CM Says He Can't Guarantee Total Airport Safety
By Merrick Andrews
Chief Minister John Osborne said despite the
debate over the safety of building an airport at Geralds, no expert in the world
can guarantee that any airport is immune to dangers.
“Do you know anybody who guarantee that you couldn’t have an accident on an
airport?” Mr. Osborne answered in response to a journalist’s question about
safety at a press conference Tuesday.
“They have massive airports in France. They
just had an accident on an airport in France with the Concorde. They couldn’t
guarantee that there wasn’t going to be an accident. So I don’t know anybody
who could guarantee that you would never have any accident on Montserrat
airport,” Mr. Osborne explained.
He added: “I don’t know if it is going to be
safe (airport at Geralds) under all conditions but don’t forget that we have
people who are responsible for aviation in the region and they too are not going
to agree for us to operate under conditions that are not safe.”
The Chief Minister noted that Montserrat is not
going to be the only airport in the world with a Twin Otter operation.
He said Minister of Communications and Works Dr.
Lowell Lewis is “not out of depth” when he told the public that the
Government is planning to add 200 metres to the 500-metre runway at Geralds.
Dr. Lewis, who was the Acting Chief Minister at
the time he made the comments to Observer Radio in Antigua, Radio Montserrat and
The Montserrat Reporter, had said the government is designing the airport at
Geralds in a way that the initially planned 500-metre runway can be extended to
at least an additional 200 metres in an effort to appease the fears of the
Montserrat public and to meet international regulations.
Dr. Lewis had said the government has identified
the additional land needed to lengthen the runway, which will cost about
EC$700,000.
Mr. Osborne continued to chastise the Committee
for the Redevelopment of Montserrat (CRM) for circulating “false information
to the public” through their paid-for message depicting the dangers of
building an airport at Geralds.
“When you are sending a message that we are
going to build an airport at Geralds and it is not going to be safe, you are
telling people even if you build an airport, not to come to Montserrat because
it is not going to be safe,” said Mr. Osborne.
He added: “So, I am fed up with the nonsense
that they are talking and if they had the money I wouldn’t mind because I
would support them, if they could tell me where the money is coming from to
build this longer strip down Old Quaw and Thatch Valley. Let them bring the
money and the Government will support them with it. They (CRM) are not talking
with money.”
In April, British consultant firm Halcrow and the
Montserrat government officials told a public meeting that preliminary studies
for the construction of an airport at Geralds are satisfactory.
Halcrow had said that all studies conducted on
Geralds were found to be favourable, which allows them to proceed to the design
stage and construction of a 500-metre runway.
Mr. Osborne said when he went to London recently
the Halcrow consultants found the independent study done by the UK-based Leading
Edge Aviation Planning Professionals and commissioned by the CRM to be
“totally incorrect”.
He said: ““When I went to London they (Halcrow)
had the report from the CRM on their desk. I don’t want to quote what they
said to me but they said there are one or two points that was raised that they
are going to look into but generally speaking the report was totally
incorrect.”
Mr. Osborne said the
“it would be a great embarrassment for the British Government” to go
and waste EC$40-odd million to build an airport that is not safe.
The budget for the Geralds airport construction
is EC$41.6 million, split into $18 million from the European Union and $23
million from the British Government. “I don’t believe that the European
Union, Germany, Holland, France and Italy, is going to give us money to build an
airport that is not going to be licensed and not going to be considered safe,”
the Chief Minister said.
He added: “I am convinced that the European
Union, with all the technology and the skills and expertise they have, must know
what they are doing much more than the CRM. I don’t know (from) which college
they learn about aircraft and where they went to get the expertise. I am
satisfied with what (the British) are doing because we are going to be better
off with an airport than not having an airport.”
He said Montserrat would benefit immensely from
an airport, regardless of where it is built, through the tourism industry.
He said: “I don’t care what they (CRM) say
after that. I have a responsibility to the people of Montserrat. We have to
develop tourism at any cost because I don’t see the industries that are coming
that will find employment for all our people. And we have to keep our people
here and try to bring back people to Montserrat; we have to have work for them
to do and so that they can earn an income and tourism is one of the areas that
we hope to develop to be able to assist us in that regard.
“The people who are going to license the
airport (are) not going to license the airport unless they are satisfied that
the operations are going to be safe, so this bothers me that all these expertise
in Montserrat – they have more expertise than the people who are going to
build the airport. They never built one, they have never been involved in the
airport, they are not pilots (and) they don’t know anything.”
Meade Faults Delay On Free Movement
By Merrick Andrews
Former Chief Minister Reuben Meade has expressed
concern that Montserrat has not tabled any legislation to facilitate the free
movement of people.
Free movement means people working in other Caribbean countries without a work
permit.
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) leaders, at their last summit,
had set a deadline of March 31 to bring legislation to national Parliaments to
facilitate the free movement of people.
However, British Overseas Territories Montserrat and Anguilla have not done so.
Mr. Meade said in a recent interview on Radio Montserrat (ZJB) that most member
states have tabled legislation in their Parliament.
Minister of Communications and Works Dr. Lowell Lewis, however, said the
Government of Montserrat is waiting for a directive from the British Government
before making any form of agreement.
“To date Montserrat has not even tabled any legislation with respect to the
freedom of movement of Caricom nationals,” said Mr. Meade. “The other
territories around us are making the moves but Montserrat has not done
anything.”
The ex-chief said: “There will be implications but as I said before planning
is essential in anything that we do. Now Montserrat has a population of about
4,000 to 5,000 people; what percentage of that comprise Caricom nationals?
"I would go so far as to say possibly as high as 50 percent of our
population constitutes other Caricom nationals. What are we afraid of?
Montserratians are willing to travel elsewhere, Montserratians are working in
Antigua and other parts of the region; why do we want to lock ourselves in on a
39-square-mile island?”
He also asked why Guyanese and Jamaicans are targeted and what happens when
Montserratians become targeted. “Remember,
of our population, the majority of those who were here in 1995 are migrants;
they have all moved off,” he noted. “Now what happens if the other places
decide, ok, look you Montserratian, you have to go back home?”
The Government, Mr. Meade said, needs to start creating employment through the
implementation of industries, “otherwise the things which we are fearing in
terms of crime rate and so forth will definitely go up”.
Dr. Lewis said that Montserrat is committed to free movement.
“Our Government is committed to participating in this regional program. We
just need to find a formula to assess a way that is acceptable to the British
Government.,” he said.
He added: “There will still be some form of regulations that any community is
entitled to impose to protect their local work market.
"I would like to think that we should look
at the positive effect of free movement. It means that we Montserratians can
invest in other islands; it means that we can go work in other islands. And I
don’t think it is fair for us to want to go and do that in other people’s
countries if we are not prepared to allow to them to do that in ours.”
On Saturday, June 1, the fee for extension of immigrant’s stay on Montserrat
was increased from EC$20 to EC$50, according to a press release from the Royal
Montserrat Police Force, which said the increase was in accordance with the
provisions of amendment to regulation No. 26 of the Immigration and Passport
(Amendment) regulations 199.
Police Say Prostitutes Less Visible in Salem
By Merrick Andrews
The police have observed that persons suspected
of practicing prostitution are not seen as often as before in Salem, according
to Commissioner of Police John Douglas.
He said he believes that the persons who mastermind prostitution in Salem have
taken the activity to other communities.
“What happens is that it seems as if they are sensitive now,” Commissioner
Douglas said Thursday. “Maybe they are operating differently.”
Salem, one of Montserrat’s first established towns, has been popular for the
illegal activity.
Reliable sources told the Montserrat Reporter that the prostitutes are seldom
operating in Salem due to the increased police presence around their
"business den" and the recent exposes in the media.
The source said the prostitutes are now using the phone and the Internet for
business.
“Clients who can’t use the Internet are at a disadvantage. They will have to
take computer classes or simply use the phone. But this can cost both parties.
Clients will have to call cell numbers very often and cellular rates are not
cheap. On the other hand, prostitutes use the call box and these cost precious
pennies,” the source explained.
Another source said the prostitutes are not getting strict, in terms of
transport.
“Prostitutes here now prefer to service clients with a vehicle. So you see
everything getting difficult. Even the poor man is going to suffer. And this
island is so small that is not everybody you can charter. People will always
talk your business,” the source notes.
Reports are that the prostitutes are now using Western Union to send money
overseas, because they are scrutinized when they leave the island with thousands
of dollars, having arrived with a couple hundred.
Although no arrests have been made the police are still keeping watch.
“The police are still carrying out surveillance,” said Commissioner Douglas.
Superintendent Paul Morris told The Montserrat Reporter earlier this year that,
“Prostitution is not unique to Montserrat, the Caribbean or any other place in
the world. It is widespread and we have to be sensitive about it. It is very
difficult at the moment to establish evidence that is needed to carry out
prosecutions.”
Sex from prostitution here reportedly costs between EC$80 and EC$300, or between
EC$200 and EC$500 to sleep over, The Reporter revealed in its March 8
issue.
“I haven’t seen them around for a long time,” said a regular customer, who
wants to know their new whereabouts. “They used to sit outside the place. Now
they are gone.”
"CM's
Dismissal of Airport Critics Is Just the Same Old Smokescreen"
Chief Minister Osborne’s most recent explosive
criticism of the Committee for the Redevelopment of Montserrat (CRM) and all
those who are determined to fight the construction of a 500-metre airport at
Geralds was nothing more than trying to convince the British Government that he
is no longer the man he was in the 1980s when they allowed him free rein.
Montserrat suffered then and they are suffering even more so now. It is a
getting-even period.
The problem is exacerbated when all that happens
is that civil servants on both fronts abuse the situation to their own pecuniary
benefit while the politicians continue to be hoodwinked into the most
transparent agendas.
Mr. Osborne knows very well that some of his own
ministers have said that they will not use a 500-metre facility at Geralds so of
course he supports, even if this once, Dr. Lowell Lewis’ efforts to provide an
additional 200 metres to a runway at Geralds.
Mr. Osborne knows quite well that it is his
Government that should seek the additional funds to construct an airport that is
suitable to the immediate and future development of Montserrat. By now he should
realize that he fools only himself when he vainly points to occasional accidents
on large airports in France, or any place else, which had nothing to do with the
inadequacy of the airport at which the accident occurred -- accidents caused by
equipment malfunction or human error. The comments he made in this regard only
humor stooges, and let’s hope he doesn’t think that's what all of us are.
The main bone of contention that CRM is putting
forward on behalf of the people of Montserrat is that a 500-metre runway at
Geralds is fraught with danger to lives and to the development of Montserrat. No
one has argued that we do not need an airport in the worst way.
The lack of one has been a major economic
deterrent and only aids the British civil servants’ plan to keep us in a state
of deprivation while some of them stuff their pockets. If this is a secret to
HMG ministers, it is not to ministers of our government, or to some of our civil
servants who aid and abet them along with a small fraction of our slick
entrepreneurs.
That Mr. Osborne sees fit to deplore the fact
that all that is available is $23 million, of which we have to give up $10
million slated for other projects, is part of his own despicable legacy of
subjecting us to begging or acquiescence. The problem is indeed being able to
guarantee that the licensing authority will certify a 500-metre Geralds airport
for Twin Otter or other commercial operations.
Mr. CM, the people of Montserrat do not expect
Halcrow to pass up $41.6 million when all they have to do is build a 500-metre
airport that has international facilities. Let them, however, answer the
question that they have been asked over and over again. “What
will happen if a Twin Otter taking off from Geralds loses an engine –
will it be able to abort safely without serious results?”.
Then, Mr. Osborne, ask about the types of
aircraft that operate at the airports where you say no one can guarantee that
there will be no accidents. What kind of accidents, sir?
No one disagrees with you that “Montserrat
would benefit immensely from an airport,” nor does anyone believe that the
European Union (EU) would finance an airport that cannot be licensed. The
question is, who is going to tell them that the airport is not going to be safe
and viable, the British Government and Halcrow?
And what sort of statement is “I have a
responsibility to the people of Montserrat…we have to develop tourism at any
cost.”
At any cost?
HMG’s lady in charge of DFID thought we wanted
golden elephants, but we got white elephants instead, even though in every case
we tried to tell them no. We would like to prevent any more. After all this
time, Mr. CM, what you should be guaranteeing us is the support and effort
necessary to ensure that we do not have dreaded accidents, including the
accident of ending up with an airport capable only of tiny aircraft unsuited to
any tourism development from which Montserrat could benefit.
No one is embarrassed when their goals are
achieved, no matter how deviously. Ask the British government to come up with
the $41 million, then take the $18 million from EU; squeeze the $10 million we
are supposed to sacrifice to make the $23 million they will put in, and there
will be no problem. Stop simply throwing up your hands in acquiescence and do
something, before this island dwindles to the 2,000 even some of your officials
tell us is the British-desired population necessary to make Montserrat fall
prostrate. Of course, they will go to any lengths to achieve that, even to
giving the Overseas Territories British citizenship. We will not forget that
they said it was Montserrat that encouraged the opening of their eyes to the
need of a “new partnership”
There cannot be any seriousness in the threat to
‘ban’ CRM as this would be trespassing seriously on ‘Freedom of Speech’
especially when it is to do with discussing matters of vital importance to this
country. But it is time to note that no one is pleased to learn that there is a refusal to
share information with ministers or caucus when our chief minister is going away
to represent this country.
Mr CM please abandon your refusal to share
information simply because you don’t believe the population need to know. It
is a right we have, not just to know what you want us to know.
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
or monrep@candw.ag. 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
HONORING OUR PARENTS
Read: Mark 7:1-13
Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord
your God has commanded you, that your days may be long.
-Deuteronomy 5:16
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Deuteronomy 7-9
The year was 1727.
The place was a small bookshop in Lichfield, England.
A man who kept bursting into violent fits of coughing was packing books
to sell in his market stall in Uttoxeter. Between
coughs he asked his 18-year-old son to take the books that day.
But the young man, deeply engrossed in the Latin classic he was reading,
heard him but ignored the request. The
stage coach arrived, and the father stepped out into the pouring rain with his
load of books to take the 20-mile ride to the market.
Fifty years later an elderly man stood for hours
in the pouring rain at a market stall in Uttoxeter. When the storm finally
subsided, he slowly walked back to a waiting carriage and returned home.
There he bowed his head and sobbed.
That man was the famous literary genius Samuel Johnson.
He was still haunted by the memory of what he did so long ago.
Honoring our parents is more than an obligation.
It's also a privilege. As
children we honor them by obedience; as adults, by frequent calls or visits and
self-sacrificing care. Missed
opportunities to show love and honor may bring deep regret years later.
The command is simple: "Honor your father
and your mother." And God always rewards obedience.
-HVL
Don't miss the opportunity
To honor and obey
The parents God has given you-
For they'll be gone someday.
-Sper
CHILDREN LET THEIR PARENTS DOWN
IF THEY FORGET WHO BROUGHT THEM UP.
On-line
Reader Abroad Stays Happily in Touch
Dear
Editor:
It
is very vital to me as a Montserratian away from home to be able to keep abreast
of the happenings there. I may be away but my heart and soul remain. I feel so
at home whenever I read the Montserrat Reporter; it just brings back the
memories of being under the Evergreen Tree on a Friday with all the trimmings of
a beautiful town, after just purchasing a paper outside the Walls' shop from
Miss Gwen shouting "paper, paper, paper." It is so easy to be left out
of what's happening simply by not knowing. I just want to say thank you to the
Montserrat Reporter for letting myself, along with the millions who log onto the
Internet, stay up to date of the happenings as they occur in Montserrat. Keep up
the good work and keep on REPORTING.
burks
1@hotmail.com
BOM to Begin
EC$6-million Long-term Mortgage Plan
The Bank of Montserrat (BOM) has launched a
$EC6-million long-term Home Mortgage Financing Plan, effective June 17, 2002.
The Board of Directors has approved the allocation of to assist with the
building or purchase of homes in the safe area. The mortgages will be at an
annual rate of 10.5 percent for a term of 20 years.
Chairman of the BOM D.R.V. (Frank) Edwards said in the announcement Thursday:
“This bold initiative is in the national interest and we might add that our
introductory rate is below those currently offered on the regional market.”
He said in making the contribution to redeveloping this society “we play our
role alongside the British Government, the Government of Montserrat, the Public
and Private Sectors.”
He added: “The Bank of Montserrat feels that providing housing continues to be
a priority in this development process. Reflective of this view, is the fact
that over 50 percent of our current loan portfolio is in medium-term mortgages.
We are a commercial bank funded by short-term deposits still operating with some
support from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. We are mindful of our
responsibility to depositors and aware of changing market factors.”
Two Resignations Rock Local Football Association
The Montserrat Football Association Inc. was
rocked by two recent resignations.
Public relations officer of the association James White Jr. confirmed that Paul
Morris resigned as coaching assistant of the men’s team and Ms. Melvina
Duberry resigned as Secretary Treasurer.
James White Jr, Paul Morris
Mr. Morris said he resigned because
of time constraints having to juggle his job as Superintendent of Police with
football, while Ms. Duberry said she stepped down for “personal reasons.”
She was administrative director before being nominated as secretary treasurer in
January 2001.
Mr. Morris, who was appointed technical director around the end of last year,
said his position was not clearly defined.
He resigned as coaching assistant rather than his appointed technical director.
“We didn’t fully define the role of what my responsibilities were and I take
some blame for that because I should have known what my role was. I thought I
would be initially made national coach but probably that wasn’t the case,”
he said.
However, sources close to the association said Mr. Morris stepped down because
the team he initially selected for the June 30 clash against hosts Bhutan was
not considered and he was not fully aware of what his true roles were as
technical director and assistant coach.
“He resigned because he thought it was unfair for the association not to use
his selection lineup,” the source said. “He thought that several of the men
should not have been dropped. He felt he was not given the autonomy to do his
job. And plus, he was not given the chance to become national coach.”
When quizzed about the matter, Mr. Morris said: “Certain things happened
within the men’s structure that…I think with integrity, couldn’t continue
to give the time I have been giving. Different people have different views and
different motivations for different players.”
In the meantime observers suggest that there seem to be more problems and issues
surrounding the affairs of the MFA than are being revealed at this time.
TV's Shaw Tells
Media Truth Will Always Win Out
Former
Cable News Network (CNN) anchor Bernard Shaw told participants at the recent
Caribbean Media Conference in Antigua that any government trying to control the
truth is a government for individuals – not for the people.
The conference ran from May 16 to 18
Mr. Shaw who delivered
his speech via videotape, added: “Any government afraid of the truth,
is a government afraid of the people. Fear of the people, fear of the people’s
right to know is government rigor mortis. The end will come, in time.”
Mr. Shaw, who was unable to make the conference, however reminded journalists at
the media conference that, “You who would seek and report the truth in the
name of the people’s “right to know”, must do your work fairly,
accurately, and balanced, with favour to none, and an open mind to all. Your
allegiance to one thing – truth – will determine the quality of your efforts
and the depth of your credibility. Credibility is all a journalist had… has…
and will ever have.”
Mr. Shaw who is perhaps best remembered for his cool and collected reporting for
CNN during the Gulf War, while bombs rained down on Baghdad added: “Truth
is invincible. In time, the biggest lie dies, and the liar comes to ashes.
“When people, when politicians, when special interests, governments or groups
attack journalists, denounce and criticize journalists, usually they are
reaching to the singeing… critical hot breath of attention… revelation…
truth. Those critical reactions must not be ignored nor belittled.”
The Conference, which was in its fifth
year, was hosted by the Observer Group and Observer 91.1 FM radio at the Jolly
Beach Resort. The Conference follows a commitment by media heads and
practitioners to meet on an annual basis to discuss issues affecting a Free
Press.
The Conference was boycotted by the Antiguan government pointing to the Observer
Group’s perceived involvement in a videotape scandal about Prime Minister
Lester Bird.
Mr. Bird turned down a personal invitation, promising to send his information
minister Mr. Guy Yearwood, who later turned down the invitation at the last
minute.
On the last day of the Conference, it was reported that Antigua did not sign the
Declaration of Chapultepec, a 10-point declaration based on the precept that no
law or act of government may limit freedom of expression of the press, whatever
the medium of communication.
However, days after the media conference, Mr. Bird surprised the regional media
fraternity by signing the Declaration.
The Conference attracted a wide
cross-section of media workers and students from the Caribbean, Europe and North
America.
The event took form the form of formal discussions by leading experts on the
theme: "Freedom of Expression: Access, Content and Technology",
workshops, cultural performances and a technology exhibition. The Inter-American
Press Association, based in Miami, Florida, will present a National Forum on the
Declaration of Chapultepec in the English-speaking Caribbean.
The conference was held in collaboration with World Press Freedom Day (May 3)
and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO).
Three media practitioners on Montserrat attended
the Caribbean Media Conference: Mr. Bennette Roach and Mr. Merrick Andrews,
Editor and Journalist respectively of The Montserrat Reporter, and Mr. John
Silcott, owner of Silcomm Engineering Ltd and Family Radio.
Mr. Silcott’s Silcomm Engineering, an
engineering and consultancy company, was one of several Case Studies at the
Conference.
Silcomm Engineering offers installation and configuration of satellite earth
stations for telephone and Internet services and also the installation and
automation of FM radio stations and two-way mobile communications systems, among
other business services.
Mr. Andrews, as a representative from Montserrat, jointly launched the Caribbean
Media Network web site www.caribbean-media.net
with Ms. Marlene Davis, Managing Director of Go-Jamaica Online, facilitators of
the site, which serves as a communications point for Caribbean journalists.
Governor Longrigg Names Another Attorney General
Mr.
Philip St. John-Stevens, an Englishman, has been sworn in as the island’s
Attorney General, according to a Government House press release.
Mr. St. John-Stevens’ appointment, which is a temporary one, began on June 6.
He will serve in that position for the next three months.
Mr. St. John-Stevens, who is assuming the post of Attorney General for the first
time, said he practices both as a barrister-at-law privately and part-time judge
in the United Kingdom (UK).
He has also had similar stints in the Cayman Islands.
Mr. John-Stevens said his wife and two boys, ages 4 and 6, are scheduled to join
him in Montserrat within the next three weeks.
He comments about his first time on the island:
“My first impression of Montserrat is that the people are helpful.”
He takes over from Mr. Charles Akins, who also held the post temporarily, from
March 26 for six weeks.
Mr. Ekins had served as Attorney General for two years before he was succeeded
by Mr. Brian Cottle, who resigned earlier this year after statements that
members of the government were no longer prepared to work with him.
10 Catholic Children Take 1st Communion
Ten children of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC)
on Montserrat between the ages of 7 to 12 received their first Holy Communion
two Sundays ago on the feast of Corpus Christi.
The Mass started with a procession around the church to celebrate the feast of
Corpus Christi, which is significant to First Holy Communion as the children
received the body and blood of Jesus for the first time.
The young people of the parish led the singing during the Mass for the occasion.
The children received a certicate, a Mass book and a pin as a memento of their
first receiving of the body and blood of Jesus.
They were Ronald Samuel, Ron Samuel, Lee-Ann Wade, Shennise Roache, Clarise
Roache, Theron Silcott, Felixia George, Kurt Lee, Lynwal Cassell and Terri
O’Garro.
Twenty-one
years after the signing of the Treaty of Basseterre which created the
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Heads of Government of the sub-region
return to the St. Kitts/Nevis capital on the June 18th anniversary,
to commemorate the "coming of age" of their Organisation.
The
highpoint of the anniversary celebrations will be an official ceremony at the
Eastern Caribbean Central Bank's Auditorium from 5:00 pm at which presentations
will be made by the outgoing OECS Chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas of
St. Kitts/Nevis, the incoming Chairman, Chief Minister John Osborne of
Montserrat, and the Acting OECS Director General Mr. George Goodwin.
A
special presentation will be made by the Prime Minister of Antigua/Barbuda Mr.
Lester Bird, the only signatory to the Treaty twenty-one years ago, who is still
in office.
Besides
Prime Minister Bird, the other signatories were Prime Minister Eugenia Charles
for Dominica, Prime Minister Maurice Bishop for Grenada, Minister Franklyn
Margetson for Montserrat, Prime Minister Winston Cenac for St. Lucia, Deputy
Prime Minister Hudson Tannis for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the host,
Premier Dr. Kennedy Simmonds for St. Kitts/Nevis.
(Anguilla
and the British Virgin Islands joined later as associated Member States)
The
official ceremony will be followed by a reception at the Governor General's
residence which will feature cultural presentations from OECS Member States.
The
anniversary activities continue in Basseterre until the 20th with a joint
exhibition by the ECCB and the OECS Secretariat which will feature the work of
the two institutions over their respective life-spans.
Heads
of the nine Member States and their delegations will spend the 19th
and 20th at the 36th meeting of the OECS Authority - their bi-annual Summit, at
which discussions will focus on wide ranging issues aimed at deepening the
regional integration movement.
Celebrations
for the 21st anniversary will also be held in Dominica where the Roseau-based
OECS Export Development Unit (EDU) will host an exhibition entitled "A
showcase of OECS Products", at the new Financial center. It opens at 10:00
am on the 18th and continues until Friday 21st.
Displays
will depict a variety of products manufactured in the OECS member countries ,
representing the sectors of Light manufacturing, Agro-processing, Rum, Arts
& Crafts, Food and Beverage, Furniture
(the wood sector) and others. The Dominica Export Import Agency (DEXIA)
will mount "A Fresh Produce Corner" to represent flowers
fruit and vegetables items available and exportable within
the OECS. More than fifty companies have already registered for the
exhibition.
The
activities will also extend to St. Lucia - home of the OECS Secretariat, where a
twenty-first anniversary awards
ceremony and dinner will be held on Sunday June 23rd.
BVI
Environment Month Features Erosion Workshop
ROAD
TOWN, Tortola -- A workshop on Erosion and Sediment Control in Construction and
Development on June 21 will form part
of activities for Environment Month in the British Virgin Islands.
A
local NGO called Island Erosion will host the event at the Community College
with full backing from the government’s Conservation and Fisheries Department.
Environment
Education Officer Lynda Varlack said the support is part of her department’s
bid to draw attention to the work of local groups in the area of environmental
management.
Topics
to be discussed include Planning in the BVI, Construction Issues and Solutions, a panel discussion, and a site visit to the new Marine
Studies Centre.
Tim
Peck, President of Island Erosion, said good attendance is anticipated from
government agencies such as Public Works, Conservation and Fisheries, and the
Ministry of Communications and Works. Private individuals are also expected to
participate.
BVI
CM O'Neal Opens New Beef Island Bridge
ROAD TOWN, Tortola --
Chief Minister Ralph T. O’Neal officially opened the New Beef Island Bridge on
Monday, saying, “We have learnt many lessons in dealing with this bridge and
it is left for us to use those lessons for our edification.”
“I have lived with
fear that the old bridge was going to collapse, and when I heard about the
disaster in Arkansas with a bridge collapsing there, this heightened my
fears,” Mr. O’Neal said.
He commended Minister
for Communications and Works Julian Fraser for its speedy completion and urged
the public to use the bridge with a sense of pride and appreciation.
The double lane bridge
was designed by Tony Gee Partnership and built by Samuel S. Conde and Associates
BVI Ltd.
Jamaica's Drug Fight Begins to Yield Results
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Efforts by the Government of
Jamaica to fight the illegal drug trade are yielding significant results, with
more than 29 smugglers nabbed at the island’s two international airports
between June 1 and June 9.
The smugglers were detected through the latest measure by the Government to
fight the drug trade – the use of IonScan machines at the island’s two
international airports, Norman Manley in Kingston, and Sangster in Montego Bay.
Acquired from the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US), the high
technology equipment is used to scan outgoing airline passengers for narcotics.
The four machines were installed on June 1.
Head of the Narcotics Divison, Senior Superintendent Carl Williams, told JIS
News that the IonScans effectively identify any person who has swallowed, used
or has been in contact with drugs or explosives.
“These machines are very
effective, in that it takes the guesswork out of the detection process,” Mr.
Williams said.
The installation of the machines is part of a slew of measures being implemented
by the Government to cut down on the transshipment of drugs, especially cocaine,
which National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, has consistently
maintained is at the root of the country’s crime problem.
Jamaica Receives Offer For 4th Cellular Licence
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The government is
seeking to expand the market for mobile telecommunication in Jamaica and had
received one offer for its auction of a fourth cellular licence at the deadline
for submission of bids on June 7.
Although the name of the tender and the bidding price were ordered not to be
revealed, it was inadvertently revealed to be AT&T. The document showed the
company’s bidding price was below the government’s reserve price of
J$725,425,500 and that it was up to the government to decide how it would
respond to the offer.
The tender will be assessed by an evaluation team and a report on the level of
compliance with the necessary criteria by the applicant would be submitted to
the government within two-weeks.
Trinidadian Seeks Greater Aid to Tertiary Education
Compiled from news dispatches
Trinidadian entrepreneur Arthur Lok Jack has
called on Governments across the region to dedicate more resources to the
education sector, with emphasis placed on tertiary education.
Arguing that an educated population was essential to achieving economic
development, Mr. Lok Jack noted that while 70 percent of young people in
developed countries attended a college or university each year, only about 8
percent of youth in countries across the region received tertiary education each
year.
“The amount of the gross domestic product (GDP) spent on education is
ridiculous. More money needs to be spent to build universities as a mainstay for
the future,” he stated.
Mr. Lok Jack was speaking at the annual dinner and awards function of the
Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) held yesterday, June 7 at the Hilton Kingston
hotel.
Journalist Hugh Crosskill Jr. Shot Dead by Security Guard
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Hugh Crosskill Jr., 47, a
former General Manager of Radio Jamaica Ltd., was fatally shot last Friday
during a struggle at a medical clinic with a security guard who is attached to
Superior Security Company Ltd.
The guard reported that he was pulling Mr. Crosskill from the premises when a
struggle developed and his firearm went off.
Mr. Crosskill who was shot in the chest was later pronounced dead at hospital.
A preliminary report on the shooting has been sent to the Director of Public
Prosecutions, DPP
Police
said the security guard involved in the shooting will remain in custody pending
the outcome of further investigations into the incident. His firearm has been
sent to the Government's Forensic Laboratory for testing.
Mr. Crosskill first entered the world of media at age 18 as a sportscaster at
the then Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation.
In 1983, the Caribbean News Agency, in an attempt to provide news to the
electronic media, appointed him to establish and head CanaRadio based in
Barbados.
Five years later the prestigious British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
recruited him to head and bring new life to its Caribbean Service. It was at the
BBC that Mr. Crosskill made his true mark on journalism and broadcasting. The
flagship programme, BBC Caribbean Report, produced in London, became the source
for information on the Caribbean, demonstrating not only the power and influence
of the metropolis but also Mr. Crosskill's abilities as a journalist.
Montserrat Cricketers Start Well Against Nevis
By Merrick Andrews
Montserrat made a reasonable start to their
Leeward Islands cricket match against hosts Nevis on Thursday.
Montserrat was on 197 for seven at the close of play, with Mark Stephanie 63 and
Lionel Baker 7, as the not out batsmen.
Earlier on, Trevor Semper and vice captain Zhuan Sweeney were dismissed for 43
and 26 respectively.
Lionel Baker, Zhuan Sweeney
Montserrat is still reeling from their three-wicket loss to hosts Anguilla last
week, which dampened their chances of success in the three-day matches. They
drew their first encounter with St. Kitts at home.
In the Anguilla encounter, Montserrat took first strike and made 232, with
Sylvester Greenaway (59), Zhuan Sweeney (41) and Tyrone Greenaway (36) as their
top batsmen.
Anguilla replied with 125 all out. Lionel Baker snared an impressive 4 for 46,
with support from Dereck Levi 3 for 25 and Mark Stephanie 2 for 3.
Montserrat garnered 139 in their second innings with Zhuan Sweeney continuing
his good form with a cool 53.
However, Anguilla replied with 247 for 7 to dent their hopes.
Montserrat rebounded to win the one-day match – their second since the start
of the competition. The first was achieved from St. Kitts at home.
Montserrat won the one-day match by six wickets.
Anguilla had made the first strike, eventually making 212.
Montserrat replied with a superb 215 for four to cap victory with Zhuan Sweeney
(88) and Mark Stephanie (44) as the not out batsmen.
Vice President of the Montserrat Cricket Association Roy Greaves said he was
disappointed by the teams overall performance so far. He pointed out that
Montserrat should have won the three-day match against Anguilla. “[Their
performance} is not as good as expected after the extremely hard work being put
in preparation of the team,” he said.
In regards to the three-day match against Anguilla, he said: “It was for them
to swallow. It was already in their mouth.”
Football Association Selects Final Team to Go to Bhutan
The Montserrat Football Association Inc. has
named the final squad to travel to Bhutan.
The 14-man squad includes four United Kingdom-based players, Shane Greenaway,
Paul Lynch, Ashton Buffonge and Fladimir Farrell.
The local men are: Captain Charles Thompson, Ottley Laborde, Joseph Morris,
Clayton O’Donaghue, Kurt Phyll, Willix Antoine, Cecil Lake, Marcelin Cassell,
Kelvin Ponde, David James, Elton Williams and Krenston Buffonge.
The team was selected from a 22-man trial squad.
The team is scheduled to leave mid-week next week to allow for acclimatization
and match practice in Bhutan, before their friendly on June 30.
Public relations officer James White Jr. denied allegations that the team was
selected because of favouritism from within the association. “You are going to
have people say different things. The teams were selected based on performance
and the different positions. I would say that’s fair. It’s a mixture of
youth and experience.”
Five officials will accompany the players: Mr. William Lewis (coach), Mr. Claude
Hogan (team manager), Dr. Sonja Meade (physician), Ms. Carol Milne (in charge of
equipment), and Mrs. Rosemary Cassell (physiotherapist).
Former official Paul Morris gave his best wishes to the team. “I wish
everybody involved with the Bhutan trip every success because it is a massive
opportunity, not only for football but also for Montserrat. I would love them to
go there and do as well as they can and hopefully come back with a win. I would
love that.”
Meade Pulls Out Of Tour to Nevis
One of Montserrat’s top players, all-rounder
McPherson Meade, has pulled out of the team’s tour to Nevis, but Montserrat
cricket officials have not disclosed why, even despite repeated queries from
callers.on the radio cricket commentary programme on Wednesday night. Vice
President of the Montserrat Cricket Association Mr. Roy Greaves said: “He’s
unavailable to make that tour (in Nevis). The exact specific (reasons) I am not
certain.”
Mr. Greaves denied that Meade pulled from the team to concentrate on the
football tour to Bhutan.He was not selected for the final team.
MABA Names 24 To Training Squad
The Montserrat Amateur Basketball Association
(MABA) has named the training squad for the national side to attend the Leeward
Islands tournament in Antigua from July 17 to 22.
The players are: Holoron Bobb, Bevon Greenaway, Theodore White, Gilmore
Williams, Nigel Kelly, Noel Weekes, Astrid Wade, Elbert Aaron, Vacheal Murraine,
Andre West, Jermaine John, Rudolph Lee, Kwasi Ryan, Edmond O’Garro, Roland
Irish, George Green, Crenston Buffonge, Alton Hixon, Percy Roach, Dave Silcott,
Daren O’Garro, Jenzil Skerritt, Kenvil Ponde and Thomas Tuitt.
Half of this lineup will be selected for the final squad. Four officials will
accompany the team.
The tournament was originally set to begin in the British Virgin Islands (BVI),
but was postponed because of financial problems.
Pitbulls
won two matches against Fire to successfully defend their League title in the
Montserrat Amateur Basketball Association (MABA) competition at Brades last
weekend.
By virtue of winning the first two matches, Pitbulls did not have to play a
third to make it a best-of-three finals.
They won the first match 71-65 on Saturday, June 8, and took the second match
the following day 66-59.
Rebels won third place.
LEGENDS,
CHAMPIONS AND WINNERS
By Peter
Adrien
Sports differentiates between legends, champions
and winners. It separates the gladiator from the competitor. Yes, sports
separates the performers in accordance with their rise and fall, their successes
and failures and the prowess and endurance, but perpetuates the legacy of
excellence by separating the base metals from those which are tried, tested and
purified in the crucible of persistent fiery contests and competitions.
Since the beginning of the second quarter of
2002, boxing, soccer, basketball, lawn tennis and cricket have blessed us with
our heroes and sheroes; legends and champions; and victors and frontrunners.
First,
Serena Williams proved her championship worth, and together with her sister,
Venus, they established themselves as champions in women’s lawn tennis at the
French Open. Serena proved her championship mettle in the 2002 Roland Garros
with extraordinary craft in lawn tennis. She defeated her sister Venus, the
other proven champion in the women’s category. In the first sister-sister
final in Roland Garros history on June 8, 2002, Serena fought like a tigress.
But she was far more creative, consistent, powerful, and self confident than her
usually poised and graceful sister. Venus came into the match with a 5-2 record
against Serena, but was unable to produce the smart, authoritative tennis that
has made her the more successful sibling.
Some argue that the young gladiator may have
taken advantage of her sister’s emotional frailty for her even when she is
whipping her. The champion player exclaimed: "I'm very, very happy to win
another Grand Slam because I was fighting for so long." Serena’s only
other Slam title came at the 1999 U.S. Open. But the Williams sisters have now
won three out of the last four Grand Slams and six out of the last 11. Without
question, they are the most fearsome family in the sport, and history will
record them as the pathfinders of modern women’s lawn tennis. Serena is now
ranked number two behind number one Venus.
Second, the British/Jamaican/Canadian boxer, the
incomparable craftsman, showman, and dramatist, Lennox Lewis, was immortalised
on Saturday night June 8, 2002 at Memphis, Tennessee. Lennox Lewis became the
undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and the incomparable boxer of
modern times (having beaten all his opponents) when he stopped Mike Tyson at
2:25 minutes of the eighth round with a left uppercut and a right hand behind it
that drove him to the canvass. The three-time heavyweight champion jumped all
over the badly beaten Tyson, slamming a right cross to the jaw that snapped
Tyson's head and sent him collapsing onto his back.
The blow, the definitive one of the many jabs and
uppercuts that he suffered, left Tyson's face in a bloody mess and rendered the
iron champion a badly bruised boxer who appeared incapable of defending himself.
There was no iron left in Mike Tyson and no intimidation from him. There was
only the battered face of a man who had been dominated from the second round
Lewis may have been methodical as a craftsman,
but he showed no evident feelings for Tyson, beating him to a pulp until he left
him with his head pinned to the floor in Lewis's corner as the crowd of 15,327
roared wildly. And Lewis was correct: "This was my defining fight. People
had to see me against Mike Tyson before they believed that I was the best
fighter on the planet. It's been a great, long road and I've finally completed
what I wanted to do. I'm just glad I was able to come through.”
The boxing fraternity would not rightly or
wrongly consider Lewis, the most technical and clinical boxer in the heavyweight
division, as a great boxer until he fought and dominated
the American Tyson, even if he had dominated all his contenders including
American Evander Holyfield. Tyson, however, was intelligent enough to tell the
world: "He was splendid, a masterful boxer. He's a magnificent, prolific
fighter."
Third, World Cup Soccer, the pinnacle of
international soccer – the forum for admission and rejection of the tried and
proven – has witnessed the coming of age of certain competitive nations, the
birth of champions, and the displacement of erstwhile hegemonic powers. The
tournament has so far witnessed a number of surprises and great upsets –
Senegal beat France, United States whipped Portugal, Japan defeated Croatia. The
biggest upset was the Republic of Korea’s 2-0 victory over the heavyweight
Poland in front of an incredible sea of scarlet supporters, giving the Asians
their first FIFA World Cup victory on their 15th attempt. By Wednesday June 12,
two former champion teams, France and Argentina, were already sent packing. How
the mighty have fallen?
Fourth, the world of cricket is witnessing the
rebirth of the West Indies cricket team, after a prolonged period of torture,
pain and grief, heartaches that sometimes resulted in premature death, increased
stress, and lower output and decreased self-esteem.
In the second and third ODIs, West Indies cruised
to a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand with 10 overs to spare in the third
game, surpassing their 210 for seven in the second game also at the Bonsejour
Stadium, St Lucia. They lost the fourth game by 10 runs on Wednesday June 12,
chasing 212 runs scored by New Zealand in 44.2 overs. But when one considers
that the D/L Method required them to score 212 runs from only 33 overs, he is
likely to be less punitive for the middle order collapse which exacerbated the
steep run chase. The team’s posture suggests that it will be back for the
final game in St Vincent this weekend.
Carl Hooper and his team are showing what they
have learnt from the long period of drought spanning more than one decade. The
team has been on the incline since the series against India and some of the
performances have been clinical. With Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the opening
spot, they seem definitely on course to the making of competitive team for the
2003 World Cup. But they are winners, not yet champions, and certainly not yet
legends.
Fifth, the Los Angeles Lakers, driven by
Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, have proven their championship material by
wining the National Basketball Association’s Finals for the third consecutive
time, beating the New Jersey Nets four games to nil (clean sweep) on Wednesday
June 12. They are a champion team, coached by a champion coach, led by two
champion players. Bravo! They were fascinating!
But sports have given us our worthy champions and
legends (in lawn tennis, boxing and basketball) and our winners (in soccer and
cricket).
Peter
Adrien is a Central Banker, an author, a syndicated sports commentator, and a
freelance photographer. He may be contacted Peter at e-mail: Adriens@caribsurf.com
or visit his website www.adriensenterprises.com
PHOTO
CAPTION: Serena Williams, a true
champion (Photo: Internet)
Netball to Return To Island in July
A ferry load of members of the Antigua &
Barbuda Netball Association (ABNA) will arrive on Montserrat to play exhibition
matches at the Brades Netball court.
The visit is organized by the Pacesetters Sports & Cultural Club, which
invited the ABNA to come to Montserrat.
The visitors are expected to play three exhibition matches. The first will see a
select visitors’ team against a Montserrat squad, followed by an exhibition
match of the Antigua Men’s League.
The final match will see the Antigua National team compete against each other as
they prepare for this year’s Caribbean Tournament, which will be held in
Antigua in August.
According to Ms. Rachel Collis, founder and interim president of the
Pacesetters, the invitation was issued out of the Club’s concern that netball
was no longer being played on the island on a competitive basis.
Ms. Collis said that there was a lot to be gained by women in sports these days
that it was unfortunate that young girls on the island were not in a position to
reap these benefits.
She added that Montserrat’s legacy of netball was too rich for the present
situations to continue, and she is hoping that the visit of the ABNA would
rekindle the island’s love for the sport.
She is appealing to the public to give the visitors a hearty Montserrat welcome.
The Ministry of Communications and Works, the Office of the Chief Minister and
the Sports Department are supporting the visit.
Lewis
Will Consider Rematch with Tyson
Compiled from news dispatches
New heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis has
said he will consider Mike Tyson’s call for a rematch.
Lewis recorded a superb victory over Tyson to retain his world crown in Memphis,
Tennessee, on Saturday.
Tyson asked Lewis for another shot at the title following Saturday's bout, and
the 36-year-old Briton said it is not out of the question, despite his
comfortable win.
"I will definitely consider a rematch. It's possible. Anything is
possible," Lewis said.
The British fighter won their long-awaited title bout with a stoppage in round
eight. Lewis produced his best form to see off the former champion and in doing
so confirmed his status as one of the great modern heavyweights. He finished the
contest two minutes and 25 seconds into the eighth with a withering right hook
that put Tyson flat on his back.
However, Tyson has still not decided whether he will carry on fighting after
finding himself second best in Memphis.
"I might just fade into oblivion," Tyson said. "I'm just
fortunate Lewis didn't kill me in there. I don't know if I can ever beat him if
he fights like that.
"I might just to go New York and feed my pigeons on the roof."
Emanuel Steward, Lewis' trainer, sees no reason for the two fighters to come
face-to-face for a second time after Lewis left no doubt who was the better
fighter.
"For Lennox it was like a man playing with a boy," he said. "He
just did what he wanted. It was one of the most systematic beatings I've ever
seen a heavyweight take."
Tyson's manager Shelly Finkel is believed to be keen for Tyson to hang up his
gloves after admitting he knew the 35-year-old was a beaten man early on.
"I knew from the fourth round onwards that Mike would get knocked
out," Finkel said.
Should Lewis continue he will have to meet American Chris Byrd next or face
losing his IBF version of the world heavyweight title.
Lennox Lewis believes that knocking out Mike Tyson in eight rounds is his
"defining" victory.
The heavyweight champion battered Tyson for the majority of the contest and the
fight ended when the former champion failed to rise from a second knockdown.
Tyson was generous in his tribute for Lewis. "He was splendid, a masterful
boxer," Tyson said. "He's a magnificent, prolific fighter." Lewis
said that experience was one of the factors that allowed him to dominate Tyson.
"I've been in this game for such a long time - I'm a seasoned professional.
"I realised he wasn't able to get out of the
way of my jab. In this fight, my jab definitely paid off.
"Basically, it's difficult to be aggressive against me."
Lewis conceded there was a "possibility" he may retire now, but he
said that he just wanted to enjoy the victory and rest for a few weeks. He also
revealed that he had broken his hand during the fight.
Some
Tourism Acronyms and What They Mean
WTO –
World Tourism Organization is the
leading international organization in the field of travel and tourism.
It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical
source of tourism know-how.
WTO’s membership includes 139 countries and
territories and more than 350 Affiliate Members representing local government,
tourism associations and private sector companies including airlines, hotel
groups and tour operators.
CTO –
The Caribbean Tourism Organization is
the region’s development agency comprising 32 member governments and a myriad
of private sector companies with headquarters in Barbados and marketing
operations in New York, London and Toronto.
The CTO’s primary objective is to provide, to
and through its members, the services and information needed for the development
of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the Caribbean
people. The organization provides
specialized support and technical assistance to member countries in the areas of
marketing, human resource development, research and statistics and sustainable
tourism development.
CHA –
The Caribbean Hotel Association is a
federation of 35 national hotel associations, from Bermuda in the north to
Guyana in the south and from Barbados in the east to Mexico and Belize in the
West.
More than 1,000 member hotels represent 110,000+
rooms, from the small guest houses to the mega resorts.
The allied members: airlines, trade, and consumer press, hotel and
restaurant suppliers, among many, account for more than 700 members.
Their mission is to achieve excellence in
hospitality; leadership in marketing, and sustainable growth in tourism, for the
benefit of CHA's members and the wider Caribbean community.
CTCP –
The Caribbean
Tourism Credentialing Program is a three-year regional project, jointly
funded by the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) of the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA).
Its overall objective is to increase the
international competitiveness of the hospitality and tourism workforce in the
Caribbean by developing a regional credentialing system.
The project will establish linkages with other entities/projects focusing
on Human Resource
Development in the hospitality and tourism arena
and will depend on significant input from the national hotel and tourism
associations in the beneficiary countries.
Sports Tourism: A Lifeline for Montserrat’s Economy?
By
Rachel Collis
When
times are good, people spend money. As proof of this, look at the impact of the
2000 Olympic Games on the Australian economy. The games lasted 16 days and left
Australia $6.5 billion richer, an amount which represents 1.6 percent of the
Australian Gross Domestic Product. It was forecast that a spending boom in
Australia, which started around 1994 following the announcement that Sydney
would host the Olympics, would continue until 2006.
Last September 11 has called for a revision in
this prediction. However, it is now widely accepted that as long as sporting
events are held and hold out the promise for travel and the excitement and
thrill of athletic prowess and national pride, opportunities will present
themselves for economic growth in tourism via sport.
Montserrat, small population and all, has enjoyed
its memorable moments. Regional and international events
held here have boosted the economy through the income earned from visitors
arriving at our ports to the departure tax they pay when they leave. The most
recent activity has been the arrival of South Africa to play cricket here. The
organization and preparation that went into their short visit were fine moments
for sports tourism. According to the Montserrat
Reporter of 20 April, 2001, the “event undoubtedly was
a gigantic boost for the island’s tourism industry” as hundreds of
cricketers and fans arrived on Montserrat for the historical occasion. This
event, maybe more than any other, did wonders in helping to counter the negative
publicity which the island was receiving because of ongoing volcanic activity.
Previous events, such as the Leeward Islands
Basketball Tournament held here in 1991 and the Caribbean Netball Championships
in 1993, did wonders for our economy.
They involved hundreds of young athletes, plus their team officials and
supporters, spending a week or two of having fun, competing and spending money,
purchasing souvenirs, clothing, arts and crafts; staying in hotels and guest
houses; hiring buses and taxis; buying food from supermarkets, to name a few
beneficiaries.
The football field being constructed at Blake’s
holds out the promise of a return to this type of activity.
A well-built and properly managed facility will encourage the arrival of
teams wishing to compete or sharpen up their competitive skills in a
user-friendly environment.
As a cricket field, Salem Park is getting the job
done, given our ongoing distress. However, were we seriously thinking of hosting
cricket teams as a profitable venture, there is definite need for new facilities
that would meet the required standards.
Without a major industry to boast about, we
should be positioning ourselves to offer what should become one of our strongest
assets – our people, selling the peace and tranquility of our island, where
safety is 100-percent guaranteed. In order to market this perception, strong
emphasis must be placed on the development of adequate facilities, proper
transport access, and improved service quality.
As an example, the Government of Ontario in
Canada, recognizing the strong importance of sport tourism to the province’s
economy, has devised a marketing strategy for sporting events which is strongly
associated with arts and cultural events. For the next five years it plans to
spend over $300 million Canadian to improve and expand sport, cultural and
tourism facilities, and build new ones.
Sport and event marketing is a vital component of
today’s economy. Many countries and private organizations are seeking
out professionally educated marketing specialists to design and implement
profit-making and customer-driven sports programmes. In the U.S. some 200,000
jobs, which represent 12 percent of all new jobs created each year in the U.S.,
are in the leisure and recreation industries.
These jobs combine sporting activities with arts and festivals events.
The NBA All-Star Weekend, which highlights exhibitions, cultural shows and live
entertainment, along with the actual playing of basketball, is a prime example.
For sporting events to be regarded as
money-making activities, they must be organized and managed by personnel trained
in that undertaking. The large profit margins which these events can generate
dictate that changes must be made in our management structure. The hosting of
regional and international sporting events means the arrival of visitors to the
island. This is tourism. The
successful merger of both is sport tourism, an area which holds out much promise
for exciting as well as prosperous times for Montserrat.
A strong sport tourism policy for Montserrat
would help to support additional jobs in this area. It would create household
income in salaries and wages which would form a significant part of the national
GDP. It would add hundreds of thousands of dollars as tax revenues, which could
over a short time equal or rival the budget allocation for an entire government
ministry for that same period.
Planning for the implementation of such a policy
must address issues relating to the provision of suitable access transport and
the preparation of adequate facilities. In
this modern era, when sport is big business, Montserrat could do well to
consider it as an answer to some of its economic problems.
Rachel Collis holds a Master’s Degree in
Tourism Management and Administration.
True or False?
'You people must simply agree,'
Says the CM. 'Why can't you see?'
'There's just one airport view
'You can trust to be true,
'And that's the one coming from me.'
Sign of Recovery
For economic malcontents
The news should have great resonance;
Our bank will now start lending
To those intent on spending
To buy or build a residence.
Jus wonderin which of the
spouses showed-off the nude photo of the pretty lady and what was gained
by it.
Jus wonderin if his his toe was really broken
Jus wonderin if they don’t know that the truth
would cone out.
Jus wonderin if there is an attempt to destroy
someone now.
Jus wonderin why de cable worker no pay back de
teacher from Lookout de (black used) money that he owe her.
Jus wonderin why when people owe, dey don't want
to pay back.
Jus wondering if all battered people report it
now.
Jus wonderin if he promised to do better this
time.
Jus wonderin if they don't think that Police
Officers are human beings too.
Jus wonderin why de Force is so tensed now.
Jus wonderin who would be the favorites for the
promotions.
Jus wonderin if a man don't have the right to
defend himself.
Jus wonderin who trying to prove British right to
say that a black man could never be in charge for too long.
Jus wonderin who is seeking revenge.
Jus wonderin who de worker is dat sabotage de
game.
Jus wonderin if it is because the beach
‘fete’ was too demanding.
Jus wonderin how dem rum man get loved so.
Jus wonderin why de young men dem a drink rum so
though.
Jus wonderin how as soon as
get told to go out de house them say England bound.
Jus wonderin if the saying that the world is
round and everything goes around it too.
Jus wonderin why people don't come together and
stop de lies and ting.
Jus wonderin how this week readers a go feel when
reading Jus wonderin.
Jus wonderin if the truth would hurt real bad.
Jus wonderin who get the high fall.
Jus wonderin if the public losing all respect for
de super now.
Jus wonderin what
really went on at the party.
Jus wonderin who was nuding and with who at de
party.
Jus wonderin why de civil servant upset because
she cannot use the Internet at work.
Jus wonderin if dey really miss de Guest book and
why.
Jus wonderin if it is dem dat cause it not there
any more.
Jus wonderin who boasting off with dem hickey now
a days.
Jus wonderin what does go on at the basketball
court.
Jus wonderin if it is true what de chief say dat
we memory short.
Jus wonderin who dem men be when dey tell women I
love you, dey mean " A gat you, a fool you"
Jus wonderin who de evil ones are?
Jus wonderin if we don't realize that life is too
short, so the hatred, cursing, lying, backbiting and so on is not healthy.
Jus wonderin why de challenge for CRM find money
– they trying to make sure we no responsible fu build airport dat might kill
people.
Jus wonderin why dem want to build inadequate
airport that they have no plan to use when de plane come dey will use helicopter
at all a we expense on tap of it.
Jus wonderin who he tink he a fool now not even
he blind followers agree wid him.
Jus wonderin if de volcano will give us de break
soon to solve this money problem.
Jus wonderin who is de one that wishing bad for
me.
Jus wonderin if e don't know that when you dig a
pit, e must dig one for yourself.
Current Vacancies <--- Click Here
Current Ads and Notices <--- Click Here
Legal Notices <--- Click Here
Land Claims <--- Click Here
Forward all Questions, Comments and Suggestions to: editor@montserratreporter.org
This site is maintained by West Computer Works. Please read Disclaimer.