DFID Speaks Out Against Criticism
By Helena Durand
Head of DFID’s office in Montserrat, Mr. Barry Kavanagh
In
a recent BBC broadcast, Chief Minister of Montserrat Mr. John Osborne said that
although Britain have given “a considerable amount of money” in aid to
Montserrat, “I think we could have a lot more for the amount of money they
gave us, if the money was well spent.”
Head
of DFID’s office in Montserrat, Mr. Barry Kavanagh told the Montserrat
Reporter this week that when Mr. Osborne attempted to see officials of DFID in
London last week, “he raised that, and they said to him well, give us some
evidence, show us where the money was mismanaged.”
Mr.
Kavanagh said, the British taxpayers expect DFID to look after their money which
is spent overseas, “So we need checks and balances. That’s why we don’t
just hand over millions of pounds to government, say well, you need to
rehabilitate the north; here’s £100 million, let us know when you spend it
and what you spend it on. Those British taxpayers won’t stand for that.”
He
said Chief Minister Osborne is in no position to say what money has been spent
and whether or not it was spent properly because “ he’s only been in
government for two months, so he is presumably speaking of the past, because he
doesn’t know, he hasn’t been here.”
Mr.
Kavanagh admits that there may have been some delays on certain projects, but
not mismanagement of funds.
One
area where there have been delays he said, is in construction, “Principally
because the projects that went out to tender were over specified. That was a
mistake, but then the contractors rebelled against it, they estimated again.
They came up with seriously high prices to do the work. We had to investigate
what the problem was, because they were so far apart. That took time because it
involves architects, quantity surveyors, engineers etc.”
Mr.
Kavanagh said it is “simply not true” that DFID runs the show in Montserrat.
“We talk to government all the time, everyday. With John Skerritt, Financial
Secretary, Angela Greenaway, Director of Development Unit, and all sorts of
people so that we can make sure that the priorities are appropriate for the
island, and that it is what the government wants to spend the money on. We
don’t force things on them. That would be a waste of British taxpayers'
money.”
Mr.
Phillip Chambers, Deputy Director of the Development Unit, agrees in principle.
He said generally projects are generated by the government. “If we need help,
there are some projects DFID helps with. Because they are providing the funds,
they may have queries, and sometimes they may think we are being over ambitious,
or sometimes we may have to redesign projects.
"But
government comes up with the projects, and submit it to DFID. DFID Head has
limits to what he can approve; others go to London. Of course, there are times
because of what we want, and how they see it, there are delays.”
Mr. Kavanagh conceded that
there could have been instances where monies might have been better spent. “But
(critics)
overlook the fact that when we first started in 1997, it was an emergency
situation. The volcano was
erupting, people were being evacuated from the south which was the principle
city, to the north where there was next to nothing."
Quick
decisions, he said, “usually means that every now and then, a wrong decision
is made. Some weren’t right, or sustainable. They were ok for a few months,
because at the time everyone was thinking that in a few short months the volcano
would stop and they would all go back to the south. Now, if you are sitting in
that position, with millions to spend and big decisions to make, you do your
best. Four years later, they ask why did you do this, or that. That is not fair.
Hindsight is a great gift, we should all have it.”
Looking
back, Mr. Kavanagh said there are things DFID would have done differently if it
had known that the situation expected to last a
few months would turn into four years. Among them is that they would not have
leased the ferry or helicopter, but bought them. “From day one,” Mr.
Kavanagh said, “DFID has been
subject to criticism. Most people are misinformed.
They do not take the trouble to find out if there is a problem, what
caused it and who is responsible. It makes it very difficult to work for DFID
here when you are constantly criticized and you know the criticisms are
groundless or have very little weight.”
Another
criticism DFID has had to deal with, Mr. Kavanagh said, is that DFID’s office
takes most of the British allocated funds to Montserrat.
“That is a misconception. DFID is actually a department in the UK. We
are the conduit of the money. The money is voted in parliament to DFID to spend
in overseas territories and other countries.
"We
are really here to see that the money is spent properly. I don’t get a
commission, or bonuses or whatever. I am not a consultant, I work for the
British Government. I am a civil servant. Ask any civil servant here and
they’ll tell you, they are paid a salary and nothing else. The money that is
spent on DFID Montserrat Office, my office staff, the operations, the Technical
Co-operation officers (TCO); all that amounts to about 3 percent of the money
that is spent on Montserrat. Just 3 percent.”
CM Osborne
Waits To Talk to Labour
Chief
Minister John Osborne, who is on a working visit to London, is on a list of
persons waiting to speak to the new Labour government in Britain.
He
said in a ZJB radio newscast that Montserrat will have to wait until the new
government has been established before talks of future aid to Montserrat can
begin.
“I
agree that the British government has a moral responsibility, they have a
general responsibility in fact, to see us through this crisis, and I believe
that we are going to have a good relationship," he said.
"We
have not met all the people who will probably make all the decisions for
Montserrat. We think that we have made the point they understand exactly what
our needs are. We made the point crystal clear. We’re not looking for
luxuries, we’re looking for basic needs.
"They’ve
given us a considerable amount of money, I would say they have done well. I
wouldn’t say that the money was well spent. I think that we could have had a
lot more for the amount of money they gave us, if the money was well spent. In
fact, if they had given us, the local government, the opportunity to deal more
precisely with the money ourselves, we would have had a lot more for the money
they gave us than we presently have now, the money being managed by DFID.”
"Free
Expression is a Basic Right, Even When it's Unpleasant to Hear
One
of the consolations shared by losing voters two
mornings after All Fools Day this year was that the New Peoples Liberation
Movement (NPLM) winners were by no means all newcomers to government.
Chief
Minister John Osborne and the present acting Chief Minister Annie Dyer-Howe had
served as ministers of government previously, as had Idabelle Meade for a brief
period recently; while others had either served in civil senior service
positions or been contestants in previous elections. So too in their campaign
promises they all shared a vision for a free and better Montserrat.
But
how much baggage did all of these NPLM members bring to the administration of
government at a time when they claimed to have the expertise to bring about the
changes and the good things that will make Montserrat prosper at the beginning
of a new century and on the heels of what in modern times must be one of the
worst disasters any people could endure?
During
recent years the people of Montserrat had come to enjoy a certain freedom of
expression, not without total hindrance, but the kind when deliberated would
surprise most. It would be fair then to give some credit to ex-chief minister
David Brandt for not pursuing any effort to muzzle free expression. In fact he
was ready to jump into the boxing ring with Governor Abbott when he perceived
there was an attempt to curtail freedom of expression on the government radio
station.
Given
some thought it would be recognized that the present Chief Minister has not
known a friendly press in Montserrat, or one that did not only oppose him personally
but politically as well. He is naturally suspicious of media, but he is
surrounded by communication "experts" and people who claim to
understand a principle stated thus: “No people
or society can be free without freedom of expression and of the press. The
exercise of this freedom is not something authorities grant. It is an
inalienable right of the people.”
“Every person has the
right to seek and receive information, express opinions and disseminate them
freely. No one may restrict or deny these rights.”
These
statements are taken from a declaration document known in the “Press Freedom
World,” the Western Hemisphere and the Caribbean as the "Declaration of
Chapultepec."
Three years ago, when
Jamaica’s Prime Minister P.J. Patterson signed this declaration he said:
"I sign the Declaration of Chapultepec in the confidence that the spirit of
freedom of expression and freedom of the press will flourish, as we seek to
enhance democracy and promote freedom throughout the hemisphere."
So
what has happened to our new and enlightened leaders here in Montserrat? Are we
being taken back in time now? The recent statements about reviewing the policies
of Radio Montserrat better be only puzzling for now, to pass if it is just a
confused reaction based on ignorance.
What
is there to fear? Times are different now and if we are going to succeed in
changing things around for the better in Montserrat, it will only happen if
there is an understanding that information is key; we
need cooperation and not suppression of free speech.
It is sad when the politicians are more than willing in an election
campaign to hear people’s views and
spend time in their homes discussing things with
them, but after they get elected, the opinions and discussions of the people are
no longer important, much more necessary.
Governor
Longrigg’s statement of "absurdity" gets close to suggesting that he
wants to dictate what we speak about and when. He hopefully will see the danger
of trying to tell people that they should not discuss anything they choose. He
might not like what they say, but to discuss and disagree is a right they have.
Except
for the editorial, opinion articles expressed in these pages are not necessarily
those of the Montserrat Reporter editors, employees or advisers.
Readers are encouraged to submit commentary articles. All viewpoints, unless libelous, in poor taste, or anonymous,
are welcome. Send your
contributions to The Editor, P.O. Box 306, Olveston, Montserrat, W. I., e-mail: editor@montserratreporter.org.
Manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by a return stamped
envelope. The Montserrat Reporter
is a privately owned independent newspaper.
Jus
Wonderin items may be called in at telephone 491-4715 or Fax 491-2430
It Takes Time
To Be Near and Dear
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Phillip?” John 14:9
Getting
to know someone takes a long time, and the knowing cannot be forced. It happens
over time and through love. It would take time for Phillip to know just how
close Jesus was to him. It would take time for Phillip to know that Jesus was
becoming a living part of his very life -- and that he was being invited to
become a living part of the life of Jesus.
This
sharing in the divine life is the gift of the Father through the working of the
Spirit. We already share in this fullness through baptism, yet, over time, we
learn more and celebrate better who we are in the Lord.
The
church is the mystery of God’s self-disclosure. Through all its forms, it is
where God gives himself. Yes, I could say I knew that all along, but I am so
much like Phillip, so near to Jesus and yet so far from understanding him.
Phillip stayed and grew, through God’s grace, in the knowledge of the Lord. In
the staying is the knowing.
It
takes time and faith-and prayer that the Lord be generous to us with both.
Fr.
James Stephen Behrens, O.C.S.O.
1
Corinthians 15:1-8, Psalm 19:2-5, John 14:6-14
Radio Censorship Isn't Moral or Legal
Dear Editor,
Section 19 of our present
Constitution states the following: "Except with his consent, no person
shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, and for the
purposes of this section the said freedom includes freedom to hold opinions and
to receive and impart ideas and information without interference, and freedom
from interference with his correspondence."
There have been concerns recently
about freedom of speech having been thrown out the window. At first we were
reluctant to believe that this infringement on our basic rights could be coming
from our present government. When we came to appreciate the input of the civil
service we then understood. We were led to believe that the reason that Labour
Speaks is off the air is because they feel that he is pretending to represent
the Labour Union when he is really carrying out a political campaign. Labour
Speaks insists that he pays $80 per week for that slot, and as a result has the
authority to say what ever he chooses and give to the programme whatever name he
feels appropriate.
Then is to silence him not
censorship? Is this not a violation of his constitutional right to freedom of
expression?
On Monday, we received a letter
from the new permanent secretary, Sarita Francis. How convenient that she has
suddenly found it necessary to do such a clean review of the radio station that
she should take all controversial programmes off the air. Our programme was
previously approved through the appropriate channels, including passage through
the Chief Minister`s office, under the existing broadcast policy.
If the purpose of suspending
programmes is to review the existing broadcast policy, the entire approach lacks
logic. New policies have not yet been developed. Thus how can she take
programmes off air for fear of us violating policies that have not yet been
made, or does Mrs. Francis intend to create policies which infringe on the basic
constitutional rights of Montserratians? While we may not all have the same
views on the various issues to be discussed, each of us is entitled to have and
hold our own opinions, and to share our views with others.
Back to the Drawing Board has
never been anti-Montserrat Government. We count ourselves as being among some of
the firmest believers in the PLM party. We cannot even be accused of being
anti-British government. We can
only be accused of wanting the best for Montserrat at whatever cost.
All we ever wanted on Back to the
Drawing Board was to inspire the people to realize that there is hope for
Montserrat. Not Montserrat the shabby, begging dependent territory, but
Montserrat the brilliant-green, successful microstate.
The people in the real-life
situations need to be able to voice their opinions as loudly and as clearly as
they want to. Usually when there are loud cries, there are people suffering.
Perhaps people are not thought to be suffering enough. What we as Montserratians
should be aiming for is THE BEST for Montserrat. We should also have the dignity
to determine how best to develop our island. We, the people of Montserrat, need
to talk about it. The population of Montserrat does not have a forum to discuss
issues pertinent to all the people of Montserrat. The people are not invited to
those meetings. There is nothing negative about a high counsel for the people on
the radio. The people will not be silenced.
They seem to want to spray some
strange opium over the people of Montserrat. To make us all shut up and be quiet
and accept whatever happens with a peaceful smile. Our grip on this little rock
is slipping.
Slipping into the controlling
hands of a nation that exploited us many times and in many ways the past. May we
suggest that we hold on tight to the rock, and to each other. Let us all be a
part of the solution. To those who took us off the air, perhaps you should
refrain from infringing on the constitutional rights of individuals in order to
fulfill personal agendas.
It is not now, nor will it ever
be, ethical, moral or legal.
Ingrid
Buffonge and Lioness
Back To The Drawing Board
Dr.
Avery Applauds Marine Biology Bid
Dear
Editor,
I
read on the Reporter web site that Montserrat may get a Marine Biology Research
Station. Congratulations to Dr. Ronnie Cooper on bringing off this brilliant
coup. All we need to see now on Montserrat is a Health Research Unit to
complement the MVO and marine biology initiatives. Such a unit is needed
in the Leeward Islands because the main medical academic and research
institutions in the Caribbean are all too far away physically from the Leeward
Islands.
Since
leaving Montserrat my wife and I have been doing a good deal of networking . We
have drawn up plans for such a unit and we hope one day to be able to get
sufficient funding to set up somewhere in the Leeward Islands. It could be
Montserrat, of course, but who knows!
Gordon
Avery
Monday Public Holiday For Queen's
Birthday
The
official birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be observed in
Montserrat tomorrow June 16th
with a parade at Salem Park.
Due
to the fact that the Queen’s Birthday falls on Saturday, the public is
therefore notified that Monday June 18th has been declared a public
holiday in Montserrat.
The
parade, which will comprise contingents from the Royal Montserrat Police Force
and other uniformed bodies, will begin
at 8:30 a.m. at Salem Park.
A
number of dignitaries, including members of the Executive Council and House of
Assembly, Civil Servants and members of the public, have been invited to the
parade.
The
salute will be taken by His Excellency Governor Anthony Longrigg.
In
the evening His Excellency and Mrs. Longrigg will host a cocktail at Government
House from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The
Governor has extended an invitation to the general public to attend the parade
at Salem Park.
Police Warn of
Possible Telefax Directory Scam
Commissioner
of Police A.P. Elder warned Montserratians this week to beware a possible scam
in the mailed offer by a company based in the Czech Republic of an Internet and
CD ROM based International Telefax Directory.
The
Commissioner said that an unsolicited “Order Form” received by the RMPF
bears "great similarity to previous international scams based on the
vulnerable financial control systems of many organisations and businesses.'
He
said the lower section of the document purports to be a reply/order form but is
in fact an agreement seeking completion and return with a check for payment. He
warned that a discount offer of 3 percent is minimal when one considers the
directory's "discounted price" of US$916.65.
"Similar
international schemes in the past have proved very profitable for the
organisers," the Commissioner said, on occasions where the agreement was
completed and returned promptly with a cheque or other form of payment by a
relatively junior or unsuspecting member of staff believing that they are saving
their employer or business money.
"It
is strongly suggested that any department, company or individual in Montserrat
receiving any similar unsolicited document should check the terms and conditions
and the service offered very carefully before deciding whether to
participate," Commissioner Elder said.
Montserratians
Urged To Board Up Properties
CANA
- With a lull in volcanic activity, a section of Montserrat's exclusion zone was
re-opened on Tuesday and residents were urged to start battening down their
properties for this year's hurricane season.
The Emergency Department, a largely autonomous government organisation, urged
residents to seize the opportunity and start boarding up their properties in the
Day Time Entry Zone (DTEZ).
The DTEZ is a small portion of the Exclusion Zone into which residents are
periodically allowed, subject to the intensity of volcanic activity, to tend
their animals and maintain their properties.
The government-run radio reported Emergency Department officials as saying that
the boarding up of houses should be done in preparation for any storm that may
hit Montserrat during the 2001 Hurricane season.
Weather experts forecast that this year's storm season will produce 10
"named" storms, six of which will become hurricanes. Two of the
hurricanes are expected to be major with winds of 111 mph (179 kph) or higher.
The advice from the Emergency Department coincided with an advisory from the
office of the governor stating that from Tuesday the DTEZ would be re-opened for
four days each week.
GOM Give Building For Marine Biology
The
government of Montserrat has donated a building for use as a Marine Biology
Research Station.
The
building, which is located on the campus of the Montserrat Secondary School,
will be renovated to house the institution. Professor Bruce Jackson from the
Massachusetts Bay Community College in the U.S. is pleased with the initiative
taken by the government in establishing the unit.
“We’ll
be working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, the Marine Community,
all the major ministries here. Not only to identify projects that we want to do
here, but also projects that people on the island of Montserrat feels need to be
done,” Professor Jackson said.
The
Ministry of Education, he said, is probably one of the most important, because
“we want to produce a core of young men and women from this area. Not only
from Montserrat, but Antigua and other surrounding islands who want to be
scientists; to carry on this work and also do greater work down the road.”
He
said he and his team would bring down all the modern equipment necessary for
use. The Station is to be "equipped for protein analysis, DNA isolation,
salt culture, all the things that you would find in any modern lab,” he said.
Professor
Jackson visited the island recently to make feasibility studies, after being
encouraged by Dr. Ronnie Cooper to set up a Marine Research Station on
Montserrat. Within a year of the suggestion, Professor Jackson had obtained
funding for the preliminary visit.
Mental Health Numbers Trigger New Approaches
By
Helena Durand
Health
authorities here have announced an increase in mental illness on the island.
According
to Mental Health Nurse Sharmen Thompson, the general projection is that the
anticipated increase in life expectancy here “will result in an increase in
mental illness, especially among the older population.”
Nurse
Thompson, who addressed a recent mental health workshop here said,
"At least one case per month has been recorded for the period
February to May 2001. This is a significant increase from the usual three per
year recorded in the past.”
She
said prior to 1996, before the mass exodus of Montserratians, there were 275
registered mentally ill persons on the island. Today, the figure stands at 106,
the majority of which are women. That number includes cases of schizophrenia,
organic psychosis, drug induced psychosis, depression and alcoholism, among
others. Nurse Thompson noted, however, that a number of relevant cases have not
been referred to the psychiatric unit, “even when admitted to the general
hospital,” which may make the number of mentally ill persons even
more..
Research
has shown that the top leading psychiatric disorders include depression, alcohol
abuse, schizophrenia and compulsive disorders.
A PAHO research paper states that in Montserrat, apart from family
breakdown, domestic violence, and peer pressure, there is the volcanic stress
with its destabilizing social and structural problems. Added to that are relocation, unemployment/poverty, work stress, accompanied by power
struggles, and poor pay.
Topping the list of social costs are unemployment, substance abuse and family breakdown. Psychiatrist Dr.
Davendra Sharma said family therapy, group discussions and support groups are
highly recommended as treatments; so too is peer counseling.
In
an effort to chart a course for the future of mental health in Montserrat, key
stake- holders are working on developing a national action plan for mental
health.
Acting
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sonia Meade has said, “We are emphasizing mental
health not mental illness. We want to see collaboration and cooperation, not
isolation. We hope to have community participation rather than a Health
Department thing…We’re saying, let us put something together that belongs to
us, that comes from us, that we will use in the future for the betterment of our
society.”
Dr.
Sharma said strategies would include personal empowerment, small group
development and community organization.
Dr.
Meade said, “We (Health Department) want to see a fully productive society, we
want to see people who are self reliant, who, despite some mental disability,
can carry on with their lives, enjoy a good quality of life, and in fact, can
contribute to the future development of this small now, new developing
nation.”
Montserrat Wants OECS To Help Lobby British Aid
CANA - Montserrat is to ask other members of the Organisation
of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to help in lobbying Britain for more health
care aid, Health Minister Idabelle Meade said Monday.
Mrs.
Meade made known her intentions as Montserrat prepares to host the OECS Health
Ministers' meeting July 3-4.
"Montserrat is very dependent on the British, and the OECS member states
also know that, and they themselves (get assistance) out of DFID (Department for
International Development), so maybe they can help us to lobby what's due to
us," she told the Caribbean News Agency (CANA).
Of the EC$55.3-million (US$20.48-million) budget for this year, EC$4 million
(US$1,481,481) had been allocated to support the construction of an operating
theatre and mental health care facilities, and EC$600,000 (US$222,222) set aside
for overseas medical care and to cover visits by specialists to the island.
The Health Minister said that a draft agenda was not yet available, but she
expected that the meeting would examine issues such as the cost of procuring
pharmaceutical supplies through the Eastern Caribbean Drug Procurement Service
(ECDPS), and reviewing a
sub-regional Health Sector Reform Strategy.
In addition to the ministers, officials from the Pan American Health
Organisation (PAHO), the OECS and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) secretariats
will be in attendance.
The OECS Health Ministers meeting will be held at the Vue Point Hotel. This is
the third major regional meeting that Montserrat will host since the Soufriere
Hills volcano
began erupting in 1995.
Montserrat has hosted meetings of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), as
well as the OECS leaders.
Britain Extends Return Air Fare Plan to 2002
The British Government has announced through the
Governor’s office in Anguilla that it plans to extend the operation of the
Return Air Fare Scheme for Montserrat Evacuees living there until May 31, 2002.
The return airfare scheme will then come to an end.
Applications must be received by February 28, 2002, and all travel must be
completed by May 31, 2002.
Eligible applicants are provided a one-way
non-transferable economy ticket from their current place of residence to
Montserrat, plus additional air and sea freight allowances, and travel costs to
the airport of embarkation and overnight subsistence costs in Antigua, where
required.
In order to qualify for the scheme, applicants will
need to:
demonstrate that they were resident on Montserrat on 18th July 1995;
provide an address on Montserrat where they will be able to live upon their
return;
show that they have been relocated for a period of at least six months; and
provide written certification they do not have savings equivalent to more than
EC$44,000 (approximately £11,500).
A number of Montserratians have been living and
working in Anguilla since the flare up of the Soufriere Hills volcano in 1995.
Union Strike Disrupts Daily Life in Guadeloupe
By Helena Durand
There could be war in Guadeloupe, said Marilyn Robinson, a Dominican living there for the past 20 years.
She
was referring to a week-long strike which held the island captive over a week
ago. The Union representing petroleum workers in Guadeloupe called a strike to
protest the detention of its leader Mitchel Madasami. Mr.
Madasami was arrested and accused of violently
forcing shops to close on the main date used to commemorate the abolition
of slavery. The Union, however, says he was arrested for political reasons.
In providing additional details to reports broadcast earlier by the
BBC, Ms. Robinson told the Montserrat
Reporter, “because of the
celebration, they wanted all shops, hotels everywhere shut down. But it was the
Saturday before the Sunday which was Mother’s Day and that is when people shop
for gifts. A 34-year-old man who had just opened his gift shop three days ago,
refused to close his shop and was badly beaten and everything in his shop
broken. He had to be hospitalized. So the Union leader was arrested.’
To
force the court’s hand, she said, the protest
against the arrest continued. Gas stations were closed and fuel trucks were
prevented from depositing their loads.
“One
driver who attempted to bring in the fuel was stoned and even hospitalized.
Another one got a broken arm. Some people have cut the hoses at gas stations.
There are long lines or vehicles waiting at gas stations, and fishermen
cannot go out to sea. There are very little buses on the road so getting to and
from work is very difficult.”
Ms.
Robinson said the port workers in Guadeloupe are also in on the strike.
Mr.
Madasami was released on bail on Tuesday. “He has to see his probation officer
every day," Ms. Robinson said, "but we
are waiting for June 22nd, when the case is to be called and we will
know what is happening. I am afraid that if he is jailed, there will really be
war in Guadeloupe.”
Cancer Prevention Plan Proposed for Caribbean
BARBADOS, CANA - Delegates at a
health workshop held in Trinidad earlier this week agreed to draft a plan that
is expected to spearhead the development of national and subregional cancer
control programmes in the English-speaking Caribbean.
Following two days of deliberations on Monday and Tuesday, the delegates
hammered out a set of strategies and actions in support of cervical prevention
and control initiatives, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) said in a
release on Thursday.
'I Am a Heterosexual,' Says Jamaica's PM
Jamaica, CANA - Jamaica's Prime
Minister, Percival Patterson has charged that there appears to be a malicious
plan by his political opponents to discredit and finger him as a homosexual.
The 66-year-old Patterson made the charge Wednesday while speaking on the
current affairs programme, "The Breakfast Club," on Hot 102 Radio.
"This is nothing but a malicious and vicious rumour," Mr. Patterson
said. "My credentials as a lifelong heterosexual person are impeccable.
Anybody who tries to say otherwise is into smearing, vulgar abuse, and
demonising. I want to put that on the table squarely."
The
Prime Minister was married to former Guyana minister of government Shirley Field
Ridley, a union which produced a son and daughter. Ms. Field Ridley, who had
been divorced from Patterson, died a few years ago. Patterson never remarried
following the divorce.
Last September during the ruling People's National Party's annual conference,
Patterson declared that there would be no legalisation of same sex marriages or
of homosexuality under his political watch.
That was a direct response to a decision taken by the British government that
there would be same sex marriages in the United Kingdom and its dependent
territories.
C&W's New ADSL Offered in Barbados
BARBADOS, CANA - Cable & Wireless
customers in Barbados can now enjoy the benefits of high-speed digital access to
the Internet with the introduction of the state-of-the-art Asymmetric Digital
Subscriber Line (ADSL) technology.
ADSL is a technology that transforms ordinary twisted-pair telephone lines into
digital lines for advanced, dedicated, high-speed Internet access, Cable &
Wireless said in a release on Wednesday.
The advantage of this technology is that it involves little change for end
users, other than the installation of an ADSL modem at the customer's premises.
"This new technology will allow Internet customers with qualifying
telephone lines to enjoy Internet access from participating Internet Service
Providers (ISPs) at speeds up to 30 times faster than regular 56k modems
allow," the release said.
Lester Bird Proposes High-security Prisons
ANTIGUA, CANA - Antigua and Barbuda's
Prime Minister Lester Bird called Tuesday for the establishment of one or two
"high-security prisons" for the Caribbean, as well as two special
units to deal with drug-related and other serious crimes in the region.
Mr. Bird made the recommendations to the fourth joint meeting of the
Inter-Governmental Task Force on Drugs and ministers responsible for national
security.
He offered three major recommendations for the regional fight against drugs.
"The first is the creation of a single, well-manned and well-resourced unit
that would deal with drug-related matters on behalf of the region as a
whole," he said.
"The second is the creation of a single well-trained, well-equipped, single
rapid response unit dealing with drug-related and serious crimes throughout the
Caribbean Community and Common Market.
"The third is the establishment of one or two high security prisons for all
of the countries of CARICOM."
Mr. Bird said the countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
(OECS) and possibly Barbados, the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla could
jointly establish a single high security prison for serious drug offenders and
other violent criminals.
Dominica Health Minister Injured in Auto Accident
DOMINICA, CANA - Dominica's Health
Minister, Herbert Sabroache, sustained injuries including a broken collar bone
when his vehicle ran off the road Wednesday, officials said on Thursday.
News of the accident first came from Speaker of the House Alix Boyd-Knight as
she explained Mr. Sabroache's absence from Parliament on Thursday.
Freedom Party leader Charles Savarin told the Caribbean News Agency that Mr.
Sabroache was not in serious condition and appeared to be in "high
spirits" after spending the night at the Princess Margaret Hospital.
Navy Returns to Vieques, Bush Orders Bombing End
PUERTO RICO, CANA-Reuters - The U.S.
Navy began military exercises on Wednesday in waters off the Caribbean island of
Vieques, where Puerto Ricans have protested six decades of Navy bombing.
The resumption came a day before President George W. Bush ordered the Navy to
halt bombing and shelling of the island by May 2003.
The
new training, involving the Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group of 11 ships and
10,000 sailors, will last 18 days, the Navy told officials in the U.S. territory
of nearly four million people.
The exercises will not immediately include firing on the Vieques target range,
Navy spokesman Lt. Corey Barker said. When bombing does begin, it will be aerial
and not ship-to-shore shelling.
In
Washington, officials said suspension of the bombing would be taken regardless
of the results of a November referendum by residents of the small island off
Puerto Rico, a U.S. Caribbean territory.
"We plan to be out of there by May 2003," said one of the officials in
Washington.
One defense official told Reuters
that the decision had been made by Bush, based on the political realities of
strong Hispanic opposition to the continued use of the island, and that new Navy
Secretary Gordon England had agreed.
One official stressed that the Navy planned up to 90 days a year of training on
Vieques until May 2003.
Vieques
has served as a bombing range for 60 years. The Navy says it is critical to U.S.
battle readiness but residents say the bombing has damaged their health and the
island's air and water quality.
Anguilla, Venezuela Consider Formal Ties
Steps are being taken towards establishing links
between the Governments of Anguilla and Venezuela.
The Governor of Anguilla His Excellency Peter
Johnstone and Chief Minister the Honourable Osbourne Fleming were both presented
with special gifts during cocktails aboard the Venezuelan Coast Guard vessel the
General Moran on Tuesday evening.
The event was attended by a number of invited
guests including Ministers of Government and other managers and business
executives from the public and private sector.
Speaking during the brief ceremony the vessel's
Captain Beltan said that the gifts were presented as a symbol of the first
official connection between the Venezuelan and Anguillian Governments.
He
said that the Venezuelan Government was eager to establish cultural and economic
relationships with Anguilla and the ship’s visit was the first step in the
process.
Overseas Territories Get a New Baroness
The Government Information Services in Anguilla said
this week that a new British Minister has taken over responsibility for
the British Overseas Territories, which include Anguilla.
She is Baroness Valarie Amos.
Baroness Amos is one of a number of new appointments
announced this week by the Labour government on the heels of recent British
elections. She succeeds Baroness Scotland.
She was previously appointed a Government Whip in the
House of Lords in July 1998. In
addition to her role as a Spokesperson on International Development, she also
speaks on Social Security and Women’s Issues.
She was created a life peer in August 1997.
Valerie Amos was born in Guyana, studied at the
Universities of Warwick (BA Sociology), Birmingham (MA Cultural Studies) and
East Anglia (doctoral research), and was awarded an Honorary Professorship at
Thames Valley University in 1995 in recognition of her work on equality and
social justice.
Venezuelan Hero Guard Turns $5.6-million Villain
VENEZUELA, CANA-Reuters -- A
Venezuelan armored security van guard who was rewarded for fighting off a holdup
in May became the country's most wanted robber this week when he disappeared
with $5.6 million in cash.
Alexander Ugas, 24, jumped with the money from the armored bullion van which was
transporting the $5.6 million shipment to Caracas on Tuesday after picking it up
at Maiquetia airport off a flight from Miami, Venezuelan newspapers reported
Thursday.
They described it as one of the biggest heists in the history of the oil-rich
but poverty-plagued nation.
Ugas' two colleagues in the driver's cabin of the van only realized something
was amiss when they heard the open back door banging against the armored vault
of the vehicle. When they checked, they found only Ugas' abandoned shotgun
inside.
Police believe the missing guard, who was the only one who could open the
armored compartment from the inside, probably tossed the heavy plastic bags
containing the dollar bills to accomplices following in cars, before himself
leaping out.
Police were questioning Ugas'
colleagues and members of his family and his employers offered a 50 million
bolivar ($70,000) reward for his capture.
St. Kitts-Nevis Unveils $7.5-million Water Project
ST. KITTS, CANA - The St. Kitts and
Nevis government over the weekend unveiled plans for a EC$7.5-million
(US$2.77-million) water supply development project.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Denzil Douglas, told his party's
69th Annual Conference last Sunday that his government had spent nearly EC$20
million (US$7.4 million) on improving the water system in the Federation since
taking office in July 1995.
He said government will spend a further EC$7.5 million (US$2.77 million) to
correct a number of problems faced by several areas on St. Kitts, as well as to
adequately provide for increased home construction and the virtual doubling of
the tourism plant in St. Kitts.
Dead Body Retrieved On Cay
Near Anguilla
ANGUILLA -- Radio Anguilla
reported this week that a badly decomposed body was brought ashore at Sandy
Ground on June 8th after being discovered by Police on Dog Island, one of
Anguilla's offshore cays, earlier in the day.
The team of officers, acting on
information from authorities in neighbouring St. Maarten, effected the recovery
of the body after searching for more than a day.
The condition of the body did not
allow for its identification as male or female.
Police say no persons have been
reported missing in Anguilla and the authorities in the neigbouring islands will
be contacted as efforts continue to identify the nationality and identity of the
body.
It's
Still Yes and No On Medical Benefits Inquiry
Compiled from dispatches
ST.
JOHN'S, Antigua, CANA -- The controversy over calls for a commission of inquiry
into alleged financial misdeeds in Antigua and Barbuda's state-run Medical
Benefits Scheme continued this week, despite Prime Minister Lester Bird's
acceptance of terms of reference proposed by the country's Non-Governmental
Organisations.
PM Lester Bird & GG Sir James Carlisle
The
NGO's reported their pleasure that Mr. Bird said he would firmly recommend to
Cabinet on Wednesday that the terms be accepted without change. They objected,
howeverm, to his statement that he would make a similar recommendatioon to the
Governor General.
The
Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (CNGO) - a grouping of 14 labour,
business, professional, religious and political organisations - said Mr. Bird's
latest move would in no way weaken its position that Governor General Sir James
Carlisle is the only one who can decide to appoint a commission of inquiry.
This
came in the wake of a challenge Monday to last week's statement by Governor General Sir James Carlisle that he deemed it advisable to issue a directive to
inquire into the conduct and management of the Medical Benefits Scheme.
That
challenge came in a legal opinion from Dominica's constitutional lawyer Anthony
Astaphan stating that the Governor General does not have the constitutional or
other authority to decide that a public inquiry should be held.
"In my view, the suggestion that the Governor General can advise or
instruct the cabinet or Prime Minister to appoint a commission of inquiry or
that he can purport to appoint a commission on his own volition, turns the very
fabric and structure of constitutional
government over on its head and appears to me to be nothing short of
constitutional heresy," Astaphan said in legal opinion leaked to the media.
It was not immediately apparent what prompted the involvement of a Dominican
lawyer in a volatile local dispute.
The CGNO is proposing that a Commission of Inquiry probe the disbursement of
funds from each account established and operated by the state-run fund, and the
procurement policies and practices for administrative, medical and
pharmaceutical supplies and equipment with special regard to weaknesses and
abuses of the said policies and practices.
The Prime Minister's support for a public inquiry followed the firing of three
government ministers, two of whom were found in a forensic audit to have
exercised a lapse in good judgement, and another who was overpaid a per diem
from the MBS' coffers while
undergoing a medical checkup in the United States.
The ministers have since come out in support of an inquiry into alleged
financial wrong-doing at the MBS which is supported by contributions from
employers and employees.
The findings of the forensic audit report have also triggered the firing of the
MBS' board of directors and the sending on leave of a number of officials.
Pacific
Isle Volcano Devastates Hundreds
PORT
VILA, Vanuatu (AP) — Authorities in the Pacific Islands nation of Vanuatu
scrambled Tuesday to help hundreds of people left almost without food or fresh
water for four days following a volcanic eruption. The eruption blanketed the
remote island of Palma in a layer of ash that destroyed crops and contaminated
water supplies used by 2,000 people, disaster management official Barton Bisiwei
told local media.
Mr.
Bisiwei said there were no reports of injuries more severe than sore throats
after the nearby volcanic island of Lopeivi spewed ash into the sky Friday,
destroying the uninhabited island's vegetation. More than a yard of hot ash was
dumped on Lopeivi, and several inches blanketed Palma.
An
Australian naval vessel had taken emergency drinking water to Palma. Another
ship was due Wednesday with more water and to evacuate about 100 high school
students and their teachers.
A
Vanuatu government emergency team was assessing whether to evacuate the
remaining villagers, Mr.. Bisiwei said.
Since
the eruption, the island's population had been living off fish and wild yams
roasted on open fires.
Volcanic
activity is common in Vanuatu, a nation of about 200,000 people located on a
chain of 80 islands in the South Pacific, 1,400 miles northeast of Sydney,
Australia.
OECS Secretariat Supports Regional Soca Competition
The OECS Secretariat is collaborating
with the St. Lucia National Carnival Development Committee (NCDC) for an
OECS and Barbados Soca Monarch competition in July.
The Secretariat is currently marking the 20th anniversary of the signing of the
Treaty of Basseterre, which created the now nine-member Organisation of Eastern
Caribbean States (OECS). It welcomes the interest shown by the NCDC in promoting
the competition, scheduled for July 15th as part of St. Lucia's national
carnival.
The Soca monarchs of the OECS countries and neighbouring Barbados, or the road
march winners in those islands without a Soca-monarch competition, would compete
for the regional title.
The OECS Secretariat has been linking the people of the OECS Member States
through co-operation in a number of areas, including health, education, the
environment, telecommunications, judicial reform, trade, business, sports and
culture.
Caribbean Media Groups To Form New Organization
A Steering Committee has been formed
to organize Caribbean media worker groups and individual professionals as the
Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM).
The action was taken at a meeting of media worker organisations from seven
Caribbean states in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on Wednesday, June 8..
Participants represented the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Media
Workers Association of Grenada, Surinamese Association of Media Workers, St.
Lucia Media Workers Association, Media Workers Association of St. Vincent and
the Grenadines, Guyana Press Association, and journalists from Trinidad and
Tobago, Haiti, Barbados and The Bahamas.
The Steering Committee will prepare a draft constitution and plan the eventual
convening of an inaugural conference.
Main objectives of the new organisation include the promotion of higher
professional standards in the field of journalism; the development of a greater
level of networking among organisations and individual media workers, and
protection of the rights of media workers
By Peter Adrien
Bitter and sweet! Even when
the selectors do something developmental, the initiative is so often static that
one cannot commend them given the somewhat dysfunctional nature of the decision.
The selection of the Test and One-day teams to Zimbabwe and Kenya is a case in
point. While Chief of Selectors Michael Findlay and his men have done well in
resorting to the policy of selecting separate teams for the two versions of the
game, they have failed to select a winning team or “the best team” for the
One-day Internationals.
The
selectors chose separate Test and One-Day International squads for the 2½-month
tour of the African continent. The 16-member Test squad includes Carl Hooper
(captain), Ridley Jacobs, Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Brian Lara, Shivnarine
Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Leon Garrick, Cameron Cuffy,
Mervyn Dillon, Reon King, Corey Collymore, Colin Stuart, Neil McGarrell and
Dinanath Ramnarine.
The 16-member One-Day
International team comprises Carl Hooper (captain), Ridley Jacobs, Chris Gayle,
Daren Ganga, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh
Sarwan, Wavell Hinds, Cameron Cuffy, Mervyn Dillon, Reon King, Corey Collymore,
Kerry Jeremy, Neil McGarrell and Mahendra Nagamootoo.
The Test squad is indeed developmental, and the investment in young players must
be encouraged. The selectors have finally accepted the critical role of spinners
in a team that lacks the firepower to bowl an internationally competitive team
twice. One would have hoped, however, that Dinanath Ramnarine and Mahendra
Nagamootoo (not Neil McGarrell) would have been allowed to develop the art. We
do not have the quality pace bowlers that even come close to those of the era of
the "foursome fearsome." The age of "pace-like-fire" is
gone; the "age of terror" is past. We now need a good mix of spin and
pace. Like many of us, they have finally learnt that it is merely fantasy and
dysfunctional nostalgia to think of a new era of speed domination.
The
mix of players for the One-Day International squad, however, is seriously
flawed. In developing a competitive one-day winning team, Daren Ganga, Chris
Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan should not be included in the shorter version of the
game because they neither have the necessary skill nor are they able to make the
necessary adjustment that is required. They are likely to be de-skilled for the
longer version of the game where they are needed most.
The selectors have
continued to commit the sin of omission, if not the “unpardonable sin” of
playing the same combination for the longer version of the game and the shorter
version of the game. And this defective policy has cost the team many matches
and has cost us our national pride and our international competitiveness as a
Caribbean region.
While we must commend the
decision-makers for building a Test team, we cannot but criticize them for the
embarrassment that passed for cricket in the one-day games. The West Indies team
did not lose the series against South Africa because it did not have a bank of
one-day players. We were humbled and trashed because the selectors refused to
choose the right man for the right job. The mix of players for the one-day games
was ridiculous, to be kind. And the poor selection policy contributed to the
under-performance, demoralisation, failure and management conflict that we
observed.
I have cried, lamented and
suggested (to Mike Findlay himself) over and over again that some players are
not suited to all the versions of the game. And at last, he has seen the wisdom
in the argument. Some players can fight the war better on specific terrain. In
fact, when these cricketers play true to form, these calypso or fete-match
cricketers could out-perform even pedigree cricketers at their game.
If we accept that our Test
team is generally a good investment, batsmen like Philo Wallace, Stuart
Williams, Robert Samuels and Junior Murray, who have confirmed themselves as
one-day cricketers, must be given their rightful places. Stuart Williams and
Junior Murray have performed creditably at the one-day level.
Batsmen like Shivnarine
Chanderpaul, Carl Hooper, Marlon Samuels, and Brian Lara have either mastered
the crafts sufficiently or have shown that they could adjust to the two versions
of the game adequately to play both contests.
But novices though talented
batsmen like Leon Garrick, Chris Gayle, Ricardo Powell, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh
Sarwan, Runako Morton and Sylvester Joseph must be restricted to the longer
version of the game to allow them to master the art of batting.
Moreover,
no genuine one-day team would exclude Carl Tuckett, Franklyn Rose, Mervyn
Dillon, and Mahendra Nagamootoo.
The greatest weakness of
West Indies, since the beginning of the transition in 1991, has not been the
absence of talents, even that is a serious cause for concern. The major
impediment to Caribbean development and West Indies cricket development has been
dysfunctional selection policies. We have suffered more from the defective
policies of the men whom we put in high places to make important decisions for
us.
No matter how we lament and
sigh and cry, we will never have a winning team without winning policies. The
selection polices have largely contributed to our demise and our humiliation in
the international arena. In some cases, we have been reduced to being laughing
stocks of the very nations we used to humble.
Our selection policy has
often reflected an absence of a requisite intellectual capital stock on the
selection panel. Sometimes I am forced to question whether these men, who are
responsible for deciding for us, are simply ignorant of the job that we think
that they are so capable of doing or are plain incompetent.
Maybe our womenfolk should
be entrusted with this important job. After all, they are the ones who run the
homes, manage the ailing firms, and keep the deteriorating society together.
Do the selectors lack the
requisite knowledge? Some sections of the Caribbean society believe that these
men are driven by nationalistic and pecuniary interests that prevent them from
thinking and acting rationally. What do you think?
In an era of financial and
fiscal difficulties, we cannot allow these men to mismanage our scarce resources
with impunity. Our area of competitiveness must not be allowed to languish
because of the narrow interest of a few men in high places.
Nevertheless, let us stand
up behind Carl Hooper his men. There are our men! .
Peter Adrien, June
16, 2001
By Justin ‘Hero’ Cassell
(Agricultural
Development Officer)
“EAT
FROM THE LAND, NOT FROM THE CAN”
Week ending Friday 14th June 2001
Agric Highlights for May 2001
The Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Land, Housing and the
Environment, Margaret Annie Dyer-Howe met with members of the Livestock
Producers Association to discuss implementation of measures to prevent the
accidental entry of Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) into Montserrat.
Meat imports banned from destinations affected by FMD.
These include certain European and South American countries, also St
Maarten.
The Ministry of Agriculture launched an education program to sensitize
the public about FMD. A workshop is
planned for July 10th.
The closed season for turtle taking extends from June 1st to
September 31st.
The Honourable Minister Margaret Annie Dyer-Howe met with the
Agricultural Sector heads to determine priority areas for the CPP discussions.
Two major projects, the Extension and Irrigation Projects, which will
significantly improve the livelihoods of farmers, have been approved.
The Oriole Ecology Conservation project is now into its second month.
Nest cameras were installed and Radio tracking exercises have also begun.
The propagation of 2,000 trees for distribution on Tree Planting Day is
well on the way.
A total of 25 animals were treated for a variety of health problems.
Four Irrigation systems were installed for households involved in
Backyard gardening.
1,200 lbs. of Yams, 300 lbs. of Ginger and 1,700 Plantain suckers were
imported and distributed to farmers.
A study on Egg Production and demand in Montserrat was completed. The study shows that egg producers will have the capability
to satisfy local demand by yearend.
Fisheries Data Collection for the month of May shows that 5,590 lbs. of
fish have been caught.
Upgrading of Bumkum Bay Fishing facility is nearing completion.
Priority has been given during the CPP discussions for a fisheries
project.
The construction of a Hydroponics system at the Brades field station has
commenced.
OECS -- Two Decades Of Integrated Success
(Based on material supplied by George Goodwin Jr.,
Director, Functional Cooperation.)
The
evolution of the integration efforts in the Eastern Caribbean, from the Eastern
Caribbean Common Market (ECCM) in 1968 to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean
States (OECS) in 1981, epitomises recognition that the simple aggregation of
small individual markets would yield only partial benefits.
Firstly,
a total community population of 500,000 would not permit efficient exploitation
of current production and marketing technologies. Secondly, the “infant”
state of the productive sectors meant they still needed much support and
nurturing. Thirdly, there was the need to transform the structures and policies
from the rigidities of a colonial and mono-crop environment.
The
Treaty of Basseterre (1981) incorporates the ECCM Agreement and together,
provides the blueprint for the sub-regional integration movement, It calls upon
Members to pursue joint coordinated action in a variety of areas and puts
special emphasis on the most critical development needs of the Member States.
The
Organisation, working in partnership with the donor community, gave equal
prominence to productive and social sectors alike. Programmes were devised in
agricultural diversification, investment promotion, export development and
tourism. Social sector programming concentrated on sports, education, health,
joint procurement of pharmaceuticals and the environment. Within the past decade
alone, the Secretariat has mobilised an estimated EC$250 million for 43
projects. Commitments lasting to the middle of this decade for ongoing and
pipeline projects represent EC$176 million of this total. For the years 1999 and
2000, the Secretariat disbursed an average of EC$35 million in each, with over
75 percent of the funds for some individual projects spent directly on
activities in the Member States.
The
success and viability of any integration movement, in the final analysis, will
be judged on its ability to deliver tangible benefits to its member states and
ultimately, to the publics residing in these states. The various programmes of
functional cooperation pursued by the Secretariat over its first two decades
have accomplished this and have reinforced the original wisdom in the creation
of the OECS and giving it the particular focus and orientation.
Concrete
rewards have been reaped by the states and citizens through the millions of
dollars in additional donor funds that have been mobilised. Public sector
institutions have been made more efficient through the institutional development
projects for economic and environmental management. The export capability of the
private sector has been enhanced through the direct assistance provided to
individual firms. The education system has benefited from the teacher training
and curricula development programmes. The sports programme is impacting directly
on thousands of youth from all segments of our societies. A wide range of
pharmaceuticals is now being made available below regular market prices through
the public health systems in the Member States. These among the myriad of other
activities undertaken by the Secretariat over the past two decades have
contributed massively to the Organisation's being able “to
satisfy the legitimate aspirations of (the) people for development and
progress” as called for in the Treaty of Basseterre.
OECS to Celebrate 20th Birthday Monday
Nine regional governments will celebrate Monday the 20th
anniversary of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, which was created
June 18, 1981, with the signing of the Treaty of Basseterre, named for the St.
Kitts city in which it was signed
Today the OECS comprises Anguilla, Antigua/Barbuda, British
Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Kitts/Nevis, and
St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In
1980, the West Indies Associated States Council of Ministers (WISA) decided to
establish the OECS. The Governments themselves initiated the concept of the
OECS: unlike other integration
efforts such as the West Indies Federation, the idea was not developed outside
the region and then promoted among Caribbean Governments. They were aware that
in order to realise the economies of scale it was better to work together rather
than to attempt to do it on their own.
In
October 1980, the Council of Ministers reached agreement on the text of the
Treaty for the establishment of the organisation. The Treaty came into operation
on July 2, 1981. The ceremony took
place at Basseterre's Fort Thomas Hotel, where the Prime Ministers signed the
Treaty with a peacock feather dipped in ink. In attendance were the Hon. Lester
Bird, at the time Deputy Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, who was
accompanied by the Hon. Hugh Marshall; Dame Eugenia Charles, Prime Minister of
Dominica; the Hon. Hudson Tannis, Minister of Trade, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines; Mr. Franklyn Margetson, Monsterrat; Hon. Winston Cenac, Prime
Minister of St. Lucia, accompanied by the Hon. Peter Josie, and the Hon. Maurice
Bishop, Prime Minister of Grenada.
This milestone was brought about because of the vision of the
leaders of the Windward and Leeward Islands and the kinship among them. Today,
the spirit of regional cooperation and integration continues and is stronger
than ever. The history of the OECS
is one that should be known by everyone in the sub-region since it is a proud
legacy of its visionaries.
The
Agreement establishing the Eastern Caribbean Common Market is an integral part
of the OECS Treaty. Among the main
purposes of the Organisation are:
to promote cooperation among the
Member States and at the regional and international levels;
to promote unity and solidarity
among the Member States and to defend their sovereignty, territorial integrity
and independence
to promote economic integration
through the provisions of the Agreement establishing the Eastern Caribbean
Common Market;
to seek to achieve the fullest
possible harmonisation of foreign policy among the Member States;
to seek to adopt as far as
possible common positions on international issues and to establish and maintain
wherever possible, arrangements for joint overseas representation and/or common
services.
The first Director General was Dr. Vaughan Allen Lewis, who
served the Organisation for 13 years.
Every community has its own examples of courage, kindness and
decency. This week meet…Radio Personality, community worker and former teacher
…Rose Willock.
She was born Margaret Rosaline Willock right here in
Montserrat. However, today the name
‘Rose Willock’ is synonymous with Radio Broadcasting, making a lie of the
proverb that a prophet is never honored in his own country.
Her calm, clear voice will always be remembered, soothing her
fellow Montserratians’ fears as their world erupted with the volcano in August
of 1995.
Rose as she is affectionately known, has extensive training
in Radio Broadcasting and was fully equipped for the challenging task of,
Managing the National Broadcasting System of Radio Montserrat. She had her first
real experience in emergency broadcasting as a broadcaster working with Radio
Antilles, in the 1970’s when her broadcasting skills served as a lifeline to
Dominicans during the uncertain ravaging hours of Hurricane David. Her
broadcasting career began in 1966 as an Announcer/Producer for Radio Montserrat;
Head of Entertainment, Program Manager, Radio Antilles; and finally, General
Manager, Radio Montserrat.
Never in her wildest dreams did Rose think that her interest
in news and its method of dissemination would make her a household name, and a
Member of the British Empire. (MBE). Rose is also the recipient of numerous
awards including: The Queen’s 1st, Award for Exceptional
Contribution to Public Service Broadcasting (Commonwealth Broadcasting
Association, CBA 1998); Mother–of-the-Year Award (The Montserrat Progressive
Society of New York); Member of the British Empire (MBE) and finally, the Funky
Man Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Culture and the Arts (Montserrat).
She was, also made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire,
OBE, by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second in 1996
As a young child growing up, Rose told the Montserrat
Reporter teaching had always been her first love. So much so that after she left
school, she taught for four and a half years at the primary level. However,
while a student at secondary school, she had always volunteered at the local
radio station to do different programs. Thus, although her dream had come true
in a sense, since she was a teacher, she said she always kept abreast of the
breaking news, spending much time listening to the external media.
”I liked the whole idea of reaching a greater number of people at the same
time. So one day as I got dressed for work, I thought hey, here’s another way
of continuing my teaching career, but
with a wider audience. Right away I knew that I was going to switch jobs,” she
said. Just then, there was a
vacancy at Radio Montserrat, she applied and got the job. Having done volunteer
work there before, she was no stranger to the radio console.
But who would have thought that those periodic training in
Disaster preparedness gained throughout her broadcasting career would be so
tested and tried; or that her additional training in Counseling techniques would
be put to the test.
During the days of 24 hours broadcasting as the Montserrat
volcano increased in activity, Rose guided her team of broadcasters through
turbulent and uncertain times, working tirelessly as a team to keep the Radio
Station on the air.
Yet despite all these challenges, Rose found the time to give
her skills to other organizations and groups on the island of Montserrat,
facilitated Workshops in Emergency Broadcasting in neighboring islands. She also
shared her experiences at International Forums such as the Commonwealth
Broadcasting Association’s , and assisted
with developing appropriate Broadcast Manuals for Emergency Broadcasting in the
Caribbean.
A community oriented person, Ms. Willock’s special
interests include art and culture, youth empowerment, community development,
dance, government and politics, gardening and traveling.
Rose Willock is now retired from Public Service but works in a freelance capacity. She is always willing to share her skills in broadcasting, journalism and media management.
Bajan
Occasion
Paid
tickets 3 weeks in advance
To
prevent a sad happenstance;
Night
before, the phone rings,
'Trouble
here,' the voice sings;
Assured
flight turn into 'Fat Chance!'
'Policy
Review'
When
'Labour Speaks' fails to be heard,
A
'trust us' is slightly absurd;
Right
out of the blue
Comes
a so-called review,
So
why had no notice occurred?
Jus wonderin since the MVO is now
charging for tours at their facility, what this "extra" revenue is
earmarked for, whether these fees going to help supplement the British payroll
for the staff at the MVO, or will it be spent in some way that will directly
benefit the people of Montserrat, or some sort of community efforts that will
benefit the people of Montserrat.
Jus
wonderin when de government a go tell de livestock owner dem fe tie dem animal.
Jus
wonderin about the female officer, when she a go stop pretending to be friendly
when she ain’t
Jus
wonderin about de husbands and wives dem when dem a go live in peace and
harmony.
Jus
wonderin who Lookout gal a use de church wid de man.
Jus
wonderin about Montserrat man an dem if dey not good enough for de work.
Jus
wonderin when HELP a go come.
Jus
wonderin who a coop who these days, de man or de woman.
Jus
wonderin why love and hate so alike.
Jus
wonderin why the non-government and we de people want to use the new PLM for one
wish bone
Jus
wonderin what this ting is wid young men want fe tek home older women, so who de
older women want fe cherish.
Jus
wonderin who a look out so much fe de pappy show man fo come back.
Jus
wonderin if looking is a crime what is hugging and kissing
Jus
wonderin when de fans a go cry out, we want more jokes.
Jus
wonderin when jus wonderin is gonna put a smile pan ebbry bady face
Jus
wonderin wha wrong with de wives mek dem need watchman.
Jus
wonderin about de bakery up north wha so speacial about dey.
Jus
wonderin when de hang-man a go hang up he rope and tie de knot.
Jus
wonderin wha wrong with the uniform women, de guards and de military and
para-military an dem, wha dey problem be.
Jus
wonderin if is public attention wha mek de officer do dat to she.
Jus
wonderin dat people don’t know who live in a wood house no play with matches.
Jus
wonderin if its really that hard for Montserratian why to get a job, and it so
easy for non Montserratians.
Jus
wonderin when the police goin take notice and mek dem young boys put light pan
de bikes dem.
Jus
wonderin if me mek up one joke who would laugh.
Jus
wonderin wey all dem cattle come from dat do awe so much trouble.
Jus
wonderin how some people drink booze so much and go work next day.
Jus
wonderin wha de prison officer see in dis officer from the other side and still
nar make de move.
Jus
wonderin if going get tough, what will happen to the rest of them.
Jus
wonderin why some of the government officials have to walk to work and why DFID
cannot buy then a vehicle.
Jus
wonderin wey all de good women gone.
Jus
wonderin if de fan, de young man and de officer, if dey buy Montserrat
Jus
wonderin when de lady who drive de reddish car a go make me look more often.
Jus
wonderin when jus wonderin a go put jus wonderin pan de hot line world wide!
Jus
Wonderin' why the Big Yellow Bus STILL remains a permanent scar on the landscape
in Salem.
Jus
Wonderin' if it has ministerial exemption or if they are just too
"chicken" to remove it.
Jus wonderin if its ture dey had to call back de retiree instead of giving de young man who have de experience and a degree a chance to turn de station around?
Jus wonderin if since April 2nd de country really only fu old people?
Jus wonderin if he lef Mongo Hill because he me want to go or if dem force he fu lef lek simple Simon?
Jus wonderin if de fatso on Mongo Hill causing so much problems dat de local staff say dey can't tek it no more?
Jus wonderin who gee dem so much power dat mek dem so spiteful?
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