.

Audit of HQ Costs Blames All Involved, But Finds No Culprits

By Bennette Roach

"All monies which are given to the people of Montserrat belong to the people of Montserrat. We want and are duty bound to see how that money is spent. The money went back to …We want to know how much is going back to them and how much is actually spent on the ground."

That was the honourable Chief Minister David Brandt at a press conference on Wednesday this week, responding to questions on the housing problem and monies spent, especially on the temporary Government Headquarters at Brades. He was referring especially to the fact that his government could not accept the DFID’s Internal Audit Report, which was the result of their request for information as to how £750,000 (EC$3.3 million) had turned into £2.25 million (EC$9.9 million).

Government had found itself in a quarrel with DFID over GOM’s nominee to join DFID’s nominee in the audit of the overrun. The Chief Minister had written a letter pointing out to DFID that their rejection of government’s nominee leaves them without a nominee . DFID never agreed or agreed in time for Mr. John E. Ryan, GoM’s nominee, to participate in the audit and the job was done single-handedly by DFID’s nominee.

This is the main reason for the Chief Minister’s position on the report, but he also said that the report was just a mere slap on the wrist and did not reflect the truth of the matter. He had earlier said that there were other reasons that suggest the report could not be genuine.

He noted that he had just written a letter saying that he could not approve the further spending of funds on the GHQ, for which he understands there were plans for an additional roof. He said he could not subscribe further to the waste.

The Audit report, which placed equal blame on Brown & Root, DFID and GOM, showed an overrun of £1.5 million over the £750,000 originally budgeted for the cost of the GHQ. However, the lone auditor found that all monies spent were duly expended for items required to complete the work of the buildings. These included such items as Brown & Root’s management fee of £350,000 on top of £63.2 million paid previously; major earthworks, septic tank, drainage, access roads, electrical, walkways, kitchen and other finishings, roof repairs, port charges, etc. The items were fairly extensive and were all in addition to the originally budgeted items.

The report showed that the terms of reference were to review the accounting records held, and methodologies used, by Brown & Root to process and calculate claims on DFID relating to earthworks, erection and management fees; to report on the completeness and accuracy of the records and to verify that the amounts claimed by Brown & Root were disbursed as stated.

They were also to review the systems and controls in place to manage the project; to identify deficiencies in procedures; to recommend improvements to systems where appropriate, and to suggest other remedial action where appropriate.

A summary of the findings shows: "The GHQ sub-project does not represent good value for money." It verified payments were validly made, but the original GHQ estimate from Brown & Root "omitted the (eventually significant) cost for erecting the buildings; reports to DFID by Brown & Root could have been clearer and better quantified. In addition the reported said that "to some extent the costs can be attributed to an accounting reallocation (requested by DFID) of Brown & Root management fees and to the addition of the cost of land purchase.) The land purchase was placed at £144,000.

As for the systems in place, the report was quite critical. Documents did not clearly show what contracts covered what, and were neither systematic nor coherent. There was no proper planning of changing the temporary structure to a semi-permanent one. Decisions and meetings were not always recorded and DFID’s local supervision was inadequate.

In a section setting out the implementation of the sub-project, it refers to "a firm expectation that Plymouth would be recovered and parties were generally in agreement that any building would provide only temporary accommodation."

It sets out from here a sequence of actions, which excludes the GOM’s complaint that it asked for permanent structures to be built instead, when it was learnt that the cost of the buildings would be £750,000.

As for recommendations, the report called for DFID in the short term to "negotiate with Brown & Root for a reduction in the amount invoiced on the GHQ sub-project. Although there is blame on all sides for the cost overrun and the failure to act to control it, it is important that Brown & Root, as managing contractors, are seen not to have profited from a poorly managed piece of work. We suggest that the negotiation should focus on the Brown & Root’s fees levied on the overrun and omissions from the original estimate."

It called on DFID to ensure that all works on Montserrat are thoroughly specified and covered by contracts.

In its conclusion, the IAD reports: "Everyone involved in the sub-project was, and is, working in good faith and for the benefit of Montserrat. We found instances of lack of competence and co-operation by all parties – DFID, Brown and Root and the Government of Montserrat – but no evidence of deliberate malpractice. All comments made in this report must be seen in the context of dynamic, very busy, stressful and, at many times, physically dangerous circumstances, in which normal commercial and administrative disciplines were neglected.

Bramble, Brandt Denounce Housing Waste, Duplicity

Minister of Housing Austin Bramble has been critical of what he and Chief Minister David Brandt called a "waste of materials and money."

Mr. Bramble last week pointed out that foundations and footings being put in for some of the Force 10 houses at Lookout were excessive and wasteful. The columns were unnecessarily big, taking up space which otherwise could be used either as more living or storage space. He said that he had pointed this out, but Brown & Root would not budge.

The Chief Minister, in putting forward his case of how money allocated to Montserrat was being wasted, called this another instance of how no regard was paid to their concerns about how the money can be more effectively utilised.

In other housing news, the Chief Minister called for the "housing advisor" to be recalled because he was insensitive to the Montserrat cause.

Minister Bramble had earlier complained that the advisor had delivered a report to Britain which he had not seen. On Wednesday the Chief Minister revealed that the report, which was reportedly a draft, had suggested that the churches in Montserrat should assist in providing funds for the construction of houses. "The people make up the churches, and many of them are relying on the government for financial assistance," the Chief Minister said, confirming also that the advisor had faulted the government for allowing owners of property the opportunity to obtain title to their lands. "Such a person should not serve on any committee drawing up criteria for the distribution of houses."

Bramble said earlier: "Such a report is only driving a nail in our coffins, as it suggests that any further funds we are seeking to construct more houses should come from local sources."

Under the theme "Empowering the People," the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) of Prime Minister Lester Bird created history Tuesday by winning a consecutive sixth term at the helm of government in Antigua.

It was a long night of counting, but into the wee hours of the morning it was well established that the ALP had not only recaptured their previous 11 seats but also captured St. John's City West. There Gaston Browne defeated old-timer Donald Halstead, who ran as an Independent, along with Colin Derrick, UPP, and Romaneta Francis, Independent.

It was by no means a walkover, as the results reflected, but it must have been a surprise to the main contender UPP, who for some time believed they would take over the government, coming up with only four of the field, while Hilbourne Frank of Barbuda People’s Movement retained his seat in Barbuda

When the count was complete, the Bird party had won in:

• St. John’s Rural East – Lester Bird
• St. John’s City East – John St. Luce
• St. John’s City South – Stedroy Benjamin
• St. Philip North – Robin Yearwood
• St. Philip South, where first-timer Sherfield Bowen defeated United Progressive Party (UPP) incumbent, Wilmouth Daniel, by eight votes
• St. Peter – Longford Jeremy
• St. Paul – Dr. Rodney Williams
• St. John’s Rural North – Bernard Percival.

Just over 52 000 people voted in the 17 constituencies, in what was called a "violence free" day.

The Prime Minister, in a brief address to the nation immediately after it was realised his party had retained power, told the nation that democracy was a winner and that it was time to love and time for peace. He referred to the Tim Hector’s Outlet and the newspaper the Observer, which he said would be taken to court for articles they had written with false documents.

The Opposition Leader Baldwin Spencer had said prior to voting time that if his party lost he would be "hurt and saddened" for the people of Antigua and Barbuda, but it would not spell the end of the UPP.

(NB. External Site, not affiliated to or endorsed by the Montserrat REPORTER)

GoM Deserves HMG’s Ear To Avoid Wasting More Aid

The Report submitted by DFID’s appointee IAD on the Internal Audit that was conducted of Brown & Root and DFID in respect of the construction of the temporary Government Headquarters has been rejected by the Government of Montserrat (GoM).

Chief Minister David S. Brandt had previously announced that he would not accept any report of an audit in which his appointee did not participate. Mr. John E. Ryan, a former Montserrat Financial Secretary, had been appointed by GoM but rejected by DFID and never had a chance to join the IAD representative in carrying out the investigation.

The report, although not accepted by GoM, still exposes problems and raises questions about the spending of the £75 million that has been allocated to Montserrat. At a press conference the Chief Minister said although the money had been given to Montserrat, they had no control in spending it, but should at least be accounted to as to how it is spent.

Mr. Brandt, perhaps for the first time, was admitting that this is in fact the situation which GoM faces, particularly now that it is fully under grant-in-aid. When it was announced that the temporary GHQ would cost £750,000, no one knew that there was another £350,000 to be paid to Brown & Root as management fees, and a further percentage for procurement of materials.

Minister of Housing Austin Bramble has been critical of what he considers waste of materials and money at the way some of the Force 10 houses are being constructed. Mr. Brandt repeated the complaint on Wednesday at his press conference, showing that GoM has no involvement as to what and how the money is being spent. Meantime, they are expected to submit, sometimes repeatedly, projects which are shot down or reduced for one reason or another.

The concern expressed by GoM officials is that everything then requires a consultant to come and study it, which, as far as we are concerned, is eating away at the £75 million.

Except for criticising all three parties, thus implicating GoM, the audit report finds no fault with Brown & Root on the overrun costs of the temporary GHQ. The amount involved is £1.490 million, and except for four items which were "partly avoidable," totaling £191,000, everything else out of 22 items was either "mainly unavoidable" or "unavoidable."

This is only one instance of many, past and to come, where the people and GoM find that reports will always find a way "partly, if not in total" to blame us. It was pointed out before that it was GoM that had requested temporary quarters urgently, but although the report mentioned that come September, plans and perceptions turned into turmoil, it never said that by this time GoM was asking for permanent buildings after it discovered how much money was involved.

It is here that we see proof that the British really practice what, unfortunately, too many of us seem prepared to accept: that he who pays the piper calls the tune.

On 12th August, 1997, the Financial Secretary, according to the report, wrote that we could not wait for a detailed plan. In September 1997, volcanic eruptions "threw the sub-project and all plans and perception into turmoil." Yet in September 1997, "without a site decision, Brown & Root quoted a price of £760,000 to DFID Montserrat" for the buildings based on the purchase of prefabricated units. The report hints at a plot here by adding that the final agreed figure of £750,000 "was the limit that local delegated authority for DFID Montserrat."

It must have been know then that the project would cost much more. A site had not yet been agreed to, so that all those items for earthworks, foundations, improvements, etc., which are referred to as being unavoidable, were more than avoidable. By now GoM had been saying, no temporary buildings, we can build a permanent GHQ with that sum.

Very noteworthy is the finding by the lone auditor which said "B&R took instruction on additions/amendments to the sub-project from unauthorised sources (particularly GoM)." The reality of the problem is exposed, but how could it possibly be that money belonging to a party can be spent with that party having no authority to how it is spent?

The British Government and DFID can do justice to the £75 million and truly involve the GoM and people of Montserrat, not only to say, we need this or that, but to have a great say in how much it should cost, see that it costs that and no more, and cutting out all the preliminaries which do nothing but waste money.

Conscience Spurs Us To Be Holy

I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. Psalm 119: 14-15

Some fear that the obedience of faith would dehumanize us. In fact, it rehumanizes us to a depth not known before. The moral energy our consciences acquire does more than keep us from being bad; it moves us to a positive goal; sanctity…

One of the greatest hungers of our age is the craving for human development. Is not a supreme manifestation of our humanity its moral character? And does not the conscience play the principal role in bringing about a morally attractive person?

Anyone who wants to explore the depths of what it means to be human must prepare to feel the drive of conscience and the exaltation of shaping that conscience so that forces within us move us to nobility.

No drama can more absorb the interest of a human being that the struggle to form a conscience. That's what draws us to great drama and biography. That's what will bring us to the humanity of our dreams and to the eternal destiny that is our baptismal birthright.

Range of Ideas Offered About Loose Livestock

A number of positive solutions for dealing with the loose livestock crisis emerged Wednesday from the Conflict Resolution Workshop jointly hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade and the Environment and the OECS-NRMU.

A wide cross section of the population participated in the discussions. The following are considered some feasible solutions to the ever-worsening loose livestock problems on island:

Reduction in the number of the excess animals on island (these include donkeys, cattle, goat, sheep, dogs); introduction of animal protective laws; enforcement of current laws; animal registration; animal tagging; control/responsibility for animals; shift system for animal wardens; stiffer pound fees, and new laws allowing the shooting of cattle

A number of persons who attended the workshop volunteered to be part of a support group to work along with the Ministry of Agriculture. The first task of the group will be to determine which of those proposed solutions can be tackled with the existing resources. This meeting will take place early next week.

The Ministry of Agriculture wishes to thank those members of the public who participated in the workshop.

Brown & Root Denies New Workforce Woes

This week began with Brown & Root denying that there was further industrial action on their doorstep.

This time it was reported that Force 10 workers had not shown up for work, but Brown & Root manager, Mike Dodd, said that while there was a problem involving the Force 10 houses, it was a matter being dealt with in England and was not affecting the workers here.

Other reports, however, claimed that the supervisors of the construction had remained off the job until Wednesday on matters which involved payments of monies due them. These men are those who came in to supervise the erection of the Force 10 houses. Reportedly, the local workers were not involved and carried out work as best the could.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister at his press conference on Wednesday said that all the contractors but two had returned to the job following his government's efforts to get the five-week dispute resolved. He said one of the two contractors had been away attending a funeral. Mr. Brandt was taken aback that the other had not yet returned to the job, although he had promised the Chief Minister he would.

Concert Preparations in Top Gear

Rehearsals for the "Many Happy Returns" show soon to be held at Gerald's Park on March 19 are in full swing. Local bands and entertainers are busy nightly getting their acts together.

The Cassell brothers, international Soca Superstar Arrow and Justin "Hero" Cassell are among the many local artists who will be performing on the show.

British journalist Mrs. Sarah Renton recently interviewed the Cassell Soca Brothers with a view to promoting the concert. Listeners to ZJB will have the opportunity of hearing this interview at a time to be announced.

National Trust Opens New Olveston Quarters

On Monday evening last week the Montserrat National Trust formally opened their new offices in Olveston in what was formerly the Gerald Handley residence. Following its relocation from Plymouth, the Trust was located at lower Olveston in the Wheeler house.

According to Dr. Erica Gibbs, seceretary of the Trust, "It was Mr. Bob Burbank who, when buying this building from Mr. Handley, envisaged it as a center for the trust."

Dr. Gibbs revealed in her thanks to Mr. Burbank that the Wheeler house, which was left to the organisation, "provided the seed capital, which has enabled us to buy this building."

The president, Mrs. Sarita Francis, chaired the evening's ceremony and it was vice president Mr. Cedric Osborne who spoke of the plans for the Trust and establishing the relationship that now exists between the Montserrat National Trust and the Montserrat Tourist Board, which now has its home in the same building. "I have always agreed that the tourism and the National Trust should have a very close relationship. But I never thought at any time that it would become this close," he said.

Mr. Osborne said the first phase was to re-establish the office, gift shop and documentation center, while the second phase, "as mentioned by our president is the development of a volcano interpretive center in conjunction with the MVO and the Montserrat Tourist Board."

The vice president boasted that they were able to reach thus far in restarting their effort, but that this was as far as they could go and would now lean on the government for continued assistance. He spoke of other interesting plans, mentioning that there is a long wish list to set the Trust on a right course. These included the wish to "establish the national history center right within this yard here," including options on the other three lots right to the other road and the "plan for creating a botanical gardens which we have lost in Plymouth which was called Grove’s.

"So we don’t really have a lot of work to do to create a really attractive botanical garden on what we have, but all this takes money and time. This is where we need your help."

The honourable Chief Minister David Brandt and Minister of Agriculture Austin Bramble gave brief addresses, Mr. Bramble being the minister with responsibility for the National Trust. He described how he sees the Trust: "as being the custodians and guardians of our memorabilia and our past. We think that together we form a team which has total responsibility for protecting the environment and preserving those artifacts…that will be passed on to communicate what life in our time was like."

The Chief Minister congratulated the efforts of the Trust and repeated some of his plans for archiving important and historical events, as well as naming places. "We will place great emphasis on our culture. It is a shame that men like W. H. Bramble and Robert Griffith, who fought for us so hard and for so long, we are not able to hear their voices. And at this time we will start archiving voices of people who are important to Montserrat… part of our plan to name streets and important places after important Montserratians and people, even though not Montserratian, who have contributed to Montserrat."

Miss Ernestine Cassell, Tourism Director, expressed her own and her Board’s pleasure in sharing the new quarters and pointed out how the two organisations complement each other: "Both organisations share similar goals and aspirations, especially in the area of preserving cultural heritage, artifacts, buildings and anything that can help in the preservation of our history here on the island."

Dr. Gibbs invited the guests to refreshments provided by the Tourist Board to end the evening’s get-together.

After months of planning, the long awaited "Many Happy Returns II (Take 2) Concert will get underway at Gerald’s Bottom at 7 p.m. Friday, March 19^th. The concert, originally scheduled for September 1998 but rescheduled due to Hurricane Georges, will bring together a host of international artists to perform along side Montserrat’s best local artists in a free concert.

Scheduled to join local artists "Crisis," "Silicosis," Herman "Cupid" Francis, Earl "Hustler" Brown, Justin "Hero" Cassell and "Muscovada" will be the traditional Irish music band "Kissing Stone" and the 22-member London Community Gospel Choir that performed at Sir George Martin’s London Benefit "Concert for Montserrat" in September 1997. The Choir is led by native son, the Reverend Bazil Meade. And as if that was not enough, the evening will be topped off by a performance by another participant in Sir George’s Concert for Montserrat, Montserrat’s own International SOCA Ambassador, ARROW AND HIS SIX-PIECE MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE BAND, performing at home for the first time in over seven years!

Early arrivals to the show will be treated to a special performance by the Defense Force "No Fair" Iron Band, performing with the St. John’s Masqueraders and perhaps joined by "Kissing Stone." Also expected during the evening will be "Miss Goosie" and her new friend, "Desmond," to do a little wining. The show will be emcee’d by Earl "Accident" Blake and Many Happy Returnee, Kevin Lewis from GEM Radio Network, Trinidad. It will be the culmination of activities planned for the week by the Tourist Board to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

The scope of the Many Happy Returns Concert Committee’s activities goes far beyond the concert itself. Beside the concert, "Kissing Stone" and the Gospel Choir anticipate performing mini-shows for the hospital and the Hillview and Golden Years Homes. In addition, MHR already held a well-received concert at the Forum in London last September. It will do another concert Sunday afternoon, March 21^st, in Antigua at Jolly Harbor to say "Thank You, Antigua" for the help provided to Montserrat and Montserratians during the height of the volcanic crisis.

Mr. Peter Filleul, the originator of the Many Happy Returns idea, along with Mr. Chris Runciman, production manager for the shows, also established an "Equipment Quest" that successfully sought donations of music and sound equipment for Montserrat from manufacturers both in England and the United States. The equipment will be available in the future on a borrowing basis for groups interested in staging large-scale productions on the island.

One of the major donors, thanks to the additional efforts of Mr. Pat Foley and Eloise Lynch, was Gibson Musical Instruments. Gibson has donated guitars, keyboards and drums to be used in the Montserrat show and afterward in the schools. They are also considering the establishment of an Education Trust to initiate a campaign among other manufacturers to fund music teaching in the schools.

After Many Happy Returns, Peter Filleul and Chris Runciman, both professionals in the music business with years of experience, will host special workshops to be held at McChesney House on March 23 and 24^th. The workshops, entitled "The Secret Ways of the Music Business" hosted by Peter, a professional producer, and "Performance Technology: Sound and Light," hosted by Chris, a professional stage and production manager, will be designed to add to interested performers and technicians’ knowledge of the music business, production values and staging.

Many other people and organizations have contributed to the Many Happy Returns Concert, including Virgin Atlantic Airways, which has sponsored transportation from London for many of the incoming musicians and equipment. Virgin has also organized a cadre of travel journalists including representatives of Sky Television, Express Newspapers, and Radio 5 Live who will be traveling to Montserrat to explore the island and to cover the concert.

All journalists, musicians and crew will stay in volunteered housing accommodations donated by local property owners for the three nights they are here. The musicians are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday afternoon, March 17^th, and the journalists on Thursday afternoon, the 18^th and all will be leaving on Saturday, March 20^th. Peter and Chris, however, will return for the workshops. Mr Runciman and crewmember, Mr. Pat Fisher, have already arrived on island as the advance party to begin the preparation of the stage and equipment and have brought more than a ton of additional donated sound equipment with them. All will all be treated to a variety of activities including a tour of the island and a barbecue at Woodland Beach while they are here.

Mr. Richard Branson, one of the best known and most successful business entrepreneurs in the world, and his team at Virgin Atlantic have taken a keen interest in the concert, and in Montserrat in particular as a possible tourist destination for Virgin passengers on board the newly inaugurated London to Antigua/Barbados/ St. Lucia route. Mr. Branson has also become personally interested in the plight of Montserratians abroad who are interested in returning to their homeland to help rebuild the island. Mr. Branson plans to attend the Many Happy Returns Concert in Montserrat and will arrive in Montserrat the afternoon of the show.

Additional significant sponsors for the show include Guinness, Her Majesty’s Government, the Government of Montserrat, Cable and Wireless Montserrat, Ltd., Brown and Root, W Llewellan Wall & Co, Nagico Insurance, Bank of Montserrat, FORCE 10, MONLEC, Club Antigun and Jolly Harbor. and many many more, including over 40 local sponsors plus overseas contributors who have elected to advertise in a program created by Mr. Chadd Cumberbatch. The program will be on sale at local establishments.

The local Many Happy Returns Committee itself, comprised of Ms. Ernestine Cassell, Mr. Michael Emmanuel, Mr. Richard Aspin, Mr Chadd Cumberbatch, Mr. Johnny Wyke, Mr. Julian Romeo, and on-island coordinator, Mr. Douglas Darby, wishes to thank all the many people and organizations who helped make this concert happen, including the performers who have given their time and talent to perform free for the people of Montserrat, and the sponsors, workers and organization who have given so generously and so freely. This has truly been a community effort.

Restored St. Martin’s Reopens for Worship

The Roman Catholic congregation rededicated the St. Martin De Porres Church in Salem on Sunday last during their first mass celebration since 1996. The church was used as a shelter for a considerable time before Salem was demarcated as part of the Exclusion Zone.

It was a packed church, with His Lordship Bishop Donald Reece being the main celebrant at the mass, along with the parish priest Father Larry Finnegan.

Father Larry gave a brief introduction to the movement of events since the volcano forced the last evacuation from Plymouth in April 1996, and how the church had been used from then to the present, when the government provided funds to make the necessary repairs to bring it back for use by its members.

Both the old historic St. Patrick's Church in Plymouth Our Lady's Church in St. Patrick's were destroyed by volcanic activity, leaving St. Martin De Porres the only church.

Before being moved to the building still being used as St.Augustine’s School in Woodlands, services were held at the Vue Pointe Hotel's main conference room and later in St. Martin’s for a short period, in spite of its occupancy as a shelter

Towards the end of the service Bishop Reece laid his hands and blessings on four young people who head the new Catholic Youth Organisation.

Montserrat Music Fund Workshops at McChesney’s

To coincide with their trip to Montserrat for the Many Happy Returns concert, Peter Filleul and Chris Runciman are inviting all musicians, composers and technicians to attend the following workshops to be held at McChesney’s. Light refreshments will be provided. Admission is free.

The program being offered is as follows:

THE SECRET WAYS OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS

Tuesday 23rd March 1999 - 7pm - 10pm

For musicians, singers, composers and anyone interested in the music business.

Peter Filleul will introduce the session with a presentation showing the basic industry structures, which will be followed by discussion of specific topics including: Music as a Career or Hobby, Songwriting, Recording, Music Publishing, Collection Societies, Industry Contracts, Artist Management, Live Performance, Music Business Organisations and New Technologies.

The evening will be very informal and there will be a question and answer session.

PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGY - SOUND AND LIGHTS

Wednesday 24th March 1999 - 7pm -10pm

For sound engineers, stage electricians, stage managers and crew members; and anyone who expects to be using performance equipment for musical, dance and theatrical events in Montserrat.

Chris Runciman will demonstrate Rigging and using PA sound and lights.

There will be a presentation about "Health and Safety on the Stage" and a chance to ask questions about the equipment that the Montserrat Music Fund's "Equipment Quest" has brought to the island.

The purpose of this technical workshop is to ensure that there is a collection of people who can utilise the donated equipment. It is hoped that use of the equipment will be controlled by Lionel Nanton and that the musical instruments will become available through the Ministry of Education in due course. The evening will be very informal and there will be a question and answer session

Both sessions will take place in the conference room, at McChesney’s.

As space is limited, please call the Montserrat Tourist Board on 491-2230 to secure your place as soon as possible, specifying which workshop you would like to attend.

ECCB MEETS WITH OECS CHAMBER of COMMERCE

"National and sub-regional groupings of private sector entities are essential if OECS Chambers of Commerce are to tackle the formidable development agenda they currently face."

This was the consensus of last Friday 's meeting with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) and the Chambers of Commerce in the ECCB area held in Castries, St Lucia.

Representatives agreed that advocacy, entrepreneurial development and the other factors that make for a successful private sector were difficult to realise in the current environment of several private sector organisations representing employers, manufactures, hoteliers and small business people.

A single national entity would have more resources, they asserted, to carry out the development mandate.

The meeting agreed that an OECS Chamber of Commerce or similar representative body would be more capable of seeking out development initiatives internationally, and of making representations to OECS Heads of Government about the environment for a single financial space.

Participants also discussed the stumbling block to development presented by the current system of air and sea transportation, and agreed to recommend to the Caribbean Development Bank that funding be sought for an in-depth study in this regard.

The Caribbean development Bank (CDB), Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), St Lucia Development Bank and National Commercial Bank of St Lucia participated in the March 5 discussions.

A Message for Commonwealth Day From Her Majesty the Queen

Music is the theme for Commonwealth Day this year. Throughout our 54 countries, people will be celebrating and making music in as many ways as that, or more.

Of course people of different generations and cultures tap their feet to quite different beats. But for all of us, young and old, music is an essential part of life: for parties and entertainment, for ceremonies and celebrations.

For music knows no difference of language, no national boundaries. And because it has become such an important part of cultural lives, it is a universal means of communicating with each other. The variety of music illustrates our diversity; its common tones and harmonies bring us together. Just like the Commonwealth.

In 1999 we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth. Fifty years ago, in 1949, India became the first republic with its own head of state to be a member of the Commonwealth. That paved the way to membership for many other countries, especially from Asia and Africa, all sharing links of history, a belief in democracy, and a will to work together. Today, the Commonwealth includes over a quarter of the world's population, spanning differences in race, creed and language, but sharing the same aspirations towards a better future.

This November, the leaders of the Commonwealth states will gather in South Africa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. I look forward to joining them there as they discuss the challenges of the new Millennium, as well as celebrating the Commonwealth's achievements in its life so far.

Let us then, in this anniversary year, look both backwards as well as forwards as we mark Commonwealth Day. While we continue to enjoy our favourite music, either by making it or listening to it, let us also celebrate the vigour and creativity that the next generation will bring to their music making. That is just one of the bonds that all the young people of the Commonwealth will share together on this special day.

St. Augustine Pupils In Day-long Celebration

Commonwealth Day provided a full day of activities for students at the St. Augustine School as they celebrated under the theme "Music is My Life."

They celebrated with three major activities, the first a march, which took them from the school in Woodlands to Top Hill or the top of Fogarthy at St. Peters. They were led by members of the Royal Montserrat Defence Force band and accompanied by their teachers all the way and back to the school.

They then prepared for a varying and sumptuous lunch made up of several Caribbean dishes which included, among many others, Montserrat goat water, roti from Trinidad, jerk chicken from Jamaica, a stewed meat from Santo Domingo and Haiti and several Indian dishes. The desserts were no less varied and, like the march, the event was reported to be quite a success.

The children were treated to T-shirts sponsored by his Lordship Bishop Reece, who is in charge of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. John's-Basseterre. The bishop indicated that the T-Shirts were made by Stitch World in Antigua.

Principal of the school, Mrs. Eileen Edwards on Tuesday expressed her pleasure at the success of the effort and response of the school to the request to put on a day of activities. She made special mention of Mrs. Abbott, who offered the Governor's residence at Woodlands, for what was described as a most entertaining evening culminating the day's activities. The Governor's wife herself took part in a solo performance of one of the several dances which were put on during the evening.

Vegetable Import License to be re-introduced

The government of Montserrat will soon be re-introducing the license requirement on the importation of vegetables.

The Trade Division says effective March 15^th all importers will need to obtain a license before bringing vegetables into the island.

The license on the importation of vegetables was relaxed in July 1997 to allow importers to bring in vegetables more freely, as a result of the difficulties brought on by the eruptions at the Soufriere Hills volcano.

However, the license is being reinstated to allow the Department of Agriculture to maintain the level of imports and to strategize with local farmers about what crops to produce.

More than half of the island’s vegetables, including bananas, dasheens and potatoes, are imported from neighbouring islands, particularly Dominica.

Commonwealth Day and International Women’s Day

Montserrat joined the rest of the world on Monday March 8^th in observing Commonwealth Day

Music was the theme this year, and throughout the 54 Commonwealth countries people celebrated and made music in many ways.

On Montserrat, programmes about the Commonwealth were held in each of the three schools - the Montserrat Secondary School, the Brades Primary School and St. Augustine School.

Meantime, women on Montserrat showed solidarity with each other on Monday March 8^th as they observed International Women’s Day with a rally on the compound of the temporary Government Headquarters in Brades.

Scores of women and men gathered together for the rally.

Chaired by the evergreen Ann-Marie Dewar, the programme of activities featured a number of speakers, poetry and songs.

In her feature presentation, Minister with responsibility for Women’s Affairs Adelina Tuitt said women on the island have made tremendous strides and have assumed leadership roles in many fields of endeavour. She emphasized that in the civil service over 70 percent of the staff are women, ranging from office attendants and cleaners to Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Department.

However, Mrs. Tuitt stressed that the issue at this time must be to promote greater partnership among men and women so that the development would be balanced and to ensure that it provides equal opportunities for all.

Meantime, the Honourable Chief Minister David Brandt congratulated women on Montserrat for their achievements, particularly in moulding the society.

Mr. Brandt pledged that his government will continue to support the work and advancement of women.

And the Honourable Financial Secretary C.T. John said women in Montserrat have been fortunate over the years to enjoy the same working conditions and salaries as their male counterparts.

In related news:

Montserrat’s only women’s organization, "Women on the Move," says its aim is to empower women on the island.

Co-founder Juliana Meade says the group plans to do this through education and skills training programmes.

Mrs. Meade says there are tremendous opportunities in the handicraft sector, and suggests that it be taught in the schools.

Financial Management Policy Implementation to be Supervised

A committee has been set up to look after the implementation of the Financial Management Policy on Montserrat.

This was one of the recommendations coming out of a three-day financial management workshop.

The Committee is made up of senior public servants who participated in the workshop.

The legislation is aimed at making business with governments in the region more efficient and effective.

Financial Consultant Alec Lazare, who conducted the workshop, says the committee will look at the existing legislation and make changes and recommendations before the new law is enacted.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lazare says Montserrat’s existing legislation is more advanced than that in the other islands of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

He says the new legislation will not differ from the existing one, but rather modernize the system, especially in the area of computerization.

Housing Registration Programme Being Updated

The Ministry of Agriculture is in the process of updating the island’s Housing Registration Programme.

The Department is inviting individuals or families on island who are in need of housing and who have not yet registered to contact the Ministry of Agriculture at 491-2546 or 2075.

In addition persons on the island whose future housing situation is uncertain are also invited to register.

The Department is hoping to complete the registration programme by March 14.

As a result, appointments will be made by the Housing Inspector, who will conduct interviews at the Ministry of Agriculture in Brades on an individual basis.

The Departments says special arrangements will be made for persons who are ill or unable to get to Brades.

Once completed, the Housing Registration Programme will help the government to plan the next steps in the island’s future housing provision.

Montserrat Evacuees Project Reconnection Programme

Montserratians who have been displaced in Caribbean islands because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano will be given the opportunity to reconnect to their families and loved ones..

Information and Communications Officer of the Montserrat Evacuees Project in Antigua, Theresa Daniel, says although the final details are yet to be worked out, the Reconnection Programme will have two facets to it.

Miss Daniel says her office will be setting up a network to trace and locate relatives and family members and persons who wish to reconnect to loved ones.

She says they can call the Antigua office, or their National Office of Disaster Services in the respective territories, and those disaster offices will in turn get in touch with the Montserrat Evacuees Project Office in Antigua to initiate the search.

The Information and Communications Officer of the Montserrat Evacuees Project says these relocated Montserratians can also use the e-mail address at the office which is evacueeproject@hotmail.com.

Miss Daniel says in addition, her office will be providing passages only (no accommodation and spending money) to several "worthy" cases to reconnect to loved ones.

She says these awards (passages) are not restricted to returning to Montserrat, but will allow relocated Montserratians to visit relatives in St. Maarten, Dominica, Tortola or wherever the loved ones might be.

Miss Daniel says there will, of course, be some criteria to determine who will benefit. This, she explains, will include things like how long the person(s) have been living out of Montserrat, level and nature of relationship, real need etc.

Nutritional Course for Montserratians

Montserratians will get a chance to learn more about nutritional values later this year.

A 40-hour regional nutrition course is being organized by the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI) It will focus on Basic Nutrition for a Changing Society.

The course, which is opened to residents of all Caribbean countries, runs from April 13 to June 22.

The programme will be conducted through the University of the West Indies Distance Education (WIDTE) facility every Tuesday and Thursday, during the three-month period.

The course covers several key areas, including basic elements of nutrition, applied nutrition, nutritional needs of different age groups, effective nutrition communication ,and nutrition and chronic disorders.

The programme is aimed at enhancing the knowledge about current nutritional problems, principles and practices in promoting good nutrition and healthy lifestyle behaviour.

Residents to Prepare for Active 1999 Hurricane Season

Residents on Montserrat, as well other people across the Caribbean region, are being urged to make early preparations for the 1999 Hurricane season.

In what is being described as an active season, Hurricane Expert Professor Gordon "Bill" Gray says there will be 21 named storms for this year.

They are Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Floyd, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katrina, Lenney, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rita, Stan, Tammy, Vince, and Wilma.

Resource Allocation Review Enters Next Phase

The Government of Montserrat has entered the next phase of the Resource Allocation Review (RAR).

The Department of Administration has already dealt with most appointments on the permanent establishment, and is now focusing on the non-established workers.

Under the programme, 98 non-established workers will now be placed on the establishment.

His Excellency Governor Anthony Abbott says this would bring to 585 the number of persons who will be permanently employed.

The review recommends 585 established workers, plus 161 non-established workers, for a total of 746 public service workers.

The next phase of the RAR is a job evaluation exercise, which is aimed at improving and retaining staff with marketable skills.

This is expected to be completed by the year 2000.

Sea Captains Charged with Illegal Entry

The captains of two European-registered yachts have been fined a total of $1,000 in the Montserrat Magistrate’s Court.

Millos Kreinek and Josef Dvorsky were each charged $500 for allowing passengers to disembark without the permission of Immigration, and failing to notify Customs of the arrival of the vessels.

The two captains and 16 passengers were picked up in the abandoned capital Plymouth by the Police on Saturday March 6^th.

Police said members of the party, which included only one female, are nationals of the Czech Republic in Eastern Europe.

The crew of the MV Shamrock II spotted the tourists wandering around Plymouth around 11 o’clock on the morning of Saturday March 6^th, while on routine patrol.

The two yachts, the Mississippi and Domino, are registered in Europe.

Tourist Board Makes Bid for Europeans to Visit

The Montserrat Tourist Board has made yet another bid to encourage European visitors to the island.

Director of Tourism Ernestine Cassell attended the recent annual ITB International Trade Fair in Berlin, German.

The ITB is one of the biggest tourism trade shows in the world. It attracts thousands of travel agents, travel writers, and tourism promoters from throughout Europe.

During the four-day event Miss Cassell was scheduled to promote the island through the use of posters, brochures, interviews, and samples of volcanic ash which she took with her to Germany.

The Director of Tourism has welcomed the handing over of the old Sugar Mill at Look Yard to the Government.

She says the acquisition of the historical landmark fits into plans by the Tourist Board.

Montserrat Villa Association

By Doug Darby

As I understand how the concept for tourism in Montserrat developed, a master plan was originally created in the 60's. The master plan charted a different course for Montserrat, when compared with other islands, as it envisioned Montserrat’s appealing to longer-stay tourists than most other islands. The plan called for the development of the west coast into residential areas appealing to people willing to build private villas. The goal was to target potential retirees and wealthy individuals willing to build villas for their own use and/or rental income before they moved to Montserrat permanently.

The plan developed slowly. Initially, speculators purchased many lots without the anticipated construction occurring. The true benefits of the plan did not begin to bear fruit until the late 70's and early 80's, when a construction boom occurred.

I am unaware of whether or not the master plan looked beyond the construction phase to consider how Montserrat would benefit from this form of tourism, other than the additional money more permanent resident/tourists would bring to the island as consumer spending. If the plan foretold or anticipated benefits beyond that, then I suspect the plan has been forgotten over the years. Other islands have seen a major increase in tourism in recent years. Assuming increased tourism is a good thing, it now seems time to examine the tourist infrastructure on Montserrat and develop a plan to increase its utilization, allowing Montserrat to take advantage of what has already been created.

Clearly, the only facilities currently available to accommodate any increased tourism are the rental villas. The Vue Pointe Hotel is the only hotel accommodations presently available, and the pool of villas represents a magnificent alternative product! The variation and quality of villas available mean that a villa probably already exists to fit just about anyone’s taste and/or pocketbook. The problem -- ignoring temporarily the natural problems created by the volcanic situation – is that most potential tourists are unaware of Montserrat, its facilities, its beauty, or its accommodations. They also have limited sources available to them that expose them to the necessary information.

What is needed is a concerted effort to introduce potentially interested tourists to Montserrat. Today we cannot expect Government to lead the effort. Their resources are strained and, rightfully so, their priorities are geared to meeting the demands of the people displaced by the current crisis. However, the villa owners collectively, if organized, could become their own marketing vehicle plus an added voice for Montserrat tourism. A Montserrat Villa Association, a voluntary organization comprising all villa owners by themselves and/or through their agents, interested in increasing the revenues derived from their villas, could be the answer.

Initially, contributions from the villa owners would fund the Association. Amounts contributed would be based on an estimate of the number of owners joining and the money necessary to be successful. The primary marketing vehicle created by the Association would be a brochure used for promoting both Montserrat and the villa experience. The brochure would provide a brief description of each villa in the Association. Perhaps for a larger contribution, the brochure could include pictures of some selected villas. The brochure would give each villa an identifying name and number and the Association would handle inquiries about villa vacations received through the brochure, NOT the villa’s on-island property manager. The Association would then be responsible for coordinating inquiries with the property manager’s existing reservations for any requested villa. The Association would not allow property managers to advertise in the brochure. Refusing advertising from all property managers will insure equal treatment for all villas in the Association, no matter which individual property manager represents the villa owner locally. To insure that property managers allow the Association accesed revenues should be obvious to the villa owners. They should not feel burdened by an annual fee. An additional source of revenues could be a fee payable from the property managers based on incremental revenues for each week’s rental above, for example, a base three-year average rental history for each participating villa.

Given the current crisis, I think now is a perfect time for villa owners to consider a well-thought out plan. Why now? Because the time is available now to ask opinions and organize while the likelihood of an increase in near-term tourism is low. If villa owners are part of an organized effort to increase tourist activity while the market is weak, they should greet the effort enthusiastically as a way to return to or exceed past success levels in their individual rental experiences. Additionally, the ability and willingness of Montserrat and Montserratians to initiate and carry out innovative ideas to help create a stronger on-island economy after the volcanic situation subsides might encourage villa owners to embrace a Montserrat Villa Association as their marketing arm.

To explore the viability of this plan, a questionnaire for villa owners should be prepared to gain an understanding of the potential for their acceptance. The questionnaire could go to a single property manager’s client base as a sample. Properly written and presented, a questionnaire could discover the percentage of owners willing to participate and their tolerance level for an initial fee to fund the Association. Given a successful response, the idea could then be presented to the other property managers with evidence of the potential for success in hand.

I think the potential benefits derived from a Montserrat Villa Association could be extensive, both for Montserrat and the individual villa owners. The variables to be considered include the costs of a viable brochure and advertising extensive enough to make an impact. The precedent for an association like this, however, does exist in the Jamaica Association of Villas and Apartments (JAVA), and perhaps the Association could seek some organizational assistance from them. Nevertheless, the primary requirement of a successful marketing program is to have a good product. Given the quality of the product to be offered by Montserrat, with its people and its unsurpassed beauty, the initial requirement is most certainly fulfilled. Creation of a true marketing arm for the villa infrastructure at this time may be the next logical step for Montserrat tourism development as originally envisioned in the 60's.

West Indies Board Gutless

By Chelston Lee
Beneath the azure sky, the waving palms, beside the glittering sea, the Caribbean people are not happy. On beaches, street corners and barstools, they grumble and rant and bicker. Their beloved cricket is in tatters and they know it.

And now the Australians are here and we thought things would have changed but -- the omens are not good.
Having just returned from their embarrassment in South Africa -- the first 5-0 whitewash in their history -- the West Indians' confidence is at rock bottom. Depression and melancholy are shackling their natural flamboyance. Team spirit has been ravaged by consistent defeat and ill-discipline, which the irresponsible behaviour of the captain, Brian Lara, only exacerbates. Player power rules. Or, as one Bajan puts it: "The horse is out of the cart and they can't get the horse back.'' Amid much national outrage, Lara narrowly retained his post and is on probation for the first two tests of the series.
Selecting the 10 others to join him for the West Indies team was run like a lottery game.
With Walsh and Ambrose soon to join the 1990s exodus of distinguished players, the future looks bleak. But "what about the upcoming youths?" you say.
A team of alleged bright young talent were played against the Australians in Antigua earlier. In the first innings they were bowled out for 55. They fared a little better with the bat second time round, but their fast bowling – Pedro Collins, a poor man's Alan Mullally, and Dwight Mais, a lanky Vanburn Holder -- looked ordinary and their spin innocuous.
The Calypso anthem "Captain, Your Ship Is Sinking," such a familiar accompaniment to a sequence of hapless visiting captains leading their teams out here, would now sound more appropriate for Lara taking the field. Dry land looks a long way off.
So recently the rulers of the waves, the West Indies look all washed up. Unbeaten in 15 years and 29 series before going down at home to Australia in 1995, they have lost their three away series since, including all the Tests and six out of seven one-day internationals on the tour of South Africa. Lara, the coach Malcolm Marshall and senior players like Ambrose and Hooper were blamed, but the problems go much deeper than that.
Curing the following list of ills might test a United Nations task force:
No money; No discipline; No leadership; No promotion; No ideas; No coherence; No competitive structure; No proper facilities, and No opening batsmen.
We've lost the cricket ethic. There's a lack of professionalism, of passion, of pride. Not many of our boys play in county cricket these days, and that's a good place to learn. We've got very complacent and there are too many people involved in the management of the game who don't have any real knowledge of cricket.
The administration of cricket in the Caribbean is hopeless. The West Indies Board relinquished their grip long ago. With no forward thinking or unity in the islands, cricket has been left drifting. There was no investment in facilities or coaching, and zero marketing. It was a blueprint for self-destruction.
So where once you saw kids playing cricket on rough recreation areas, they're now playing football, hockey or basketball: the sports they see on American satellite TV.

On cricket grounds youths are seen practising long-jumping, triple-jumping and hurdles, but no one batting or bowling. Scholarships to American universities have made athletics more attractive. Co-education and the spread of women teachers have also had an effect. Some coaching programmes have been initiated but they are slow to take effect.
The decline in victory margins during the early 1990s -- from 4-0 and 5-0 to 1-0 and 3-2 -- should have been warning enough.
For some reason, persons became lazy towards the preparation of the younger players to inherit the mantle of Sir Viv and the like.
You would need the full regalia of helmet, arm guard, chest pad and ear plugs to be a West Indies Board member at present. They are getting flak from all sides. Andy Roberts, himself a former team manager, let fly this bouncer:

"The West Indies Cricket Board played true to form by demonstrating a lack of guts in re-appointing Brian Lara as captain. We have to get rid of them. They are only concerned with personal ambitions.''
Other quick bowlers like Colin Croft, Wayne Daniel and Winston Benjamin have joined in (it always has to be a four-pronged pace attack, you see), one saying he was deterring his son from playing cricket because of the board's attitude.
The Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur, said: ``The board has not been as decisive as the situation warrants,'' and thought the new directives at Lara to be punctual and well behaved made the whole issue seem childish.
Perhaps this is one of the West Indies' fundamental problems. Everyone has a view and they are not afraid to air it in the strongest possible terms. But few seem either willing or able to take remedial action.
As usual, the bottom line is money, which the Caricom governments have frequently promised but always failed to deliver (the board lost $267,638 last year). It would certainly help to bond a region that seems to be growing more and more fragmented.
They may need outside help, perhaps from the International Cricket Council. The population is relatively small -- Antigua, for instance, has only 70,000 inhabitants and cannot even manage the upkeep of its roads, never mind a state-of-the-art Test-match stadium. To crank the game up again, prompt action must be taken, though in a region where the fire engines travel at 20 mph.

They need a more substantial first-class competition of 10 matches a side, full-time coaches travelling with the teams (at the moment only Barbados have this) and proper attention to their facilities. The concept of floodlit cricket ought to be aired, in spite of the fact that in much of the Caribbean there are barely enough watts to power a hairdryer.
Proper employment for some of the stars of yesteryear - the ones who really care - would be a start. Haynes has a lot to offer on the technical and mental side of the game and his ebullience would win over many sceptics. While fully in support of Lloyd, Richards is dying to add his services on the motivational side to ``help provide the sort of self-esteem that you need at this level''. In other words, to restore a bit of swagger.
Lara might be the first to benefit. He is an isolated figure at present - though he has his supporters - finding solace mainly on the golf course. His disciplinary record of lateness and disappearance is long and his disrespect towards some players intense, much of it caused by inner self-doubt.
His Test average has slipped from above 60 to below 50, he has not scored a century for 13 Tests and despite his imaginative captaincy, half his Tests in charge have been lost.
These are critical months for the West Indies. There are three remaining Tests against the hungry Australians to negotiate and a few one-dayers, promptly followed by the World Cup. It is not a time to feel vulnerable, and remember the West Indies were beaten by Kenya in the last World Cup.

Tourism Increasingly Relies on the Internet

The Internet is an area of enormous growth potential for the tourist industry.

According to the newsletter released by the Caribbean Hotel Association, the CHAdvance, "the Travel Industry Association of America found a strong correlation between people who use the Internet and people who travel. The TIA report found that 92 percent of Internet users took a trip of 100 miles or more away from home in the past year. Nearly one-half of all Internet users (45 percent) are frequent travelers, who took five or more trips in the past year."

The "Technology and Travel 1998" report went on to show how rapidly the number of people who use the Internet for travel-related purposes has grown. The report states, "The number of travelers who use the Internet for travel-related and other purposes jumped from 29 million in 1996 to 70 million in 1998, 141-percent increase in two years. The report also found that 33.8 million travelers used the Internet for travel planning, up from 11.7 million in 1997, and 3.1 million in 1996, a 1,000-percent increase in two years. In 1998, one-half of all on-line travelers (48 percent) and 51 percent of all on-line frequent travelers consulted the Internet to get information on destinations, or to check prices and schedules."

All major airlines have already made their services available on-line, and many countries have multi-media web sites geared towards promoting tourism. The web sites usually promote local tourist attractions and hotels, etc. It is seen as a very effective way of advertising, as it can be judged exactly how many people visit the web site by counting the "hits" which are recorded whenever someone visits the site.

FARMERS CORNER

(Week Ending March 12 1999)

By Justin "Hero" Cassell, Agricultural Development Officer

"Eat From the Land, Not from the Can"

Coming Soon

The Ministry of Agriculture in conjuction with Caribbean Research and Development Institute (CARDI) will be hosting a two-day workshop on Integrated Pest Management on January 29 and 30^, 1999. The venue will be announced at a later date.

Papaya Seedlings Available

The Forestry section of the Department of Agriculture has available a limited number of papaya seedlings for distribution. Interested persons can collect plants at the Forestry Nursery located to the rear of the Customs Office at Brades, daily between 9 am and 1 pm.

Forestry Work Programme in Place

The Watershed and Forestry Management Project is now on stream.

The Forestry Unit has completed preparation of its 1999 work programme. Included in the programme is the propogation of eight hundred and fifty (850) avacado, mango and citrus rootstocks. Twenty five hundred (2500) fodder seedlings of rainfall and wild tarmarind will be produced.

In preparation for the National Tree Planting Day to be held in November a further 1,000 seedlings of assorted ornamentals and fruit trees will also be produced.

Driving in Style

When ZJB’s staff takes a ride

Their new truck is easily spied.

It’s quite boldly embossed,

But how much would it cost

Without those neat stripes on the side?

Landing Party

Captains, we really must teach

You not to put folks on the beach.

Vacant Plymouth has dangers

For all wandering strangers.

You’re fined $500 from each.

JUS WONDERIN

ADVERTISEMENT

^{CDB WORKSHOP}

^{The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will be hosting a one-day Workshop for consultants from Caribbean regional member countries of CDB, on April 26, 1999 at the Hilton Hotel, Barbados.}