Governor Longrigg Visits, Chats with Reporter Staff
By
Helena Durand
Governor Anthony Longrigg and Reporter Editor Mr. Bennette Roach
His Excellency the Governor Anthony Longrigg
continued his efforts to meet the people of Montserrat by visiting Wednesday
with Editor of the Montserrat Reporter Mr. Bennette Roach and touring the
premises of the newspaper and Montserrat Printing and Publishing.
At this meeting, the Governor expressed interest
in the day-to-day running and publishing of
the newspaper which he said he read on-line in Moscow for18 months before he
arrived in Montserrat.
Governor Longrigg said one of the first things he
noticed as he made his various rounds, meeting Montserratians, is that almost
all businesses were being operated from homes. “The first thing which strikes
you is the people’s adaptability and their resilience,” he said.
“I could not believe how normal everything
was,” he said, having seen earlier the destruction caused by the volcano and
having received devastating reports to inquiries in Antigua. “It is a
fascinating place and I definitely do not feel like packing up and leaving.”
The governor said that there are difficult
circumstances (while making references to the Pitcairn Island with its
population of 42) but that Montserrat will get what it needs to make an island
community function.
He said Montserrat can be a viable place, and
that planning is based on the assumption that someday in the foreseeable future,
“Montserrat’s population will return to 10,000.” He set “no time
limit,” however, as to when that would happen.
Montserratians' move forward is laudable, he
said, and though he encourages every forward movement, “it is obvious that it
(Montserrat) won’t go back to what it was. It can’t.” But he said he
believes that its current population of some 5,000 makes it much easier than in
other countries for Montserratians to come together and work toward a common
good.
Because the volcano makes long-term planning
difficult, and attracting visitors to the island more difficult than otherwise,
he said that concerted efforts must made to bring sponsored travel writers,
foreign media, and public relation persons to the island. So it is important for
the good and positive news about Montserrat to be published abroad.
The Governor congratulated the Montserrat
Reporter on its work and encouraged Mr. Roach to continue, since every country,
no matter how small, needs a newspaper.
Where possible, he said, “I will support the promotion of the island.”
In references during the discussion to the need
for an airport, the Governor said he sees an airport as essentially vital to the
development of the island, and while there probably was no easy decision, the
government needed to make one quickly.
At the end of his tour of duty, he said, when the
times does come for him to say farewell to the island, “One thing I want to
do, is leave by plane. When I leave Montserrat, I want to fly out (on an
airplane)."
50th Birthday Event Celebrates Jim Allen
By
Helena Durand
Renowned Caribbean cricket analyst, journalist
and politician Tim Hector thrilled the audience at the Annual Jim Allen lecture
held at Brades Pentecostal Church on Wednesday night, which also commemorated
Mr. Allen's 50th birthday that day.
Mr. Hector's topic was why Jim Allen, among other
cricketers, never made it to the West Indies Cricket team. He said the main
complaint justifying Mr. Allen’s exclusion from the West Indies team was what
was termed his "ugly (two-eyed) stance," comparable possibly
with former West Indies test cricket stars Basil Butcher, and other well known
international stars as well as George Headley, he said, who had a stance even
more two-eyed than Jim Allen.
“We make arguments to defend injustice,” he
said.
Mr. Hector called for a change in the way
Leewards Cricket is organized so that test cricketers can be properly developed;
since he believes that if the Leewards Board had stood behind Jim Allen, his
genius would have flourished.
He said there is a lack of support systems in
West Indies Cricket. “We expect these players, from these small islands, to
cope with all the things thrown at them on their own."
He said in “volcano structurally adjusted
Montserrat, it involves putting down an artificial pitch” so that National
Cricketer Devon Williams, “can get up everyday and play cricket without
waiting on somebody to prepare a wicket.”
“I will not only talk," Mr. Hector said.
”I am prepared that if people in Montserrat raise half the money, I shall find
the other half of the money to provide an artificial pitch.”
Quite apart from loving the game, Mr. Hector’s
willingness to assist in developing an artificial pitch for the island may stem
from the fact that he claims close Montserrat connections. He said his mother
was Montserratian, and he had relatives from other islands, including Nevis, so
that there was always a problem about who to support in his household when
Leeward Islands cricket was being played.
The program included a radio call-in, which was
preceded earlier in the day by a call-in program hosted by Montserratian and
West Indies umpire Basil Morgan, ZJB Basil Chambers and sports officer Fitzroy
Buffonge. It became apparent that a
large number of Montserratians believe that a monument should be erected to
honor Jim Allen.
Many persons, including Professor Howard Fergus,
former Chief Minister Reuben Meade, Sports Officer Fitzroy Buffonge, and Arthur
Meade, said that more needs to be done to recognize Mr. Allen’s contributions
to Montserrat.
“I’ve long recognized his greatness"
Professor Fergus said. "In fact, his profile is in one of my books called
‘Gallery Montserrat-Prominent People in Our History.’ " "And one
of my poems published in a book called 'Lara Reigns and Colonial Rites,' is
about Jim Allen. So I’d just like to join with all the others in recognizing
his greatness and his contribution.”
Most persons believed that recognizing Mr./ Allen
on that radio programme should have been done before. One noted, “If Jim is
indeed one of our national heroes, let us treat him accordingly. We know he has
certain problems, whatever assistance he needs with respect to resolving those
problems I think we should try and do something.”
A caller to the programme said, “We have to be
careful in the way we treat people who have contributed. We must show more
concern. We as a community, I think we should all be jointly ashamed of the way
we have allowed Jim to -- I wouldn’t say deteriorate, or wither away -- but
there is something that we can do. But we collectively need to get together and
do our best for Jim. Because let’s all remember he made all of us proud, he
brought joy to our hearts and to the country.”
Another caller suggested that a street be named
after Jim Allen, or a monument be erected at the new Government Headquarters
when it is constructed, with a sculpture of Jim with his bat in hand for the
world to see.
"Determined
and Total Cooperation Still Eludes the Island that Needs It"
This past week may seem to have lacked any major
events, but the well-publicised Jim Allen lecture series was one where much was
done that might change what has looked like a gloomy future for Montserrat.
In another, there were utterances by the talker
and promoter of the activities of the Government of Montserrat, who dared, if
you wish (simple as it was), to appear before the Chamber of Commerce members in
the presence of high DFID officials.
There, the Minister of whom much is said -- both
kind and not so kind, because of his unusual approach to matters of government
-- gave in many instances his own views, opinions and ideas on matters and
projects. These included perhaps every topic that he may have gleaned from many
private conversations, as well as his provocative, seemingly impossible and
impulsive positions and statements.
It appears that his position in every instance
represents the government’s, though it has been said behind closed doors that
this couldn’t be further from the truth. It causes one to wonder, then, why
allow him to jump into a debate if no research has been done on the topic?
Interestingly though, while the talker and
promoter called for a vote of confidence in Montserrat, which will allow the
island to move forward as its private sector and government pool resources, it
is becoming quite clear that the people of Montserrat do not want to work
together.
If there were cohesiveness among our people, much
would already have been done to get resource persons to actively promote the
positive aspects of the island. We can point a lot of fingers (all five of them
outwards, and still not have enough hands with fingers).
What we seem not to grasp is that, people won’t
come to Montserrat if they do not know about us. And what they do know must be
captivating enough to bring them. Make yourself heard where Montserrat is
concerned. Too often we lament the fact that the international media do not
portray the right image of the island, but what are we doing about it?
One cannot help but marvel at the fact that
Jamaica, with its recent murders and gang-led violence, is one of three islands
(with St. Lucia and the Bahamas) promoting themselves as "the" tourist
destination of the Caribbean. When are excuses and even lies going to stop and initiative
take over for us? Of course it will take will and sacrifice to put together a
campaign to tell the world we are here and that they are missing out on an
experience of a lifetime not having visited the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean.
Although he just arrived, His Excellency Governor
Longrigg is supporting the need to have sponsored travel writers, media persons
and publicists visit the island to begin a worldwide promotional campaign about
the uniqueness of Montserrat’s situation, He is a just-arrived outsider hoping
to become an insider, but he believes in the future viability of Montserrat.
There are those abroad who long for the thrills
that visiting the land of an active volcano has to offer. This island offers
them a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to see creation in the making! We must
exert ourselves to put together a campaign (with expert help, if necessary) that
can bring positive results by getting out the right message and information. We
have the facility and ability here, and we must use them. Of course it will cost
money. So what is free in this world? Success never, prosperity never.
Scientists tell us that the Caribbean came about
from volcanic eruptions. Well then, Montserrat is now experiencing a rebirth.
Why not share it? The volcano can be used as an attraction to the island rather
than a deterrent. And from this corner we still believe that this rebirth is
exactly that. It follows, however, that we must not behave as if we are
invalids, because we were not born that way.
This week there seemed to have been a freshness,
but unfortunately we also witnessed and learnt that there is an unwillingness to
tackle the difficult tasks ahead of us. It was even more distressing to learn
that so many of us are unwilling to come together and share our respective
visions for progress. Haven't these people woke up yet and heard the question,
"Are we looking at pie in the sky - is Montserrat ever going to be viable,
and how soon?" The question must be asked and we should not wait for
consultants to come and ask it of us or for us.
The active and necessary steps must be taken and
every person encouraged aboard because wealth is what we are after. Not the kind
the honourable Clare Short may have been referring to, the kind that will bring
not alleviation of poverty but prosperity and sustainability on the way to real
progress.
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
Saying ‘Yes’ Wholeheartedly
Simon, son of John, do you love me? John 21:16
I always cringe at these words-the repeated,
seemingly sad, but crucial question. And I feel Peter’s shame and
embarrassment. I cringe because I sense that Jesus is always in the background
asking me the same question…and I wonder how I am responding.
I want to say “yes” with all my heart, but
something always seems to be holding me back. I hesitate to respond too
enthusiastically. Do I lack courage for the commitment of such a love? God wants
all of me and is not satisfied with anything that lessens the joy that we can
experience together. Am I prepared to accept every good thing, to give every
good thing, to share the bounty the Lord provides?
“Yes” is such an easy word to utter when
nothing is needed to back it up. But this “yes” is loaded with my ability to
respond freely, fully and with abandon…Not to worry about what the future may
bring, to follow and give myself wholeheartedly to whatever God needs me to be
or do…To trust that God’s love will be enough for me no matter what happens
or where I go…To be content in God’s presence.
Dear God, help me to say “yes” I love you
with all my heart, my mind and my soul.
Jean
Royer
Acts 25:13-21; Psalm 103:1-3, 11-12, 19-20; John
21: 15-19
Inconsistencies
Mar Marine Exclusion Zone
Dear
Editor:
In
a recent meeting with the Police Commissioner and Dr. Peter Dunkley from the
MVO, the fishermen came together to have the marine exclusion zone explained to
them. As Montserrat's only dive operator I took part in that meeting. I must say
that after the meeting I have even more doubts that the current Maritime
Exclusion Zone is sensible.
Police
Commissioner Elder had stated that the rationale for the maritime exclusion zone
was to save human life.
Dr.
Dunkley showed us pictures of pyroclastic surges that went into the sea at the
mouth of Tar River. These flows spread as fast as 50 to 60 miles per hour over
the surface of the sea. Dr. Dunkley said that at least one surge had been
observed that had reached three kilometers (roughly 2 statute miles) into the
sea.
Had
a fisherman been at the border of the two-mile zone at the time, he might have
been cooked. He would have been only 4 kilometers away from the center of the
volcano. Yet, he would not have been inside the Maritime Exclusion Zone.
On
the other hand, a person standing on the pier in Plymouth would be five
kilometers away from the center of the volcano. But this person would stand just
at the beginning of the Maritime Exclusion Zone.
West
of Montserrat, the Maritime Exclusion Zone extends two miles into the sea from
Garibaldi Hill, which is inhabited, and which is about seven kilometers away
from the volcano. The Maritime Exclusion Zone in this region reaches to a
distance of 10 kilometers from the
volcano. Rendezvous Bluff is the same distance away from the volcano. A
fisherman who safely could operate in the nearshore waters of Foxes Bay and
Bransby Point is forced by the regulations to operate two miles out in the rough
sea, risking limb and life. It is definitely much more dangerous for us in open
fishing vessels to stay two miles offshore west of Montserrat than it is in the
nearshore waters, the volcanic risk included.
I
suggest that the current Maritime Exclusion Zone should be abolished. It should
be replaced by a regulation that declares the following regions as high risk
areas: a circular region of three miles in diameter around the mouth of the Tar
River; a circular region of two miles around the mouth of the White River, and a
circular region of one mile around the pier in Plymouth.
Wolf
Krebs
Sea
Wolf Diving School
70 Children Attend Vacation Bible School
Approximately 70 children are taking part this
week in “Call To Care,” the Methodist Church Vacation Bible School, at the
Cavallah Hill Christian Education Centre, which began Monday and ends today.
Children ages 5-15 of all denominations were
taught music, craft, and Bible knowledge among other things, daily.
Miss Leona Fagan, Coordinator of the Vacation
Bible School, said in Bible sessions the children are told of biblical
characters who spent their lives doing good and how they can apply those
qualities in community service and helping each other.
At graduation at 4:30 on Sunday afternoon, the
children will receive certificate of participation, and awards will be made for
Best Behaved, Most Helpful and Most Outstanding” Miss Fagan said.
New Head of OTD Describes Visit Here
By Helena
Durand
Mr. Clive Warren, who succeeded Mr. Mike Wood as
the Head of the Overseas Territories Department (OTD) of DFID in London, visited
Montserrat last Monday, his first since taking up the new post in June 2001.
“If I can put my hand on the most positive
message that I take back to London with me,” Mr. Warren said, "it is that
the people are saying: 'ok it is terrible, but we’ve got to move on, we’ve
got to be positive and we’ve got to be confident.' ”
He said during his short10 days he found a
willingness “from people living in shelters, some living in some of the most
disadvantaged areas of the island, to people at the top of Government in
Montserrat, to cooperate together as a team. What immediately stood out was the
people’s resilience and determination to move on.”
The only way Montserrat can move forward, he
said, is if all of these people, “and that includes DFID and the British
Government, of course," pull together for the economic and social
regeneration of Montserrat. for "self-sufficiency as soon as possible.”
The British Government he said, “wants to see
Montserrat standing on its own two feet as quickly as it’s able to,” but
that he understands why it can’t at the moment.
“I believe the future for Montserrat is bright,
and it’s good. In practical terms there are some very important initiatives
taking place right now, which will help to bring that about, including the ideas
for development in Little Bay, and including proposals . . . for air access to
the island. The future I think is bright but we have to be realistic, and
positive and work together as a team.”
Working together as a team towards the economical
development of Montserrat may be easier said than done, given the Department for
International Development (DFID’s) primary mandate, which is the alleviation,
or most certainly, the reduction of world poverty.
While acknowledging that priority, Mr. Watrren
said, “DFID does have another very important responsibility. That is
fulfilling the British Government’s moral and legal obligation, to provide for
the reasonable developmental needs of British Dependent Territories.”
"British Dependent Territories are not
amongst the poorest countries," he said. "Just to remove any
misunderstanding about that, DFID has that responsibility for development
assistance in the Territories including Montserrat, and takes it very
seriously.”
He said in the short time he was here, he did not
notice much tension between the Government of Montserrat and DFID. “I think in
the situation which is provided in Montserrat over the past few years," he
said, "it’s inevitable that there will be certain tensions created. Fifty
years from now when one looks back at this period in Montserrat’s history, it
will be seen as an enormous watershed in the history of the island."
As for expediting aid for Montserrat in London,
Mr. Warren said, “I can’t make any promises about the level of our future
support, other than to confirm the level of support that has already been
indicated. Our Secretary of State Claire Short has made it very clear that we
have a commitment to Montserrat.”
On hearing that some British officials who
displayed sympathy or understanding for Montserratians on the island reportedly
had been ‘recalled’, he said, “I have just moved into this job, and unless
somebody else decides, then I can assure you I am staying exactly where I am.”
He left the island yesterday on the ferry, by
choice, because “that is the way the majority of Montserratians travel to and
from Antigua, and I wanted to travel the way they do. I was told it is bad.”
Cambridge Laws Degree Earned
by Jean M. Dyer
Jean M Dyer has completed the Master of Laws
programme offered by the University of Cambridge gaining a Second Class Division
One (2-1) honours degree.
“It takes a lot to set one’s sights on a
distant horizon and keep on reaching for one’s goals," she said. "I
am uncertain as to whether I could have achieved what I have thus far without
the guidance of the Almighty Father and the unwavering support of my family and
friends.
Among may others Miss Dyer said she wished to use
the opportunity to thank many who contributed to making my dreams a reality –
they included her parents, Anita Dyer and Joe Oliver; Sir Howard Fergus,
Mr. David Brandt, the government legal staff; and her sponsors – Cable and
Wireless, the Foreign Commonwealth Office and the Cambridge Overseas Trust.
New Apostolic Church Will Open on Sunday
The Bethel Apostolic Assembly has taken another
significant step in re-establishing its Church on Montserrat.
The Assembly will open its new church in Cudjoe
Head on Sunday August 19. Founder and Overseer, Bishop Thomas J. Weekes, said
the new church building, formerly the Zion Pentecostal Church, is a replacement
for the BAA Church in Plymouth, which was destroyed in Ryan’s Village by
volcanic activity in 1997.
Bishop Weekes also announced that a dedication
service on November 30 will mark the handing over of the building.
St. John’s School Reunion Recognizes Seven Teachers
Seven persons were recognized last Saturday at
the end of a week of activities in the St. John’s School Reunion.
Three were recognized posthumously, namely
teachers John Daniel, George Housen and Community Service Awardee James Williams
Allen.
The living awardees were teachers Richard Alfred
Lee, Mary D. Sweeney, Lucy Fenton and Margaret Molyneaux.
St. John’s native Hensey Fenton addressed the
award ceremony, and used the occasion to reminisce on his early years of growing
up in the village.
“Part of this reunion," he said, "is
to bring back the memories of our childhood and to pay tribute to those who
molded us. The other part is to remind us to give back. Give back to the
community that gave to us. We need to make sure that those coming behind have an
opportunity to enjoy what we leave behind, just like we enjoyed the legacy of
our fore parents.".
One of the Montserratians who returned to the
island for the reunion was Jamaica-based, the Rt. Reverend Dr. Harold Daniel,
the first Montserratian to become a Bishop in the Anglican Church.
“It’s really nice connecting with many of
these people," he said. "Some of them family and many of them long
time friends. I think it’s a tremendous idea, particularly now St. John’s is
in the limelight. When you came from St. John’s in the old days, you come from
‘country’, but now St. John’s is where the action is.”
Historian Sir Howard Fergus said the reunion
represented a show of attachment to the country, and he praised the many persons
who journeyed home to celebrate the memory. He urged them to help "the
world to know that we are here, we exist, and with God’s help will be here for
a very long time."
Sir Howard concluded, "The fact is all of us
belong to north now. So we have joined the north people, and we are grateful
that we have gone from the status of refugee in the north, to belongers.”
Prolonged
Ash Cleanup Exhausts Crews, Funds
By
Helena Durand
Director of Public Works Ken Folds said this week
that cleaning up the ash from the volcanic events of two weeks ago is tedious
and painstaking work, and although the job is several weeks from completion,
allotted funds have almost been exhausted.
Chief Minister Hon. John Osborne acknowledged in
a ZJB radio interview that more funds are needed to complete the cleanup of the
ash, but said the programme must continue so that areas affected by the ash can
be made safe for the residents. “I made the point long time ago to DFID that
there should be funds set aside for these kinds of operations,” the Chief
Minister said.
He said that since the scientists say such events
will recur, “I feel that the British Government should allow us a certain
amount of money set aside for these kinds of operations.”
He expressed concern that if people keep getting
showered with ash, “we’re probably not going to need to clean the ash; the
people are probably just going to leave."
Mr. Osborne also referred to the cost to
individuals. "I try to clean up mine at a fantastic cost," he said.
"My water bill alone is $1,489.81, just for water as a result of this ash.
And that is not all of it. I suspect I have to pay another massive bill again.
So I’m sorry for those people in my same position and probably can’t afford
it. The water bill is going to be heavy.”
The Chief Minister said though the men comprising
work crews from the Public Works Department and the private sector are doing
their best to clean up the ash. “There is so much ash I don’t know when
they’re going to be able to clean it, and they cannot get all of it up as you
can see; when the wind blows, we still have problems.”
Antigua Wants to Dump Where Montserrat Fishes
By Helena
Durand & Bennette Roach
The Government of Montserrat will meet soon with
Antiguan officials to discuss that island’s proposal to dump dredged material
from St. John’s Harbor in the sea off Redonda, an area now heavily fished by
Montserratians.
The dredging, intended to accommodate larger
cruise ships visiting Antigua, would begin in October or November and take up to
three months.
The Antigua and Barbuda government proposes to
dump the dredged material just off Montserrat because their own fishermen
complain that dumping the 1.6 million cubic meters of dredged material in waters
1,500 feet to 1,800 feet deep off the continental shelf about 17 miles from the
capital St. John’s would affect one of their prime fishing grounds.
A CANA report says the Antigua fishermen argue
that the alternative dumping site between Antigua and Montserrat is about 2,000
feet deep, and is already adversely affected by volcanic action.
Secretary of the Montserrat Fisheries Cooperative
John Jeffers is not in favor of the dumping the dredged material at either of
two proposed sites, one nine miles southwest of Antigua, the other between Nevis
and Montserrat.
Mr. Jeffers said Montserrat fishermen are already
restricted by a two-mile maritime exclusion zone around the island, and dumping
on the eastern side of Redonda "would mean that we would lose a good
percentage of the fish, so that our fishermen would be forced to find
alternative areas. In addition to the fishing areas, we would be losing other
valuable marine resources, like our coral reefs and so on, which support the
fishing industry.”
He said the other proposed site would be bad for
both Nevis and Montserrat.
”Once you get to Redonda area," he said,
"the land difference with member states is lessened significantly. In that
for example, Nevis may be about five miles away from Redonda. In the case of
Montserrat, you’re looking at about say seven miles, and if you use the
equitable distance, you’re talking about three and a half miles."
"You also have a major fishing area
belonging to Montserrat, very close to Redonda, called Maid Mountain," Mr.
Jeffers said. "The silt from that is going to kill the marine life in that
area, and that is something that our fishermen just cannot tolerate.
He said that while Montserrat fishermen are not
in any conflict with Antigua, "we are very much concerned about it.”
The Hon. Minister with responsibility for the
Environment, Mrs. Margaret Dyer-Howe, and key stakeholders discussed the matter
Tuesday morning. A release from that meeting said that Chief Minister John
Osborne would request a copy of the Environmental Report on the scope of works
and other details of the proposed dredging operations before further action is
taken.
Mr. Osborne assured Mrs. Dyer-Howe that he had
held initial discussions with Antigua Prime Minister Lester Bird about the
matter, and that both have agreed on a meeting for early next week in Antigua to
discuss the details of the operations and the possible impact on the marine
resources of Montserrat.
The dredging action is also cause for concern for
Nevis' Director of Fisheries Arhur Anslyn, who reportedly claimed 'that the
material would adversely affect Nevis' fishing grounds and coral reefs.
According to the CANA report, Antigua Minister
for Planning and Implementation Gaston Browne rejected the Nevis official's
claim. "I think that the position taken by the Nevisian official is
certainly speculative and I sense that there isn't any empirical evidence or
even any experience to suggest that will be the case," he said.
Meanwhile on the background of a threat of the
possibility to go to the National Resource Management Unit (NRMU) of the
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the St. Kitts and Nevis'
Tourism Minister, Dwyer Astaphan, called for talks between the two countries
before dredging began.
GoM, Private Sector Seen Working Hand in Hand
By Helena
Durand
In an address at the Chambers of Commerce and
Industry Monday evening, Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Lowell Lewis
took exception to those who say Montserrat is heading for bankruptcy.
He said he is optimistic and confident that the
government, in collaboration with the private sector, can raise enough revenue
to balance the budget.
Dr. Lewis said at least 73 government/private
sector projects are underway at the moment, including the rehabilitation of the
golf course, the reopening of the America University of the Caribbean and the
reintroduction of Radio Antilles. He pointed out, however, that confidence must
first be restored in the island if investment funds are to flow.
He said the first thing needed to generate such
confidence is management of the volcanic crisis.”
“To some extent, we’re still a little bit
like an ostrich with its head in the sand," he said. "I think that
every member of the Commerce Chamber, all the important agencies in Montserrat,
should at least have a copy of the Executive Summary of the last volcano
assessment; because it is only by having this information and reacting to it
that we’re going to generate the confidence in people that Montserrat is a
safe place to live, and work in, and also to invest in.”
He said while he personally intended to support
the use of Montserrat from as far as Foxes Bay or Richmond Hill, to Rendezvous,
“I believe that institutions like Royal Bank of Canada should show leadership,
and at least show the international community that they are going to operate in
an area of negligible risk; because by doing that, it means that they are making
contingency plans for making sure they continue business regardless of what
happens in Montserrat."
"I think we also need to inspire confidence
about the fact that the economy will recover. We also need to keep reminding
them that we are going to get a satisfactory aid package to allow the economy to
recover,” Dr. Lewis said.
Following the Deputy Chief Minister's
presentation Chamber members expressed appreciation for his visit, while one
Chamber member called on the Minister and government to make the proposed
partnership a reality.
Montserrat Fishermen Protest Double 'Peril'
By Helena
Durand
Concerned that the Maritime Exclusion Zone is
being violated, the Volcano Executive Group, the Commissioner of Police and the
Director of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) met with the fishermen last
week Thursday.
The meeting failed to convince the fishermen that
they should be barred from using fishing grounds within the two-mile limit. The
zone stretches from Garibaldi Hill on the western side of the island to Trants
Bay in the east.
Vice President of the Fisheries Association
Carlton Ogarro said in a ZJB radio interview that the livelihood of fishermen
here is at stake, even as talks continue on the violations to the Maritime
Exclusion Zone.
“On the question raised, is the volcano doing
something different now, or is it in the same trend from ’95 to now, the
answer is, it has a pattern,” Mr. Ogarro said.
The fishermen want to be allowed to fish within
the zone when the volcano is quiet. If that were done, Mr. Ogarro said, when the
volcano showed signs of activity, the MVO officials can “tell us when it’s
acting up so we can keep out, or keep the two miles off. When it’s not, you
report to the Fisheries Division; let us know it’s down so you continue
fishing on your ground.
"The bone of contention is that you want to
save life and limb fine, I have no problem with saving life and limb; but in the
process of saving life and limb, fishermen need to eat.”
MVO Director Dr. Peter Dunkley, however, said the
zone must be enforced because although a lot of material left the dome recently,
there is still loose material in the Soufriere Hills.
“It’s very, very difficult to actually
measure that distance when you’re off the coast, as to how far in you are, but
clearly some fishermen do come in very, very close. The new dome appears to be
growing very quickly. There’s been no real relaxation.
"Seismically, the most active thing on the
volcano as far as signals received is due to rock falls. We’ve had this big
event so now we’re getting far fewer rock falls, but the volcano is still very
active.”
St. Maarten Upgrades Emergency
Radio Net
GREAT BAY, St. Maarten (GIS) - Fire Commander
Winston Salomon who is also head of the Department of Emergency Services (HVD),
said this week that radio station owners on the island were recently presented
with an Audio Frequency Shift Keying (AFSK) system.
He said this would allow HVD Emergency Alert System (EAS) to send information to
broadcast.
Chairman of the Emergency Operations Center
(EOC), Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards, said he is very pleased with the progress
that has been made in relation to the upgrading of the disaster management
infrastructure on the island.
He appealed
again to the general public to make sure that they have everything in
place in the event of a hurricane threat.
Jamaica's Opposition JLP Says It Will Attend Inquiry
Jamaica, CANA - The opposition Jamaica Labour
Party (JLP) will not boycott sittings of the Commission of Inquiry into the
recent inner-city disturbances, party leader Edward Seaga said Tuesday in a
radio interview.
He said that it would not be wise for the party
to boycott the inquiry for which it called, but that there were still many
concerns over the structure of the inquiry, among them the fact that Prime
Minister P.J. Patterson had recommended three members of the commission.
Mr. Seaga said Governor General Sir Florizel
Glasspole should have made the appointments.
Thirty-three people have been
killed in disturbances in West Kingston in recent weeks, with 25 fatally shot
between July 7 and 11. The clashes were between criminal gunmen from communities
dominated by the PNP and JLP on the one hand, and later between members of the
security forces and gunmen.
Some Commonwealth Citizens Now Need Visas to Enter Antigua
Antigua, CANA - Nationals of 10 countries of the
Commonwealth will now require visas to enter Antigua and Barbuda as part of an
international crackdown on persons seeking asylum in First World countries, the
Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
The countries are Bangladesh, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, India, Mozambique,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka.
Such nationals have attempted to seek political
asylum in First World countries through which they have to pass while pretending
to be in-transit passengers to Antigua and Barbuda," the Foreign Ministry
said in a statement.
Recently, Antigua and Barbuda amended its immigration laws to impose visa
restrictions on nationals of those countries.
"Apart from the countries whose nationals will now be subject to visa
restriction, the nationals of the remaining countries of the Commonwealth
continue to be as free as before to enter Antigua and Barbuda without a
visa," the statement added.
PM Bird Quickens OECS Work to Exploit Informatics
Antigua, CANA - Prime Minister Lester Bird of
Antigua and Barbuda has sent his press aide, Norman "Gus" Thomas, to
some Eastern Caribbean countries to observe how they've been using informatics.
Mr. Bird has been given responsibility by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean
States (OECS) for development of the industry in the sub-region.
A new Information and Technology (IT) Centre is soon to be commissioned in
Antigua as OECS States move to a higher level in the world of informatics,
according to the Antigua Government Information Service.
Gregory Rabbis, head of the Government
Information Service in Dominica, described Mr. Thomas's visit as timely, adding
that, his unit was still struggling to build a proper GIS and needs all the help
they can get.
The GIS News Online Service was started in Antigua in May 2000 with Antigua and
Barbuda, Montserrat and St. Kitts and quickly grew into a regional network which
recently was commended by the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community and
Common Market (CARICOM) Edwin Carrington.
CARICOM Members Plan for WTO Meeting
Barbados, CANA - Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
governments have intensified preparations for the forthcoming Fourth Ministerial
Meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that is to determine if there is
to be a new round of trade negotiations, and if so, on what basis.
The meeting currently being organised by the WTO is scheduled for November in
the Middle East city of Doha, capital of Qatar. It is already being referred to
as "Seattle Two," a reference to the unprecedented protests that
forced the WTO to abort its first ministerial meeting in Seattle, Washington, in
December 1999.
The CARICOM ministers confront growing concerns
by the region and its allies in the WTO, particularly those within the African,
Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group, about "some negative signals" from
the European Union, USA, Japan and Canada that, according to one ministerial
source, "do not augur well for developing states".
CARICOM's heads of government reaffirmed at their 22nd Summit in The Bahamas
last month their commitment to "a rules-based multilateral trading system
that caters for the concerns and peculiarities of smaller economies" as in
those of the 15-member Community.
The leaders recognised the sharp differences in the agendas being proposed by
the leading industrialised nations that seem to have the support of the WTO's
Geneva-based directorate, and that of developing and the poorest of the poor
countries in, for example, areas such as agriculture and services.
The leading industrialised nations and the directorate of the WTO -- a
multilateral trading organisation that makes and enforces rules governing
international trade -- have been frustrated by the fact that the WTO is a
"members" club and is dominated by the sheer weight of numbers of
developing and poor nations, as noted by one regional WTO monitor.
Vieques Mayor Gets 4 Months
for Protest
The mayor of the disputed Puerto Rican island of
Vieques, Damaso Serrano, has been sentenced to four months in prison for
trespassing on restricted land during protests against U.S. Navy war games.
In handing down the sentence on Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Jesus Castellanos told
Mr. Serrano that he was an example to his constituents and should not break the
law.
He added that it was time to solve the Vieques dispute through legal means and
not by trespassing.
The sentence was one of the
stiffest handed down against the hundreds of Puerto Ricans who have joined a
civil disobedience campaign since Navy maneuvers restarted in May 2000.
Barbados Wants to Make Business Laws Attractive
Barbados, CANA - The Barbados government has
introduced to Parliament amendments to several business acts, intended to
improve the overall climate for conducting business in the country.
The International Business Minister, Reginald Farley, introduced the amendments
on Tuesday. He said the government, which is promoting Barbados as a clean and
viable destination for doing business, decided on the amendments after extensive
consultations between officials from the local business community and some
public sector agencies.
Mr. Farley told Parliament that government was also moving to adopt legislation
regarding protected cell companies (PCCs) in an effort to attract more
international investment.
Antigua Labor Dissidents Plan
Job-saving Blueprint
Antigua, CANA - A group of workers, dissatisfied
with the kind of representation offered by the Antigua Trades and Labour Union
(ATLU), is about to suggest to government how
retrenchment of some non-established workers can be avoided.
Calling themselves the Group of Concerned Non-established Workers (GCNW), they
are proposing "the reintroduction of a progressive income tax," GCNW
Chairman David Spencer told a gathering of 60 persons Tuesday night,
"although workers are told that it is not in your interest. This tax places
the burden on those who are able to bear it."
President of the opposition-aligned Antigua
Workers Union (AWU), Maurice Christian, said, however, that speaking of taxes
here was "frightening and worse than a sin." He said the cost of
living was spiralling because many taxes were being levied.
ATLU President Wigley George said that he and Mr Christian were recently in
Barbados where they asked the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) to provide a
tax expert to examine Antigua and Barbuda's tax system and make recommendations.
Prime Minister Lester Bird has already set November, when the winter tourist
season begins, as the deadline for an unknown number of non-established workers
to be laid off. Government is seeking to cut its wage bill by 20 percent as part
of an economic stabilisation programme.
Other GCNW proposals include the sacking of all re-employed pensioners, reducing
government ministries, and demanding that ministers give up free utilities.
Government has already announced its intention to reduce overseas travel and
slash the telephone allowance of ministers, as well as allow workers to only
have one government job.
OECS Trip to Libya Still on,
Minus Two
Compiled
from dispatches
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines' Prime Minister, said Tuesday the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean
States (OECS) mission to Libya next week is going ahead, despite the withdrawal
of Antigua and Barbuda and St. Lucia.
Lester Bird, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister,
and Dr. Kenny Anthony, the St. Lucia leader, chose not to make the trip.
In addition to Dr. Gonsalves, the mission still
includes, Dr Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, Pierre Charles, Prime
Minister of Dominica, and Dr Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and
Nevis.
Dr. Gonsalves responded with impatience to
suggestions that Mr. Bird and Dr. Anthony had withdrawn because of concerns
about jeopardizing their countries' relations with the United States. He said
the mission was based on the right of the individual countries to determine
their own foreign relations.
In Antigua, however, a high-ranking government
official who requested anonymity said,
"Antigua and Libya do not have diplomatic relations. It would be very
unusual for a head of government to visit a country that his own state does not
have formal relations."
Caribbean News (CANA) reported that it was Dr.
Mitchell, the Grenadian prime minister, who allegedly pushed for the trip to
Libya but, fearful of a U.S. backlash, encouraged the leaders of St Vincent and
the Grenadines and Dominica to be part of the mission.
The U.S. House of Representatives
late last month joined the Senate in overwhelmingly backing a five-year
extension of sanctions against Iran and Libya, designed to curb foreign
investment in their oil and gas sectors.
The measure gives the president the authority to assess penalties on any foreign
firm that invests more than $20 million in the energy sectors of either country.
CARICOM Members Plan for WTO Meeting
Barbados, CANA - Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
governments have intensified preparations for the forthcoming Fourth Ministerial
Meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that is to determine if there is
to be a new round of trade negotiations, and if so, on what basis.
The meeting currently being organised by the WTO is scheduled for November in
the Middle East city of Doha, capital of Qatar. It is already being referred to
as "Seattle Two," a reference to the unprecedented protests that
forced the WTO to abort its first ministerial meeting in Seattle, Washington, in
December 1999.
The CARICOM ministers confront growing concerns
by the region and its allies in the WTO, particularly those within the African,
Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group, about "some negative signals" from
the European Union, USA, Japan and Canada that, according to one ministerial
source, "do not augur well for developing states".
CARICOM's heads of government reaffirmed at their 22nd Summit in The Bahamas
last month their commitment to "a rules-based multilateral trading system
that caters for the concerns and peculiarities of smaller economies" as in
those of the 15-member Community.
The leaders recognised the sharp differences in the agendas being proposed by
the leading industrialised nations that seem to have the support of the WTO's
Geneva-based directorate, and that of developing and the poorest of the poor
countries in, for example, areas such as agriculture and services.
The leading industrialised nations and the directorate of the WTO -- a
multilateral trading organisation that makes and enforces rules governing
international trade -- have been frustrated by the fact that the WTO is a
"members" club and is dominated by the sheer weight of numbers of
developing and poor nations, as noted by one regional WTO monitor.
Corporate Barbados urged to join HIV/AIDS fight
Barbados, CANA - One of Barbados' leading doctors has called on
corporate Barbados to get on board in the HIV/AIDS fight in order to help stave
off the ravages of the killer
disease.
Chairman of the National HIV/AIDS Commission, Dr Carol Jacobs made the
call last week as she received a Dell Computer and HP Laser Jet printer from
Fujitsu-ICL Barbados on behalf of the Commission. In thanking the company
for the gesture, Dr Jacobs said that corporate Barbados was an integral part of
the civil society which had to be involved if any national HIV/AIDS programme
was to be
successful.
"It doesn't matter how much
work a Commission does, how much work is done within government, if private
sector and corporate Barbados is not involved it will not have the kind of
results that we need to have," the Government Information Service (GIS)
quoted Dr. Jacobs as saying in a release.
On the matter of company policy, Dr Jacobs warned: "If a
company doesn't come forward with pro-active measures to deal with this
epidemic, put in place counselling, put in place measures that will be
supportive for people with the disease, people will go underground and that will
be to the detriment of the individuals as well as to the company."
She referred to a workplace document which had been arrived at by
consensus between the private sector, government and labour, and which made
provision for the general training of employers/employees
as well as instances when infected persons were in the workplace. Dr.
Jacobs also highlighted the AIDS Foundation which, according to her, the
Commission had been trying "desperately to get off the
ground in Barbados."
"It is a means by which good corporate citizens can take the
lead in identifying where they want to give support, and initiate fund raising
and those kind of initiatives," she explained.
In making the presentation, Alex McDonald, Vice President of
Fujitsu-ICL, said that Barbados was no more immune than anywhere else from the
ravages of HIV/AIDS.
"I think that it would be very narrow-minded of us to believe that
business can go on as usual, that our community can go on as usual, with a
disease such as HIV/AIDS taking such a terrible toll on all of us," he
stated.
Noting that his company had lost a number of international colleagues to
HIV/AIDS, McDonald, said they thought it was only "necessary and
right" that the company showed its support for the work of the commission.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office with special responsibility for
the national HIV/AIDS campaign, Senator Glyne Murray, said it was good when
companies could take the initiative
and offer their services to institution like the HIV/AIDS Commission.
He urged other businesses to follow Fujitsu's lead.
Dear Readers,
We have been asked to reintroduce the Dr. King
column, and will do so shortly.
Please send in your questions, concerns and problems and let
Dr. King help you find a solution.
Write to
Letters and responses will be published in this
newspaper. No personal calls will be accepted, and no writer will be written to
privately except on request.
By
Justin ‘Hero’ Cassell
(Agricultural Development Officer)
“EAT
FROM THE LAND, NOT FROM THE CAN”
Farmer’s Symposium
Success
Several farmers and
Government officials attended the launching of the Extension Project that took
place on Wednesday evening August 1st at the Cavalla Hill Methodist
Church Centre.
Approximately half a
million Eastern Caribbean dollars are provided for the project, which spans a
period of two years and involves training for farmers and Extension workers. The
project aims at enhancing the capacity of farmers to increase their productivity
and profitability while improving the efficiency of Extension services.
The program for the evening involved a brief opening ceremony with
presentations by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Mrs. Margaret Annie
Dyer-Howe, Director of Agriculture, Mr. Gerard A L Gray, and Department
Officials. Master of ceremonies for
the evening was Mr. Leroy Taylor.
The highlight of the
evening was the Farmers' Symposium, “ The Kick Starter” of the project.
The participating farmers enthusiastically went through the process of
training needs identification.
Irrigation Project Update
Excavation of dams at
Duck Pond got under way last week. So
far one dam has been completed and another partially.
Repair work was carried out on the embankment of the existing “Duck
Pond,” which is now filled to capacity.
Farms Burnt Out
Many farms and
backyard gardens were wiped out due to damage caused by heavy ash falls last
weekend.
Newly transplanted
seedlings are completely destroyed and seeds buried to depths that will most
certainly retard or prevent germination.
Oriole Project Update
The first phase of the
Oriole Ecology study (April-August) provides important insights into the Oriole
survival. Earlier monitoring of the
Oriole revealed a 45-percent reduction in its population.
The ecological studies seek to investigate reasons for the decline.
|
|
Volcanic Fallout
Public Works' cleanup continues
But needs a lot more than sinews,
It takes mountains of cash
To eliminate ash;
Wanted: New financial venues.
Probability v. Reality
Our fishing just barely survives
In spite of what 'Nanny' contrives.
Since the maritime zone
Has come into its own,
The sea, not 'perhaps,' took two lives.
Jus wonderin if the newscaster was so embarrassed
with the CM talking about the clean-up that she wanted us to think that it was
the news from the "international scene" on Tuesday evening.
Jus wonderin if the ‘learned’ man thinks he
is Solomon.
Jus wonderin if there will be a report from the
ZJB Review.
Jus wonderin how many people pause to pray in
their busy day.
Jus wonderin if they forget that without God they
cannot succeed.
Jus wonderin when people gonna learn that more
haste, less speed.
Jus wonderin when people going to stop
complaining.
Jus wonderin if dreams are really for the weak.
Jus wonderin how many of us can say “yes”
wholeheartedly.
Jus wonderin how many people say “yes” just
to ease a situation.
Jus wonderin what is meant by ‘pure as the
driven snow’
Jus wonderin why a nose is not 12 inches long,
and if is really because it would be a foot.
Jus wonderin if one driving on the snow what
makes it pure.
Jus wonderin why today is yesterday’s tomorrow.
Jus wonderin what happens when blind people watch
TV.
Jus wonderin if we had no faults what life would
be life.
Jus wonderin when people will learn that when
they don’t have education, they have to use their brains.
Jus wonderin if dey no know that quick decisions
are usually wrong decisions.
Jus wonderin if our people know that defeat
cannot get us down unless we admit to it.
Jus wonderin if knowledge is really power.
Jus wonderin what goes up and never comes down.
Jus wonderin if God says the earth is man’s
own, why everybody want to go heaven.
Jus wonderin if lawyers forget how to speak
English so the man-on-the-street can understand.
Jus wonderin if PSs are part of the game of
Chinese Checkers.
Jus wonderin if there are too many square pegs in
round holes.
Jus wonderin if some new channels are due and who
will pay for them.
Jus wonderin if the airport and housing strategy
go hand in hand.
Jus wonderin if the sheltered housing would
contain Gerald’s residents.
Jus wonderin when and who will announce the
airport decision.
Jus wonderin what is the lifespan of Monlec
generators.
Jus wonderin if the frequent shortages are due to
old age.
Jus wonderin if the new generator will ever be
born.
Jus wonderin if the yellow bus has become a
‘political’ issue and whether it is going to be used to raise chicken.
Jus wonderin where the acting surgeon finds the
time in between appearances.
Jus wonderin when we a go stop worrying about
power, lust and money and go give our heart to de Lord.
Jus wonderin when de GOM is going to raise de pay
instead of chattin about it.
Jus wonderin wha so special about AUC.
Jus wonderin if de MP no bite off e foot yet
because e mouth always inna de way.
Jus wonderin if yan say he crazy again and
burning flames say dem loose one screw, we Montserratians would say a we run
ting, because all awe krazy.
Jus wonderin when de fan a go buy he tractor so
me could go buy meself one bulldozer.
Jus wonderin about de new world order if now
adays a computer run ting and not man.
Jus wonderin wha we get out of drinkin de devil
soup.
Jus wonderin when de GOM a go put more light pan
de road so neaga can see way fe place dem foot when dem a walk.
Jus wonderin when me sing or shout why should it
bother odder people.
Jus wonderin if de hat fit me, u tink me should
put um on.
Jus wonderin if it’s true the CM evacuated from
Old Towne on that Sunday Night.
Jus wonderin when ugly people a go stop look inna
de mirror just fe see wha dem self look like.
Jus wonderin about how much love cost now adays,
that money now ha wings.
Jus wonderin when de bird fly north was it time
fe me buy wan winta jacket or just play like de ostrich and stick me head inna
de sand.
Jus wonderin if jus wonderin does lef some of dem
cracking jokes ya fe next time, because de do really put wan smile pan me face
when me feel blue.
Jus wonderin again if dogs and cats couldda talk,
all awe wouldda know a who a horn who.
Jus wonderin when de new airport a go start, so
we could start fe fly plane.
Jus wonderin when cattle me a run tings, ebbybady
me a cry, but now jackass take over ebbybady start fe ball.
Jus wonderin if de weddin no work out right for
Jane, wha mek Peter lef she and gorn to Mary.
Jus wonderin me de fan luv Doris and Doris luv
Jack, if no betta fe me go find somebody else.
Jus wonderin out loud, that love no happen over
night.
Jus wonderin why de fan say lef some of dem jokes
ya fe later because me tek wan res, because me a run out of jus wonderins.
Jus wonderin which of dem Printing man work so
hard and why.
Jus wonderin what is this number in the pocket.
Jus wonderin if jus wonderin will ever run out of
jus wonderins.
Jus wonderin if the pattern will ever break.
Jus wonderin wrote saying they pregnant.
Jus wonderin wha mek de consultants stick to
Gerald’s Bottom so.
Jus wonderin when we will get something to clean
the road, instead of imposing our limited resourses.
Jus wonderin which man really give up his bed for
his girlfriend male cousin.
Jus wonderin which woman find the letter another
woman write her man.
Jus wonderin who found the letter.
Jus wonderin who de daddy be.
Jus wonderin if de pickni a go born ya.
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