.

Governor's 'Good News' Dashes Hopes of Quick Return to Salem Area

By Bennette Roach

Salem Checkpoint

Residents of Montserrat could not quite have grasped the full message of Governor Abbott's statement which was released on Monday night on ZJB.

The statement was made at the beginning of a press conference held earlier that day at Government House with His Excellency the Governor, the Honourable Chief Minister David Brandt, scientist Peter Baxter and current MVO head scientist Steve Sparks. The press conference was called at very short notice on Monday morning to break what most people thought would be the long awaited news of Salem's reoccupation.

The news spread quickly -- and falsely -- that people would be allowed to occupy Salem. The telephones began ringing and the electronic mail flowed with joy as people thought they could now return to Salem.

Closer examination of the Governor's statement, however, soon dampened the excitement. The Governor began his preamble by saying: " I very warmly welcome this report. It represents enormously good news for the people and the island of Montserrat. . . . we have received a positive forecast from our scientific advisers albeit they do firmly draw our attention to the very real existing dangers and health hazards that remain with us.

"Nevertheless I believe our retreat from the Soufriere volcano has come to an end, and we can now give consideration to reclaiming some of the Exclusion Zone."

That was like music to people's ears, and many did not hear the Governor go on about his hope that his interpretation of the volcanic report would be shared by "the Montserratian community."

He went on to give his own interpretation of the Scientific and Hazards Assessment report dated 29^th July, 1998. In the Summary of that Report it states:

"B. On the basis of all the evidence, the meeting judged it highly likely that the volcano has now entered a period of repose, with the probability of no further magmatic eruption in the next six months assessed at about 95%."

"C. The new assessment represents a substantial reduction in perceived risk from the last appraisal, on 21 April, 1998, and the results indicate that the present risk levels in the Population Zones 1, 2, 3 and that part of Population Zone 4 to the north of the Belham Valley are no worse than those to which populations on other Caribbean islands with dormant volcanoes have been historically exposed. . . .

"F. Areas within, and to the south of, the Belham River Valley in Population Zone 4 remain vulnerable to several serious volcanic hazards, including pyroclastic flows related to collapse of the dome, volcanic mudflows and exposure to fine volcanic ash. Under current conditions, a boundary line along the northern margin of the Belham Valley should be established as an appropriate geographic reference for the management of volcanic risks in the south of the island."

The Governor, after giving his own interpretations to the above and the other points which appeared in the Summary of the report, then announced as follows:-

"The recommendations that residents should leave the Central Zone is now withdrawn.

"There is no longer any objection to commercial organisations operating from within the Central Zone, i.e. currently between Nantes River and Lawyers River.

"The clean-up operation of Frith, Salem and Old Towne which commenced some weeks ago is now being intensified. . . .

"The Volcano Executive Group is now urgently seeking professional advice on how they can be sure that the Zone has been cleaned to satisfy the requirement that children and those with respiratory problems will not be afflicted on reoccupation. A number of tasks have to be fulfilled such as a Monitoring Exercise to establish the levels of ash. This will commence immediately but it will take a few more weeks to come to satisfactory conclusion.

"Once reoccupation can take place the border of the Exclusion Zone will be moved to the northern bank of the Belham River Valley.

The Governor made two further announcements which dealt with commercial operations obtaining licences in preparation for reoccupation; and that an educational program on health measures for those involved in cleaning houses and public areas will be undertaken.

The foregoing, even though stated in a way not readily understood, says that Salem is not to be reoccupied just yet. It says it will be weeks before that decision is taken. "How many weeks?" was asked of the Governor, who was not prepared to commit himself to a date. He only replied, "Very soon."

The Chief Minister, however, subtly encouraged people to begin cleaning up their houses, though warning that he is aware of volcanoes that appeared to be quiet and then roared to life to kill people who returned to unoccupied areas.

The announcement on lifting the objection to commercial organisations and withdrawal of the recommendation to people leaving the Central Zone comes as no surprise since very few persons did leave, with Government House itself remaining in the zone, as well as many other commercial business and other government offices, such as the post office.

The disappointment of Salemites not yet given the green light to return is even more evident in the fact that it is difficult to estimate the existence of ash being greater in the Salem area as against that in the Central Zone. Also dissapointed with the news are Foxes Bay residents who feel that they have not been included for consideration especially that many of the hazards mentioned would not affect them. They feel inconsideration of the Belham Bridge is the major problem, and the same holds true for Isle's Bay residents.

A report sent to the outside world by the Associated Press states, "…the government announced residents could return to Salem, a town on the western coast that was evacuated one year ago, as soon as work
crews finish removing heaps of ash and rinsing the gray powder from buildings. The area includes about 800 homes and Old Towne, site of the island's last hotel."

One well known Salem figure questioned how the dust level measurements differed in Salem as against those as far as Woodlands within the last six months.

During the months of August and September last year there was strong resistance to the closure and evacuation of Salem. Residents questioned the seriousness of risk to the area, as well as the lack of proper accommodation to move to in the north.

Select Committee Still Faults HMG's Answers

By Staff Correspondent

If Tony Blair's Labour Government was hoping The Select Committee on International Development in the House of Commons would go away, they must be sorely disappointed.

The all-party Committee has just released its sixth report, entitled "Montserrat -- Further Developments." (See - Sixth International Committee Report)

While the Committee expresses its pleasure that more assistance is reaching Montserratians both here and abroad, its report condemns anew the British Government's failure to come to the rescue of the Montserrat Building Society or to help to underwrite, even temporarily, insurance coverage for the island.

And it takes two of Mr. Blair's Ministers on what Lady Thatcher's friend Ronald Reagan used to call "a trip to the woodshed."

It took the Government until February to respond officially to the Committee's stern report of last November, which then left the Committee, in the report's words, "unhappy with the content of the response."

Because "one of the conclusions in the Report and two substantive recommendations were simply ignored by the Government in the reply," the Committee called Robin Cook, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, back to give further evidence.

As a result, the Committee was dismayed to learn that, despite its strong condemnation of divided responsibilities, decision-making for Montserrat remains with Mr. Cook while providing the necessary money is still up to Ms. Short.

"It is clear," the report says, "that the Government have decided to reject our recommendation of a single Whitehall department for the Dependent Territories which will have both political responsibility and financial resources. They have instead chosen the status quo."

The report reviews the testimony of Mr. Cook and Ms. Short in which they explained why they found it impossible to implement the Committee's recommendation, and then concludes, "The real reason for a continuation of the status quo is a lack of political will."

It reviews and scorns anew the Government's negative response to the Committee's pressing calls for financial rescue of the Montserrat Building Society and for subsidies to underwrite insurance coverage on the island.

About the Montserrat Building Society it says, "This inability of Montserratians to have access to 65 per cent of their savings must be a significant constraint on the economy and reconstruction of the island. We are surprised that the High Court has not returned to the issue of the Montserrat Building Society and would urge all those involved in the process to do their utmost to end this paralysing uncertainty."

On the question of insurance, it recalls the Government's reply that it "does not consider it appropriate to underwrite insurance on damages relating to natural events."

"In the case of Montserrat," the report insists, "we do consider it to be appropriate, at least during this period of uncertainty as to the future activity of the volcano, and again recommend that the United Kingdom Government intervene."

The three points made by the Committee report last November and ignored by the Government included its call for a simulated evacuation exercise, its condemnation of the failure of anyone in authority even to have read the Wadge-Isaacs Report on Montserrat volcanoes, and the recommendation that "the High Commissioners and other FCO representatives take a much more active role in explaining HMG's actions in Montserrat, in providing essential information and in overseeing the welfare of Montserratians who have relocated to other islands in the Caribbean."

"Sustain" Montserrat By Planning Its Future

The Montserrat Reporter urges and encourages each and every Montserratian wherever they may be to become involved in the discussions relating to the Sustainable Development Plan (SDP), which is being prepared for its final draft.

The Governor, representing Her Majesty’s Government (HMG), and our Government are seeking at this stage (and it is better late than never) to have as much input as possible from a wide cross-section of people. They are doing so by holding forums, not only here in Montserrat, but in Antigua and even in Britain. This is to give credence to a statement in the covering note signed by London MP George Foulkes and CM David Brandt which states: "The draft Plan is the result of wide-ranging consultation between the Government and people of Montserrat and Her Majesty’s Government."

Questioning revealed that statement to be more a hope rather than fact, hence the great effort now to get it fulfilled. That apart, this document will no doubt be used in the immediate future, so no one should be unaware of its importance and relevance.

That people in Antigua and Britain were consulted contradicts statements that the pledge of £75 million is to serve only 3,500 people. That is the impression given by the Department for International Development (DFID), even while insisting that every penny spent on behalf of anything relative to Montserrat or its people anywhere in the world must come from the pledged sum of £75 million. DFID has persuaded even the Select Committee on International Development, which is critical of their handling of the Montserrat crisis, that the money is for only the people currently on Montserrat.

It should be understood that this money will pay for all trips, rent and utilities, vehicle expenses, costs of passage, cocktail parties of DFID personnel; for any officer relating to any project; school, housing, health facility; for salaries, for support of evacuees in England, Antigua or wherever; for the warship visits, the helicopters, the ferry; and on and on the list can go.

It must further be understood that these funds and the plan are not intended for the development of Montserrat's future, but rather for its sustainability. According to the recent report (published elsewhere in this issue) by the Select Committee, Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, admitted when giving evidence to that Committee that DFID did not consider "sustainable" to mean "self sufficient."

The Committee's printed response to that statement in the report is relevant and important for us and should become our urgent goal at once. The Committee said it is looking for evidence from DFID that "there is a realistic possibility of Montserrat escaping dependency on United Kingdom development assistance." It is on this we must concentrate, and it is with this in mind that we should view and (re)construct the SDP.

Miss Short said she believes "the reconstruction of the society and economy of Montserrat would take a long time." Who can disagree? But how long is "a long time"? And upon whom does that depend? Should we really be holding out our hats and hands to Britain all the time? It is clear that HMG are doing what they believe is right, and we are fortunate to have "the Committee" to look out for what they consider fair, even if that also fulfills their individual political aspirations.

Do we know what we are after - where we are going? Do we really have any dreams? It may be that what we are expecting of Britain is well beyond them. Where in the history of British colonisation have they ever done anything developmental for a colony? Do we expect them to know how to do that now? From their perspective, their actions may be reasonable and even just, but we have to understand these things and realise that it is we who will have to come with these dreams and visions. It is we who must go after them, and that is where we begin to talk about leadership.

Britain still has the responsibility to "sustain" us and they are ensuring they prove that to the world. If that is all we need, then the SDP can be anything. We can sit back and let it all just happen. It is doubtful that anyone really wants this. If so, then we must first try to correct the mistaken view that we are interested in merely the wellbeing of 3,500 people rather than the entire pre-volcanic eruption population of 11,000. And wasn't it 14,000 prior to that, 20-30 years ago?

We should work towards that. It certainly won't happen tomorrow, we couldn't deal with that! But could it be in three to five years? And if that is at all in our minds, when are we going to prepare for that occurrence? Oh no! We must get the SDP to acknowledge this and go beyond it, to ensure that it allows for the opportunity for development. Anything less would be a grave mistake. Therefore, if we value our freedom and independence, we have to work for it.

That is why we should reject comparisons of aid commitments and economic return. It is offensive and irrelevant to compare, as the Select Committee has done, DFID's per capita contribution to the poor of India to its spending on behalf of Montserrat. It is one thing to argue that DFID is the wrong source of aid for volcano aid. It is quite another to suggest that aid to an island dependency, devastated by more than three years of volcanic activity is in any way relevant to British aid to the poor of an independent nation that was recently able to afford its own nuclear weapons tests.

It is shortsighted and unwise to argue that $380 million dollars is out of the question to spend for an airport, when doing so could be the beginning of our future prosperity. Of course Montserrat will never save that money, nor can we expect to find that amount from a single source. But when will we begin to look for it?

It would be insulting for us to participate in framing a SDP that gave us little or no influence on how the money is to be spent. The Governor's role in these announced meetings should be to explain HMG's intentions, just as Miss Clare Short described them. The Chief Minister must seek the support and advice of Montserratians about their vision of a successful future. He must show his understanding of the plan and explain how it will aid us into the future and how it will fit government’s vision as the catalyst for our economic recovery. What we do now, or fail to prepare for now, is what we will be five, 10 or more years from now. Many of us may still be around to enjoy or regret that for the rest of our lives.

By Darren Roache

Is there really to be an airport at Geralds?

This question alone provokes a lot of thought.

What are the ramifications involved with this proposed venture?

Another major question which comes to mind is how many people will have to be relocated?

Now the mention of that word, relocate, leads to another question.

When considering all of the problems that those of us who have had to relocate have had to face, especially the lack of housing, what plans are in place to further alleviate these problems?

With the mention of the words "housing" and "problems" in the same breath, the next question that comes to mind is, who is responsible for the fiasco at Lookout?

Which individual or group is really to be blamed for that mess? The Minister in charge? The housing committee? Is the man from Long Ground justified in asking how it is that a man from Salem can get a house before him? Are there any of us who would say that the man from Long Ground has every right to be annoyed?

What is the deal with Salem? Are they going to send people back to live there or not? Who has the final say? The British Government? The Montserrat Government? The Scientists? The people of Salem? (Not necessarily intended in that order though. There may be those that agree for it to be so).

Back to this airport at Geralds business; what is proposed to be done with those people who will have to be relocated in order to make way for this airport? Will they be given priority over the other people who have had to move from the unsafe zones? Where will these people be put? How long will it take to build enough houses to accommodate them all? Will we have another fiasco like Lookout?

And while we are back at Lookout, how will the other houses being built there be distributed? Will the same individual or groups be involved? Will the man from Long Ground be guaranteed one next round or will he be sidelined again?

Questions, questions, and yet more questions, when and from where will the answers come?

NEWS BRIEFS

Nevis Vote for Secession From St. Kitts Fails

St. Kitts and Nevis remained one nation as Nevisians voted on Monday nearly 62 percent in favour of leaving the federation but failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed for secession.

It is believed that a last minute appeal on Friday by Douglas, coupled with Amory's insistence that the how-tos of secession could be negotiated after-- not before -- the vote, dissuaded many Nevisians from following through. Also some voters complained they never were told what to expect after Monday.

Arguments by Nevisians said that with its offshore business -- made up of financial institutions operating outside their native countries for tax advantages -- and its popularity as an upscale tourist destination, Nevis could survive and prosper.

The secessionists also complain that St. Kitts' reputation as a haven for drug traffickers and other criminals has tarnished Nevis' image.

"We must recognise that the people have spoken," Nevis Premier Vance Amory, the leader of the pro-secession movement, said.

Elections officials said unofficial results found 2,427 voters, or 61.7 percent of Nevis' 6,785 registered voters, opted for secession and 1,498 voted against. Ten ballots were rejected.

MPs Urge British Action To Help Montserrat Economy

The all-party committee of the British parliament called for swift action by Britain to keep the economy of the volcano-hit Caribbean island of Montserrat afloat.

The International Development Committee said the (British) government must reconsider its refusal to offer to underwrite insurance taken out on the island to encourage commercial companies to resume cover.

In a report, the committee added that a swift review of the assets of the failed Montserrat Building Society by Britain's High Court would end "paralysing uncertainty" on the island.

The Foreign Office officials had confirmed the heart-breaking news that insurance companies were unwilling to resume cover in the northern part of the island, the only area where life is now possible, for reasons of "commercial good practice."

The committee has criticised HMG’s policy, which is simply to wait until the insurance companies consider the renewal of cover to be commercially viable.

It said this policy was not appropriate during a period of uncertainty over future activity of the volcano.

"The government does not address the fact that in the case of Montserrat, we have . . . an imperiled society. The normal rules cannot apply," it said.

The Montserrat Building Society collapsed last year, paying out only 35 percent of the deposits invested in it by savers, a direct fallout from the insurance withdrawal.

The Montserrat Government got the concurrence of the committee, which noted that in a previous report it called for government intervention to ensure that Montserratians got the rest of their money as soon as possible. What the committee is not really aware of is that somewhere in HMG there is no interest or a deliberate attempt to stifle Montserrat’s economic recovery

So against this background for reasons that are not altogether unclear, the HMG has seen fit to find every excuse not to assist this major area of concern. DFID should have the answers, but again we find that there is another case where the Montserrat Government has also failed to follow up. It has now been reported that after being involved in engaging experts in the insurance field who claim that their work took them well beyond their terms of reference, but in the end it was ignored after very useful and fruitful efforts.

The group of consultants involved is known as Caribe-American Risk Management Enterprise (Carme). It is reported that this consultancy firm was hired immediately after the insurance companies withdrew their coverage for properties on the island. They reportedly have extensive experience and background within the industry, are structured to be entirely independent from the industry itself, and they have the expertise to prepare preparatory documents in the areas of Risk Management and Loss Control that the insurance industry would need to properly consider Montserrat's individual case. Thus they had the contacts who would listen to them and the expertise to prepare what they would need before an entry or return to Montserrat would be formally considered.

The group reports that the project was officially completed in September of 1997, but went on to state: "We provided a final report on Phase I, risk assessment, and several other unsolicited project reports. We also went far beyond the terms of the contract, extending time on Island and work well into Phase 2 and Phase 3, which were never contracted for or paid by the client. This aspect of the work involved drafting bid specifications and marketing Montserrat's insurance program to global insurance markets, primarily in the U.S. and Great Britain. Our efforts were a success, with over six major insurance markets indicating their interest in insuring Montserrat risks. One market authorized insurance binding authority through their Belize office. All markets provided written confirmation of their interest and provisions for providing potential insurance to Montserrat, which was forwarded to the Aid Management Office. To be quite frank, it was a done deal. The only problem was that we no longer had a client willing to fund the balance of the project, or a responsive client."

Carme claims that it advised Aid Management and the Bank of Montserrat in August of 1997 that "at least 3 insurance markets, American Insurance Group (AIG), at least 2 Lloyds of London underwriters, Reliance Insurance had indicated their willingness to work with us."

The group claimed it had assistance from "Sedgwick Reinsurance of Los Angeles and London helped us to coordinate these and other insurance markets. These organizations represent some of the largest insurance markets in the world, and thus, our and their credibility should have been no question."

Carme said that in regard to proceeding with insurance marketing and anticipated insurance for Montserrat risks. It said further: "Purportedly, Aid Management wanted local businesses to share in the cost of our final work, which we were told they (local businesses) did not want to do. Aid Management was to then request approval through London to fund the balance of the project, with response to us by mid ‘98."

The group said it gave up after failing to receive answers as promised from DFID. "After spending thousands of "unfunded" dollars toward this project, meeting and exceeding all project deliverables, and then receiving no final answer or response from the client as promised (2/98), we finally gave up."

Miss Deborah Johnson of Carme who was directly involved expressed anger and added: "My staff and I, as well as Sedgwick Reinsurance, worked very hard, at our own cost, to continue the project and make it a success.

"What was left to be done, and as required by interested insurers was:

"1. Submission of underwriting information on a groups of homes and businesses to be insured, versus individual accounts.

"2. Loss control inspection of a small number of specific sites to be insured.

"3. Coordination with the Government insurance office to ensure proper registration and funding of new insurers.

"4. Selection of a local agent/broker to handle placement of insurance."

The crippling part of this story is that Miss Johnson said: "When I contacted their office, I was advised that they were very pleased with our work, but were going in another direction."

She said further that they provided the Aid Management Office, "with information on all of our marketing efforts and contacts, most through London."

It is further our information that one of the previous local insurance carriers was involved in encouraging DFID to stifle the study so that it can pick up at a later date. It is further understood that the insurance companies that were active here, withheld information from the Carne group while they were gathering information for the study.

The question left to be answered is what and where is the other direction that HMG (DFID) is planning to take this matter. The Select Committee is asking the same question. The unavailability of insurance in Montserrat will continue to stifle economic progress.

Our government through the CM says that they have not been advised as to the outcome of the exercise and have heard nothing since September last year. This, of course, does not let them off since there seems to have been no follow-up on a very important matter.

The CM meantime claims success in efforts to help residents on the other end of the insurance spectrum, with government’s acceptance of Horizon International Group, a team of Adjusters, Assessors, Surveyors, Accountants, and Engineers which specializes in assisting property owners with their insurance recoveries arising from natural catastrophes, now working on Montserrat. He says that this company will attempt to assist claimants who had their policies reduced to a 60 percent-40 percent formula in the middle of the volcanic crisis.

This insurance matter was considered as one of the problems of the new administration of 1996. When the of withdrawals and other pertinent matters were being discussed, government never sought the advice of the financial or private sector until it was too late. This was done eventually and even then their advice was not taken on board. It was evident that either some member or members of government thought they were able to adequately deal with the matter.

Operation Exodus Labeled a Success

Saturday, August 1 saw a complete testing of the plans for Operation Exodus in a simulation exercise. Operation Exodus is the name given to the plan for evacuating residents off island in the unlikely event of an increase in volcanic activity.

The seven-hour exercise was described as a success by the Governor, H.E. Mr Tony Abbott, and by the Chief Minister, Hon David S. Brandt. The exercise was originally planned to involve 400 persons, but when response was slow it was announced that 200 persons had agreed to take the trip.

Although it was dubbed a success, just over 100 persons eventually showed up in response of the offer which allowed persons to spend the weekend in Antigua, at the height of the Antigua carnival celebrations. There was much criticism of the timing of the exercise, which conflicted with the celebration of activities for Cudjoe Head Day. Representations brought no change in plan, but interestingly over 100 persons who could have benefited from the free ride to Antigua, chose to leave early and departed the island on Friday to spend their weekend, no doubt visiting relatives and friends in the neighbouring islands.

The Chamber of Commerce & Industry were among those who publicly voiced their disapproval of the exercise. The Chamber issued a statement that said: "It was decided by the membership that it was necessary to voice the majority's sentiment of dismay to 'Operation Exodus'."

The Chamber expressed other concerns: "… the Chamber regrets the obvious overseas perception which will result from this exercise. We acknowledge that it is only an exercise, admittedly two years late, but we also are aware that it may send the wrong message to those Montserratians ready and anxious to return home."

The statement also touched on one of the main concerns: "The Chamber feels that this exercise is an unnecessary drain on the finances of our local people and not the best use of our limited aid funds at this point in time."

The statement drew criticisms from both the Governor and the Chief Minister who, at the beginning of the week, praised the success of the exercise and referred to how busy they are and the time involved in planning such an exercise.

Overseas representation at the exercise was from PAHO, CDERA, and WIGS.
The simulation tested all the local aspects of the plan including; search and rescue, fire-fighting, first aid, health capabilities, command control, transportation including road and traffic control, documentation, crowd control, loading the ferry and the media response.

Chamber officials explained that they are not opposed to the exercise, but felt the timing was very wrong and that taking people all the way to Antigua was totally unnecessary. They suggested that a trip around the island would have been much more beneficial and interesting.

MDs Confirm Hepatitis But Point to Tainted Food

Hospital officials have confirmed that they are investigating at least two cases of hepatitis in Montserrat.

Dr. Franklin Perkins, acting in the absence of Dr. Ronnie Cooper, said that the investigations are going on.

"Hopefully it will turn out to be Hepatitis A which will not be too bad," the doctor said. "We have seen it on a number of cases throughout the Caribbean from food contamination in particular."

He said they are awaiting results of specimens sent to Trinidad, which normally takes up to two weeks.

Dr. Cooper later explained that contrary to the rumours about Hepatitis B cases in Montserrat, tests for that type have been negative. He further called on residents to continue to be vigilant in maintaining high standards of personal hygiene.

M'rat Students Performance At UWI

The local University of the West Undies (UWI) Centre is reporting very good achievement of Montserratian campus students at UWI. With final year results not all in but the so far, both Dion Weekes and Lindorna Lambert qualified with upper second class degree - the former in civil Engineering and the latter in Management. Lambert adds to the growing number of persons who completed the first year of their degree through distance learning facilities at the local UWI Centre.

This process reduces the cost of tertiary education to the government and spreads the dollars of aid donors for education.

That Lambert performed so well is added cause for highlighting the scheme and extra congratulation to her. The successful students include Colin Fergus with a degree in computer science.

Summer School to Open For 100 Island Children

The Department of Community Services is reportedly ready to offer another Summer School programme.

The programme, due to kick off Monday next week, will host just over 100 young people who will participate in swimming, steelpan, dance and drama. Two tutors are expected to be on hand, hailing from Jamaica, to assist in conducting the classes.

Last year scores of children were the beneficiaries of swimming classes which were conducted by several expatriate residents and visitors on the island.

Brown & Root Aids Summer Sports Here

Brown & Root has been participating in a summer sports program which involved the boys and a few girls in the primary schools.

They funded the program which was conducted by three British university students, Tom Balmer, James Higgerson and Rob Money. The trio agreed to spend a part of their summer vacation with the Montserrat children, coaching them in cricket, soccer, basketball and some swimming.

Tom Balmer spoke for the group and said that they enjoyed thoroughly their involvement with the children who were all very appreciative and fun to work with. He regretted that all they had to work with to practice soccer/football was a basketball court, while an area at Carrs Bay prepared for the purpose was denied the children. "That is a pity," he said. "Children and sports should be given high priority, especially cricket in the Caribbean where it has enjoyed such great success."

Their stint ended with a simple ceremony in which Brown & Root's outgoing manager, Leo Bedford, thanked them for their part in the program. Chief of Staff Claude Hogan from the Chief Minister's office expressed their appreciation and accepted a gift of sporting gear on behalf of the Chief Minister, whose Ministry is responsible for sports.

Some of the boys and girls received prizes for various outstanding performances in addition to each of them receiving sports wear to remind them of their participation.

Mr. Bedford remarked that their involvement is another part of Brown & Root's outreach in supporting communities. Mr. Tony Maloney, B&R public relations officer, conducted the short ceremony and thanked all the others from the Ministry of Education and sports officers who contributed to the sporting activities.

The three students left island on Tuesday, August 11, with an invitation to return next year.

B&R's Bedford Leaves After 13 Months on Job

Mr. Leo Bedford, local manager of Brown & Root, is about to end his tour of duty here as he winds down 13 months on Montserrat.

Mr. Bedford will be the first to admit that his time in Montserrat has not been easy, coming into Montserrat with the task of providing housing for a population which was dwindling as a result of a devastating and erupting volcano.

The volcano forced Montserratians to move north when scientific fears and predictions suggested that fatal effects of the volcano could spread as far as Salem. It was then that Brown & Root, an international contracting firm, was contracted to build 250 houses in the north to alleviate what every visiting dignitary, British official or regional official, politician and otherwise, referred to as 'deplorable'.

In a final interview, Mr. Bedford told The Reporter about overcoming the original pains of learning to cope with a situation where local contractors were being asked to perform in unfamiliar circumstances, and where Brown & Root themselves were unfamiliar with local conditions.

He said: "I think that it has worked very well and you can evidence that we have 50 completed block-work houses at the Lookout yard and we now have another 24 block houses contracted out and starting very well with a contract that everybody is comfortable with and a process of implementing a design that everyone is comfortable with so far."

Referring to the problems on the way, he was pleased to say: "We have taken the lessons we've learnt forward and we have come to a better understanding between us and the contractors, and them and us, which is just as important. I am confident that will lead to a more successful and smooth operation in the next phase of housing."

This next phase is another 150 houses that he says offers the company the opportunity to do things properly and permanently, which everyone has been looking forward to.

As far as the problems with the delay in producing the previous phase of housing and the government headquarters buildings within the specified time, he recounted the difficulties. "Generally this was due to everybody overestimating the capability of the island at the time and the general resources available, including our own unfamiliarity with Montserrat and the contractors resources. They did not really appreciate the difficulties they had of operating within the crisis situation there was at the time. This led to a misappreciation all round. Along with this were the problems of logistics in getting materials on the island in a reasonable time."

He cited the weather, the restricted port facilities, and financial difficulties with the island receiving credit outside as some of the factors which complicated all the other problems.

As for the government headquarters , he said, there was also the problem of the unavailability of lands and the design for the buildings. The buildings arrived in October 1997, well before the land problem was sorted out only in January this year. They sat in the bad winter weather, suffered water damage which could not be assessed until they were erected. This meant delay getting replacement material from time to time, not to mention the fact that "throughout the whole period our focus was diverted to the housing project, which had not been going according to original plan."

At a farewell party in his honour on Saturday night, Mr. Bedford announced that it was time for him to leave, because when he came he was told that people had to move north. And now that he was leaving, the first thing the Governor said to his successor is that the line will soon be able to move south.

He said that while there were many differences of opinion, it was challenging for everybody during his time here and the work of Brown & Root has accomplished. But he said he views "all the confrontation as positive and constructive," while he believes that partnership should be the aim at achieving the reconstruction goal.

"I wish to thank everybody on a personal level for the 13 months of support I have received at every level," he said.

The Chief Minister in brief remarks recounted his early meetings with Mr. Bedford. He joked about threatening to deport him if he could not work with us, but seriously observed that he had arrived at a difficult time, but is leaving having laid the foundation on which the company's work can flourish.

In his interview, Mr. Bedford said of Michael Dodd, who succeeds him, "He is coming in with a different perspective of his own into this opportune environment and we will see some changes in the way Brown & Root deals with things which will be healthy and productive, though coincidental as it is."

Asked it he had achieved his goals, Mr. Bedford said: "I am happy that we have achieved a great deal in some very difficult circumstances. I personally would have liked to leave behind some more finished products, but I don't see that as a failure, but as doing the best we could within a difficult environment and circumstances. I have no doubt that within the last year we as a team have done the best we could."

Mr. Dodd arrived on the island on Wednesday, August 5. He said that one of the major concerns he will have as they move forward is the question of accidents. "As we involve more materials and heavier equipment, the risk of accidents become greater."

Mr. Dodd came here from the Mediterranean where he worked in Libya for the past several years. He said he understands the difficulty that must have existed prior to his arrival, where time constraints and quality will always pose problems, but he commends the mixture of housing as they move into the new phase: "Over a period of time, one gets a good costing. One type of house does not show the value for money. With more than one you can plan more economically for the future, taking into account preferences and requirements of the people who will live in them."

Government Letter Clarifying Its Views On Aid Wasn't Sent

Reliable sources have told the Reporter that Government was forced to withdraw a Submission to the Select Committee on International Development, which was in response to the testimony by the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 5^th May, 1998.

The submission addressed two areas: the situation in Montserrat and the situation facing Montserratians in the United Kingdom.

Attempts to confirm who initiated the withdrawal of this document have not been successful, but sources said that the local government (LG) was advised against offending certain parties in Her Majesty's Government. It is said that the document complained about the impression given that Montserratians, including the government, believed that there is an unlimited supply of resources. The document attempted to correct this by suggesting that because resources were limited, as the government and people of Montserrat recognized, it was critical for such resources to be spent efficiently.

The document expressed Montserrat's gratitude for Britain's "invaluable support" but pointed out that "if permanent dependence is to be prevented the heavy expenditure on emergency support should not prevent the flow of urgently needed development aid."

The government in their submission expressed the view that limiting aid commitments to supplying the basic survival needs for people presently living on Montserrat is not enough to promote even minimal viability for the Montserrat community or to relieve the heavy recurrent financial burden on HMG. "Unless a potential for economic growth is built in," it said, "Montserratians will not be enabled to escape dependent status."

The document was calling on HMG once again to support the Montserrat Building Society in the predicament it confronted with the withdrawal of Insurance coverage on the island.

AG Says Hanging Not A Human Rights Issue

"Killing is a crime, it is not a right. The issue of the death penalty is also not a human rights issue because if you look at the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights you would see that it recognises the rights of states to execute people who are convicted of murder," Maharaj said.  

Crop-Over '98 Not The Same

Barbados - CANA

Was it the music? Was it the marketing? Or was it the controversies?

Something which touched the 1998 Crop-Over Festival has made it less appealing than before to the general public. A full month of Crop-Over activity came to its inevitable conclusion over the weekend, with the Grand Kadooment on Monday, after which there will be time for reflection.

The 1998 festival will perhaps be remembered more for its controversies than anything else. Its start was slow and the public’s imagination was not easily captured. Many people have become disillusioned with the number of controversial.._This_has begun to impact on crowd interest.

With the signing last Saturday of a three-year accord with the representatives of the calypsonians there should be some respite from one of the areas that has often been contentious.

The low-key start to the festival with the traditional handing over of the last canes is understood, but immediately thereafter there is need for an event that so involves the general public that Crop-Over gets much more hype in its first two weeks.

This year we saw lower than usual levels of attendance at the Culture Village as well as the Pic-O-De-Crop semi-finals at the East Coast Road. Tents themselves have not enjoyed a bumper season.

All of these things suggest that after 25 years the National Cultural Foundation needs to take a step back and look at the festival to determine if it is losing its momentum or just merely levelling off after a quite phenomenal first two decades.

Antiguan Band Wins 11^th Road March Title

St. John's, Antigua, CANA - Antigua & Barbuda's popular jam band Burning Flames have won this year's road march title -- the 11th time in 13 years.

The band won the title with "Sweet Song", one of the most popular tunes for this year's Carnival. The Flames, who are without their lead singer and two-time calypso monarch, "Onynan," rocketed onto the scene in 1985.  

Antigua Calypso King 'Onyan' Retains Title

St. John's, Antigua, CANA - Toriano "Onyan" Edwards fought all-comers to remain Antigua & Barbuda's calypso monarch for the second year running.

Onyan retained his crown Sunday night during a contest that featured 11 other singers before a large audience at Carnival City in St. John's. The former lead singer of the Burning Flames sang two social commentaries - "Stand Up for Antigua" and "Ghetto Life."

There was a tie for the first runners-up position between Singing Althea, the Party Monarch winner, and De Surpriser, who also won the most improved calypsonian award.

1995 Reporter Detailed Pre-Volcano Seismicity

A few weeks ago scientists told us, as they have said repeatedly, that they were unable to say whether current measurements of activity at Soufriere Hills are any different from those prior to eruption of the volcano on July 18, 1995.

In February 1995, the Montserrat Reporter carried two articles covering earthquake activities, which it is felt we can now associate with the warming up of activities at Soufriere Hills. The first article, captioned "Earthquakes by the Hundreds," said the "Disaster Preparedness Office (DPO) report(ed) that between November 25 and the end of December, 652 earthquakes were recorded in the latest swarm."

It described an earthquake swarm then as "a series of earthquakes clustered in both time and space without a principal event." It said further that "earthquake swarms on Montserrat include those of 1897-1899, 1933-1937 and 1966-1967."

The article reported that "the periods of most intense activity were November 30 and December 7, with 134 and 145 earthquakes detected respectively, with the largest one occurring on November 30 with a magnitude of 3.7 on the Richter Scale."

At that time the report said the "locations calculated some of the relatively large earthquakes of this swarm cluster to be mainly southeast of Montserrat . . . and exhibited a general pattern similar to that of the 1966-67 series."

In the same issue the second article, "Tests show no major Earth Movement," said that "Officials from the Seismic Research Unit (SRU) and the Department of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva, are reporting that the earth here has shifted little since 1985."

It reported further as follows: "Dr. Tomlin, who was in the team which set up the first tilt stations in 1966, told reporters, that conditions experienced here during late 1994, were similar to earthquake activity recorded at the last century, the 1930s, 1960s and 1970s."

At the time the team re-established stations at O'Garros and serviced stations at Brodericks and Amersham. The team reported at the time that a station at Whites had either been damaged or bulldozed. It was replaced along with an additional station at Tar River.

The DPO informed us then that tilt meters are installed on the flanks of volcanoes to provide information about the deformation of the earth's surface and assist in the prediction of volcanic eruptions.

The question being asked now, of course, is how these tilt stations were monitored and how the measurements today compare with those then. The MVO notes one difference that it is likely is that the earthquakes now thought to be receding deeper with time, are more shallow than those recorded prior to the commencement of the eruption. What we all look forward to is when it recedes to background activity and we can truly say the volcano has retired.

Carl Osborne Earns Academic Honors

Carl Osborne, the son of Carol A. and Cedric R. Osborne of Montserrat, West Indies, has earned academic honors for the spring term at Northfield Mount Hermon School in Northfield, Mass. A junior, Carl is a member of boys’ crew, has volunteered through the outreach program as a United Way committee member and has studied Advanced Placement Physics.

Honors students at NMH have an average of at least B. They also demonstrate good citizenship, complete physical-education requirements and perform a daily job that benefits the community.

Aid Still Doesn't Match Promises in England

Ever since Her Majesty's Government (HMG) decided that it was best for Montserratians to evacuate to England as a result of the volcanic crisis, stories and articles have persisted with regards to the poor and inefficient treatment of Montserratians who went there. Information reaching the Reporter from England says that the British Government provided various city councils with money so that each household relocating to the UK could receive up to £1,500 to assist with setting-up house.

The report says, "The Leicester City Council has received money as well but only individual households that have been coming recently have been receiving this money or to put it another way, have been getting their houses in fully equipped."

The reports says further that earlier recipients have only received a decorating allowance of a little over and in some instances less than £100.

One individual who has recently evacuated says: "Compare £100 to £1,500. Believe you me, the use of even one half of this £1,500 can go a long way to providing fully furbished houses."
There is another twist to this story. The Leicester city council has hired personnel and are paying them out of money HMG has already allotted for this aid!

It is believed that that the matter is now being dealt with properly, thanks to the protests of those who have not received the promised sum, but only because the money is now being taken from the £75 million pledged to Montserrat for the next three years.

"But there is still the issue of those who have come before who have not received the proper treatment," the report continues. "The council on this end is ignoring the protest of the now very annoyed persons for payment of the £1,500, or for goods available to the tune of that amount."

In the report of the Select Committee on International Development, Robin Cook, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, admitted that "arrangements for the arrival of the people from Montserrat at the beginning were not good enough."

It is further believed that it is only as a result of the said Committee's recommendation, according to its most recent report, that "an effective welcoming project for Montserratians was only established by the United Kingdom Government two and a half years after the first eruptions of the volcano in July 1995. The fact that in the last few months 500 households have already turned to the project for help demonstrates how necessary such work was and how sorely it must have been missed. We have received and are still receiving extensive evidence that difficulties continue for Montserratians in both housing and appropriate social security provision."

To make horrors even worse it has been revealed that individual who did not receive the benefit of the £1,500, have had to take out loans from Department of Social Security (DSS) in order to set up themselves, and have had to pay this back out of their allowances!

This recent report leaves no speculation about the reality of the situation facing Montserratians.

Casting himself as a champion of Caribbean economic rights, Cuban President Fidel Castro wrapped up a three-island tour that showed his communist island to be a powerful -- and popular -- influence in the region.

Castro received warm welcomes in Jamaica, Barbados and Grenada, even from past foes, and won strong support for his demand that the United States drop its 38-year economic boycott against Cuba. He reciprocated by attacking Washington's challenge to the European Union's preferential trade terms for Caribbean bananas -- a benefit seen as a lifeline for many of the vulnerable island economies.

Coming from Castro, the denunciation exemplified a seductive anti-capitalist ideology: Powerful nations owe smaller ones a slice of the world market, whatever the free markets might dictate.

"Countries with different degrees of development cannot be treated equally," Castro told thousands of cheering Jamaicans at Kingston's Nelson Mandela Park. "It would not be fair, it would not be humane."

Castro also criticized the North American Free Trade Agreement, which links the United States, Canada and Mexico, for allegedly robbing the Caribbean of more than 100,000 jobs.

That message is perfectly tailored to the concerns of tiny nations dangerously dependent on limited sources of income -- tourism, textiles, bananas, sugar -- and jittery about the emergence of a single global economy in which they cannot compete. It also comes at a time when Caribbean nations are frustrated with Washington for failing to develop a hemispheric vision that includes a role for the Caribbean. Instead, the United States has reduced Eastern Caribbean aid from $225 million in 1985 to $26 million in 1996 and closed the regional U.S. aid mission in Barbados.

By contrast, Cuba increased donations in the region from an estimated $5 million in 1995 to as high as $20 million. More than 200 Cuban engineers, technicians, doctors, health workers and sports trainers work throughout the Caribbean; more than 240 Caribbean students study for free at Cuban universities.

Castro's tour included powerful symbols of rapprochement, too.

In Barbados, Castro dedicated a memorial bearing the names of 73 people killed when a Cuban airliner was bombed out of the sky off the island 22 years ago -- an attack blamed on Cuban exiles.

In Grenada, Castro unveiled a plaque commemorating Cuba's help in building the island's international airport -- the work of armed Cuban construction workers whom U.S. troops fought and expelled in their 1983 invasion. The airport was completed by Americans.

In both Jamaica and Barbados, Castro participated in ceremonies marking the emancipation of slaves in the 1830s -- with only a few people muttering about the irony of honoring a communist dictator at a celebration of freedom.

In Washington, White House spokesman P.J. Crowley said the United States hoped the Caribbean leaders "will discuss (with Castro) how Cuba needs to move towards democracy."

"These countries are democracies. They are countries that respect human rights. They are countries that believe in open markets," he said. "We believe that these countries have a clear message for Castro."

Grenadian Prime Minister Keith Mitchell told a news conference before Castro departed that Caribbean leaders have "consistently" raised the issue of democracy but that it was better discussed in private.

Still, if anything, the leaders' public comments were directed at the United States.

Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur, for example, said misgivings about Castro's government should be addressed by the United States through "constructive engagement," as Washington does with its qualms about China.

"The alternative to constructive engagement is to go back to the old process of sanctions" that haven't worked, Arthur said, adding that ties with Cuba should be "based upon recognition of differences in our political systems."

And Jamaican Premier P.J. Patterson declared unapologetically that "Jamaica will continue to give the fullest support in ensuring Cuba'sreintegration within the hemispheric system."

Even Edward Seaga, the former conservative Jamaican leader who once severed his country's ties with Havana, admitted "we have come to the end" of the conflict with Castro's Cuba. Seaga did express some concerns about the domination that a revitalized Cuba, with its 11 million people, might exercise. But he seemed resigned.

"If Cuba becomes a powerhouse ... and its prospects are very bright ... it will radically change the Caribbean in terms of our ability to compete," he said, noting that they produce the same goods, such as sugar, rum and citrus.

Specialist Group Offers Insurance Claims Analysis

A press release last Friday revealed that Horizon International Group, a team of Adjusters, Assessors, Surveyors, Accountants, and Engineers which specializes in assisting property owners with their insurance recoveries arising from natural catastrophes, had been visiting Montserrat and assisting with the insurance problems that have arisen as a result of the current volcanic crisis.

In conjunction with assisting several of Montserrat's non-government organisations (NGOs), they will provide a free claims analysis and offer settlement solutions to any Montserratians who have not yet resolved their insurance claims. Horizon's office is located in Olveston, on the road leading down from the Salem Secondary School Campus.

Barry McGonigal, Horizon's Montserrat Director, stated, "We have heard many Montserratians complain about: illegitimate changes in co-pays and excesses; the manner in which adjusters offer small percentages of the sum insured instead of producing detailed damage reports; and, the insurers' refusal to increase sums insured and then apply penalties for inadequate insurance. These adjusters and insurers transgressions, along with any other claim adjustment irregularities are being investigated on a global basis and the findings will soon be published. We are especially looking into the 40 percent co-pay and early policy cancellations. The outcome of the investigations, along with the free claim review, should be a benefit to all property owners."

The company continues in the release that in order to receive a free claim analysis, interested parties should stop by their Olveston office or call 491-5937/8. Horizon requests that you bring copies of your insurance policy and any estimates of damages you have received. In addition, they will need copies of all the correspondence you have had with your insurer, agent, and adjuster. Horizon will provide free claim analysis.

For those Montserratians living abroad, you may also contact Horizon at the following numbers:

Antigua and Barbuda 268-460-5000 ext. 401

Florida 941-649-5040 - New York 212-274-9100

All Others Call Collect 

FEATURES

Insurance Holds Key To Montserrat's Future

by Bennette Roach

"The Draft Sustainable Development Plan (SDP) identified (effective insurance cover) as a problem for financial services in Montserrat, for small and medium-sized businesses and for the development of housing in the north. It is essential to the future of Montserrat and yet the policy of the Government is simply to wait until the insurance companies consider the renewal of cover to be commercially viable."

The above is part of the text of the Sixth Report published herein beginning on page____. It is only one of the ways that shows up some inconsistencies in the efforts of HMG as they seem to contradict their hooded desires to lead Montserrat to its recovery.

The statement follows the committee's recommendation (paragraph 12) which reads: "We recommended that the FCO and DTI gather detailed information on the current state of insurance cover on Montserrat and that the Treasury offer suitable guarantees which will enable current insurance cover to be maintained and insurance companies to secure reinsurance and thus provide renewal of cover."

The bottom line is that there can be no strides to economic recovery or private housing, which has to be an ingredient for this recovery to take place, if insurance is not available. The sad fact though, is the news that DFID refused to follow through on Carne's efforts to bring insurance cover to Montserrat. What is worse is that these efforts may not have required HMG's Treasury support except for funding of the efforts of the consultants.

Now that the Governor has lifted the ban on occupation in the Central Zone and that "there is no longer any objection to commercial organisations operating from within the Central Zone," we will expect to see some quick action by HMG (DFID) on carrying out the recommendations of the committee as above.

One of the reasons given by more than one local official for ensuring that the Operation Exodus exercise take place was because the committee had insisted on this. The point here is that there are other more meaningful exercises that the committee is insisting on. It is worth repeating that last week's exercise was good and necessary, but it need not have been given the high priority it received.

My observation is that it is easier to do some things than those that will see our population move towards economic recovery, which includes anything that would keep our population together and even bring people back to live and work here.

Note the committee's recommendations (paragraph 20) in the report as they comment on the SDP: "We also recommend that more attention be paid to the development of small and medium-sized enterprises for Montserratians off-island, such as in Antigua, for possible later relocation back to Montserrat."

YOUR HISTORY IN SMALL DOSES

On Monday 10 August the elector of Nevis voted narrowly against secession from the federation of St Kitts- Nevis. They thereby avoided another unhappy page in our Caribbean history of fragmentation (Anguilla had in 1967 already spread itself from St Kitts- Nevis-Anguilla by revolutionary action).

I am not here judging the merits or demerits of the Nevis case for secession but it is worth observing that Caribbean history is replete with events and episodes of disunity. In the seventeen-century, the Barbadians wished that the Leewards were sunk because of the competition they offered in sugar. Although a General Assembly of the Leeward Islands was summoned in 1705, it did not meet again until 90 years later.

A federation of the Leeward Island became a reality in 1871 but only because the colonies were in no position to resist the imperial imposition and yet it did not take place without a struggle in which Nevis featured prominently. St Kitts petitioned against it because they did not wish to share their relative wealth with weaker colonies. The Nevisians were even more aggressive and threatened to riot and burn.

One can of course provide examples from the Windwards all flitted with unity at various periods. Even Dominica became a part of the Leewards Islands in 1833.

Even when federal efforts failed the region has always had multi-island states and these are nearly always characterised by tension and accusations leveled at the capital island. This has been true of Trinidad andTabago and Antigua and Barbuda as well as St Kitts-Nevis and it should be noted that Cayman Islands were a dependency of Jamaica (1863) and that the Turks and Caicos Island were first administered from Jamaica before they finally seceded in 1959.

The closeness of Nevis to St Kitts-four kilometers has not reduced the contention over the year. Significantly, political parties do contest electoral seat in Nevis and vice versa what the present referendum vote required by the constitution for secession.

Nevis can however look forward to a confederal type arrangement if the Sir Fred Philip's recommendations are adhered to this means that while both islands remain linked. Nevis will have more autonomy than it now has. All was not lost in the agitarion for secession, it would seem.

St Patrick's Co-operative Credit Union Ltd was registered in June of 1957. It first began as a church- based society and it was not until 1985 that it became Montserrat's only Credit Union open to all Montserratians.

By December 1995, six months into the volcanic activity on Montserrat, the Credit Union had:

1995 DECEMBER 1998 JUNE

Membership 3,055 3,850

SAVINGS & DEPOSITS EC $4.7 MILLION EC $5.8 MILLION

MEMBER LOANS EC$ 4.8 MILLION EC$4.4 MILLION

NO. OF LOANS 339 336

TOTAL ARREARS EC $187,000 EC $1,610,000

The numbers clearly show the kind of dichotomy that exists in the financial sector in Montserrat. What is happening is that despite the dire personal crisis of Montserratians and their inability to meet their debt obligations, there is an increase in membership as well as a retention of membership despite migration and worsening personal financial situations. But there is a reason for this simultaneous increase in savings, worsening of portfolio performance and increase in membership. A need to continue to feel part of Montserrat, insurance settlements and closure of existing financial institutions all contribute to this strange state of affairs.

Obviously the Credit Union's bottom line has been impacted negatively as its ability to earn income through loan interest has been eroded. In addition its ability to give new loans is also curtailed as funds being held are being held short term. The Credit Union then turned to the worldwide membership of the Credit Union for assistance to ensure the continuity of the Credit Union here on Montserrat and the continued provision of Credit Union services for members.

The response of the movement both regionally and extra regionally has been overwhelming. At the beginning of the crisis, the regional movement provided over EC$100,000 worth of food and care packages for Credit Union members on Montserrat. The regional movement then followed up with cash donations of over EC$120,000. In addition to cash donations there has been considerable support for which it is difficult to put a monetary value.

CUNA Caribbean has expanded and extended coverage for Credit Union members despite the volcanic circumstances and the financial crisis that it has caused. The monetary value of these actions and the impact on the future financial wellbeing of Montserratians and their beneficiaries, as well as on the future performance of the Credit Union's portfolio, reaches way beyond the year 2000. Credit Unions in Antigua, St Kitts, Nevis, Grenada, Dominica and St Lucia are facilitating the continued relationship of members in those countries with the St Patrick's Credit Union. This ensures that there is cash being collected on this Credit Union's behalf despite the migration of members. This facilitation ensures the continuity and sustainability of our Credit Union and the monetary value of this facilitation can be understood, though not easily measured.

The Jamaican movement has been careful and responsible stewards of Credit Union members' insurance settlement funds and the Cayman movement has allowed a measure of increased interest income by granting the Credit Union a generous soft loan with just as generous terms. Both the Jamaican and Cayman movements' responses ensure not only the continuity of the St Patrick's Co-operative Credit Union but also give the Montserrat movement the ability to earn an income in these dire circumstances. It provides also a large measure of confidence in the Credit Union members as they know their savings and the ability to rebuild new homes are safe at a time when loan funds are near impossible in Montserrat.

The extra regional movement has also come to the aid of the St Patrick's Credit Union. The Ecumenical Development Cooperative Society in Holland has allowed a rescheduling of a loan that will not only reduce monthly payments but also interest rates. This allows the Credit Union breathing space without future increased costs. The monetary value here is clear and easily measurable. The movement in Ireland has donated financial resources in excess of US$137,000 and continues to work tirelessly on our behalf to raise additional funds. The movement in Canada has donated Can$150,000 to the Credit Union members in the business sector to not only ensure the provision of goods and services, but also the ability to generate income to over 50 operators and some 25 households.

It is clear that the survival of the St Patrick's Co-operative Credit Union is assured. But this assurance has been as a result of the unique nature of the worldwide Credit Union movement. A lot must still be done in repairing the financial ills of Credit Union members from Montserrat and the local Credit Union it self.

The American and Asian movements are still to play their part and can make a huge difference to the future sustainability and profitability of the Montserrat movement. But it is clear that the first step has been made. The focus for the Montserrat Credit Union movement over the next two to three years will be the replacement of the lost and un-collectable portfolio of some EC$2.5 million. This task is Herculean as this lost portfolio represents members' savings.

The "Cookie Monster"--Fact vs. Fiction

Sprynet Newsletter of August 7, 1998, provides the following:
Over the past few weeks we've gotten a flurry of inquiries about "cookies" again, those mysterious beings that we've discussed in the past. There's a lot of misinformation floating around the Internet
regarding cookies, including some really creative paranoid fantasies.
Here's the real story.
Cookies are small identifiers that are sent to your computer when you visit certain Web sites. They remind a Web site that you've visited before and what your preferences are. A good analogy is what happens when you walk into your favorite restaurant: the waiter calls you by name, knows your favorite table, brings you your favorite drink
before you ask for it, and reminds you that a favorite dish is on the menu tonight.
The cookie, or identifier, speeds up the transfer of information so that the next time you visit the same Web site the page will load faster. Cookies also allow you to personalize what you want to see at a particular site. A tiny cookie will remember your ZIP code in order to deliver local weather forecasts, for example. Some Internet shopping sites also use them to remember your past choices. And the majority of Web sites use cookies simply as counters to record how many times the site was visited.
What's more important to Internet users is what cookies CAN'T do.
Cookies can't allow outsiders to access your computer. Cookies can't really follow you throughout the Internet, nor can another server read the cookies stored on your computer. Cookies cannot pass along sensitive information such as your credit card number or password.
Still don't trust cookies?

Just turn them off. Check your Web browser's Help feature for instructions on disabling the cookie function. The only side effects will be that when you visit a Web page that uses customization, your settings won't be remembered, and that you may see an annoying number of cookie requests for a graphically busy page.

Montserrat -- Further Developments
(This is the text of the Sixth Report of the all-party Select Committee on International Development in the House of Commons)

1. The International Development Committee published its First Report of this Parliament in November 1997 in response to the crisis resulting from the volcanic eruption on the island of Montserrat. The Government's response was published in February 1998 in the First Special Report of the Committee. We were concerned, given the many uncertainties surrounding the future of the island and the treatment of Montserratians, to place the Government's comments in the public domain as soon as possible. We were, however, unhappy with the content of the response, in particular the fact that one of the conclusions in the Report and two substantive recommendations were simply ignored by the Government in the reply. In our view this alone is enough to justify our decision to invite both the Rt. Hon. Robin Cook MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and the Rt. Hon. Clare Short MP, Secretary of State for International Development, to return to the Committee to give further evidence. We also took the opportunity to learn of recent developments from the two Ministers. This Report thus examines the three points omitted from the original Government response and discusses certain other unsatisfactory aspects of the Government's current position. We also consider the recently published Draft Sustainable Development Plan.

3. Responses were finally given on 15 May 1998 in a supplementary memorandum from the Foreign Secretary published with this Report. With regard to the evacuation plan, we were told that "the intention is indeed that the new plan be exercised once all the revised 2. The three points made by the Committee and ignored by the Government were as follows-

  (i)  The recommendation "that a simulated exercise take place to ensure that the current evacuation plan is adequate."

  (ii)  The conclusion on the treatment of the Wadge and Isaacs report - "What is clear is that Montserrat would have been immeasurably more prepared for the crisis which has come upon it if the Wadge and Isaacs Report had been carefully read and digested. That far from being read it was hastily forgotten is an opportunity tragically lost. This sorry account must be a signal example of failure in communication, political leadership and responsibility."

  (iii)  The recommendation that "the High Commissioners and other FCO representatives take a much more active role in explaining HMG's actions in Montserrat, in providing essential information and in overseeing the welfare of Montserratians who have relocated to other islands in the Caribbean."

details are worked out. This revision is nearly complete and the testing of some elements of the plan has already begun. . . . a major simulation will take place in August".

4. Commenting on the Wadge and Isaacs Report, Mr. Cook sympathised with the view that "somewhere back in time something may have been less than brilliantly handled." He added that the content of the report "was not such as would have persuaded people at the time to abandon Plymouth." We discussed this defence in our First Report and will not rehearse again our earlier argument. He also made in mitigation two further points -- that the report was not commissioned by the Government and the FCO never saw it. The Wadge and Isaacs report was in fact funded by the United Nations Disaster Relief Organisation as part of a project entitled the Pan Caribbean Disaster Preparedness Project. The Government is preparing a report on the disaster preparedness of the Caribbean Dependent territories in the light of the events in Montserrat. The least that might come out of the fiasco of the treatment of the Wadge and Isaacs report is a review of procedures within the Governor's offices, DFID and the FCO for the reception and analysis of current scientific research on disaster vulnerability. We trust that the forthcoming report on disaster preparedness considers this point.

5. Mr. Cook entirely accepted the third unanswered recommendation on the role of the United Kingdom's High Commissioners in the Caribbean region. Missions are kept up to date with developments. There was involvement in a regional workshop on evacuation planning and work with DFID on the welfare side in the introduction of the Community Empowerment Project and Special Needs Fund in the region.

6. We welcome the Government's positive response to the two previously unanswered recommendations and urge some belated recognition that there are organisational lessons for the future that can be learned from the treatment of the Wadge and Isaacs Report. But our more general conclusion is one of displeasure that to the First Report of this Committee in a new Parliament the Government should produce a response which was incomplete and fell short of the standards we expect. We criticise this failing, perhaps another unhappy example of DFID/FCO coordination, and trust that it will not happen again.

The Future Responsibilities of the FCO and DFID

7. The Committee in its Report on Montserrat concluded that the source of future funding for Montserrat be considered within the current review of the administration of the Dependent Territories, "Funds might come from the Foreign Office or from another specified department with dependent territory responsibilities. The important point is that responsibility and resources for the Dependent Territories should be in the same department." We argued that the Dependent Territories should no longer be a first call on the DFID aid programme, but should be funded from another department within Whitehall.

8. We were therefore concerned to hear from Mr. Cook that the Government had decided to retain the current division of responsibility between the FCO and DFID. They had at first worked on the details of a joint department for the Dependent Territories but as they "worked on those details there was a view taken that it would work better if we had parallel structures rather than joint structures." A single department for the Dependent Territories had been created within the FCO whereas previously they had been administered by the relevant regional department. Now all Dependent Territory expertise would be in the same department and under a single Minister. In DFID there was "a parallel structure with the Dependent Territories Unit which within DFID will be bringing together also expertise on the Dependent Territories."

9. Both Mr. Cook and Clare Short emphasised the greater efficiency of their internal procedures. Both Departments, we were told by Mr. Cook, had made "restructuring steps which will greatly improve the administration and policy expertise on the Dependent Territories. We have created also clear lines of accountability within our department which ... will assist in making sure that there is the political leverage for any steps that need to be taken." Clare Short told the Committee that they had stripped out layers of bureaucracy to establish "a more efficient form of decision making." These internal reforms within both the FCO and DFID are certainly welcome. We had concluded in our original Report that "there have been too many parties involved in the delivery of aid without discrete and clear areas of responsibility." Internal departments in both FCO and DFID based in London and dedicated to the administration and welfare of the Dependent Territories will no doubt improve the capacity and expertise of Whitehall. We were worried, however, not only at the internal organisation of departments but the relationship between them. It is clear that the Government have decided to reject our recommendation of a single Whitehall department for the Dependent Territories which will have both political responsibility and financial resources. They have instead chosen the status quo.

10. Mr. Cook had investigated whether it would be possible for financial responsibility for the Dependent Territories to reside in the FCO. The problem was that the Foreign Office budget was very small. It did not therefore have the capacity "to absorb large surges of expenditure of the kind that was required in Montserrat because of the volcanic eruption. If I was expected to find £50 million in one year it would probably require me to close half a dozen or more embassies around the world." Furthermore, the Foreign Office did not have the "expertise on development and aid management". The experts on emergency housing and natural disasters were in DFID. Clare Short also said that she began by arguing for the solution recommended by the Committee. The problem of the expertise being located in DFID convinced her that such a solution was not in fact practicable. A Joint Liaison Committee had been established between the two departments to ensure close cooperation between the FCO and DFID on Dependent Territory issues. When asked whether the Foreign Office would have the final say in any decision Mr. Cook became coy, "I would not wish to pose it in the stark way that you do. . . . I would hope that since we have a Joint Liaison Committee the decision will be taken jointly and we will take account of each other's views in that."

11. Experience over Montserrat suggests that when difficult decisions have to be taken quickly this spirit of cooperation is placed under severe strain. We conclude that the Government has failed to address the main organisational weakness identified in our previous Report. There will always be unnecessary tensions and inefficiencies if DFID money is used to fund FCO political priorities. The explanation given by the two Secretaries of State is not convincing. We do not see why the relevant department within the FCO could not be provided with the necessary funds and expert staff to provide for the longer term development of the Dependent Territories. There is no reason why all development experts should be employed by DFID. There are of course concerns at possible surges in expenditure resulting from natural disasters. There is however provision for departments to receive contingency funding for unexpected and significant spending requirements. In the case of a humanitarian emergency DFID could of course supplement the work of the FCO with its own funding and personnel (as it does with the internal administrations of other countries). The real reason for a continuation of the status quo is a lack of political will, a point effectively admitted by Clare Short who agreed with the Committee that the Dependent Territories involved "a different set of responsibilities than the rest of our aid and development responsibilities." The current option was the best possible "short of a new budget head and the Treasury deciding to fund it separately." She saw little prospect of the Treasury agreeing to such a proposal. We note, however, that the review of the dependent territories is yet to be completed. We urge the Government to reconsider its position before the review is finalised.

Insurance and Savings

12. The Committee also made recommendations concerning the provision of insurance on Montserrat and access to savings deposited in the Montserrat Building Society. Montserratians had access to only 35 per cent of their savings in the Montserrat Building Society. We recommended that the Bank of England and the Treasury intervene to ensure that the Montserratians had access to the remainder of their savings as soon as possible. We had also been told in evidence of higher premiums and the withdrawal of future insurance cover. We recommended that the FCO and DTI gather detailed information on the current state of insurance cover on Montserrat and that the Treasury offer suitable guarantees which will enable current insurance cover to be maintained and insurance companies to secure reinsurance and thus provide renewal of cover.

13. The Government response made clear that it was considered inappropriate to provide financial support for a private financial institution such as the Montserrat Building Society. A High Court review was expected shortly which, in the event of the closure of the Building Society, would provide greater access to savings. We understand that this review has still not happened. This inability of Montserratians to have access to 65 per cent of their savings must be a significant constraint on the economy and reconstruction of the island. We are surprised that the High Court has not returned to the issue of the Montserrat Building Society and would urge all those involved in the process to do their utmost to end this paralysing uncertainty.

14. With regard to insurance cover the Government told us that "no cover is currently available for new property risks on Montserrat". Two of the insurance companies previously writing insurance business on Montserrat had also cancelled current policies, leaving only one still operating on the island. The Government had no information on increases in premiums nor did they "consider it appropriate to underwrite insurance on damages relating to natural events."

15. In oral evidence Mr. Cook repeated the Government's position on both the Montserrat Building Society and insurance cover. They were looking at the possibility of a soft loan scheme for the purchase of houses through mortgages. There were, however, difficulties finding a willing private sector partner in the exercise. Mr Westmacott, Director (Americas) at the FCO, told us that the Government did not have the authority to collect information on insurance premia. They were, however, in close contact with the insurance companies "because we recognise entirely that one of the keys to the future viability of the community and economy at the north of the island is going to be the availability of insurance cover." The insurance companies were at present unwilling to renew cover in the north for reasons of "commercial good practice." We are very concerned at the absence of effective insurance cover on Montserrat. The Draft Sustainable Development Plan identified this as a problem for financial services in Montserrat, for small and medium-sized businesses and for the development of housing in the north. It is essential to the future of Montserrat and yet the policy of the Government is simply to wait until the insurance companies consider the renewal of cover to be commercially viable.

16. We remain unpersuaded that the Government has done enough to encourage the restoration of insurance cover on the island. The Government mentions the danger of precedent and the importance of non-involvement in the affairs of private businesses. But there are in fact many precedents for such action. The Government does not address the fact that in the case of Montserrat we do not merely have the unfortunate losses of a few thousand individuals but an imperilled society. The normal rules cannot apply. The Government response to the Montserrat Report stated that "HMG does not consider it appropriate to underwrite insurance on damages relating to natural events." In the case of Montserrat we do consider it to be appropriate, at least during this period of uncertainty as to the future activity of the volcano, and again recommend that the United Kingdom Government intervene.

The Draft Sustainable Development Plan

17. The oral and written evidence presented by the FCO and DFID contains valuable information on recent developments on Montserrat since our last Report. We have also received the Draft Sustainable Development Plan for 1998 to 2002 which is subtitled "the key policies and strategies to move the Island of Montserrat from crisis to development". The document is an impressive survey of the current difficulties facing Montserrat and the action necessary to develop the island. Some questions remain unanswered -- for instance, the difficulties of attracting investment in a situation of such uncertainty; the shortage of labour on the island; the vexed question of an airport (we are told that "A feasibility study of the airport is underway"). We note also that the Plan contains no costings for the various projects proposed. DFID has, however, pledged £75 million to cover all DFID expenditure related to Montserrat from 1998-99 to 2000-01. This "represents an investment of £25,000 for every Montserratian currently on the island and a 25 per cent increase in DFID expenditure compared to the previous three year period." The detailed relationship between the pledge and the proposals in the Plan is not made clear.

18. Since volcanic activity started on Montserrat in July 1995 some £62 million of emergency aid, development assistance and budgetary aid have been committed by DFID to the island. In 1992-93 the Department (then ODA) spent £3.3 million on Montserrat. That has risen to an estimated £33 million in 1998-99 (£28 million at 1992-93 prices). The contents of the Draft Sustainable Development Plan suggest continuing and substantial DFID expenditure for several years. India with a population approaching one billion, 36 per cent in extreme poverty, received from DFID in 1996-97 just under £112 million (about 11 pence per head). This compares starkly and unfavourably with the £25,000 over three years given to inhabitants of Montserrat.

19. We welcome expenditure on Montserrat. We believe that the United Kingdom has a duty to reconstruct society on the island and ensure that a viable future is secured for the inhabitants. The above figures, however, raise again the question of whether the DFID budget is the right source for these funds. We are concerned at the distorting effect of Montserrat on the aid budget and continue to believe that such a fundamental responsibility would be better financed from an alternative Whitehall department. We recommend that DFID provide the Committee as soon as possible with an estimated costing of the Sustainable Development Plan, including a projected yearly breakdown of expenditure. We recommend that expenditure on the Dependent Territories be excluded from calculations of progress towards the UN target of official development assistance as 0.7 per cent of GNP.

20. We would emphasise again the point made in our previous Report, that "The Sustainable Development Plan will need to take a realistic look at the prospects for the economy of the north. The Plan should propose development which can maintain a community on the island appropriate to current circumstances, in other words development which is genuinely sustainable." For instance, we suggest that consideration of an airport for Montserrat include investigation of the re-use of the existing runway at W.H. Bramble, with buildings and road access to the north. Safety would of course have to be taken into account. We also recommend that more attention be paid to the development of small and medium-sized enterprises for Montserratians off-island, such as in Antigua, for possible later relocation back to Montserrat.

21. Clare Short admitted when giving evidence that DFID did not consider "sustainable" to mean "self-sufficient." She said that the reconstruction of the society and economy of Montserrat would take a long time but that she was "absolutely sure that there will be viable life and a viable community." With the finalisation of the Sustainable Development Plan and a detailed costing of DFID's future commitments we would value evidence from the Department that there is a realistic possibility of Montserrat escaping dependency on United Kingdom development assistance.

Montserratians in the United Kingdom

22. Our previous Report on Montserrat contained a section on the treatment of those Montserratians who had relocated to the United Kingdom. We made a number of recommendations, including the proposal that "a liaison officer be established without delay to help Montserratians as they settle in the United Kingdom and adjust to life here." Nearly 3,500 Montserratians have come to the United Kingdom since the volcano erupted in July 1995. Mr Cook admitted that "arrangements for the arrival of the people from Montserrat at the beginning were not good enough." In response to the Committee's recommendation a Home Office project was established "focussing entirely on integrating and assisting those who have come from Montserrat to Britain. . . . They have already provided direct assistance and counselling to over 500 households."

23. An effective welcoming project for Montserratians was only established by the United Kingdom Government two and a half years after the first eruptions of the volcano in July 1995. The fact that in the last few months 500 households have already turned to the project for help demonstrates how necessary such work was and how sorely it must have been missed. We have received and are still receiving extensive evidence that difficulties continue for Montserratians in both housing and appropriate social security provision. Montserratians endured the loss of their savings, the destruction of their property and the scattering of their community. Beyond the bare assistance to enable Montserratians to get here, no concerted and specific measures were put in place by the United Kingdom Government to provide as smooth as possible a relocation to this country for people who were already distressed. The United Kingdom Government must face up to its responsibilities to the people of Montserrat. Such an outcome would be at least one benefit to emerge from these unhappy events.

Consultations on Draft Sustainable Development Plan

Montserratians were this week given the opportunity to participate in consultations on Montserrat’s draft Sustainable Development Plan. The sessions focused on various sectors within the plan and are spearheaded by His Excellency the Governor, The Honourable Chief Minister and other Ministers of Government.

The programmes are held on ZJB Radio in the evenings, and listeners interact with a panel representing the sector/Ministry discussed that night.

The programmes are evidently well received judging from the number of calls each night. It is intended for the radio programmes to culminate with a national forum representing all the sectors.

For the sectors covered so far, aspect relating to plans for the airport, and sports generated the most discussion. However, it is expected that housing and labour issues will also stimulate intensive discussion.

Wednesday's programme seated a panel comprising the Governor - Anthony Abbott, Franklyn Michael ;Permanent Secretary in the Emergency Department; Claudia Roach, Permanent Secretary Administration, and the Commissioner of Police Christopher Burgess.

This distinguished panel was to look at the state of the lone prison facility on island, the Royal Montserrat Police Force, Public Administration, and Emergency Planning and Services.

Positive Volcanic Forecast

The people of Montserrat, and Salem in particular, have received some long-awaited news, following the latest revised Scientific and Hazards Assessment of the Soufriere Hills volcano…

At a press conference Monday at Government House at McChesney’s Estate, HE Governor Anthony Abbott presented what he termed the first positive forecast since the onset of volcanic activity on July 18^th 1995.

Governor Abbot said a retreat from the Soufriere Hills Volcano has come to an end; it was now important to give consideration to reclaiming some of the exclusion zone.

He said a number of conclusions had been reached based on the revised Sixth Scientific Report including:-

1. A recommendation that people should leave the Central Zone has been withdrawn.
2. The clean up of the area (Salem, Frith and Old Towne) which started some weeks ago is now being intensified.

3. Volcano Executive Group is now urgently seeking professional advice on how they can be sure that the zone has been cleaned to satisfy the requirement that children and those with respiratory problems will not be afflicted on reoccupation.
4. A public education programme of health risks is recommended
5. The Border will be moved to the northern bank of Belham Valley once reoccupation can take place.
6. Submission of applications to appropriate authorities now to reopen business in Salem.

Governor Abbott said there was a clear understanding that the scientists at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory can give enough warning should magmatic activity resume (hours).

Meantime, Chief Minister the Honourable David Brandt intimated that the news of reclaiming some of the Exclusion Zone is like music to his ears, taking into consideration the pressure being put on the housing stock in the north with the evacuation of Salem and its environs.

Chief Minister Brandt said people going back into Salem and surrounding areas to live would indeed ease the pressure in the north.

Chief Minister Brandt said such positive news can only augur well for the Sustainable Development Plan.

He said the return of people to the island will set a solid foundation for sustainable development of Montserrat on a whole.

As far as the health aspects are concerned, Dr. Peter Baxter of the University of Cambridge in England said the clean-up of Salem is very important before it can be reoccupied..

He stressed the importance of having an environment suitable for habitation since ashy surroundings can not only create respiratory problems especially for asthma sufferers and children, but cause an outbreak of various diseases..

A recognised specialist in this field, Dr. Baxter is therefore echoing the need for a public education programme of health risks from volcanic ash and guidance on protection measures.

The International Development Committee

The International Development Committee (IDC) has published its sixth report on further developments in volcano-torn Montserrat…

The IDC has agreed to the following report :- Montserrat - Further

Developments.

However, the International Development Committee expressed concern that there were a few unanswered recommendations. The IDC published its first report in November 1997 in response to the volcanic crisis.

The response from the British Government was published in February of this year in the First Special Report of the committee.

Given the many uncertainties surrounding the future of the island and the treatment of Montserratians, the members of the IDC said they were concerned to place the Government’s comments in the public domain as soon as possible.

However, the International Development Committee said it was unhappy with the content of the response, in particular, the fact that one of the conclusions in the report and two substantive recommendations were simply ignored by the British Government in reply.

In the view of the committee, this alone is enough to justify its decision to invite both the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Robin Cook, and Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short to return to the Committee to give further evidence…

The Committee also learnt of recent developments from the two Ministers of Government.

This Sixth Report therefore examines the three points omitted from the original British government response and discusses certain other unsatisfactory aspects of the Government’s current position.

The recently published Draft Sustainable Development Plan (SDP) was also considered by the IDC.

The three points made by the Committee and ignored by the Government :- the recommendation " that a simulated exercise take place to ensure that the current evacuation plan is adequate", the conclusion on the treatment of the Wadge and Isaacs report, and the recommendation that the "High Commissioners and other FCO representatives take a much more active role in explaining HMG’s actions in Montserrat.

This includes the provision of essential information and overseeing the welfare of Montserratians who have relocated to other islands in the Caribbean.

With regards to the evacuation plan, once all the revised details were worked out, a major simulation exercise was conducted on August 1.

Programme For Economic Competitiveness

Caribbean Regional Human Resource Development Programme For Economic Competitiveness For Montserrat

The Canadian High Commission in Barbados has announced a new programme of assistance to Montserrat and other Caricom member states. The programme is entitled the Caribbean Regional Human Resource Development Programme for Economic Competitiveness.

A programme memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed by Canadian High Commissioner Duane Van Beselaere and Montserrat’s Chief Minister David Brandt…

This six-year programme, to be funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), aims to strengthen the capacity of the Caricom region to compete in the global economy.

Private sector firms, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions and public sector agencies from across the region will benefit from human resource and institutional development initiatives.

CIDA has provided human resource development assistance to the Caribbean since 1968. This new 25 million Canadian dollar programme reaffirms Canada’s commitment to supporting development in the Caricom region.

Caricom member states have repeatedly emphasized the importance of human resource development to increasing competitiveness in the region, and Canada is pleased to continue its support in this vitally important area.

Provision was made to ensure speedy signature of the programme (MOU) with Montserrat, in light of the urgencies facing this British dependency, which has been ravaged by an active Soufriere Hills volcano.

The 9.7 million dollar component of the programme allocated to Eastern Caribbean countries will help to alleviate human resource constraints in Montserrat.

The Montserrat MOU is the first to be signed in the Eastern Caribbean.

Infernal Medicine

We must prescribe this bitter pill

From Belham south to Richmond Hill.

Mud flows are now the threat,

So we won't clear you yet,

And heaven knows how soon we will.

Soufriere So Good

With volcanoes, it has to be said,

Fascination must overcome dread;

The Emerald Isle's glories

Must eclipse horror stories,

If tourism's to butter our bread. 

Operation Clean-up

The Government of Montserrat has taken steps to protect residents from hazards of volcanic ash.

Volcanic ash on Montserrat is potentially hazardous to health because it contains a substantial portion of very fine particles , small enough to penetrate deep to the lung (respirable ash) and the toxic mineral cristobalite.

The government has announced plans to undertake "Operation Clean Up, a project which involves the removal of ash from areas of Salem, Old Town and surrounding areas.

The execution of Operation Clean Up is being led by the Ministry of Health. The rationale for the clean up is twofold:

1. to protect residents from ash hazard
2. to prepare for the possible reoccupation of Salem and Old Towne

The recommendations for undertaking Operation Clean Up are contained in a report from the UK Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, Scotland.

According to the report "the risk associated with exposure will be small provided that the ash is well wetted before removal. If the ash is dry , the cleaning operations are likely to be very hazardous."

The IOM is recommending that most of the ash be shovelled and high-pressure hoses be used to remove thin layers of ash from streets and pavements.

For cleaning indoors and outdoors it is recommending that the wet method be used.

The associated risk of exposure to ash will be:

• immeasurably small for healthy individuals wishing to clean their own homes;

• more substantial for individuals involved in cleaning a number of properties;

• unacceptably high for a team undertaking cleaning of all properties in the Salem and Old Towne area unless provided with high quality respiratory protection and a management system that ensures that it is used.

Good practice for outdoor cleaning would include:

• ensure all ash is wet before attempting to remove it;
• cleaning each area in a systematic fashion to prevent recontaminating freshly cleaned areas (for example, cleaning roofs before underlying surfaces and clean sloping surfaces from top down wards);
• ensure the local drainage is clear before undertaking hosing operations;
• when hosing down surfaces, ensure ash is dampened by a gentle spray or run-off from further up the slope before applying the full force of the water jet;
• using slow, even strokes of the hose systematically across the surface;
• combining hosing with brushing to dislodge ash caught in rough tarmac surfaces;
• ensure that shovelled ash is kept damp during transport to a safe disposal point ( ideally the ash should be covered during transport).

Good practice for cleaning indoors should include:

• not undertaking cleaning on particularly dry and dusty days, and taking advantage of wet, humid conditions which reduce the dustiness of the ash;
• ensure that only healthy adults are involved in cleaning activities, and that young children and those with asthma or respiratory conditions are not present;
• ensure all doors and windows are open to provide maximum natural ventilation;
• using wet cleaning methods such as mopping and wiping with wet rags to remove ash;
• if hoses are used, ensure that the ash is dampened with a gentle spray before applying fully full pressure to remove the ash;
• washing soft furnishings to remove the ash where possible, otherwise beating soft furnishings outdoors in a strong wind, taking care to stand upwind of the dust cloud.

Residents are encouraged to corporate with the impending exercise to clean up Salem and Old Towne.

JUS WONDERIN

Jus wonderin who is investigating the theft of the Police Commissioner's wrist watch and to what depths they will go to find the culprit.

Jus wonderin whether the recent flurry of electrical brownouts might be triggered by the compressors on Montserrat's many newly air conditioned rental houses.

Jus wonderin if Montserrat's air quality before the volcano could have met HMG's rigid scientific and medical standards.

Jus wonderin if Arrow is the 'new' Town Planner.

Jus wonderin what barrier the Governor is going to erect to prevent pyroclastic flows from damaging the runway at W.H. Bramble.

Jus wonderin who is accusing the Chief of Staff Officer for giving out too much Government information.

Jus wonderin who will replace the little lady when she takes over our finances.

Jus wonderin who had the key to the gate at Belham when the Commissioner was forced to cancel an appointment.

Jus wonderin why they don't consider putting an air strip at Carrs Bay where it could eliminate an existing playing field that no one is allowed to use.

Jus wonderin whether Babbott an Abbott are related. 

by Brown & Root Ltd

As Phase 3 of the Emergency Housing Project is well underway it seems timely that we provide the public with another update of Brown & Root’s activities on Montserrat.

1. Davy Hill – Phase I. Work is in progress to concrete the four remaining internal roads with provision for suitable side drains to control surface run off. Once the concrete has cured, machinery will return to reinstate individual driveways. The access road from the Davy Hill main will also be regraded.

A survey has also been conducted to assess corrective measures as required to improve the surface water drainage and access to individual houses.

The occupants have also been made to feel more secure with installation of additional hurricane straps for more protection against higher force winds.

2. Shinn Lands Housing. Five modular houses, which were left from the Davy Hill project, have been erected on the site and will be handed over to the Ministry of Housing as soon as ongoing infrastructure is completed. The houses have been modified to provide improved ventilation in the bathrooms and a covered veranda added which gives more living space and hence more comfort to the occupants.

Lookout Yard – Phase 2. The 50 completed houses were handed over to the new occupants on June 30^th. Funds have been secured to construct a one-foot slab around each house to protect the external finish, control surface water run off and also serve as a walkway around the houses.

A separate project is now being developed to seek additional funds from DFID for the construction of hard topped roads and improved site drainage which were not part of the original emergency oriented specifications.

Lookout Yard – Phase 3. This phase of the project is divided into two segments, identified as follows:

3A – Modular Hoses – 100 Units

3B – Blockwork – 50 Units

Work on this phase commenced in April starting with the infrastructure; electricity, water, unpaved roads and sewage disposal. This was followed by the excavation and leveling of each housing lot which can be extremely time consuming and very demanding according to the design and to the degree of slope.

Currently, the foundations are started for the 3A houses and already contracts have been issued to three local contractors.

The modular houses, which are supplied by Force 10, an Australian company, are due to start arriving here early in August. It is still expected that completion will be 30^th November.

The 3B units, the blockwork houses, are also under way and contracts have been awarded to five local builders for the first 24 units. To make up the balance, tenders have been sought from regional contractors in line with Government policy.

Every contract will be awarded with a Time for Completion of 90 days, with bonuses for improvements and penalties for delays in that period.

3. Government Headquarters. All the buildings have been erected, electricity installation completed, as well as plumbing. The external work on the roads, parking, drainage and sewage disposal are very near to completion. The verandas of specially treated wood are also very much in hand. Handover inspection by Government and DFID is due to start on Tuesday 11^th August 1998.

The unfortunate delays in completion of this facility have largely been due to water damage incurred during transit and storage of the units; the full extent of which could only be appreciated once all of the units had been erected.

4. Sports and Recreation. The Government’s Summer Sports programme organised by the Sports Department is going well in spite of the time lost from rain. Boys and girls ages 8-15 have been having fun daily at the Brades school complex playing cricket, football and basketball.

The three English volunteer’s sponsored by Brown & Root are happy at the progress and attitude of the children and are grateful for the opportunity for them to support the programme. While the children’s obvious enthusiasm and talent were constrained by the inadequacy of the playing facilities available, measures are in hand by Government, DFID and B&R to provide other playing areas.

Leo Bedford

BROWN & ROOT LTD

Bank of Montserrat Limited

Employment Opportunities

A financial institution requires the following individuals:

• Assistant Manager, Operations
• Internal Auditor