CM Osborne Presents Budget Without Delay
By Bennette Roach and Helena Durand
Chief Minister, John A. Osborne
The John Osborne
Administration is expected to beat the April 30th budget deadline by
three days. Chief Minister Osborne will present a budget today, outlining
government’s fiscal policies, programmes and revenues and expenditure just
weeks after assuming political office.
Fine-tuning the budget,
which was already prepared by the former David Brandt Administration, has taken
up much of the new administration’s time, although few changes have been made.
A government official noted
that time constraints have made major changes to the budget impossible, but the
big question lingers, however, whether the budget is not important enough to
hold past the stipulated deadline to facilitate the necessary changes created by
a new administration?
When asked, the Honorable
Financial Secretary, Mr. John Skerritt, told the Montserrat Reporter, “The
legislation says that it must be done by April 30 .
"It appears, however,
that if withheld, there will be very little time after its passing to begin
preparing another for the upcoming financial year. However, given the fact that
there are little or no changes to the budget, one expects that the increases
which have been suggested will not be reflected therein."
On the matter of the
budget, former Chief Minister David Brandt, who must feel proud that he left a
budget which is accepted almost fully by his successor, says the onus is on the
present government to allocate the spending of the British budgetary financial
aid as they see fit.
“When I was Chief
Minister,” Mr. Brandt said, the British pressured him “to increase taxes and
duty on alcohol, motor vehicle licenses, electricity and water, but I
refused.”
That pressure, he said,
undoubtedly will be brought to bear on the new government, but in his opinion,
“It is up to them (government) to deal with it.”
Chief Minister Osborne, who
is no stranger to presenting government budget, did this last in 1991 before he
lost his seat and government in October that year. But the surprise in not
making the effort to even postpone or delay the budget address to make changes,
if seen necessary, is that he is not accustomed to presenting budgets when
Montserrat is so heavily in a situation of
"grant-in-aid."
<---
Barry Kavanaugh Head of DFID Montserrat
Some comments suggest that
the NPLM led government could see no changes necessary to the budget because
Montserrat's financial aid donor, the British Department for International
Development (DFID), has already put its stranglehold on what Montserrat can or
cannot do. "They should just admit that they have no choices in the
matter," one prominent community member said.
Official sources have said
that indeed a certain sum of money has been made available, and it is up to the
Government to make it do, while other reliable sources have hinted that the
British Government is providing more budgetary aid than they did last year. The
source declined to say whether this meant a higher percentage of the budgeted
figure or whether the total sum was higher. Last year the budget was split
50-50, with Montserrat required to raise 50 percent of its recurrent budget.
The Montserrat Reporter
does not often indulge in speculations but suspicions run high that we can
expect to be faced early next week with higher prices for fuel, vehicle
licensing and driver's licences. Higher fuel prices could lead to higher
electricity and water rates. There can well be increases in property and land
taxes.
Governor Abbott in his
radio interview had little sympathy for taxpayers, although he made reference to
the "wealthy Montserratians." He may well have been hinting at some of
the measures that one might expect to see in the John Osborne/David Brandt 2001
budget address.
Excessive
Costs Blamed For Big Project Delays
It will be just over three
weeks since the John Osborne ministers of government took their oath of office,
but no one will deny that they have not been actively trying to jump-start some
economic activity, if it is even to make their presence felt.
The honourable Dr. Lowell
Lewis, Minister of Communication and Works, has confirmed that every outstanding
project that includes some sizable construction has been delayed for one reason
or another. The British Department for International Development (DFID) has come
in for some blame but they are denying that any fault should lie at their
doorstep. Local staff members at the DFID office here said there is no delay on
their behalf, although some projects require review. Kevin Ward said: "We
have not put any project on hold, but there are several projects that have
excessive costs in the tenders and would require going back to tender."
Dr. Lewis acknowledges
this, but believes since technicians at Public Works Department are the ones who
have set the price around which tenders are submitted, they (PWD) should be
allowed to make any necessary changes and proceed with the work. He sees the
requirement as a delay that could cause projects to be stalled for the rest of
the year.
Local contractors maintain
that their bids are not at all high, but are very much in keeping with the
specifications for labour and materials required. An example cited is that the
same size house which was awarded by Brown & Root (B&R) on a labour
contract for $90,000 while B&R supplied the materials, was being offered to
them to be built (labour and material) at $100,000.
A spokesman for L&M
Construction firm contends that they should revert to the system used under the
David Brandt administration. There the projects were given out to the
contractors, whereby they agreed, to a specified price and Public Works supplied
the material. This is possible since government on executive order can waive
tender requirement on any specific occasion.
The problem that will cause
further delay on the projects is that adjusting specifications to make the
tenders acceptable could require further approval by DFID before the tenders are
received.
It has been otherwise
reported that the Minister has been critical of the work of the PWD architects
and other experts who deal with these matters, since the current delays show
some incompetence. Projects worked on for close to two years remain at a stage
where problems arise because the terms and specifications are not compatible
with the cost being submitted by contracts.
It has been alleged that
DFID is pushing for a situation which again would allow outside contractors to
win bids. But sources say that some of the tenders from outside contractors have
come in higher than the local ones, suggesting that the problem is indeed with
the pricing by the PWD technicians.
Volcanic Lull Allows Reopening of DTEZ
By Helena
Durand
A marked decrease in
activity at the Soufriere Hills volcano prompted the Montserrat Volcano
Observatory (MVO) to advise the Volcano Executive Group (VEG) that portions of
the unsafe zone could be reopened to visitors.
As a result, the VEG
announced last weekend that effective Monday, the Day-time Entry Zone will be
opened every day except Sunday.
The open hours are 10 a.m.
to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Director of the MVO Dr.
Gill Norton told the Montserrat Reporter that the main difference between now
and even two months ago is that the growth of the dome has decreased very
markedly.
“To the extent that in
February the number of rock falls per week were over 400. In April, so far,
we’ve had an average of just over 50 a week, almost a tenfold decrease in rock
fall activity, and we think that the dome is only growing very slowly or not at
all.”
Dr. Norton said that in
addition to this decrease in rock fall, there has also been a decrease in the
amount of gas coming out of the volcano
The closest comparison to
this period of quiet, she said, was March 1998. At that time the dome stopped
growing, nothing was seen for three months, then there was a large dome
collapse. That was followed by a period of smaller dome collapses and some small
explosions, but there was no lava extrusions for almost 20 months.
“And of course it started
extruding again in November 1999," Dr. Norton said. "We’re looking
again at a similar sort of activity to that time.”
She believes that it is far
too early to say whether the eruptions are over. ”So it’s cautious optimism
and while the volcano is quiet, there is no reason why certain areas shouldn’t
be opened up.”
Ultimately, if the volcano
remains quiet, she said, the Day-time Entry Zone, will be opened from 6 a.m. to
6 p.m. again, “but it will be weeks or months before that happens.”
This period of quiet she
said, will in no way lessen the vigilance of the officers at the MVO.
When asked whether the
quiet may mean an increase in the number of researchers on the island, Dr.
Norton said, “We might see a slight increase. In fact, we have a group of five
researchers on island from Leeds University.”
She explained, however,
that volcanologists generally prefer to visit when a volcano is active, although
inactivity makes it "easier to get into certain areas . . . look at the
deposits from the active time in relative safety now.”
When asked whether the
quiet has delayed construction of the MVO Headquarters, Dr. Norton said the
project document is with DFID in London; and the final drawings are being
produced by the government architects on Montserrat. The building is expected to
be erected in the very near future.
"Long
Faces, Delays Notwithstanding, 'Temporary' is No Longer Acceptable
It is only three weeks
since the Honourable John Osborne and his ministers were sworn in to serve Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth and as leaders of the affairs of the people of
Montserrat. But there is no mistaking the frustrating looks on their faces as
they go around trying to fill their busy and important schedules and functions.
The look is not the glowing
one we saw during the campaign when, according to CM Osborne, they were always
confident they would become winners to lead the first newly elected government
for this new millennium.
Why are they looking so
frustrated already? The problems were going to be the same for whichever group
of persons ended up with the reins of a Montserrat government, following the
recent elections. At least in that they can find some comfort.
The campaign was not one
full of criticism of the previous David Brandt government. Only one incumbent
was contesting the elections and she spent much time showing why the government
in which she served as deputy leader from time to time was not deserving of
being re-elected, even though she made out that she had done her job as well or
better than most. All parties and individuals failed not to speak to pressing
needs of the island, topping the list, the still serious lack of housing and the
need to put people to work so they could at least eat. Does one need to say,
when most are not working the economy goes into reverse?
Former CM Brandt had
enumerated publicly a list of projects that had been approved and were due to
come on stream since December last year. As of today projects approved but
waiting implementation are: Sheltered housing, LDA/Lands and Survey building, a
new police station, a nursery school at Lookout and, waiting for tender, a fire
station.
What has gone wrong? Former
Minister of Communication and Works Rupert Weekes when he announced his
resignation February 1, referred to the delays in project approval, but CM
Brandt had accused the minister of not following up on projects that should
already have been well into the implementation stage.
Although it is felt that
other actions could be taken, DFID apparently is insisting that the full process
take its course now that tenders for some of these projects are incomplete.
Costs submitted in the tenders, DFID says, are excessively higher than priced by
those responsible at the Public Works Department. Now government is scrambling
to find ways to jump out of the stalemate.
Every day that passes with
the construction in Montserrat lying dormant brings on more than worries and
frustration. There are empty pockets at the end of the week and month. That
results in businesses beginning to think about sending home workers, with only
the civil servants feeling secure. Interestingly, some of those highly paid
British civil servants are even being challenged with regrets that they are
central to the problems that have developed to delay the projects. How did their
contract of employment get renewed when they are so key to such projects getting
off the ground.
Then there is the budget
which will be presented later today. Ask any government official for information
regarding this budget that Chief Minister Osborne says is being presented almost
unchanged from the way his predecessor Brandt left it, and all you see is a
fairly long face. Mr. Brandt was upbeat, obviously feeling victorious that he
had been able to hold off to some extent DFID's demands to increase taxes and
rates.
This past week government
ministers spent long hours with their technicians and British officials, as they
prepared for this budget presentation, the Country Policy Plan and revisiting
the Sustainable Development Plan and all related matters.
Very high on the list of
all these discussions is the anxiety over the airport. The debate does continue,
but while the propositions are not simple, the position at this time for
Government is not at all complex. It must be that Montserrat must not involve
itself in the construction of a fixed-wing facility that will not improve its
need for an airport. It is well known that a runway/airstrip at Geralds of only
400 meters will never be adequate; and one 600 or above will not be able to
accommodate aircraft safely because of the hazards involved. It is said that
this latter is being studied, but why only Geralds? What happens when it is
found out that it is not worth the consideration? And why is it taking so long -
who is delaying that?
There are those including
the British and government officials who can charter (out of the moneys
allocated to Montserrat) the small five-seater aircrafts to land at Geralds, but
can the masses do that? Will all our tourists want to do that? There are even
British friends waiting to introduce the service. We must never be involved in
spending British tax payers money poorly or unfairly.
We know that it will be at
least two years, should the volcano continue its current trend, before
scientists will begin to say that we seem to be way down the curve on the other
side. We must be sure that nothing bears the name temporary, because of the
considerable amount of money involved and the inability to extend a facility at
Geralds. Montserrat must be prepared to bite the bullet.
Except for the editorial, opinion
articles expressed in these pages are not necessarily those of the Montserrat
Reporter editors, employees or advisers. Readers
are encouraged to submit commentary articles.
All viewpoints, unless libelous, in poor taste, or anonymous, are
welcome. Send your contributions to
The Editor, P.O. Box 306, Olveston, Montserrat, W. I., e-mail: editor@montserratreporter.org.
Manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by a return stamped
envelope. The Montserrat Reporter
is a privately owned independent newspaper.
Jus Wonderin items may be called in at
telephone 491-4715 or Fax 491-2430
Experiencing
Truths Firsthand
In meditation we do not
seek to think about God…Jesus…the Holy Spirit. We are trying rather to do
something immeasurably greater. By turning aside from everything that is
passing, everything that is contingent, we seek not just to think about God, but
to be with God, to experience Him as the ground of our being. It is one thing to
know Jesus as the Revelation of the Father, that Jesus is our Way to the Father,
but quite another to experience the presence of Jesus within us and, in that
experience, we are brought into the presence of His Father and our Father.
Many people today are
finding that they have to face the fact that there is an all-important
difference between thinking about these truths of the Christian faith and
experiencing them, between believing them on hearsay and believing them from
their own personal verification. Experiencing and verifying these truths…is
something each of us is called to do.
Fr. John Main, O.S.B.
In Silence And Stillness In
Every Season.
Acts 5:34-42; Psalm
27:1,4,13-14; John 6:1-15
Beware Those Who Tell Us How to Govern
Ourselves
Dear Editor,
Firstly I must say that I share the sentiments of Ken Walter's article
entitled "Where is our bottle of rum now?" regarding "the right
to be treated fairly without bias or prejudice." However, he has overlooked
the important fact that the foundations of those same laws which govern the
immigration and customs system in Montserrat are formulated within the British
Legislature. "Free world country" is a very strong term for those of
us black non-British nationals who would be more than happy if our only concern
was getting a bottle of rum through customs.
Too often we have been subjected to prejudicial and unfair treatment by
the said system in the UK, often to the extent where, similar to criminals, we
find ourselves locked up in secure units at major British airports without being
allowed to see family/friends and returned back to our indigenous countries with
no hope of redress. Where is our justice now?
Perhaps one should take into consideration the space we give both in our
electronic and print media to publications which seek only to tarnish our
national identities -- i.e. the attack on Montserratian customs workers --
rather than bringing to the forefront the socio-political and economic realities
of many black families who attempt to travel to other so- called "free
world countries."
On the writer's point regarding the Montserratian's governments decision
to promote the island as a tourist destination in a competitive market place I
would like to say that we take lessons from our Caribbean neighbours who, since
the end of colonialism, have adopted tourism as the main economic formula for
growth. We have seen for many years that such growth often comes with the price
of underdevelopment for the masses.
It is interesting that the writer has qualified himself as an
authoritative voice based upon his socio-economic status, i.e. "
manufacturing industry veteran, entrepreneur, and business consultant with over
35 years of hands-on management experience." We should be very wary of such
attitudes and see them as a microcosm of what may be the inevitable to come if
we allow any Tom, Dick or Harry who happens to have the financial clout to
dictate local policies on how we govern ourselves.
Are we acknowledging the social injustices in the so-called "free
world"? Again I ask, "WHERE IS OUR JUSTICE NOW?"
Ann Marie Fagan
New LPG Terminal Opens at Carr’s Bay
The state-of-the-art fuel
terminal at Carr’s Bay was officially opened Wednesday, enabling Liquid
Propane Gas (LPG) to be brought ashore via pipeline.
Outgoing Gov. Anthony
Abbott said at the ceremony that with the onset of the volcanic crisis and
subsequent evacuation of the Plymouth area in September of 1996; “the fuel
sector was dealt a severe blow as all the island’s fuel stocks were located in
the capital and surrounding areas.”
This, he said, was
compounded by the withdrawal of the fuel companies who had traditionally
supplied the island with its fuel.
“It was only through the
efforts of the Emergency Department and several key agencies, such as the Public
Works Department (PWD) and the Royal Montserrat Defense Force (RMDF), that the
fuel needs on the island were kept supplied as they repeatedly made excursions
into the unsafe zone to bring out much needed fuel left behind in the storage
tanks located there,” the governor said.
Now the Carr’s Bay
terminal is easily accessible and distribution is expected to be less of a
problem. The LPG storage facility has a storage capacity of two months.
DFID's man in charge of its
local station, Barry Kavanagh, said in his brief remarks that the ceremony marked the end of DFID's intervention in the supply of fuel
to the island.
Departing Governor Abbott Reviews Four-Year Challenging
By
Helena Durand
An enormous undertaking, a
very challenging yet interesting four years has ended for outgoing resident
Governor Anthony (Tony) John Abbott, who leaves the island tomorrow.
In an exclusive interview
with the Montserrat Reporter, Governor Abbott said he is sad at leaving because
both he and his wife, Mrs. Margaret Abbott, have made many fine friends here
whom they will miss terribly.
His job here, he said, has
been a challenging one. “When you think of the crisis, and how devastating the
country became, the danger that existed to the community, and to be charged,
really, with the lives of the people of the island is a major responsibility.”
He has also been
responsible for “ensuring that the infrastructure of the island is rebuilt,
and I think that we have made very good progress."
That has not been
particularly easy, he said, given the island’s dependence on aid and the fact
that “most of our population left with the skills to rebuild. We were
dependent, really, on an immigrant labour; and because we don’t have any raw
materials on island, everything we needed to rebuild with had to be imported.”
In the rebuilding process
and throughout their own crisis, the people of Montserrat, he said, were
"always very friendly. That is probably their most striking characteristic.
They have also proved themselves in recent years to be pretty tough, certainly
the ones who decided to stay. There are some three to four thousand
Montserratians who were not deterred by the devastation, willing to stay on and
make Montserrat work again. It’s been a long, hard road, but they stood by it.
I have great admiration for Montserratians.”
Asked whether there was any
truth in the statements that the British Government wanted to depopulate
Montserrat, Governor Abbott said, “I know when I arrived on the island, there
was a belief or perception by some Montserratians, including your Editor, that
it was Britain’s intention to depopulate the island. The first question I
asked, (I think I asked your Editor many years ago) was why do you think that
Britain poured £60 million in emergency aid into Montserrat if you thought they
were going to depopulate or evacuate it. That simply did not make any sense.”
That £60 million, he said, became £135 million by March, 2001 and will
become £190 million by the next three years.
The British government, he
said, “has always said, if the scientists could give them assurance that the
north of the island was safe and as long as any number of people
(Montserratians) wished to remain, then the British government would ensure they
had a viable future, and the British government has indeed kept to its word.”
Editor and publisher of the Montserrat
Reporter Bennette Roach, however, is still of the view that Britain had indeed
intended to depopulate the island. ‘What I tell them when they talk about all
the money the British government has spent here is that every good business is
willing to lose to get what they want. The British, in my view, are willing to
lose whatever money they invest in this operation.’
“This
wasn’t just a perception, and by no means nonsense, their own parliamentarians
came to Montserrat and admitted this in late 1997.The governor may wish to
forget; we will not, and I am not sure that still isn’t on their cards.”
When asked about Former
Chief Minister Brandt’s concerns of having a British governor holding office
in Montserrat, Governor Abbott said, “There are one or two people, including
Mr. Brandt, who have said we don’t need a governor. In which case, is Mr.
Brandt saying that Montserrat should not be British?
Because if Montserrat is not a United Kingdom Overseas Territory, then it
wouldn’t have a governor here. As long as it remains a UK Overseas Territory,
the British government has great responsibilities to the island, and because of
that it would wish to have its own governor to govern its own territory. So
it’s up to those people either to stay British or don’t."
Contrary to popular belief,
he said, “The governor is not above the law. The legislation in the
Constitution is put in place to prevent frivolous attacks on the governor and to
allow the governor to undertake his duties and responsibilities without constant
harassment. The governor is expected to abide at all occasions by the law, and
indeed I can assure you that all governors attempt to do just that.”
What Montserrat needs now,
he said , and which he has been promoting for a long time, is a review of the
Constitution. A review of the Constitution, he said, would undoubtedly give the
people of Montserrat an opportunity to determine whether or not they wish to
remain a UK territory. Among other changes which are possible with a
Constitution, he said, are that it “might be delegating some of the
governor’s responsibilities to local Ministers; indeed, in some instances it
might mean increasing the governor’s power.”
He is of the opinion that
there are a number of things that need to be introduced into the Constitution.
Among them, he thinks, should be “a code of conduct laid down to dictate the
behavior of politicians and senior civil servants. I think all politicians in
the next Constitution should be required to publicize their financial assets.
There must be what we call in Britain a Register of Assets launched with the
government so that the people know whether politicians are pursuing things, or
not, that they have a private interest in. That information should be
declared.”
Will Governor Abbott return
to Montserrat? Certainly! However, not during the reign of the incoming
governor, unless he is especially invited by the new governor. The new governor,
His Excellency Mr. Tony Longrigg CMG, will take up his new appointment on May
10, 2001. He says he is looking
forward to taking up his appointment. He believes that his tenure here will be a
totally new one for him. He is coming to Montserrat from a senior posting in
Moscow. His past overseas postings include stints in Africa, Brazil and Spain.
He has had considerable experience of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories
when he was head of the South Atlantic and Antarctic Department in the Foreign
Office from 1995-1997.
'The
Sweetest Mango' Ripens in Montserrat
The romantic drama movie
"The Sweetest Mango" will be shown at the Vue Pointe Hotel
on Friday, May 4, and Saturday May 5. Tickets are $20 and are available
at Arrow’s Manshop, Vue Pointe Hotel and Johnny Mecca Store.
"The Sweetest
Mango" is the first full-length film by young Antiguans Howard and Mitzi
Allen of HAMA Productions, and has been a sell-out in Antigua and Barbuda.
Howard Allen, Mitzi Allen and Omar Mathurin
It tells the story of
Lovelyanne ‘Luv’ Davies, played by Jermilla Kirwan, who returns from Canada
to her homeland. Luv’s adjustment to life in Antigua, her professional turmoil
and personal drama is mapped out in the film. That includes her unforeseen
entanglement in a love triangle between her colleague and her boss. Her
co-worker Richard Warren is played by Omar Mathurin and her boss is played by
Mervyn Richards.
Produced by HAMA’s Mitzi
Allen, the movie was directed by husband Howard. Designed to showcase
Antigua’s rich talent, appearances were also made by Maurice Hope, former
world champion boxer; Bankers, lead singer with popular band Dread and Ballhead,
pianist Lacu Samuel and others.
Mrs. Allen told The
Montserrat Reporter that her husband had always wanted to make a movie. Getting
the funds for the project was difficult, but the two determined young people
worked and saved to finance the movie themselves.
The day of the audition
drew 50 young prospective actors and actresses, from whom the cast was chosen.
“The young people who came had no prior acting experience. They took six weeks
of training and emerged winners,” Mrs. Allen said.
Both husband and wife
believe that not enough is being done by Caribbean people via television. The
movie is designed only for the "big screen."
They believe that it is time for the Caribbean man and woman to get away
from their North American mindset and see the potential of the movie industry in
the region.
Ex-CM Brandt Doubts OECS Secretariat Move
Former
Chief Minister David Brandt expressed doubts this week in a BBC interview about
whether the OECS Secretariat will move from St. Lucia to St. Kitts any time
soon.
The move from St. Lucia to
St. Kitts is being proposed by the Antigua and Barbuda government, which, some
say, is merely a tactic by that government to delay paying their dues to the
Secretariat. That was to be discussed, however, at the OECS Heads meeting in
Grenada this week.
Mr. Brandt said he believes
the proposal will not receive the kind of support expected from the region. “I
think the reason why they suggested that the Secretariat be moved to St.Kitts is
because the Central Bank is there, and they have ample room to house the
Secretariat. And that is why I said that it is not a question of having enough
space alone. The Central Bank is governed by a charter which would not permit it
to pay out of its profits any expenses of any other office but the bank
itself.”
Mr. Brandt said he found
while in Office that the tasks of the Secretariat are increased daily, “But we
do not increase its staff, neither do we increase its pay. For those reasons it
would be difficult for the Secretariat to perform all the tasks which we place
on it with perfection. I am saying that, from the facts available to me, I
cannot see the Secretariat moving from St. Lucia to St. Kitts in the short
run.”
Orange House won the 2001
Montserrat Secondary School Sports Meet held this week. They amassed 311 points,
easily retaining their title as Champion House.
Green House came second
with 271 points, while Red House slid in at third place with 266, and Blue House
had 249 for fourth place.
Ikbarry White of Red House
scored 30 points for his house, while Leandre Tuitt scored 18 points for Orange.
Both the tug of war and the
March Pass were won by Green House. However, it was Orange House which displayed
a continued dominance throughout the sporting season. They won the girl’s
soccer, boy’s cricket, and boy’s basketball.
Principal of the Montserrat
Secondary School Mrs. Kathleen Greenaway told the Montserrat Reporter, “The
school’s sports meet was a success.”
Cabinet Reshuffling Will Come, But Later
The New PLM government has
assured the electorate that plans to reshuffle ministerial duties have not been
aborted, but that the proposals made by the party after getting into office will
be implemented at a later date.
The most radical if not
unheard of change will be taking away the Ministry of Finance from Chief
Minister John Osborne’s portfolio.
This shifting of duties,
says Deputy Political Leader Dr. Lowell Lewis, will enable Mrs. Margaret
Dyer-Howe, the Hon. Minister for Agriculture, Lands and Housing, to employ her
professional skills in Business Administration. Mrs. Dyer-Howe, who has a Masters Degree in Business
Administration, will give up her responsibilities for Lands and Housing as she
takes up her new post; one which will fit into the government’s strategy to
develop a business focus.
That move however, does not
preclude Chief Minister Osborne from contributing meaningfully on financial
matters.
The reshuffling of the
Cabinet may be timely, as the Caribbean Development Bank fits the bill of
US$48,000 for the undertaking of a study on a proposed regional Financial
Intelligence Unit (FIU) to be established soon.
Montserrat is in a position
to benefit, says the New PLM release. Some countries in the OECS have
established FIU’s in an effort to monitor the performance of their Offshore
Financial Sectors and minimize the threat posed by money launderers. Other
countries, however, such as Montserrat, cannot afford an individual financial
unit and it is felt that a sub-regional unit would be more appropriate.
A government official said that as part of the region and a member of both
CARICOM and the OECS, Montserrat is “keen to participate.”
However, details of the country’s participation, has yet to be
determined.
By Helena Durand
The
Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and the National Lottery of the
Windward Islands were the sponsors of the recently constructed, newly opened Red
Cross building and playground in Lookout on Wednesday, April 25, 2001.
Chairman
of the Montserrat Red Cross Mrs. Lystra Osborne said in her opening remarks,
there is truth in the saying that good things come to those who wait.
“Over
three years ago the Montserrat Red Cross approached the Canadian Fund for Local
Initiatives (CFLI) for funding for a playground in Lookout,”
Mrs.
Osborne said. She stated that they recognized that plans were in place to erect
over 200 houses in the area and “in
keeping with the guidelines of our Red Cross mandate, one of which is to foster
and to promote a better quality of life for our citizens, we took up this
project. We felt it important, if not crucial that a recreation and sport
facility be erected in the area.”
She
said, Coordinator of the Canada Fund, Mrs. Phillis Roett, based in Barbados,
promptly responded to the request stating that CFLI was willing to support such
a worthwhile project. Soon thereafter, a grant of Can.$50,000.00 was received
from CFLI. A plot of land was quickly identified, but the government allowed the
Red Cross to have it as part of their contribution to the project.
Brightly colored basketball, slides and other fun equipment were
sponsored by Sir George and Lady Martin.
The National Lotteries of the Windward Islands provided funding for the
building, which is equipped with a meeting room, kitchen and wash-rooms- a
building which can be used for several purposes.
It is actually going to be used as the Headquarters of the Montserrat Red
Cross until one is built. Mrs. Osborne made a special effort to tell the
residents of Lookout that the playground was for the children to make the most
of and that the facilities were, for both parents and children. She however,
also advised them that as custodians, they should take good care of both the
equipment and the building. “Have
good clean fun here and let it be a reflection of your good selves. Let the
words you speak be as pure and fresh as the breezes that blow across this
community. In other words-no obscene language.
please.”
Outgoing
Governor His Excellency Tony Abbott expressed pleasure on being present to
witness the official opening of the building and playground.
“I
have been extremely proud to be associated with the Red Cross in a number
of projects over the last four years” Governor Abbott said. He noted that
though Britain had some 60,000 Red Cross volunteers, he was willing to bet that
“the Red Cross volunteers on Montserrat, far outstrips them.” He was
referring to the manner in which the Montserrat volunteers gave their all in
service and applied themselves to their every task.
Minister
for Education, Health and Community Services Mrs. Idabelle Meade said in her
address. “Lookout, having been
born out of the volcanic crisis is relatively young, and so the creation of this
facility in this community must be seen as timely. Recognizing that many
families with children live in this community, this playground will provide
built facilities where the young could play and enjoy themselves in a relatively
safe environment. Play is an important part of growing up and the investment in
the setting up of this playground must be seen as an investment not only in the
future of the community, but indeed the entire country.”
Lookout she said represents one of the largest communities of the island.
There is another basketball court being constructed at the entrance to the
Lookout community. It is expected to have lights which will facilitate night
playing.
Chairman
of the Windward Island Lottery Group Mr. Ian Munro, thanked the officers of the
Montserrat Red Cross for inviting him to the opening, and noted how pleased he
was at seeing that the monies from the Lottery “was well spent” and that the
job it was spent on “was well done.”
In her
vote of thanks, Mrs. Camilla Watts thanked everyone who had in one way or
another participated in making the afternoon’s function a reality. Mrs.
Margaret Abbott, was presented with a parting gift of appreciation for her
dedicated and committed service to the Montserrat Red Cross as its Patron during
her husband’s stay as the island’s governor.
Montserratian
Gains U.S. Air Force First
Roberta Edwards, who was
born in Montserrat to parents Gwendolyn and Nicholas Edwards, was only 4 years
old when she left her homeland for London. At the age of 11, she left London to
pursue her education in the United States of America and proved to be an able
student. She graduated from Howard University with her Masters and went on to
become a Registered and Licensed Dietician.
An article written about
her by Senior Airman LaTonya Dozier in Potomac Air Militia said when she joined
the U.S. Air Force in 1975, her goal had always been to one day become Chief
Master Sergeant. Not only did Roberta Edwards’ dream come true, she took it a
step further by actually being the first African-American female Chief Master
Sergeant in the Washington, D.C. Air National Guard.
“It feels great being the first, but I would feel better if
I could help someone become the second, third, fourth, etc.,” said Chief
Edwards. “I am a firm believer that if you put forth your best effort you can
accomplish your goals.”
Over time, Chief Edwards
has received a host of awards and medals, including the Air Force Commendation
Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal and the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious
Service Medal. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Dietetics and
an Associate degree in Allied Health Sciences from the Community College of the
Air Force.
Caption
for photo: Chief Master Sergeant Roberta Edwards is the DCANG’s first
African-American chief. Photo by SrA Dennis Young 113th CVIc.
Basil
Morgan to Umpire For International Series
Montserratian International
Cricket Umpire Basil Morgan will play a prominent role in the Cable &
Wireless one-day international series between the West Indies and South Africa.
Notwithstanding the fact that Morgan has not yet been given a Test Match, he
will stand in four of the matches in Jamaica.
Mr. Morgan will also
officiate in three other matches in Antigua and Grenada during the series.
He also has been asked
along with Steve Butler to umpire a charity match between West Indies and the
rest of the world later this year. Morgan has officiated in more international
matches than any other umpire from the Leewards and Windwards and says he is
happy to serve the West Indies Cricket.
“To umpire in 12 one-day
internationals, it shows the West Indies Board is thinking about me and this is
prelude to Test Matches. When you umpire in one-day matches, the next
stepping-stone is obviously a test match. I am happy to be allowed, fit and well
to be serving the West Indies,” Morgan said.
New
Lighting System Scheduled for Heliport
Work is ongoing in an
effort to improve safety operations at the Gerald’s Heliport. This includes
installing a new emergency lighting system.
The lights are being placed
at the approach area of the landing pad to facilitate safe landing during
periods of reduced visibility, and, according to Airport Manager Mr. Norman
Cassell, the new lighting system is part of efforts to meet requirements for
heliports set by the International Civil Aviation Association.
He says the installation of
the lighting system will also facilitate emergency flights at nights if the need
arises.
The lighting system, he
noted, was not installed in the old landing area because it was an emergency
facility. However, now that the heliport has moved to a more permanent location,
steps have been taken to ensure that international standards are met.
Traffic
Division Says License, Insure Now!
The Traffic Division in
Montserrat's Ministry of Communication and Works is concerned that there are still too many unlicensed
vehicles on the road.
The Division is therefore
reminding vehicle owners, that as there is no grace period, vehicles should be
licensed immediately. According to law, all vehicles should be licensed on the
first of January. The Police have already begun routine checks for unlicensed
and uninsured vehicles.
So far 1,634 vehicles have
been registered for the year. This is a slight increase over the same period
last year when the figure was 1,589.
Gov.
Abbott Faults Housing Priorities
Outgoing Governor Anthony Abbott leaves Montserrat proposing that the many persons in need of housing on the island should be placed on a priority list. These people, he said, include those living in shelters and in public assistance housing who are categorized by their dismal financial standing, and their physical inability to help themselves.
While conceding that they
may not meet the qualifications necessary to be eligible for the materials grant
scheme, he said he believes nonetheless that they should be moved up the list of
priorities for the next time housing assistance is being allocated.
Negotiations on the next
three-year Country Policy Plan (CPP), he said, ought to have already begun
before the end of 2000. Among reasons for the delay, he noted, “we had the
collapse of the government. Now we had elections; we have a new government in
place.
"The suggestion is
that the Country Policy Plan negotiations should start in May. And I hope that
the categories of people that I spoke about will be placed high on the priority
of housing in the next three years,” the outgoing governor said in a radio
interview.
Minister for Housing Mrs.
Margaret Dyer-Howe told the Montserrat Reporter that in relations to the housing
problems, “It is government’s
wish to get them out of the shelters in the near future, and we are working
towards that because this is a priority with my government.”
Hogan Undeterred By Lack of Ministry
New Parliamentarian Claude
Hogan says he is not disappointed that he was not given a ministerial post with
the John Osborne government. Far from feeling left out, Mr. Hogan has vowed to
serve the people of Montserrat to the best of his ability.
One of seven NPLM
candidates elected to the Legislative Council, the political economist said,
“People have elected me first and primarily to be a representative for their
interests in Parliament. They want their interests to be represented in respect
of what laws are passed, how those laws will affect them.
They want those laws to be fair, they want equity in the society, they
want to have a share in the economic activities of the country, and that is what
I will continue to represent.”
He said the fact that he
was not given a ministerial position does not preclude his type of intervention.
He admits, however, that Ministers "naturally have a tighter grip on
the situations since they will be implementing the day-to-day policies of the
government. “But the Chief Minister” he said, “ has in fact started a
process whereby those of us who are not in the Executive have an opportunity to
be part of a consensus formation on decisions which are taken forward by the
government. And I will continue to support it fully from the back bench towards
realizing the aspirations and dreams of the people of Montserrat.”
OECS Workshop Seeks To Help Censuses Work
OECS territories are making sure
information collected through their ongoing national censuses is not wasted, but
used to help correct burning social and economic problems.
The OECS Secretariat, in association with the World Bank Institute, has
organized a two-week training programme for the senior public servants who will
be using census data for informing policy decisions.
Representatives of Ministries of Planning, Statistics Departments and other
social sector Ministries will attend the May 14th to 25th training workshop in
St. Lucia on "Analysis of Census and Survey Data for Formulation of Social
Policy and Poverty Reduction Strategies in the Caribbean."
Questionnaires for the 2001 censuses in OECS Member States include a wide range
of data on living conditions, especially on social development and poverty.
The OECS Secretariat says, in the past, very little use was made of census data
for informing policy decisions. This was partly because external consultants did
most of the analysis of data resulting in lack of ownership and limited
development of national capacity. Delays in the production of publications also
meant the data were often out of date.
The Secretariat says it hopes next month's training workshop will prepare
participants with increased statistical analysis capabilities and skills for
analysing and interpreting data for policies on poverty and other social ills.
The training workshop takes place at the Rex St. Lucian Hotel.
Saba Jobs Project Seeks To Woo Students Home
THE
BOTTOM, Saba (SGIS) - Commissioner of General Affairs Will Johnson is in full
support of the Saba Comprehensive School (SCS) project known as "Job
Shadowing" that took place for the first time on Thursday.
The
project entails over 50 students working along side various people in different
professions and disciplines in the public and private sector.
"It
really focuses on that young people are studying with an objective in mind. At
the end of their studies, it has to result into performance in a job," the
Commissioner told SGIS.
He
added that he hopes the project will inspire the young people to get into the
political arena once they have completed their studies.
Commissioner
Johnson said, "The last few years we have sent out so many young people to
the U.S. and other countries and everyone is staying in the countries where they
went to study.
He
said he would like to appeal to young people to come back home. "You don't
have to work in the area you studied," he said. "Apply your skills and
knowledge to other areas and develop them.”
Court
Delays Trial In Antigua Brouhaha
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua, CANA -
Antigua and Barbuda's opposition leader Baldwin Spencer has had his case for
disorderly conduct adjourned until September because the prosecution was not
ready.
Mr. Spencer and two of his United Progressive Party (UPP) supporters appeared
before Chief Magistrate Clare Henry-Wason Thursday, but Director of Public
Prosecution Cosbert Cumberbatch told the magistrate that he had only received
the case file two days ago and was not in a position to proceed.
Mr. Spencer, lawyer Harold Lovell and one of his aides were answering to charges
relating to their conduct at a press conference called by Prime Minister Lester
Bird on April 2.
The police physically removed them after they proceeded to disrupt the press
conference by posing questions to Mr. Bird.
The UPP leader was upset that his own press conference -- called earlier for the
same time -- was effectively cancelled after Mr. Bird subsequently scheduled
his.
A large gathering had assembled outside the court as the opposition made their
way to the courtroom in St. John's.
Eight lawyers are representing the accused and the case is now set for September
6 and 13.
They are facing two charges of misconduct and for remaining in the room when the
police asked to leave.
Mr. Spencer said the charges are act of harassment and intimidation by the
authorities.
Liberalisation Seen As Gain for C&W
Barbados, CANA - Losing its
long-running monopoly in the Caribbean could put telecommunications giant Cable
& Wireless in an even stronger financial position, an internet service
provider here has said.
And a senior official of Cable & Wireless has admitted that while countries
stand to benefit heavily from liberalisation, some prices may well rise.
These views were expressed during the weekend airing of "Talk
Caribbean," the Caribbean Media Corporation's weekly television programme,
hosted by Senator Jessica Odle.
Tony
Blair Bids to Calm Foot and Mouth Fears
The
People of St. Kitts and Nevis are among those British Prime Minister Tony Blair
is trying to reach in his attempt to allay fears over the possible spread of
Foot and Mouth Disease from Britain to the Caribbean and other parts of the
world.
In
a statement recently released Prime Minister Blair put out two main messages:
"We are doing everything we can to contain and eliminate the disease, and
secondly, this outbreak, dreadful as it is for the farmers affected, is not a
danger to human health. Therefore everyday life continues as usual and tourist
attractions are open as usual."
The
prime minister went on to describe the "tough measures" being taken to
eradicate the problem, and to describe how difficult it has been for communities
where there are outbreaks, including herd slaughter and the banning of livestock
movement.
Locally,
efforts to stop the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease to livestock include a foot
bath which persons arriving out of England are required to use as they disembark
aircraft at the Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International Airport. The situation
is also being monitored by a local task force comprising agriculture, health and
tourism industry personnel.
St.
Maarten Working To Create NGO Unit
GREAT BAY, St. Maarten
(GIS) - Members of the Executive Council were informed Tuesday during their
weekly Executive Council meeting about the progress being made to set up a
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) structure for St. Maarten.
The NGO-Platform
Committee of St. Maarten which was formed March 15, presented its working
committee report to the Council members.
Commissioner Roy Marlin
told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Tuesday that he is pleased with
the process so far in establishing a platform encompassing the NGO community on
the island that would deal with donor countries, governments and entities in
relation to funding for non-governmental organization activities and projects.
According to
Commissioner Marlin, the NGO Platform Federation would be recognized as the
national representative of all NGOs operating on St. Maarten. The main objective is to secure funding from donors based on
a synchronized policy for social development and self-reliance of St. Maarten.
"A lot has to be
done before funding is provided by Holland for social, educational and cultural
projects. The committee is working
hard along with the NGOs to put a structure in place, and I am pleased with the
progress being made.
St. Maarten has over 200
NGOs. These organizations are
community based, not for profit, independent organizations, that aim to improve
the well being of the community of St. Maarten within such areas as Culture and
Arts, Education, Youth, Gender, Environment and Heritage, Sports, Health Care,
Social and Economic.
St. Kitts/Nevis Shows Better Economic
Signs
ST. KITTS -- Economic activity in St. Kitts and Nevis, fuelled by
continued buoyancy in the construction sector, increased during the fourth
quarter of last year compared to the corresponding period in 1999.
According to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), performance in
the tourism industry was mixed and while stay-over visitors fell, strong growth
was recorded in the number of cruise ship passengers visiting St. Kitts and
Nevis.
It also reported:
Increased output of non-sugar
manufactured goods;
Expanded production of food crops
in contrast to the contraction in the same period of 1999, when Hurricane Lenny caused damage to crops.
Higher growth in current central
government revenue; liquidity in the banking sector eased and consumer prices
fell.
It also noted that for the period January to December 2000, the St. Kitts
and Nevis economy continued to expand compared with the outturn in 1999,
stimulated by a higher level of construction activity associated with public
sector projects and investments in hotel development.
St. Kitts-Nevis Opens New Primary School
St.
Kitts and Nevis’s newest primary school opened officially on Tuesday at Lodge
Project.
Minister
of Education Hon. Timothy Harris, who oversaw the project during the
construction phase, spoke and Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas gave the
feature address.
The
programme featured renditions by the Molyneux School Choir and the Cayon High
School Steel Band.
Dominica Plans to Cut Social Security Staff
Dominica, CANA - The Dominica Social Security (DSS) is to make
staff cuts under a programme to streamline the organisation.
Employees at the national insurance scheme have been offered a Voluntary
Separation Plan, as part of the restructuring efforts at the quasi-government
institution.
In a letter written to employees, dated April 23, 2001 obtained by the Caribbean
News Agency (CANA), the DSS announced management's intention to introduce a
Voluntary Separation Plan (VSP).
"The plan is being introduced at a time when it caters simultaneously to
the needs of DSS and all employees, both directly and indirectly," the
letter said, "Streamlining the organization's staff is an essential step
toward improving the efficiency of DSS."
St.
Kitts-Nevis Forces In Puerto Rico Exercise
Members of the St.
Kitts-Nevis Defence Force and the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force
are presently in Puerto Rico to take part in the Trade Winds exercises 2001.
Trade Winds is an annual
exercise which groups together members from various security forces from across
the region to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the agencies' members.
TAX-FREE BUDGET FOR GUYANA IN 2001
Guyana: (GIS Guyana) - The people of Guyana can
breathe a little easier knowing that they will not be burdened with any new
taxes for the new fiscal year.
The assurance has come from President Bharrat Jagdeo,
who said his government has secured some US$25 million per annum in debt relief,
which will permit more spending on a number of development-based projects.
Fresh from his resounding victory at the polls
following General Elections last month, the President said his government is
"moving forward the process of budget preparations so that we can have an
early budget once things settle down," which will allow the country
continue the rebuilding process.
Princess Anne Busy During Dominica Visit
Dominica, CANA - Britain's Princess Anne, the daughter of
Queen Elizabeth II, plunged into a busy Dominica schedule Tuesday, a day after
arriving in the island for a brief visit.
Her morning included visits to a secondary school, the Botanical Gardens, the
State House to meet President Vernon Shaw, a home for the homeless, and the
Disaster Coordination Office.
Afternoon included a lunch hosted by the Acting Prime Minister at the Fort Young
Hotel, and a visit to the Carib Reserve, where descendants of the indigenous
people live in northeastern Dominica.
The Queen's Birthday Party at the State House filled her evening..
Wednesday's visits took her to a banana farm as well as a banana marketing
company, a community centre built with British funds, and the Cabrits National
Park, where the remnants of an old British fort can still be seen.
The Princess arrived Monday afternoon from Honduras and left for home Wednesday
via Bermuda.
The British High Commission in Barbados called her stop-over in Dominica a sign
of the British Government's continued interest and support for the country.
Selection Guide Readied For New Supreme
Court
The
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) committee formed to recommend
selection criteria for members of the new Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court has
submitted its recommendations to Honourable Chief Justice, Sir Dennis Byron.
Chief
Justice Byron set up the Committee on Wednesday, March 14, 2001.
In
its report the Committee used the Office of the High Court Judge as the
benchmark for purposes of determining the qualifications, criteria, selection
process and the orientation for selecting members of the new court.
With
suitable amendments, guidelines for the offices of Justice of Appeal and
Magistrate were arrived at, given the essential commonality of all these offices
in the administration of justice.
The Committee also took into account the recent creation of the office of
Master, and has recommended that the terms of reference should also apply to
that office.
The Report of the Committee has been circulated to the Heads of Government of
the OECS states for their reactions and/or comments.
The
guidelines committee was made up of: Justice Albert N. J. Matthew, Chairman;
Justice Telford Georges, Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Ms. Jennifer
Courtenay, Human Resources, Caribbean Development Bank; Mr. Eldon Mathurin,
Director, OECS; Mr. O.R. Sylvester, Q.C. Representative of the OECS Bar
Associations, and Ms. Carla Herbert, Legal Consultant.
40
St. Vincentians Laid Off by C&W
St. Vincent, CANA - There
will be some restructuring at the St Vincent operations of British telecommunications giant, Cable & Wireless, following the lay-off this week
of 40 workers, General Manager Ian Kyle said on Tuesday.
He told the Caribbean News Agency
(CANA), "My hope is that we can achieve this restructuring without any drop
in quality, but being honest, I'm expecting that there may be some areas where
inevitably, there may be a brief decline."
Cable & Wireless is cutting over 400 workers from its operations in the
Caribbean region as it prepares for competition in a liberalised
telecommunications market. It has offered them early retirement or separation
packages that will amount to millions of dollars.
Last week, the company issued termination letters to 40 workers in St. Vincent,
some of whom had accepted the packages. Sources told CANA, though, that more
than half those being sent home Friday did not opt for either of those packages
which were offered to the estimated 250 employees. It is the largest number of
workers ever laid off by the company and is said to have hit some workers hard.
When employees received their termination letters, interested staff was provided
counselling through a Barbados-based company and financial counselling would
also be provided next month for the terminated employees, Mr. Kyle said.
The governments of five countries in the Eastern Caribbean signed an agreement
with Cable & Wireless two weeks ago, paving the way for full liberalisation
of the telecommunications market in Grenada, Dominica, St.Vincent and the
Grenadines, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts/Nevis over a 12-18 months period.
Negotiations are still taking place during this transition period on a number of
issues including interconnect rates -- payment by one company to another to
connect telephone calls starting in their network and ending in the other
company's network.
Cable & Wireless and ECTEL, the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications
Authority, are thrashing out these issues. Mr. Kyle said it was difficult to
project how the final numbers would work out on the question of rebalancing, but
there was a possibility, even a probability, that domestic costs will increase.
"Rebalancing is all about the
amount of money that companies such as Cable & Wireless make or lose in many
cases for domestic networks which is always subsidised by international
telephony, so, clearly, as international rates drop you have to think about
rebalancing some of those costs and revenues into the domestic side of
things," Mr. Kyle explained.
He said he was satisfied about the way in which the remaining workers in St.
Vincent were settling down after the announced lay-offs but could not provide
any guarantees that this is the end of the staff cuts.
EU
Still Supports US Banana Deal
LUXEMBOURG, CANA-Reuters -
A majority of European Union member states have welcomed a recent deal between
the EU and the United States over banana imports, EU Farm Commissioner Franz
Fischler said on Tuesday.
Mr. Fischler, speaking on
the margins of a meeting of EU farm ministers, said that despite the endorsement
some countries had raised concerns over Ecuador's rejection of the agreement and
its threat to lodge a complaint with the World Trade Organisation.
"The majority of member states welcomed the solution," he told
journalists.
Under the deal with the United States, the EU has agreed to scrap plans to
introduce a first come, first served import quota system to replace current
rules, which had been successfully challenged by the United States and Latin
American producers in the WTO.
Ecuador and U.S.-based marketing firm Dole Food Co. had backed the plan, seeing
a chance to expand exports to Europe. Last week Ecuador alleged the EU-U.S. pact
was a flagrant violation of WTO rules.
Mr. Fischler said intensive discussions were continuing with Ecuador and that
the Commission still believed the accord reached with Washington could be made
acceptable to all sides.
"This is not a bad solution for Ecuador," he said.
Regional
Chiefs Pleased With Free Trade Summit
QUEBEC CITY, CANA -
Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, Richard Bernal, said on Monday that
he was generally satisfied with the outcome of the 3rd Summit of the Americas,
just ended here.
And the Barbados Prime Minister, Owen Arthur, described Caribbean leaders as
pleased with the hemispheric agenda - emerging from the summit - to promote
technology among the region's peoples.
The summit's focus was the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas - a magnet
for some violent demonstrations outside the summit venue.
Ambassador Bernal told the Caribbean News Agency that Caribbean people went to
the meeting asking for special and differential treatment against the backdrop
of an accelerated movement to globalisation. He said a clear mandate had been
given at the summit that a specific agreement be written into the free trade
text to ensure the objectives of the region are realised.
He said he foresees tremendous difficulties in meeting the January 2005 deadline
for the completion of the FTAA process, since smaller economies were already
stretched by commitments to negotiations such those under the World Trade
Organisation process.
Prime Minister Arthur said coming out of the summit Caribbean leaders are
pleased with the hemispheric agenda to promote technology among the region's
peoples.
"You must believe me when I tell you that for the Caribbean we are excited
by the prospect of translating our human capital advantage into new industry in
a new information age," he said at the closing news conference.
In a statement on "Connecting the Americas" released just before the
close of the summit, the heads said, "We are conscious of the disparities
in cost and access to technology with and between our countries.
"Therefore were agree that we must individually and collectively move
toward expanding access to global knowledge and full integration into the
knowledge society, particularly in developing countries, smaller economies, and
among rural and disadvantaged groups."
Along with Mr. Arthur, St. Lucia's Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny Anthony, and
Antigua and Barbuda's Lester Bird made major statements during the summit.
Dr. Anthony warned that Caribbean democracy was being threatened by "the
new gospels" of globalisation and trade liberalisation.
Prime Minister Bird sought
to persuade U.S. President, George W. Bush to join the islands' fight against
the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's blacklisting of a
number of them as tax havens and places uncooperative in the international fight
against money-laundering.
Georgetown, Guyana:
(GIS Guyana) - President Bharrat Jagdeo, leader of the ruling Peoples
Progressive Party/Civic and Mr. Desmond Hoyte, Leader of the Opposition Peoples
National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R), met late Tuesday afternoon and came to an
agreement on six (6) major issues, which includes working towards the lessoning
of the tension in the country and the de-poloticisation of the Public Service.
A joint statement
was issued following the meeting which lasted just under two (2) hours.
The statement
reads:
1. We agree that
the Public Service would be politically neutral and that necessary action will
be taken to ensure this result. Within this context, the Parties agreed that the
position of Dr.Roger Luncheon will be reviewed, to ensure that this principle is
not breached while recognizing that the appointment of the Head of the
Presidential Secretariat lies within the jurisdiction of the President.
2. Chancellor of
the Judiciary Justice Cecil Kennard's term of office will not be extended.
3. All pending
constitutional legislation will be passed within one month of the convening of
Parliament.
4. The PNC/R
recognises the government without prejudice to an election petition.
5. The two Parties
accept that violence ought not to be part of any protest and will work towards
the lessening of tensions while recognising that progress on the implementation
of the agenda is crucial to the success of our efforts.
6. The Parties have
agreed on an agenda, which includes all the issues raised by the leader of the
PNC/R, and will meet tomorrow (today) to settle the mechanism for moving
forward.
The leaders of the
two main parties have been under pressure from the international community to
meet in an effort to bring an end to the post-election violence which has
plagued the country within the last three weeks.
By Peter Adrien
Farewell
and thank you, Cuddy! Welcome and best wishes, Hoops! Kudos and bravo, Jakes!
Three cheers to the West Indian cricketers! Congratulations are in order for the
West Indies Cricket Team, and the many cricket fans and fanatics who believed in
them, followed them, and supported them in good times and bad times.
Although
the West Indies team’s performances in the just concluded Test series were
mixed (not reflecting their true potential), the discipline, commitment,
productivity and output in the final battle (the fifth and final Test match)
left a Caribbean population, battling with the painful economic adjustments
triggered by changing trade regimes and the onslaught of the merciless OECD
countries, with a measure of hope for the uncertain future.
The West
Indies' victory by 130 runs in the fifth Test against South Africa at the Sabina
Park, Jamaica, on April 23 was indeed a fitting farewell for Courtney Walsh.
The
38-year-old master craftsman ended a magnificent 17-year career with 519 wickets
at an average of 24.45, and finished with 25 or more wickets in a series for the
fifth time. The great fast bowler could claim to having left the team at the
point where it was rediscovering its winning ways, having taken two crucial
wickets after lunch on the final day to salvage the first Test victory for his
battered team after 13 Test matches.
The
importance of Courtney Walsh’s achievement to the Caribbean people and,
particularly the vulnerable and the marginal, must be seem in the context of the
adjustment pains that are being experienced in the small island states in the
Caribbean basin. For some ailing economies, the economic shocks are beginning to
trigger social unrest and panic responses from weak governments. The traditional
growth sector and major foreign exchange earner (agriculture) is contracting as
result of changing international trade regimes orchestrated by the United
States, the emerging growth sector (offshore finance) is being threatened by the
powerful but merciless OECD, which is bent on preventing tax competition, and
the small stock of human capital is being depleted through migration (and
recruitment) to North America. The governments of the smaller island states have
resorted to desperate measures in order to deal with a situation which threatens
to dry up the skilled resources from the educational and the health sectors.
Courtney’s
excellence in cricket, an international sport controlled by white interests,
gives hope. It suggests that with the necessary teamwork, the functional
synergy, the timely and adequate positioning, the self-assertion and the
know-how to play by the rules, the Caribbean public and private policy-makers
could transcend the legal, economic and financial obstacles put in their way by
the WTO and the OECD and benefit from the so-called “mystical” Golden Age
that is to be triggered by the FTAA (President George Bush perceives it as the
basis for prosperity).
Walsh’s
attainment at this time signals what is possible on a playing field which is not
level. The message is: ”With teamwork we could rise like the eagle, we could
surmount the challenges and carve out a place for ourselves in the scheme of
things and create the condition for our survival, if not our prosperity.”
Courtney’s success says to the Caribbean leaders that the petty nationalism
and parochialism that oftentimes stand in the way of policy decisions that
benefit the region as a whole, and that produce greater efficiency and economy,
are the real impediments to national and regional growth and development.
The message
is given with even greater clarity with the signing of the Free Trade Area of
the Americas (FTAA) in Quebec, Canada on April 23, a trade pact crafted and
orchestrated by the United States to isolate Cuba and to muscle support for
fighting the European Union in international trade in the globalised
environment. Courtney’s team approach therefore challenges the weak
governments of the Caricom to rethink the policy of isolation of the capitalist
centres with respect to Cuba. The regional leaders must understand the
importance of Cuba to the human capital development of the Anglophone Caribbean.
Cuba has become the center of excellence for the English Caribbean, a low-cost
center where hundreds of young people are trained annually in arts, science and
technology.
What about
the team? At last, the players produced the goods that the new leader had been
demanding from them since his advent. All that he had been asking is persistent
good performances. And they delivered. Carl Hooper said the correct thing,
"While we had lost the series already, we focussed on the final Test so
that we could at least start winning again. We have a lot of inexperience in our
team and this win will go a long way in getting us to the right attitude for
future assignments."
Roger
Harper, the West Indies coach, was pleased with the final Test efforts by his
team: "All we had been asking is to get the players being consistent. In
this final game they were consistent, not like the others in the series when we
had South Africa sometimes on the ropes and let them off. This time we kept the
pressure on and it worked well."
The outcome
of the final Test match gave the Caribbean people a moment to shift their
attention from that which is toxic to that which is sweet. They were able after
13 Test matches to celebrate a decisive victory over their arch-rival.
The victory
celebrated the end of an era and the beginning of an era; the
“immortalization” of another West Indian cricketing personality, another
great “W” -- Courtney Walsh -- to add to the three Ws, Worrell, Weekes and
Walcott. The triumph celebrated the anointing of a new Caribbean leader – Carl
Hooper. The victory signaled a hopeful future for the West Indies team, for the
West Indian cricket supporters and for the Caribbean people.
Having
accomplished a decisive victory, the players, leader, coach and selectors would
have to exhibit the same focussed behaviour in the future to ensure the
consolidation of the victory and to enable the team to rise beyond that level.
But
unfortunately they have continued on a dysfunctional note for the One-day
matches. The selectors have failed to return to the winning policy of playing a
separate Test and one-day teams, as was the case in 1998 against England.
The West
Indies selectors continue to place the young and inexperienced batsmen who have
not perfected the art and science of batsmanship in a commercial game that tends
to de-skill the novice. Players like Ricardo Powell, Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels
and Leon Garrick should not be allowed into this version of the game until they
have developed the art of batting in the longer version of the game.
Any West
Indies one-day team should include Carl Tuckett, Sherwin Campbell, Stuart
Williams, Philo Wallace and Mahendra Nagamootoo. Even if the one-day meet is a
commercial game, the decision-makers must see to it that we do what we do to the
best of our ability. After all we dominated the world in that version of the
game for five years 1975-1979.
Well done
boys! Farewell Courtney! Congratulations Hooper!
PHOTO: Courtney
Walsh, the greatest wicket-taker in Test cricket (Photo: Peter Adrien)
Make Use of Walsh, Lloyd Urges Cricket
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CANA
- Clive Lloyd, who was West Indies captain when Courtney Walsh made his entry
into Test cricket against Australia at Perth in 1984, said Tuesday
he hopes Walsh will not be lost to the game in the Caribbean.
Walsh bowed out of international cricket in style when West Indies completed a
130-run triumph over South Africa in the fifth and final 2001 Cable &
Wireless Test at Sabina Park on Monday.
"I don't think you'll find another Courtney Walsh around and if I was a
young fast bowlers, I'd want to emulate him," Lloyd said.
"The West Indies Cricket Board and the Jamaica Cricket Board would do well
to use his experience."
In a 17-year career, Walsh captured 519 wickets from 132 Tests after he moved to
the top of the all-time list of bowlers a ago, fittingly in his native Jamaica.
"He has had a glorious career, he is a great cricketer and a great
person," Lloyd remarked.
"He lasted much longer than most, he has kept himself fit and endured more
than most fast bowlers. He is a great ambassador for the sport."
Jack Russell, the former England wicketkeeper with whom Walsh formed a
friendship during his 14 years at Gloucestershire, described him as "the
greatest fast bowler Gloucestershire have ever had".
"He was a towering figure and all the lads looked up to him in more ways
than one. You can't find words to match the respect for him in the changing
rooms -- he was one of the leaders," Russell said.
Walking is the one exercise
that almost anyone can do, regardless of age or any level of physical fitness.
Everyone has something to gain from a 30-minute brisk walk performed at least
three times a week:
• Increase cardiovascular
fitness
• Reduce Stress
• Increase energy
• Improve sleep and
eating habits
• Lowered risk of
osteoporosis, obesity, heart attack, and stroke.
BREAST
CANCER By Mrs Yvonne
Allen District Nurse
Roughly one woman in 13
will develop breast cancer at sometime in her life. It is the leading cause of
cancer deaths in women between the ages of 40 and 44.
The high risk group
includes:
Women over 50
Women who never had children or who had a child for the first time after
the age of 30
Woman who began menstruation early and experienced later menopause.
Breast cancer also occurs
more frequently in women with a family history of the disease and women who
already had breast cancer.
Self-examination of the
breast can often lead to early detection of cancer. All women should perform a self-examination at the end of the
menstrual period. About 90 percent
of all breast tumors are discovered by self-examination and if a lump is
discovered in a breast the doctor will probably order an X-ray examination of
the breast, known as a mammogram. The
doctor may also take a biopsy specimen from the lump to test for the presence of
cancer. If cancer is identified
surgery will probably be performed.
Women with breast cancer
often dread surgery because of the disfigurement that can result.
However, surgery for a breast tumor is often less extensive today than in
the past. At one time
all breast cancer patients received a radical mastectomy (that is removal of the
breast, underlying chest muscles, and lymph nodes in the arm pits).
Now it is known that in
many cases the removal of the breast, or even the tumor alone, together with the
removal of the lymph nodes may be equally effective.
In
addition there are techniques for reconstruction of the breast after surgery,
and for rehabilitation of muscle tone in an arm that has been weakened by
surgery. In many cases radiotherapy
(that is the treatment of a penetrating X-ray to the disease breast from a
distance) and chemotherapy treatment (chemotherapy is the use of drugs) will be
used, after surgery, to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Recently, it has been
demonstrated that the use of chemo-hormonal therapy will actually prolong
survival of certain groups; it also appears to delay recurrence of the disease
in most individuals.
Remember breast cancer is
preventable. Learn what is normal about your breast and do a self-examination
monthly. When in doubt consult a Doctor, Nurse or Family Nurse Practitioner.
However, breast self-examination can be done by women of any age.
DOING A
SELF-EXAMINATION
In the shower
examine each breast with the opposite hand while keeping the other over head;
having wet soapy skin may make it easier to feel lumps.
Lie in bed with a pillow under one shoulder to elevate and flatten the
breast, examine each breast with the opposite hand.
Standing in front of a mirror with hands resting on hips examine breast
for swelling dimpling, bulges and any change in skin colour.
Standing in front of a mirror with arms extended overhead examine breasts
for changes; this position highlights bulges and indentations which may indicate
a lump.
Make rotary motions with the flat pads not the tips of the fingers,
moving in concentric circles inwards towards the nipples; feel for knots, lumps
or indentations; be sure to include the armpit areas.
Squeeze nipples gently to inspect for any form of discharge.
Report any suspicious findings to your doctor.
MRS.YVONNE N. ALLEN RGN,
ONC, DNC, Dip Nsg & Nsg Management
Mrs.
Yvonne Allen joined the nursing profession in 1966 and did most of her training
in England. In 1969, she completed
the three-year Registered General Nursing Course and went on to acquire post
basic training in Orthopaedic Nursing, Care of the Elderly, and Community
Nursing.
She does not believe,
however, in complacency and likes to keep abreast of changes and new trends in
nursing. To do this she enrolled
and successfully completed several short courses including sexual and
reproductive health, counseling and teaching, CPR and Phlebotomy.
Mrs. Allen further enhanced
her nursing when she enrolled at the Buckinghamshire College in 1992 and
successfully completed her Diploma in Nursing and Management in 1994.
Her vast experience
equipped her to work in all areas of Nursing.
For several years she worked as a Staff Nurse at the West Middlesex
Hospital in areas such as Orthopaedics, Geriatrics, Paediatrics, Gynecology,
Surgery, Medicine, Psychiatry and the Outpatients Department.
Having lived and worked in
England for 37 years, Mrs. Allen longed for a change and so in 1995 she moved to
Montserrat with her husband.
She immediately obtained
employment with Family Life Services as a Clinic Nurse.
Her responsibilities there were to manage the clinical programme, which
involved counseling, performing breast and pelvic examinations, taking pap
smears and advising on Family Planning methods, to name a few.
In 1997, when Family Life
Services suspended their operations, Mrs. Allen joined the Ministry of Health as
a District Nurse and is based at the Cudjoe Head Clinic.
As District Nurse, she is
responsible for the delivery of Health Care Services to individuals, families
and the community on a daily basis, utilizing the Primary Health Care approach.
By
Helena Durand
Every
community has its own examples of courage, kindness and decency. This week
meet… Juliana Meade, a
local beautician, writer, and business woman.
A proud Montserratian in
every way, Juliana Meade has proven that there is truth in the saying,
discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or nation. Because she
wanted to “make” something worthwhile of herself, she could not settle for
mediocrity. Though she still keeps a tight schedule, she is happy to note that
after 16 years of hard work, “It was all worth it.”
She began her hair-styling
business in July of 1981 and called it Julie’s
Beauty Salon. To be the best there is in her field she studied at Ebony
School of Hair Dressing in London, obtaining a certificate. Since then,
practically on an annual basis, she does follow-up courses, and attends
workshops and seminars all over the Caribbean, upgrading her professionalism and
enhancing her skills. Only last August, she graduated from Cali Nail Academy in
Boston, as a Nail Technician. Her
business caters to Caucasian and Black clients in her salon in the Salem and
Olveston area.
Julie’s Beauty Salon is
providing a much-needed service for the Salem, Olveston and Isle Bay Hill area
at the Vue Pointe Hotel. Her services are made the most of by visitors to Vue
Pointe Hotel.
Her business offers
services which include hair cutting, manicures, and pedicures; body waxing,
eyebrow arching, ear piercing.
Her 16 years' experience as
a hair-stylist with both Caucasian and Black hair makes Julie, as she is more
commonly called, an expert in her field.
She is, however, somewhat
disappointed that not enough women “ are involved in more service-oriented
skills.” She strongly advocates that more women should become their own
bosses, and the cosmetic world has a void which she alone cannot fill. “There
is a shortage of beauticians” Julie says, “I wish some other women here
would take it up. It is a lucrative and satisfying business.”
A hard worker, Julie has
found enough time in her day, which begins at 5:00 a.m., to manage a laundromat,
her Beauty Salon, and her Island Craft, Souvenir and Gift Shop,
and still write. Last year she wrote and published a booklet named,
"The Island Guide." She is currently working on a Caribbean Cook Book
and her first novel.
A typical day for Julie is
waking at five in the morning, “read my two motivation books, pray, and go to
my backyard garden, get ready to go to Little Bay or spend time doing house
chores. After that I go to the shop.”
A mother of one girl, she
told the Montserrat Reporter she is very interested in “helping women.”
In Julie’s life, it is
perhaps her love for her homeland Montserrat which permeates everything that she
does.
This Mother’s Day,
Julie’s Salon will be offering special treats to mothers. Her special includes
a free manicure for every pedicure done at her place.
The future of her business,
she says, is “bright. People are becoming more aware and therefore interested
and concerned about how they look. They want to stop the aging process. I see my
work as a necessary and much-needed service.”
"The Budget … by Minister for Modernisation
Mr. Speaker,
I, discerning member of the "talented tenth," hereby present my
budget to the people of Montserrat.
Mr. Speaker, my Government needs a great sum of money to manage the
affairs of Montserrat for the fiscal year 2001. Mr. Speaker as happened in the past four years the British
Government will give us some of the money.
But my Government will have to tax the people of Montserrat in order to
come up with the balance.
That, Mr. Speaker, is the essence of my budget.
Mr. Speaker, there is no need for me to repeat the same old rhetoric or
to semanticise that we will spend this much on tourism, that much on
infrastructure, a little bit less on housing or plenty more on salaries.
Simply but honestly put, Mr. Speaker, we will beg first and tax the
people for the difference. And Mr.
Speaker, if that does not work, my government will manage the island with plenty
love when the money runs out.
Mr. Speaker, having gotten that aspect of my presentation out of the way,
I, as Minister for Modernisation and the Economic Environment, will now address
this honourable nation where the people are nice and the island is safe.
Mr. Speaker, previous elected Governments have continuously failed to
create an economic environment that guided enterprising Montserratians how,
where, when and at what level to invest their money.
For example, over the past three years pseudo-enterprising Montserratians
have entered the economic stream at the wrong level.
They have invested in land; some have done so out of ignorance and some
out for speculation. Either way, the result was that like crabs we have been
unable to find a way forward. At
all times, the speculators pushed away the needy.
They snatched every inch of land in sight, keeping the needy down and
out. Worse yet, by investing in
land instead of using the money to rebuild, we send the wrong message to
Montserratians abroad who could help us rebuild.
Neither they nor any other investor will come to our aid if they have to
purchase land from us first. They
will not enter our economic stream at the land-purchasing level.
But, Mr. Speaker, Montserrat must rebuild its economy, we must rebuild
the infrastructure to facilitate economic activity. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, Montserrat must create an economic
environment that will allow investors to enter the economic stream at a level
that will afford optimum benefit to them and the island.
That level, Mr. Speaker, is where the investment of Capital leads
immediately to economic activity, commerce and infrastructural development.
That is the level where investment directly leads to buildings,
employment, trade, profit, taxation, savings, further investment and a vibrant
economic environment. That kind of
environment will encourage outside help, especially enterprising Montserratians
abroad, to join in the rebuilding process at a level where they can be treated
fairly. That is, at the level where
they, too, can invest directly into the office buildings, the apartment
buildings and the recreational facilities, just as if they were living in a
modern society.
Mr. Speaker, we must outlaw the purchase of lands for speculative
purposes.
Certainly, Mr. Speaker, you are aware that over the past three years we
had the opportunity to create a vibrant economic environment.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, never before has any country on earth been afforded the
chance to rebuild its only Commercial and Social centre.
Mr. Speaker, after six years and two elections, where are we in this
rebuilding process? What is our
progress? Are we going to continue
to rant and rave over who is getting some of the aid money?
Or are we going to continue to be crabbish and only speculate in land?
But, Mr. Speaker, such rebuilding can only take place where all the
required land is owned by one entity. Such
rebuilding can only be successful through professional planning --
planning which is unrestrained by ticklish private land ownership.
Mr. Speaker, all of us know that only one entity can accommodate that
type of Modernisation. That entity
is the Government of Montserrat that owns Little Bay. And Little Bay is the only location under one ownership
suitable for a modern commercial and social centre.
Well … at least Little Bay can be the start of our trek into
mondernisation.
Mr. Speaker, at Little Bay no investor needs to purchase land.
No investor needs to become crabbish and push away the other investor.
Each investor will be able to enter the economic stream at the same
level. Instead of wasting money on
land purchase, they need only to lease the land from the Government for 100
years. The government will recover
its investments in infrastructural development 100 times and more, through
property tax collection until the end of time.
Mr. Speaker, the same principles can be adapted to land that is needed
for residential purposes. In fact,
the only entity capable of providing serviced lots for the people is the
Government. The Government can
purchase undeveloped land, service the lots and periodically scale the
development to suit the economic needs of the island.
The Government can recoup its money many times over, through successive
years of property taxation. The
government will never need to re-sell land at a profit.
Mr. Speaker, the point I am trying to make is that no person interested
in owning a home should have to purchase lands. Modernisation dictates that people should purchase properties
on serviced developments and pay property taxes to compensate Government for its
investment in the land and infrastructure.
As a matter of fact, if one were to consider that in cases where
properties were recently bought and sold in Old Towne, Olveston or Woodlands,
the new owners never had to buy the land. They
simply bought the property and continued to pay property taxes.
And no matter how we crabbishly try to delay this level of modernisation,
it will eventually overtake us.
Mr. Speaker, earlier in this presentation I alluded to the custom of local investors who purchase lands for speculation. Mr. Speaker, this custom has had a negative effect on our economic revival, in spite of the opportunities. Just imagine the progress that this island could have made if land speculators at Brades had invested their cash into infrastructure at the Little Bay commercial an