Organiser of the Paradise Regained Millennium Celebration 2000, Dr. Eddie Donoghue, has explained why three musicians billed to appear last week in concert at the Vue Point Hotel did not show up. He said it was because of news reports promulgated by Associated Press.

The three jazz musicians from the U.S. Virgin Islands were to back jazz vocalist, Miss Cynthia Saunders, also of St. Thomas. Miss Saunders appeared as advertised but sang with taped backing music instead of live music.

"There was an AP report which talked about the collapsing of the dome," said Dr. Donoghue. The report said the dome is ready to collapse into the volcano at any moment, and this would cause a huge ash fall which in turn could result in respiratory problems.

"That caused some great consternation among the musicians in St. Thomas, and among their families."

The musicians were apparently discussing the level of risk with their families when a second AP report was issued with similar content, so the trio cancelled their booking.

The three who did not show up were keyboard player, Louis Taylor; drummer Charles Lynch and bassist Vince Wallace.

Dr. Donoghue expressed regret that the three jazz artists did not appear, but said he was very happy to have other musicians to fill the bill (see Kathy Buffonge’s review).

"We were very happy to have the group from the States that did come," Dr. Donoghue stated.

He also promised that the AP reports won’t stop the cricket matches scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday. The MCC team from St. Thomas was already on the island Wednesday, and were practising diligently. Dr. Donoghue said the Virgin Isles team has been boasting that they will give Montserrat a whipping, so he expects a good tournament.

The millennium celebration leader said the first game on Saturday would be a youth game, while the Sunday match will involve mixed teams.

Visitors on Saturday will be able to enjoy local drinks, foods and crafts, which will be available at the Salem Park venue.

"We call it a family day where families can enjoy two days of fellowship," Dr. Donoghue said.

He added that the local foods on sale will include black pudding. This will be prepared the traditional way with cassava bread, rather than the modern recipe using rice.

It’s generally agreed in government circles that people in Montserrat have difficulty seeing their government as a single entity. Instead it is viewed as a duplicity of governments. The British half of the government and the indigenous half of the government are widely perceived as two very separate administrations.

Some would go so far as to say that the two levels of government are in opposition to each other, like the government and opposition benches in the British parliament. Or, as one most often hears, people simply refer to the situation as an ‘us and them’ relationship.

The ‘us and them’ perception is a deceptive problem. It’s a public relations conundrum, and in a place where the most visibly urgent problems all seem to involve erecting an infrastructure of bricks and mortar, it may be difficult for some to justify spending time, and possibly money, addressing p.r. (public relations) issues. But the ‘us and them’ perception of government isn’t just a debating subject for academics and political commentators. It’s a problem so potentially destructive that it must be addressed, for left unattended it could fester into such deep divisions within Montserratian society that the culture could cease to function and begin decaying into something approaching civil unrest.

We believe that in the long run it will probably be necessary to engage professionals to solve the ‘us and them’ problem. It’s the sort of problem custom made for the specialised boffins of organisations like the legendary Saachi and Saachi ad agency. Sooner or later the government will have to accept that it needs that kind of expertise to tidy up its image. Until such experts arrive, however, it would behoove our leaders and their employees to pay a little more attention to the way their work is perceived by the public. A classic and very simple example of the problem became all too visible this week, when a team of pavers arrived to resurface the road in front of Government House.

We don’t know who made the decision to repair this stretch of road, and it certainly isn’t worth anyone’s while to embark on a witch hunt to find the person responsible, but whoever despatched the pavers to the governor’s office in Olveston without even paying lip service to the roads at the Government Head Quarters (GHQ) in Brades obviously didn’t even consider the terrible p.r. blunder they were about to make.

Never mind that this week the Chief Minister with obvious embarrassment explains that at least, a portion of the GHQ road will get some paving piggy-backing on a project for a fire department facility near or on the prison compound which is located just past the GHQs, and serviced by the same road which runs to and by the GHQ buildings and compound.

How can people be expected to lay the ‘us and them’ mentality to rest, when they see the governor’s offices looking pristine down to an absence of potholes in the road outside, while the indigenous side of their government perches on a foreboding landscape one might expect to encounter in a logging or mining camp, somewhere in the backwoods of Alaska or Siberia?

We are not suggesting that the road outside the governor’s office should not have been resurfaced, but it doesn’t take a p.r. expert to see that doing the job there without paying any attention to the disgraceful moonscape at Government H.Q. is the kind of p.r. mistake that can only reinforce the ‘us and them’ perception of government in Montserrat.

There are several other glaring examples of similar road situations, such as two other access roads, which badly needed repairs; one leading to a DFID official’s rented home and another to a Government House official's home, these were repaired in due time; whilst yet a third has remained untouched for years even though road works came nearby. This final example is also a road where an opposition politician and several police men live, and is the location of a business that employs several Montserratians.

There’s a lot to be said for getting results; just ignoring the torpedoes and getting jobs done. At this point in its history Montserrat needs people who get things done. Of that there is no doubt. However, if the partnership of governance between Britain and Montserrat is going to continue on a constructive basis, greater attention must be paid to the public perception of how government operates. No matter what good works are done by our government, if the ‘us and them’ perception is allowed to grow unchecked, at some point it will certainly create irreparable damage.

We can understand how people at public works, DFID, Government House and in the various ministries, might find it irritating to have to consider potential p.r. problems every time they make a routine decision. While we can sympathise with them in this regard, however, we would not be doing our own job if we did not point out that government can only ignore the niceties of public relations at its own peril.

The government of Montserrat is not two separate governments. It is one government that unwisely behaves and appears as two. Until some serious effort is made to correct this problem, we fear that Montserrat will remain on a slow but steady course toward an administrative cataclysm.

You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." - James 2:8

As a child I never understood the meaning of my mother's saying about beauty lying in the eye of the beholder. But as an adult I rejoice that our Beholder, God, does not view any of us with human eyes. God sees the real you and me - beyond personality, color, race, and creed - and loves each of us fully.

Even though I know this, I recently found myself judging newcomers in my community. Due to expanding industry over the past years, our village has received an influx of workers from other countries. And I was shocked to find myself judgmental toward them. Once I became aware of my prejudice, I realized the pain my transgression caused them.

Naturally there are diversities to address - language, religion, entrenched customs, and so on. We are beginning to address them, realizing that we have much to learn from them, realizing that we have much to learn from them, as they do from us. Now I try to meet people honestly, hoping they will not prejudge me. I hope we will all one day come to view each other through loving eyes, accepting our differences and caring for our earthly home together, attentive to God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Friend.

PRAYER: Thank you O God, for loving me. Lead me to accept others the way I want others to accept me. Amen.

As I look into the faces of those in my community, I realize that Jesus is in plain view.

PRAYER FOCUS: Newcomers to my community

Its an excellent site which I came upon, while browsing around the Caribbean islands out of curiosity.

Your news reporting concerning the future of the Island's relationship with the United Kingdom was rather interesting.

The degree of merit or importance in reporting attracts the readers attention making it worthwhile digesting the intent of the reporters presence.

Recently, the Minister of Land Agriculture etc., M's Ann Marie Dewar attended a conference at the Crown Plaza Hotel, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

This I have gathered from other Ministers from the Caribbean contingent whom I have had the pleasure of meeting.

However it has been a pleasure reading your news not only about the once beautiful Emerald Island of the West Indies; but news in general about the other islands, and ex-patriots scattered overseas.

Good bye for now. I shall from time to time find time to read your news.

Good luck and keep up the excellent standard of reporting.

Sincerely,

Passports and freedom of movement continues to be a stumbling block as Montserratian leaders try to negotiate their way further into the CARICOM free trade alliance.

While progress continues toward a free trading market for all Caribbean states, limits remain on the extent to which each country is prepared to commit. At a press conference Monday morning, agriculture minister, the Hon. Brunel Meade, outlined some of the limits of Montserratian participation in CARICOM policy conventions.

Mr. Meade was reporting back to the people of Montserrat, after representing the island at the 21^st Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government.

"It’s coming into being as a single market," he affirmed of the Caribbean region, but added that Montserrat is not yet prepared to become a full signatory to all nine conventions of the CARICOM agreement.

"Small states are easily marginalised in the process of globalisation that is taking place," Mr. Meade warned.

He said Montserrat will not be a full participant in the international court CARICOM is establishing to handle disputes between member states, although he praised the work of CARICOM mediators and jurists in settling such disagreements.

"At this very moment, Guyana and Surinam are seeking to resolve their dispute through the mediation of the prime minister of Jamaica," stated Mr. Meade.

Contentious election results in Haiti and arguments between Belize and Guatemala were also mentioned as issues that are benefiting from a dose of CARICOM justice.

"The region has reached a stage where it can maturely resolve problems amongst its members," he said, "rather than needing outside intervention."

Aside from settling disputes between nations, or calming civil unrest within them, Mr. Meade also spoke of the benefits of closer economic relationships with other countries.

"Cuba is one of our neighbours, and it’s one of the neighbours that’s been very resourceful," he pointed out, explaining that Montserrat can learn creative trade and development strategies from Cuba.

Despite all his admiration and appreciation of the Caribbean free trade group, however, the minister reported that Montserrat will not be adopting all the CARICOM conventions concerning the free movement of capital, goods, services and people. This despite the fact that Montserratians will be eligible for CARICOM passports, and our immigration officers will recognise them as valid travel documents.

"Montserrat allows some of that freedom of movement now," Mr. Meade pointed out, but he cautioned that Montserrat is a very tiny state, and said: "We must protect the small space. At this moment we must adopt a protectionist policy."

The minister argued that a degree of protectionism is needed to preserve jobs on the island, and protect local contractors from foreign competitors who may undercut their tenders.

Asked how Montserrat hopes to become a signatory to a CARICOM passport agreement without allowing free movement of labour in and out of the country, Mr. Meade replied that CARICOM passports will be phased in, not introduced as an instant replacement for Montserratian passports. For a time it may be possible to hold both passports.

"In the initial stages one would have their national passport still intact," he explained. The CARICOM passport would take over entirely at a later date. "I’ve known situations where people have held more than one passport."

Asked if he expected anyone to resist the new regional passports, preferring to keep their Montserratian documents instead, the minister spoke again of a gradual introduction, and said he believes this will reduce any resistance.

"One cannot answer that definitely," he added, admitting that some people may feel nostalgic about the old documents.

Mr. Meade also pointed out that other parts of the world, including parts of Asia, are facing the same changes and apprehensions, but seem to be managing the situation.

The passport issue could become further complicated by the fact that Montserratians may soon qualify for British passports. This would raise a multitude of further questions, because Britain now issues European passports, which allow holders to travel, work and live in all countries of the European Economic Community. So the question is: can Montserratians carry CARICOM and EEC passports giving them total freedom of movement throughout the Caribbean and Europe, while their own country continues to restrict entry of foreigners seeking residency or employment here?

Development officer, Ms. Jaqueline Yearwood said this week that her office wants to improve its strategy for attracting investors to the island, and that means gathering more information about what Montserrat has to offer.

On Tuesday she unveiled a plan to produce a new package of information for investors and retirees who might head to Montserrat. In a subsequent interview she said the challenge also involves teaching Montserratian people how to put the volcano behind them.

Ms. Yearwood said she came to Montserrat after the volcanic crisis, so although she understands that the event is still having a major impact on people’s lives every day, she tends to see the challenges and opportunities of rebuilding as more immediate and constructive concerns.

"This is something we have to look at carefully, and I’m trying to convince people the time is now," she stated.

The first step in improving the development system is to produce better literature for visitors and immigrants. People who inquire at the Development Unit are currently given a single page brochure with basic information such as tax rates, residency requirements and some scanty details about currency, island topography and climate. Ms. Yearwood says she hopes to produce a more substantial booklet, which provides more detailed information and does a better job of selling Montserrat to people who are considering investing here.

"The biggest problem is that finding information in Montserrat is very difficult," Ms. Yearwood explained.

The development officer and her staff face the daunting task of researching current economic and infrastructure conditions. Only then can the literature from the Development Unit present the information that investors want and need. Unit staff also need this information to answer inquiries by phone, fax or email.

Unfortunately, while attention remains focused on the volcano, information of this sort is not being compiled and must often be gathered from grass-roots sources. Ms. Yearwood makes it clear that she sees overcoming these obstacles as one of the major challenge of her job.

As Montserratians in general continue to struggle with an inadequate supply of available housing, the minister for housing, the Hon. Brunel Meade, said Monday that the government has not forgotten the special needs of mental health patients.

Mr. Meade reminded participants at a press conference Monday, that Montserrat’s population of under 5,000 people includes 100 who are mentally ill. Since the volcanic crisis, the families of these patients have been carrying an extra burden of care for their loved ones.

It is becoming increasingly clear in some wealthy countries that mental health care is often better in poorer nations, specifically because families are part of the treatment team. Despite this fact, however, some patients will always require purpose built housing.

"There are about 30 persons that immediately need to be provided for," Mr. Meade revealed.

The minister’s announcement came just days before a consultant brought in to study the problem is due to reveal her findings. On Friday, Dr. Janet La Granade will present her findings at a luncheon workshop to be held at the Vue Point Hotel.

Member states of CARICOM which had previously pledged funds for 25 houses in Montserrat, are at last ready to fund the final homes in the agreement.

Speaking at a press conference Monday, housing minister the Hon. Brunel Meade said that as he spoke the countries that were late with their pledged financing were instructing their central banks to issue funds.

"It has admittedly held back the initiation which should have been completed already," he said.

CARICOM has so far built only 15 of the 25 homes it pledged after Montserrat’s volcanic crisis, but construction on the final 10 dwellings should begin soon.

Cable & Wireless this week introduces SmartChoice to its residential customers. It’s a set of four plans combining line rental with features like Voicemail and Caller ID, plus discounts on international calls. The plans includes a free Caller ID telephone.

General Manager of Cable & Wireless, Montserrat, Mr. Neville Dublin, said, "SmartChoice is another part of our commitment to add value to the excellent product which we offer our customers. Last year when we announced the reduction of our international direct dial rates by an average of 27%, we promised our customers even more savings. SmartChoice is one of the exciting programmes which we are rolling out across the region."

Customers signing up for SmartChoice plans will get a 20 percent discount on up to six international numbers. This means that they will be able to call the United States for as little as US$0.60 per, double the discount on regular TalkAway numbers.

To sign up customers can drop into the Cable and Wireless office at Sweeney’s or call toll free at 1-800-744-TALK.

Cable & Wireless enjoys annual revenue of around 8 billion pounds (US$13 billion) from its customers in 70 countries. Its priority is for expansion of the fast growing market of network data services for business customers, especially Internet based services.

One hundred Red Cross volunteers were among those taking part in a parade in London this week, marking the Queen Mother’s centenary.

A statement issued by the Red Cross said: "The event has special significance for the Red Cross because the Queen Mother, who is our President, also shares our birthday – 4^th August – when the society will be 130-years-old."

The 19^th July celebrations found the Red Cross contingent joining 5000 other people belonging to charities, organisations and groups which Her Majesty has been involved with, plus 2000 members of the armed forces.

The Queen Mother has a long association with the British Red Cross, starting in 1924 when she became an elected member of the council. She has had an ongoing role ever since and became president in 1998.

John Gray, director of Corporate Communications said: "As we celebrate our own 130 years on 4^th August, we will be wishing the Queen Mother every happiness for her 100^th birthday."

Twelve Montserrat cadets and one officer are in Barbados for a two week exercise to hone their skills in map reading, field craft, parade ground drill and other military basics.

Commanding officer, Capt. Roosevelt Jemmotte, said Wednesday that this contingent of trainees will return to Montserrat on August 4^th. They travelled to Barbados by ferry and air.

"We got assistance from the governor’s office to make this possible," said Capt. Jemmotte.

This cadet camp in Barbados is a regional training program, which means the Montserratians will train with cadets from Trinidad, St. Vincent and Barbados.

The cadets will take an exam at the end of the exercise, and those who pass will receive badges of qualification.

Capt. Jemmotte said another contingent of cadets will leave on Saturday for a similar exercise in Antigua.

Written by Dr. Howard Fergus of the University of the West Indies, the book Volcano Song: Poems of an Island in Agony has been published in England by Macmillan. According to the book cover, Volcano Song is a poetic diary of Montserrat’s Soufriere Hills volcano – its eruption in 1995, the trauma of evacuation, the catastrophe which followed, and the tentative return, three years later, of Montserratian people to what had once been homes, and had become exclusion zones. The poet captures the awesome beauty and terror of ash plumes soiling the sky and the inferno that killed – an island ‘where death fires dance’. The rhythms of the volcano parallel the rhythms of people’s lives.

The book contains illustrations by Chadd Cumberbatch. The cover of the book makes it clear that "All proceeds will be donated to The Old People’s Welfare Association" (OPWA); and Macmillan is planning a major promotional campaign with the Caribbean Book Trade. The book will be officially released in Montserrat at a UWI graduation event on 14 August 2000.

Resident tutor Dr. Howard Fergus of the University Centre, Manjack, Montserrat has revealed that news of examination results from all three UWI Campuses indicates that all of the Montserratian final year students were successful.

Almost all of the students attained Second Class Honours, which is an achievement in itself.

The top performers were Jean Dyer and Elijah Silcott with Upper Second Class degrees in Law and Public Sector Management respectively. The other successful students were Derek Bass in Industrial Engineering, Sheree Jemmotte in Law, Ivor Meade in Mechanical Engineering, Joy Ponde in Social Work and David Silcott in Computers.

Meanwhile Warren Cassell has completed Law School and is therefore a qualified Lawyer. He along with the others deserve our congratulations.

A Press Release issued out of the U.S. Embassy in Barbados on Wednesday, said Charge d'Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown Mr. Roland Bullen and Ambassador Mosina Jordan, will on Friday July 21st sign a Memorandum of Cooperation with OECS Secretary General, Mr. Swinburne Lestrade in St. Lucia.

The money is to assist the countries in their recovery after being damaged by Lenny in November of 1999.

An Embassy source told the GIS that the funds are to be used for the reconstruction of key sea defence systems and selected coastal roads, as well as the training of personnel among other things in Antigua and Barbuda.

Prime Minister Lester Bird said he was delighted to learn of the assistance coming from USAID, adding that, it will go a long way in assisting the OECS countries that suffered damage last year even as we prepare, right in the middle of yet another hurricane season.

Cell phones: are they safe?

"No, I don't think we can say that at this time," says Dr. Henry Lai.

Dr. Lai of the University of Washington, found microwave radiation similar to the kind used in cell phones caused long-term memory loss in rats.

Lai taught lab rats to memorize the route to a platform in a pool. He then exposed them to low doses of microwave radiation and found they were unable to find their way back to the platform.

"We have a potential problem on our hands," says Louis Slesin, editor of Microwave News.

Slesin suggests cell phone addicts leave their antennas down if possible and pressure the industry to design safer phones with the antenna pointing backwards.

"Every millimeter you move the phone antenna away makes a big difference," he says.

The industry designs phones for convenience and performance and insists all cell phones are safe.

Barbados, CANA - The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) - product of a merger of the commercial operations of the Caribbean News Agency (CANA) and the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) - on Saturday announced a series of staff appointments.
Gary Allen, the former CBU Operations Manager, was named News and Programme Operations Manager, overseeing an all-media newsroom embracing people who had worked with the newsrooms of CANA Radio, the CANA Wire Service and the CBU radio/television entity.
Veteran journalist Trevor Yearwood, the former Chief Editor of CANA Wire, was named All Media News Editor. Prominent news presenter Francine Alexander-Charles was named TV and Radio Programme Editor, with Johnson Johnrose appointed Overseas Reporters Assistant Editor; and Richard Cox the Global Services Assistant Editor.
Rosita Spooner, the former CANA Executive Assistant, is CMC's Human Resources and Office Manager, with Viv Lindsay-Foster, who had been responsible for marketing at CBU, now Acting Sales and Marketing Manager in TV, Internet and Programming.
The appointments were announced by Chief Executive Officer Humphrey Metzgen at a six-hour staff meeting held at BARTEL, the telephone company.
The Barbados meeting was the first full briefing for New media house announces appointments:
CMC's Bureau Chiefs in Trinidad and Tobago (Mrs. Linda Hutchinson-Jafar), Guyana (Alison Butters), Antigua (Denis Chabrol), St. Lucia (Ernie Seon), St. Vincent
(Corlita Ollivierre), and Grenada (Rawle Titus).
At the briefing, Metzgen underscored the need for CMC's reporters to be "multi-skilled" (having the ability to work efficiently in print/radio/TV journalism) and for the new company to come up with financially viable products.
Earlier this week CMC launched a move to raise US$1 million to provide adequate coverage to the Sydney Olympics in September from a Caribbean perspective.
"CMC is committed to positively projecting the Caribbean and giving our region an even greater voice in the global village," Metzgen said at the launch witnessed by business, media and sports figures.

Jamaica, CANA - Jamaica's five-year-old University of Technology (UTech) last week installed well-known England-based Jamaican William "Bill" Morris as its first Chancellor.

Educator Dr Blossom O'Meally-Nelson was installed as Pro-Chancellor during a ceremony at the University's Old Hope Road Campus in Kingston.

UTech, formerly the College of Arts Science and Technology (CAST) was accorded university status on September 1, 1995 and fully-chartered on June 29, 1999.

Morris, considered among the more influential black men in Britain, has lived in that country for most of his life.

He has served on a wide range of national bodies including the Advisory Councils of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Independent Broadcasting Association (IBA) and was appointed to the Economic and Social Affairs Committee of the European Economic Community.

He was a member of the Labour Party's Conference Arrangements Committee for a number of years. He is currently a member of the Employment Appeals Tribunal, the Trade Union Congress General Council, the Prince's Business Trust, the Governing Councils of Nene and Atlantic Colleges and Luton and South Bank Universities, among others.

Dr. O'Meally-Nelson spent 16 years as an educator at the secondary and tertiary levels of Jamaica's educational system.

She participated in the development and implementation of the Diploma Programme for Teacher Education in collaboration with the Joint Board for Teacher Education and the University of the West Indies and has participated in a World Bank-sponsored programme for the training of school administrators.

She presided over Utech's transition to full university status.

Morris in his acceptance speech declared his hope that the UTech would be open to all Jamaicans without compromising high quality standards.

"The University of Technology must be open to everyone. It is my dream that UTech shall become the People's University providing equal opportunity for everyone," Morris said.

At the same time the university under his leadership would "work to build a paradigm of excellence and at the heart of our core values we shall seek to co-operate not to compete," he said.

Morris said his installation as Chancellor "represented one step in a journey that started in the hills of Manchester (his birthplace in deep rural central Jamaica)...."

Senator Burchell Whiteman, Jamaica's Education and Culture Minister, presented copies of the governing instrument of the university to Morris and O'Meally-Nelson.

The University also conferred the Doctor of Laws degree on Morris.

President of UTech, Dr Rae Davis, said the university was "fortunate to have the leadership support of two outstanding individuals with deep roots in our beloved country. The leadership of Mr. Morris and Dr. O'Meally-Nelson will create a synergy which will influence the development and prosperity of this deserving institution".

Davis reported that the university was making steady progress and had introduced far-reaching changes in its academic and staff-upgrading programmes.

MONTRÉAL – Air Canada announced following a meeting with Labour Minister Claudette Bradshaw that it was accepting the Minister’s offer to appoint a special mediator to assist in reaching a negotiated settlement with the Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA).

During this process, normal operations would continue and neither party would exercise its right to strike or lockout.

" We accept the Minister’s offer as an important step in the process of reaching a settlement in the shortest possible timeframe," said Calin Rovinescu, Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy, who is leading the airline’s negotiating team. " We need to move quickly to end the prolonged uncertainty for our customers, all sectors of the business community and our other employees. It is our hope that ACPA will also accept the Minister’s offer," he concluded.

ACPA has not given the Company notice of intent to strike. According to Canadian labour law, a union must give 72 hours notice prior to taking any strike action.

Government services in Antigua are expressing concern over enormous amounts of oil moving through the Caribbean Sea daily.

According to one report, 4.2 billion barrels of crude oil is shipped through the region's water-ways every day. This situation concerns Mr. Philmore Mullin, deputy director of Antigua’s National Office of Disaster Services (NOODS).

Antiguan port manager Mr. Raphael Benjamin, said his department is to develop a plan of action in the event of a spill.

"We need to get the Coast Guard, NODS, West Indies Oil, the fire service and the Government Information Service together and look at this whole question of dealing with an oil spil," Mr. Benjamin said.

Operations Manager at the St. John's Port, Mr. Hugh Mack, said the West Indies Oil Company is equipped to deal with a small spill but not a major spill from a large tanker.

Mr. Mack noted that, "several months ago, St. Kitts and Nevis experienced an oil spill that cost that nation just under 14 million dollars to clean up, and that was just desiel oil, not crude oil. Another point of concern is Antigua’s desalination plant, the island’s main water supply. If crude oil entered the plant, the island could be left without water.

"We are concerned over these huge tankers plying the Caribbean Sea," said Mr. Benjamin. "Right now there is a spill that is causing havoc in South Brazil from a leaking pipeline, putting a whole community at risk. We are watching these things with concern and are hoping the countries responsible for shipping oil through our waters will understand the grave danger we are exposed to."

Barbados, CANA - Details of a new business plan, approved by the board of directors of LIAT (1974) Ltd. were emerging Tuesday with news of at least one strategic alliance. The Antigua-based carrier will work more closely with the Windward Islands Airways (WINAIR), which operates Twin Otter aircraft out of Saint Maarten, and with Carib Aviation, a charter service based in Antigua.
"It will allow us to streamline the use of our particular and respective fleets, leading to the inauguration later this year of some new air services between the French islands, Saint Marteen, Antigua and Santo Domingo," LIAT Vice-President David Stuart said at a news conference.
LIAT also launched a partnership with the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), a company formed out of a merger between the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) and the Caribbean News Agency (CANA). The two regional companies will share communication services.
LIAT is also talking to BWIA, the Trinidadian airline, which is one of its major shareholders, while eyeing possible cooperation with other international carriers.
Stuart said discussions on yet another important alliance in the southern Caribbean market are at an advanced stage.
The business plan also calls for additional aircraft. LIAT wants 11 Dash-8 aircraft by 2001.
LIAT has a debt load of US$80 million, but the airline's management is said to be confident the new plan will return the airline to a viable position. Stuart, who came to the airline a few months ago, along with CEO Gary Cullen, said LIAT recorded an operating profit for the past four months although he could not give exact figures.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CANA - The Caribbean Development Bank has announced loans of more than US$16 million for projects in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos islands.
The bank announced backing for a near US$50 million economic development programme for Grenada as well as a series of grants for institutions including the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (US$200,000) and the Caribbean Congress of Labour (US$310,000).
CDB's Board also approved a loan to the Caribbean Commercial Bank (CCB) in Barbados of an amount not exceeding US$5 million.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CANA - Caribbean Community (CARICOM) political and financial leaders, at a meeting held in St Kitts and Nevis over the weekend, responded to black-listing of off-shore financial centres by the Organisation for Econimic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The meeting came up with a number of recommendations for co-ordinating and overseeing the effective regulation and supervision of the Caribbean financial services in accordance with international best practices.

The St Kitts and Nevis Attorney General Delano Bart, said the black-listing of 35 countries by the OECD as tax havens and non-co-operative jurisdictions, is a "careful and determined effort by the G7 countries to curtail the efforts of small jurisdictions to develop a financial services sectors."
Bart said Caribbean financial services jurisdictions during the two-day meeting totally committed themselves to ensuring that their countries are not used by money launderers or other criminals.
"We intend to do everything that is necessary to ensure that our jurisdictions are clean."
Caribbean countries represented at the meeting agreed to co-operate with each other and to exchange information to prevent any abuses by criminals.

"We further agreed to continue to work to strengthen the supervisory and regulatory framework for all aspects of the financial services industry," said Bart.
Representatives of CARICOM states are due to meet as early as this week or next week to ratify the steps agreed to in the meeting this.

By Roy Greaves

Montserrat and Leeward Islands fast bowler Lesroy 'Sobers' Irish is attracting much attention in the 2000 English Cricket League. By the end of June, Irish had already taken 102 wickets, from 445 overs at the excellent average of 13.5 runs per wicket.

The Montserratian speed merchant who hails from Streathams (one of the villages destroyed by the volcano) is causing similar destruction to English batsmen with eleven (11) 5 wickets hauls so far. His best figures to date is 7 wickets for 43 playing for Austerlands Vs Heyside. Lesroy is likely to top 150 wickets by the end of the season.

Irish, who is just beyond his mid twenties is regarded by many (including West Indies fast bowler Kenny Benjamin) as the fastest bowler in the Leeward Islands.

So far, he has played 4 first class matches for the Leeward taking 12 wickets. He is expected to regain his place in the Leeward Islands line up for the 2001 Red Stripe Cup along side Devon Williams, Tyrone Greenaway and David Lane.

Lesroy Irish's best performance for Montserrat in a season was in the mid 1990's when he took over 30 wickets and his most his most memorable performance in a match was 13 wickets for just over 100 runs Vs St Kitts at Sturge Park. This left his home crowd jumping and shouting for joy but the Kittitian top and middle order batsmen battered and bruised and shell shocked.

Small wonder then, that so much attention is focussed on him in current English Cricket League.

Devastated! Mentally destroyed! After their collapse of major proportions at the Chester-Lee-Street, on Sunday, July 16, 2000, Dr Rudy Webster, the West Indies team’s performance enhancer, will definitely have a very difficult time re-building the self esteem of a group of cricketers who prone to fail.

The West Indies team under the technical directorship of Roger Harper and the leadership of Jimmy Adams, suffered their worst limited-overs defeat since it new beginning, following it humiliating though fighting defeat at the Lord’s Test on July 1, 2000. And they could be pushed into the abyss on Thursday, July 20, 2000 should they find it impossible to discover the physical and emotional wherewithal to conjure a emotional-necessary victory against England at Trent Bridge.

After such a commanding batting performance, the tourists would be definitely downhearted, broken, and de-motivated. It’s the kind of defeat, which could linger long in the minds of the inexperienced and mentally weak players. And they were partly undone by their approach to the game and partly as a result of their limited endowment for that type of contest.

Last week I tried to show that reason for West Indies persistent decline in the limited-overs game was due largely to their unscientific approach to the abridged contest. I noted that their technical and management staff had been applying dysfunctional approaches to the batting and bowling and consequently to the composition of the team. I argued that certain changes needed to be made urgently or we would continue to embarrass ourselves in the international arena. And moreover, going into the "do-or-die" games on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16, they would only alter their fortune if the science were closely followed. Well Adams & Harper and Associates must be credited for some rational thinking but, in the main, the application of the science was the major cause of frustration that now looms over the Caribbean region, from Bahamas in the north to Guyana in the south.

Please recall that I outlined that "adaptation to the shorter version of the game demands mastery of the art and craft of batting, bowling and fielding under pressure, versatility and improvisation, the ability to adapt to the varying demands of the several phases of the short game and the understanding and application of the rules of the game.

The batting approach in the limited-overs game is based on the three-slot approach – the first 15 overs, the middle 20-40 overs and the last 10 overs. The objective is to score as many runs in the first slot when the fielding restrictions are enforced. Some teams like Sri Lanka have scored as many as 90 or more runs in that slot. The middle slot requires quick running between the wickets to turn ones into twos and twos into threes. The sixes and fours are bonuses. The final slot is festival time, where the sluggers and hitters take the runs how they come. Some teams have scored as many as a 100 runs in the final ten overs. That is the science of the limited overs batting."

Allow me to use the limited-overs game against the Zimbabweans on Sunday, July 16 as the reference point. First, the composition of the team was more akin to the best limited-overs team that could have been put together given their limitation. I say given the limitation because the present composition of the limited–overs team is faulty and does not represent the best mix that that could be put together for international competition. But this will form part of our discussions next week when we discuss the way forward. The inclusion of the leg spinner, Mahendra Nagamootoo and the decisions to have Wavell Hinds open the batting and to have Brian Lara bat at number three were excellent. There is a deliberate attempt to strengthen the team in order to allow it to take advantage of the three phases of the game.

And the batting did deliver. Campbell, though restricted by his batting limitation – his lack of versatility, which is consequent on his inability to play freely on the front foot and to execute the array of strokes, which the movement allows, together with Hinds put on 60 for the first 15 overs. But given the batting-friendly pitch and gentle nature of the Zimbabwean medium pacers who bowled 13 of the 15 overs, the accumulation was short by 20 runs.

The middle overs – 16-40 overs – were utilised excellently by Lara and Campbell, thus ensuring that at the end of the 40 overs the score was well over 200 (211 for the lost of one wicket). The running between the wickets was commendable, and obviously allowed them to convert the loose deliveries into four and sixes.

But with the departure of Lara and Campbell in quick succession, the desired acceleration in the last phase – 40-50 0vers – were restricted. The scoring rate tapered a bit in the last 10 overs, falling short of the 300

What factors accounted for the collapse of major proportions? What factors contributed most to the West Indies defeat after they have set the near-jaded Zimbabweans a victory target of 288 to win, having accumulated 287 for the lost of five wickets?

The evidence suggests that the performance of the team on the field reflected the limited technical knowledge of the technical staff, faulty tactics on the field by the captain and low proficiency of the bowling attack.

First, Adams’ defensive nature reflecting his "welfare state of mind approach" is not ideal for the limited-overs game. With 287 runs on the board, I cannot understand why a warrior would prefer to defend rather than to offend. Why would Adams prefer to give away singles in the middle overs rather than trying to restrict the run flow by taking wickets? Adams may have contributed to the defeat by giving the Zimbabweans their much-needed breather.

Notwithstanding, Zimbabwe is certainly a light-weight team in the longer version of the game; the new-comers may be uncompetitive in the Test arena; the Africans may not win all their limited-over contests but there is no doubt that they have mastered the science of the shorter version of the game.

Second, the quick bowlers, perhaps with the exception of Mervyn Dillon exhibited their inability to maintain a disciplined line of attack, to exercise variability in delivery and to respond favourably to the changing demands of each phase of the game. They were particularly wayward, showing very little bowling intelligence, oftentimes preferring to maximise speed rather than swing and variation of pace. And they paid dearly for it. Adams found himself with the unenviable situation of reserving the rookie Nagamootoo for the final onslaught, having lost confidence in them. Once again, the question is posed: What can we do without Walsh and Ambrose?

If the approach was a product of the technical staff and the captain, one can appreciate why since the beginning of the year 2000, the West Indies have played seventeen limited-overs matches and have won only five. While a number of physical, social and emotional factors would have influenced the results of those games, it is really not far-fetched to entertain the thought that the application of dysfunctional scientific approaches have contributed significantly to the dismal performances of the once dominating team.

Peter Adrien

July 16, 2000

PHOTO CAPTION: Michael Findlay, the Chief selector must apply the principles of specialisation (Photo: Carlton Pickering)

Once again, the people of Montserrat were placed in an avoidable embarrassing situation. Many of us were unable to purchase cooking gas over the past few weeks.

Why us? Why should the ordinary people of Montserrat suffer such embarrassment and humiliation? Cooking gas? The ordinary person does not credit cooking gas. We return the bottles and we pay before we get delivery.

True, we can run out of flour, we can run out of chicken, carrots, or ripe bananas. These things can spoil. But cooking gas! How could this happen, in a supposedly profitable buy and sell operation.

Yes, I work for the Montserrat Reporter, so it is not beneath me to participate in the sharing of rumour about the almost embarrassing saga of "no cooking gas."

Rumour stated that - Delta was refusing to supply Montserrat with cooking gas if Montserrat do not pay all outstanding debts. Montserrat Emergency Operations Center (EOC), could not pay for the gas because Montserrat Electricity (Monlec) owed them for fuel supplies - Monlec cannot pay the EOC, because the Treasury and the Water Authority owed Monlec for services.

Now in all this owing, not paying and suffering, it is the ordinary people who pay and suffer. We pay our electricity fuel surcharge so that they can pay for their fuel. We pay our water rates so that they can pay to Monlec their charges for pumping the water to us. We also pay our taxes, fees and license so that Government could pay for the cost of streetlights and stand pipes. So why is the EOC not paid?

So much for rumours.

The shortage of cooking gas was not a rumour. It was real. It was embarrassing. Two Sundays ago, I had to lend a neighbour one (100lb) cylinder of gas. Last week Sunday I had to borrow one (201b) cylinder of gas from one neighbour to lend to another neighbour. And the other day I had to give a neighbour some charcoals.

If there is truth about the rumour of the non-payment to Delta, or the juggling of payment among the treasury, Monlec and Water Authority, then it is a serious reflection on the style of management that we intend to take into the 21st century.

Let us pause to analyse the relationship between each non-paying party and the paying public. In doing so we may be able to send a message to the politicians showing them that we the people of Montserrat are prepared to pay for a reasonable quality of life on Montserrat, and that we expect to enjoy that quality of life. We are intelligent, understanding and reasonable. If we were asked to pay the reasonable cost for maintaining Montserrat, we would pay that cost, even increased cost for cooking gas.

Each year, through the Government budget, the treasury agrees to collect from the people - in fees and taxes - the cost for providing street lights and stand pipes and to pay the service providers, Monlec and Water Authority the incurred expenses. And if the people pay these fees, why should the Government owe for electricity and water? If the service cost less, charge us less; because if the service cost more you will charge us more. So, please pay what is owed. It is as simple as that.

Each month every consumer of electricity must pay his bill. He pays for the fuel surcharge and his consumption charge. Monlec bills us for the cost or its operations plus what appears to be an excessive amount for profit, and we pay. We have no choice. If the service cost less, charge us less; because if the service cost more, you will charge us more. We always pay our bills. Please pay the EOC for the fuel owed. It is as simple as that.

What about Water Authority?

They do not buy water. The water flows from the earth. We pay whatever they ask us to pay. Why are they operating at a loss? Is it not possible to establish the cost of a profitable operation? We will pay the rates, we will adjust ourselves. If it cost less, charge us less; because if it cost more you will charge us more. So please pay your electricity bills if you owe. It is as simple as that.

Again, if there is any truth in the rumour about the reasons for the gas shortage, we have serious problems. How could the Manager of Monlec not pay the EOC for fuel consumed? Or how could the Water Authority not pay Monlec for services? That is outrageous. There seems to be obvious lack of respect for one another among the manages of the institutions. The situation begs for a professional assessment and an evaluation of their methods of operations. The cost to operate each institution should be projected for a number of years and reasonable consumption charges established. Furthermore, there is no need to complicate operation cost or consumption charge with subsidies. Plus it is time for Monlec to abandon its theory of fuel surcharge.

Besides, our politicians by now should accept, understand and embrace the fact that we live on Montserrat because we want to live here. We will contribute towards the reasonable cost to maintain the systems that operate in Montserrat. So, go on, calculate the real cost for gas, water or electricity. We will try to pay. We know that if we need help… help would come. After all there is a little bit of British Tax Payers Money in every new house and office in the north; a little bit of British Tax Payers Money in civil servants salary, in every politicians salary, in every new road. We don't like it so, but we know.

We demand that our politicians ensure reasonable consumption rates for gas, electricity and water. We demand that these institutions be managed effectively and profitably, so as to avoid embarrassing situations of gas shortage.

We pay for nothing less. We will vote for nothing less. It will be as simple as that.

This week I will share with you some helpful tips on getting you started on an exercise programme. Even if you have not exercised in a long time it is never too late to benefit from exercise. Staying active pays off. It will make you feel better, improve your health and help you look your best.

The best time to start is now. Talk to your doctor before you begin if you have not exercised in a long time, or if you have a medical condition.

• Start with small realistic goals, then build up gradually, little efforts add up.

Do an activity you’ll enjoy - think about what is right for you, would you prefer to be alone or with a group.

• Look at your schedule and decide if the morning or evening is best for your exercise routine.
• Do you prefer being inside or outside for exercise?
• What’s is appealing? Tennis, swimming or jogging.
• Choose something you can make part of your routine.

- Surround your self with support - ask a friend to join you.

• Tell your family you’ll need help with meals, chores and other things that keep you from exercising.
• If you cannot find an hour in your schedule take advantage of those spare 20 minutes.
• Forget the fancy gear and clothes, any pair of tennis shoes will get you started.

- Set realistic goals and get yourself an exercise chart.

• Relax and let each activity build your strength, skill and enthusiasm.
• Remember it’s better to exercise a little each day rather than a lot today and none for the rest of the week.

- Build your strength and flexibility - always warm up and cool down with slow gentle stretches. This increases flexibility and prevent injury.

• Include strength building in your work out. Try lifting a light weight in a repetitive motion. If you don’t have a weight, you can use a can of peas or corn.

Keep it up - remind yourself of all the benefits of exercise.

• You’ll gain strength and energy.
• You’ll have better circulation
• You’ll have lower cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure.
• You’ll take off those extra pounds
• You’ll relieve stress.
• Your outlook on life will improve.

Write down reasons and post them on your mirror or refrigerator.

Reward yourself – set realistic goals, then celebrate your effort remember, feeling great from exercise is the best reward.

You can do it – even if you’ve had a hard time exercising before, you can do it now. Practice makes perfect. Focus on the progress you are making. Every bit counts remember, fitness can make you happier and healthier.

Jus wonderin what kind of game the bus driver was playing why he was caught FLUSH on the beach, and who caught the flush hook, line and sinker.

Jus wonderin if the beach is really a good place to be playing that kind of game and if some women don’t have any pride at all.

Jus wonderin if the driver was at the same time putting wood on the mechanic land and, if he doesn’t know that trespassing is an offense.

Jus wonderin if everybody jus wonder.

Jus wonderin when all those old vehicles will be removed from Cudjoe Head.

Jus wonderin if they know that it is hazardous for vehicular traffic coming from Barzey’s road who cannot see those old vehicles parked there.

Jus wonderin when PWD will fix the road going to the Printery and the newspaper factory and the ex-hope-to-be chief and the law people home.

Jus wonderin if it is true some people marry for land.

Jus wonderin where is the real mistress.

Jus wonderin why most of dem people up there afraid of the news from the paper so.

Jus wonderin if the state car is every body own.

Jus wonderin why half of the staff at the bank on the hill carry their face musk to work every day.

Jus wonderin how come the senior staffs at the bank in the flat can’t do their work.

Jus wonderin why the bay club is having problems with its septic tank already.

Jus wonderin if there is a stench pond on the bed & breakfast road.

Jus wonderin why the C.O.S. is always out of his office.

Jus wonderin why buses don’t run regularly from north to little bay.

Jus wonderin why they don’t put up rain shelters on the Little Bay road and Lookout road.

Jus wonderin how many persons have carried in bills for their new shocks from driving on the GHQ road.

Jus wonderin if the white wall by Harold's bar is insured that people love to stay there while vehicles approach on both sides.

Jus wonderin why some o dem local neagga jus bad talk de only newspaper pan de island so.

Jus wonderin if there is any bribery going on by the port side.

Jus wonderin if we need to send the black bird from Olveston to GHQ or to DFID to pick the blots out of their heads.

Jus wonderin if we need a replacement for Jus Wonderin.

Jus wonderin who trained the staff at the phone company to answer phone.

Jus wonderin why some other offices don't follow the example.

Jus wonderin if the menace brain cool down from volcano limerick.

Jus wonderin if it was really a waste of time to have the radio station online.

Jus wonderin if jus wonderin is everybody cooler.

Jus wonderin how many people jus humble themselves when just wonderin try them.

Jus wonderin who send the Minister to sell Davy Hill Houses when they are going to be expired soon.

Jus wonderin if Labour Speaks has his own negative travel advisory.

Jus wonderin why the CM don’t mend the crown since its giving so much problem.

Jus wonderin who the green-lady had a wonderful birthday.