Airport Studies Leave the Island Unready to Decide
By Bennette Roach
Geralds Bottom area being
studied for 'temporary' solution airstrip
Two weeks ago a minister of the Government of
Montserrat (GoM) unofficially announced that "a
proposal for an airstrip at Old Quaw by a group of concerned private
Montserratian entrepreneurs who decided to take independent action to resolve
the problem of air access to Montserrat" was considered worthy of
examination . . . and consequently, the Minister wished "in collaboration
with (several organizations
including ICO and DCA) . . . to develop an alternative proposal for government
to consider."
The minister in that unofficial announcement said
further: "Evidence so far
suggests that Old Quaw would not be suitable, that Thatch Valley would be the
ideal location, but will cost $200 million, and that Geralds would be at least
safe for Islanders, up to 9 seats."
That
statement was interpreted to mean that GOM and that minister had caved in to the
inferior proposal of an airport at Gerald's. But the report which is finally in
appears to leave much to be desired from all ends of the airport discussion,
especially when the minister went on to show merit for the operation of an
Islander aircraft. He said: "Those who think the Islander is no advantage
over the helicopter are wrong. An Islander can fly direct to St. Martin, or even
Barbados, as we have had to do for medical evacuations in the past."
Minister
of Communications & Works and Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Lowell Lewis says
that the desire now is to have an airport at Thatch Valley, but all
considerations economic and otherwise must be taken for an immediate solution.
The
draft "Temporary Solution" reports are in, along with the report from
the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Mr. Michiel Vreedenburgh,
Regional Officer Aerodromes and Ground Aids, who visited from 9th-13th
July, 2001.
The
draft Report on the Temporary Solutions of the "Consultancy Services for
Project Identification of Preliminary Design of Airport Options in
Montserrat" states early under the Study Methodology considering inputs we
had from the client (British and GOM, "the need to guarantee safe
operations, need for limited investment, need for a quick implementation of the
works, need to limit social and environmental impact related to the works, need
to limit modifications to the existing Development Plans of the area under
examination, etc."
These
activities were carried out during May 2001, resulting in this draft review
report, which was then delivered for comments in mid June. It carries a list of
persons/organizations consulted, including all utility companies and ministries
of government, NGOs, Cable & Wireless, Pilots, Airlines, MVO, Chamber of
Commerce, DFID, European Union and more.
Also
consulted was a long list of documents which includes the 2001 budget statement
and the most notorious Gibb "New Airstrip Feasibility Study for Montserrat
- Final Report June 1998," as well as the Gibb reports of February 1999 and
March 1999, with all of which Montserratians are sadly familiar.
The
Draft Technical Appendices, under the heading Critical Aircraft Characteristics,
deal at length with "Twin Otter performances," with typical short take
off and landing (STOL) aircraft characteristics produced between 1966 to 1988.
These
present consultants have included in their study “aircraft which can better
face the local needs” to be “turboprop airplanes with a capacity between 10
and 20 seats, such as – for example – the DHT 6 Twin Otter, the CASA 212
Aviocar, the Gaf Normad, the Dornier 228, the Britten Norman Islander and
Trilander, and some other models such as Beechcraft (99, 1900), Cessna 208
Caravan, etc. that, even not being STOL can operate with relatively short
runways having good performance levels.”
They
have determined that Gerald’s does require special aircraft for: “many of
the above listed aircraft are in use from many years and have a consolidated
presence in the East Caribbean Area…an important point to be considred in
order to define the reference aircraft for the temporary airstrip in
Montserrat.”
While
they completely rule out some of the aircrafts above as not having “a popular
diffusion for civil uses in the Region,” they claim “the Twin Otter and the
Dornier 228 are much more spread and, in particular the Twin Otter,
characterized by STOL performances, is frequently used in the area by the
Airlines that seem to be interested in offering the service.”
With
much more information much too technical for presentation here, these
consultants propose, "operating distances have been calculated
considering 'zero wind' conditions. The runway orientation considered in the
proposed solution and the specific wind characteristics of the area, allow
(operation) in most cases with 'head' wind, so diminishing even more the
required distances. For example a 10-knot head wind will reduce to approx. 950
ft (290m) the required landing distance and to approx. 1,100 ft (335m) the
takeoff distance.
The present study proposes a runway length of 500
meters for the temporary solution at Gerald’s Bottom, which is well over the
normal requirements for the operating of the Twin Otter obtained from the
aircraft manuals.
Another arial view of Geralds Bottom showing area where airstrip study is concentrated
In
attempting to convince their clients on this "temporary airport
solution," the consultants say: "Nevertheless, all the above indicated
evaluations were verified by contacting some airline pilots who use the twin
Otter in the Region and they confirmed to us, basing on their specific and
direct experience, that the aircraft will have no operational problems in using
a 500-m runway located in the Gerald’s Bottom area."
Throughout the reports it is shown that the wind
factor is important and the continued reference to the "zero wind
factor" unused in their conclusions makes the reports almost incomplete.
Mr. Vreedenburgh
says in his report that in every single option (except Old Quaw which reports a
10-knot cross wind limiting usability to 92% - 3% below desired acceptance), an
Aeronautical Wind Study is required. His recommendations "have
resulted from discussions with DCA OECS, UK CAA, Government of Montserrat, UK
DFID, Consultants and potential operators; review of reports and a visual survey
of the identified site options for new aerodrome development on Montserrat are
presented as follows in order or priority and sequence for implementation,"
-- and these are presented for completeness:
1• Upgrade of the
existing heliport to comply fully with ICAO standards and recommended practices
and expansion of the facility to increases its helicopter parking capacity.
2• Confirm the
Government’s strategy for new aerodrome development on Montserrat, with
reference to Physical Development Plan and various study reports, for the
initial development of an aerodrome with limited capacity at Gerald’s Bottom
and the future development of a replacement aerodrome with greater capacity at
another location, when warranted by demand and sufficient funding is available.
3• Undertaking an
aeronautical wind and climatological study to confirm the suitability of the
Gerald’s Bottom location for an aerodrome to accommodate safe operations by
the aircraft it is intended to serve.
4• Undertake an
aeronautical flight operations/performance assessment to review the runway
length and runway strip requirements to accommodate safe operation by the
aircraft it is intended to serve with reference to the applicable ICAO
conventional aerodrome and STOLport standards and recommended practices.
5• Undertake an aircraft
noise exposure assessment, along with a topographic survey geotechnical
investigation, to optimize the proposed aerodrome development’s cost and
impact on surrounding land use.
So far the immediate reaction of some government
officials and members of the Citizens for Reconstruction Movement (CRM) is that
the push for Geralds is not convincing and inconclusive in light of all the
circumstances, including the need for specific type aircraft and the hanging
need and doubt of the wind study, which has been talked about for such a long
time.
Volcano's Latest May Have Been Largest Collapse
By
Helena Durand
The July 29th collapse scar and the new dome growing in its base
Dr. Peter Dunkley, Director of the
Montserrat
Volcano Observatory (MVO), reported that the collapse Sunday night of the
volcano’s dome, which may have been triggered by heavy rains,
“is probably one of the largest so far in the history of this six-year
eruption.”
He said reconnaissance flights around the volcano
on Monday and Tuesday did not allow observers to see much because of low clouds,
but they were able to see a “very large collapse down the Tar River Valley,”
but until “we see the top of the
dome, we won’t be able to say exactly how much of it is gone.”
He said a large scar marks the top of Tar River
Valley up into the dome “where material collapsed during the night, and
pyroclastic flows (came) down throughout the entire Tar River Valley.” The
flows, he said, were very erosive and reached into the sea. There was steaming
in front the Delta, and fine ash was being blown by the wind up into the plume
back up into the clouds and then dumped over the Salem and Olveston areas,
blanketing those communities with ash.
Fearing that the grit of Sunday night’s
eruptive events on Montserrat would damage jet engines, American Airlines and
U.S. Airways canceled all flights in and out of San Juan, and dozens of flights
to and from the U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix, and the Dutch
territory of St. Maarten, a CANA report said. Some prop planes run by local
carriers kept flying.
Martha Pantin, a spokeswoman for American
Airlines, the largest carrier in the region, said 49 flights in and out of San
Juan alone were canceled on Monday, while runways and taxiways were cleared of
ash. Normal flights resumed Tuesday morning, and American Eagle was back on
schedule later on Tuesday.
Despite Sunday night's effects on Monserrat and
on distant airports, the event, except for the amount of ash deposited in the
Salem area, was not unlike the most serious previous volcanic incident of March
20, 2000, of which then MVO Director Dr. Gill Norton wrote: "a period of
pyroclastic flow activity commenced . . . correlated with heavy rainfall on the
volcano. . . . Pyroclastic flows could be seen traveling down the Tar River
valley to the sea, and ash from these events appeared to be drifting westwards .
. . Light ash fall occurred across the island."
In a live interview with RJR Jamaica,
"Beyond The Headlines," Mr. Bennette Roach, Editor of the Montserrat
Reporter, assured listeners that this recent volcanic development was just
business as usual for Montserratians.
“It was no more serious than anything we have
had before,” he said. “It was just what we expected, and as the scientists
explained. The volcano dome continues to grow, but it is no hazard to the rest
of Montserrat, besides what it has already done…We had a previous big collapse
last year, only that this created a lot more ash, and it is the ash that has
really affected Montserrat, and not only Montserrat, but many of the
neighbouring islands… We were having a thunderstorm throughout the Leewards
that same night (Sunday)…If it wasn’t for the ash, we might not even know
that there was a collapse of the volcano.”
Mr. Roach said
that Jamaica is one of the few Caribbean Islands who show genuine concern for
what is going on in Montserrat
“This is not
the first live interview I have done with them he said, both here and right
there in Jamaica.
The editor continued , “Whenever I am there I
have to find time to bring them up to date and there are others who find
themselves in the same position.
man washing a roof in Old Towne - a typical scene in the area last week
Trucks had to be employed in to remove some of the heavy ash deposits in the area.
"The
Longer We Lack an Airport, It is Hard to Explain Why We Stay"
It is getting to be somewhat difficult and even
embarrassing to answer the question asked of those of us living here in
Montserrat, "Why don’t you
all just give up this island and take the options of going away and carrying on
with your lives?"
Just over five years ago, Sir Nicholas Bonsor of
the British Conservative Party, then the government in Britain, accepted and
committed that the British will provide the necessary assistance for life to
continue in Montserrat and to develop the north of the island. To this day we
haven’t quite grasped what that would have entailed. Sir Nicholas warned at
the time that we lacked the personnel and technical skill to carry out what
would be required. But who did we expect to know what would be required and what
it was that we needed and wanted?
We have just discovered that right up to now,
with a Labour government going into a second term since the Conservatives lost
power, the confidence to truly develop the north of Montserrat is still very
lacking. Indeed we are aware that their idea of the best option for Montserrat
is still total evacuation. Yes, there is the denial, but the reverse is obvious
when the aid is directed to anything but of a developmental nature, as DFID’s
Mr. Kavanagh revealed to us last week.
We contribute to the idea ourselves by not coming
up with united positions about what we need to bring life back to where it can
be conducive for our people to return home and to make things attractive to
investors or simply businesses. In June 1997, 15 months after that commitment by
Britain, our Chief Minister of the day revealed why so little had been done in
terms of serious planning for development of the north. He admitted that the
government had always been looking forward to returning to the south (Plymouth).
But even though the volcano proved the scientists right, we seem not yet to have
focused our attention in the right direction. We have allowed others to take
control of our destiny in a slow but chillingly realistic way. All we have now
is our so-called ‘resilience’ and it is slowly fading.
If this view seems boring and monotonous, and
that we are simply belaboring the point, then it is time for reality to set in
and for action to be taken one way or the other.
This idea of "patting the lion when one hand
is in its mouth" will not work. The lion will simply take the other hand
in. And if it does let the hand go, what will you do? Run away? Turn around and
fight? Do we even know what we will do or even want to do?
Everyone concerned believes and agrees that the
island has no future whatsoever, economic or otherwise, without a reasonable
means of transport of people and goods in and out of Montserrat. At least there
are claims of sort of some study going on for the seaport. But in the meantime,
millions of dollars are being spent figuring out how NOT to put an
airport/airstrip at Thatch Valley, the accepted permanent solution, and how to
implement a temporary solution at Gerald’s.
In the next couple weeks we hope to show, with
some help from the various reports, how the matter is being twisted up and down,
in and out.
For now, so many limitations exist, as the
consultants of the Project Identification and Preliminary Design of Airport
Options in Montserrat have said in their terms of reference, which follow:
“The
need to guarantee safe operations, need for limited investment, need for a quick
implementation of the works, need to limit social and environmental impact
related to the works, need to limit modifications to the existing Development
Plans of the area under examination,” and more.
Right
down to a home for the birds that frequent the existing pond at the Gerald’s
site. The problem, what to do with those birds that can become hazardous when an
airstrip is there and there is no more pond.
Sadly,
despite all of the reports to date in respect of all the options, an
aeronautical wind study is required before a single shovel of soil is turned. We
have been hearing this for three years now and yet nothing has been done.
Mr.
Michiel Vreedenburgh, International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAIO)
Regional Officer Aerodromes and Ground Aids, said in a most recent report
following his four-day visit to Montserrat last month that he hopes that the
recommendations in his report will be taken into consideration in the
implementation of the proposed development of a new aerodrome in North
Montserrat.
These
include :
1.“undertake
an aeronautical wind and climatological study to confirm the suitability of the
Gerald’s Bottom location for an aerodrome to accommodate safe operations by
the aircraft it is intended to serve.” (see front page story for more
recommendations).
Mr.
Vreedenburgh could not understand “why the Blake’s Estate site was not
recommended, given its apparent best compromise,” given the evaluation factors
he came up with. He said further, “the Blake’s Estate site has a low
additional cost and social impact, similar to the Thatch Valley site, in
comparison to the high additional cost and social impact at the Gerald’s
Bottom site.
One
thing stands out in all the technical information provided: the statistics and
information in each case are based on a “zero wind factor,” expected to be
different for every option. This is but a mere hint of the pros and cons in
respect of airport options in Montserrat, which when studied come down to one
factor, unwillingness to spend the necessary funds required for the future of
Montserrat.
The
truth is that an airport for Montserrat is very important and involving. It is
time for us to become aggressive and honest enough to bite the bullet, make a
move and do the right thing to guarantee a future for Montserrat – time is
running out. The consultants were asked to fit the Gerald’s airstrip into a
time frame for being ready by the end of 2002 rather than in 2004.
Temporary solution proposed by the Italians for Gerald's airstrip
A
lot of hope would be provided if it were declared that by the year 2006 we would
have an airport in Montserrat, with all the safety factors taken care of.
Safety is mentioned repeatedly as a requirement for an airport in all the
reports, but when it comes to Gerald’s that seems to be marginalized. Among
the problems will be getting established airlines with aircraft, suitable to
operate within the limitations posed by an airstrip at Gerald’s Bottom.
Except for the editorial, opinion articles
expressed in these pages are not necessarily those of the Montserrat Reporter
editors, employees or advisers. Readers
are encouraged to submit commentary articles.
All viewpoints, unless libelous, in poor taste, or anonymous, are
welcome. Send your contributions to
The Editor, P.O. Box 306, Olveston, Montserrat, W. I., e-mail: editor@montserratreporter.org.
Manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by a return stamped
envelope. The Montserrat Reporter
is a privately owned independent newspaper.
Jus Wonderin items may be called in at
telephone 491-4715 or Fax 491-2430
‘Giving
Our Word’
Whoever
loves me will keep my word…John 14:23
“I give you my solemn word,” he said. “By this time next
year we will be married, and the only tears you’ll ever shed again will be
tears of joy.” So spoke the scoundrel; the damsel -- whom I know well -- gave
notice at work, put her home on the market and proceeded to pack her belongings.
With a song in her heart, she discarded all that she wouldn’t need in the
future while purchasing everything her new life would demand. Several months
later, she received a terse e-mail breaking off the engagement. Surrounded by
suitcases and packing crates, she was left to ponder the meaning of
“word" and all that it represented.
To give our word is to stake a solemn oath on
everything for which we stand. The “word," in fact, goes beyond language
and reflects who we are and all that we hold dear. As God’s Word made flesh,
Jesus embodies the fullness of God’s promise, a word spoken into the abyss of
ignorance, suffering and sin. To keep this word, then, means more than simply
observing the law; it involves cherishing the One who has been given to us.
Help us to
keep your Word, O God, as you have kept your Word to us.
Elizabeth-Anne
Stewart
Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6,8;
Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23; John 14: 23-29
Former
Medical Student Opposes AUC Requests
Dear
Editor,
After
reading the article about AUC, I wonder if this Dr. Tien thinks Montserrat owes
him. It makes me think about a spoiled juvenile delinquent thinking since he
experienced some hardship everything should now go his way. Montserrat was good
for Dr. Tien in the past, perhaps too good. Dr. Tien owes.
CM John Osborne Snubs Tony Blair
Dear Editor,
Mr. Tony Blair, Prime Minister of England
traveled, all the way from England to Jamaica to meet the Caribbean Heads of
Government. All other Heads,
including those of poor independent nations, attended except Mr. John Alfred
“Bassie” Osborne of Montserrat.
A special invitation was extended to our Chief
Minister to travel to Jamaica to meet him when he could discuss all matters
concerning Montserrat, including the amount of aid, the flow of aid and our
rehabilitation efforts. This
invitation was one which no Head or a Minister of Government should pass up at
this time. Well, Mr. John
Alfred “Bassie” Osborne, our now elected Chief Minister, informed Mr. Blair
he was not coming and he did not in fact go to Jamaica.
I learnt from you, sir, that the reason given was
that Mr. John Alfred “Bassie” Osborne prefers to travel to England in
September with the hope -- more a pretense -- of meeting Mr. Blair there. How
can he when he will be attending the British Dependent Territories conference,
which is not attended by Mr. Blair? Isn’t it foolhardy to be trying to set his
own date for meeting the British Prime Minister?
Instead of attending the meeting with Mr. Blair
in Jamaica, Mr. John Alfred “Bassie” Osborne was seen manually repairing his
driveway on the day he was supposed to travel to Jamaica, and on the day he was
supposed to meet Mr. Blair, Mr. John Alfred “Bassie” Osborne traveled to
Antigua to meet his young family, who were here from England on holiday.
Of course a man’s family is important, but there are times as a
national leader you have to place the national interest above your personal
interest. This was one such
occasion.
Things in Montserrat are very slow, the amount of
aid is not enough, people are suffering, DFID is working all kinds of strategy
to put the airstrip at Geralds. These
are some of the matters which our Chief Minister could have encouraged the Prime
Minister of England -- and only the Prime Minister could -- order Claire Short
and DFID to be more generous to us and give us a proper airstrip.
But instead of going to argue for us the Chief Minister remained in
Montserrat to deal with his personal matters, which could well have been
delegated.
This should not surprise us, however, because as
many of us will remember, after Hurricane Hugo, didn’t John Osborne abandon
his post, leave the management of this island to Governor Turner and Reuben
Meade, and go down to the pier to remove stones from the pier so that his boat
could dock as well?
Some people say that the Chief Minister did not
meet Mr. Blair because he knows he no longer has what it takes to deal with
world leaders. They say it is for
that reason he did not attend the Caribbean Heads of Government meeting in the
Bahamas where he was specifically invited to address his colleague Heads as the
newest head among them. He sent
poor Dr. Lowell Lewis, whom the Heads did not allow to speak.
Just last week Finance Ministers of the OECS met in Dominica to discuss
important matters concerning the EC dollar.
John Alfred Osborne did not attend.
Is it that he did not know what to say?
Fellow Montserratians, it was vital for the Chief
Minister to accept Mr. Blair’s invitation to travel to Jamaica.
He has insulted the Prime Minister of England by not attending, without
good reason. He will now find it
difficult to have another audience with Mr. Blair.
We know, and John Osborne knows, he cannot represent us at that level,
but he could have gotten the other heads of states to speak on our behalf and
put pressure on Mr. Blair to relieve the strain in Montserrat.
Sir, Mr. John Osborne seems in fact to be in the
past. He knows he cannot cope. Dr. Lewis knows this, because he is often making statements
on policies without apparently the benefit of his consultation.
Even acting minister Claude Hogan is making statements on policies,
seemingly without consultations as well.
So please, Mr. Osborne, give it up to someone who
is capable, perhaps Dr. Lewis, who does all the talking for Government.
Please do it this once for Montserrat’s sake.
Not Elected
Montserratian Students Receive
Honors in UK
Four Montserratians studying in the United
Kingdom received first class honours whilst studying under the Montserrat
Emergency Award Scheme (MEAS). They are:
Ciddra Barzey --1st Class Honours, Bsc
(Hons) in Business Information Technology (BIT),who was also awarded top BIT
Student;
Philipsia Greenaway -- 1st Class
Honours Bsc (Hons) in Food, Nutrition & Health;
Vanessa White -- 1st Class Honours BA,
Majoring in Accounting and Minor in Psychology;
Marlon Evans --1st Class Honours.
Other students include, Charryse Owen -- 2nd
Class Honours in Law; Echelle Wells -- BA 2nd Class Honours in
Business; Jasmine Martin Williams -- 2nd Class Honours BA (Hons) in
Business Administration with Accounting; Tamsyn Daley -- 2nd Class
Honours, BA (Hons) in Business Administration with Human Resource Management;
and Jeevan Robinson -- 2nd Class Honours.
Rexford Davis Grateful To All for His Freedom
By Helena
Durand
Rexford Davis says two weeks of prison changed
his life and made him see things differently.
Found guilty by a jury in the July 2001 Criminal
Assizes of being in illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm, Mr. Davis was
sentenced to two years in prison.
He said he felt the sentence was unjust as he had
never been in court before. He said people had told him he would just have to
pay a fine.
When he was taken to Her Majesty's Prison, Mr.
Davis said, when the officer slammed shut his cell door, “I really felt
afraid. . . . I was really in prison. I was like a bird with clipped wings.”
He said he had taken his freedom for granted
before, “but being in prison definitely gives you time to think about your
life, enough time to decide how you want to live it when you get out."
His many frequent visitors assured him that they
were doing all they could to get him out of prison, including petitions to the
Chief Minister and Governor on his behalf. He said those promises gave him hope,
but he felt that the law was the law and that he would have to serve the
mandatory two years.
After two weeks Mr. Davis learned that at the
request of the Chief Minister, His Excellency Governor Anthony Longrigg had
suspended the mandatory two-year sentence pronounced against him. He was
released that very day.
"I was so surprised and happy," Mr.
Davis said, "that I started to cry. I said ‘Thank you God’ and said
‘thank you’ in my heart to the many people who stood by my side.”
MVO Scientists Assess Latest Volcanic Turmoil
By Helena
Durand
Scientists at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory
(MVO) continue to assess the after effects of a succession of pyroclastic flows
Sunday from the Soufriere Hills volcano, all of which were confined to the
eastern flank of the dome, according to MVO Director Dr. Peter.
After a Monday observation flight by helicopter,
Dr. Dunkley said, “The visibility on the west side of the volcano was pretty
bad, lots of ash, so we couldn’t fly around the Plymouth side” he said.
However, what he and his team found, he said, was that almost all of the
activity took place down the Tar River Valley.
He said a large scar marks the top of Tar River
Valley and into the dome “where material collapsed during the (Sunday) night,
and pyroclastic flows have come down throughout the entire Tar River Valley.”
He said flows reached into the sea, creating steaming in the Delta, and fine ash
was being blown by the wind up into the plume back up into the clouds and was
being dumped over the Salem and Olveston areas.
“One of the other things we saw,” Dr. Dunkley
said, “were many, many charred tree trunks floating in the sea, charcoal,
galvanize, wood and there was the smell from the helicopter of burning wood.”
The events came as no surprise, Dr. Dunkley said.
“In a sense, because the dome has been growing for 5-6 years, we expected a
collapse. It was a very substantial collapse, a significant eruption.”
The heavy rains, he said, could have triggered
the events. “There have been about a dozen collapses over the last five years.
Two have been thought to have been triggered by heavy rains, but that cannot be
proven,” he said.
Since there is usually a period of inactivity and
relative quiet after any significant collapse, Dr. Dunkley was asked whether
residents could expect the reopening of the Daytime Entry Zone.
“It is not for me to decide that,” he said,
“We give scientific advice. The volcano is in a dangerous state and we will
advise on that.” He said many people in Montserrat and even the press “do
not understand that the MVO is here to monitor the volcano; the government makes
the decision. We advise as it relates to the volcano.”
Dr. Dunkley said there is a system to warn of the
effects of ash on airports in Puerto Rico and other islands. Any time there are
heavy ascending ash plumes at night, he said, “one of the first things we do
is phone the U.S. Meteorological Agency. They have what is called a Volcano Ash
Advisory Centre in Washington and other parts of the world, so we warn them
immediately that there’s a major event taking place; there’s lots of ash in
the air and then they immediately start to track the ash, using a satellite. If
things are bad, they warn air traffic and then air traffic is re-routed because
ash clouds can cause a lot of damage to aircraft and essentially could be
fatal.”
Minister for Communications and Works Dr. Lowell
Lewis advised residents not to become worried over the weekend’s volcanic
activities. He said there are experienced teams working at the MVO, and the
Emergency Department, to ensure that residents are always kept abreast of what
is happening in the Soufriere Hills. He reminded residents that those teams have
dealt with these matters before.
Governor Says Crises Demand Operable ZJB
By
Helena Durand
The series of pyroclastic flows Sunday night from
the Soufriere Hills volcano which blanketed the areas of Salem and Olveston in
ash also caused power outages in those areas.
Notwithstanding the blackness of the night and
falling rain-soaked ash and pebbles, what most concerned persons in the affected
areas was their inability to hear anything from Radio Montserrat (ZJB).
His Excellency Governor Anthony Longrigg said in
a ZJB interview that this was an issue of grave concern to him, even though
everything else was well organized and all the key people were in touch on the
night of the eruptive events.
“Your radio broadcast couldn’t be heard in
certain parts of the areas most affected by the ash,” he told ZJB,
“and that is actually quite a serious thing if we’re relying on the
radio as the main means of warning people about what’s going to happen, or
what is happening, what we should do.
"We must make sure that everybody can hear
the radio. Everywhere there is an advisory, the first thing we do is switch on
the radio. We must make sure they can hear it. So that will be something urgent
that we will be looking into.”
ZJB Radio's technician said “there was no
electricity, and sometimes the generator doesn’t kick in,” and Sunday night
was one of those times. On top of that, the person who services the generator
was not on island at the time.
Mr. James White of the Emergency Department said
the Department services the Generator at ZJB, the site of which is
“vulnerable, not easily accessible.”
He said the problem is not a new one but should
be corrected with the installation at Silver Hills of a new 5-kilowatt
transmitter, which has already been approved. "Unless the 5-kilowatt
transmitter is installed, we will continue to get these problems,” he said.
The new transmitter will cover the entire island,
thus preventing any future problems of that kind.
Governor Longrigg noted another concern was the
shortage of ash masks. Not having ash masks, he said, “makes it difficult, for
example, for people working to clear the roads, and when they’re working to
clear their own homes and roofs.
"I don’t think we should ask people to do
that sort of work if we haven’t got proper protection for them. So that is
something we also have to look at.”
GOM/Governor Discuss Weekend
Volcanic Fallout
A high level meeting was held here on Wednesday
to determine how best to clear ash from areas heavily affected by Sunday's
volcanic activity.
His Excellency the Governor Mr. Anthony Longrigg
and Chief Minister Hon. John Osborne met with other government officials for the
discussion. Governor Longrigg said in a ZJB newscast that the first priority was
to clear the ash from public properties as quickly as possible.
“Quickly, I think is the main point," he
said, "because there is health risk here with a lot of people walking
around without ash masks, sometimes exposing themselves to this ash.”
He said something to look at also is “what we
can learn from the weekend’s events, and how we coped with them, how the
machinery of government coped with them.”
Although it was his first experience with a volcano’s eruptive events,
the Governor said he was encouraged because it was clear to him, “that all the
key people on Sunday night were in touch, they knew what was happening. I think
the coordination worked fairly well.”
Adrienne Watts-Laborde Earns M.A. with Distinction
By Helena
Durand
Montserratian Mrs. Adrienne Watts-Laborde, has
attained an M.A. degree in Financial Management with Human Resource Management
from Middlesex University in London, which she passed with a distinction,
according to the University.
A former student of the Montserrat Secondary
School, Mrs. Watts-Laborde decided to go to Britain after the eruption of the
volcano early in 1999. She visited the University at its open day in May 1999;
liked what she saw, and began studies in September of that same year.
Now employed at the Bank of Montserrat as a
Management Trainee, Mrs. Watts-Laborde said she is happy with her results and
had not expected a distinction. “It was hard work. The going was not easy. I met a lot of
adversity on campus but pulled through and am happy with how I performed. I am
proud of myself.” She is already
geared to begin a Diploma course in banking in September 2001, and is enrolled
in Certified General Accounting (CGA).
Mrs. Watts-Laborde encourages other young persons
wishing to pursue their academic dreams, to enhance their skills and make
themselves more marketablel. “ Though it may take much sacrifice, don’t
falter. At the end of it all, it will be worth it,” she said
Photo caption: L-R Husband Ottley, Adrienne, and
family friend Veda Dubery.
Region's People Urged To Emancipate Themselves
Guyana, CANA - Secretary General of the Caribbean
Community and Common Market (CARICOM) Edwin Carrington has urged the people of
the region to strive and emancipate themselves and their society from prejudice
and discrimination. In a message to mark Emancipation Day on
Wednesday, Mr. Carrington said that despite the proclamation of emancipation in
1838, the struggle continues for descendants of African slaves as they seek to
claim their rightful space in a world still rife with racial discrimination and
prejudice.
"First of all," Mr. Carrington said,
"let us individually and collectively strive to emancipate ourselves and
our society, not only from prejudice and discrimination, but also from those
destructive and debilitating lifestyle choices, especially those which may lead
to consequences such as drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS.
"Secondly, let us individually and
collectively commit ourselves to build on our ancestral relations and to make
them pillars of a Caribbean Community worthy of the aspirations of all its
peoples."
In his message to the nation, Guyana's President
Bharrat Jagdeo called on all Guyanese to reflect on the contributions the
Africans had made to the development of their society. "It is
fitting that we, as a nation, should seize on this moment to reflect on the
pain, the suffering and the sacrifice of our ancestors. . . .
We should resolve ourselves to consolidate the gains of freedom, to live
in the future and together create a society in which all are equal and all can
share equally," Mr. Jagdeo said
Union
Focuses on Job In Banana Restructuring
St.
Vincent, CANA - The Commercial Technical and Allied Workers Union (CTAWU) in St.
Vincent and the Grenadines has expressed concerns about the implications for
employment under the restructuring of the banana industry.
The
union, which represents members of the Banana Growers Association (BGA), has
suggested that a meeting be held to fully explain the situation to workers.
Union
President Alice Mandeville told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) Monday
that the union was not consulted for input into the restructuring programme
which was finalised at a July 16 meeting between banana interests and prime
ministers of the Windward Islands.
Ms.
Mandeville said there was still bitterness among workers who were made redundant
in 1996 when the Windward Islands Banana Development and Exporting Company
(WIBDECO) restructured port operations to reduce costs and those workers who
were retained signed contracts under which they were paid half the wages they
previously received.
The
BGA has a staff of 171 with an additional 61 workers employed in the handling of
bananas at the port.
It
is generally accepted within the industry that some workers will lose their jobs
under the current restructuring plan under which the Dominica Banana Marketing
Company (DBMC) and the BGA will be commercialised by November 30.
St Lucians paying less income tax
St. Lucia, CANA - St. Lucians have begun to
benefit from the reduction of income tax announced by the prime minister during
his April budget.
Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony, who is also Minister of Finance, at that time
announced that as a result of further tax reduction measures to bring relief to
St. Lucians, about 3,000 persons earning 12,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars
(US$4,440) per annum and less have been removed from the tax roll and are no
longer be required to pay income tax.
This measure came into effect as of July 2001, which was reflected in the latest
pay packets of public servants as well as some private sector employees.
As a result of the increase in the
income tax threshold to EC$12,000, other persons earning over that amount have
also been benefiting from the reduction in income tax payments, which is now
calculated at amounts over $12,000 per annum.
The prime minister says the
reduction in income tax "is another manifestation of the government's
commitment to reduce income tax for as long as the economy can afford".
Meanwhile, Director of Inland
Revenue Trevor Brathwaite says the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is still in
the process of regularising the issuance of new tax codes to take advantage of
the new changes.
He says some adjusted codes have
already been sent to several private sector employers for verification of their
implementation of the reduced tax codes and the Department is still awaiting
responses.
Brathwaite said that while the
system was largely in place in government departments, some patience may have to
be shown in the case of private sector employees due to late filing and tardy
provision of information, among other things.
Dominica, St. Vincent Follow St. Lucia's Lead
St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica are
moving to commercialise their banana industries, in effect embracing the model
adopted by St. Lucia four years ago.
Speaking in St. Lucia's House of Assembly on
Tuesday, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony mentioned discussions he had
with the Agriculture Ministers of the two countries. He told the Assembly:
“If they had had the courage of the Government
of St Lucia, the banana industry in the Windward Islands would have been in a
far better shape than it is now because they have lost time.
Four years down the road, it is late but that’s a history we have to
work with.
“I understand the pain and the
agony involved in that transition but St Lucia stands out today as an example of
what should have been done and others now have to emulate it.”
Antiguans
Post Bail In Irish Hotel Protest
Antigua,
CANA - Three men involved in protests on environmental grounds against the
expansion of an Irish-owned hotel, were granted bail Monday on charges of
malicious damage to property.
Calypsonian
Jameison "Kublai" Mannix , John Dyer and Clydie Anthony were each
placed on EC$5,000 (US$1,851) bail and released on their own recognisance. All
are residents of Old Road village in the southern section of Antigua.
Mannix
and Dyer are jointly charged with damaging the windscreen of a shipping
container truck valued at EC$9,875 ((US$3,653). Anthony is facing a charge of
damaging the windscreen of another shipping container truck valued at EC$6,500
US$2405).
The
trio were allegedly among just under 100 villagers last Wednesday who prevented
the trucks from entering the Carlisle Bay Hotel, owned by Irish
multi-millionaire Pat Doherty. After riot police fired teargas to disperse the
crowd, some of the villagers allegedly retaliated by stoning the police and the
vehicles.
Mannix
has been repeatedly singled out by government as the ringleader behind the
protest against the EC$163-million (US$60.37-million) expansion project.
Some
of the 2,000 residents protest that 11 building foundations were put down too
close to the high-water mark and a mangrove swamp, and will create beach erosion
and severe flooding of Old Road village.
The
Prime Minister Lester Bird has said that he has secured a commitment from
Doherty that seven of the foundations within 100 feet from the high-water mark
would be uprooted, as the remaining four are 150 feet from the mark.
Loan Scheme to Benefit Small Business Operators
St
Vincent, CANA - Micro business operators in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have
been offered the opportunity to upgrade their operations through a EC$1.3
million (US$481,000) loan programme instituted by the government through the
state-run National Commercial Bank (NCB).
Some
29 small business people this week began the second phase of a mandatory 50-hour
training programme which helps them qualify for
loans ranging from EC$500 to EC$15,000 under the Small Entreprise Credit
Programme.
Roger
Dalyrymple, the bank's acting general manager said on Monday, that loan approval
will be based not only on provision of security but on "the product or
services proposed, your own vision or plan, your willingness to undergo
training."
Loans
will be repaid over a period of 36 to 48 months at a 10-percent rate of interest
per annum, with a six-month moratorium being granted on repayment of the
principal.
Mr.
Dalyrymple said it was important to achieve a high rate of success of the
projects funded and repayment of loans in order to sustain the loan programme.
The
social development agency, Projects Promotions, is charged with training the
entrepreneurs.
Union
Focuses on Job In Banana Restructuring
St.
Vincent, CANA - The Commercial Technical and Allied Workers Union (CTAWU) in St.
Vincent and the Grenadines has expressed concerns about the implications for
employment under the restructuring of the banana industry.
The
union, which represents members of the Banana Growers Association (BGA), has
suggested that a meeting be held to fully explain the situation to workers.
Union
President Alice Mandeville told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) Monday
that the union was not consulted for input into the restructuring programme
which was finalised at a July 16 meeting between banana interests and prime
ministers of the Windward Islands.
Ms.
Mandeville said there was still bitterness among workers who were made redundant
in 1996 when the Windward Islands Banana Development and Exporting Company
(WIBDECO) restructured port operations to reduce costs and those workers who
were retained signed contracts under which they were paid half the wages they
previously received.
The
BGA has a staff of 171 with an additional 61 workers employed in the handling of
bananas at the port.
It
is generally accepted within the industry that some workers will lose their jobs
under the current restructuring plan under which the Dominica Banana Marketing
Company (DBMC) and the BGA will be commercialised by November 30.
St. Georges, Grenada: Thursday 2nd August,
2001- Political observers across OECS Member States have been reacting to the
news of a proposed visit to Libya by five OECS Heads of Government.
However, St. Lucia's Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny
Anthony, while speaking on a recent regional radio programme made it clear that,
his Government had no interest in dealing with Libya. Dr. Anthony noted that
Libya has a certain history, adding that, St. Lucia would not be represented at
the Tripoli meeting.
Recently two Libyan Officials visited St. Lucia
and held talks with Mr.George Odlum who was booted out of the Dr.Kenny Anthony
Administration, after he publicly went against the Government, of which he was a
member, on a number of issues. Dr. Anthony noted that, the visitors did not hold
talks with his Government.
Political pundits have raised the question of
Diplomatic Relations, Some OECS member-countries donot have diplomatic relations
with Libya and observers are watching keenly to see if OECS member countries
will be represented at the Tripoli meeting.
One former Government minister from Grenada
recalled that, during the People's Revolutionary Government (PRG) of Maurice
Bishop era, a Permanent Secretary had gone to Libya to secure promised financial
aid. The Permanent Secretary reportedly spent one full month in Tripoli
attempting to have Gadafi make good his promise. However, the aid never came,
the promise was never kept.
OECS political scholars are of the view that, it
is shear folly for OECS Heads to race off to Libya on a promise of aid. They
argue that there are no agreements that have been signed, no documentation
committing Libya to assist the OECS. Therefore, they argue that it is somewhat
unwise to travel to Libya in search of the promised aid.
It is being argued in some circles that Godafi is
nerely using the OECS to boost his shaken international image.
Canada Legalizes Use Of
Marijuana Medically
Some Canadians who are terminally ill or in
severe pain can now legally use marijuana as a pain-relieving medicine.
Canada, the first country to legally grow
marijuana for medicinal use, implemented the new regulations on Monday this
week. The country intends to make it easier for Canadians with painful
conditions to consume, grow and obtain marijuana for medical purposes, the BBC
reported.
According to BBC’s Andrew Greg, marijuana
“can be an effective painkiller, and some sufferers say it helps them cope
with some illnesses including epilepsy and multi-sclerosis. It is also well
known for stimulating appetite, which can be very useful in helping AIDS
patients to maintain their weight.”
Mr. Greg said that most doctors “would agree,
that (marijuana's) harmful side effects are mild compared with many other drugs
used in medicines. But cannabis is in an unusual position. While millions of
people around the world smoke it regularly for their pleasure, it has never been
through the formal clinical trials that other medicines must pass before they
reach the market. Both sides of the cannabis debate, therefore, have to rely
very much on anecdotal evidence.”
Caribbean's US Decline Prompts CTO Battle Plan
Sixty-four tourism officials in the public and
private sectors, and regional and international airlines, met recently in
Barbados to confront the Caribbean's diminishing share of the U.S. travel
market.
They agreed that the serious challenges facing
the industry require greater efforts on several fronts in the U.S., Europe and
the Caribbean itself, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization.
What the CTO called the region's "low
visibility" is complicated by heavy television and print promotions by
competing destinations, plus heavy discounting by cruise lines due to over
capacity, which contribute to a decline in visitor arrivals to the region.
Strength of the U.S. dollar against the Euro and
Pound Sterling in Europe, and consolidation of tour operators across the UK,
have left the Caribbean a limited presence in the marketplace.
Short-term measures to address these concerns
include special television and print promotions and more creative use of the
Internet with wholesalers and booking agents. A public relations and media blitz
for the U.S. is also being considered.
An expanded consumer-advertising programme will
be launched in the UK market, with special advertorial sections to be placed in
key UK newspapers.
The national tourism organizations and the
private sector will identify and promote unique regional products, while Intra
regional airlines will seek to create vacation packages incorporating
multi-destination holidays at reasonable costs.
Some long-term measures include research on new
avenues of distribution, development of sub-regional marketing plans, and
greater focus on France and Spain as possible markets.
By Peter
Adrien
At first, it was massive. At the end, it was
simply marvelous. These reflected my impressions of the performances of the West
Indies team on the just concluded tour to Zimbabwe. Despite the weaknesses in
the bowling and fielding departments, the collective performance in the
territorial games, the triangular one-day tournament, and the Test series must
be highly regarded.
Even if unseasonal rain and seasonal cold brought
the West Indies/Zimbabwe struggle to a frustrating level on what was expected to
be a test of mettle, and notwithstanding the eleventh hour offensive of the
former apartheid nation, the West Indians were worthy victors. Set 348 runs to
win the second and final Test match or challenged to bat for more than three
sessions to salvage a draw, the West Indies, opting to bat for a day, had
progressed to 98 for one, when nature intervened and stopped the contest.
It was very obvious that West Indies had no
intention of forcing a win, and rightly so. Some are of the view that had the
weather permitted, the spinners might have caused them problems. Raymond Price,
the leg-spinner, did find some turn and, on one occasion, did lure Sarwan down
the wicket, almost causing his downfall; and Hamilton Masakadza, bowling his
“juicy” leg-breaks, missed a low hard return catch from Gayle. The two
youngsters, Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan, were under no pressure. The two
talented batsmen batted out the first session, and from then on secured their
wickets and simply allowed the African weather to dictate the proceedings, until
the adjudicators surrendered to the dictates of Mother Nature.
The West Indies won the two-Test series by virtue
of their victory in the first Test match. Zimbabwe, however, could console
themselves that they fought back daringly in the last battle. They fought for
victory on their favourite ground (Harare), bowling for most part in persistent
light rain and in front of an almost empty ground.
But the departure of the schoolchildren who came
particularly to give morale support to their two school mates – centurion and
history-maker Hamilton Masakadza (whose 119 on debut at 17 years is historical)
and 20-year old Wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu -- must have signaled the end of the
show. The coming and going, the stopping and starting, allowed Chris Gayle, who
was voted the Man-Of-The-Series, to reach another Test 50. A final downpour
brought down the curtain on what had become a frustrating and boring stage
performance.
West Indies first away-victory after six years
was welcome news to the Caribbean cricketing public in particular, and to the
Caribbean people in general.
First, it gave the people hope that they could
overcome their besetting obstacles in economics, politics and sports.
Second, it boosted producers' and consumers'
confidence, strengthened the resolve of firms and households and lifted the
spirits of the old and the young.
Third, it increased the faith of the weak and the
fearful who were in danger of losing their faith in themselves, in the future of
the ailing society and in the future of the declining Caribbean economies to
adjust to the structural pains of the New International Economic Order.
Fourth, the victory would have given Carl Hooper,
the” messiah in the crisis,” the impetus he sorely needed to marshal his
inexperienced but highly talented troupe in the competitive and merciless
marketplace.
Fifth, the win will certainly provide the
locomotive effect that his young cricketers need to spur them on as they do
battle in the aggressive, cut-throat, ruthless and unforgiving international
sporting arena.
The triumph would have said to all concerned –
cricketers, captain, coach, manager, selector, administrator, sponsors, fans and
patrons – we can make it if we persevere. It was as if Jimmy Cliff’s anthem
was sung anew: “You can get it if you really want.”
Yes, the accomplishment of “Sir Carl” and his
young “knights of the round table” is particularly significant for West
Indies cricket development, regional development, Caribbean international
economic relation and people’s national pride.
West Indies cricket has been on the decline since
1991. It has lost most of its collective records. The Australians took away the
last symbol of West Indian cricket supremacy when they completed 16 consecutive
Test victories, surpassing the West Indies 11 consecutive test wins completed
between 1983 and 1985.
It was indeed an achievement for Carl Hooper to
lay first hold on the Clive Lloyd Trophy, the symbol of supremacy between West
Indies and Zimbabwe. The West Indies team have lost the Wisden Trophy (symbol of
cricket supremacy between the West Indies and England), and the Frank Worrell
Trophy (symbol of cricket supremacy between the West Indies and Australia) and,
recently, lost the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy to South Africa on their own
terrain and before their supporters.
Now the lessons learnt must be put into practice.
The changes in the bowling department must be made. The misguided investment in
wicket-keeper Courtney Browne must be corrected with the inclusion of the
youthful and talented wicket-keeper, Wayne Phillip.
The selectors must ensure that the young team be
given a functional gestation period. And the people must rally ‘round the West
Indies team.
Simply Marvelous! Congratulations and best wishes
“Sir Carl”.
PHOTO
CAPTION: Carl Hooper, the leader and
father figure (Photo: Peter Adrien)
Peter
Adrien is a syndicated sports analyst and a freelance photographer. He can be
contacted via telephone (869) 465-4813 or E-mail: Adriens@caribsurf.com
Dear Readers,
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Heads in the Clouds
When cars whip up ash you can't see,
Which prompts the RPMF's plea.
So in light of their pleading
Why do so many speeding
Show license plates starting with 'G'?
Target Practice
Claude Hogan declares he is irked
That a CM for whom he once worked
Now advises an Asian
In ways of persuasion
To bring AUC back "re-perked."
Jus wonderin wha so wonderful about a smile, when
you can laugh and grin and crack up laughin.
Jus wonderin wha mek dem JA woman who a bleach
dem skin so no jus buy white paint and paint dem skin so solve de problem.
Jus wonderin a who de man ketch wid hand inna de
cookie jar and which part de woman ketch de man with he face de honey pot.
Jus wonderin if she dot.com a get into de funny
business too.
Jus wonderin about de little children wha mek dem
mudder a treat dem so a no animal a human dem be, so treat dem wid love and
care.
Jus wonderin why dis tirin officer at Lookout no
just grab one and hang on just like ebbrybody else.
Jus wonderin if ebbrybody a go dance and prance
and pappyshow demself pan Cudjoe head day.
Jus wonderin when dem big shot people dem a go do
something about givin de people dem out a
Lookout fence fe fence dem yard to keep out de kattle and jackass dem.
Jus wonderin if ebbrybody now loose one screw.
Jus wonderin out loud wha is de secret to get
something whey no belong to you.
Jus wonderin when a fish go in a wan pot it know
no which part fe come back out.
Jus wonderin if some of us like dem fish dem.
Jus wonderin when de fan a go get he new tractor.
Jus wonderin if Salem will soon be named Ash
Ville.
Jus wonderin if there is nowater trucks to wet
the roads, and prevent the ash from raising in the air.
Jus wonderin how the Editor handling the
attention from all them popular Guestbook staff he work with.
Jus wonderin who know that the Printing place
have people from all over the world.
Jus wonderin who is the Chinese who is the Indian
and who is American and so and so..
Jus wonderin why ash is so depressing and
troublesome to clean.
Jus wonderin if de ash favoring anybody or
anything.
Jus wonderin why people waste water washing ash
away when the next minute it dirty with ash again.
Jus wonderin how much money the water place a go
mek pan poor people ya and if we shouldn't just keep praying for rain.
Jus wonderin if when de CM will reach out to the
Montserratian people and show he understands how dey feel about the ash.
Jus wonderin how he so different from the other
CMs who always publicly try to soothe the sufferers.
Jus wonderin if God is trying to tell us anything
all this time through the ash clouds.
Jus wonderin when a new face will come on that
scene and from where.
Jus wonderin which MP cannot think before he
speaks.
Jus wonderin which MP every time the mouth open e
foot go in dey.
Jus wonderin if it’s true the CM evacuated from
Old Towne on Sunday Night For Tropical Mansion Suite
Jus wonderin if we need the AUC or if the AUC needs us.
Jus wonderin wha mek de barber on southern side
so popular.
Jus wonderin how much the lithographer getting of
the pretty attention.
Jus wonderin when the economy goin stop going down wards much more start going upwards.
Forward all Questions, Comments and Suggestions to: editor@montserratreporter.org
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