News

Last week we referenced the records of the House of Lords of July 4, which show that the Lord Morris of Manchester, the uncle of the current UK Minister of Education, Estelle Morris, had asked questions directly relating to the economy of Montserrat.

Hopes that the questions may have originated in Montserrat have been confirmed by a source said that the initiator of the questions had hoped that the Chief Minister who was advised about the questions would do the necessary follow-up while he was in England.

Keen observers said that Chief Minister John Osborne was beaming over something upon his return to Montserrat over the weekend. Speculations are that the Chief Minister is bringing back news that plans will be put in place to increase the length of the airstrip at Geralds to at least 700 metres.

On Thursday research showed that the answers written by Baroness Amos had not yet addressed question 2, perhaps the most important one. Her responses appear as follows in order:

1. The requirements of the Directorate of Civil Aviation for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States were clarified at a meeting in Antigua earlier this month. The Government of Montserrat's project consultants have been asked to modify their designs accordingly.

3. The progress of the proposed airport development was discussed when Montserrat's Chief Minister called on the DfID Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 10 July. There are no further ministerial meetings currently planned.

4. Her Majesty's Government encourage Montserrat to play a full role in regional affairs, including through its membership of CARICOM and the OECS. As with all British Overseas Territories, the Government of Montserrat require prior HMG approval, in the form of an entrustment, before undertaking international commitments. In response to requests from the Government of Montserrat HMG have already issued several entrustments relating to the territory's involvement in the CARICOM single market and economy.

It has been revealed that the DCA approves the minimum of 600 metres for twin otter operation on an airport and while the required funding has not yet been approved, the designs will be ordered along with designs for a 750 metre runway according to some official sources.

It could be distressing, taking into consideration what is seen and known on the ground, when one reads an article ending with nearly a third of it dealing with the Oriole bird in Montserrat and which states that Britain had meted out the sum of £250 million to Montserrat since the volcanic disaster began.

This article appeared last Saturday in the Daily Express in England and was written by John Ingham who has visited Montserrat. No discredit intended to a journalist who trekked to Montserrat for whatever reason and who chose to write about information he received.

However there are some inaccuracies very similar to what we can find in many other stories written about Montserrat since this tragedy, which we experienced and continue in part to experience and which begun July 18, 1995, exactly seven years ago yesterday. Mr. Ingham’s accounting began from 1997. But while you begin to understand how one could see it in those terms, when it gets down to saying that Britain has given from that period £250 million in aid, and then by Dfid’s own accounting they can only get up to £207 million including what they have allocated up to the year 2006, it is time once again to call for the authorities, and particularly our government, to look at matters very seriously to turn around the damage that this does to Montserrat and its future.

If anyone considers why it appears that the rest of the Caribbean does not think that Montserrat needs any assistance whatsoever, it is because we don’t seek it properly or did not make use of that which may have been offered, but more so it is because of the impressions given by Her Majesty’s Government at every opportunity and similar inaccuracies as we see in that July 13 article.

It is probably too late now but more and more any in-depth study of the problems experienced in this British dependent territory, will show the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) left us to the mercies of that British Ministry (DFID) which boasts that the bulk of its “assistance is concentrated on the poorest countries in Asia and sub-Sharan Africa…and that it “contributes to poverty elimination and sustainable development in middle income countries, and helping the transition countries in Central and Eastern Europe to try to ensure that the widest number of people benefit from the process of change.”

Whatever political problems experienced back in the 80s, that prevented Montserrat from forging into a different state from colonialism; whatever the falsehoods of the time, Montserrat, even with the worst disaster that can be faced by a whole nation, the relativity of size notwithstanding, could never be viewed by DFID in a way that can make the assistance it boasts of, beneficial to our rebirth and development.

DFID has issued some ‘Key Facts’ of its assistance to Montserrat, an island which they themselves believed had been too devastated for living, worse than any war demolished country. It claims to have disbursed so far “£160 million (£114 – development assistance and £46 million – budgetary aid) – note well - from April 1, 1995 to March 31, 2002 . An audit needs to be done. It would be difficult to dispute that they have allocated and/or spent this sum from 1995 and plan to spend an additional £46.7 million by the end of 2006 to make a total of £207 million and not having already disbursed £250 million.

The audit is necessary because Montserrat still faces a ‘shut down’ and in the meantime aid from Britain is at a crawl. It should be noted every single item in the ‘Key Facts’ sheet could be disputed and questioned, as monies were wasted in several areas and all colour elephants (with others to come), evident and in existence.

All areas are critical. But areas under essential infrastructure; emergency assistance, private sector development (yet to come), housing, head the list for disgraceful awards.

This is a country that enjoyed a life style that caused British civil servants to react unfavourably with a bad attitude. Even the Governors, whom they see as just other civil servants, have come in for their share of jealous treatment even now.

At this point no answer to any question on our behalf in the British parliament will not bring some embarrassment and raised eyebrows from many of those in either house. It must confuse many. How can they not believe the information they receive from their ministers of government, who very often do not really address the reality of the situation? Diplomacy and pride, subtlety and hypocrisy! Who matches up?

Check Baroness Amos’ answers to Lord Morris and see what they tell us. Yes, Montserrat has gotten the go ahead to design for 600 meter-runway, but while that meets the Directorate of Civil Aviation for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States standards for twin otters to land on airports, do they match British standards or the safety standards for an airport at Geralds? Are these safety standards suitable for sea level operation or well above?

The Baroness says HMG encourage us to participate in CARICOM and OECS, but we need their approval, some of which they have given, but is that the truth? If so, Mr. Chief Minister why the embarrassment to attend those meetings, and why have we not signed some of the protocols of CARICOM having been given the necessary ‘entrustments?’

Yet it is may be our own attitudes that kill us. It is our resilience for punishment and willingness to acquiesce that hurt us. We better do something or that which will be done (for us) will not be worthwhile and never be to our benefit. We better remember and live it, “whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.”

If we nod our heads in agreement to this saying, we will know how to say ‘NO’ to the wastes and the varying colour ‘elephants’ and to that which is substandard to our own reasonable appreciations. Anything done now must seek to bring benefit, if not now five, ten years from now. The task is ours to change the perceptions, mistruths, falsehoods, deception, and all that lead people away from Montserrat, or else there will be a Montserrat, but not for Montserratians.

June 25, 2002 went by so quietly disgraceful. The media did its part in remembering but those already forgotten souls will be cause for a haunt in time to come. And what better time than this week to remember the start of this crisis, if for nothing else to spur some motion towards progress, but that too is forlorn.

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.

Isaac Asimov tells the story of a rough ocean crossing during which a Mr. Jones became terribly seasick. At an especially rough time, a kind steward patted Mr. Jones on the shoulder and said, "I know, sir, that it seems awful. But remember, no one ever died of seasickness." Mr. Jones lifted his green countenance to the steward's concerned face and replied, "Oh, don't say that! It's only the wonderful hope of dying that keeps me alive."

There's more in Mr. Jones' words than a touch of irony. As a Christian, I hear echoes of Paul's words to the Philippians. He said that the wonderful hope of dying kept him going (Philippians 1:21-23). Yet he wasn't fearing. Paul's hope was rooted in Christ, who died on the cross for sinners, rose from the grave, ascended to heaven, and would one day take Paul into His presence.

How did this hope of seeing Christ, either at death or at the Lord's return, keep Paul going? It gave meaning to every moment. It gave him reason to live for Christ. It also gave him incentive to focus on others who needed his encouragement. He said, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (v.21).

Allow me to introduce myself. I am Tarrestnom Namsdubmo. I have been recently appointed to the title of ‘The People’s Ombudsman’, a unique position here in Montserrat. Although a mere verisimility, it serves a functional purpose for the entire public of Montserrat.

The powers that be were inundated and weighed down by the tremendous outcry for help – a desire to make public knowledge of the sufferings of wrong doings being encountered on Montserrat.

These cries overpowered and dominated conversations. As a result, there was no other alternative but to consider your situation. This position is the intended solution.

The ‘People’s Ombudsman’ is an outlet that publicly records the injustices that are occurring in Montserrat. It is designed to create an environment that could ensure, through awareness that justice is obtained.

Before I provide you with the details of this position, I would like to emphasise, to each and every Montserratian and resident of Montserrat, my genuine honour and humble disposition as I graciously accept this post and endeavour to serve the best interest of the public of Montserrat, in a consistently unbiased and impartial manner.

My standards, methods and decisions are founded and will be implemented in truth, integrity, equal rights and justice. There are no exceptions. These are the parameters set out before me. These are the guidelines, policies and procedures by which I adhere to strictly.

The scope of the responsibilities of my title empowers me to investigate complaints of injustice meted out by private citizens, residents, government bureaucracy departments, agents and representatives.

I will publicly address all injustices, especially when an individual has reaped no recourse through the responsible organizations, avenues or entities.

The ‘People’s Ombudsman’ will address all issues no matter, how small—once it has demonstrated merit for consideration.

Whether we realize it or not, the actions of our everyday lives cause reactions that contribute to the advantage or disadvantage of Montserrat’s successful existence.

When one individual suffers an injustice from another, it is the responsibility of the community, as a whole, to preserve justice with no exceptions. It is the responsibility of the community as a whole because it affects the community as a whole. It benefits everyone – as a whole as it should.

In conclusion, we are to utilize this outlet as an example of positive peer pressure for the betterment of our harmonious survival and peaceful existence.

If you have any matter you want the ‘People’s Ombudsman’ to address, please write to:

Miss Rachel Collis, founder and president of the Pacesetters Sports & Cultural Club said children will be targeted as one of the main steps to rebuild netball on the island.
Miss Collis spoke to The Montserrat Reporter shortly after members of the Antigua netball teams played an exhibition match at the Brades netball court.

“One good thing that has come out of this is that people have been meeting me and asking me about why not start with the children,” she said. “As I tell each and everyone of them I’m always willing to start whenever they are ready because I recognize that the future is in the kids and they are the ones who are going to reap from whatever happens here to the sport.”
She added: “…so, I am hoping that something good will come out of this and we will be able to work with the little children in the future. All I need is for them to come. What they are going to get if I might say so, will be what other children in other islands are getting and maybe even better because I have been trained…. I am a highly experienced and qualified netball administrator.”
She said that the Pacesetters club, which came out of a “netball situation”, plans to continue playing and promoting netball here. “The labourers are plenty but the harvest is very small. One would hope that when we announce that we are having netball practice that people would turn up,” Miss Collis said.

In regards to the crowd support for the netball exhibition match between Antigua’s national and under-23 teams, Miss Collis said: “Obviously we had a good crowd here and they must have been motivated to come see them play because they want to see good netball. These are national players, these were unpaid professionals in their own rights and they put on a very good show.”
She said the visit of the team augurs good for the development here. She however observed that not many young girls attended the match.
In an effort to rebuild netball and spectatorship for sports here, Pacesetters conducted two surveys on Saturday after the game. The first survey was done with the Antiguan contingent about their impressions of Montserrat and the other was done with the spectators regarding their views on the activity whereby teams come here and play.
Results of the survey will be released next week.

The decline in the sport of netball can be said to be one of the sad fallouts in Montserrat since the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano in1995.

Valedictorian Miss Shara Greenaway (pictured left) captured the hearts of the gathering at the July 2, 2002 Montserrat Secondary School (MSS) graduation by presenting a plethora of encouraging words for her fellow graduates, teachers and education officials.
Miss Greenaway, who obtained awards for creditable performances in History, Maths, Biology and for overall outstanding performance told the students that “today marks the end of one phase in our lives, but this is only a prelude to a new and more demanding phase”.
“Undoubtedly, we all will travel down different roads as we seek to build careers and our lives in general, she said. “I am sure that the quest for learning will take many of us from our safe haven here in Montserrat to different parts of the world. For some of us the journey will be long and hard, for some it may be smooth sailing. There will be fear and uncertainty, but we have proved that we are resilient and can master anything with God’s help. It is up to us to use that resilient spirit that we have developed to succeed.”
She told the graduates that whatever lies ahead of them will be important, “for us to remember that we are the future leaders and the movers and shakers of our island home. We must go, obtain the necessary knowledge and experience and then come back to contribute to the development of our country”.
Miss Greenaway, who began her secondary school journey in Jamaica at St Andrew High School as a result of the dislocations during the volcanic crisis, said the Ministry of Education have come a long way in re-establishing the sound educational system that was in place prior to 1995. She added that she was particularly pleased about the reestablishment of the sixth form, but noted however that the subject range needs to be improved so that “students have a varied choice”.
She added that more attention needs to be placed on upgrading the science labs and she would like to see the inclusion of field trips as an integral part of the curriculum, since this contributes to the practical learning process.
She plans to enter sixth form and pursue science subjects to facilitate her entry to the University of West Indies, where she plans to study medicine and later specialize in the fields of obstetrics and Gynecology.
She recalled her experience at classes at Lookout. “Do you know how cold Lookout is?” she asked. “That is the main thing that stands out in my memory from the time we spent there. It was an extremely cold environment with limited space for us all. We complained endlessly.”
While telling fellow students that the future of Montserrat depends on their success, she also expressed her concern at the breakdown of discipline and said she hope that the students find a way as a community of dealing effectively with this problem.

Miss Alison Camille Skerritt entertained the graduation with a solo performance.
Miss Skerritt is one of three Girl Guides rangers who will attend the Commonwealth Youth Forum in the United Kingdom later this month.

The students who passed many subjects are: Crystal Archer (9 subjects); Manish Valechha, Celia Marshall and Rayden Greaves (8 each) and those who passed 7 are Dwayon Barnwell, Maureen Bramble, Luann Lewis, Amy Menzies, Darren O’Garro, Tomeika Shiell, Phyllis Williams, Sylvier Harris and Cedricia Shiell.

Honor Roll
The students who made the Honor Roll for Term 111, 2002 are: Luke Edgecombe, Nickesha Hixon, Jonette Silcott (1A); Ingrid Lugo (2A2); Kristen Taylor (sixth time - maximum), Mamta Valechha, Renee Valechha (2A1); Sherasmus Harris (3A1); from 4A Calvin Lewis, Kimmora Ward (sixth time), Antoinette Silcott (top student for term); Camara Irish (4S) and Volta Richmond from 4P.

The wounding charge against the Montserrat Secondary School (MSS) student was dismissed in the magistrate’s court on June 28 under Section 35 of the Penal Code.
The Penal Code reads: “Where in any trial before the Magistrate’s Court the court thinks that the charge is proved, but is of opinion that, having regard to the characters, antecedents, age, health or mental condition of the accused, or to the trivial nature of the offence or to the extenuating circumstances in which the offence was committed, it is inexpedient to inflict any punishment, the court may without proceeding to conviction, or make an order dismissing the charge.”
On Monday, June 17, reports alleged that two students, ages 15 and 16, had fought over a cellular phone, during which the 16-year-old students was stabbed with a knife.
He received stabbed wounds to his left chest and left arm and was treated at the hospital and discharged. The student responsible for the stabbing was arrested and charged for wounding, but was released on EC$1,000 bail later the same day, police reported.
School sources said the cellular phone does not belong to the student who did the stabbing.
The court ruled that the decision was taken into account of the student’s age and the “extenuating circumstances in which the offence was committed”.
The case was dismissed by Senior Magistrate Clifton Warner who noted that the person involved is a “young person in school and he is sorry for what he did and every young man deserves a chance and he is most deserving of a chance”.
The court also said that “he is a good student and he has not been having problems with the school in regards to discipline”.
However, MSS and public sector officials have kept tightlipped about the matter, especially when queried if the student who did the stabbing will return to school in September.
Principal Ms. Kathleen Greenaway have not commented on the incident since it began and The Montserrat Reporter was told by the school on Tuesday that she is off island and will take vacation leave when she returns.
Vice Principal Mr. Glenn Francis when contacted on Monday stated he knew too little to comment, adding: “You know more than I do.”
Mr. Eugene Skerritt, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Health and Community Services said he cannot comment as yet without word from MSS officials on the results.
A Board meeting was held shortly after the incident, but The Montserrat Reporter understands that no decision was made as to how the students will be dealt with eventually.
Commissioner of Police John Douglas said plans to meet with the school officials to plan and review strategies to stop students from carrying weapons, has not yet materialized as he said the school asked for “some time”.
The Commissioner had said the strategy of more frequent spot checks and random searches for weapons at the school will be among the topics to be discussed in the meeting.
Mr. Douglas had also expressed concern that students are harming themselves by carrying cellular phones at school, which is normally prohibited. “Children should not be taking any offensive weapons to school. It shows that if they are doing they have some ulterior motive,” he had said.

Bishop Reece blesses the construction site and Mrs Anthony Longrigg turns the soil

The Montserrat Red Cross (MRC) continued it’s rebuilding efforts when they held a soil turning ceremony for their new headquarters in Brades on Wednesday, July 17.
The Governor’s wife Mrs. Jane Longrigg shoveled the soil to mark the occasion, moments after His Lordship Bishop Donald Reece sprinkled Holy water on the construction site.
This is the third major building project that the MRC has undertaken since the start of the volcanic crisis seven years ago July 18.
The others were their participation in the construction of the Gold Years Home, a 50-bed facility for elderly people; and the construction of playground facilities for children in the new community of Lookout, which is currently being used as the MRC’s temporary headquarters.
President of the MRC, Mrs. Listra Osborne said: “We are presently temporarily housed in a building we erected for use by the community of Lookout on the Playground compound, and as everyone else in Montserrat has discarded the word temporary, we too want to abandon that word and move into a permanent home which we hope will be our headquarters for a long time to come.”

Chief Minister John Osborne said the Government will support the MRC in some way. “Government has always supported the Red Cross and must support the Red Cross,” he said. “ I cannot see that the Red Cross is putting up a building in Montserrat and the Government cannot make a contribution…. I will make a personal contribution because it is worthwhile and I encourage everybody to make an effort to help.”
Constructed across from the Brades Pentecostal Church, the building has been designed to provide modular office accommodation on the ground floor and two units in the basement containing space for a radio and communications room, storage and support facilities, built in two phases.
A third phase has been planned for the first floor to provide additional office space and conference and meeting rooms.
Work is programmed for construction in 2002 of Phase 1 and 2, consisting of basement and ground floors together with associated site works. Construction of Phase 3, the first floor, is planned for 2003.
The estimated costs, excluding furniture and equipment, but including the access road, site works and consultants’ fees, is nearly EC$1 million.
Chairperson Mr. Richard Aspin said efforts to raise the money will be difficult. “Yes we have got some insurance monies from the damaged building in Plymouth which will give us a start but that’s a minute amount compared to the overall cost,” he said.
However, Director of the MRC, Mrs. Camilla Watts, said things will pull through with God’s continued support and also that of the various sources within the public and private sectors. “It has been a struggle for the Red Cross here on Montserrat and without the good people and the grace of God we would not have being here this morning,” she said, while encouraging and welcoming any form of useful contribution from the community.
After delivering the vote of thanks, she was handed an EC$100 note from 53-year-old Ms. Gertie Gysbertha, a Montserratian who has been living in Curacao for the past 28 years, and who is back home on vacation. In regards to her contribution, she said: “I feel good because I am a Montserratian.”
Since the Montserrat Red Cross (MRC) headquarters in Dagenham was destroyed in a major pyroclastic flow in 1997, the occupants have moved three times – from Old Towne, to Woodlands and now Lookout.
A non-profit organisation, the MRC program, which has done 13 notable successful projects recently, is run by two permanent members of staff and a cadre of volunteers. There are separate committees dealing with youth, the elderly and disabled, health care and development.

Plans to create legislation for child pornography and its circulation through the Internet and information technology is not bearing fruit, because Montserrat did not have a legal draftsman/woman in over a year to write the laws, according to Superintendent of Police Paul Morris.
In the March 22, 2002 issue of The Montserrat Reporter Supt. Morris had said he was working with the Attorney General’s office to draft the legislation.
Supt. Morris, who is hoping that something would be done before yearend said the plan is still in focus, but: “It’s going to be a very, very slow process”.
Supt. Morris said Montserrat does not have relevant and appropriate legislations that would cover the use of the Internet. “We have to ensure that we have the relevant legislation to enable us even to investigate and arrest for it,” he had said.
The superintendent said child pornography is circulated through the Internet system in Montserrat, but he does not suspect that the illegal act is created on the island.
He however expressed his concern that child pornography could impact in actual offences of child molestation.
He also noted that there are several other laws that need to be updated such as the Police Act, Mental Health Act and Children and Young Person Act.
As a result of fishing without success for another qualified full-time legal drafts person the Government called back retired Sri Lankan Mr. Rajanathan Rajasingham.
Mr. Rajasingham, who retired last year April, was called back on a six-month appointment. He began working here again on July 1 this year.
Mr. Rajasingham was employed here for three years up to his retirement upon his return said he hasn’t received anything regarding the creation of child pornography legislation through the Internet. “This would normally first go through the Attorney General,” said Mr. Rajasingham, who also enjoys British residency.
He also noted that there is a shortage of legal draftsmen/women in the region.

Six adults and one minor, all Montserratians showed up at the Governor’s office on Thursday afternoon to receive their passports with the words “British Citizen” under Nationality - stamped inside them.

The event was the occasion for a brief ceremony by Governor Longrigg as he called on the recipients to come forward and receive their passports out of the first batch that had been completed and sent to Montserrat.

The Governor said, he was “pleasantly surprised how the system worked so smoothly.”

He said it was under the capable advice of the Administration department whom he congratulated for the work put in, proven in the fact that the passports were processed within the six to eight week period as had been promised.

One woman proud of her passport stamped “British Citzen” said, “I am due to travel to Europe next week and now I will have no problems with questions from immigration as to where Montserrat is.”

Another lady sought to confirm if she can use the passport immediately and whether she can travel to the United States.

It was revealed that there were little difficulty with the applications so far received, but some people had difficulty with questions five and seven on the application forms. Eligibility for the passport was also one matter that featured in some applications.

New British passport holders were reminded to exercise care when filling out immigration forms to enter the USA as the necessary forms will be different from the ones used when travel on a Visitor visa.

The Bank of Montserrat Limited (BOM) said six applications have been approved since launching the long-term Home Mortgage Financing Plan on June 17.
Manager of the Bank Mr. Anton Doldron said this is a good sign, considering that the mortgage plan was launched just one month ago.
“It’s really quite good given the time frame,” he said.
The mortgage plan was launched 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% per annum for a term of 20 years.
Chairman of the BOM, Mr. DRV Frank Edwards had said the introductory rate is below those currently offered on the regional market as the bank contributes to redeveloping Montserrat.
He added: “The Bank of Montserrat feels that providing housing continues to be a priority in this development process. Reflective of this view, is the fact that over 50% of our current loan portfolio is in medium-term mortgages. We are a commercial bank funded by short-term deposits still operating with some support from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. We are mindful of our responsibility to depositors and aware of changing market factors.”

Three members of the Antigua netball contingent fell ill during their transportation on the late ferry back to Antigua on Saturday, July 13, according to a local sports official.
The official said the team members got sick because of the “rough seas”.
The official said the players experienced nausea, vomiting and headaches among other symptoms.
The sports official said Montserrat will continue to lose out on many opportunities, especially in the area of sports, until a suitable airport is constructed.
An exhibition match was played between Antigua’s national squad and its under-23 side, which saw the former coming out 41-15 on top.
According to the sports official, two other exhibition matches were to be played – a select visitors’ team vs. a Montserrat squad, followed by an exhibition match of the Antigua men’s league – but did not materialize because of transportation reasons.
The tour was expected to be a confidence booster for the senior members of the Antigua team who are currently preparing for the upcoming Caribbean Netball Association (CNA) competition from August 16-27, at the YMCA Sports Complex in Antigua.
Members of the team who participated last Saturday said the experience in Montserrat was fine and they were happy to have played here in order to help support the redevelopment of netball on the island.

NADI, Fiji (Greenpeace): The Prime Minister of Fiji, Mr. Laisenia Qarase, called on the Heads of Government at the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) meeting here to join the Pacific in its outrage and opposition to the shipments of plutonium MOX waste traveling through the region.
The ACP meeting, attended by delegations representing 70 countries, is being held in Fiji and the Prime Minister made the statement during the opening session.
The Prime Minister said in his opening speech: “As I speak a ship carrying plutonium is heading for our waters, having traverse other parts of the region. We will be asking you to join with us in expressing our outrage and opposition to those who are so willing to put the Pacific and our people at risk.”
Angenette Heffernan of Greenpeace has welcomed the statement by the Prime Minister of Fiji, saying: “We commend the Prime Minister for taking a leadership role on this issue and are confident that the ACP will support this statement. The Prime Minister’s statement is a strong indication that this will be a key issue for the Pacific Heads of Government’s annual meeting next month.”
The two ships, Pacific Pintail and Pacific Teal, carrying 255 kgs of weapons-usable material have in the last week breached the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. They are now heading towards the EEZ of New Caledonia.

Barbados – The visitor industry in the Caribbean may be missing out on major advances in tourism thinking, according to the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Patrick Cozier, who called for stronger participation from the region's hoteliers and other policy makers at the upcoming third edition of the Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx).
Slated for Jamaica, October 17-21, CMEx will draw more than 50 regional and international media delegates to examine "The Marketing and Management of Tourism" in the Caribbean.
"The industry is missing out on top quality discussions that are already impacting the future of Caribbean tourism," said Cozier, whose regional media organisation has helped co-produce the past two events in Jamaica (October 2001) and the Bahamas (May 2002).
As part of the agenda, media delegates, government representatives and members of the Caribbean hospitality industry will meet for three to four days of intensive and lively dialogue and debate on how the Caribbean tourism industry can meet its current challenges and develop in a sustainable manner.
Topics to be covered include cooperative approaches to regional marketing; media and industry perspectives on sustainable tourism; the all-inclusive sector; child-sex tourism; the travel industry's response to the HIV epidemic; luxury and sustainability issues; and community, culture, environmental and agricultural linkages.
Cozier noted that previous outstanding presentations by industry experts such as Peter Greenberg of NBC TV, Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Bahamas' Director of Tourism and Allen Chastanet of Air Jamaica, now set the stage for an even higher quality conference this October. "While the Caribbean's journalists have benefited immensely from this exercise, it is time for the industry to be a part of the process," said Cozier.
CMEx has generated a deluge of print, radio and TV coverage – including a stunning item dedicated to CMEx on CNN's World Report – last month. Other media organisations which have participated and covered CMEx include Amsterdam News, Associated Press, Atlanta Journal Constitution, BBC World Service, Black Entertainment Television, Conde Nast Traveler, Economist Intelligence Unit, Inter-Press Service, Investor Relations Magazine, Jax Fax, National Geographic Traveler, The Miami Herald, New York Daily News, Reuters, UN Secretariat News and United Nations Television along with numerous regional media houses.
Delegates to the second CMEx determined that the industry should be the first choice – and not the last resort – for the youngest and brightest of the Caribbean region. And that it is critically important to consider the various stakeholders in tourism: not just the customers but the staff and the local community who all have to benefit from the experience in order to maintain a sustainable industry.
CMEx is produced by Counterpart International, its Caribbean affiliate Counterpart Caribbean, Air Jamaica, Life Needs the Caribbean, Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism CAST) and Caribbean Broadcasting Union.

KINGSTON, Jamaica: President of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), Lamine Diack, has declared that the Federation was pleased to have Jamaica as host of this year’s World Junior Championships.

“I am delighted that the World IAAF athletics competition is now being held in this sport loving country. I am pleased to announced that 1,129 athletes from 177 member federations are ready to try the new Mondo track at the National Stadium,” Mr. Diack stated.

He was speaking at the official press conference for the World Junior Championships on July 15 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

Mr. Diack said the decision to offer Jamaica the 9^th IAAF/Coca-Cola World Junior Championships was in keeping with the Federation’s commitment to develop the sport outside of Europe.

Of the nine Championships held so far, five have been hosted outside of Europe. Apart from Kingston, the other non-European cities that have hosted the Championships are South Borough, Canada; Seoul, South Korea; Surrey, Sydney and Santiago, Chile.

He pointed out that the Championships, initiated in 1986, have given talented young people the chance to get valuable experience of international competition and “a test of the excitement and satisfaction that are the rewards of top class athletics”.

Mr. Diack informed that 44 athletes who competed in the nine editions of the World (Junior) Championships have gone to become World and Olympic champions.

He said that over 50 years of IAAF competitions, “Jamaica has maintained an amazing sporting record…winning more Olympics, World and Commonwealth medals that would not normally be expected from a country with less than three million inhabitants.

“There have been cricketers footballers, boxers and weight-lifters; they all have been great athletes,” he noted.

He said that from Herb McKenley in the 1950’s, to Veronica Campbell who accomplished the unprecedented feat of winning the 100 and 200 metres races at the 2000 IAAF/Coca-Cola World Championships 2000, Jamaican athletes have been outstanding role models not just to the country, but also to world athletics.

The IAAF was founded on July 12, 1912 with just 17 members and has grown to be world biggest sporting association with 210 members.

Jamaica 2002 follows last year’s World Championships in Edmonton, Canada. Upcoming IAAF events include the World Youth Championships in Shellbrook, Canada in 2003 and possible Los Angeles for the World Cup in 2006.

BELMOPAN, Belize: To expedite Customs transactions for Belizean nationals transporting goods through Mexico, the Mexican Finance Secretariat – Customs Department, has informed that with effect from August 1, 2002 the border crossing at Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico will be the only entry point for Belizeans traveling through Mexico with household and commercial items.
The Mexican authorities have published a list of prohibited household items that can only be transported through Mexico if the Government of Belize provides a Letter of Commitment to cover the movement of the items through Mexico to Belize. This Letter of Commitment is issued by the Embassy of Belize in Mexico City, for which it is necessary to retain Mexican brokerage services at Matamoros to facilitate the
transaction.
Prohibited items currently include lard, beer, cigarettes, plywood, pampers, footwear, tools, bicycles, toys, accessories for clothing, shoes, bags, textile and three electrical appliances per person (i.e. TVs, toasters, VCRs).
Mexican authorities may approve the transit of non-commercial quantities of these items.
Belizean registered commercial and transport companies that transport commercial items through Mexico must register to be included on the List of Belize Transport and/or Commercial Companies, providing the following information: name of company, Belizean company registration number and address and telephone number. Companies must also provide the following information on the Customs Brokerage service used for entry into Maramoros: name of Customs Broker, address and telephone number and patent number (registration number).
Registration is done through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Belmopan. Registration will occur until July 31, 2002.

St. Maarten (GIS) – Commissioner of Tourism and Port Affairs Theo Heyliger, says that the cruise industry is on track to carry 7.4 million cruise passengers for 2002, while the island is expected to top the 1 million mark as well at year-end.

“The first quarter of 2002 according to recent figures made available by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) says that close to 1.7 million North American passengers have cruised for the first three months of the year which represents a 1.6 per cent increase over the same period in 2001,” Heyliger told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Monday.

Heyliger added that the summer cruise season for the island is very positive with additional cruise ship calls. “We have 41 additional cruise calls and over 103,000 additional cruise passengers when compared to the same period last year. “This additional business should provide some relief for the business communities that are directly dealing with the cruise sector.

“North Americans are cruising again and we can also say that we are on track with the trends.
In 2001, approximately 6.9 million North Americans cruised the Americas of which more than 2.75 million were first-time cruisers, he said.

Heyliger said that the Tourism Department is working closely with the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) on a cruise conversion program that would entail converting cruise passengers to stay-over hotel guests.

“This program is essential as it is another market avenue in order to get stay-over guests to fill our hotel rooms,” he said.

It has been projected that for the summer season, approximately 302,468 cruise passengers on 124 ships are expected to visit the island from May to September. Last year for the same period, 199,138 passengers visited St. Maarten onboard 83 ships.

Kittitian David "Pung Wa" Patrick is the OECS 2002 Soca Monarch.
"Pung Wa" overcame a field of 17 of the region's leading Soca artistes to take the title Sunday night during activities for St. Lucia's 2002 carnival.
St. Lucian Giles "Gillo" Stephens took second spot - the same position held by his country in last year's inaugural competition.
Barbadian Anderson "Andy" Amstrong of the Band Square One put in an energetic performance of his "Bandana" to earn the third place, while another crowd pleaser, Antiguan Mervyn "Sleepy" Edward was fourth.
Two of the pre-show favorites, Grenadian "Super P" with "Peeping" and the "Hairy Bank" man Poorsah of St. Vincent and the Grenadines failed to place.
The winner received the OECS Secretariat Challenge Trophy and a cash prize and is expected to be used during the year to promote regional integration.

Jamaica (JIS): CARICOM Secretary General, Edwin Carrington has said that by the end of this month, he would be traveling to Anguilla to discuss that country’s recent imposition of visa restrictions on Jamaican and Guyanese nationals.
Mr. Carrington, who was speaking at a press conference held in the VIP Lounge at the Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay on July 12 said the move by Anguilla has brought strong objections from CARICOM heads who have instructed him to go to Anguilla to sort out the matter.
He said he had written to the Chief Minister of Anguilla on the matter, in the hope that he would have attended the just concluded CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Guyana.
“Unfortunately, he did not turn up for the meeting, but I would not think a month would pass before I go there,” the Secretary General told journalists.
Mr. Carrington argued that though Anguilla was not a full member of CARICOM, issuing visa requirements was against the spirit of a common community.
“We do not know why, we do not understand it. It is true that they are not a member of the community, they are an associate. But, using visa is not the way within a community. A community is the co-mingling of people. When you use a visa, you are going against the spirit of community,” he stated.
He pointed out that Suriname had to remove its visa requirements for CARICOM nations, before they were accepted as a full member of the community.
He said the only countries in the region imposing visa requirements on CARICOM nationals were non-independent states, adding that there was concern within CARICOM about granting full membership to non-independent states.

WASHINGTON, PRNewswire – Airline industry revenue would climb by as much as $415 million annually, and US economic output would increase by between $1.18 billion and $1.61 billion a year, if current restrictions on travel to Cuba were lifted, according to a study released by the Center for International Policy (CIP).
“The economic embargo against Cuba is not only a failed policy, but it has also cost the American economy profits and jobs,” said Thomas Cooper, president of Gulf stream International Airlines and a Board member of CIP. “Congress should legalize travel to Cuba, recapture the dignity of our foreign policy, and provide a real boost to the American economy, and especially the airline and tourism industries.”
Legislation will be considered in the US House of Representatives this week to prohibit enforcement of the Cuba travel ban by the Treasury Department during the upcoming fiscal year.
CIP retained The Brattle Group, an independent economic research and consulting firm to analyze the impact on the US economy of lifting current restrictions on travel to Cuba. Brattle’s study addressed four questions:

The Brattle Group looked at the incidence of travel to Cuba by Canadian tourists to predict future travel to Cuba by American tourists, and examined how often Dominican Americans visit family in the Dominican Republic, as a basis for estimating increases in travel to Cuba by Cuban Americans.
“The travel rates of comparable groups are the best predictor of how Americans would travel to Cuba if there were no restrictions, and those rates are very high,” said Dorothy Robyn of The Battle Group. “Even under conservative assumptions, US airlines would earn as much as an additional $415 million a year – a significant amount at a time when the airline industry is hemorrhaging red ink, laying off workers and asking for federal loan guarantees.”
The ripple effect of increased air and cruise travel would be felt across the entire travel and tourism sector and the broader economy, as airlines and cruise lines buy additional inputs ranging from travel agent services to manufactured equipment. (For a copy of the complete study visit www.ciponline.org).
Founded in 1975, CIP is a non-profit educational and research organization promoting a US foreign policy based on international cooperation, demilitarization and respect for basic human rights across the globe.

St. Maarten (GIS) – Leader of Government Commissioner of Constitutional Affairs Sarah Wescott-Williams, says that she was very encouraged by the meeting with the Aruban Council of Ministers held last Friday on Aruba.

“Prime Minister Oduber stated that his government respects and supports the wish of the people of St. Maarten to become a country within the Kingdom. He is of the opinion that Aruba cannot do otherwise in view of the support and role that St. Maarten played in helping Aruba achieve its own separate status back in 1986.

“One thing was very clear, we are in this for the long haul. The process has just begun and we must remain resolute,” Wescott-Williams told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Monday.

Wescott-Williams appraised the Council of Ministers with regards to St. Maarten’s progress in its quest to become a country within the Kingdom. The achieving of an agreement on the nation’s departure at the national level with the Antillean Government was underlined.

The two other areas mentioned was that this is the last Federal Government of the Netherlands Antilles, and that a Round Table Conference with all Kingdom partners, Holland, Netherlands Antilles and Aruba would be organized at the end of 2003.

Aruba is also prepared to make expertise available to assist St. Maarten in preparing for the status of country. Aruba is also prepared to share its experience with St. Maarten on the division of assets and liabilities.

Sixteen students will represent Montserrat at the ninth biennial Caribbean Union of Teachers Junior Track and Field Championships in Trinidad from July 27-28.
Montserrat will be participating in the championships for the second time. The team won only a bronze medal at their first championships in Martinique in 2000.
President of the Montserrat Union of Teachers, Mr. Herman Francis, said the students will participate in the under-9, -11 -13 and 15 categories.
Mr. Francis, along with coach Winston Scotland will not attend the event because of unavoidable personal reasons.

The Union of Teachers president said he expects Montserrat to do their best. “I expect them to do well and I hope they can come back with a medal. I also hope that the exposure at that level will inspire them,” he said.
The students were selected from the Montserrat Secondary School’s sports meet in December and the inter-house primary meets in March.
Mr. Francis said 36 students, who performed outstandingly at the school meets were selected to try for the final team. The final team was selected about two weeks ago.
Accompanying the team are teachers Mr. Sylvester Brown, Ms. Mary Blake and Ms. Inez Fenton. The team is scheduled to depart on Thursday, July 25.

United States-based Gavin Lee will be Montserrat’s only representative at next Wednesday’s start of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.
Mr. Lee enters the men’s high jump with a personal best of 2.08 metres.
Manager of the team and secretary of the Montserrat Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) Mr. Stephen Mendes said he hopes Mr. Lee does well and that his exposure “to a high caliber of athletes will contribute to his development”.
Mr. Lee is presently on an athletic scholarship at Delaware State University in the United States.
He is one of four persons who had registered in track and field to represent Montserrat in the Games. The other participants however had to withdraw because of various reasons.
Also, Montserrat received an invitation to participate in the Games, but in the absence of team players declined the invitation.
Chef de Mission Mr. Bruce Fararra, long associated with track and field here had to withdraw at the last minute because of a serious accident in the family.

Last week’s story on the Games erroneously named Mr. Mendes as being the high jumper for Montserrat.

The West Indies Cricket Team suffers from a problem of confidence. The team goes through periods of crises that are purely triggered by the state of mind of the players. The problems of the team, as have been discussed in the literature are largely psychological.

The team put a good fight in one innings but folds in another; it triumphs in one match and wobbles in another; it performs excellently in one match but exhibits mediocre performance in another. This spasmodic performance is reflected of mental weakness – the absence of the mental toughness that is required at the international level.

Despite the good performances of the just concluded cricket season, with a clinical win over India and average performances against New Zealand, the there were clear evidence of valley experiences that reflected the absence of self-confidence. They folded against India at Port of Spain against India, when they coasting to victory; they were self-destruct at Bridgetown against New Zealand, after they had defeated India on the same ground just some weeks before.

This mental weakness reflects the eroding emotional fortitude in a society where the dominant Afro-west Indians are being marginalized. There is a crisis of confidence in the Caribbean society, which is triggered by the rejection of local values and a mental inability to adjust to the foreign values consumed through Cable Revolution. In some case, we almost do not know how to define ourselves or to understand who we are. This is the root of the crisis of confidence.

The best model of “confidence building” for the current West Indian Cricket Team is that of the West Indian dynasty of the 1980s and early 1990s. Audrey Armstrong (1995) in his path-breaking policy prescription, A Note on the Future of West Indies Cricket noted that the confidence which propelled the team into World conquerors was born out of the humiliating defeat of the 1975-76 by the merciless Australians on Australian turf. It was nurtured in the commercial crucible of World Series Cricket and the team spirit and social solidarity which are so critical for successful confidence building was developed from the revolt against the West Indies Cricket Board of Control (WICBC).

Armstrong, a management consultant, noted that the “Conquering team was characterised by a sense of mission built on the traditions of the past (had a sense of history); a strong discipline with respect to how things are done; and appropriate leadership.”

The Captain had the confidence of the key players and possessed the capability to contribute to the team and guide and keep them focused. Being fully cognizance of the weaknesses and strength’s of every man on the team, he provided appropriate leadership in difficult situations. Moreover, he was able to deliver performances par-excellence and lead from the front.

This suggests that notwithstanding the size of the technical staff, the usefulness of Carl Hooper, the transitory Captain must be gauged against these traits. Carl Hooper assumed the leadership in a crisis period, as all West Indian captains have done since the departure of Sir Vivian Richards – since the dynasty, there have never been a bona fide West Indian Cricket Captain. All Captains have been selected on the basis of circumstantial reasons.

While there is not at present a common enemy in the WICB, the commercialization of the game and the persistent battering that they are subjected to by their enemies are sufficiently emotionally devastated to bond the current players under Carl Hooper, as a team with an obvious common enemy. The enemies are their detractors and the white avengers of the blood.

Hooper in his late 30s, and in his second coming, hold some sway over the team through his flashing blade, provides the nurturing touch particularly to the younger players, but do always provide sustained aggressive leadership on the field of play. He needs to be much more proactive and attacking when he has the opposition on the ropes. But a long-term captain must be made, nurtured or molded.

Armstrong (1995) is correct when he noted that we have not fully recognized the relevance of the West Indian cricket dynasty of the 1980s and early 1990s. There are important factors that the present team could use for its advantage. For example, did you know that the international cricketing world has already had a vicarious encounter with us through the dynasty? They have already constructed in their minds a concept of the West Indies Cricket Team which it can use as an advantage. This explains why, the gates receipts are sustained notwithstanding those spasmodic performances of the team. There is a constructed concept of an invincible West Indian team – an entertaining West Indies team; a team capable of biting like viper even if it is down.

This is the basis for developing self-concept. Millman (1999) in Body Mind Mastery, advised: “You transcend self-concept through understanding – by seeing through it – opening your talent for body mind and mastery.”

Indeed Lloyd and Richards began building the dynasty when they caught the vision of the holistic nature of sports, mind training, body tuning and consciousness.

The current West Indies Team will only excel when they are nurtured in that value system.

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

PHOTO CAPTION: Lloyd, the builder of the WI cricket dynasty (Photo: Peter Adrien)

Montserrat is participating in the Leeward Islands basketball tournament without one of their top players.
Nichon Weekes, 23, fractured his left middle finger on Wednesday, July 10, ruling out his goal for the remainder of the season: “To win the Leeward Islands tournament”.
The 6.1 ft., 175-pounder said he injured his finger while trying to pull a latch on a truck dumper in Palm Loop.
His finger will take about three to four weeks to heal, Weekes said his doctor told him.
He will be missing out on the Leeward Islands competition for the second year, as he did not travel to St. Kitts in 1999 because of unavoidable “personal engagements”.
Montserrat did not participate in the 2000 and 2001 competitions.
The Fire team player was recently awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the second consecutive year.
A guard/forward, he also picked up the award for scoring the most points (341) in the recent local basketball league competition, in addition to taking home the awards for the most steals (43) and the most rebounds (200).
“I feel bad but I will just have to deal with it,” he said about missing out on another opportunity to represent his country.
But he wished his team “all the best”.
“If they really, really want to win they have to just go out there and play hard and don’t worry about my injury,” said Weekes, who is employed as a junior fire fighter with the local Fire Station. “They have to put my injury to the back of their minds and just play.”
Coach of the squad, Mr. Bevon Greenaway said Weekes’ absence from the team will be a setback.
Mr. Greenaway described Weekes as a “jumper and a quick player” who always has a good running game.
“It will be a dilemma for us, but we should not worry…” he said.

Playing on a wet Brades court on a cool Saturday afternoon on July 13, Antigua’s national team warmed up for the Leeward Islands netball tournament with a 41-15 victory over their under-23 team in an exhibition match.
The tour was expected to be a confidence booster for the senior members of the team who are currently preparing for the upcoming Caribbean Netball Association (CNA) competition from August 16-27 at the YMCA Sports Complex in Antigua.
In a match that began about one hour late due to rain, the national team dominated from start to finish in the 40-minute game. They led 21-8 at half time.
After only seven minutes in the first stanza, the national side led 11-2.
Both teams’ scoring fell by one goal each in the last half. The national side scored 21 in the first half compared to 20 in the last, while the U-23 side netted eight in the first stanza compared to seven in the final.
Miss Khandi Jones, a senior member of the national team and member of the Antigua & Barbuda Netball Association (ABNA) executive said the match was definitely a warm up as they prepare for the netball championships.
Miss Jones, who is a former netballer of the year, said the Antigua netball association has always had a good relationship with Montserrat and she hopes their visit will help to revive the Montserrat association and bring back interest in the sport.
Other members of the Antigua contingent are Martha Shaw, coach of the national Under-23 team Karen Joseph, Chaka Grant, Sonia Baptiste, Julie Richards, Christine Mills, Judith George, Carolyn Hicks, Nekesha Quinland and Sheryl Richards; Esther Armstrong, Lennox Jude, Irose Edwards, Erin More Francis, Althea Frederick and V. Williams.
Following the match the visitors left on the late ferry for Antigua.
Miss Rachel Collis, president of Pacesetters Sports & Cultural Club, who organized the visit of the Antigua contingent, said the whole scenario came out pleasant despite the rain.
“Unfortunately the rain came and put a little damper on the proceedings,” she said. “But I think that what went on the court was followed by enthusiasm and the crowd was able to respond to the show that the Antiguans put down here for us this (Saturday) afternoon.”
Miss Collis said she is hoping to get sponsorship to take several Montserratians to Antigua to watch the regional netball tournament next month in an effort to assist the rekindling of love for the sport here.

During the half-time break, Acting Chief Minister Dr. Lowell Lewis who made the first pass presented nine netball-playing tops to the Pacesetters club.

We have turned mendicancy into an art form. And we are bold, brazen, spiteful and shameless with our beggared mentality.

And, we have no problem in continuously biting the hand that feeds us. And all the while we are biting at HMG hands, we sitting back on our big fat lazy behinds and not making even the slightest attempt to get up and go out there and try to raise a buck for our selves. And if a couple of right minded people, be they resident Montserratians or not, get ambitious and develop a project and come home with it, you would think that they would be given immediate support. But that does not happen. Infact, in Montserrat it would seem that really profitable, workable and bankable project ideas developed by others always somehow seem to get stuck or lost in the pipeline to some department or ministry. And we will not talk about how or where some of these ideas surface and who brings them to the fore.

Anything that has to do with hard work, intelligence, creativity and the enrichment of ordinary folk is not something that we seem to want to embrace. But bring us mediocrity; bring us greed, spitefulness and tunnel vision. We like that. And go ahead and bring us the wanton and willful destruction of the integrity, stature and character of right thinking, hardworking selfless persons. We revel in that.

If there is a country who knows how to shoot itself in the foot, that country is Montserrat.

Do I sound too negative? Yes, I am. But am I truthful? Oh, that I am. Montserrat can be a difficult place to live at this particular juncture. How can anyone on this island, at this moment, envision a future? Listen to your leadership. What do you hear from them? You hear strident demands for more money. You hear insults being hurled at the ex-patriots. You hear threats of denial to media access. But just a little bit too often you hear clear statements of helplessness, disinterest and general inability to grasp the basic people issues. But more importantly, what do you see going on all around you? Like the Man from Baker Hill said, you see road works. Lots and lots of road works. How is this productive? To whom is this beneficial? And before you answer the driving public, let us all just get a grip here and try to grapple with the very real people programs that are required on island, and the very critical people problems that need addressing. Then see how far up the priority list this road-digging program falls.
But if the Man from Baker Hill's estimates are anywhere near correct, then how do we justify, explain, or for that matter receive that kind of money to invest in decorating our stone-faced cliffsides with cement blocks? Who in God's name okayed this project? People need housing.
We could have housed at least ten families with the kind of money we piddling away on the roadsides and the Government could have raised a couple of thousands of extra dollars a year in rent. And this could probably reduce the tax burden that the Government trying to crush us with. That of course is if it has the intestinal fortitude to go out there and collect the rent.

But then that is the kind of incredibly stupid programs that some, yes some, but not all, of our erstwhile high priced technical nincompoops advise the political directorate that is necessary. And it is these same ninnies who advised that the port did not need a crane or that business people should be thrown out of their places of business. Why did they not use some of these monies to subsidize the business place rentals? But how could we be shocked or surprised? These ill-informed and ill-advised technicians would not recognize an economic, financial or business decision even if it walked right up to them and bit off their noses.

These technicians know how to make the businessman fall to his knees in the face of legal threats and the rank and file civil servant think of murder and mayhem. These technicians with their tiny little greedy grasping mean spirits make the old age pensioner dream of death and the man in the street long for a cold water walk up flat in Hackney.

It is these technicians who wheedle their way into national decision making positions and allow the importation of stones for the port project even as the Soufreie Hills Volcano has blessed us with endless stones all over Montserrat. It is these technicians who allow offers of developmental programs to go a-begging because the spotlight could possibly shift from their bland countenances. It is these technicians who wish to plant a cemetery in the middle of luxuriant housing and development plots. Yes sir, it is these technicians who demand the removal of heavy equipment and the cessation of business construction simply because they can.
So before we go bashing the misdirected, misinformed, misguided, intelligence-starved directorate for going on a non-stop begging spree, let us ask of our duly appointed highly paid national and non-national technicians what have they done for us lately. Have they guided their bosses? Have they gotten up and gone out to bat for Montserrat? Have they actively courted and supported investment opportunities that came their way? Have they proffered even one scintilla of a suggestion about the utilization of the millions of dollars that we sitting on with our big fat lazy behinds and that is Montserrat owned? Have they even recognized that this could very well begin our very own developmental thrust if we put a little thought into it?


C.M. Rueben Meade 1995 - 1996		C.M. Bertrand Osborne 1996 - 1997


C.M. David Brandt 1997 - 2001		C.M. John Osborne 2001 - present

The following excerpts represent a few key stages of Montserrat's existence with our Soufriere Hills Volcano that roared to life seven years ago (18 July 1995). Many will remember the first vents that opened in Long Ground and how we flocked to see the sight. Then we moved on to seeing the spectacular glowing of the mountain at nights from Harris' Hill. Of course in reflecting on the paths taken, we must mention the sadness borne with the deaths of 19 persons on 25 June 1997.
Apart from consuming lives, livelihoods and landscape, the volcanic crisis shook our political climate as mortals tried to manage the resulting decrease in economic fortunes and a population disenchanted with smaller confines and disrupted lives. We are presently seeing our fourth Chief Minister since the crisis began, and it is evident that a correct formula for development and progress is yet to be mapped out alongside the burdensome twists of a grant aided status.
Our political leaders are yet to understand the nuances of diplomacy in dealing with our British benefactors especially in negotiating budgetary aid. In moving on from the volcanic crisis, with no resources, the economic challenge is now the priority. With a migration overseas of our valuable population, the task is always difficult to churn the engines of all sectors while being asked to decrease spending without the necessary economic infrastructure to increase financial inputs.


P.M. John Major 1995 - 1997		P.M. Tony Blair 1997 - present

Seven years after sighting volcanic emmissions, our economic crisis and the ever abritary budgetary tightening by the British may lead to another critical phase. That phase must be some revolutionary thinking or action using the harsh glare of the international media mantra to highlight the woes of a people who just want to live and survive.

It was another week of lessons in volcanic activity as Montserratians tried desperately to come to grips with the situation which the exploding ‘Langs’ volcano plunged the island into eleven days ago.

Unofficial reports from the top of Paradise suggest the area of immediate concern is around 1500ft above sea level. They say that so far there is no major crater but they speak of scorched trees covering an area of around 30 acres.

…..Operations and Logistics Officer Vernon Buffonge, for the first time explained that there are four phases of alert. He said there is an initial phase when the mountain begins acting up and there are earth tremors. The ext step is the yellow phase which is raised when it is suspected that volcanic activity is taking place. The Orange phase is posted when there is definite volcanic activity and when other signs suggest that all is not well with the volcano. The final stage of alert is red.

Over the last five days the island remained under the orange phase. But when that was revealed, the announcement brought little relief to an anxious population. In fact some people suggest that it probably sparked a mini exodus as families scrambled to ensure that particularly wives and children got off the island ahead of any eruption. Some families even risked their lives on small launches.

……The Governor took time to speak about an accident in which he was approached by a man who was more concerned about the West Indies beating England in the fourth Test which began in Manchester yesterday. At the same time he reported that since the scientists from the United States and France had joined the regional team there had been change in the situation but around the clock monitoring of the volcano was continuing.

According to the Governor it was the consensus of all scientists that gas samples have shown no change in content. He said further samples which will be taken today will be send overseas for tests to determine if there is any change.

Aerial activity was stepped [up] in the area yesterday with a helicopter HMS Southhampton assisting in the study of the affected areas. Governor Savage also spoke of a build up of the British Military. And he revealed that by early next week eleven British soldiers will be here. “We are taking the opportunity to put together for the first time a really professional contingency plan,” he said. “All of our plans in the past have been for hurricane but we have not got an effective volcano contingency plan,” he added.

……Over the week, as volcanic activity appeared to hang in the balance, Chief Minister Reuben Meade confirmed that neighbouring islands including St. Kitts-Nevis, Antigua-Barbuda, St. Maarten and the British Virgin Islands as well as the wider Caribbean were rallying behind Montserrat. Some islands had offered to host nationals should there be a need to evacuate the island.

Reports from Antigua, said that the Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts-Nevis Red Cross are also collaborating efforts to provide assistance to the local Red Cross.

The latest EOC update on the level of volcanic activity came two days ago, but unofficial reports say that there has been little on no change in the last 48 hours to 72 hours. However, scientists are maintaining a 24-hour watch.
Late reports this morning speak of new ash falls affecting mostly the Gages area.

Continuous ash fall from up scaled activity at Soufriere Hills since Saturday, March 23 over almost the entire island are causing misery to thousands of people.

Plymouth is under a coating of several inches of ash and dust which is continually being blown up by gusty winds compounded by further ash falls on a regular basic.

Scientists at the Montserrat Volcanic Observatory (MVO) have reported that ash due to collapsing domes in the Soufriere Hills had been causing the problems. Huge amount of falling rock in the dome area are driven skywards when prevailing winds pick up and blow them across the island.

Yesterday, however, following eruptions, which began at about 6:25 a.m., scientists had advised government that the activity had up scaled to a dangerous level that could cause serious damage to people. At about 3:15 p.m. there was another serious eruption and scientists described that they had been monitoring an increase in activity, which culminated in what took place. “There was an avalanche which collapsed part of the dome, exposing pressurized material causing a very high ash flow and a pyroclastic flow down in the Tar River valley.”

Rockfalls continued to take place causing huge ash clouds and at about 6:00 p.m., there was another very big ash cloud which sent clouds of ash spurting all the way to St John’s and out towards Antigua. Up until the morning there was still debris and trees burning down to the roadside of the Tar River area.

It was amidst all this “more than half a million visitors each year take in some of the best nature experiences of their lives in Costa Rica. The country has been at the forefront of the booming eco-tourism movement, having set aside 24 percent of its land as national parks or reserves since 1970 and aggressively cultivating its reputation as a nature diverse destination”.

The foregoing is an excerpt taken from the April 15 issue of the American Way magazine. The article goes on to describe the active volcano known as “Vulcan Arenal”, as one of the most active volcanoes in the world. “It seems to be rumbling to life two or three times an hour (though locals say it will sometimes erupt as often as 15 or 20 times an hour, or lie quiet for several days, with no discernible pattern to this activity). Such geologic insomnia is all the more amazing when you consider that the mountain has been doing this more or less continuously for the past 28 years, since the morning when it erupted after what’s now believed to have been more than 400 years of dormancy.

Prior to the big blow, incredibly enough, it was widely thought that Arenal was just a small, mild-mannered volcano in the north-central Costa Rico that posed no danger at all. Then that Monday morning, July 29, 1968, at 7:30, it exploded with almost unimaginable ferocity, spewing boulders as large as 30 feet across high into the sky, and blasting the surrounding country side with super-heated poisonous gas.

In the years since 1968, Arenal has erupted occasionally, but nothing as dramatic as that Monday morning. Mostly, Arenal just goes on rumbling irritably, letting off little thermonuclear blasts of smoke and ash, providing a strange sort of entertainment for the thousands of people who feel drawn to its power.

This writer is climbing up towards the volcano. “ I can see poltergeists of smoke rising from lava rubble. Here and there, little vents or fumaroles release pent-up gas in merry little puffs, like leaky radiators. And now, high above me, Arenal’s central crater lets loose a vast, gray, convoluted cloud of ash and smoke. Soundlessly expanding into the pale blue sky, it comes to resemble an enormous floating brain”.

The writer goes on to explain experiences and sights very similar to those that could have been looking at Soufriere Hills for the past nine months. The photographs in colour with the article look no different than the local ones available on sale to anyone wishing to purchase them.. One such photograph has the following description. “Just a mile from the volcano’s base, some of the Arenal Observatory Lodge’s 22 rooms offer spectacular views of Arenal”. It is quite similar to the sights that could have been seen from the east last night of our own volcano here on Montserrat. Says the writer, “ I can clearly see boulders bounding down the barren mountainside”.

One of the conditions the British Governor of Montserrat and the local Government never wanted to exist is that they would ever have to report that lives were lost as a direct of volcanic activity in Montserrat.

On the night of July 18,1995, residents not far away from Soufriere Hills could hear what they later described as roaring sounds like those that comes from jet planes, and it was soon realized by all that a volcano that lay in waiting at English Crater in Soufriere Hills had come alive.

Soon after from several and continuous radio broadcasts, and interviews from scientists, the Governor and the Chief Minister, his office and the offices of the Emergency Operating Centre(EOC), we were to learn that there have been this volcano, that there have been activities at approximately 30-35 years intervals since the turn of this century; that there has been studies, one as recent as the mid 80’s, which suggested that there will be serious activities around this time.

No attention whatsoever was paid to these facts and so could pose for Montserrat. Since that time it has been a down hill battle, which may has not yet culminated, but which has now directly claimed the lives of at least 10 people with more almost certain to be confirmed, when the ash becomes cool enough to be cleared in some way.

June 25,1997 will be long remembered as the worst day of the volcano (I hope), because lives were lost. And the question that is begin asked, “could this have been avoided?” Amazingly, the homes in long Ground are still standing untouched but for the September 17 last year’s eruption. It may well be that the Tar River valley is their protection or perhaps it is early yet.

The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) reports for that morning read as follows: The latest earthquake swarms has just reached a peak, with 4 or 5 earthquake occurring every minute. At the time of highest activity, the hybrid earthquakes could more accurately be described as continuous tremor. There have been several small pyroclastic flows in Mosquito Ghaut in the last night showed that the top of Mosquito Ghaut is the only active area of the dome at the moment, as the focus of activity has switched from the eastern side to the north in the last few days.

Further pyroclastic flow activity is expected, and the high level of activity means that these flows could happen at any time and be larger than before. The current area of activity make Mosquito Ghaut the most likely pathway, but further flows in gages, Tuitt’s or Tar River are probable as well”.

The following recently became a standard part of the report: Bramble Airport remains operational, but the public are reminded that it is open only for essential trvel purposes. The sirens will be tested as usual this afternoon”.