Government Discusses Plans for Medical School With Tien
By
Helena Durand
Dr. Paul Tien and Dr. Lowell Lewis
The Government of
Montserrat, in the person of Minister for Communications, and Works Dr. Lowell
Lewis met with the President of the American University of the Caribbean(AUC) to
explore the possibility of that institution resuming operations on Montserrat.
Dr. Lewis said in an
earlier radio interview that president of the AUC Dr. Paul Tien “did confirm
that he wishes to actually start a similar institution in Montserrat. One that
attempts to merge Western medicine with Chinese medicine,
and provide education for a special clientele. He is very interested in
bringing this to Montserrat as soon as possible, so our meeting was to work out
what sort of details, arrangements, need to happen before we can accommodate
him.”
However, nothing seems
to have been worked out. Dr. Lewis said, “…Obviously, he has to submit a
form of proposal which will tell us what he plans to do…” The Montserrat
Reporter has however learnt, that a proposal for a 30 year operation period, had
already been submitted by Dr. Tien to the Government of Montserrat some time
ago. The proposal it is said, is very similar to the one submitted in 1998, when
talk of resuming AUC operations here was underway.
A copy of the 1998 agreement, which this paper obtained, reveals that AUC
is requesting incentives almost unheard of for a foreign investor.
These include: The AUC
will not pay property taxes; The Government shall grant customs duties
exemptions and consumption tax exemptions to the AUC on imports of educational,
operational and construction materials, equipment, supplies, fuel, and food (for
cafeteria operations) for the duration of the agreement period; The AUC will not
pay service charges and any other fees on imports of educational, operational,
fuel, food and construction materials, equipment and supplies for the duration
of the agreement period; Additionally, the Government shall not levy custom
duties, consumption tax, service charge and any other fees on importation of
school materials (books, furniture, supplies, automobiles, trucks and equipment,
laboratory furnishings, and equipment, computers, etc) imported by AUC. Faculty
and students of AUC may import personal belongings and effects duty-free if
these items are one year or older in age; The Government shall waive port
charges; The Government shall issue work permits upon request by AUC. The fee
shall be EC$1,000 per faculty member per annum; The AUC’s President and
distinguished guests will be given the honour of VIP treatment when entering or
leaving Montserrat provided that the AUC notifies the relevant government
officials in advance of the arrival and departure schedules; The Government will
permit AUC the use of medical facilities; The Government will not permit
other medical schools to be established in Montserrat except for AUC; For the
construction of AUC’s new campus the Government shall allow AUC to recruit
construction workers from overseas and waive all work permits, immigration
requirement, income tax and social security tax.
This
is needed because of the shortage of local construction workers;
and that the Government shall permit AUC to import electrical generators,
water production system, and fuel duty free for providing electricity and water
to its campus or the Government owned utilities company shall furnish
electricity and water with special low rate.
An agreement to these
requests it appears, would mean: The government of Montserrat would have to give
up taxes on the land, an area it makes revenue from; if no duties are levied on
construction materials and equipment even after construction, government will
lose more revenue; free importation of food would sideline local importers; the
importation of vehicles for students duty free, could make the island a dumping
site and be an environmental hazard; that the AUC would have to undertake its
own cargo landing if port charges are waived, and no one would be able to ensure
that the law is compiled with; giving AUC monopoly could cripple the island
because if AUC ‘s operations stops before the 30 year period is expired,
Montserrat would need Mr. Tien’s permission to grant a license to any other
medical school wanting to begin operations here; since foreign workers on
Government projects pay tax, waiving tax payment for AUC workers would only
drain the meager revenue from that quarter coming to the government; and to
allow AUC to have the common amenities free, would surely mean that the locals
would have to pay AUC’s bills.
That notwithstanding,
Mr. Lewis believes that the return of the AUC to Montserrat will bring much
needed revenue to the government, and that other businesses, particularly those
in real estate would benefit because the students, 30 – 50 to begin with,
would make use of the “… empty villas lying around in Woodlands.” He said
the school, may eventually grow to have an attendance of 200-300 depending on
the demand for graduates with the kind of qualifications its students will have
gained. Even so, Dr. Lewis said,
“His [Dr. Tien] interest at the moment is on building an institution… He
does not appear to be very interested for the moment in building accommodations, and residential
accommodations.”
Former Chief Minister
and Attorney-at-law Mr. David Brandt, who accompanied Dr. Lewis and member of
Parliament Hon. John Wilson said, “it was a constructive meeting, and Dr. Tien
has requested that the Government soon set a time and place that is mutually
convenient for both sides to further discussions and finalize an agreement that
is beneficial to both sides. He is
awaiting a reply from the Government and is very serious about setting up the
school in Montserrat.
LegCo NPLM Browne Champions Suspicions on UK Citizenship
By
Helena Durand
Member of Parliament
Hon. Chedmond Browne has taken his grievances about Montserrat becoming
integrated into the British Empire to the international media.
He expressed
reservations about the British Overseas Territories Bill which was introduced in
the United Kingdom Parliament last week. The Bill, if approved will clear the
way for residents of Montserrat and other Territories to be granted British
citizenship.
Mr. Browne however
sees the move, as an attempt by the British to derail Montserrat’s thrust
towards self determination. Speaking on BBC Caribbean Report, Mr. Browne said,
while the move by the British is seemingly a positive one, and may be in the
best interest of the colonies, there is more to it than meets the eye. “If we
agree to a partnership with Britain, we are in fact supposedly expressing our
right to self determination through free association. So the Partnership in the
connection with the Citizenship, can also be used by the British Government to
say that we have freely chosen to associate with them by accepting their
imposition. So this in itself allows them to argue, legally argue, at United
Nations level, that we are no longer a colony, and if we are no longer a colony,
our pursuit of self determination through the UN Protocol, will no longer be
available to us.” Mr Browne said. He is positive that it is Britain’s wish to evade the
United Nations mandate on decolonization.
"Is
Montserrat Nothing but a White Elephant to Britian?"
Just
before 1995, the British Government having withheld much of its
developmental aid from the John Osborne administration of the 80s,
knew that there was the Colony of Montserrat. They had just promised what
was considered a sizeable sum to the Montserrat through the Reuben Meade
administration which had been in power since 1991, over the next three to five
years.
During all this time
we designed and built our homes, and our institutions. The people and government
of Montserrat decided on infrastructure and other developmental projects.
But the volcanic
crisis brought us to the forefront of Britain's attention and like a warrior
saving a damsel in distress, the mother country Britain admittedly moved in
allocating millions of pounds, spending it only in a manner they know how but at
the same time evacuating more than two thirds of the population.
Unfortunately for
mother England, there was reckoning without the loyalty and resilience of the
remaining Montserratians. Britain soon began to apply pressure of the worst kind
because at all costs, Operation Total evacuation had to be executed and seem
very much still be on the books
They got us to agree
that the crisis is no longer an emergency, enticed the vulnerable ones away from
home, and sought to pressure the government to raise taxes on basic utilities.
threatening to stop budgetary aid when we baulk and we know only too well how
their wheels can grind slowly and how manipulative they can are.
Britain has been so
slow in coming up with infrastructure, now we need to pull ourselves out of the
rut in which we been plunged. Now we wonder if growth will ever come, as we
ourselves help meet our own undoing slowly.
(Four years have gone
by since they have been consulting on the pros and cons of affording us an
airport.) Now we know. Just Tuesday, Britain's local headman seemed to have
given the game away. In a CANA story Head of DFID, Barry Kavanagh, Britain's
representative here, reportedly told CANA that "with the temporary
airstrip, we would be able to judge from LIAT (regional airline) the amount of
traffic to determine if that facility will be more viable." But what he may
have forgotten to say is that the temporary airstrip which Britain wants to give
to us, is one which will only accommodate Short Takeoff And Landing (STAL)
aircraft.
He reportedly
cautioned against unsubstantiated projections about the viability of
constructing a permanent airport, especially since the volcano has not gone back
to sleep. And to further explain why his government refuses to assist Montserrat
to develop to its full potential, CANA reports that Mr. Kavanagh "At the
moment, people are crystal-ball gazing because no one knows how many persons
will return. Who knows, the volcano can blow and we can be left with a huge
white elephant."
What a way for any top
level British representative to describe Montserrat. If that is not letting the
cat out of the bag, what is?
Mr. Kavanagh confirms
the report but claims he did not intend the statements in a bad way, and as
usual believes his words are being taken out of context.
We have contended long
enough that a big part of the problem with the delays and consequent waste of
funds, by themselves and on the themselves has always been because there is a
deep-down feeling that the scientists may not know what they are saying and
somehow not too long from now, they may still get us all to leave the island.
The bad thing about the delays and no real effort to encourage or support
meaningful development, is that it is becoming reality and people are slowly
leaving and that means none coming. Worse is that the people responsible to
negotiate and deal with them seem not to understand this. This idea that they
are spending large sums of money, when little of it really impacts is a definite
lack of understanding of economics. Spend it slowly, provide jobs for
themselves, waste it even, and it cannot leave a mark, certainly not when it
might be lost if the volcano blows us to smatterings, simple as that. Sustain
us, squeeze us into submission and five years, ten years even is nothing as long
as the plan succeeds.
Whatever, Kavanagh's
attempts at damage control now, it is too late for cover-up. Britain, through
its respected representative, whom it listens to for any decision-making
regarding Montserrat, has spoken. Britain may well be seeing Montserrat as a
"huge white elephant" on whom developmental aid would be a
waste of time. Could that be why Britain is now attempting to make British
citizens out of us?
That may not be a bad
thing, and what some will and must obviously need, even when taking into
consideration attempts by some of them to make us half-cast citizens. But just
like American citizenship for all Montserratians on its soils, may spell doom
for Montserrat, so too can British citizenship. We should therefore not be
assisting by spinning and speculating what the majority feel and desire, without
properly explaining the implications. In the end there will be only one winner
and we will not be a part of that team.
Maybe it hopes, that
will keep us quiet. After all, to their mind, why would we complain when we can
call ourselves British citizens, with access to Europe and the world, to work,
play and reside?
Except
for the editorial, opinion articles expressed in these pages are not necessarily
those of the Montserrat Reporter editors, employees or advisers.
Readers are encouraged to submit commentary articles.
All viewpoints, unless libelous, in poor taste, or anonymous, are
welcome. Send your contributions to The Editor, P.O. Box 306,
Olveston, Montserrat, W. I., e-mail: editor@montserratreporter.org.
Manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by a return stamped
envelope. The Montserrat Reporter
is a privately owned independent newspaper.
Jus
Wonderin items may be called in at telephone 491-4715 or Fax 491-2430
Singing
stirs Something Deep In Us
Sing to the Lord a new
song; sing
to the Lord, all you lands.
Psalm
96:1-2
Of
all commands God gave to the Israelites, which command was the most frequently
repeated: repent, believe, forgive, sing? If you said sing, you’re right!
We might wonder, why
was God so intent on having the Israelites sing? Maybe it was because God knew
that singing gets us in touch with our deepest desires, hopes, and feelings. Who
doesn’t get a little emotional when “Danny Boy” is sung at an Irish wake/
Isn’t it difficult to remain sad when a huge chorus begins to sing
Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy?” Who is unmoved when they hear their favorite
love song?
Songs arise from our
deepest selves. They have a way of piercing our very souls. In Scripture, when
individuals felt God’s presence, whether in joy or sorrow, they sang. When the
Israelites marched dry through the Red Sea, they sang. When they were herded off
in exile, they sang. When Mary visited Elizabeth, she sang. It is as if, when we
humans detect that God is near, we can’t keep from singing.
God, give me a sense
of your nearness today. Whether in sorrow or joy, help me to keep singing.
Sr. Melanie Svoboda,
S.N.D.
Acts 15:7-21; Psalm
96:1-3,10; John 15:9-11
British
Citizenship Offer Needs Careful Review
Dear
Mr. Editor:
While
I am sure that you will present your readers with matters relevant to the
British Citizenship bill currently being discussed in the British parliament,
let me not leave to chance that some may miss this.
Some
of the amendments even though at first glance they seem contradictory, they need
careful review.
Insert the following
new Clause—"British overseas territories: rights of British citizens
Any person who qualifies to be recognised as a British citizen under this Act is entitled to receive such rights and benefits as if he were settled in the United Kingdom."
Amendments
2 may actually be in our favor as well as it could mean dissapointment for many. But the grey area it opens up could be a diliberate ploy.
Also
note 12, proposes to give the territories the opportunity to ratify the bill.
why only this one?
The
ministers here have little clue about the proposed amendments. I get the sense
not many are particularly interested – I wonder why.
I
agree that there is work to be done – why are the people not being educated?
Ground
Breaking Ceremony for sporting facility
Yesterday, a nine
member delegation, including Vice President of FIFA, Trinidadian Mr. Austin Jack
Warner, and government officials participated in a ground breaking ceremony at
the site in Blakes, for the newly proposed sporting facility for Montserrat.
The Montserrat
Football Association, in collaboration with FIFA, will construct the facility at
a cost of US$850,000.
The project proposal
was conceptualized by the Montserrat F.A.,
in the wake of volcanic activity which destroyed the island's Sturge Park
in the capital city Plymouth, since 1995.
Montserrat
Tourism product manageable
Product Development
Officer of the Montserrat Tourist Board Mrs. Donna Mae Tuitt, believes that
unlike sister island St. Kitts, Montserrat’s tourism product is manageable.
She made the statement
in a ZJB news broadcast after attending a recent Health and Tourism Workshop in
St. Kitts. She said because
Montserrat is now in the process of developing a tourism product, some of the
problems experienced by other islands such as, environmental hazards and
improper solid waste management can be prevented here.
“We are in a very
good position to get our product started right” she said, because “it is not
too late to get in there and get people to in line with the standards that we
need to put into place.”
One of the problems
experienced in St Kitts she said, is that of having very large hotels, “and
because of the size and amount of land they have, sometimes they end up
encroaching on the beach itself.” We are lucky in many ways in Montserrat. I
think we have a manageable product, which if we all work together should be able
to …come up with a very sustainable product.”
Family Nurse
Practitioner Angela Skerritt who also attended the workshop said the Tourist
Board and the Health Department needed to work together to ensure that
Montserrat avoids the difficulties experienced by the sister islands. She said,
“for a Bed and Breakfast to be registered as a such, there are certain things
that they must meet in terms of the standard, what they are offering people, and
what they charge.
The same thing for
hotels and any other businesses that surround the tourist sector. So because we
don’t have a very huge tourism sector right now, to go and convince and
re-educate, it’s easier for us and the other islands to recognize this. So
they are now encouraging us to try and get our standards in place now, to avoid
some of the problems that crop up.”
Inspector
Foster Praised for Excellent Achievement
By Helena Durand
Inspector Steve Foster
of the Royal Montserrat Police Force has not only completed his under graduate
course at Cave Hill Campus, he has passed and excelled, attaining an Upper
Second Class degree.
Professor Sir Howard
Fergus of the School of Continuing Studies at the University of the West Indies
said in a press release, that Inspector Foster is “a diligent student” and
that he “completed year one of his degree with the UWI School of Continuing
Studies in Montserrat.”
Commissioner of Police
Mr. Alexander Elder expressed pleasure and pride in Inspector Foster’s
achievements. “ I am very
pleased, both for Inspector and Foster and the Royal Montserrat Police Force.
Inspector Foster now has a degree in Management and we are looking forward very
much to his influence in the Force when he returns, using his strategic planning
skills. I also want to encourage fellow officers to make good use of
opportunities for the furtherance of their education .”
Professor Fergus’
release stated also that, since the 1980s, a number of local students “have
taken this route and gone on to perform well at the University in the social
sciences and in law. Three students who have completed the first year of the
degree this academic year, have been offered entry to the UWI campus where they
are expected to graduate in two years.”
Though continually
improving, the distance education programme, Professor Fergus said, is still a
challenge for, “like Inspector Fergus, the students combine work with study.
He has expressed his gratefulness to the local UWI staff for its valuable
support…Inspector Foster was a model distance education student and we hope
more persons including other officers of the Police force will follow his
example. I wish him every success both in his career and in his future studies.
At UWI an Upper Second Class degree is a high mark of academic achievement.”
SYMPOSIUM ON HERBAL MEDICINES IN THE CARIBBEAN
By Dr. Ingrid Buffonge
The 4th International
Symposium on Herbal Medicines in the Caribbean put on by the St. Lucia Division
of Caribbean Association of Researchers and Herbal Practionners (CARAPA) took
place last week (July 19 -22).
The conference was officially
opened on Friday July 20 with speeches by several distinguished guests with the
focus this year on the Intergration of Herbal Medicine into the Health Care
System.
The Honorable Minister of Health of
St. Lucia, Sarah Flood-Beaubrum had very positive views on Herbal Medicine and
was hopeful that integration of Herbal medicines into the Health Care System
would be possible.
The Governor General
of St. Lucia, Dame Pearlette Louisy showed great support and admitted to her own
use of plant therapies. She encouraged that each person should have his own
herbal garden, as was done in years past.
Dr. Stephen King, Head
of the Health Sector Reform Committee of St.Lucia, discussed the fact that
Herbal Medicine is a very lucrative and global industry with great potential,
stressing on the global trend towards Herbal Therapy.
Dr. Seaforth,
Department of Pharmacology, Trinidad, and Member of the CARAPA Executive
Committee, introduced the text, The Principles and Practices of Phytotherapy, by
Simon Mills and Keny Bone; a very informative text which includes information on
interaction with non-herbal medicines.
All speakers praised Dr. Gilbertha St. Rose, President of the St. Lucia division
of CARAPA, for her great efforts in organizing the conference.
There were presentations by International Researchers on specific plant studies.
Jamaican born Professor Errol G. Rhoden of Tuskegee University did a detailed,
very stimulating presentation on Organic Farming. Dr. Uche-Nwachi discussed
experiments at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Trinidad, in which a
water-soluble, heat-labile extract of the unripe fruit of the Mormordica
Charantia (the "Pum-Coolie" Plant) was comparable to insulin and oral
hypoglycemic agents in the control of diabetes in mice. Dr. Ann Walker of The
University of Reading, UK, presented information obtained from various clinical
studies. Ms Sandra Barnes of UWI, Jamaica did a very thorough review of the
Literature which was available on the use of Herbal Medicine in the Caribbean,
from past to present.
The audience included
Herbal Practitioners, users of traditional healing, Medical Doctors,
Pharmacists, Agriculturalists, and other interested persons.
Three young
Pharmacists who just graduated from UWI, Trinidad (Ricardo Mohammed et al)
presented a study which suggested in their Trinidad study that with the
increasing client demand for herbal medicine, there is a need for Pharmacists,
who sold mainly conventional medical products, to increase there knowledge about
Herbal Medicines, particularly as some tended to sell herbal products about
which they knew insufficient information.
The symposium also
included a trip to a Herbarium where medicinal plant species could be identified
and discussed.
At the CARAPA Caribbean Executive meeting held on Saturday July 22nd, Dr.
Gilbertha St. Rose was elected new President of CARAPA Caribbean, replacing Ms
Nerle Robertson of Trinidad.
The 5th International Symposium on Herbal Medicines in The Caribbean is
scheduled to take place in 2002 in Suriname, from June 27th to July 1st. The
theme shall be a continuation of this year`s theme, "Integrating Herbal
Medicine into the Health Care System Part II".
It is hoped that by then there will be a Montserrat Branch of CARAPA.
New
skills workshop for children and teenagers
A three-week workshop
called the 2001 Community Service Department Summit Workshop, opened on Monday
at the Brades Primary School to assist in developing and fine-tuning the skills
of children and young people on Montserrat.
The participants, ages
ranging from 5 and 18 years, are learning skills in such as music, leather
craft, fife playing, screen printing, dance, pottery, tie dye, and batik. The
sessions which are conducted by resource persons from both Montserrat and
overseas are already having positive results as participants display their
products.
One young lady said
“ I am hoping that after this workshop I can use my skills to make a living
for myself. Right now, things are hard and tourism is the in-thing, so if I can
become a professional in what I do, my items can be sold making me
self-employed. That way I won’t have to depend on anyone.”
At the end of the workshop, an exhibition will be mounted to showcase the
talents and items made by the participants.
There are also adult
classes in the evenings from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Interested adults are asked to
register at the Community Services for any of the courses.
Course
to assist Prison Officers move to full-time mode
By Helena Durand
Deputy Superintendent
of Her Majesty’s Prison Mr. Peter White believes the time has come for the
prison on Montserrat to operate as a full prison.
Prison officers on training course
He made this statement
at the official opening of a Refresher’s Course for prison officers here. The
course will look generally at how effective Prison Officers are in their
operations. Mr. White said the course would ensure that the officers were still
capable of carrying their duties safely, diligently and to the best of their
ability. He said the prison have
had to be moved eight times within the last six years since the volcanic crisis
begun, and he is not sure that this is its last move. “It has been a long time
we have not been operating as a full prison” he said, “and there are some
things which we take for granted. We are still doing some things in a temporary
mode because of the crisis, and some things just to suit our temporary location.
The time has come however, for us to shrug off the temporary mode and operate as
a full prison, thus the need for this refresher training.”
Mr. White said prison
officers on Montserrat are in a unique situation as some members of staff and
prison inmates are overseas; and have by default, become
experts in escorting prisoners overseas and dealing with “the ever
complicated paperwork involved in transcripts transferring inmates overseas. We
can give ourselves the title because, we are frequently consulted about the
procedures involved in moving inmates by our colleagues in the Caribbean.”
Head of the
Governor’s office Mr. David Graham who gave the feature address said the
course was crucial to the advancement of Prison Officers careers, and noted that
several training needs have been identified for the officers. “There are
aspects of training such as control and restraint, and suicide prevention, which
are two areas I hope that we from the Governor’s Office will be able to help
with, in some way in coordination with Administration and of course the Prison
here. There are opportunities overseas and in the region for such training. The
basis for a lot of this, is that people are trained and then come back and train
their colleagues with the skills that they have learnt.”
Montserrat
Show off at London Caribbean Expo
By Helena Durand
The Montserrat Booth
at the Caribbean Expo’ being held in London, England is expected to be
accessed by millions of people this weekend, from today Friday until Sunday.
Hon Minister for
Agriculture, Lands, Housing and the Environment, Mrs. Margaret Dyer-Howe, heads
the Montserrat delegation. The island’s representatives will showcase a range
of items and accept potential orders as they promote Montserrat as a key player
in supplying products for a niche market.
Some 700 pounds of
goods from Montserrat were shipped to the exhibition site in Docklands, London.
They included preserves, arts and craft, furniture, literature, music and
investment promotion brochures. Mrs. Dyer-Howe said in an earlier interview,
“Montserrat has the potential to produce quality goods to supply an upscale
market bearing on the cooperative efforts of local entrepreneurs.”
More than 30 local
small businesses contributed to the display through the coordinated efforts of
the Montserrat Arts & Craft Association, which is headed by Rose Willock,
who is part of the delegation.
Although a small
country, Montserrat is expected to optimize its potential and fill orders
received from the exposition through a quota sharing arrangement among the local
small businesses.
Montserrat’s
participation at the Caribbean Expo’ in London was financed by the Government
of Montserrat, the Small Grants Scheme of the Governor’s Office and the
Dominica-based Caribbean Export Development Agency.
The Caribbean
Exposition brings together countries from across the Caribbean for the promotion
of investment, trade and tourism opportunities in the islands.
ECCB
reports on monetary conditions in the Caribbean
By Helena Durand
The 42nd
meeting of the Monetary Council of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB)
took place in Dominica this week.
Eight Council members
attended the meeting, and a communiqué from ECCB states that they noted the
external and domestic factors which influenced monetary and credit conditions in
the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union in recent months. These factors the
communiqué states, included: The significant deterioration in the external
environment. Growth in the major trading partner countries slowed considerably,
and there has been a high degree of volatility in exchange rates, particularly
of the Euro and Sterling. But that, crude oil prices have somehow moderated from
the high levels attained in the year 2000; the adverse influences emanating from
the external environment coupled with severe drought conditions throughout the
currency union led to a sharp fall off in the rate growth of economic activity,
particularly in respect of agricultural production; the slowdown in activity was
attributed to contractions in the agricultural, manufacturing, and construction
sectors where output in the first quarter of the 2001 was estimated to have
fallen by 0.9 per cent, 0.5 per cent and 2.3 percent respectively.
However, activity in
the tourism sector rose marginally, reflecting growth in the cruise passenger
category. Most of the overall growth in activity during the quarter occurred in
government, communication and other services; and tight budgetary conditions
being experienced by a number of governments.
The Council observed
that the month of July 2001 marked a significant milestone in the exchange rate
policy of the currency union, as it is now 25 years since the decision was taken
to shift from an exchange rate peg with sterling to one with the US dollar.
Because the Council
agreed that the exchange rate arrangement has served the countries well in the
past, it reaffirmed its commitment to the intervention rate of EC$2.70 to the US
dollar. It also agreed that in order to ensure sustained growth and development
within the fixed exchange rate arrangement, measures should be implemented to
enhance the flexibility with which labour and product markets respond to
structural changes in the economies. These measures include, the removal of
administrative and legal impediments; the introduction of measures to increase
worker productivity in order to improve the competitiveness of the economies;
and pursuit of a wage policy which would reflect productivity levels.
In an effort to effect
a positive impact on the economies, the Council agreed on a strategy to improve
the performance of the tourism industry in which there is currently low
occupancy, and recommended a three-pronged approach focusing on – the tourism
product, a major marketing campaign and airlift.
The Council also
supported the view that, the indigenous banks in the region should seek to
consolidate their operations in order to meet the challenges of the evolving
financial environment.
Free
Travel for OECS nationals on the Cards
A proposal for the
freeing up of inter-island travel among nationals of the Organisation of Eastern
Caribbean States, is among wide-ranging issues that will occupy sub-regional
leaders when they meet in Dominica this week.
Heads of the
nine-member grouping will also seek to agree on a long-range vision for member
states whether as separate states or as a more cohesive body.
OECS countries began
seriously looking at the possibility of a political union more than a decade
ago, following a plea by former St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister
Sir James Mitchell.
The move went as far
as holding what was known as Regional Constituent Assemblies in the Windward
Islands where various shades of opinion came together to discuss the issue and
to chart the way forward.
The initiative foundered amid the apparent reluctance by some of the countries
to take the next step.
600
telemarketing jobs Vincentians at Call Centre
St.Vincent,
CANA - A recruitment drive has begun in St Vincent and the Grenadines for the
first batch of 340 telemarketers, following the signing of an agreement to
establish the first call centre on mainland St Vincent.
The revised agreement
was signed on Monday between the government and the Grenada-based Caribbean
Information Technologies Limited.
It will provide for
the employment of 600 Vincentians in two call centres, the first of which will
begin operations from October 1 this year, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves who
signed on behalf of the government said.
Call Centres St
Vincent Limited is the name of the company that will handle the local leg of the
operations in which the government has invested US$1.24 million.
The first call centre
will be located at Arnos Vale, just under a 10 minute drive from the capital,
Kingstown, while the other is set to open next January in the depressed
community of Georgetown, 24 miles north of Kingstown. It will employ about 260
workers.
Dr Gonsalves said the
original agreement, signed by the former adminstration of Arnhim Eustace with
Call Centres of Grenada, had to be revised as it "was not the most
efficacious in all the circumstances."
Among the changes made
were a reduction in the government's investment from US$1.4 million to US$1.24
million, an increase of 20 per cent in the government's stake in the enterprise
which now stands at 60 per cent, and a reversal of the decision that all taxes
would be waived.
Information technology
is one of the areas targeted by the government for creation of jobs for young
people who comprise the bulk of the unemployed, which the government, while in
opposition, had said amounted to as much as 40 per cent of the labour force.
Joel Providence,
chairman of the Development Corporation, the government's revamped point agency
for pursuing investment opportunities, said it was hoping to generate employment
for up to 3,000 people over the next three years in the telecommunications
industry.
Caribbean
Ambassadors thank US Congresswoman for saving bananas
Ambassadors from the
English-speaking Caribbean and Haiti, in the US capital, held a tribute
breakfast in honour of US Congresswoman Maxine Waters on Wednesday morning, July
25, 2001, at the Congressional Office Building in Washington.
The Congresswoman played
an instrumental role, during the last five years of the Clinton administration,
in focusing the attention of the US Congress on the plight which Caribbean
banana farmers faced with the possible loss of their markets in Europe.
President Clinton’s Trade Representative had challenged the system under which
bananas from the Caribbean were sold in Europe. However, since the Bush
administration took office, seven months ago, it has reversed the Clinton policy
and has made it possible for Caribbean bananas to continue to be sold in Europe
for at least five more years.
“Although Antigua and
Barbuda is not an exporter of bananas, we understood the importance of OECS
export earnings and the link between exports and the value of our currency, the
EC dollar,” Ambassador Hurst explained. “Maxine Waters stood with the
Caribbean during the period when the Clinton administration threatened our
markets in Europe, and we just had to thank her publicly,” the Ambassador
concluded.
During the breakfast
ceremony, Ambassador Johnny of St. Lucia heaped praises and thanks on the
Congresswoman for her courage and unstinting support. She presented the
Congresswoman with a beautiful painting of a banana field in a Caribbean
setting. The Ambassador of Jamaica also spoke, as did the head of the public
relations firm. Other members of the US Congress also attended the function,
including the Congresswoman from the US Virgin Islands. Present also was the
lawyer who advised the countries on the best strategies to take.
Congresswoman Waters
declared that “the banana dispute, which has been so detrimental to the small
banana producers of the Caribbean is finally over…If the United States had
insisted on implementing a tariff-only system immediately, the Caribbean banana
farmers would have been completely wiped out, and the impact on the economies of
the Caribbean would have been devastating,” the Congresswoman said. “I am
grateful to all of my colleagues who have worked with me over the past five
years to end this dispute,” Congresswoman Maxine Waters declared.
Congresswoman Maxine
Waters is one of thirty members of the Congressional Black Caucus and is a
Democrat.
Caribbean
nations vote against Whale Sanctuaries
The International
Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting got under way in London Monday morning, while
fishermen in Eastern Caribbean islands expressed fear for their lives and
concern about their safety at sea.
A ship manned by an
anti-whaling group was escorted out of St. Lucia's waters because the crew was
harassing fishermen, the government said Wednesday.
The
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, known for ramming whaling ships and
sabotaging poachers' nets, has been using the 180-foot Ocean Warrior to patrol
off Caribbean nations where whales are still hunted.
The coast guard ordered the vessel out of St. Lucia's waters
Monday
night after allegations the crew was bothering fisherman, said Earl Bousquet, a
spokesman for Prime Minister Kenny Anthony.
Sea Shepherd spokesman
Andrew Christie said by phone from the group's Malibu, Calif., base that the
crew was only photographing fishermen. The group claims one of the fishermen
killed a young pilot whale last week.
Sea Shepherd is no longer welcome at International Whaling
Commission meetings because of allegations it uses aggressive tactics. Painted
on the side of the Ocean Warrior are the names of nine whaling vessels the group
claims to have sunk since 1979.
The ship has been touring the region to call attention to whaling practices as
the whaling commission held its annual convention this week in London.
Meanwhile emotions ran high amidst veiled charges of colonialism, vote-buying
and selling and sharp exchanges of views but when the votes were counted, six
Caribbean
nations had voted with
Japan and Norway to defeat the creation of whale sanctuaries in the southern
Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Prior to this Japan's
top spokesman on whaling admitted last week that his Government had bribed
smaller countries to side with it on the whaling issue.
CSME
to be fully operational before FTAA
Antigua, July 23, CANA
- The Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) of the 15-nation CARICOM trade
grouping is expected to become fully operational before 2006, just when the Free
Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) is expected to be a legal reality, a top
official said Monday.
Addressing the opening of the Third Meeting of the Working
Group on Services Negotiations being held here, Deputy Secretary General of the
Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) for Regional Trade and Economic
Integration Byron Blake noted that the leaders earlier this month mandated that
CSME negotiations be completed by the end of 2001.
The 22nd meeting of CARICOM leaders held in the Bahamas also
agreed that the various trade and economic programmes would be established so
that all restrictions would be removed by the end of 2005.
"The CARICOM Single Market and Economy should not only be
a legal reality, that is, we should not only have the legal and institutional
structures in place, that is, it should be a fully operational reality before
the Free Trade Area of the Americas becomes a legal reality," Blake said.
The Third Summit of the Americas in Canada last April decided
that negotiations for the FTAA should be completed by the end of 2004 so the
hemispheric trade bloc could become a legal reality at the beginning of 2006.
Because of the need to achieve the 2006 legal target date,
Blake urged that negotiations "must begin in earnest" in May 2002.
"This suggests that CARICOM must have clear negotiating
positions and understands its options and the likely impacts of certain
positions before May 2002," the Deputy CARICOM Secretary General said.
He noted that internal and external pressures like targets set
by the Summit of the Americas and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have seen
CARICOM hastening its pace of negotiations since the last year's meeting of
service negotiations.
According to Blake, the "big challenges" of the July
23 to 27 meeting of the Working Group on Services Negotiations is forging ahead
with the removal of restrictions under Protocol Two of the CARICOM Treaty of
Chaguaramas, dealing with Rights of Establishment, Services and Capital, and
mapping out a regional position for external services negotiations with the FTAA
and the WTO.
The delegates from the CARICOM member states, other regional
institutions as well as member governments will be looking at how existing
restrictions can be modified or scrapped.
"We have a full listing of all the measures in each
member state which treat nationals of all member states differently from the way
they treat nationals of the particular member state," Blake said.
"We have some, not a large number, but some broad-based
and critical restrictions which will test our ingenuity," he added.
The restrictions include work permits, alien land-holding,
foreign exchange controls as well as other key sectors like air and maritime
transportation, financial services and telecommunications that are critical to
both regional and external negotiations.
From this meeting, outstanding policy issues are expected to
be resolved by a joint meeting of CARICOM's Council for Finance and Planning
(COFAP) and the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on September
7 followed by a joint meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development
and COTED on September 8.
Recommendations from the Second Meeting of the Working Group
on Services Negotiations that was held here last year were accepted by a
regional consultation on the SME and the Intersessional Meeting of CARICOM
leaders held earlier this year.
Although The Bahamas is not a member of the Common Market,
that country is among those represented at the meeting.
The other member states of CARICOM are Antigua and Barbuda,
Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and
Nevis, St. Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and
Tobago.
Excepting Montserrat, which is a British dependency, the other
CARICOM member states also number among the 34 countries Caribbean and the
Americas that are of the FTAA process.
The idea of the FTAA was born at the 1994 Summit of the
Americas to integrate the economies of the Western Hemisphere into a single free
trade arrangement.
CARICOM represents a market of over six million people
creating an economy of over US$3 billion.
Dilapidated
Buildings a Concern to Government
GREAT BAY, St.
Maarten (GIS) - The Executive Council in a recent meeting discussed the
situation of dilapidated buildings on the island, and the threats posed to the
public and the economy of the nation.
The Council is
very concerned with unsightly buildings that pose a threat to public health, are
fire hazards as well as a threat to property in respect to the hurricane season
where debris become flying missiles endangering humans, homes, and
businesses.
The Council has
legal counsel looking into the situation at Mullet Bay, in relation to what
further steps can be taken by the Island Government.
Teenager beheaded in freak accident
Trinidad, CANA - A
16-year old Trinidadian was
beheaded during a freak accident on Tuesday, radio reports have said.
The reports said that Sanjay Rattan of Fyzabad in the southern region was
cutting grass with another man when the incident took place. Rattan was using
what is known as a "brushing cutlass", when the sharpened blade became
loose from the wooden handle after it struck a steel object.
Rattan was hit on the neck with the blade which severed his head from his body.
New
chief operations officer appointed by WICB
Antigua, CANA - Michael Hall has been
appointed as the West Indies Cricket Board's new chief operations officer.
Hall has a strong
background in sports development and business having been general manager of the
Sports Development Foundation in his homeland Jamaica.
Prior to this, he worked in various banking and financial institutions,
including spending three years as chief financial officer at George &
Branday Ltd., where he was responsible for all investment and financial
decisions in the bank.
Commenting on his appointment, Hall said he hoped to bring his organisational,
analytical and financial skills to bear on his new role.
"Cricket operations is a critical part of the activities of any board and
the WICB is no different," Hall said.
"With the proposed new corporate structure envisaged for the WICB, the
opportunity exists for the establishment of policies and procedures governing a
number of crucial areas.
"They include
playing conditions for tours both home and away, player contracts and welfare
and, increasingly importantly, the setting of fixtures for tours and regional
competitions."
The new chief
operations officer reasoned that cricket has to be seen as more than just a game
and that a major part of its development should be business-focussed.
To this extent, he
noted that sponsorship and exploring opportunities for showcasing cricket as a
tourist attraction - for example, cricket cruises - should continue to be among
the WICB's priorities.
"I am committed to working with all the stakeholders of West Indies cricket
to achieve these goals and, in doing so, hopefully play my role in the common
goal of returning West Indies cricket Hall's post has been established as part
of the WICB's restructuring and covers part of the portfolio of executive
secretary Andrew Sealy, whose position will be made redundant effective July 29.
Sealy is currently on vacation.
Jamaica
trys to counter negative publicity
MIAMI,
(Reuters) - Jamaica has launched a multimillion dollar ad campaign to counter
negative publicity from violent clashes that killed at least 25 people in
Kingston's inner city, industry officials said.
More
than 1 million tourists spent $1.3 billion last year on the Caribbean island
famous for hedonistic resorts and reggae icon Bob Marley, tourism officials
said.
But
Jamaica's sun-splashed image was tarnished in early July by three days of fierce
gun battles between residents and security forces in the gang-infested slums of
West Kingston. Prime Minister P.J. Patterson ultimately called out the army to
restore order as international journalists sent images around the globe of
soldiers
and tanks in the streets.
In
response, the Jamaican government has approved an initial $5million for
"Operation Grow," a tourism campaign based in part on Marley's anthem
"One Love."
As
part of the campaign, television advertisements began running this week in the
United States, which accounts for 71 percent of the island's tourists.
Massive!
The victory over light-weight Zimbabwe was massive. And this will do the West
Indies team’s confidence a world of good. While the measure of the opponent is
an important consideration, it is the victories in small battles that prepare
the army for the victories in big battles. Moreover, each victory gives the
impetus for the next encounter.
It is worth noting that the growth and
development of the new-look West Indies team has been evident. Its upward growth
started with a 130-run win over the powerful South African at Sabina Park,
Kingston, Jamaica in the fifth Test on April 19-23, 2001; it was followed by an
upset victory by 16 runs against India, the tournament favourite in the Coca
Cola Cup Final at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe, on July 7, 2001 (I do not
like to link Test performances with one-day performances but the larger
compliment of the West Indies one-day team is made up of Test players); and
culminated in a dominating performance over Zimbabwe in the first of the
two-Test series at the Queen’s Sports Club, Balawayo, Zimbabwe on July 19-22,
2001.
Shortly after tea on July 22nd, West
Indies completed the demolition job – wrapping up a one-sided victory over
Zimbabwe by an innings and 176 runs. Zimbabwe looked good with a superb opening
partnership, of 164 runs but collapsed under the Windies pressure. Their last
eight wickets surrendered for a mere 64 runs. Zimbabwe 155 and 228 lost by an
innings to West Indies 559 for 6 declared, with centuries from Chris Gayle (175)
and Carl Hooper (149) and half centuries from Darren Ganga (89) and Ramnaresh
Sarwan (58).
The stand between Alistair Campbell (103) and
Dion Ebrahim was broken in unfortunate circumstances at 164 when Dion Ebrahim
(71) was beaten on the back foot by a ball from Colin Stuart that appeared to be
going over the top of the stumps, and given out leg-before-wicket by Zimbabwean
umpire I D Robinson. This was the only resistance to the West Indian assault.
For 227 minutes the West Indian advance was been held up. The openers scored
more than their entire team in the first innings.
It was a clinical victory for West Indies and a
humiliating defeat for Zimbabwe, which came in the second over after tea, as
Raymond Price (four) was out to a brilliant catch by the substitute, Leon
Garrick at short leg, leaving Guy Whittall unbeaten on 10 off 64 balls. Reon
King was the main destroyer with 6 wickets for 98 runs in the match. Chris
Gayle, the Jamaican opening batsman was adjudged the Man-of-the Match.
The
cricketing developments since March this year – the selection of Carl Hooper
as captain, the departure the great fast bowler Courtney Walsh, the investment
in young talented but inexperienced cricketers - have no doubt signalled a new
era in West Indian cricket. Like the Caribbean economies which are in the
process of adjusting to the global economy driven by liberalization and
globalisation, the West Indies cricket team is undergoing a structural
adjustment that is so necessary for transformation. The adjustment pains will be
prolonged but we are definitely on the path to developing a winning team – an
internationally competitive team.
The
leadership issue has not yet being resolved, as Carl Hooper is definitely not
the ideal typical long-term leadership solution. But we would possibly have his
invaluable services for at least five years, in which time we should see the
emergence of a mature and discipline young warrior and ambassador. With a
functional succession plan, we should be able to groom a young man, possibly
Indo-Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan, the young batting potential or young
Afro-Jamaican Marlon Samuels, the fearless and resilient batting potential.
These two are youngsters with good heads on their shoulders.
The
batting stock (Darren Ganga, Wavell Hinds, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and
Marlon Samuels and Leon Garrick) looks promising, and there are a number of
talented young batsmen in reserve. Ricardo Powell leads the reserve stock, which
includes Tonito Willett, Narsingh Deonarine, Azemul Haniff, Travis Dowlin, Romel
Currency, Devon Smith and Alex Adams. And there are still many other talented
ones who are determined to give their services in the cause of the Caribbean
nation. It is however unfortunate that we may have lost the talented Nevisian,
Runako Morton.
The
bowling “cupboard” is a cause for concern. However the cupboard is not as
bare as we have often lamented. Even if we were against a light-weight team
(Zimbabwe), even in the absence of the “fearsome two-some” Curtly Ambrose
and Courtney Walsh, and even in the absence of the leading foot soldiers
(Cameron Cuffy and Mervyn Dillon), the reserve seamers, Reon King, Pedro Collins
and Colin Stuart exhibited the discipline required to cut down Zimbabwe to size.
And
in the absence of the senior spinner, Trinidadian Dinanath Ramnarine, Guyanese
Neil McGarrell delivered the goods on a batting paradise. The seamers and the
spinners limited the deficient Zimbabweans to scores of 155 and 228.
Apart
from the concerns over the WICB administration under the tired but vibrant Wes
Hall (President), the most urgent need is for a functional coach approach to
reduce the nagging problems of injury in the team.
Marvellous!
And best wishes for this weekend encounter.
Peter
Adrien is a syndicated sports analyst and a freelance photographer. He can be
contacted via telephone (869) 465-4813 or E-mail: Adriens@caribsurf.com
PHOTO
CAPTION: Chris
Gayle came of age (Photo: Peter Adrien)
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The Proposed UK Citizenship Status for British Overseas Territories including Montserrat
By
Professor Howard Fergus
I
have been invited to comment on the issue of UK citizenship for Montserratians
and therefore offer these observations as a citizen of Montserrat and a UWI
academic.
I
do not necessarily share the view that the British Government has ulterior
motives in granting us British citizenship which carries the right of abode in
the United Kingdom and by extension in Europe, hopefully. In fact, the rest of
the 150,000 souls in British Overseas territories have Montserrat to thank for
whatever benefits the new status brings; for it was our crisis and plight that
dramatized the disadvantageous situation under which supposed British subjects
lived in these colonial outposts, and led in part to the new development.
Montserratians
have long regarded the deprivation of the right to live and work in the UK as
discrimination. During an earlier term as Chief Minister, Mr. John Osborne
agitated about it and continually compared the citizen status of Montserratians
with that of the people of Gibraltar and the Falklands who enjoyed special
privileges with and in the UK. The comparison was also extended to Guadeloupe
and Martinique which are departments of France and whose citizens enjoyed the
same legal rights as persons in metropolitan France. In reply to queries, the
British tended to use the relatively large population of Hong Kong as a partial
excuse. So really, this particular fall-out of the eruption was long desired by
Montserratians.
Evidently
not everyone welcomes the new status, but the vast majority does, and I have
encountered irate persons who are impatient with anyone who suggests that we
should not take the offer. While I do not anticipate any major efflux of our
people to the UK, they will wish to enjoy certain benefits related to healthcare
and education and other options which come with the new status. A number of
Montserratians who have lived abroad are busy trying to obtain Montserratian
passports for their children who are not Montserratians, in order to secure for
them the new rights and entitlements.
In
my view, what we need to be concerned about is not whether we will be able to
attain independence. The collapse of our economy and the consequent utter
dependence on the British have already setback any independence agenda that
there might have been. And this optional British citizenship which is on offer,
does not prevent the people of Montserrat from gaining independence, if that is
their constitutionally expressed wish. What we really need to be concerned about
is the scope of the citizenship package that we will receive. If, for instance,
Baroness Rawlings of the House of Lords has her way, “the rules governing
European Union citizenship and member states of the European Community shall not
extend to British overseas territories citizens who claim British
citizenship”. This is precisely one of her proposed amendments to the Bill and
it can only mean, if it is carried, that we will not have the right of abode in
Europe.
Whether
or not our people desire to live and work in Europe, I hope we strenuously
resist that level of offer. It will be tantamount, in my view, to an offer to
become an inferior subset of British citizens. The name of discrimination will
have been written all over this long desired right. It may still be a blessing,
but one that is damaging to our self-respect. I hope the British parliament does
not allow this to happen. Members of the ilk of the more understanding Baroness
Young must reject the attempt by Baroness Rawlings to assign to us an inferior
status.
This,
I suggest, may be the real issue and not independence. Not that I do not believe
in self-determination and independence for the future; I am a student of
history, but I am a realist. There is certainly some wisdom in this entry in the
2001 manifesto of the New PLM: “The New PLM does not intend to pursue
independence at this time”.
Finally,
it is significant that Baroness Rawlings is proposing that the Act not come into
force in a territory until the territory itself ratifies it. We may have to be
careful what we ratify.
By
Justin ‘Hero’ Cassell
(Agricultural
Development Officer)
“EAT
FROM THE LAND, NOT FROM THE CAN”
An
Important Evening for Farmers
The Department of Agriculture has initiated a
process of reviewing its Extension programme with the aim of empowering farmers
and improving its delivery.
In this respect a symposium would be held on
August 1, 2001 at the Methodist Church Centre in Cavalla Hill from
6:00pm.
The aim of this
symposium is for farmers to identify and prioritize their training needs.
All farmers are kindly invited to attend and play an active role in the
decision making process.
Transportation to and from the venue will be
provided. Pick up time is 5:15pm
from Salem and 5:30pm from St Johns.
Peter White’s bus number H 2117 will travel
from Lookout through Geralds, Sweeney’s and St Johns.
Georgies bus H 1236 will travel from Upper
Friths, through Salem Centre,
St Peters, Cudjoe Head Centre and Baker Hill.
Irrigation
Project Update
Phase 1 of the Irrigation Project involving
identification and excavation of dam sites is well on the way.
So far six sites have been identified.
Excavation begun on Wednesday July 24th, three sites will be
excavated initially and soil testing carried out.
In terms of the Backyard gardening component of
the project, equipment procurement is in progress.
Hope for
the Future in Agriculture
The lost of hundreds of acres of productive
agricultural land in the south of the island and the migration of farmers of all
ages have given reason to speculate that there is no future in agriculture.
None of us will deny the devastating impact, which the volcanic crisis
has had on the sector. The fact
remains that the focus must be on the future.
Crop farmers are staggering to make a living from agricultural
production. Crop production is only
30% of that of the pre-volcanic times and supplies are well below the domestic
demand for local produce.
Farmers are therefore heartened by the
implementation of the Irrigation and Extension Projects, these projects will
enable them to increase their productivity and enhance farm incomes.
"THE
BOAT RIDE" PART I
It was an awful
boat ride.
Saturday, August 30,
1997, 1 accompanied my dear friend to Antigua, via
the ferry from Little Bay. 0n that day I had an experience which words
cannot adequately describe. It was that trip, which caused me to get a glimpse
of what the volcano had done to Montserratians.
Although
Montserratians had been leaving the island by the boat since the June '97
eruption, up to that Saturday morning, I had not gone to Little Bay to witness
the evacuation or even to say farewell to anyone. Selfishly, I had been too
preoccupied settling Claims. But what an experience I had that day.
Honestly, I was not
prepared for what I saw. People! People! My goodness, there were people at
Little Bay. Some were leaving, while others were there to say farewell. But even
before the boat departed for Antigua, people seemed to be dressed in clothes for
the English weather. Children were dressed in thick denim jackets. Mothers with
pullovers and sweaters on their arms; as if to distinguish themselves from those
who were staying behind.
There were suitcases -
and carry-on luggage of all sizes and shapes. Plenty luggage; big, big valises,
some too heavy for the handlers. Departure was delayed. I can't even remember if
the loading of so much luggage on the boat was the cause of the delay, but the
trip departed about one hour later than scheduled.
The trip "the
boat ride" was horrible. It was a very slow boat. Maybe designed to carry
both passengers and cargo; but whatever the cause, the trip took over three
hours to reach Antigua.
Could you imagine the
Ride? Many persons became seasick. 0n the trip, there were mothers, fathers,
children and grandparents. Mothers with fear in their eyes. Mothers fearing
London the unknown, yet, still sailing away from Montserrat; and clutching to
them, children who were crying and vomiting. Some mothers, themselves suffering
from nausea, yet trying to comfort their sea sick children.
Fathers, not yet
forlorn, yet looking forlorn. Fathers, some only taking the boat ride to Antigua
to see their family off at V.C. Bird Airport.
Yes, it was there on
that Boat ride, August 30, 1997 that I really felt the impact of the volcano on
us Montserratians. It was only then that I clearly saw the split-up of families
as more severe than pyroclastic flows to one's un-occupied house.
On arrival at St
John's Antigua, the unloading and the sorting of the luggage took another hour.
Then the hustle with taxi's began. And, the Boat ride continued in a different
form.
As I mentioned at the
beginning, I was just accompanying my dear fried to Antigua. Only a few days
before the trip we hastily agreed that she should go to England. So the trip was
to enable her to go to St Marteen to collect and to prepare her children for the
onward journey to the U.K. However, because of the three hours and more which it
took for the boat to reach Antigua, plus the time to clear Customs and
Immigration we had to hustle to the airport in order for her to catch the flight
to St Marteen. As a result we did not get time to fine-tune our plans.
Muma! After checking
her in, I realised that I was really saying goodbye to my friend. Then she
turned at the departure lounge gate to say so long. And whatever she saw in my
face, caused her only to mumble, "John you mean this is the end." And
both of us broke down and cried, maybe, we even bawled. That was just another
episode of the Boat ride.
Three weeks later, I
journeyed to St Marteen this time the "Boat ride" was via helicopter
to Antigua.
As I said before, the
decision for my friend to go to the U.K. was hastily agreed upon. She had no one
in the U.K. therefore my task was to find one of my relatives who was willing to
receive her and to help her settle in the U.K.
My visit to St Marteen
then, was to take the evacuation airline tickets to her and to explain the
details of the willing relatives who had consented to take her in. I also had to
be sure that my dear friend and her children were prepared emotionally and
otherwise for the "Boat ride" to the U.K.
I should be
embarrassed to say this; But the truth is, if I was in St Marteen for 72 hours,
I cried for 70 of those hours. You see "the Boat ride" splitting up of
a relationship or saying farewell, or goodbye was not easy. I was never able to
look at the children without crying. Yes, they looked glad to be going to
England. But I felt badly, sending them out to an unknown destiny.
Again, words will
never be adequate enough to describe the feelings of pain and sadness with which
we journeyed from St Marteen to Antigua on September 25, 1997, the day of
departure to London. All I shall say is that we spent the day in quiet
desperation, as the mother and I tearfully vented emotions over the impending
split up of our relationship.
At V.C. Bird
International Airport, as departure time for London got close, I refused to cry
anymore. Well, I did not want the children to see me crying; especially as they
looked so happy. So I walked away from them and asked "Monkey Eric" to
take me for a spin. I hoped that by the time I returned, they would have gone
through to the departure lounge. But I was so wrong; because when I returned,
even though the intercom was calling all passengers for B.A flight to Heathrow
London - they were waiting.
Yes there they were,
still standing outside, one woman with one child on the left and another on the
right waiting, refusing to leave before saying one final goodbye. Eventually
after mumbled and hurried goodbye hugs, they went through to the departure
lounge, the children lounging forward, dragging their mother with them. The
children, of course, oblivious to their fate in a hostel.
Then, only then, after
they went through the gate, teary eyed I went to telephone to call my cousins in
the U.K. I called them to describe the woman and two children that I sent to
them.
I tried as best as I
could to describe the clothing my friend and her children should be wearing when
the plane arrived at Heathrow Airport. You see, my cousins and my dear friend
had never before met or heard of each other.
The Boat ride,
continued. The following week my co-worker was leaving for the U.K too. This
time I could not endure another farewell party. I was still suffering from
"Bawl and cry" hangover. I could not re-live the experience so soon. I
excused myself from her farewell party and went to Little Bay instead, to pick
up my neighbours' children who came for her funeral.
And there is more; Yes
much more. How many people could remember the horrendous telephone bills, which
accumulated as they tried to comfort their loved ones by long distance. How
about recalling, how you tried to give assurance from Montserrat to a dear
friend in the U.K. cold, frightened and lonely in a Hostel room.
Yes, such was the Boat ride for me. Can you reflect, and reminisce? If you cannot reflect, then learn our experiences; and recognise that worse than pyroclastic flows, was the splitting up of families and loved ones. Today 2001, recognise that behind the seemingly confident looking faces -Many Montserratians have been irreparably scarred by the evacuation. And even 4 years after the evacuation to the U.K, every now and then, some where deep inside we cry, because we are still on the "Boat ride", where the water continues to be rough and unsailable.
Risk Reassessment (12/1/01)
Our hazard review is about
How many "what ifs" we can tout;
Now as we enlighten
We don't want to frighten,
But we must not diminish the doubt.
Morning Ferry (26/1/01)
Arriving in Heritage Quay
Is hardly a fait
accompli.
Despite Lester Bird,
Forget what you've heard,
You might not debark until 3.
Jus wonderin why some
women want to make money de easy way but don’t want fe share de faith dem ha.
Jus wonderin if money
grow pan tree, wha mek oman tink they can put dem hand pan um easy so.
Jus wonderin wha mek
dem women dey a stoop so low.
Jus wonderin wha is de
secret about de back road, wha mek so many cars a go dey by night.
Jus wonderin about a
certain young officer way he get all of his energy from.
Jus wonderin if me get
catch wid me hand in de honeypot, and de gal get caught wid she hand wrap around
de pod stick, wha she and me a go do.
Jus wonderin about it
in de fast lane.
Jus wonderin if dog
and cat coulda talk, men and women would do what?
Jus wonderin about de
fellow wid dem woman, but he still want Mary, Jane and Janet.
Jus wonderin wha
happen about de HIV/AIDS dat dem say we should be aware of, but we
Montserratians no kay because we bat left, right and centre and no middle
stumps.
Jus wonderin why cry
over spill milk, when you can cook your beef and eat it.
Jus wonderin why dem
young gal love fe beg so and when you beg back, dem love fe hand out dem hand
fer money.
Jus wonderin if me by
one tractor if me will get de gal dem like de sport car man and dem.
Jus wonderin if a song
can touch the heart and mek you cry, wha a few words can also do.
Jus wonderin again
about wha de Government a go do about de damn cattle and dem way a destroy de
people dem garden wey dem wok so hard pan.
Jus wonderin out loud
about the love that we are missin.
Jus wonderin if dem
build de airport dey a Old Cow, dey will change de name to something else.
Jus wonderin how now a
days man help hafo pay $700.00 fe love.
Jus wonderin wey de
fan does get he gossip from.
Jus' wonderin' which
utility company staff come to work wid a pant leg pan she head and look
glamourous too!
Jus' wonderin' if is
wan new fashun!
Jus wonderin why some
people in agriculture, the chap
always have that kind of
wife-trouble.
Jus wonderin why their
affairs catching so much public attention - seeds – dressing!
Jus wonderin why the
airline workers did not report the abuse also during the weekend of Black
Friday, and stop say this and still accepting that.
Jus wonderin if people
don’t want their names in people’s mouth that they must stop doin what they
doin and stop tryin to impress
other people.
Jus wonderin why kids
ask so many questions and some hate to do chores around the house.
Jus wonderin if the
GOM think it is all right and they have to hide everything.
Jus wonderin if they
don’t know that the more the people know, the more support they get.
Jus wonderin why some
fathers are really so irresponsible.
Jus wonderin if it is
neat to say Frinight instead of
Friday night, why not?
Jus wonderin what is
the hurry with these young girls and why the parents and the police don’t lock
up these men.
Jus wonderin if some
these people who send in sex jus wonderins is all they think about and
especially people personal and domestic business.
Jus wonderin if they
know that is not what jus wonderin is all about.
Jus Wonderin what you call a man who collects a fat government paycheck and does NO work.
Jus Wonderin if that isn't the same as thieving.
Jus Wonderin if he pay any of that easy money to the Reporter for publishing his opinions
Jus Wonderin if anybody would recommend him for anything other than Loafing.
Jus Wonderin what
makes Mr 'Won't-Go-Work' think he is fit to pass judgement on anybody.
Forward all Questions, Comments and Suggestions to: editor@montserratreporter.org
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