
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