CM Brandt Says Show Us How the Money’s Been Spent, But Clare Short Riles Him Again
By Bennette Roach
Chief Minister David Brandt has called again for an audit of funds reportedly disbursed to Montserrat through the Department for International Development agency here.
Some £62million have reportedly been allocated to Montserrat, of which DFID sources report that £48 million have so far been spent.
In a radio telephone interview on Thursday, Chief Minister Brandt said again that the Montserrat Government has no record of the expenditure. "We do not know how those £48 million have been spent.," he said. "If it has been spent by the British Government we have no account on how it has been spent. We have an idea in the sense that the helicopters are being used and we know they have to be paid for, the scientists have to be paid for."
Brandt said further: "If that amount of money has been spent at all, much of that money has not been spent directly upon the people in order to alleviate their hardships. We have over 500 persons in shelters, several thousands are renting in the safe zone, the roads are in such terrible condition. If £48 million were spent on the people that could not have been so. I, on behalf on the people of Montserrat, will continue to insist that some publication be made so that the people of Montserrat will be able to know on what the £48 million have been spent."
But that was not all that the Chief Minister was angry about. With less than a week to go before he presents the 1998-99 budget to the Legislature, Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, announced further budgetary aid for Montserrat.
Saying that "it will unfortunately be a long time before the Government of Montserrat returns to the pre-1995 position of being able to cover its own running costs," she announced further budgetary aid of £7.085 million which, she said, will meet 70 percent of the running costs of the Government of Montserrat .
"The payment is in addition to the £1.36 million announced in January," Ms. Short said, "and brings the total budgetary aid committed this year to £8.45million."
Short boasted, "We are currently working together to prepare a Sustainable Development Plan."
The chief minister reacted angrily. "The British have said that we are partners," he protested, "and it is contrary to the spirit of the partnership for them to publish information to the effect that they are supplying us with 70 percent of our budget, thereby telling the whole world, including Montserratians, what the total budget would be."
"Are you actually contesting that figure?" Mr. Brandt was asked:
"I am not contesting the figure, what I’m saying is that it is not right for them to publish that figure in advance of the Government of Montserrat publishing its budget in Montserrat."
Meanwhile Governor Abbott was sought for an opinion of the revelation, but he offered that he did not feel the Clare Short announcement hampered in any way the budget discussion here next week. "The level of budgetary aid was announced, but in my mind it did not give away anything about the budget. It didn’t give anything that anyone couldn’t guess. It think it might have impinged if where the money was going to be spent had been made public. I have to disagree that the figure that was announced in London impacted on the budget speech."
Brandt told an interviewer that his complaint about the slow pace of British aid has not changed at all, "My complaint is justified because the House of Commons Committee which was set up to investigate this matter has made the same findings. I think that the time has come for us to find a more expeditious means of delivering aid to Montserrat. Every expenditure has to be approved by the British Government and we have put forward proposals to them and they are going through the normal procedure in assessing these proposals as if there is not a volcano."
On Clare Short's reference to a "shift away from crisis management and more of a need towards a re-organisation of the public sector for the long term," Mr. Brandt said, "I hope that by making that statement, she also commits herself to develop Montserrat."
This is not the first time Mr. Brandt has reacted strongly to Clare Short's pronouncements
Last year, just before he took office as chief minister, Ms. Short said in a live radio interview with ZJB's manager Rose Willock that Britain had already pledged £41 million in aid to Montserrat. "Money does not grow on trees," she told Ms. Willock, and declared that more generous compensation was not under consideration, (referring then to the voluntary support package she was offering to relocated Montserratians).
At that time the London Telegraph broke down for its readers the £41 million commitment in the following terms:
"In fact, the money comprises £12 million in budget aid, buying vehicles and renting villas as offices for British Government officials and local civil servants; £10 million on emergency services, primarily paying for the scientific monitoring of the volcano and subsidising a twice-daily helicopter service from Antigua; and £19 million of largely unspent money for infrastructure projects."
It was then she announced: "We have provided funds for people who want to travel to Britain and we are now announcing a package for people who want to relocate in the Caribbean".
Later that same week, after continued demonstrations had persuaded then Chief Minister Bertrand Osborne to stand aside, to be replaced by Chief Minister Brandt, Ms. Short accused the island's leaders of "sheer irresponsibility" in what she described as greedy demands for compensation. She precipitated her own crisis when she predicted that next, Montserratians would be demanding "golden elephants."
There were angry reactions from Montserrat and in Britain, which drew a prompt announcement from Robin Cock, the Foreign Secretary, that a special action group, reporting directly to him, would be established to co-ordinate Britain's dealings with Montserrat. A British newspaper at the time described this as "a humiliating snub for Clare Short."
Later when she was asked about visiting Montserrat, she had suggested that such a visit would promote the personal interests of local politicians.
While dismissing her comments about the interests of local politicians, the Chief Minister said: "Madame Clare Short thought it necessary to take Montserratians harshly to task and inform us that money does not grow on trees. She wished us luck in a brusque and perfunctory manner. We are left to wonder about the sincerity of her sentiment.
"Money is a necessity. No one can live without money. But in the case of a country made bereft by volcanic activity, money alone cannot solve our problem. It is easy for Madame Minister to say that £41 million was spent or is committed to Montserrat.
"But it is not the rank and file Montserratian who is living one person to a villa, or driving Rav-4's. We all know that money was spent on the emergency jetty, on the food voucher program, on the helicopter, on the Volcano Observatory and on the Government's recurrent expense. But nothing developmental, even though funds have been allocated for many other projects, such as the upgrading of the hospital and the building of a new hospital. Nor is it the fault of Montserratians that the British Government nor anyone else can see any proof of the utilization of the funds on the ground."
"The people of Montserrat want to reside on Montserrat as long as it is possible to do so. That is the bottom line," he said. "That is the desire of every Montserratian at home or abroad. It is not about greed. It is not about money. It is not about money trees."
Mr. Brandt then, and would no doubt repeat the same thing eight months later: "The Britishers living on Montserrat should be able to indicate to Madame Short that many Montserratians are feverishly seeking land and rebuilding houses with their own resources in the north of the island… The people of Montserrat are not interested in taking money from the pockets of First World countries. The people of Montserrat are not residents of a Third World country fixated on cramming their pockets with British pounds. The people of Montserrat are not grubby, greedy banana republic beggars."
Antigua Agrees to Accommodate Early Morning Ferry Check-Ins
by Bennette Roach
Minister of Communications & Works the Honourable Rupert Weeks reported this week on a government delegation that he led to Antigua to discuss improvements to the ferry service between that island and Montserrat.
The ferry service is the main source of travel for passengers coming to Montserrat, but it has been plagued with complaints from dissatisfied passengers ever since its start last July. The complaints have ranged from the timeliness of travel to customs searches in Antigua.
The most troublesome problem for travelers recently was their inability to reach Montserrat in the early morning. Passengers were required to check in the evening before with immigration officials in Antigua, which meant that passengers arriving in late evening for onward travel to Montserrat would have to wait until the following afternoon to get to their destination.
Minister Weekes said that the delegation comprised : the deputy commissioner of police, Mr. Winston Telesford, representing the Immigration Department; Miss Sarah Silcott, the manager of Montserrat Aviation Services; Mr. Melroy Meade, senior Customs Officer, representing the Customs Department of Montserrat, and the director of tourism, Miss Ernestine Cassell.
He said that the meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s office in Antigua, chaired by Sen. The Hon. Kenrick Isaac, parliamentary secretary with responsibility for international transportation, immigration and citizenship.
Also present at the meeting representing Antigua were the Comptroller of Customs, Mr. Raphael Brown, Senior Customs Officer Mr. Austin Greenaway, Inspector Dane Hodge and Sergeant Raymond Kerwin of the Immigration Department.
"We looked at a range of issues pertaining to the ferry services and the associated difficulties," Mr. Weekes said.
Morning travel was one of the first problems to be tackled and to solve the problem, the minister said, it was agreed that "the person who wishes to use this service will check in at Heritage Quay at 5 a.m. on the morning they wish to travel. The closing time for checking in will be 5:30 a.m."
Mr. Weekes said the Antiguans pledged to provide the staff to facilitate this. He also confirmed that the Antigua officials "seemed very sympathetic to our situation here. No talk of compensation was raised at the meeting. However, I think if that’s a concern it’s something that we would be willing to deal with as a government from this end."
On people’s annoyance at being searched by Antigua customs officials, particularly for passengers traveling onwards from Antigua, the minister reported that the presence of the pink mealy bug in Montserrat poses a problem.
But he countered: "We can understand vegetables being confiscated, fruits being confiscated, but say pigeon peas not in the shell and processed goods, should these be confiscated, would these pose a problem as far as the pink mealy bug is concerned?
"I wanted to find out whether or not the confiscation was pertaining to unprocessed goods or whether it made a difference whether the goods were processed or semi-processed. I was not able to get an answer at that meeting, but Senator Isaac said that he would consult the director of agriculture in Antigua and he would be writing to me shortly to have this matter clarified."
On the other matter of the regular search, he said the Antigua officials reported that "People were taking things that are prohibited and not being searched in Antigua and being found with these prohibited goods at their final destination.
"Because, as I said, in the early stages they were very lenient to Montserratians because of our situation, but they have found themselves in some very serious difficulties. One case in point mentioned, Montserratians (including friends of Montserrat and others) were going to St. Maarten, purchasing things that were expected to be brought back to Montserrat, but selling these things in Antigua."
In the end Mr. Weekes, who is also a local preacher in Montserrat, called on Montserratians to be cooperative. "It is evident that while we in Montserrat have concerns about the way we have been treated in terms of the ferry service in Antigua, the Antigua officials have concerns as well. I have asked them to be more sympathetic with us in our present circumstances. They assured me they understand our situation and that they will be as accommodating as possible.
"However, there is a concern that because we are in a crisis that we feel we should be treated special or differently. There is no use for us to go up and be abusive to the immigration and customs officers. It simply will not make things any easier for us. The more cooperative we are, I am sure the easier they will be on us."
Finally, the Minister pleaded, "Let us be the people we are known to be, cooperative, polite and easy to get along with."
PORT AND THE ENVIROMENT
Meanwhile, Mr. Weekes was asked about plans for improving the port of Montserrat.
"There are plans to develop the port facility," he replied, "and I believe that the manager of the port is aware. Firstly, there is a study presently, where Mouchel, (consulting engineers) are looking at the breakwater system and the upgrading of the jetty facility at Little Bay. There is also a project for storage facility for cargo at Little Bay.
"I think the Aid Management Office, along with Mouchel, have reached an agreement as to what type of facility they require and we are in the design stage at this moment. There is also a fender project that is approved for the facility at Little Bay. The fenders have been ordered and should be on island shortly. There is also an electricity and water project approved for the jetty facility at Little Bay.
As to what environmental impact the Little Bay port development will have, Minister Weekes countered,, "I do not think what we intend to do at Little Bay would seriously affect the environment as such. Actually what we are doing is upgrading what is already there. There is already a storage facility there, but this has proved to be inadequate. So we are upgrading this storage facility. Whatever we do, the impact on the environment will have to be taken into consideration, and I can assure you that this is so."
And what about the surrounding facility such as problem there with the dump site? Mr. Weekes said that it is not a matter that is directly under his Ministry, "but it is a serious concern for me."
He said to the best of his knowledge land was identified at Jackboy Hill on the Windward side, and there has been an agreement between the owner of the land and the AMO on a price for the land.
"The engineer in my Ministry has drawn up a project for the road and the earthworks to be done at that site," he said. "Public Works, or my Ministry, went ahead and we did all that we were asked to do. We have not been paid for this work, but we were interested to see the dump site being moved so we used our initiative and did what we had to do."
The minister complained that approval for funds from London is "a hindrance to the work being done. I know even the Governor has serious concerns about the dumpsite at Little Bay. We are all hoping that this could be removed very, very soon. It’s a bit disheartening to see that it’s still there. I know people think that the Government is not doing much and the Government should have this dump removed, but this is a serious concern for every Minister of Government, and we are trying our utmost best."
Finally, he lamented, "We have reached a point where we have to wait on the funds to do any further work, and that’s the stage where we are at presently."
AIR TRAVEL
The question of improved air travel was raised, but it seemed that an airport is quite in the distance by way of priority. On that question and the way forward for a new airport the Minister responded: "We realize the difficulties associated with the helicopter and the ferry service at this time. We are still looking at an airport, but that may be some time down the road. We have received a study and we have looked at it in detail.
"An aviation committee has been set up and a report has been forwarded to England as to the way we would like to go, the way forward. What we are hoping is that we can have an upgraded heliport facility in the not too distant future."
"The Short (and Clear) Message Is Rudeness and Disrespect"
This week we have seen what seems to glare with contempt for the existence of our local government. It also appears from statements made by Clare Short and DFID that what we considered a snail’s pace before, will now look like a dash for gold.
Back in August last year, the Honourable Bertrand Osborne relinquished the Chief Minister's seat as a result of his respect for or courtesy to the British, even though Clare Short said at the time that our leaders were 'irresponsible,' claiming we were after "golden elephants." It was always and still is our responsibility to make sure that Her Majesty's Government (HMG) act responsibly towards us. That should always be foremost in our minds and we should never be forced to feel, nor should we behave like beggars with no choice.
If our government and people were to demand that HMG do not lag on their responsibility, it could well pose some embarrassment for them, never mind those who seem to feel they master the art of diplomacy so well to bring us to our knees. Most will agree with the Honourable David Brandt's angry reaction, but it does seem that there is a sense of principle involved in Clare Short’s premature announcement in London of the budgetary aid that will be discussed in Montserrat next week.
There may well be no point in the debate or discussion of the budget. Perhaps it is only a formality made unnecessary by Clare Short’s public statement that HMG will foot 70 percent of the bill. It is quite clear that nothing that comes out of that debate will make any difference. So the Minister of Finance had better be sure that if there are any shortcomings, he knows how to find a way to bolster his people's 30 percent.
Residents will be interested in hearing what support or relief Government would have budgeted for them. Such relief will range from non-payment of taxes for properties that no longer exist or will not be accessible for years, to the abolishment of duties and taxes on educational and developmental items, such as computers and accessories; plus other tax measures that will bring relief and help people to meet the burdening demands of rebuilding the island, our lives and existence.
We must be close to the point when HMG will know how successfully they have managed their money until their continued commitment to develop the north of Montserrat is stretched beyond limit. We wait with even greater interest this time Sir Robert May’s findings and report from the scientists’ current meeting. We challenge him to let the scientists' report their findings without any monitoring or interpretation from him this time round.
We can speculate on the evacuation of the island and the position of that plan. But just as we saw that scheme so well managed and with such urgency, should we not now see the same urgency shown in the needed development of the north? Perhaps not. Maybe we can expect not what is good for us, but what is easier for them - let them remain loose in Britain!
While Ms. Short boasts that "we are currently working together to prepare a Sustainable Development Plan", we note her word "prepare" and we note in the same breath the "move away from crisis management." This suggests that it will be back to business as usual. Not that it has been much different, because it seems the urgency of the crisis will indeed be over before even the temporary housing facilities are complete. The commitment we now understand but what about the intent?
In the face of all of the sufferings and the resilience that we have managed to endure, the time is not far off when we will have to consider whether we must yet face defeat. We have called on our people and government to be efficient in their dealings with HMG and the rest of the world. We have called for good planning and preparation for the future. Our children will judge us by the way we have handled ourselves, because ultimately we are the ones who must be responsible for ourselves and for creating a future to sustain us all.
I have recently been sent by fax two (2) articles written and posted on the Internet, one by a resident Montserratian (Ronald Barzey) and one by an "immigrant" Montserratian (Sonje Quinnet) living in the US. I feel I must reply to these as those two responses are the only negative public response against numerous positive, private responses received.
Those who live or have lived on Montserrat over the last twenty eight (28) years know me. Yes, I was an 'expatriate" at first, but my wife and I fell in love with the island. Our two daughters were born here and we made our home here. Our youngest daughter married to a Montserratian and we have Montserrat citizenship, so please don't bring racism into any argument. We are Montserratian and only have the interests of Montserrat at heart, otherwise, why are we still here?
Let me state one or two facts which obviously, Ronald and Sonja either have not bothered to check or do not know about. A good many people, both 'local' and 'expat' were in favor of Emmanuel Galloway's development, including myself and the Emmanuels. That particular property, however was governed by restrictive covenants, which would need a court case to lift the covenants restricting building to a one family dwelling on one lot. The Emmanuel's proposal for the hotel is on the old Woodlands Estate Yard, a private estate not governed by restrictive covenants. Even a number of local prominent people were against lifting the restrictive covenants on Galloway's, as one could lead to others, and a good number of Montserratians own property in those areas governed by restrictive covenants.
Let's face it - it was foreign investment that got Montserrat to where it was pre-volcano. The North American companies that bough land, built the golf course and developed the residential area and enabled the Vue Pointe Hotel to succeed brought prosperity to the island. There were seven real estate companies on island pre-volcano. Of these seven, only one was expat owned. Local merchants and companies prospered due to this foreign investment.
Now they have all lost most of their investments due to the despicable behaviour of insurance companies and the problems with the Montserrat Building Society and there is no longer the ability of locals to finance new projects. Landbase International the company who is part financing the new hotel on the Emmanuel's property have also put a proposal to the Montserrat Government for developing the new town in the north. Landbase nor their associates wish to own any of the lands in the new town development.
NAGICO, the insurance company now offering much needed coverage in both the northern and central zones of Montserrat, have been seeking local investors but nobody has the money.
So please, we need foreign investment to come in. It will rebuild the island, provide employment, and like the commercial and real estate businesses of the past, in the near future enable Montserratians to rebuild their businesses again. What we Montserratians must ensure is that all future development is done in the best way for the future of our island.
David K. Hodd
By the Management & Staff of Bank of Montserrat
Roslyn Wilson arrived in Montserrat by ferry on 3 January 1998 to take up the post of Assistant Manager-operations at the Bank of Montserrat. She came to the Bank at a unique time in its 10-year history. With a volcano looming in the background and among some of the warmest of our Caricom neighbors, she set about the task of managing the operations of the Bank. She quickly rose to the challenge of guiding and directing the staff. This she did in a soft- spoken and motherly manner. This cool style of management has had a sobering and inspiring influence on all members of staff. Not once did she raise her voice even when there was the need to be firm, except to say to me later, "Boss, how you think I am doing"? Roslyn was a loving and caring person and her sudden death seems so unfair and untimely. But, who are we to judge? However, I am consoled by the fact that she was happy while living and working with us in Montserrat-she told me so! Only two days before she left us she was looking forward to spending Easter with her family in Trinidad and to return with her dear son Russell to Montserrat. Her stay with us was short but sweet and she will be greatly missed by all us at the Bank, including the Directors. I cannot help but remember the saying "only the good die young". Roslyn was truly a God-fearing person. Her spirit will always live on with us in Montserrat.
Who rules this tiny island
It’s hills now grey, not green
Is it he, the Governor,
Chief Minister or her, The Queen?
I can tell you that it’s none of these
You really have to know
Montserrat is ruled by fear and dread
Of the Mighty Volcano.
Long Ground was lost to falling rocks
Tar River vanished too
And Harris, Streatham, Bethel
We can no longer travel through.
Our villages, our churches
And now it’s Plymouth Town
Through pyroclastic surges
All are going down.
Montserrat's ghauts and rivers
Many dry since years ago
Come rain or shine some flow again
With mud and pyroclastic flow.
We know the scientific terms
And we use them every day,
Phreatic eruptions and lahars
We hope will go away
We’ve heard magmatic explosions
And pyroclastic flow
Thunder, lightning, ash clouds
That cover the ground around us
And look like winter snow.
With ash and molten lava
The volcano drives us away
To the north of Nantes River
Is where we southerners stay
Some friends are leaving every day
Others think of going too
There’s nowhere here for them to live
What else can they do?
They’re building houses in the north
Schools and shops and stores
But from the Jetty at Little Bay
They’re leaving Montserrat’s shores.
We will not go to ‘Blighty’
To the rain and snow and frost
Until the last boat leaves this shore
And something is lost.
But some of us who love this isle
Have faith in what they say
And while it’s safe here in the North
We’ll wear our masks and stay.
And help to rebuild Montserrat
It’s what we have to give
For we love this little island
And here we want to live
The meetings and planning
Have gone on too long
It’s time to show we mean to stay
Delay is very wrong.
So give us spades and shovels
And nails and hammers too
And wood and concrete blocks as well
And let us see it through.
B.W.C.
More Problems Impede Pace of Road Surfacing
Since the hot mix plant has finally sprung into operations, further complaints have surfaced that the road works are progressing very slowly. The Honorable Rupert Weekes, Minister of Communications and Public Works, was asked at his recent press interview what problems were being encountered.
He conceded that the road resurfacing program is proceeding slowly, "for several reasons."
"One, the hot mix plant is a new type for this region," he explained. "We have now been assisted by an expert from the United Kingdom. He has been funded by the local AMO and he is advising us, also going through some training exercises for our local guys."
He further said that they were having difficulties with "bitumen, the availability and transportation of it into the island."
They too have been suffering from a manpower problem in terms of the labor force here in Montserrat. This he said was the other factor and, "while it may seem that the resurfacing is proceeding slowly, one needs to recognize that there are preparatory works associated with the hot mix and the overlaying. We have been using the limited manpower we have to do preparatory works, like drainage and the upgrading of certain areas that need to be upgraded before it is overlaid."
He said the slow pace is not the result of any breakdown or anything in the system. "It’s just that we have limited manpower and we have certain little problems or hitches that we need to get sorted out," he said. "I’m hoping that when we start overlaying that there will be a continuous overlaying."
Union’s Bramble Presses For Minimum Wage Act
Hylroy Bramble, recently appointed General Secretary of the Allied Workers Union, this week, urged government to pass legislation establishing a minimum wage in Montserrat.
"The objects and reasons for this bill are to establish a mechanism for the establishment and variation of minimum wages and for the protection of wages," Bramble said in a radio broadcast this week.
"The draft legislation was brought before the labor advisory board and was sent back to the legal draftsmen for some amendments. After the amendments were made it was sent to the then minister Ms. Lazelle Howes. "I am again calling on the minister of labor to bring the bill before the house."
Bramble said there is evidence that in some cases employers are deducting large sums of money without the knowledge of the employee.
"This affects the financial viability of the workers." Bramble said, "We are finding that some practices adopted by some employers are serving to frustrate the workers. Madam minister we need to have this piece of legislation put in place immediately."
DFID Seeks ‘Independence’ For Relocated Montserratians
Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, announced Thursday that the British Government will develop community development programs to encourage financial independence among relocated Montserratians within the Caribbean region.
The project is intended to help relocated Montserratians to access social services on the islands where they are now living, provide job placement schemes and help single parents wishing to work find day-care facilities for their children. The program is also expected to help the elderly and vulnerable persons -- a charitable fund will be put in place for them.
The scheme will operate through local charitable societies, friendly societies and churches.
A survey into the needs of relocated persons is being conducted by UNICEF.
A government press release summarized support provided by the Department for Internatioinal Development to relocated Montserratians: "Some 3,000 Montserratians have relocated within the Caribbean since the volcano became active in July 1995," the release said. "Of these, 2,200 have received assistance under DFID's regional resettlement schemes. The schemes were set up to enable evacuees to re-establish themselves in the region."
DFID reports that there are two resettlement schemes: one for people who left Montserrat on assisted passages after 15 August 1997 and another for people who had already resettled on their own initiative in the previous two years. The latter scheme is means tested. Both schemes provide a resettlement grant of up to EC$10,000 (£2,270) for each eligible adult and EC$2,500 (£750) for each child payable over a six-month period.
The release referred to a more recent scheme where support is being offered to Montserratian evacuees in Antigua wishing to start their own businesses. "An initial programme, worth some £410,000 is currently underway," the release said.
Prior to these programmes, DFID provided the Government of Antigua and Barbuda with a £3- million grant to help the evacuees there receive access to health and education services.
2 Assistance Programs Are Coming to An End
by Hilton Samuel
ST. JOHNS, Antigua -- Most relocated Montserratians on the Department For International Development relocation grant scheme will receive the last part of the six-month payment this month.. Another assistance scheme, Red Cross food vouchers, will be terminated on May 5.
Mrs. Candia Williams, chairperson for the St. Johns-based Citizens and Friends of Montserrat, said this has serious ramifications for vulnerable persons.
"The end of the grant has serious implications for the elderly, the majority of whom are not working," she said. "Their marketability is either non-existent or greatly reduced. There needs to be some income support put in place for these people. Maybe the relocation grant in a different form for the elderly. The problem is also compounded the loss of the Red Cross
voucher program."
Mrs. Williams said that housing is a crucial need among the evacuee population. She told the Antigua Sun that houses will plug a bottomless hole in the limited resources of the volcano-affected people in Antigua.
"Accommodation and rent eat away at the resources that could be channeled in utility and food bills. Houses as capital assets can be used as investments when these persons return to Montserrat after the crisis," she explained.
When asked about this issue, British Secretary of State Robin Cook said a soon-to-be-released small business program will help Montserratians provide homes for themselves.
"Regarding the provision of housing in Antigua for those Montserratians who have no home to return to in Montserrat, the British government believes the best way to enable Montserratians to provide their own accommodation is to enhance their ability to support themselves. That is why the Small Business Program is so important and why we should be putting real effort to ensure its success," he said in a March 19 letter to the organization.
While the program is welcomed, Mrs. Williams said, "The Small Business Program will only benefit a small number of people. People with no desire to go into business or who cannot get into business for whatever reason will not be able to profit from it."
She said she believes the British Government should also provide skill training programs that will increase evacuees’ marketability in the job market.
One 32-year-old from devastated Plymouth in Montserrat told the Sun he is disappointed in the way the British seem to be operating.
"It would seem that they are deliberately trying to frustrate people or calculatedly stalling," he said. "The projects take so long to come on stream, then they spend most of the money hiring consultants to do the most obvious and self-evident things. As one of the so-called First World civilizations they operate very inefficient and slow. But maybe that's all deliberate."
He told the Sun that it would be far better if the British sent in consultants to help the distressed people to set up cooperatives among themselves for housing and income-generating schemes.
"That way you can have a housing or food co-op which will have two benefits. One, we would be helping ourselves; secondly, these programs are not one-off schemes, they are self-sustaining," he said.
When contacted, DFID spokesperson Douglas Houston said the Small Business Program, which was promised some time ago, will come on stream shortly. He said the Trinidad Small Business Development Co. Ltd. is on island from April 6-24 to set up the operational rules of the program.
Another Assessment Of Volcano Under Way
Montserrat Volcano Observatory Scientists will gather at the University of Edingburg this weekend for a new review of volcano. They will consult their counterparts from all over the world in interpreting current volcano data. Chief Scientist Dr. Willie Aspinall said hazards and risks will be reassessed during the meeting.
"Most of the scientists who met in Antigua in December will be participating again." Dr. Aspinall said. "It will only be two days this time. Last time it was a week because it was the first time we did such an in-depth study. This time we will be reviewing and interpreting the latest data."
He said the first day will be given to discussing and debating the most recent seismic data. The next day will be devoted to hazard and risk assessment.
"We will see whether there are any probabilities and risks that were discussed there that need to be changed," he said.
Montserrat’s Michael Joins Disaster Preparedness Talks
Montserrat was represented this week at a forum hosted by the Caribbean Relief Disaster Agency in St. Kitts. The agenda included discussions on disaster preparedness and the impact of the El Nino phenomenon on the islands.Mr. Franklyn Michael, Permanent Secretary in the Emergency Department, represented Montserrat.
Hurricanes – First El Nino And Now Global Warming
Cambridge, Mass. -- Scientists say the global warming caused by greenhouse gases could
produce more intense hurricanes but that more research is needed to be sure.
Kerry Emanuel, professor of meteorology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in
Cambridge, says while hurricanes won't stray too far off their beaten path, their power to
destroy in storm-prone areas could grow ever more lethal as the climate changes.
Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from burning fossil fuels,
methane from organic waste and other pollutants.
Emanuel says that every rise in tropical sea surface temperatures of two degrees
Celsius can increase wind speeds by 10 percent. It is still not clear, he says whether
global warming will increase that much.
Emanuel calls hurricanes "quirky accidents of nature." Unlike other types of
storms, they are produced by unrelated disturbances, some of which lead to hurricanes and
some of which do not.
Hurricanes strike the tropical North Atlantic, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of
Mexico.
Says Emanuel, "In spite of years of study, it remains largely a matter of guesswork
as to whether a particular tropical disturbance will become a hurricane."
New 52-Room Hotel Planned For Volcano-Ravaged Island
By Tunku Varadarajan
Tourists who want to see a live volcano could soon descend on Montserrat, the British dependency in the West Indies ravaged by relentless eruptions. A local business has announced plans to build a hotel on the island, giving the long-suffering inhabitants something to cheer about at last.
The project was made possible by a small Caribbean assurance company’s decision to insure the hotel and its guest. The island was left completely uninsured after companies canceled policies in August 1995, just a month after the Soufriere Hills volcano rumbled to life. Locals describe this as "death by insurance".
More than half the population left the island, and even, and even the diehard 4,500 still left lost hope of any renewal of their once comfortable economy. Now, hoping to attract tourists who want to see the volcano, Mike Emmanuel, a local hotelier, is about to embark on the construction of a 52-room hotel, bringing back much needed jobs and morale to the island.
He said, "It makes everybody feel a whole lot better. This is something we have been praying for." The hotel has been made possible by the National General Insurance Corp (Nagico), based in the neighboring Caribbean island of St. Maarten, a Dutch territory. Jim Van, the agent for Nagico, said, "We are glad to be able to do it. They are a sister island, and we can appreciate what they are going through."
Nagico will offer full insurance coverage "for all risk exclusive of volcano and related earthquakes." Other insurance companies had earlier refused to offer even this limited package. Montserratian business people have maintained that they do not need "volcano coverage" because the eruptions have already destroyed, or rendered uninhabitable, the south of the island, while posing little risk to the other side.
RC Bishop Addresses Reports of Unusual Events
A press release from Roman Catholic Bishop Reece in Antigua says that people have been calling the Chancery Office and the Presbytery for clarification of certain reported unusual happenings involving a Catholic priest, Fr Gerard Critch, which took place in Antigua from Sunday 29 March until Saturday 4 April, 1998.
Fr. Gerard Critch, affectionately known as Father G., served his earlier attachment to this diocese in Montserrat before he was transferred to Antigua.
The Bishop referred to occurrences, which included alleged healing, people falling over when blessed (commonly called "slain in the Spirit," a phenomenon which is sometimes present at charismatic prayer meetings), and stigmatization (i.e, wound marks on Fr. Gerard’s hands, feet and side) accompanied by excruciating pains. Bishop Reece says in the release: "That something unusual took place is undeniable, several persons have been seen these occurrences and have been affected. The facts cannot be refuted."
Bishop Reece in the release went on to explain the church's position on such matters and pointed out the following: "Nevertheless, the Catholic Church cannot now go beyond a statement of facts to arrive conclusively at the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of such phenomena. Such unusual happenings are certainly not new to the Church, which for nearly 2,000 years has seen many of them, very few of which have been judged as being of divine origin, and that only after much medical research and other investigations.
"Why is that so? There may be more than meets the eye. As regards stigmatization, there are three major theories put for it. (1) that it may be attributable to a particular action of God, (2) that it may be attributable to purely natural causes including the psychological, and (3) that it may be attributable to the evil one who disguises himself for a short while under the appearance of goodness and light (remember his name is Lucifer, "bearer of light") in order to deceive even the elect. Because of these three theories and the Church’s experiences of the more then 300 cases of stigmatization since the first stigmatic, St. Francis of Assisi (1226 A.D.), the jump from "facts" to truth (inclusive of the ‘why’ and ‘how’) is long and arduous."
The release stated further that a very important point must be made. "The Church’s teaching, which has been seasoned with the ages, is stigmatization in itself not necessarily connected with holiness. Neither is that phenomenon restricted to the Church. There have been know cases of Moslems receiving marks on their bodies similar to those on Mohammed’s body, as they were lost in deep contemplation or in ecstasy.
"The Church therefore cautions us to be very circumspect when such phenomena occur, not only in view of the three theories aforementioned, but also because of the complexity of the human person or the state of his/her psychological condition. Discernment is crucial for people of faith. Plus X, while acknowledging the historical fact of the stigma of the well-know St. Francis, concludes that this phenomenon is ‘not an article of faith.’ The Church even refused to pass judgment on the stigma of St. Gemma Galgan, as well as on other marvelous phenomena that surrounded her life. Her canonization did not take those phenomena into consideration."
The Bishop ended his release by calling on the faithful to pray for Fr. G. "In the meantime let us pray for the well being of Fr. Gerard Critch, a good conscientious priest, who has been physically weakened by these phenomena. Pray, too, for the discernment process that he is currently undergoing with experts of the Church.
"Ultimately, ‘we walk by faith not by sight’ (2 Cor. 5:7), and it is for that reason the Church insists on the regular observance of the Christian life of faith as basic, and not ‘miraculous and unusual happenings.’ At the beginning of Lent we recall how Jesus was tempted in the desert; he was challenged to go the way of the spectacular [’turn stone into bread,’ ‘cast yourself down for the angels will bear you up,’ etc] Yes, Jesus came face to face with the evil one who would delude, if he could, even the Son of God. We too, must reflect upon the basis of the faith rather than on the thing as miraculous, for ‘we walk by faith, not by sight.’ "
Kingston, Jamaica, CANA - Private cars more than four years old will not be allowed into Jamaica under a new motor vehicle policy announced by government Wednesday. The motor vehicle import policy has also been amended, with immediate effect, to allow used car dealers to import new motor vehicles, Minister of Commerce and Technology, Phillip Paulwell said. He said the policy changes were to protect the environment, ensure fair competition and guarantee revenue and consumer protection.
Miami, US, CANA - Thousands of Cuban Americans are eagerly awaiting the resumption of direct flights from the United States to Cuba, travel agents said this week. People have bombarded travel agents with phone calls to book seats on charter flights to their homeland barely 90 miles (140 km) south of the Florida Keys.
The move, announced by President Bill Clinton on March 20, should mean the end of a time-consuming, journey via the Bahamas, used since direct flights were suspended in 1996.
Bridgetown, Barbados, CANA - Guyana's economy has been dealt a severe blow by the 'El Nino' weather pattern, costing it losses of U.S.$29 million in foreign exchange earnings, Caribbean Insight magazine has reported.
The El Nino impact, which forced government to declare a state of emergency last month, caused destruction to crops, food shortages and forest fires, and death to cattle. A reduction of 35 per cent in the area planted to rice and a drop in sugar production is expected to account for the losses, the monthly magazine of the West India Committee said.
George Town, Cayman Islands, CANA - The Cayman Islands Scuba Diving Association is alerting dive shops in the Caribbean and around the world that a particular compressed air storage tank system from a California company may be defective and could explode. Ron Kipp, president of the 130-member Cayman Islands Watersports Operators Association said this week the advisory came after a review of the compressed air storage industry in the islands by two compressed air storage experts from the U.S. He said the advisory is also based on an investigation of compressed air storage systems by the Caymanian Compass newspaper.
American Eagle Serves 5 Islands from San Juan
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, this week increased nonstop service between San Juan and the Caribbean islands of Antigua, Barbados, St. Croix, St. Lucia and St. Maarten, adding a daily flight to and from each destination to help offset jet reductions by American.
American Eagle’s San Juan service now includes three daily flights to Antigua, two to Barbados, nine to St. Croix, three to St. Lucia and three to St. Maarten. The service replaces full American Airlines jetliner service to these destinations, which was terminated earlier this year.
Galo Beltran, director of marketing for American Eagle in the Caribbean, said, "Our new flights are part of our commitment to provide frequent, quality air service in the region."
American Eagle will use its largest airplanes, the 46-passenger ATR 42 and 64-passenger Super ATR. The airline transitioned to an all-ATR fleet at its San Juan hub last September.
American and American Eagle serve San Juan with a total of 110 flights a day, offering nearly 11,500 seats a day to a range of 35 destinations on the U.S. mainland and in the Caribbean. American and American Eagle employ nearly 2,500 people at San Juan.
Castries, St Lucia, CANA - American Airlines on Tuesday began a daily St Lucia run from its Miami hub as part of a three island service. St Lucia, along with Grenada and, Antigua and Barbuda, paid the airline U.S.$1.5 million each to offset costs the airline may incur with this service to the islands, and St Lucia's Tourism Minister said the benefits will outweigh the costs. "Hoteliers would be pleased that they can continue to have a first class service here and make bookings into the upmarket resorts on the island," he said.
Grenada Minister Joslyn Whiteman on Monday said that the one-off payment of U.S.$1.5 million to American Airlines was to recover any revenue loss the airline may incur resulting from switching routes to using the Miami route instead of the previous San Juan hub.
"Our agricultural people, the farmers and fishermen should be very happy of this new arrangement because their stuff leaves here Wednesday morning and can be in New York Wednesday night because they would not have to overnight as they were doing in San Juan," Whiteman said.
It said the relief could come as a result of changes being proposed by New York Gov. George Pataki. "He wants illegal immigrants to serve more time behind bars before they are deported to their respective birthplaces," one report said.
WHAT YOUR DOCTOR WON'T TELL YOU
By Thomas Brunoski, MD
Allergies of all types are on the rise and they are affecting more and more people in ways that until recently were not even considered
More people than can be imagined suffer from some form of allergy. However, the problem doesn't stop at sneezing and stuffy noses.
Many illnesses caused by inflammation -- such as arthritis, irritable bowel, migraine and eczema -- will flare up from an allergic response to certain foods, pollens and molds. Treatment of the allergies can alleviate symptoms of the illness, in my experience, in more than 80% of patients.
Case Study No.l
A female patient had been suffering from migraines for 10 years. Despite the many medications she had been taking, she continued to experience worsening and incapacitating headaches. She was even considering leaving her job to go on long-term disability.
Testing revealed that she suffered from several food allergies. The foods contained high amounts of processed fats and nitrates. So we eliminated these foods from her diet entirely and developed an eating plan that focused on fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat proteins. She also stopped consuming caffeine, which can cause headaches to rebound, and she began taking vitamins.
Result: Within three months, her migraines had disappeared entirely and she was able to discontinue all the medications.
Eventually, we were able to add certain foods back into her diet through allergy desensitization--a process in which a person is slowly re-exposed to small amounts of an allergy-causing substance.
Case Study No. 2
A highly active man complained of arthritis. Despite eating a healthy diet and taking anti-inflammatory and pain-relief medication, his joint pain had grown worse. Because he had a long history of hay fever and itchy skin, we did allergy testing on him. Often dismissed as trivial, allergies can be a major trigger for autoimmune illnesses--and an important opportunity for their cure.
The blood test revealed he was allergic to certain foods--including peanuts, tomatoes, wheat and oranges --and molds. I removed these from his diet and treated him for food and mold allergies.
Result: Within two months, his pain started to lessen. After one year he was able to return to the gym and a pain-free life.
Arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning that healthy tissues and organs get caught in the crossfire as the body tries to fight off what it perceives to be a threat. Eliminating these "threats" helps the body to stop attacking itself and joint pain improves dramatically.
Even though autoimmune diseases like arthritis can cause permanent tissue damage, it's never too late to stop their progression and reduce the pain and disability associated with them.
Case Study No. 3
A woman came to see me after she was diagnosed with narcolepsy, an ill ness that causes people to fall asleep when they don't want to.
Despite powerful medications to keep her awake during the day and help her sleep at night, she continued to fall asleep at work and could no longer drive . . .and her family life was suffering.
After taking a careful history and conducting blood tests, we discovered that she had a long history of hay fever and allergies, which until now had been ignored.
She was allergic to many foods and a whole range of environmental factors, such as dust and molds. As soon as we made changes in her diet and removed other allergens from her bedroom and elsewhere in her home, she began to feel better. Within two months, she was able to stop taking all medication.
BEST WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY
Though the specifics of each of these cases differ, the same basics apply to individuals who suspect allergies may be causing their illness.
Eat a varied diet. Rotating foods protects against nutritional insufficiencies and food allergies. Any food takes several days to completely clear from the body after it is eaten. A food to which you have only a moderate allergy can cause strong symptoms if it is eaten every day. Varying your diet prevents the reactions -- and enables you to spot troublemakers if symptoms do occur.
Ideal rotation for any specific food: Twice a week, or every fourth day.
Avoid processed foods. Nutrients are lost from food at each step of processing. Manufacturing byproducts, additives and colorings are common triggers for allergic symptoms such as headache and irritable bowel... and many are suspected of being carcinogenic.
Best: Try to eat fresh salads, vegetables and fruits at every opportunity.
Take a broad-spectrum multivitamin/multi minera1 combination daily to ensure you're getting the essentials.
Even better: Don't stop at the basics. To build energy, reduce allergies and ward off stress, take 500 mg to 1,000 mg vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) twice daily . . .1,000 mg vitamin C twice daily. . .and 400 IU vitamin E.
Helpful: 120 mg ginkgo biloba twice daily to aid blood circulation.
Essential and overlooked: Calcium. If blood calcium drops from inadequate intake (the norm in this country), your body compensates by taking it from your bones. This can lead to calcium deposits throughout soft tissues--in arteries, breasts, kidneys and joints.
Be sure to get 1,200 mg to 1,500 mg per day of calcium, along with 600 mg to 750 mg of magnesium.
Exercise daily. Twenty to 30 minutes of cardiovascular activities-- followed by 15 minutes of weight training--at least three times weekly is ideal.
'IHE RIGHT BLOOD TESI'
Contrary to popular belief, you are never allergic to just one thing. Instead, allergies tend to build over time and eventually, trigger a response. If you suspect you are allergic, be sure to have a test for it.
Important: Scratch tests are frequently not sensitive enough to pick up allergies to food and certain molds, and they give false positives. In my experience, the best test available for allergies is a blood test called amplified ELISA. It is usually covered by insurance.
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed 'Ihomas Brunoski, MD, a specialist in the treatment of medical problems and food and environmental allergies through the use of nutritional and preventive methods. He is in private practice in Westport, Connecticut.
Better Ways to Get Things Done Right
Better Sleep: Keeping your neck in line with your spine is very important. If you sleep on your back or side, use one pillow--or two thin ones under your head to keep your neck and spine aligned. Best for back sleepers, a tight pillow or pillow roll under your neck, too.
Caution: Sleeping on your stomach puts your neck in an awkward position.
Source: Robert A Lavin MD, assistant professor of physical medicine/rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore.
Better medicine: To help kids take medicine, let them slurp it through the loops of a silly straw... or call it "funny medicine" and have a contest to see who can make the worst face while they take it or say "yuck" the loudest. If nothing seems to work -- Tell your child it is time for the medicine ...seat him/her where there are no distractions...explain that he can do something enjoyable after taking the medicine...then ask every few minutes if he is ready.
Source: Roundup of successful methods from doctors and parents, published in Sesame Street Parents.
Better one-on-one meetings: Notice an employee's eye color at the start of every conversation. That ensures eye contact and makes the whole interaction smoother. Before meetings -- clean off your desk so you are not distracted. Also ask dialogue-starting questions instead of making statements. Example: Instead of saying, "I need that report by Monday morning." ask, "How is that report coming along? Any problems making the deadline?"
Better long-term car storage: If you won't be using your car for one month or more, add gas stabiliser to the fuel tank to slow down gasoline oxidation. Completely fill the tank to minimise the amount of air in the system. Also disconnect the battery, unless the car is equipped with an alarm system.
If you think education is expensive, wait till you see what ignorance costs you.
Avoid shortcuts. They always take too much time in the long run.
Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make them all yourself.
John Paul Getty, the oil executive and billionaire, once received a request from a magazine for a short article that explained his great success. The billionaire obligingly wrote: "Some people find oil --others don't."
"There are two types of employees: Those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is much less competition there." --Indira Gandhi
The greatest mistake an executive can make is to be afraid of making a mistake.
If your only choice is to hire a conceited executive or a foolish executive, hire the conceited one. Occasionally he won't be conceited.
The best time to save some money is when you have some.
A fat lawsuit is never as smart as a lean compromise.
VACANCY NOTICE
Turks and Caicos Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons to fill the posts of Principal, Graduate and /or Trained Teachers and Head Teachers at various High and Primary Schools, in the Turks and Caicos Island, in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports for the beginning of the school year 1 September 1998.
VACANCIES
To teach up to and including CXC level under the guidance and supervision of the Principal and Education Department the following subjects:
Detail information regarding duties and salaries are available from the
Department of Administration P.O Box 292 Montserrat Telephone number (664) 491 2365.Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be addressed to:
The Chief Establishment Secretary Chief Secretary’s Office South Base Grand Turk Fax No: (649) 946 2886to reach no later than 30 April 1998
Forward all Questions, Comments and Suggestions to: roachb@candw.ag
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