.

Fire Destroys Sections Of Delta Fuel Terminal

By Merrick Andrews and Bennette Roach

Delta's Fire Station switch and pump house

A fire of unknown origin damaged several sections of the Delta Petroleum terminal at Carr’s Bay on Monday, July 1.

Police reported that a passerby, Mr. Rodney Rolle, spotted the fire at around 4:15 a.m.
and alerted neighbors, who then called the Fire Department, whose members extinguished the blaze within minutes.
The fire was confined to the pump house station, which provides water to the emergency sprinkler system, according to police reports.
The main engine for the fire pump, the controller, jockey pump and the main switchgear were damaged in the fire, but costs of the damage could not be ascertained from officials up to press time.
According to sources the fuel depot, which was built with DFID funds, is owned by the government and leased to Delta Petroleum, but is not insured.
A 24,000-gallon water tank, which is connected to the system and delivers 750 gallons of water per minute, was not damaged.
Police say they suspect no foul play, and it is speculated that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.
However, Delta officials said they are awaiting technicians from Damus Ltd. of Trinidad to assist with the investigation.
“Everything is back to normal. There is no need to panic,” said a Delta official.

Manager Jeff Novoa, commenting on the fire, said he is indeed grateful to Mr. Rolle for acting with the urgency he did in reporting it. Mr. Novoa also complimented the fire fighters, who, he said, had the fire well under control before 5:00 a.m.

Meanwhile, questions are now being raised as to who will pay for the damage and for replacing the equipment lost.
Informed sources said the question was raised because the property is uninsured and an official lease agreement is yet to be signed with the owning Government of Montserrat.
“There is a lease agreement that has been at the AG’s (Attorney General’s) office for the longest while,” one source said. “But these things take time.”

Montserrat Police Force Promotes Seven Officers

L to R: Steve Foster, Ivan Duberry, Ezra Greer, Derona Semper, Albert Williams, Bennet Kirwan

Former Chairman of the Police Welfare Association Steve Foster was promoted from the rank of Inspector to Superintendent of Police as the Royal Montserrat Police Force elevated the ranks of seven officers.
The official appointments were announced at the Commissioner’s Parade on Friday.
Mr. Foster, 37, who was an Inspector for three years, stepped into the police force as a Constable in 1994 and swiftly moved up the ranks.
He successfully pursued a degree in management and a certificate in public administration from the University of the West Indies and was commended twice in recent years for his devotion to duty.
Commissioner of Police John Douglas said Mr. Foster has the “capacity and ability to go forward” and he looks forward to his support.
Promoted from Sergeant to Inspector are Ivan Duberry and Ezra Greer.
The officers who were promoted to the rank of Sergeant are: Constables Bennet Kirwan, Albert Williams and Ottley Laborde and Woman Constable Derona Semper.
Applicants for the promotion to Superintendent appeared before the Public Service Commission (PSC), while the applicants for Inspector appeared before a semi-Board Commission, which comprises one police officer and two senior civil servants. This Board then made their recommendations to the PSC.

On the other hand, Constables who wanted to be promoted to Sergeants underwent a 10-week course, which involved theory projects and assignments.
The participants in the course also did a final exam with a pass mark of 60 percent, and appeared before an interview Board, comprising the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent and an Inspector.

The promotions followed much speculation and questions from the public. Observers have noted that some officers who have acted as Sergeants in the past three years and said to be “in waiting” were overlooked for promotion. One officer in support of the speculations questioned if it’s the brain to do an exam, experience or good discipline that promotes an officer in the Force.
Commissioner Douglas said that he is very pleased that the promotions have taken place. “I will now put my management team in place and move forward to deliver our Mission Statement,” he said. “I call upon the general public to give support to the officers as they embark upon a new area of responsibility and development in the Force.”

EDITORIAL

"CM John Osborne One of Region’s Oldest Active Politician, Should Participate"

On Tuesday, June 18, 2002, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) celebrated 21 years of its existence at its 36^th Bi-annual summit meeting of the Heads of Government at the headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Bank (ECCB) in St. Kitts.

Much ado was made as Prime Minister Lester Bird of Antigua was invited to make a special presentation as the only incumbent signatory to the Treaty of Basseterre, which 21 years ago gave birth to the OECS. According to reports out of Antigua, he was also honoured with a silver plaque for his longstanding service to the OECS.

Our Chief Minister John Osborne himself should also have been honoured, although he too was asked to make a presentation. By his own recount, “I address you this evening with a sense of reflection and pride at this very important event. I say this because the OECS and I have something in common.”

It is true that he was not present at the actual signing of the Treaty of Basseterre, he had sent Mr. Franklyn A L Margetson, his Minister of Education, who signed for Montserrat, just as Mr.Bird signed for Antigua on behalf of his late father, V.C. Bird, who was then Prime Minister.

But Mr. Osborne was able to bring some history to the celebrations as he reminded them that “although the said Treaty establishing this organisation was signed on this very date 21 years ago, its original foundation for the OECS was the West Indies Associated States Council of Ministers (WISA) that was formed in 1966.”

It was in March that same year that Mr. Osborne entered the political arena and became an elected Member of Parliament in Montserrat. Back then he was already rubbing shoulders with some of our great political leaders of the region, such as the late V.C.. Bird of Antigua, Llewellyn Bradshaw of St. Kitts, and John Compton of St. Lucia, just to name a few.

It was therefore an occasion at which John Osborne deserved recognition for his presence and longevity in politics in the region. He has served in the Montserrat legislature and government since 1966, with a brief break between 1991 – 1996, being Chief Minister between 1978 and 1991. After all he played a critical role as a politician and ship owner/builder at a time when focus was centered on developing a regionally coordinated vibrant inter-island transportation/shipping link. He was also one of the first Heads to make offshore banking a reality in the sub-region, from which many benefits continue to accrue. The mistakes that CARICOM territories are making regarding financial services mirror what Montserrat experienced some 15 years ago and can teach about the pitfalls.

Indeed we can ask which other present Head of Government was around when Carifta was formed, CARICOM, CXC, CANA, CBU, CARIFESTA, ECCB, or who saw the Grenada crisis. He can speak to many natural disasters; to the times of the Manleys, Burnham, Barrow, Adams, V.C. Bird, Bishop, Eugenia, Bustamante, Kennedy, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, a young Castro, and several British Prime Ministers. Our John Osborne should be spouting rhetoric to teach the young players. After all, we must make links with the past to deal with globalization and liberalization.

Then why is his weight not being felt and Montserrat not benefiting from this? Of course, he does shoot himself and Montserrat down, and the reasons need to be examined and acted upon. We understand he has just turned down the chairmanship of OECS (was it Montserrat’s turn)? Since becoming Chief Minister over 15 months ago he has not attended a single CARICOM Heads of Government meeting, one of which is right now taking place in Guyana.

There are benefits for at least sending a representation to these meetings. These benefits can far outweigh any costs incurred in attending such meetings as we walk the corridors, and although a representative may not be able to speak and vote directly, our opinions can still be heard through the other heads and those allowed to speak. Anyone familiar with regional meetings will know that most of the business is conducted not at the meetings, where decisions are made, but right in the corridors.

This may be one of the areas for which HMG does not provide budgetary assistance, and why not, we should ask? We should remove some scales from our eyes, and our Government should seriously treat this matter as priority. It is bad enough to have fallen well below zero in living in Montserrat, but to neglect our role in the region, where we should look for support to assist us in our struggle to rebuild, to get us above the zero line, lacks any sense of good reasoning. We must fight the colonial stigma and first try to be a part of the region to which we truly belong and from which we can benefit. We are only too aware that there are many areas of funding and financial support that go by from which we cannot benefit because either we are not even a "state," or because HMG, for reasons of  pride, will not allow us to do the necessary things to participate. It is this little "nation of people" that suffer. 

Correction

The June 21 issue of The Reporter reported incorrectly that Dr. Dorothy Christie Scott, the 76-year-old ophthalmologist who annually volunteered expert eye care for Monserratians, had died July 13 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Dr. Scott died on June 13. We regret the error. 

Except for the editorial, opinion articles expressed in these pages are not necessarily those of the Montserrat Reporter editors, employees or advisers.  Readers are encouraged to submit commentary articles.  All viewpoints, unless libelous, in poor taste, or anonymous, are welcome.  Send your contributions to The Editor, P.O. Box 306, Olveston, Montserrat, W. I., e-mail: editor@montserratreporter.org or monrep@candw.ag.  Manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by a return stamped envelope.  The Montserrat Reporter is a privately owned independent newspaper.

Jus Wonderin items may be called in at telephone 491-4715 or Fax 491-2430 

SCRIPTURE VERSE THIS WEEK

TRUSTWORTHY

Read Jude 24-25 

Now to him who is able to keep you from  falling…  be glory, majesty, power, andauthority…  now and forever.

-        Jude 24-25 (NRSV) 

A Sunday school teacher decided to teach her fifth graders about trust.  Each student had a partner, and one of them was blindfolded as the other one led the "blind" partner around the room.  The pupils soon realized that real trust and faith are involved in following someone when we cannot see.  Yet even in those who are blind, other senses are acutely developed - a sense of hearing, for instance.  A sightless person listens with the whole body, leaning toward the sound of the partner's footsteps.

Just as those fifth graders learned to trust each other, we too can learn to trust God, who keeps us from stumbling and surrounds us with love.  Trust involves being led by and listening to God.  We hear God's voice not only in scripture but in nature - in a roaring stream, in a gentle snowfall, in the twitter of birds.

What does God say to us?  Throughout generations, God has proclaimed love and grace for all people.  In Jesus Christ, God came to live among us and personify that love. 

Prayer:  Ever-loving God, help us to trust your love and care.  Teach us to listen for your voice in our daily life and to obey.  Amen. 

Thought for the Day

Where do I hear God speaking to me today?

Christa Eckert Blum (Ohio)

66 Prayer Focus: TO EXPERIENCE THE INDWELLING CHRIST 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reader Says Thanks, Misses ZJB on Web

Mr. Editor;

Thanks for the great job you and your staff are doing there reporting the news as it happens.  I am all the way over here in Boston and I can still keep up with my home, (Montserrat).  I wonder why ZJB is not on the web. This was a great source of information to me once. At home that was all you heard in my house and now I am not able to get it.

James Fenton

vze24p59@verizon.net           

Break in Publication Disappoints Reader

Dear Editor,

I was very disappointed not to be able to have my weekly read of the Reporter.  I look forward to this weekly, as this is my only means of keeping in touch with the news and happenings back home.

I am hoping that this is only temporary and look forward to my usual read next week.

Waiting in anticipation.

Regards

Elrose Lindsey

Elrose.Lindsey1@btopenworld.com

Citizen Concerned About Child Abuse

Dear Editor,

I would like to touch on the topic of child abuse.  This is getting out of hand and I am sure that most mothers are very much hurt as I am. 

I think the Community Services Department, police, district nurses, teachers and parents should take a serious role on this harmful matter. In less than a year we have heard some serious and disheartening stories on child abuse, and we say what if it was our child.
Mothers, first of all, if you are in a relationship and you find out your spouse is involved with your daughter; leave him, the Lord would provide. Parents, if your child is not home from school after school hours, as long as it not class or an important activity inform the police.  We heard case of a two-year-old being molested.  We heard of a child sleeping out for two nights, leaving the mother sleepless. We heard of a child being sexually harassed by five or more men and she got pregnant, by whom we don't know.  We heard of a school child living full-time with her boyfriend. 

All this is happening here because the children are under no supervision, parents on the run, parent needs help to buy books, uniform, and school lunch for there children.  Well I think that we all need help.

There should be a time when the district nurse, police or a community officer goes to the school to meet and ask questions, and if they notice a child looking hurt, inform the parent first and then call a meeting with the child and parent.

But I would say to these men that a child is a child, in her uniform and out of that uniform, until she is 16 or 18 and of an age to give consent.  No matter how big they try to act, they might be more unfortunate than others, so stop it!  Stop it!  Don't spoil their joy. 
Men you would never try to do that to the daughter of a police officer, a lawyer, a  preacher, or someone in authority. because you think would might happen.

No one is above the law. Let them pay the penalty.

Arietta Buffonge 

LOCAL and REGIONAL NEWS

Chamber President Says Economy Faces Hard Road

By Merrick Andrews

President Kenny Cassell of the Montserrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has said the Montserrat economy “doesn’t look good at this time” and “the road ahead is not very easy”.
Mr. Cassell, who was unanimously elected president of the MCCI at its Annual General Meeting in May, said government is in a “bind” because of the drastic decrease in budgetary and development aid from the British Government.
The British Government’s budget to Montserrat for 2001-2002 is £24.4 million. This will decrease sharply by £7.4 million to £17 million in the period 2002/3.
Monetary aid for the next three years indicates: £13.6 million (2003-04), £9.5 million (2004-05) and £7.5 million for 2005-06.
Mr. Cassell, who has postgraduate qualifications in economics, administration and management, said suggestions have been made to balance the budget by increasing taxes, but “strategies for increased taxation are doomed to failure”.
“A country already heavily burdened with tax, already devastated by a volcano and trying to recover – any attempt to further tax this population could only depress and eventually kill the economy. So it’s not a good economic strategy,” he said in an interview with The Montserrat Reporter.
According to information from the Statistics Department and Development Unit preliminary estimates for Montserrat indicate Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew in 2001, but noted that this increase does not mean that more goods and services were produced.
The statistics indicate that the GDP declined by 3.76 percent, which only reflects an increase in the prices of goods and services produced in the economy, according to the statement from the SDDU..
The hardest hit sectors in 2001 were Agriculture and Communications, which contracted by 17 percent and 30 percent respectively. Agricultural production was severely affected by the extended drought in the first half of the year and heavy rainfall in November and December.
However, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) said in its third quarter Economic and Financial Review that agricultural production is “anticipated to increase as a result of irrigation projects being implemented to enhance productivity.”
The Ministry of Agriculture told The Montserrat Reporter recently that two new irrigation dams will be constructed in Upper Blakes soon and a number of existing dams will be cleaned and re-established in time for the raining season.

Pump life Into The Economy
Mr. Cassell said one of the ways to pump more life into the economy over a period of time is to increase the population and job opportunities.
He added: "Montserrat only has a population now of about 5,000 people and a population of about 5,000 is not viable, so an urgent need is to put a plan in place to increase our population base and this is a fundamental fact that has to be recognized and dealt with on the outset. To increase the population you need to have jobs for the increased population so the jobs search has to be on. And one has to look for the ways and means of providing jobs for those additional people.”
Mr. Cassell, who is also the owner of Montserrat Stationery, said if the population increases, the need for housing will also increase and thereby “the housing sector, which has been the dominant sector, will further stimulate the economy.”
The ECCB said in its third quarter report that economic performance on Montserrat will continue to be influenced by activity in the construction sector, related both to the public sector investment programme (PSIP) and private sector initiatives.
However, the Statistics Department has indicated that the contribution of the Manufacturing sector "from local enterprises was extremely low” as “Montserrat continues to be a service-oriented economy, as Government services and construction remained the major contributors to GDP”.
He said these houses would have to be funded and noted the recent move by the Bank of Montserrat (BOM) in launching its long-term Home Mortgage Financing Plan in June at an allocation of EC$6 million to assist with the building or purchase of homes in the safe area. This mortgage venture is at a rate of 10.5 percent per annum for a term of 20 years.
Mr. Cassell, however added: “But there may be those people in the lower income brackets who can’t qualify for a mortgage, so public housing is going to be a necessity.”

Tourism – mainstay of the future economy
The MCCI president said while the construction/housing industry will be important to economic development, tourism, like many other islands in the Caribbean region, is going to be the mainstay of Montserrat’s economy on a permanent outlook. He added: “As it has been in the past and we have a special brand of tourism, called residential tourism. This has done us well and we need to refocus on that. This does not mean that we will not pay attention to eco-tourism, adventure tourism, which comes with the volcano, and all these other aspects of tourism, which can assist in developing the whole tourism industry. But the main plank of our tourism development will have to be on real estate and residential tourism.”

The hotel and restaurants sector, which counts in the tourism industry, showed a 21-percent increase “in real terms” last year, according to the SDDU.
Statistics indicate that the tourism industry’s contribution to the GDP has increased.
In 1999, tourism contributed EC$0.65 million or 0.81 percent of the GDP, compared to EC$0.78 million in 2000 (0.98 percent) and EC$0.95 million last year (1.15 percent).

The Chamber’s Action
The MCCI, Mr. Cassell said, is now working closely with the government in trying to develop a Plan of Action to deal with the specific question of increase in population base. He said his organisation is trying to see how they can get some multi-story, multi-housing units to house that additional population and to find some mechanism for increasing jobs.
“And to this end the Chamber has an idea in mind. Montserrat has a double-taxation agreement with the United Kingdom (UK). It means that you can get certain exemptions from your income taxes if you live here for six months of the year. Now we are looking at the pensioners because the pensioners are the people who would become our future residents,” he pointed out.
He said if Montserrat “can introduce a pensions regime with a small tax of about 5 percent, it means any UK pensioner who come and live here for six months, that’s all they would pay and get off the higher rate that they would have to pay in the UK.”
This measure, he said, would boost the construction industry because there should be a demand for more villas. It will also increase the population and it will increase the population with people who have the means to put money into the economy, he added.
“So it would be a very good venture for the government to get into and the Chamber is going to incorporate this into a part of a proposal to the government. We hope by the end of July we should have something on paper to present to the government.”

New Police Recruit Returns with Trophy

A new recruit in the Royal Montserrat Police Force recently returned from the regional police training centre in Barbados where he received a trophy for the most outstanding overseas student.
Constable Nicholas Henry, 30, said he also received deportment and good conduct badges.
He tallied 718 marks from the course, which placed him third in his class and ninth overall in the course out of 45 students.
Commenting on the completion of his 26-weeks training course, he said: “The course was very interesting and I must say that I have learned a lot.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police Simon Morson said he is very pleased with Mr. Henry’s high level of performance.
Mr. Morson added that the Force is striving to maintain high standards as they go forward with their mission statement. 

Calypsonian Buck Freed In High Court

By Merrick Andrews

One of Montserrat’s most well-known Calypsonians walked out of the High Court a free man on Tuesday after he was facing a charge of indecent assault with a minor under the age of 13.
Calypso Buck, born Curtis Francis, who had pleaded not guilty was freed as the judge ordered the jury to return a verdict of not guilty after a no-case submission by defense lawyer Mr. Warren Cassell.
The defense argued that under the Juvenile Act, if a child does not understand the nature of an oath, then he or she couldn’t give unsworn statements.
Mr. Cassell further argued that someone could not be convicted on unsworn evidence unless such evidence is corroborated.
He also said that tugging a skirt of someone doesn’t constitute indecent assault.
Justice Ola Mae Edwards agreed and upheld the no-case submission. Mr. Hogarth Sergeant prosecuted the case with assistance from Ms. Jean Dyer.
Calypso Buck, who resides in Salem, last year released “We don’t want that," which deals with prostitution on the island.
Some of his other well-known songs are "Little Dot On The Map," released in 1983, and ‘Tribute to John," released in 1991.
Calypso Buck, who is the brother of calypsonian and teacher Herman Francis, said after his court hearing: “They want me to stop playing calypso… but that will not stop me.”  

Police Charge 3 Men with Rape In Alleged Sex with 15-year-old Charge

Police have arrested and charged three men for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old minor, who attends the Montserrat Secondary School.
Charged with rape are three men between the ages of 20 and 23 from the communities of Davy Hill, Sweeneys and Lookout. The girl is from St. Peter’s.
The men could face up to life in prison if found guilty; for a lesser charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, they could face up to five years in prison, according Commissioner John Douglas.
He said the girl came out late from school two Fridays ago and was questioned by her mother about her whereabouts.
She eventually told her mother about where she had been and whom she had been with. During a resulting argument, she told her mother that she has had a sexual relationship with three different men. Her mother reported the situation the same day.
Commissioner Douglas said he police will continue to take strict action against a crime of that nature.
MSS Principal Ms. Kathleen Greenaway declined to comment on the matter.
Earlier, she and other school officials declined to comment on a stabbing incident involving two male students, ages 15 and a 16.

Governor Dismisses as Rumor Talk of Police Force Job Cuts

Governor Anthony Longrigg dismissed as rumors reports that the British Government have suggested that the Royal Montserrat Police Force be cut by 25 percent.
He did so during his address to the officers at the Police Commissioner’s Parade this morning.
The Governor said , however, that he would attempt to address the concerns put forward by the officers during a question-and-answer session, but noted that there are limits to dealing with certain situations.
Despite the skepticism of officers who asked how the reports could be false if Chief Minister John Osborne had already commented on the issue, the Governor maintained that the reports and comments about the job cuts are false.
Chief Minister Osborne said in a press conference on Tuesday, June 11, that the government wouldn’t support a cut in the police force – a suggestion he said had been made by the British Government.

Another senior officer asked the Governor what would happen if the axe were to fall on the Force, despite its being dismissed as “pure rumor.” The Governor said that not every final word rests with him. He noted that one of his main responsibilities for the Force is to assess their needs and represent them to the Government or other necessary sources.
The Governor’s dismissal came three days after the government-owned Radio Montserrat (ZJB) broadcast  that a report commissioned by the British Government allegedly suggested that the Force, currently about 70 officers, be cut.
The radio report stated that a cut in numbers in the force might be justified by the relatively low crime rate and that there is a move by the British Government to reduce its subsidy to the government, which in turn has to cut costs.
Commissioner of Police John Douglas declined to comment on the matter when contacted earlier this week.
Some other concerns raised by the officers included the availability of a proper canteen, resources for carrying out their work, especially for sea patrolling, and compensation for performing increased duties.

Montserratians Scheduled For Youth Forum In UK

L to R: Nickesha Wade, Tomieka Shiell, Mrs Venus George, and Camille Skerritt

Three rangers from the Montserrat Guides Association will attend the Commonwealth Youth Forum in the United Kingdom later this month.
They are 17 year olds Tomieka Shiell and Nickesha Wade, and 16-year-old Camille Skerritt will participate in the two-week seminar at the University of Central Lancashire in Waddow, Manchester.
The three are among 250 participants from 54 Commonwealth countries that are expected to participate in the youth forum.
While in the UK the rangers will partake in life skills, Commonwealth service projects and will also get a chance to participate in the opening of the Commonwealth Games.
The students are expected to write a report on their experience at the forum when they return to the island.
Cable & Wireless is sponsoring one of the girls to the tune of EC$4,700, while Delta Petroleum, the Community Services Department and the Chief Minister’s Office will jointly sponsor the other two.
The girls are scheduled to leave Montserrat on July 23^rd and return in the first week of August. 

Two men Sentenced For Burglary

Two men pleaded guilty for burglary in the High Court on Monday, July 1.
Mr. Lesley Pierre who pleaded guilty for two separate incidents of burglary was sentenced to three years in prison.
Mr. Pierre was sentenced to three years on one charge and two years on the other to run concurrently.
In sentencing Mr. Pierre Justice Ola Mae Edwards said she had a duty to the Montserrat public and residents should be able to leave their house locked without fear of someone breaking in.
In the other case, Mr. Curt Browne also pleaded guilty to burglary and handling stolen goods.
He was sentenced to two years imprisonment to be served consecutively with the three-year sentence he is already serving.

Man Sentenced to 6 Years

Charles Meade was sentenced to six years in prison on Thursday after he was found guilty for burglary with intention to rape.
He was also found guilty for indecent assault with a girl under age 13, and has been sentenced to two years, to run concurrently with the first sentence.
Justice Ola Mae Edwards rejected a no-case submission by the defense.
In the no-case submission, counsel for the defense Mr. Warren Cassell, argued that there was no evidence that at the time he entered the house the defendant had intended to rape the child.

However, the judge ruled that there was sufficient evidence for the jury to consider.

25 Students Graduate from Brades Nursery

Twenty-five students graduated earlier this week from the Brades Nursery School.
The students thrilled the audience with presentations in song, skits and Bible readings. There was also a special presentation where the students delivered speeches impersonating several key public figures.
The teachers also used the occasion to pay tribute to the outgoing Education Officer Lady Eudora Fergus, who is retiring from the service.
Governor Anthony Longrigg, Minister of Education Idabelle Meade, Minister of Agriculture Margaret Dyer-Howe and other senior Education officials attended the ceremony.

Harvesting Season for Turtles Closed

The Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing and the Environment has announced that it closed season for the harvesting of turtles until September 30^th. During this time, the Ministry said, the catching of turtles and the harvesting of eggs are prohibited.
Disturbing turtle nests or to be in possession of turtle meat is also an offence, according to the Ministry.

Rotary Installs New President

The Rotary Club of Montserrat ushered in a new President at its weekly meeting on Wednesday at the Vue Pointe Hotel when outgoing President James Hixon passed the baton on to Bennette Roach.

Bennette Roach receives the 'president's pin' from James Hixon

Mr. Hixon thanked the members for giving him their full support over the past year and singled out  fellow Rotarians Susan Edgecombe, Cedric Osborne, Vernon Buffonge and Doug Darby as being most supportive and going above and beyond the call of duty throughout the past Rotary year. He presented them with Certificates of Appreciation.

Incoming President Roach vowed his full commitment to the Club during his presidency and asked members to recommit themselves to the tenets of Rotary, remembering that “the men and women of Rotary are business and professional leaders who volunteer their time and resources to help others in their local communities and throughout the world.”

He called for the local club to be ‘innovative’ as it struggles to fulfill its role in the difficult times being experienced in Montserrat,  reminding members of the Rotary International Theme for 2002-03, “Sow the Seeds of Love.” That, he said, “is really the core of Rotary,” as they carry out the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.”

The Rotary Club's latest community project is the (literacy) Reading Project on ZJB with the Primary Schools on Montserrat. 

Outgoing President, Hixon presents 'Certificates of Appreciation' to rotarians Vernon Buffonge, Doug Darby and Susan Edgecombe

Pacesetters Elect Officers, Make Plans for Festival

The Pacesetters Sports & Cultural Club elected officers for its new executive at its general meeting on Thursday, June 20, according to a press release from the club.
The new executive comprises: Rachel Collis, President; Fiona Allen, Vice-President; Eslyn Samuel, Secretary-Treasurer; Jodine Meade, Asst. Secretary-Treasurer, and Esther Lewis and Brenda Lindsey, Committee Members.
Discussions centered on sporting and community projects including the visit of the Antigua and Barbuda Netball Association (ABNA) here on Saturday, July 6.
The ABNA are expected to play three exhibition matches. The first will see a select visitors’ team against a Montserrat squad, followed by an exhibition match of the Antigua men’s team.
The final match will see the Antigua national team compete against each other as they prepare for this year’s Caribbean tournament, which will held in Antigua in August.

According to Ms. Collis, founder and president of the Pacesetters, the invitation was issued out of the club’s concern that netball was no longer being played on the island on a competitive basis.

Festival Calendar
The club also launched its Work Programme for the second half of the year with the announcement of plans for Festival 2002.
Discussions focused on its two major shows to be featured on Festival Calendar – the Montserrat Pacesetters Prince and Princess Show to be held December 15, and the Festival Calypso Queen Show, to be held December 22.
The Pacesetters held the first Calypso Queen Show in 1985. According to a club spokesperson, the interest shown by women in the art of calypso calls for them to have their own show. The club feels that the children should also get the opportunity to showcase their talent and be a part of the grand festival anniversary activities planned for this year-end. 
“The Pacesetters is making an early start to avoid the last-minute rush of demands, which would be made on musicians and artistes as December draws nearer,” the press release added.

Exclusion Zone Gate At Trants Vandalized

On Sunday, June 23, the police discovered that the lock on the gate at Trants leading to the Exclusion Zone was vandalized.
In a press release, Commissioner of Police John Douglas said he is appealing to persons not to vandalize the gate, which was built during the volcanic crisis to keep people out of the danger zones.
He urged persons who wish to enter Trants for sand mining to apply to the Agriculture department for permission to do so.
“The public is hereby reminded that persons found in the Exclusion Zone may be prosecuted,” the press release said.
Earlier this year, it was reported to the Volcano Executive Group (VEG) that members of the public have been seen on foot in the Exclusion Zone areas of Plymouth and the Lovers Lane area in the vicinity of the former Rice Mill.
In a press release, the VEG reminded taxi drivers who wish to take visitors into the Day Time Entry Zone (DTEZ) that they must register their intention of visiting the DTEZ at the police station before entering the zone.
The release also added that it has been reported that “old rice” is being taken out of the silos at the Rice Mill. “This rice has been condemned as unfit for both human and animal consumption, and as such must not be used,” the statement said.
The Exclusion Zone is a part of Montserrat which begins from the south of Belham to just below Jack Boy Hill, an area which extends to and covers the south of the island including its city Plymouth and surrounding communities.
That area was completely evacuated in 1997 at the height of the volcanic crisis on the island. 

OECS Aviation Unit Called Up to Date on Geralds Plans

The OECS Directorate of Civil Aviation (DCA), which is responsible for the safety of air services in the region, has been kept fully informed about the design of the Geralds airport and has raised no concern, according to a Government of Montserrat and DFID press release.
The release added that regional airlines have already expressed interest in providing scheduled air services to Montserrat once the airport is completed.
The press release said the Government of Montserrat, the Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Union (EU) welcome completion of the design phase of the new airport at Geralds as a major step towards the restoration of scheduled air services to Montserrat.
Acting Chief Minister Dr. Lowell Lewis said in an interview, “Our decision was based on the consultants (Halcrow) report of discussions with the DCA. But we are still awaiting written confirmation from the DCA of the requirements for normal operations of Twin Otter aircraft.”
DFID and the EU visited Montserrat during the week of June 17 to finalise preparations with the Government of Montserrat for the new airport at Geralds.
This, the release said, involved a comprehensive review of the project’s technical, economic, financial and environmental aspects.
The project is now to be submitted to DFID and EU for formal funding approval “as soon as possible”.
The new Geralds airport is described as a modern, efficient facility serving the needs of residents, tourists and business visitors wishing to fly to and from the island.
The main features of the proposal are: a 500-metre asphalt runway for safe operations of Twin Otter aircraft; a taxiway and an aircraft parking apron; a new terminal; air control equipment and runway lighting. Also in the project are a car park and an access road.
The access road, the release said, has been designed for future expansion of the runway, in line with Government policy.
Work on the airport site is estimated to start in August this year, according to the release, with completion by the end of 2003 and full operations in early 2004.

Commonwealth Youths Ponder Role as Citizens

What does it mean to be a citizen? Two hundred young people from 50 Commonwealth countries will try to answer this question at a four-day global youth summit taking place this week in Sunderland, UK.
At the  "Citizen Youth" summit 18- to 25-year-olds will explore, debate and clarify their vision of citizenship for the 21st century.
Two young citizens, one male and one female, from each of the attending Commonwealth countries are taking part in this culmination of a special exchange programme that began in June 2002. The delegates have spent a week each in several areas in the UK, meeting youth workers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Representing Montserrat will be Mr. Jevan West and Miss Julie Chalmers.

The event is an initiative of the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council (CYEC) in honour of the Golden Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth. It is sponsored by British Airways and the University of Sunderland.
The youth summit was officially opened 2 July by the Earl and Countess of Wessex. CYEC is a UK-based voluntary youth organisation founded in 1970. It supports 2,000 young people annually on two-way community-to-community group exchanges across the Commonwealth. 

CARICOM Heads of Government Conference Opens in Guyana

The 23^rd meeting of the conference of Heads Of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was officially declared open Wednesday evening at the National Cultural center in Georgetown, Guyana.

Amidst heavy armed security and barricades, the Prime Ministers and Presidents made their way into the center despite the violent protests that rocked the capital during Wednesday, where stores were burnt, and gun shots rang out, killing at least two persons.

During the three-day meeting, the CARICOM heads will deliberate on a number of issues, one of which is the crime and security affecting all member states of the community.

During the opening ceremony, the new kid on the block Prime Minister Perry Christie of the Bahamas during his address to the gathering noted that when he was age 16, he was selected to represent the Bahamas in international athletics at the 1960 West Indies Federation Games as a result of Prime Minister Bird. He said the Bahamas team had already been selected and Prime Minister Bird who was then a renowned Caribbean athlete advised the local coach that Christie had more talent than those that were selected. This Christie said led him to become the second Bahamian to win a medal at an international competition.

The other heads of government that spoke at the opening were Dr. Kenny Anthony of St. Lucia, Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago, outgoing chairman Said Musa of Belize, and incoming chairman President Bahrat Jagdeo of Guyana. 

New Castle Terminal Building To Be Handed Over

General view of the building, as seen from the apron

Nevis - Work at the EC$14m ultra modern passenger terminal building at the New Castle Airport will be completed over this weekend (July 6/7) and the contractor is expected to hand over the building to the Nevis Island Administration early next week.

A delighted Nevis Air and Seaports Authority Chairman, Mr. Howard Taylor, who took the Government Information Service on a guided tour of the terminal building, said: “We expect to start handling flights here on the 15^th of July.”

Flight Information Display System (FIDS) is in place and ready for use and among the first airlines to take up positions at the brand new airport terminal would be LIAT and Nevis Express/US Airways, who would be operating flights into and out of Puerto Rico, and also Caribbean Star.

According to Mr. Taylor, “There are talks on with American Eagle, and we expect they will be operating flights from New Castle Airport shortly.” Other local carriers using the New Castle Airport are also expected to take up position at the new facility.

The entire terminal building will be centrally air-conditioned and the chairman of the Nevis Air and Seaports Authority, who was joined by the New Castle Airport manager, Mr. Carlisle Powell, said that a transformer that would allow the system to be compatible with the electricity in Nevis was delivered on Wednesday and after its connection, testing would be done by Friday.

According to Mr. Taylor, safety at New Castle Airport would be to acceptable international standards as “we will have 100 per cent screening of all passenger luggage, both carry on and checked in.” Both Mr Taylor and Mr Powell showed the GIS the two X-ray machines for checked in luggage, and one X-ray machine for carry-on luggage.

With everything that makes a modern airport terminal building in place at New Castle, workers were busy putting in the final touches, and one of the most attractive feature, a water curtain that would block out views of those inside the terminal building from those on the outside, was switched on for the first time during the tour, to the excitement of those around.

NIA signs contract for construction of two community shelters and multipurpose centres

Charlestown Nevis (June 28, 2002) Through a World Bank loan, the Nevis Island Administration will construct two community shelters/multipurpose centres, one at Pond Hill and the other at Hanley’s Road. A signing ceremony for the two projects was held on Friday June 28, where the contractor promised that the shelters would be ready in eight months.

Premier, the Hon Mr Vance Amory, who signed on behalf of the Nevis Island Administration, hailed the World Bank for extending concessionary loans to a number of Caribbean countries, under which Nevis had benefited. The other signatory was Mr Achal Moorjani, a director of Moorjani Caribbean Limited, the company that won the tender.

The country had suffered from a series of serious hurricanes, Premier Amory pointed out, and for the World Bank to see it fit to provide concessionary loans, not only to Nevis, but a number of countries in the region, it was a move in the right direction as the shelters would be used in case of any natural occurrence that would necessitate the dislocation of people.

The Pond Hill shelter and multipurpose centre, which is costing EC$1.03m would be located at the site of the old doctor’s residence. The World Bank recommended that the old residence be destroyed, and the new centre is expected to serve people from Brown Pasture, right through to Market Shop and Taylor’s Pasture an area which, according to the Premier, was growing significantly in terms of population.

Hanley’s Road, costing EC$1.2m, would be used for a number of functions, including providing facilities for periodic clinics for diabetics, or for antenatal and prenatal clinics and any other related clinics. In addition, it would also be used to provide space and facility for community efforts for the young people and other persons in the area.

Commented the Premier: “We believe, as a Government, that the programmes of Government should be taken to the people where they are, and these two centres are going to make that much easier for the Government, the Community Affairs Department, the Disaster Mitigation Groups and for anyone who has programmes to be delivered to the people, to deliver those programmes in the centres where the people are.”

Both Premier Amory and Mr Moorjani called on Nevisians to support the effort and participate in the project, by way of taking up available jobs, saying that eight months of employment was something that should be welcomed as there would be reasonable returns.     

The ceremony: Premier Hon Vance Amory (seated right), and Mr Achal Moorjani, signing, while looking on are, Mr. Llewelyn Newton (bending extreme right), and Mr. Yashwant Khodke (seated left). Others are, standing from left, Mr. Geoffery Romany, Mr. Marvin Hanley and Denzil Stanley. 

Los Angeles airport shooting kills 3

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- A gunman opened fire Thursday at Los Angeles International Airport near the ticket counter of Israel's El Al Airlines, officials said, killing two people and wounding at least three before airline security personnel killed him.
The gunman opened fire around 11:30 a.m. (2:30 p.m. EDT) near the El Al ticket counter inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal, a separate building from the terminals used for domestic flights, officials said.
LAPD spokesman Alex Baez said the gunman shot dead a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s. Another woman was shot and wounded; a man was stabbed in the back, and another man was pistol-whipped by the gunman. Two other men were taken to the hospital for "cardiac issues," Baez added.
Baez said police were investigating the possibility that another attacker was involved.
Lt. Horace Frank, another LAPD spokesman, said two people were being questioned by investigators in connection with the incident, and a "massive investigation" was under way.
The attack occurred after days of warnings by federal officials about possible terrorist attacks on U.S. targets during the Independence Day holiday. But both local and federal authorities said it was too early to say whether terrorists were to blame for Thursday's shooting.
"We have no information that indicates that this incident is connected to any terrorist event or anything else, but the matter is under investigation right now," Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn said.
Added Richard Garcia, the FBI agent in charge of the bureau's Los Angeles office, "Right now, we're looking at it as an isolated incident." And a Bush administration source told CNN, "There's no other intelligence that would speak to the contrary ... We don't have anything to suggest this is anything other than a criminal act."
However, FBI Special Agent Matthew McLaughlin said, "At this point, it's too early to rule out anything."
El Al is the Israeli national carrier. It is known for its strict security measures. In the Bradley terminal, its ticket counter is in one of two banks of counters for a number of international airlines.
The Tom Bradley International Terminal -- which is a separate building from the domestic terminals -- was shut down after the shooting, Baez said. Everyone inside was evacuated: Thousands of people were seen streaming out of the terminal, and traffic was stopped outside.
Thad Weimlein, who was checking into his flight on Korean Air, heard an initial barrage of between eight and 10 shots before it paused. Then the firing resumed, he said.
"People were running and screaming and hitting the floor," Weimlein said. "There were a number of plainclothes policemen who pulled out their guns and badges at the same time."
After it was over, officers asked everyone in the area of the international ticket counters to file outside, he said.
Police cars, ambulances and fire engines lined the road. FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said air traffic for domestic flights at the airport continued to operate normally.
In December 1985 at the El Al airport ticket counter in Rome, terrorists threw grenades and opened fire with semi-automatic weapons, killing 17 people and wounding more than 100.
The last shooting at a U.S. airport was in May when a Pensacola, Florida, man opened fire at a ticket counter at the main airport in New Orleans, killing one person and wounding another.
Authorities said Patrick Gott, a Muslim man who was charged in the shooting, told them he opened fire because people had made fun of his turban at a restaurant shortly before he went to the airport.

Antigua Oversight Body Appoints Veteran Bankers

Antigua -- Leroy King has been appointed as Administrator and a member of the Board of Directors of Antigua and Barbuda’s Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC) and Harold Russell has been appointed as Supervisor of Banks and Trusts.

Mr. King has more than 25 years' experience in banking in the United States, having retired from the industry as Vice President of Bank of America in New York in charge of business development for Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Africa and Eastern USA.  He holds an MBA degree in Finance from Iona College in New York and the Distinguished Performance Award that he received from the indigenous banks of the Caribbean.

Mr. Russell is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and has a strong background in commercial, development and offshore bank supervision and inspection having worked for several regulatory bodies in the Caribbean including Antigua and Barbuda. He has also supervised projects for the United States Agency for International Development and the United Nations Development Programme.

On April 29 this year, the International Business Corporation Act was amended to broaden the powers of the regulatory body to include non-banking financial institutions in the domestic sector as well as the offshore financial sector.

Consequently, the name of the regulatory body was changed from the “International Financial Sector Regulatory Authority” to the “Financial Services Regulatory Commission.” 

CARICOM Heads Study Local Government Control

GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- A resolution which calls for a clear and comprehensive strategy to guide development and advancement of local government throughout the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will be considered at the 23rd Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, which began Wednesday

This initiative was advanced by regional and local delegates at the recently concluded Caribbean Conference on Local Government Decentralisation held in Guyana last month.

A spokesman for the National Democratic Institute (NDI), which hosted the conference, said delegates completed a document that would provide sufficient autonomy to local government to conduct its affairs in the best interest of community and national development.

The strategy is also likely to include a section related to gender inclusiveness to the extent that gender equity is achieved and gender representation reflecting no less than 50 percent of women in all areas of local government.

The resolution is also expected to highlight the need for greater accountability and transparency, while calling for a meeting with all local government professionals, academics, practitioners and stakeholder groups within the region to be convened at the earliest opportunity.

According to the NDI spokesman, delegates also recommended that leaders examine the possibility of a CARICOM Steering Committee for local government being established and for a caucus of CARICOM ministers responsible for the area to be convened. 

New Classroom Opens At Nevis Pre-School

Nevis -- The Nevis Island Administration opened a new EC$9,000 classroom was last week at the Maude Smith Pre-School..

The classroom's cost was met by an EC$5,000 grant from the Government gave a grant and EC#$4,000 of EC$5,100.00 raised through fund drives, donations and contributions from the parents, according to the school’s supervisor, Mrs Josette Myers.

Mrs Myers said that the goal of the school, built on land donated by the late Eugene Walwyn, was to offer reasonably priced education to children of residents on the island.

“Our motto is to provide affordable child care for citizens of Nevis,” noted Mrs Myers, “and we would try to live by our motto. We solicit continued support from the public in order for us to achieve such, and as the supervisor, I would like to publicly thank those who always support the school.”

Mrs Louisy Walwyn, widow of Eugene Walwyn, cut the ribbon and declared the new classroom open, and donated EC$300 to the school.

The school at Bath Village in the parish of St John caters for 47 students with a staff of four.  Twenty-three of those students will be graduating to a higher level shortly. 

Photo: Maude Smith Pre-School supervisor, Mrs Josette Myers, pictured with some of the children.  

Nevis Entertains Another 9/11 NYC Relief Worker

Nevis -- Sgt. Michelle Turner, a member of the New York City Police Department, began a weeklong holiday here June 27, part of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis’ Operation Compassion for firefighters and police officers who joined in relief work after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre. 

Sgt. Turner was received by staff of the Nevis Tourism Authority at its Cotton House office in Charlestown. “On behalf of the New York City Police Department," she said, "I would like to say thank you very much for your hospitality and what you have done for us. It means so much to all of us. Thank you.”

She is the fourth relief worker and second police officer to visit Nevis under the auspices of Operation Compassion.

Ms Nicole Liburd,Nevis Tourism Authority Sales Manager, said that the New York police officer had been offered one-week accommodation at the Four Seasons Resort. She wished the visitor an enjoyable stay on Nevis as Sgt. Turner was about to be taken on an island tour by Constable Stephen Hector of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, Nevis Division.

Photo: The Le Meridian Pegasus Hotel where the Summit is being held.  

Stanford Group Lends Antigua US$40 Million

LONDON -- The Government of Antigua and Barbuda signed  a loan agreement June 24 for US$40 million (approximately EC$108 million) with the Stanford Financial Group Company of the United States.

The Agreement was signed in London by Senator Asot Michael, Minister in the Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Finance, and Mauricio Alvarado, General Counsel of the Stanford Group.

The Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda authorised the loan on 28 May 2002 under the Antigua and Barbuda General Loans Act, which permitted the Minister of Finance to borrow up to US$60 million in any one year.

The loan carries a fixed interest rate of 9.5 percent over 15 years with no penalties for early repayment. The terms of the loan were described as similar to concessional financing from development banks.

Mr. Alvarado said, "This loan demonstrates the confidence that the Stanford Financial Group and its sole shareholder, Mr. Allen Stanford, have in the future of Antigua and Barbuda and its economy."

Senator Michael, who negotiated the loan over a six-month period, said, "This loan will be utilised for the benefit of the people of Antigua and Barbuda in practical and meaningful ways."

Among projects he identified were: Tourism, specifically the Hotel Training School and the completion of the airport runway; education including a science laboratory for the Antigua State College, repayment of the Caribbean Development Bank for its programme of education and training, settlement of debts to the University of the West Indies for higher education for Antigua and Barbuda nationals; repayment of debt to the European Investment Bank for the solid waste and airport radar projects; and payments of arrears owed to International and Regional Organisations such as the Commonwealth Secretariat, UNESCO and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, all of which have funded development projects in Antigua and Barbuda.  

Antigua Oversight Body Appoints Veteran Bankers

Antigua -- Leroy King has been appointed as Administrator and a member of the Board of Directors of Antigua and Barbuda’s Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC) and Harold Russell has been appointed as Supervisor of Banks and Trusts.

Mr. King has more than 25 years' experience in banking in the United States, having retired from the industry as Vice President of Bank of America in New York in charge of business development for Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Africa and Eastern USA.  He holds an MBA degree in Finance from Iona College in New York and the Distinguished Performance Award that he received from the indigenous banks of the Caribbean.

Mr. Russell is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and has a strong background in commercial, development and offshore bank supervision and inspection having worked for several regulatory bodies in the Caribbean including Antigua and Barbuda. He has also supervised projects for the United States Agency for International Development and the United Nations Development Programme.

On April 29 this year, the International Business Corporation Act was amended to broaden the powers of the regulatory body to include non-banking financial institutions in the domestic sector as well as the offshore financial sector.

Consequently, the name of the regulatory body was changed from the “International Financial Sector Regulatory Authority” to the “Financial Services Regulatory Commission.” 

Nevis Meeting Hears New Secession Calls

Nevis -- Fresh calls for secession from the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis were heard last week at a town hall meeting called by the Nevis Island Administration Cabinet, and suggestions that the process should start immediately.

Charged speakers at the meeting asked what the governing Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) party was doing about the issue of self-determination for Nevis, and one of them lamented that when the referendum for secession was held in 1998, the Government did a poor job at selling it to the public.

Premier Vance Amory told the meeting: “We have stated over and over again that that issue, self-determination of Nevis, is something that we shall pursue and we believe clearly that we are the best persons to deal with our own issues. We are trying to consolidate what we have at this time so that when the people call of us we can respond to them well.”

He said he was confident that Nevis could easily have paid its way as an independent country because the island had been generating up to 30 percent of the national income of St. Kitts and Nevis, but was receiving only 20 percent of the national income. He equated that shortfall to be equivalent to more than EC$12 million.

On other issues raised at the meeting, Premier Amory said that Nevis had acquired a small craft, which would be used by the customs and the Ports Authority, to patrol the waters around Nevis and would give the government some capability of patrolling the southern and eastern coast of the island. The craft would be commissioned either by end of this month or early next month.

Two government owned corporations, the Nevis Electricity Company (Nevlec) and the Nevis Air and Seaport Authority came in for high praise from the Premier. He said that Nevlec was a success story for the Government and because of the way it functioned, the Caribbean Development Bank had agreed to offer it an additional loan that would allow it to purchase two new engines. He observed that even though consumers were going to pay a slightly higher rate, the rates were still the lowest in the Caribbean.

The Premier in welcoming the participants had said: “Our objective tonight is really to report to you what your representatives have done and also to provide you with an opportunity to say to us whether or not you are satisfied."

OECS Heads Emphasise Economy and Integration

St. Kitts -- OECS Heads of Government agreed at their 21st Anniversary Meeting here to meet within the next three months for a special OECS Summit on the Economy.

During their session here, which ended June 20^th, they also decided to revisit the Treaty
of Basseterre which created the sub-regional grouping 21 years ago, with a view to further strengthening cooperation.
The Heads strongly recognized  that concerted, corrective action was required, and agreed to the Meeting on the Economy at a time and venue to be finalized. After that Economic Summit, they will invite top level representatives of the private sector to join  them in charting a course towards strengthening and sustaining growth in the OECS
Economies.
They agreed to establish a full joint OECS diplomatic mission in Geneva to interface with the World Trade Organisation, and to speed up the creation of an OECS Trade Negotiating Group.

The Committee that will review the Treaty of Basseterre will fast track the move towards an OECS Economic Union. The first step in that process - free movement of OECS nationals in the sub-region - has now had legislative backing.
The Meeting was told that all six independent OECS Member States have had the required free movement legislation passed in their national parliaments and gazetted. The legislation provides for OECS people to have a sense of region while traveling among the islands, by being able to enter the participating States with a valid, acceptable photo ID, and to be able to request a six-month stay.
Montserrat's legal officials are currently reviewing the legislation while awaiting directions from the British Government, while the two Associate Members, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, will be observers because of their special circumstances.
The OECS Secretariat will work along with the relevant departments in Member States to activate the free movement provisions. A major public awareness and education programme on the free movement and economic union initiative is also set to come on stream in the coming months.

Jamaican Fined For Wounding

A Jamaican man who wounded a Dominican in an altercation last Sunday was fined in the Magistrate Court earlier this week.
Police Commissioner John Douglas said Neil Jones, alias "Diamond,' was fined EC$300 plus EC$700 for compensation, for wounding Camillus Paris in a dispute in Salem.
It was alleged that Mr. Jones saw Mr. Paris in the vicinity of his yard and accused him of peeping.
An argument developed between the two men, the Commissioner said, and Mr. Jones allegedly used a stick to hit Mr. Paris in the face.

SPORTS

Montserratians Loses Again

By Merrick Andrews

Vice President of the Montserrat Cricket Association (MCA) Mr. Roy Greaves said Montserrat’s performance in this year’s Leeward Islands cricket tournament is disappointing but the team was on par with the other countries in terms of skill.
“A number of players have shown promise,” he said. “But I believe the overall performance of the team was disappointing.”
He said their performance was disappointing because of all the effort the MCA and other cricket officials put in this season for the squad. The one-day game wasn’t held because of the OECS athletics championships.
Montserrat lost their fourth three-day match by two wickets against the Combined Virgin Islands (CVI) team in Tortola last weekend.
Now that the Montserratians are out and at home, Mr. Greaves recommends that the cricketers go back to the basics. “We will have to go back to the basics. It is the basic things we are not doing well on a constant basis. We are on par with other countries in terms of skills… but mentally we fell down,” he said.
He noted that throughout the competition Montserrat consistently performed well on the first two days, but fell down on the third day. “They are not tough on the distance,” he said.
But when asked if it’s a factor of fitness he said: “I can’t say yes to that. The fitness regime this year has been greater than the previous year. It’s more of a mental thing.”
In Tortola, Montserrat batted first and were bowled out for a meager 95 with CVI’s V. Japan, 6 for 39 being the damage man. Tyrone Greenaway was Montserrat’s top run-getter with 33, with 22 from Greg Willock.
In reply, CVI made 364 with Anthony Merrick smashing an attacking 135. Lionel Baker took 3 for 84 and Willock 3 for 52.
In the next inning, Montserrat tried to come back with a valiant 415, which later proved not enough. McPherson Meade was the star of the show with 152 runs, which included 14 fours. He was supported by 71 from captain Zhuan Sweeney. CVI’s T. Webbe snared 7 for 116 off 51 overs.
In reply, CVI made 147 for 8 to take home the honors.
Meade took 4 for 37, while Willock supported by taking 3 for 35.
MCA’s Greaves pointed out Meade, Sweeney, (Tyrone) Greenaway and Baker as potential picks for the Leeward Islands training/trial squad.
The final Leeward Islands team will participate in the Red Stripe Bowl, which is schedule to begin next month.
Mr. Greaves confirmed that Montserrat will be sending a team to the Leeward Islands youth tournament which begins later this month.  

Despite 4-0 Loss, Montserratians Win the Hearts of Bhutanese Fans

Montserrat's goalie, Cecil Lake is beaten by the Bhutanese striker

(Editor's note: While much of the world watched Brazil beat Germany last Sunday in the World Cup final,the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan's footballers trounced  Montserrat 4-0 to decide their world rankings at 202^nd and 203^rd respectively. British journalist Rose George of the Independent  traveled to Thimphu's Changlimithang Stadium where 15,000 fans crowded a venue built to accommodate just 10,000 spectators. Following are excerpts of her report.)

Before the match begins, the English referee, Steve Bennett, surveys the scene. In front of him, 15,000 spectators wait peacefully under their umbrellas in considerable heat. A group of yellow-and-red T-shirts indicates the supporters of the home team, Bhutan. The green shirts next to them support the opposition team, Montserrat, though every one of them is Bhutanese. Every five minutes or so, they break into Montserrat's de facto national anthem, "Feeling Hot Hot Ho," before the Bhutanese reply with a hearty rendition of "In Bhutan, where sandalwood is grown and found." . . .

We are in the Land of the Thunder Dragon, as Bhutan is generally known, which sits at 202 in FIFA's world rankings, directly above Montserrat at 203. The Dragon XI are facing the Monster Rats in the last independent Himalayan kingdom in the world, known mostly for its restrictive tourist fee ($200 a day) and its unique concept of Gross National Happiness, a policy of limited development instituted by King Jigme Singye Wanchuck, a monarch far removed from the European variety – not least because of his four wives (all sisters) and 10 children – and beloved by his subjects, though they aren't permitted to look into his eyes.

Montserrat is a colourful opponent; the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, settled by Irish planters from St Kitts, famous for calypso and black sand beaches, but known these days for the massive volcanic eruption in 1995 that destroyed two-thirds of the island, scattered half its 11,000-strong population over the globe, and famously inspired the Development Minister, Clare Short, to complain that "they'll be wanting golden elephants next." . . .

But before this match, neither team had heard of the other's country. "Please, madam," a schoolgirl asked me one day in perfect English (the language of instruction in Bhutan), "can you show me where Montserrat is on the map?" The standard Montserratian reply: "Look for Antigua – we're the dot next door."

The men from the dot hadn't heard of Bhutan either. Nor were they aware of the undertaking required to get there: the journey to Bhutan took five days, including four planes just to get from Montserrat to Amsterdam. The day after they arrived, half the team fell sick with food poisoning, and the other half got altitude sickness. "I think we have some advantages," says the Bhutan captain, Wangyel Dorji, before the match. "Home ground, home crowd, home altitude. They're big, but we're faster."

He was right. Football may have appeared in Bhutan only in the 1970s, and like their opponents, all the players are amateurs. But the Dragon XI have a lot to prove. . . . Perhaps that accounts for their assiduous preparations: the Montserratians said a prayer during pre-match training, but Bhutan went further: 45 minutes away, in fact, to the Dechen Phug monastery, where they prayed that they would play fairly and have no injuries. Whatever the spiritual input, the Other Final belonged to Bhutan. . . . The Montserratians moved sluggishly because of the altitude, while the Bhutanese were relentlessly energetic. . . . "It was a good game," says referee Bennett, more used to refereeing Owens and Beckhams and certainly not used to hearty cries of, "Good call, ref!" from the crowd. "It's probably non-professional-league standard in the UK, but it was pretty exciting football."

The Other Final was football as it used to be, should be and, in most of the world, at the grassroots, probably still is. After all, where else would half the home crowd be supporting the opposition? The support was genuine: every move of the Montserratians got a chorus of "hot hot hot", to the surprise of the visitors. "Back home," said the veteran Montserrat striker Pops Morris after the match, "our crowds would never cheer for the opposition. Sometimes they don't even cheer for us."

The Montserratians may not have scored but they got a cup out of it at least: the metal trophy cleaved in two, in the spirit of fairness. And all the players joined in a Buddhist dance, to conclude proceedings in the most auspicious way possible. "I don't think anyone will forget now that there are two beautiful countries called Bhutan and Montserrat," says the team manager, Claude Hogan, an MP back home. "Since 1995 it's been one struggle to the next. We can show the world that we are a strong, resilient community. That we can rebuild Montserrat, just like people here can modernise Bhutan."

And the world can be reminded of fair play, too. Bhutan's schoolchildren so impressed Prime Minister Wangchuck with their cheering, he declared the next day a school holiday. Even the Montserratians weren't too downhearted. . . . Pops Morris, feeling upbeat, said, "Wait till we get them down to sea level. That'll be a whole different scenario."

Montserrat and Bhutan teams and officials after the game

Before Sunday's game, the Associated Press reported from Bhutan spoke to Khare Basnet, the Bhutan Football Federation's general secretary, and to Montserrat

coach Claude Hogan. "'We are doing this because we are part of the global football family," Mr. Khare said. "We're happy to play." Mr. Hogan said Montserrat's players would benefit from learning about another culture, which he called ''the most important thing.''

''Winning, of course, will be a bonus,'' he said.

Traditional Himalayan dances preceded the game, which was conceived by a Dutch communications firm, KesselsKramer, which is being supported by Robot, a Tokyo production company.

''This match is not about who wins or loses,'' organizer Matthijs De Jongh said, ''but about the celebration of two countries, which despite obstacles, share a love for the game.'' 

Read more on 'The Other Final' official website.

2006 World Cup Set for Germany

The governing body of world football, FIFA, has confirmed that the decision to hold the World Cup in Germany in 2006 will not be changed.
South Africa, which was defeated by one vote in the selection process, had demanded that the question go to arbitration, after allegations that some of the delegates were pressurized against voting for South Africa.
The FIFA executive, meeting in the Swiss city of Zurich, decided in principle that, after 2006, the World Cup venue should be rotated among the six continents, in a pattern yet to be determined. Correspondents say the football authorities from Europe -- the dominant financial force in the sport -- will not be happy with the prospect of hosting the World Cup only every twenty-four years if a strict rotation system is adopted. 

Brazil crowned world champions

(BBC) - Two goals from the golden-boy Brazilian star Ronaldo secured the World Cup for Brazil as they claimed a deserved victory over Germany in the final in Yokohama.
The Inter Milan star struck twice in the second half to settle an entertaining contest.
It is the fifth time Brazil have won football's ultimate prize, cementing their status as the most successful team in the history of the competition.
A World Cup of shocks finished in familiar fashion - with wild celebrations among the gold-clad South American players and fans.
Brazil captain Cafu, who became the first player to appear in three successive finals, accepted the trophy in an emotional prize-giving ceremony.
The victory completed a remarkable journey for Luiz Felipe Scolari's team, who had been written off before the World Cup following a poor qualification campaign.
Ronaldo confirmed his reputation as the world's best striker by winning the Golden Boot award for the tournament's leading scorer with eight goals.
It was a story of personal retribution for Ronaldo, who made up for his anonymous display in the final four years ago when France beat Brazil 3-0.
He also erased the memory of a dismal first-half performance, when he squandered three gilt-edged chances.
Germany had their moments in an open match - but the European hopefuls had no answer to Ronaldo's predatory instincts.
Much of the pre-match build-up had focused on the personal battle between Ronaldo and Oliver Kahn, the leading striker and goalkeeper in the 2002 World Cup.
And it was the Brazilian who won a fascinating duel, as Kahn's blunder handed him the first goal after 67 minutes.
 

SVG Clip St. Lucia to Capture OECS U-23 Netball Crown

CASTRIES, St. Lucia (oecsathlete.com) – Heavy rains provided a fitting anti-climax to the 2002 Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Under-23 Netball Championships on Tuesday evening at the Vigie Multipurpose Sports Complex.
The final round of matches was all but academic after defending champions St. Vincent & the Grenadines defeated host territory St. Lucia 40-37 on Monday evening, virtually clinching the title.

Unfortunately, the host territory and the champions were denied the chance to improve their attacking and defensive standings, though St. Vincent & the Grenadines was eventually rewarded as the highest scoring team in this competition, as well as the best defensive team.
Fittingly, the best defender was SVG goal keep Sancho Little, who executed several timely shot blocks in helping her team to victory. Nicole Sandy controlled the action for the champions, and she was named best centre-court player and player of the tournament.

The major shooting awards went to Nevis, whose tournament-leading shooting percentage was attributable to the torrid shooting of Latasha Isles. Nevis was also named the most disciplined team, and third-placed Grenada was the best team on parade. 

BAD SIGNS!

By Peter Adrien

The West Indies Cricket Team is sending bad signals! And the signals are coming from the top. The defeat at the hands of New Zealand on Monday June 24, at the Kensington Oval, Barbados, seem to reflect an attitudinal problem in the West Indies Cricket Team - a dysfunctional attitude that is crippling the development of the team. 

New Zealand made history on Monday, wining its first test in the West Indies, having failed to do so in 1972, 1985 and 1996. The ever-improving test team, which ranks third in the ICC world ranking, dominated the contest between the two teams and humbled the West Indians in front of a disappointingly small crowd by 204 runs with ten overs and one full day to spare. West Indies, crippled by a paltry 107 runs in the first innings, could only mange 269 runs of the 474-run set (in 184 overs).

The conquering Black Caps prevailed because of superior leadership, superior coaching, superior bowling, superior batting and superior fielding. Their cricket may have been lack-luster and devoid of entertainment-content but it was effective. The crowd might have stayed away because of the unattractiveness of their cricket (apart from the falling disposable income resulting from the downturn in economic activity), but they were purposeful, and clinical and successful. Later on the press would be told by Captain Fleming they did not come to the Caribbean to impress or for a popularity contest, they came to win and to win convincingly.

If you think the nature of the beating sent a bad signal from a team that everyone thought was coming to grips with international competitive cricket, the developments which followed the loss were even much more distressing. The attitude of the team Captain and Coach spoke volumes with respect to the reason why the team performs as it does. I asked myself, “ Is there a cancer that is destroying the team?”

The evidence of the problem was evident to all sports journalists who were present at the post-match press conference.

One case will suffice since, according to our group discussions following the press conference, we hoped that we had seen wrongly, had heard wrongly, and had arrived at the wrong conclusions regarding the things that we had been told, the behaviour that we witnessed, and the comparisons that we made with the approach of the visiting New Zealand team.

While the West Indies team management (Captain Carl Hooper and Coach Roger) cited the long schedule of the players for the 2002 season as a contributing variable, if not the significant variable, the New Zealand captain, Stephen Fleming (who attended the interview with his ace pace bowler, Shane Bond), thought the theory of tiredness irrelevant and in no way influenced their will to perform even if they have played much more cricket than the West Indies team.

Captain Fleming argued: "We could have been jaded too but we are not. We are very determined to win the series in the West Indies. We are strong on statistics; not many teams have won series in the Caribbean, and that is what we are after; that is our motivation. We are desperate to win. We have tactics; we have plans for certain players and we stick to them.”

Captain Hooper and Coach Harper, when asked concerning the approach of the batsmen towards the game and the possible sanctions to be imposed for such careless, if not disgraceful performance, opted to chide press for being “ultra-critical” and “too hasty” and “too harsh” on the young players. Carl Hooper, in answer to a question with respect to the possible replacement of his fellow Guyanese batsman, Ramnaresh Sarwan (in order to toughen him), who played two ugly and carefree shots when the team needed him most, lectured the press: “We must be careful not to be too harsh with the young players... he has been playing very well and has played lots of good cricket but having played a long season, he is making the mistakes he made before.” When asked about the removal of Sarwan from the one-day team where he obviously does not fit, he refused to accept the argument.

Even when I reminded him that Nevisian Runako Morton is in good form and has just scored two centuries for the “A” team, the West Indies Captain opted only to acknowledge the talented batsman but stressed that Sarwan must be retained in the one-day team “in order for him to learn to adapt” to both versions of the game. Coach Harper by then was very angry and shouted out, “I don’t believe in chopping and changing; dropping Sarwan is not the right thing to do - that is my personal opinion.”

If this is an expression of the spirit and sentiments that are molding the West Indies team, the Caribbean population is in for a prolonged period of embarrassment. And if the protection of Sarwan is part of a national conspiracy, the cancer of destruction is already spreading. Moreover, if Sir Vivian Richards, the Chairman of Selectors, holds the position that because of a player’s talent, he is untouchable on the West Indies team, his advent as chief decsion-maker is unfortunate, if not deadly. 

You see, the batting and application in that fateful test match was near-rubbish. If the batting in second innings was poor (except for that of  Brian Lara and Chris Gayle), the batting in the first innings was appalling, to say the least. Every batsman was self-destructive. The West Indian batsmen sought to play one-day shots on a wicket that demanded patience and caressing, although they had witnessed the New Zealanders’ painstaking approach in amassing 337 runs.

The highly-paid West Indian batsman (sportsmen who are paid in the same way as professional boxers even if their lives are not threatened or their output commensurate with their pay), exhibited no sense of responsibility.

And would you believe it, even after they were badly beaten, the players showed no remorse for the pain that they inflicted on the Caribbean cricketing public. In fact, Carl Hooper, the leader, came to the press conference eating an apple. What a disgrace!

We hope that this attitude will be dealt with decisively by the selectors (Vivian Richards, Gordon Greenidge and Michael Carew). Unlike Joel Garner, they cannot wait until they vacate the positions to comment on the discipline of the very players that they select repeatedly.

But does Sir Vivian have the will to deal with the cancer? If he cannot, he will be of no use to what could become the “rag-tag” group that will parade as the West Indies Cricket Team.

PHOTO CAPTION: Sir Vivian Richards, must act now! (Photo: Adapted)

Peter Adrien is a Central Banker, an author, a syndicated sports commentator, and a freelance photographer. He may be contacted Peter at e-mail: Adriens@caribsurf.com or visit his website www.adriensenterprises.com 

FEATURES

Man From Baker Hill

A Beggar's Mentality

No matter how good natured or how kindhearted a person might be, at some point in time he will become angry with a beggar.
Of course, there are beggars of all types and beggars for many different reasons. So, I am not categorizing all beggars as the same.
But some people feel they have a right to beg. And you must give them money, but you must never give them any advice or ask the purpose for which they beg. There is a type of beggar who would beg you for a dollar, and if you try to ask him why he needs your money he will curse you rotten. Yet shortly after you give him the money you may see him with a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of beer merrily smoking and drinking, or just spending the money as if money was going out of style.
I cannot imagine anyone denying that Montserratians have been through some stressful times. But stressful times do not confer on any of us a right to adopt a beggar's mentality.
For example, it is well known that the Government built permanent houses for some relocated persons who were considered unable to help themselves otherwise. In other words, these persons received their houses without making any financial contribution. Now, if within three months of taking possession of his or her home, the person purchased a car valued at $20,000 with cash, should the Government be angry? Should the person be asked to repay some of the money it cost to build the house? Is it okay for a person to beg a home and then purchase a car for $20,000 in cash?
Again, it is no secret that relocated persons qualified for Housing Grants of up to $40,000. And if some of them took the grant to help them to build houses costing over $400,000, should the giver of the grant have reasons to be angry?
Furthermore, there are persons on social welfare who are also recipients of adequate pension from other sources. Should the Welfare Department be angry at those persons for lying and misleading? Or is it okay to beg even though you have more than enough? We have some people in the shelters who earn as much as $150 a day. Is it too much to ask those persons to pay a total amount of $3 a day towards their use of water, electricity and room?
Are we a Nation of People who condone the Beggars mentality? Why should we give to people who lie and beg just to get a little more even though they have more than enough for their needs?
Oh well! What the heck… what is the use of helping ourselves when we can beg and beg and beg.
Each time, I visit the section at Lookout where the Caricom Houses are situated, I wonder and ponder. I ponder at the 12 or more vacant lots. I ponder at the great number of blocks and concrete columns, lying at the site. And I wonder why the Government of' Montserrat do not use the Blocks and other building materials on site to continue building the houses. I ponder at our inability to add value to the blocks and columns. And I wonder if we have to wait on the Government of Dominica to send money to pay Montserrat workmen to build houses for Montserratians.
Sometimes I even wonder why we do not invite some of our people in the UK to return and utilize the building materials and free land to construct their own homes on the already prepared site in the Caricom Village. I am convinced that at least 12 would take up the offer.
Each day as I drive to and from work, I see roads, roads and more roads being dug up and re-constructed. I see roads being widened by three inches and retaining walls costing over $300,000, built to protect the extensions. I see corners widened by two feet and culverts and bridges costing over $200,000, built to facilitate the extension.
Yes I see roads, walls and drains. I also see back walls costing maybe as much as $500,000 to decorate solid cliff sides that would never collapse. And I see the same people working on the roads, walls and drains every day.
There must be plenty love and money coming from the drains and block walls of the roads on Montserrat.
Still every now and then I hear on the radio that the British need to give Montserrat more money. And I hear that they must not ask us what we would do with the money.
But how much more money do we need to beg and for what?
Have we begged $1 billion yet? Do we need to beg for another $500 million before we can get the economy moving?
Yes, now that we conduct our own feasibility studies and now that we are our own consultants, what is our next move?
Should we not stop and ask ourselves what has happened to all the money that we begged?
Should we get angry at ourselves for asking one another how many roads to dig up, how many more block walls to build?
Could you tell me how much money should they have in their pockets before they allow us to get the economy moving?
Right now, I can only ask, are we the Nation with a beggar's mentality? Are we going to beg and beg and spend and spend knowing fully well that even the kindhearted will one day become wary and angry at us?

I Looked Into The Future And Montserrat Lived

COMMENTARY

The problem right now on Montserrat is that we have to live in the present. We have to live with a government that has led the country astray. We have to live with a set of senior civil servants who have refused to, or are incapable of giving good technical assistance and direction to the Government of Montserrat or the Government of DFID. Infact we could just go ahead and say we have a just given away all our really serious decision making and serious influence making positions to a couple of non-nationals who couldn’t give a rat’s behind about whether poor people go or come or whether Montserrat have a future. You see, it is these high-ranking non-nationals who will go back to their country and get the high-ranking government jobs they dubiously had before they come here and do us out of our jobs and our future. And before you forget let me just remind you that we here in Montserrat are so confused that we trying to chase out the non-nationals who come here to help we keep we country together and build up we country, all the while we bigging up these set of incompetent high ranking foreigners who digging out we eye and laughing all the way to the bank with they big time salary they and they family sucking out the country.

But you know I had a dream. I had a dream where I didn’t have to listen to the politicians trying to mash up the only two places in Montserrat whey does work with poor people. And you should ask you self, why they targeting these places.

I had a dream about how real investors with real money are allowed to come into Montserrat and invest in housing and water and gas station and hotel. I get this really nice dream about how the politicians don’t suck up all the little business opportunities for themselves and leave the rest of we stranded and poor and hungry.

I have this dream about how the politicians would write they own speech and develop education programs for the country because they themselves educated. I dream real sweet dreams about educated politicians who hold the future and the development of we country dear to they heart and never say that the country bankrupt and have no future. I dream all kind a dream bout how every country leader is a democratic leader who never threatened to remove people off the radio because they tell the truth bout how the country going down the latrine pit. I does dream all night about how all governments does help people to come home to they own country like they does do in St Kitts with offers of loan for house and duty free car and duty free household goods instead of frustrating the daylights out of the few of them who fast enough to come home right up until they have to just turn right around and go back whey they come from because they cant stand the jamming. And then sometimes I does just get real stupid down and dream ‘bout how the plenty love and money thing really working, and how we nice and kind government going stop taking people money out they salary for house that they going never see again, so that they could stay here and go build other house.

And is then I does wake up real happy like pappy. And once me eyes open I does get real vex and stress out because I realize I living in a country whey leadership is a bad word. I living in a country whey we politicians would go to meetings and learn how they not going license we airport still to build for no more that a nine seater but they will still tell the people how we going get big old 19 seater plane.

And then I remember is how much money we airport still to build going cost and how we could buy a big ole 25 seater helicopter for 10% of the cost of the airport and still land it in the same helipad we have now and build house and road and we economy with the change whey left out of the $41 million .And then I does say well yes, we could even finish the road them that we dig up all over the place and cant finish because DFID money done or they not giving we no more. You know we could even finish the road to nowhere so that it could end up going some where. We could pave it too. What you say?

And when I am finally fully awake, I realize that Montserrat does have a future. And it has one despite the myriad of things that we see going so clearly wrong. We have a future even as we currently live with a government hell bent on taxing us to death and giving away our children’s birthright because of their incompetence and basic inability to understand even the most simplistic and mundane economic and financial relationship.

There are so many talented, right minded, democratic, nationalistic, bright and intelligent

 people in the country capable of running this country that it gives us pause, just to fathom how we stood by and allowed our dearly beloved country and homeland to be hijacked by 200 pieces of Judas silver, salt fish, rum and the promise of lots of emotion and currency.

We need to retake our country. Not by fair or fowl means. But by the path we have taken before. We have done this before. It is clear that it is time to do so again.

So to steal as well as destroy a couple of phrases from some history books somewhere, and I am not talking any violence either, I will say to Montserratians everywhere, come on guys: IT IS TIME TO SEIZE THE DAY!!!!! COME ON!!! POUND YOU PLOUGH SHEARS INTO SWORDS!!!

TV: How Many Hours Will Your Kids Watch Today?

                                          By Jeanne Sather

As a child, I watched hours of mindless TV shows with my brother and sisters. I also argued, whined, moaned, pouted, sulked, and complained bitterly when our mom finally made us turn it off after nearly a half-dozen hours of nonstop viewing.

And still, I like to think I turned out OK. After all, I rarely watch TV now–-maybe only a couple of hours a month.

If I wanted to play devil’s advocate, I’d say we parents just worry too much about our kids. Our kids work hard in school, so in the evenings, on weekends, and when they're home from school for the summer, what’s wrong with a few hours of downtime in front of the tube?

 “A few hours a day is too much TV,” says Yale University psychologist Dorothy Singer, co-director of the Yale Family Television Research and Consultation Center. “Use the summer to read, play outdoors, hike, catch up on hobbies, do crafts, visit interesting places, and just spend some time daydreaming.”

What the research shows

Unless you’ve been raising your kids in a cabin without electricity at the back of beyond, you know about the research on children, violence, and TV. It’s hard to ignore. It’s also hard to ignore the statistics on the number of hours most children spend in front of a television set.

A quick summary:

• The average U.S. household has at least one TV set turned on for about seven hours a day.

• The average school-aged child spends 27 hours per week watching TV (some preschoolers watch much more).

• Over the course of a year, children spend more time watching TV than they spend in school or participating in any other activity except sleep.

• Children’s TV shows contain about 20 violent acts per hour.

• A high percentage of a child’s viewing time is spent watching shows intended for adults: 40 percent of a 6-year-old’s viewing time, and about 80 percent of a 12-year-old’s viewing time.

• The average American child will have watched 100,000 acts of televised violence, including 8,000 murders, by the time he or she finishes the sixth grade.

Contrast these numbers with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation that a child watch no more than one to two supervised hours of TV a day.

The result? It is generally accepted that all this TV watching has three main effects on children: They become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others, they become more fearful of the world around them, and they are more likely to behave toward others in aggressive or harmful ways.

In addition, all that sitting around makes them fat. American kids are in worse physical shape than they’ve ever been.

Getting control of the remote

Here are three good strategies for reducing the amount of time your children spend watching TV this summer.

1. Don’t have a TV in the house

I’ve always admired those parents who solved the TV problem by simply not having a TV. You can’t watch what you don’t have.

If that seems too extreme, consider getting rid of the box for the summer. Or for a week.

“We weren’t exposed to violence on TV,” says Jim, a 30-year-old man who grew up without TV, “and we know that if you hit someone, it hurts!”

“We were also very well-read kids, and I learned to play games, work quietly alone, and I developed a vivid imagination. Today, I am not a TV addict. I’m fine without a television--although I’d miss Star Trek!”

2. Limit the number of viewing hours

I’ve used this strategy with my two sons for years. Their limit is one hour a day. If one child chooses to watch a different program than the one his brother wants to watch, he has to leave the room during his brother’s TV time.

Many days, my children watch no TV at all. I don’t allow them to carry these hours over to the next day, but I will bend the rules to allow them to watch a two-hour movie on the weekend.

3. Limit the programs your kids watch

Decide with your children what programs they can watch during the week.

Oregon mom Karen Hoskins allows her three children “pretty much unlimited” viewing of the local PBS channel on summer evenings.

More ideas

Whatever strategy you choose, here are some other ways to reduce TV’s influence in your home:

1. Move the box

Get the TV out of the living room or family room. Don’t allow TV watching during dinner.

2. Post a warning label

Tape a sign on the TV: “Caution! Too much TV leads to violent behavior and obesity.” It’s a daily reminder of TV’s dangers.

3. Be a good role model