News

Case Against HE Proceeds, Immediate Injunction Denied

Attorney Jean Kelsick with Evacuees representatives and others after the hearing

Justice Adrian Saunders, hearing the case brought against His Excellency Governor Anthony Longrigg, ruled in favour of having the application for the Judicial Review granted but denied the interim injunction sought by the residents of Old Towne, Isles Bay and the areas surrounding the lower Belham Valley, who were forced to evacuate from their homes last October.

The residents have been asked to file an application for the judicial review within the next two weeks, after which there will be a case management to deal with the matter.

Justice Saunders said that if he were to rule in favour of the interim injunction it would “be to prejudge whatever the Governor has to say on the subject.”

Jean Kelsick Jr. of Kelsick and Kelsick represented the residents who served a writ on the Governor, joining him with the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO), in which, among other things, they complained that their rights were infringed on several counts.

They also sought an interim injunction to have the most recent Evacuation Order rescinded.

Attorney Kelsick, in his case to the judge, pointed out that the Review sought to examine the powers of the Governor in a democratic society.

He said, “The Governor has considerable legal powers under the Emergency Act . . . but is not above the Law.”

He argued that his clients were forced to leave their homes in what has now become an indefinite period, have limited access to go to their homes to maintain them, and are suffering financial hardship as a result of their eviction.

On receiving the leave for the application for the Judicial Review, Lawyer Jean Kelsick said, he was quite “satisfied, as the application for leave for the Judicial Review was strongly opposed by the Attorney General.”

With respect to the denial of the interim injunction, Mr. Kelsick said he realised that “getting it was an uphill battle, but it is my intention to get it as soon as possible.”

Star Clipper is Montserrat’s First Scheduled Cruise Ship

Star Clipper staff and passengers enjoy a beach barbecue at Little Bay beach

On Wednesday the cruise ship Star Clipper, with some 150 passengers on board, made the first scheduled cruise ship stop for the 2003 tourist season in Montserrat to a hearty welcome and entertainment by the island’s famous masquerades.

Taxi drivers wearing special T-shirts were on hand to conduct tours to various places on the island including trips to the Montserrat Volcano Observatory in Flemmings, Salem and to Jack Boy Hill, from where they can view the abandoned Bramble airport and areas on the eastern flanks of the Soufriere Hills volcano. They returned their sightseers to a barbeque, which was prepared by the crew at the Little Bay beach, where entertainment was provided by the local masquerade group and steel band music.

Ship’s Captain Uli Pruesse said, “This is there first stop since 1995, so they made the suggestion to the passengers and they liked the idea very much, because for many years we couldn’t come to Montserrat. But now we are here and we want to see how the people of Montserrat is living.”

He said he could not be sure if or when the ship will return to Montserrat since, “that is the ship owner’s, decision. But I can say the owner will consider coming back to Montserrat because we did it before and now after this first stop, based on how the visit was, we will give our comments to the owner.

“But I think it’s a good chance that we will come back on a regular basis,” he said.

One couple, from the ship said, “This is our first time in Montserrat and so far we enjoyed every thing we saw very much; the people have been so absolutely welcoming and wonderful; the masquerade is very different, very unique and wonderful.”

“This is actually our tenth trip to the Caribbean, we have been to almost all of the islands and seen most of their main sights, but what we saw here today is very unique; this is different from all the rest, the people are much more welcoming. We viewed the volcano and we saw people rebuilding and trying to put their lives back together. We can say it was very interesting and amazing, I don’t know how else to put what we saw here today,” they said.

Montserrat Tourist Board officials say the stop was initiated by the board's official representative in Germany, Captain John Friedrichs.

Jadine Glitzenheirn, Product Development Officer at the Tourist Board, had been involved in a clean up for the Little Bay area, which she said was planned long before news of the visit of the Star Clipper. She has been appealing to residents to come out and help with the beautification project.

BWIA/LIAT Marriage Gets Hesitant Applause

Compiled from dispatches

TRINIDAD (CMC) -- Cash-strapped BWIA on Monday reacted cautiously to reports of a coming together of the airline with LIAT to form "one" carrier operating in the South and on Eastern Caribbean routes, saying that certainly there "would be challenges facing any sort of a union at this time."
Corporate Communications Director Clint Williams told CMC that BWIA already enjoys a good working relationship with the Antigua-based carrier and was presently handling some aspects of LIAT's operations, including allowing their international calls to be routed through BWIA's international call center in Port of Spain.
However, as it concerns any deepening of that relationship, Mr. Williams said "we will certainly be interested in seeing and hearing whatever arrangements are possible," while acknowledging that "all airlines are under considerable pressure at this time and there certainly would be challenges."
The chairman of LIAT (1974) Limited, Wilbur Harrigan, has expressed strong support for the decision announced by shareholder governments in Barbados on Sunday to have finalised by June, plans for there to be "one" carrier operating in the South and on Eastern Caribbean routes.
"We have been after the various governments since February 18, 2000, and today our leaders have demonstrated that they have the wisdom, the love and the understanding to maintain a single regional carrier," Mr. Harrigan told reporters in Bridgetown following the announcement.
Barbados' Prime Minister Owen Arthur further described the decision to consolidate the services of BWIA and LIAT as an investment, not just in an airline, but, in the concept of a Caribbean Community appropriate to today's prevailing circumstances.
"Effectively what we are doing is taking the first step towards rationalising the provision of the airline, the airlift capacity in the south and eastern Caribbean," he added.
Antigua and Barbuda's Deputy Prime Minister Robin Yearwood said the development would make the Caribbean more independent of international carriers.
He also said he was pleased with a decision taken by the governments to provide immediate financial assistance of EC$23 million (US$8.51 million) to LIAT.
In announcing the interim package, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who has been the region's lead spokesman on aviation matters, said the assistance would keep LIAT in the air over the next two months, while a technical team is constituted to determine the appropriate structure for "a single carrier" and to have the plan finalized by the end of June.
Mr. Williams said Monday BWIA was optimistic that the Trinidad and Tobago cabinet will approve a bail-out package for the ailing national airline, even though Prime Minister Patrick Manning has made it clear that his government will only support a viable financial plan put forward by the airline.
"The Government (have) received the plan and are currently looking at it and they have indicated that they hope by Thursday at the cabinet to be able to make an initial comment," Mr. Williams said.
"I don't think that any one should expect them to comment before that. We certainly shouldn't comment on it in anticipation. They have to have time to look at it."

Mr. Manning told reporters in Barbados on Sunday that he was looking forward to the proposed linkage between BWIA and LIAT, but said that efficiency must be paramount in any such union.

In Jamaica, meanwhile, Air Jamaica reacted positively on Monday to news of the regional governments’ decision to have "one" carrier operating in the South and on Eastern Caribbean routes.
"It will suit everybody if we have a stronger carrier to deal with in that part of the region," the airline's President Christopher Zacca told the CMC.
He reiterated, however, that his airline has no interest in being part of any such plan at this time, explaining that Air Jamaica has "very little competitive overlap" with either BWIA or LIAT. "We can achieve the same synergies through functional cooperation rather than an ownership merger," he said.
In terms of Air Jamaica's own financial situation, Mr. Zacca said its bookings remained low, owing to the ongoing United States-led war on Iraq.
But he said he believes that with some assistance from the Jamaica government in seeking to borrow money, the airline can get over "a short-term crisis."

EDITORIAL

"When will We Know, if Ever, What The Osborne-Short Talks are About?"

This week we have been told that the honourable Chief Minister John Osborne will in a couple weeks visit the United Kingdom, “for talks with the Secretary of State for International Development (DFID), Hon. Clare Short.”

This will be the third or fourth time this year that the CM will travel to the UK. We have learnt that his travel budget passed a few weeks ago for this year carries the sum of $380,000, which we understand will not only pay for travel tickets, but his subsistence, and hotel (or other accommodation, since we learn that he stays in his own quarters when he visits England.)

We have published that the CM while in England will “also update nationals on developments at home and government's plans for the re-development of the northern part of the island,” as well as get feedback on “its plans and programmes, especially for those Montserratians in the UK who are thinking about moving back home.”

We wait to discover who will accompany the CM on this trip and whether there will be serious discussions with his cabinet and advisers here before making this trip. Will someone be able to advise specifically what the CM will be discussing there? This is especially with the knowledge that there is no longer that undisclosed assistance that would be sent on ahead of the CM, arguments (often unknown to him) that support anything he needs to raise while there.

What economic or budgetary aid talks can take place following the CPP talks and the resulting Aide Memoire? Isn’t it all very clearly set out in the Aide Memoire just recently signed and published? And by the way, if we need proof of what we have been saying all along about how monies allocated to Montserrat were badly or poorly spent, at the sound of Montserrat’s name, and why the monies are not well accounted for on the ground in Montserrat, check clause 21 of the Aide Memoire.

Besides, the CM is hoping to improve on the timeliness of the monies coming to Montserrat; check clause 22. And what other funds are we looking for from the British? Having settled what they will give to Montserrat, we agreed with DFID as follows: “HMG will actively assist GoM in its efforts to seek and obtain grant funding from multilateral donors, especially the European Commission (EC) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), for further development activity in key areas. So who wants to fool whom?

We are told that when British officials come to discuss or hold talks, they come with arguments, statements and agreements all ready for signature. Why would it be any different when he goes to London?

They go through the motion of discussions of what they have decided, then Miss Short therefore endorses with, smiles or perhaps a kiss.

In his CM’s budget address it is written “The economy continues to be driven by construction and government services and these are funded largely by external aid.” That is not economic recovery.

Of this “Population Growth,” which all has to do with the encouragement of Montserratians returning, the CM said, “We recognize that several factors would influence the final decision of someone who is considering settling or returning home to Montserrat. These include the availability of accommodation; adequate educational facilities for those with children; health facilities; entertainment and sporting facilities; employment; easy access to and exit from the island and the uncertainty surrounding the volcano.”

The reality check here is that of equal importance to employment is the ability to maintain a competitive standard of living, at least equal to what these people will be giving up to return. Well this consideration was not addressed, thus no resolution was presented. However we are well aware that there are the few who would rather return, no matter what.

That number will most likely be insignificant and what we in Montserrat would like to know are some hard facts and numbers, along with the expected results in numbers, that the CM talks about when he refers to “re-development.”

What can we hope for? Adventure, eco and cultural tourists as “day trippers” and also as short-term guests for 1-3 overnight stays, plus small to mid-size cruise ships making both more frequent and regularly scheduled stops? What about rice mills? Why are quarry developments being blocked?

But there are limited overnight accommodations, most of which are of the “Bed & Breakfast” type, with only one hotel currently in operation - Tropical Mansion Suites. The Vue Pointe Hotel, which was the largest and well known, has been closed as a result of the volcano “Exclusion Zone” being moved further north in October of 2002. That has been quite a blow, which to date still leaves many guessing and wondering whether there is serious concern about the economic recovery of the country.

One of our major selling points is obviously the volcano, but access to areas where it can be viewed is very limited, by cloud cover much of the time. The Montserrat Volcano Observatory is open to the public and is one of the best places to view this attraction. We must become very active and knowledgeable about what is being told to tourists and visitors when they go there.

Montserrat is a pristine island offering wonderful hiking, from rain forests to arid dessert environments, but trails can be difficult to find without a guide and some could be hazardous to the more casual and not so sure-footed hiker. Montserrat is a relatively safe island with a resident population of friendly people, many of whom go out of their way to make visitors feel welcome and appreciated. Montserrat does not have long white sand beaches or gambling, snorkeling is excellent although limited, and currently there is only one dive shop.

We know all these things but we have become totally dependent on the uncertainties created by the volcano and the current lack of a fixed-wing airport and a near proper seaport. Construction of an airport commenced early in 2003, but we are still awaiting serious action even as the terminal is under construction. It is said it will accommodate 15-18-seat Twin Otter aircraft; it is scheduled for completion mid 2004. But what Halcrow, who will build this airport, has guaranteed is an airport that will readily accommodate up to a nine-seater aircraft.

We must not ignore that there has been strong objection to the construction of this airport because of certain unsafe elements, which are considered serious enough to make the airport too dangerous. Besides, will this airport be certified safe enough for commercial scheduled flights and will nine-seater aircraft do what the CM boasts and others hope will be the development that will see Montserrat “take off”?

Our economy is driven by government employment and infrastructure re-construction, nearly all of which is funded by British aid programs, along with house construction (still to bring reality to a decent housing stock) and a small number of private business sector positions.

The construction that goes on now does not really bring much in terms of economic activity to Montserrat, like it did in the 80s for example. The “expat development program,” which, prior to the 1995 volcano crises was unique to Montserrat, in combination with the tourist industry, drove the economy has been decimated, as most of these homes are in the ever growing “Exclusion Zones.”

SCRIPTURE VERSE THIS WEEK

Making Room for Jesus - Read Corinthians 2:1-5

Paul wrote, “I made up my mind to forget everything except Jesus Christ and especially his death on the cross.”- 1 Corinthians 2:2 (TEV)

I stood in a shopping arcade in Perth and watched a shop assistant decorate a shop window for Easter. She put a

cardboard rabbit in one of the spaces, then a cardboard egg, and then a cardboard chicken. Then she came out and stood beside me. “We still have an open space on this side of the window,” she said. “Have you any suggestions as to what I could put in it?”

“Why don’t you put a picture of Jesus?” I replied.

“He has something to do with Easter.”

“Yes,” she said with a rueful smile. “I suppose he does.”

This incident reminds me of how the world sometimes regards Easter. The cross of Jesus is replaced by Easter eggs and rabbits. For Paul it was different. Paul wrote those in Corinth that he made up his mind to forget about everything except Jesus-especially Jesus’ death on the cross. Paul’s ministry was wonderfully productive. People were converted; lives were changed .

Every Easter we can see how the world ignores Jesus. But if we affirm the death and resurrection of our Lord, this message can still change people’s lives.

Prayer: Dear God, help us never to be ashamed of the cross. As Jesus was willing to bear its disgrace for us, any we exalt his death in all that we do. We humbly ask this in his name. Amen.

Thought for the Day

The message of Jesus’ death and resurrection still has power to change lives. – William J McMillan (Shetland, Scotland).

Prayer Focus : Shop Assistants

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Yet Another Open Letter To HE Governor Longrigg

Sir:

Since you have not responded to my last letter we cannot classify ourselves as pen pals. Haughty silence rather than participative governing seems to be the rule of the day. But not to worry.

Today I would like to tell you how it warms the cockles of my heart that the MVO has a lovely $4.1-million edifice, equipped with the latest scientific instruments no less. How nice, how very nice -- this being the very same MVO whose personnel predicted the imminent collapse of a spine down the Belham River more than six months ago. It seems that since then the volcano has stopped sending signals of an imminent event, yet the Emergency Evacuation is still in place. You figure!

The matter of funding the new MVO concerns me also. I wonder, out of which British Aid pocket is this largess coming? The building, the staffing, keeping staff housed, transported and whatever other benefits they might be entitled to. A full pocket I assume. At the risk of beating a dead horse, the British Aid pocket was empty when the residents of homes located south of Belham were seeking to have their infrastructure rebuilt after their area was spared by the volcano.

The latest event in Montserrat seems to be a crisis with the water supply. I certainly hope that MWA Manger Emile Duberry will find a full pocket as he seeks funds for an exploratory survey to find new water sources. That he will not be denied monies to increase the island’s storage capacity, and that he will be able to increase the size of the main pipes, and whatever else he and his department need. Water is the elixir of life, you know.

While I have your attention, the airport thing is also bothering me. Since I am not able to be in Montserrat information comes to me second or third hand and I may have missed a crucial part of the story. Is it true that the airport being built now will only be able to land a nine-seat aircraft? If MAS could provide us with the number of tickets they have sold for the ferry and helicopter during the past 12 months, aviation experts could figure out whether there are enough landing and take-off slots in a 24-hour period to accommodate all passengers and their luggage. Then, of course, I wonder who would provide the service? LIAT? Caribbean Star?

Or would we, once again, get our very own airline? What size fleet would have to be maintained to provide such active service? Questions abound – but, as I said in my last letter – jus wonderin.

Brigitte R. Lewis

Wannabe Isles Bay Resident

Rats Threaten Orioles? Poison Threatens More

Dear Editor,

I sent the following letter to the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) in response to the announcement on ZJB that scientists of the RSPB are surrounding the nesting areas of the oriole with rat poison.

Dear Sir / Madam:

I wish to draw your attention to a problem that we have on the Island of Montserrat in the West Indies. On Montserrat, there exists the Montserrat Oriole, a bird that is endemic to our island. This bird has attracted considerable interest of researchers sponsored by your organization. While this research has created many interesting results, it also has led to a problem, which, I hope, you can help to resolve.

Your researchers believe that the decline that was found in the population density of the oriole is due to predation by rats. As a result of this hypothetical assumption it was decided to surround the nesting areas of the oriole with poison. I find this measure highly objectionable. In fact, the poisoning of our pristine forest amounts to environmental vandalism, which should not be supported by an organization of such a sterling reputation as that of the RSPB.

However carefully the poison might be applied, nobody can guarantee that it only affects rats. Further, rats and orioles have coexisted on Montserrat for several hundred years. Why should rats suddenly be the cause of the bird's extinction? In addition, orioles may not be the only birds on Montserrat whose numbers decline. My own observations indicate that anis, thrushes, finches, and many others have declined in recent years. Thorough research would be very useful to establish a more general aspect of bird ecology on Montserrat.

I appeal to you, to immediately put an end to the poisoning of Montserrat's forest.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Wolf Krebs

Veterinarian

LOCAL NEWS

Price Control Sees Need For Bureau of Standards

Price Control Officer Rudolph Christopher, responding to consumer complaints about the quality of some products available in local supermarkets, has emphasised the need to establish a National Bureau of Standards.

Research shows that some disgruntled consumers have said in no uncertain terms that this is a chronic problem, and they are fed up.

One customer said, “Once or twice, I went to the supermarket and discovered that there were expired chicken franks in the refrigerator. I brought it to the store manager’s attention, and all he said, ok! we’ll deal with it, but nothing is ever done. They just wait until they know the Health Department would be doing their checks, then they do something about it.”

Mr. Christopher said his staff have looked at the CARICOM model for a Bureau of Standards, and will adapt it to suit the local needs.

He stressed that with the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME) coming on stream, and Montserrat hoping to become a member, “there will have to have certain basic structures in place by way of standards, to meet export and import requirements.”

Mr. Christopher said there is also need for a consumers association, which could help reduce the problems being experienced.

He said his Department had attempted to form one, but failed, because of lack of public interest.

Asked if part of the problem might be community ignorance of their rights, Mr. Christopher said his colleague, Mrs. Catherine Weekes-Barzey, has been doing radio spots on Radio Montserrat to try to educate the public on the rights of the consumer and give basic consumer tips on shopping.

As to whether a National Bureau of Standards will be established before the end of the year, Mr. Christopher said he cannot say yes definitely, giving the reason that there are a number of things that Government have to do which cannot be done all at the same time.

Rev. Daley Reassigned To St. Maarten Circuit

Rev. Florence Daley OBE will leave Montserrat at the end of August this year to take a new pastoral posting in Dutch St. Maarten.

Rev. Daley, who was ordained as a full-time Minister of Religion on January 23, 2003 in Philipsburg, told the Government Information Unit (GIU) Monday that she is being transferred to the St. Maarten Circuit of the Methodist Church.

According to the local religious leader, in addition to her pastoral duties, she will also serve as the Director of the Leeward Islands District Resources Center in St. Maarten.

Rev. Daley previously served for 31 years in the government service on Montserrat.

She held several senior public service posts, including Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Communications and Works, and Permanent Secretary - Administration, her last appointment before her retirement.

Rev. Daley has also acted as Financial Secretary on several occasions.

Her early educational training was in health care - serving as Matron at the Glendon Hospital (Plymouth), Principal Nursing Officer and Hospital Manager.

The Methodist Minister was responsible for the establishment of the first formal nursing school on Montserrat. She has also been a local tutor in Public Administration and Finance at the University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Continuing Studies since 1984.

Rev. Daley started her theological studies in St. Kitts while she was working for the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) in 1991. She completed her training in Montserrat in 2001.

Ms. Daley has served on several Statutory Boards on the island, including the Social Security and Social Welfare Boards. She recently gave up the chairmanship of the Golden Years Foundation for the Elderly.

Rev. Daley served as a liaison between Sir George Martin, the former Beatles Producer, and the Government of Montserrat for the construction of the National Cultural Centre at Little Bay.

She also recently served as a member of the Constitutional Review Commission, representing the interests of women, and is also Chairperson of the Montserrat Christian Council.

The St. Maarten posting will be the first overseas assignment for Rev. Daley since her ordination. She currently pastors two churches on Montserrat - Salem and Bethany at Judy Piece.

CM Osborne Faces Busy Weeks Ahead

Montserrat's Chief Minister John Osborne faces a hectic schedule over the next few weeks.

It will begin with his chairing of the 37th meeting of the OECS Heads of Government in Antigua on April 24-26, which was published here last week.

Three days after the Antigua sub-regional government leaders conference, Chief Minister Osborne will travel to London for talks with the Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short. Their talks will focus on future development projects and financing for the island, still struggling with a volcanic crisis that began in July 1995.

In his 2003 Budget statement, Chief Minister Osborne said his government remains focused on "increasing the rate of project implementation and on securing higher levels of funding from the United Kingdom (UK) government to finance economic recovery programmes."

During his trip to the UK, the Chief Minister will hold a series of meetings with Montserratians throughout the country to hear their concerns and interests.

Mr Osborne told the Government Information Unit (GIU) that he will update nationals on developments at home and government's plans for the re-development of the northern part of the island.

He said the feedback would be very useful for the government to assist with its plans and programmes, especially for those Montserratians in the UK who are thinking about moving back home.

Several hundred Montserratians relocated to Britain during the height of the volcanic crisis in 1996-97.

The Constitutional Review Commissioners, headed by Professor Sir Howard Fergus, recommended in their recent Report that 'Overseas Montserratians' be included in the portfolio of a Minister.

Said the Commissioners: " To minimize costs the Minister's office can work through Overseas Montserratian oganisations and the Minister or a colleague can take the advantage of official visits to host countries to interface with Montserratians with a view to ascertaining the assistance which they might need."

Social Indicators, Goals Unit Set Up with Regional Guidance

Statisticians and CARICOM delegates Sylvan Roberts and Tilack Perera visited Montserrat Wednesday, to conduct a one-day meeting called Members of the Social Indicators and Millennium Development Goals Committee, at the Training Center, Government Headquarters..

Sylvan Roberts and Tilack Perera

Chief Statistician Teresina Bodkin (pictured right) set the general tone, saying that a set of development indicators would be identified to help “to develop a path forward for Montserrat.”

Mrs. Sarita Francis, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Chief Minister, said an integrated approach at the national level would be better to deal with problems such as an assault on poverty, the need for governance, promotion of gender equality and promotion of community development, key elements outlined by the United Nations.

Mrs. Angela Greenaway, Permanent Secretary in the Development Unit, pointed out that looking the development of a competitive base allows for greater interaction with the global economy and the sustainable use of natural resources.

In his overview of the project, Mr. Roberts said they are here to implement the CARICOM programme of capacity building, and to further strengthen existing capacities in the region.

In an exclusive with The Montserrat Reporter the Statistics experts explained that they are encouraging as many people as possible from the social sector to become involved in the programme, as they have learnt that that the more stakeholders that are involved in the effort, the better the product becomes, “experience has shown when users are involved, that the usefulness of the statistic is enhanced, because your product will be used more.”

They said that these statistics will have a greater impact on public decisions, since it is not only statisticians who are involved, but economic and social planners, academia and non governmental organizations, who will make a much better image for the field of statistics through maximizing its usefulness,”

At the end of their meeting, a local advisory committee (called The Social Indicators and Millennium Development Goals Committee) was formed, headed by Miss Bodkin. Committee members are drawn from the areas of Labor, Health, Education, Police, Housing, Registry, Social Security, Community Services, Development/Planning, Chamber of Commerce and Information.

The broad objectives of the Committee include collaboration of agencies that compile official social and gender statistics - thus improving the response time, quality, relevance and timeliness of the information for users.

The first meeting is expected to be held in early May.

The project originated with the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), currently being done jointly with CARICOM, and is funded by the World Bank.

St. Peter’s Brownies Back from Anguilla

The St Peter’s Brownies Chapter of the Montserrat Girls Guide Association returned on Wednesday from Anguilla, after having participated in “Anguilla’s Pack Holiday.”

This was part of the Anguilla Girls Guide Association’s celebration of their 70 years of existence.

The Brownies left for Anguilla last Thursday and Friday with their chaperon Miss Gerodine Mason, coordinator for the local Brownies group.

They reported that they had a fun-filled holiday, which included bus tours around the island; visits to the beach; and other activities organized by their hosts. They also visited St. Maarten Girls Guides/Scouts on the part Dutch/French Caribbean island.

It was also the aim to have the Brownies associate with other Brownies from other countries; have a first hand experience of what goes on; the type of programmes and activity they are involved in; and to become acquainted with each other.

Upon their return, one of the girls claimed, “The whole trip was a very good idea; we not only made new friends, but we were given a chance to see and be a part of their programmes.”

“We hope that next year we would have the opportunity to visit another island,” another said.

The trip was sponsored by parents, the Montserrat Government and a discount in air fee by Liat Airline.

The Brownies organized several fundraising activities including cake sales, walkathons and fish/fry chicken sales to raise money for their trip.

Apart from our local Brownies’ visit to Anguilla, a group of Guides from Antigua visited Montserrat for the day on Tuesday.

They were taken on a round the island bus tour and greeted by other local Guides.

The tour was organized by Mrs. Melda Winspeare, Guide leader and International Adviser for the local Guides Association.

Youth Parliament Training Joined by 2 New Members

On Monday evening two new youth officials joined the rest of the Youth Parliament in their first training session at the Clerk of Council’s office.

Clauressa Weeks and Lesa Pemberton were chosen to fill the respective positions of Deputy Attorney General and Deputy Financial Secretary.

The Youth officials are expected to meet on Mondays and Thursdays in the course of the next five weeks.

Each session will deal with topics designed to prepare the youths for their different roles and how Government is conducted.

Clerk of Councils Claudette Weeks conducted the first session, which dealt with the roles, objectives, composition and quorum of Parliament.

At the second session, Speaker of the Legislative Council Joseph Meade discussed the roles of officials in Parliament.

The remaining sessions will include discussions on the rules, governing general conduct, dress code, language/speech and demeanor/decorum.

Mr. D.R.V. (Frank) Edwards, a former parliamentarian, will focus on Rules of Debate, Points of Order, Motions and Amendments of Debates and Committees- the types, procedures and amendments. Special attention will be placed on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Opposition Leader Reuben Meade will also conduct some sessions relating to questions of the various orders and motions, bills and their readings.

EC$500,000 Police Boat Put in Water at Little Bay

The long-awaited police boat, a 36-foot long aluminum hull fast patrol boat, arrived here in a container on Monday at Port Little Bay.

Named the Shamrock, like its predecessors, the boat was put in the water upon its arrival. It was built at the Ambar Marine yard in Theodore, Alabama, USA, and paid for by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) under its Good Governance Fund.

The Royal Marine Police Force (RMPF) and the British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT) provided technical advice for the acquisition of the boat.

A press release from Government House stated, “The new Shamrock offers exceptional value for money and comes with a very generous support package including a spare set of twin 225-hp outboard engines, lifting harnesses and cradle for storage during hurricane seasons and maintenance periods.”

It said the “boat is specifically designed for the demanding duties of Military, Coast Guard and Marine Police Units and has an impressive array of equipment to match."

Police Commissioner John Douglas said, “The new vessel will once again give the Royal Marine Police Force (RMPF) invaluable search and rescue capabilities and allow us to resume regular patrols to maintain safety at sea and to counteract any illegal activities.”

An official source puts the cost of the vessel at approximately EC$500,000.

The boat is expected to be commissioned soon after His Excellency Governor Anthony Longrigg returns to the island from his vacation in the United Kingdom.

Guyanese Association Sets Easter Monday Fun

On Easter Monday the Guyanese Association will be hosting a day of kite flying and other fun events for the family.

The event will attract the Eldorado Association from Antigua, which will be visiting Montserrat for the first time to take part in the activities.

The group will go on a Bus tour around Montserrat and join in the local celebrations.

The Guyanese Association was established in April 2001 by 50 persons to meet the support needs expressed by Guyanese living in Montserrat.

President Rudolph Griffith said the association “wants to create a merge in culture, to stand on one front to celebrate with the Montserrat community, since our culture is not so different from Montserrat’s culture; for example the masquerade and calypso competition in December; we would like to make our contribution to make the festival more festive and attractive to others overseas.”

“We would like to share our history with the Montserrat community, to give them an understanding of our people and at the same time exposing them to new things,” he said.

“In the future of our group, we are hoping to open our association to persons from other countries,” he concluded.

REGIONAL NEWS

U.S. Pledges $11 Million For FTAA Negotiations

TRINIDAD (CMC) -- The United States on Monday announced a US$11-million project designed to assist the Caribbean in negotiations for the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), as well as for other international trade agreements.
U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Dr. Roy Austin said the two-year project, being undertaken by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), would deal specifically with building trade negotiating capacity as well as competitiveness within the region.
Dr. Austin was one of five ambassadors participating in a forum on "Business and Trade to Trinidad and Tobago and Involvement in Local Issues," organised by the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
He told the forum that the proposed FTAA is a "vehicle we expect to lift the prospects of our hemispheric people," adding that it is necessary for the region to be fully engaged in the negotiations leading up to its establishment, as well as other world trade negotiations such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The U.S. diplomat said Washington recognised the difficulties posed to small island states of the region in seeking to participate in these negotiations, especially in areas such as competitiveness and trade negotiating capacity.
"It is better to have a tough negotiating partner than no negotiations at all," he said, adding that "trade liberalisation is going to occur whether the Caribbean is ready for it and we do ourselves a favour by preparing for it."
Earlier, the British High Commissioner Peter Harborne said it was important for the Caribbean to engage the European Commission, as well as the FTAA and WTO, while recognising the difficulty "of doing that from a capacity point of view, engaging on three fronts simultaneously where all three play backwards and forwards, one from the other."
But he said he was not in a position to support the view of the former head of the Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) Sir Shridath Ramphal that the region should complete negotiations with the Europeans, ahead of those involving the FTAA and WTO.
Both Dr. Austin and Mr. Harborne said that their respective Governments are assisting Trinidad and Tobago in a number of areas, including with the fight against the illegal drugs trade and terrorism, as well as deadly HIV-AIDS epidemic.
Also participating in the forum was Chinese Ambassador Xu Yanan, who announced that Beijing would be hosting the first Caribbean Seminar on Public Service in June to which a number of regional states had been invited.
She said that China would also be sending a technical team to the Caribbean to discuss "possible areas of cooperation" as she outlined the economic growth the Asian country had recorded during the past year.
"The economic growth of China has offered many countries an opportunity for investment," she said, noting that foreign direct investment last year had totalled US$50,000 million.

Veteran Broadcaster Scott Slain in Barbados at 50

BARBADOS (CMC) -- The broadcasting fraternity in Barbados has reacted with shock to news of the death of veteran broadcaster Carl Scott at age 50, which police are treating as an apparent murder.
His partially clad body, bearing two stab wounds to the throat and chest, was found lying at the side of the Spring Garden Highway, just outside Bridgetown, on Sunday night.
Mr. Scott's car was parked off the road, mere feet away, facing north.
Police, who were Sunday night questioning a male suspect in connection with the death, say blood was also found at Mr. Scott's home not far away, suggesting that he was attacked there and then transported to the Highway.
Mr. Scott, whose broadcasting career spanned more than three decades, started off at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). He also worked for a short stint as a news anchor for the Barbados-based Caribbean News Agency (CANA) but spent most of his professional life at Barbados Rediffusion Services Ltd., which is now known as StarCom Network Inc.
At the time of his death he was a Senior Programme Assistant at StarCom.
In a statement of condolence, the company's CEO Vic Fernandes described Mr. Scott as "one of the finest news readers in Barbados and the region," while noting that "his voice was always heard on air."
Patrick Cozier, Secretary General of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), also expressed shock at the untimely death. He said: "Carl Scott earned the respect and the esteem of his broadcasting colleagues, because of the sure and professional manner in which he did his work. His contribution will be surely missed, and broadcasting will be the poorer for his untimely loss."
Julius Gittens, Programme Director of the Caribbean Environmental Reporters Network (CERN), called him “one of this country's (Barbados') finest, most authoritative and credible news presenters. His was a gift of flawless delivery, affable manner and subtle shading of tone and colour.
"When Carl Scott read the news you listened."

Dominica Public Officers Get Pay Cut After Strike

DOMINICA (CMC) -- Some public officers in Dominica have been dealt a double blow this month, with government not only paying their March salaries late but also reducing the pay packs of those officers who were engaged in strike action in February.
This is the second straight month that salaries have been paid late by government, with the public officers receiving their March salaries last Friday.
In addition, those officers who were involved in the crippling eight-day strike received a smaller packet than usual, after the government announced that those workers would not be compensated for the days out on strike.
In a statement the umbrella Public Service Union (PSU), which organised the protests, said it would fight the loss of pay of its members, although it was not clear what action the PSU would take in retaliation.
General Secretary Thomas Letang also said the workers were being victimized for their participation in the industrial action, which was called to protest proposals put forward by government for reducing its wage bill.
The measures are being seen as necessary given the grim economic situation currently facing the country.
Last month, a visiting International Monetary Fund team warned that the situation was so grave that government may not be able to pay full salaries for the next few months.

FBI Team in Guyana After Kidnapping of U.S. Diplomat

GUYANA (CMC) -- A team from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reportedly arrived in Guyana to carry out a probe into the weekend kidnapping of a U.S. diplomatic official who was subsequently released by his abductors after a ransom was paid.
Two leading dailies on Monday reported the presence of the FBI team in the country, even as police and government officials remained tightlipped on the matter.
On Saturday, Stephen Lesniak, the Regional Security Officer (RSO) at the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown was snatched by two armed men while playing at the Lusignan Golf Course, about eight miles east of the capital, Georgetown.
He was released later in the night after a ransom was paid to his captors, who took him to the crime-affected east coast village of Buxton, about two miles away from the golf course.
However, there have been conflicting reports as to the actual amount that was paid to secure his release.
Stabroek News said a figure of 12 million Guyana dollars (US$63,500) was paid, while Kaieteur News quoted an international news report, which said that a friend of the diplomat paid the equivalent of US$15, 000 to the kidnappers to secure his release.
Both figures are significantly less than the US$300,000, which was reportedly demanded by kidnappers for Lesniak's release.
It is not the policy of the United States government to pay ransom demands whenever kidnappings of its employees occur and newspaper sources say this is an additional complication for investigators.
Mr. Lesniak was the third non-Guyanese to be kidnapped recently by persons operating in and around Buxton. Two Trinidadians were also kidnapped this year and later released after ransom was paid.
Police also say that his abduction brings to 20 the number of reported kidnappings here for the year.

Six held in connection with drug bust in the Bahamas

Bahamas, CMC - Six men, including five Haitians, have been arrested and charged in connection with what police are describing as "the biggest drug bust of the year" in the Bahamas.
The six were also denied bail when they appeared in court here on Tuesday on charges of possession and importation of the cocaine.
Dwight Fitzpatrick, a 34-year-old Bahamian national of Grand Bahama was arrested along with the five Haitians - 31-year-old Phillippe Beauchamp; 52-year-old Merilien Almeus; 53-year-old Mercidieu Georges; 54-year-old Jacques Dolce and 55-year-old Savavry Louis - in a police operation that took place in the vicinity of the Nassau Harbour at the weekend.
Members of a harbour patrol and officers of the Drug Enforcement Unit, acting on a tip off, also seized a total of 230 packages of cocaine, with a street value of US4.6 million dollars.
The men are due to reappear in court here on April 19.

Grenada government responds to criticisms of its recently amended labour laws

Grenada, CMC -The Grenada government has described as "a deliberate misrepresentation of the fact", criticisms of recent amendments made to the island's Labour Relations Act.
Minister of State with responsibility for Information, Mark Isaac, said passage of the amendments in the Senate last November and by the House of Representatives on April 4, had been deliberately delayed to facilitate further consultation on the changes.
The umbrella Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) has condemned the decision by the Government to amend its Labour Relations Act and at a meeting last weekend adopted a resolution "calling for their complete and unconditional revocation".
Trade unions and opposition parties in Grenada have also been gearing up to Challenge the new Act, which they claim is too restrictive to the rights of workers.
But in a prepared statement on Tuesday, Isaac said that during the period of public consultation on the new legislation, the Government had received some concerns, including one that the Minister for Labour "ought not to be given any discretion to apply to a Judge in Chambers to determine whether an industrial action should be terminated in the national interest".
As a result, he said the Minister for Labour informed stakeholders, by a letter dated 11th February, that Government has agreed to respond positively to such concerns, and that appropriate amendments would be made to the Bill during the committee stage in the House of Representatives.
He said specifically, the amendment read that "parties shall not engage in industrial action by way of either a lock-out, strike, or irregular industrial action, until all of the disputes settlements procedure as outlined in this section has been exhausted, except
in situations where the life, personal safety or health of workers are seriously endangered".
"The Minister of Labour did not receive any responses to his letter outlining the amendment. Hence, the Bill was passed with amendments in the House of Representatives, some six weeks later," Isaac said.
Therefore, "the contention by some people that the Labour Relations (Amendment) Act of 2003 was "secretly" passed in Parliament is a deliberate misrepresentation of the fact," he said.
He further noted that "the amendment dealing with the process required before industrial action is taken, is recommended the International Labour Organisation, to which all social partners have pledged support".
"Brothers and sisters, I want to point out here that the final provisions of the Act are the result of three years of discussions. All social partners have been part of these discussions. It was because of these discussions that the final decision was taken," he added.
Isaac said that he was making it "very clear" that the new legislation does not prevent industrial action.
"Indeed, contrary to what is being said by certain individuals, the Act does not have any restrictions on the wearing of red armbands," he added.
But he said the Act seeks to prevent irresponsible behaviour, adding that a contention being made by the unions that Government had recently passed legislation to fine or imprison workers or trade unionists, was "totally without merit".
With an election around the corner, he also made it clear: "This is not a Government of pretence that will try to fool people into believing that it stands for certain policies before a general election and then impose contrary policies after the election".

Trinidadian wins murder appeal before Privy Council

Trinidad, CMC - The London-based Privy Council has upheld an appeal by a 29-year-old man who had been sentenced to death for killing his common law wife, her mother and sister five years ago.
In a ruling, the Privy Council, the country's final court of appeal, also overturned the three death sentences against Bimal Roy Paria and ordered the Court of Appeal here to impose the appropriate sentence for manslaughter.
The Law Lords allowed the appeal on the grounds that Paria's good character was not put before the jury at the time of his trial.
Paria was charged with beating to death his common law wife Asha Arjoon, her mother Sita and sister Anna on July 24, 1998. He was found guilty by a High Court here in July 2000 and his appeal was dismissed in January 2001.
In its written ruling, the Privy Council said, "it is important to notice that the Court of Appeal characterised the major issue in the case as being whether, when he killed the three women, the appellant was out of control as a result of provocation to which he had been subjected. The relevance of the evidence of good character therefore was that it would suggest that the appellant was unlikely to have committed such barbaric acts unless he had lost his self-control".
The Judges noted Paria's own evidence that he was of good character and the evidence of two witnesses that he was a "cool fella".

High court judge in St. Kitts deems price cap regime to be "illegal"

St. Kitts, CMC - A High Court Judge on Tuesday ruled against the implementation of a price cap regime by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) here.
Justice Don Mitchell found that the NTRC did not follow the required procedure and therefore deemed as "illegal, procedurally improper and unreasonable" the rates included in the price cap decision.
The Judge also ruled that an interim rate structure issued by Cable & Wireless was "equally illegal, procedurally improper and unreasonable".
Cable & Wireless (St. Kitts and Nevis) Ltd gave customers notice on January 29, 2003 of its intention to increase prices with effect from March 1, 2003, but the Judge voided the decision, ordering that the original pricing regime should continue in effect until the expiration of any new notice of prices amendment that may be given by the company to its customers.
Judge Mitchell further ruled that the notice of amendments issued by Cable & Wireless precipitated a crisis and was partly to blame for the actions taken by the NTRC that resulted in litigation.
In the exercise of his discretion, he therefore ordered Cable & Wireless only half of their cost.
In the meantime, the NTRC would be expected to proceed with the relevant consultation process so as to determine the appropriate price cap regime.

Former MBS accountant in Antigua charged with conspiracy to commit fraud

Antigua, CMC - A former accountant at the Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) in Antigua and Barbuda was on Tuesday charged with 18 counts of conspiracy to commit fraud at the state-run health insurance scheme.
Chief Magistrate Clare Henry-Wason also set bail for Elmeade Jarvis at 280 thousand EC dollars (US$103,000), following his arrest on Saturday while attempting to the leave the country for St. Kitts.
Jarvis was also ordered him to surrender his travel documents, as well as to report to the police once a week.
The charges being levelled against him come on the heels of last year's MBS Commission of Inquiry report in which he was singled out with more than a dozen others for follow up investigations.
Jarvis, who had denied before the Commission allegations of fraud and corruption made against him, is accused of conspiring with the former MBS Superintendent Cavelle John and external auditor Andy Jacobs to defraud the Scheme.
When he appeared in court here on Tuesday he was not required to enter a plea.
He told the recent inquiry that Jacobs was paid for private services rendered to the Scheme, even while he was still employed as field auditor for an accounting firm that audited the MBS accounts.
The payments to Jacobs were co-signed by Jarvis and John.
However, the other two men are believed to have fled the country for the United States and Antiguan authorities are seeking their extradition to face charges.
Among others implicated of wrongdoing are former health ministers Hilroy Humphreys and Bernard Percival.
Percival was minister in charge of health when a crisis broke out at the Scheme last year that led to the holding of forensic audit into alleged wrong doing at the Scheme. Prime Minister Lester Bird subsequently fired him.
After the inquiry was ordered and before it could complete its work, Humphreys tendered his resignation.

Antigua PM and ruling party backbencher in war of words

Antigua, CMC - A member of the ruling Antigua Labour Party (ALP) has called for the resignation of Prime Minister Lester Bird and is urging other colleagues to back his call.
Government backbencher Sherfield Bowen, accusing the present administration of corruption, said Bird should step down or face the prospect of having a vote of no confidence being moved against him in Parliament.
But the Prime Minister has dismissed the call saying, "it would not be first time a vote of no confidence is levelled against me".
Bird, who is due to lead his ALP into the next general elections constitutionally due by next year, said that he was certain that the disgruntled backbencher would not be able to "muster enough support" to force him out of office.
The disagreement between the two ALP parliamentarians deteriorated into a name-calling match in Parliament on Monday night, with Bird referring to Bowen as a "pipsqueak" after he had called him "Saddam Bird".
House Speaker Dame Bridget Harris ruled the comment as non-parliamentary, but Bird could not hide how aggravated he was by Bowen's comments.
"I did tell him that I was going to thump (him) in his mouth. If he had only stepped outside I would not be the Prime Minister today. I'll not take anything from a pipsqueak like that."
Bowen, a lawyer, said he was also demanding an investigation into the disappearance of a US350, 000 cheque he paid for a client. He said he was investigating the whereabouts of the cheque since there were no records of it being lodged with the relevant authorities.
But the Prime Minister insisted on Bowen providing proof to substantiate his allegations.
"I threatened him to bring the prima facie evidence. He speaks of this rampant corruption imputing all kind of improper motives . without giving any specificity as to what this corruption is or whether he was part of it when he part of the governance of this country," Bird added.

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