.

Montserratians to Pay Less For Overseas Calls

by Denis Chabrol

Mr. Neville Dublin, Interim General Manager & Chief Minister David Brandt

Montserratians after October 1 will be paying between 10 percent and 71.9 percent less for all international calls during the day, evening and weekends, Cable and Wireless announced Monday.

All International Direct Dialed (IDD) calls from this island and 11 other Caribbean countries would in just under two months cost US99 cents (about EC$2.6) or less per minute all weekend, a phone company statement said.

It added that weekend calls to the United States would be US75 cents per minute and, during weekdays calls to anywhere in the world, would be US$2.00 (EC$5.40)per minute or less.

Mr. Neville Dublin, Interim General Manager for the local office of the international telecommunications giant said that the slash would not apply to calls made from public phones, pre-paid phone cards or operator services, maritime satellite systems and cellular phones.

Speaking at a news conference called to announce the new rate structure, Mr. Dublin recalled that the reduction in overseas charges was in keeping with a two-year old promise for that category of calls.

He dismissed ideas that the new rates were related to negotiations between Cable and Wireless and the sub-regional grouping of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) as efforts continue for the scrapping of phone company monopolies across the globe in accordance with provisions of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"It has very little to do with that," Mr. Dublin said. He side-stepped suggestions that the reduction in rates by Cable and Wireless across the Caribbean was aimed at strengthening the position of the phone company in the region by staving off potential investors.

"Not necessarily so because the liberalisation is something we cannot stop and Cable and Wireless itself is quite happy to see the proper regulatory framework in place to allow us to perform effectively," he said.

He emphasized that the rate cut was in response to "increasing cries" from governments and customers.

The phone company predicted that companies across the region that depend on international telecommunications "will see their costs fall substantially."

While no figures were immediately available, the Interim General Manager was of the view that the revised rates were "better than what customers in the United States would enjoy calling into the Caribbean."

The formula used to arrive at the new rates, he explained, took account of the network costs between Montserrat and other countries and the regional standardisation of rates.

Chief Minister David Brandt noted that the reduction in rates was in keeping with a request by the OECS.

Montserrat, he remarked, would have to weigh its options about the OECS' approach "having regard to what competitors might be offering."

Mr. Brandt appealed in brief remarks for a cut in rates for local telephone calls,while expressing the hope that the company does "not have it in mind" to raise local call charges.

He also identified the need for subscribers to pay for the exact time spent on local calls rather than a flat three-minute rate even if someone made a call for say 10 seconds or even less.

He hailed the reduction in overseas charges as a signal to other foreign businesses that the business climate on the island was bright despite the four-year old volcanic crisis.

"If Cable and Wireless, an international company, can do business in Montserrat and in fact reduce its rates, which would only redound to the benefit of the people of Montserrat -- that says something for your company and that tells our businessmen they could come to Montserrat," he told a news conference shared with officials of Cable and Wireless for announcing the new rate structure.

With customers in 70 countries, Cable and Wireless is a major global telecommunications business with over 50,000 employees worldwide.

Its international services include broadband data and Internet access, fixed and mobile voice communications, as well as interactive entertainment and information.

In November 1998, the phone company had announced major investments in advanced networks in the United States and Europe, the restructuring of Cable and Wireless Communications in the United Kingdom and has acquired full control of Cable and Wireless IDC in Japan to support this strategy.

Suggestions that Government had changed or added to a proposal put to the British Government via Minister George Foulkes in September 1997, concerning the housing mortgage scheme were confirmed by Chief Minister David Brandt, who said that there was good news on the horizon in respect of the matter.

At a press conference where he reported on the recent trip to Ireland, which was sponsored and promoted by the UK Volcano Fund of London, the Chief Minister was answering questions from the press about his visit to DfID while stopping over in London.

I asked the Chief Minister why in view of the long delay for approval by the British Government (BG), the Bank of Montserrat needed to have the BG's backing if the money being loaned was coming from Bank of Montserrat.

The Chief Minister responded, that by agreement with the BG he could not give any full details on the matter "at this point", but "I can tell you there is good news."

He said further however, "The reason why the BG is important in this, you recall the people who got a material grant do not have to pay back anything at all. We argued why part of the community is getting a grant and others if they borrowed money didn't get this grant…You have to treat all the people in Montserrat with equity."

He explained that they seeking to get the BG to come up with the funds as grants to go along with the moneys Bank of Montserrat will lend.

CM Brandt said that he argued that even with respect to the houses being built in Lookout that the people there should receive grants as well. He said that persons who borrowed funds to build a house should also get between 25-30 percent grant.

In April during the budget debate in Legislative Council, the deputy speaker and chairman of Bank of Montserrat Ltd. (BOML) expressed his disappointment and confusion over the delay by the BG in coming up with the necessary backing for the mortgage scheme. "We've been dealing with the soft mortgage scheme now for approximately 18 months," he had said.

Mr. Edwards explained then all the steps the bank had taken and the various excuses and reasons that had been given to date by the BG. He said towards the end, "One would have thought the BG would have been anxious to have BOML issue these mortgages so that they could help BOML and Montserrat."

Mr. Edwards pointed out that the last request had been for audited statements, which he "assumed" when received, "some other excuse for procrastination will be found. I hope that I am proved incorrect."

The scheme was first conceived and presented with Brandt's government, by the National Consultative Group which was formed immediately after the Chief Minister assumed office in 1997 after Mr. Bertrand Osborne, member for Southern resigned that top office. At that time the group proudly perceived that there were Montserratians who were able with the necessary availability of funds to build houses, the loan for which they would repay.

Meanwhile Mr. Brandt spoke highly of the East Caribbean Central Bank, in connection in its support for Bank of Montserrat getting the nod to run the mortgage scheme. He said, "The ECCB has been very co-operative and helpful in this situation…as a fiduciary institution it has to act according to certain principles."

He was responding to the suggestion that the ECCB may have forced BOML into the position of having to seek guarantees from the UK Government in order to facilitate the mortgage scheme. He said further: "the Bank (ECCB) acted according to those principles and BOML passed with flying colours."

The news of the Chief Minister's revelation during his press conference this week will undoubtedly be met with mixed feelings among Montserratians.

Much has been said even from these quarters, concerning the seemingly unexplainable delay by the British Government (BG) with respect to the Housing Mortgage Scheme. Truly it seemed they were only excuses, quite inapt ones for withholding, or if you like delaying the guarantee that would give the green light to Bank of Montserrat Ltd. (BOML) to make available funds to eligible persons to build a new home, some where in the north of Montserrat.

In August 1997 the Right Honourable Clare Short had just accused Montserrat of wanting 'golden elephants', in the midst and height of the volcanic activity which had claimed about 19 lives around its vicinity. Her government expressed its anxiety to clear the island of human existence and stepped up its evacuation program.

There were Montserratians as well as non-Montserratians who believed that enough of Montserrat would remain safe enough for existence to continue in Montserrat; there were even those who left who did so with the hope of returning. This, in spite of the eventual £75 million, has remained a concern to the British Government, who it is still believed, though less so as time passes, would prefer that the whole of Montserrat be evacuated. (Very often when the truth cannot be denied it is termed as nonsense, something like the 'sour grapes' theory).

Like Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Council and chairman of the Bank of Montserrat Ltd., Mr. D R V (Frank) Edwards had said in April, we all waited to see what other excuse they (the BG) would come up with when the financial statements of the bank were submitted. It can therefore be understood that it was not just to meet statutory obligations that the Bank advertised its most recent Balance Sheet and Income Statements. Yet we are still waiting.

But now the Honourable David Brandt, Chief Minister has announced that there is good news coming. He could not give any further details, but when asked why the Bank (BOML) had to wait for the BG's guarantee, he let on that the Government of Montserrat (GoM) had been arguing that all Montserratians who needed a house should receive a grant towards building it.

At his most recent press conference following his return from Ireland and England, he said: "The reason why the BG is important in this, you recall the people who got a material grant do not have to pay back anything at all. We argued why part of the community is getting a grant and others if they borrowed money didn't get this grant…You have to treat all the people in Montserrat with equity."

The answer to the many questions concerning the delay was given in that single answer. It also confirmed suggestions that Ministers had changed the proposal put forth by the National Consultative Forum (NCF) to Minister George Foulkes who visited Montserrat in September to offer peace following the turmoil created by Clare Short's "golden elephant" remarks. Mr. Brandt in his first address to Montserrat as Chief Minister said: "Within two hours of my appointment as chief minister I participated in the first meeting of the National Consultancy Forum, a non partisan, non political group comprising representatives of a wide cross section of national organisations." There was also the desire to show the BG that not every Montserratian required a handout to begin life all over again. It is possible that it was too early in the game and that the politicians had more foresight as to the hardships that lay ahead.

The NCF had proposed to the BG that they made available funds to needy and eligible Montserratians via a housing mortgage scheme to start their lives again in Montserrat. This was because it was felt that there would have been Montserratians who were already paying mortgages on their homes in the devastated zones on Montserrat and would, through recovery from insurance etc., wish to continue paying to enjoy their own homes.

We must wait patiently now to find out what it is that Montserrat will have to give up for the good news that is to be forthcoming. At this point it could not be merely, a yes to the mortgage scheme since Mr. Foulkes himself had suggested that only the paper work was holding up the approval. It would not be surprising that all Montserratian resident, who remained suffering through the hard times, will be given a grant to rebuilding their lives. Will that be 'golden elephants'?

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

Dear Mr. Editor,

Among the many reports that have reached my ears, I wish to address the allegations that certain stores and supermarkets are keeping expired goods on their shelves, that they are engrossed in other seriously unsafe and unhealthy practices and that the cost of consumer goods, especially food stuff has reached ridiculous proportions.

Here in the UK less than two months ago, a large supermarket chain was hit a fine in excess of 10 thousand Pounds for having several items of expired food stuff on the shelves in one of their outlets. Some time after that, another large chain was hit with a similar fine.

Put simply, it is against the law in the UK for any store, shop or supermarket to display and or sell food items that have exceeded their expired date. It is required that the prices of goods be displayed with clear labeling that can be easily read, and in the case of perishable goods, the 'sell by' or 'use by' date must be clearly displayed as well.

Guilty parties will be subsequently fined by the Health and Safety Authority, and repeated offenders are fined even larger sums and can be closed down. If the work place is unsafe (including being poorly lit), Health and Safety can shut it down until it is put right. If any business, be it restaurant, cafe, or supermarket is deemed be a health risk by Health and Safety, they can be fined, shut down or both. Operating licences can be revoked and thus, many businesses have to stay on their toes for they know not when the Health and Safety inspector will turn up.

It makes me wonder why certain supermarkets in Montserrat are allowed, as I have been told, to continue with certain unsafe, unsanitary and unhealthy practices. Everyone sees it happening, talks about it, but no one seems prepared to do anything about it. I cannot believe that we have grown in acceptance of dark and dingy supermarket with isles strewn with boxes, smelly vegetable stalls that continue to display produce only fit for the consumption of pigs, and bloody deep freeze units. Is there not a law in Montserrat against these practices and even more so, against the displaying and selling of goods which have passed their expired dates? I would think that this is a matter for the Ministry of Health and the Sanitary Department to look into, not so?

Quite recently, the UK government made a statement that they were setting up a commission to investigate why the cost of goods in the UK were so much more expensive comparable to the same goods sold in Europe and the US. This came as good news to the public who have often complained about the high cost of goods in the UK when compared to other regions.

I read one article in a UK newspaper, the SUN, which indicated that one could have gone over to Europe to buy a car, ship it back to the UK and end up paying an overall of 3000 - 4000 Pounds less, depending on make and model, than if they had bought it in the UK. This was so even after you had insured, taxed and MOT (licensed) it. Subsequent to the probe put out by said paper, one car company has allegedly dropped its prices on a number of its models. In another incident, another car company, Volvo, were accused of deliberately overpricing some of its models, and had the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) pounding at their doors. "Car manufacturers could face fines of hundreds of millions of pounds if they are found guilty of price fixing," the Office of Fair Trading stated after Volvo admitted supporting secret agreements to restrict discounts (fix prices). The final incident that comes to mind is the football clubs who were found to be overpricing their merchandise; they too had Fair Trading chomping at their bit. One news article read:

"After an inquiry lasting two and a half years, it (the OFT) won undertakings from the Football Association, the Scottish FA and Premiership clubs that they would stop resale price maintenance (price fixing/over pricing)." It is a simple matter of if you attract the attention of the OFT, you either fall in line or face their fury.

The Office of Fair Trade in the UK is presently carrying out an investigation into the large supermarket chains, the likes of ADSA, Safeway, TESCO and Sainsbury, to determine if they are passing some of their profits on to the consumers. Yes, I said it correctly. The Office of Fair Trade is trying to ensure that the consumer is not being ripped off. The OFT not only monitors manufacturers, but resellers as well. This makes me wonder what has become of the Price Control Department in Montserrat. How is it that the price of consumer goods, especially foodstuff, has been allowed to spiral upwards and almost unchecked, as I have been made to understand? I have also been made to understand only particular brands of consumer items in Montserrat can be controlled by Price Control but does not one think that this should be altered to include the items themselves and not just the brand name?

It would seem that this volcanic crisis has given some people the excuse to run amuck with the price of consumer goods. Even more disturbing the fact that they been allowed to, as I have been made to understand, display and sell outdated food stuff to people. Has not anyone seriously considered the harmful effects that these practices could have could have? Manufacturers put these 'best use by' dates on the items for a reason.

We all know the old adage that the "harbourer is worse than the thief." People who buy this stuff, put up with this nonsense, or look the other way while this occurs, are worse than those who perpetrate the act themselves. They could not continue to do this if they were not indulged to do so, or if there were stiff penalties to be paid for doing this.

Some may say that they have no choice but to buy the stuff, be it expensive or outdated, and I can understand that; it is not everyone who can afford to, or is able to go to Antigua and shop. Besides, that would constitute to more of our precious resources going oversees.

But the fact that those who are in the position to see that these injustices are stopped seem to be sitting on their hands makes me wonder what really is going on in Monsterrat.

Overpricing goods, and displaying and selling goods that have expired, and unsanitarily kept environments are all evil. All it needs for this evil to strive is for the consumer to sit back and say and do nothing. One would have thought that the powers that be would be doing everything in their power to ensure that the populace is kept as comfortable as possible in light of the ongoing volcanic crisis. However, it appears that 'greedy merchants' have been allowed to rampage with their ridiculous prices, and the presentation of substandard goods.

What has happened to us Montserratians? Have we allowed the volcano to break our spirit? Please someone, tell me that I have heard incorrectly, or if I have indeed heard correctly, tell me that something is being done to end this 'anarchy' (for want of a stronger word). We cannot continue to put up with this evil or the rest of the world will pass us by. I implore all Montserratians to stop settling for this and to strive for excellence.

In Bleak Moments

God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance.

2 Corinthians 9:8

Early in my father's ministry, when money was scarce, the poor would come to the church and ask him for food. He would go straight to our home and give them whatever we had in our cabinets or refrigerator. He might give away the last of our own food, but my father never worried. He said that God would provide for us. Sure enough, God always did - and sometimes in the most unexpected ways.

When the prophet Elijah was hungry, God sent him to a poor widow's house for food. The woman had only enough meal and oil to feed her and her son one last supper. She could have turned Elijah away; many people would have. Those of us with children know how hard it would be to see our children hungry, and we probably wouldn't consider sharing our child's last meal with a stranger. Yet in her most desperate hour, this woman had faith in God. For her faith, God rewarded her with enough food to last until the drought was over.

Our bleakest moments, when trusting is hard, are the times when we need faith the most. When we cling to God despite what our eyes and ears tell us, wondrous miracles can happen in our hearts and lives.

Prayer: O God, help us when things are bleak to trust your gracious provision. Amen.

Thought for the Day

In the face of our need, God can make something out of nothing.

Montserrat cannot get its Multi-Disciplinary Sports Complex unless sporting authorities here file a project proposal with football’s world governing body, FIFA, as a first step towards getting the US$1 million, Mr. Lionel Nanton has said.

Nanton, who recently attended a high-level meeting of FIFA in the United States, said it was too early to ascertain whether the local representatives of FIFA would be able to draw down the money lump-sum to purchase Olveston House.

" I don’t know about whether we will get the money lump-sum or in tranches until the project proposal is sent, " he told the Montserrat Reporter.

Asked if the property agents were willing to await the outcome of negotiations with FIFA, he said "I have been talking to the agent and up to now they are waiting."

FIFA’s President Jack Warner, he said, "thinks it is a good project but it is only to get it down on paper."

He could not say how soon the project proposal would be dispatched to FIFA but pointed out that executives of the local committee were expected to meet to discuss the way forward.

An Irish investment mission is expected here before year-end to explore business opportunities with Montserrat to create jobs and jump-start investment, Chief Minister David Brandt said Tuesday.

"There would be this fact-finding mission and when they come to Montserrat, they would see what’s possible…and one thing we want to develop is a joint-venture relationship," he told a news conference at his Government Headquarters office.

Representatives of the Chambers of Commerce of both countries met earlier this month during a visit by a delegation that included representatives of government, the Tourist Board, Credit Union and the business community.

In addition to developing a business and tourist relationship, Montserrat is eyeing the electronics industry of Ireland, believed to be one of the biggest in Europe, as a possible source of massive investment.

Th Chief Minister identified the creation of a viable job market and the jump-starting of the volcano-ravaged economy as main objectives of the investment drive of Montserrat at a time when the construction boom is steadily reducing.

He noted that the local business community comprises mostly "sellers and buyers" who are subject to the economic well-being of the rest of the population that has been reduced to 4,550 persons as a result of four years of volcanic activity.

"You have to develop a means of getting money from outside of Montserrat and one good means of doing that is getting people from outside to invest alongside Montserratians that would provide jobs for Montserratians and will also provide wealth because the things would be re-exported," he said.

The Chief Minister restated the advantage to investors of Montserrat’s being a British colony because they could manufacture goods and services here and have them enter the European Union (EU) duty free.

Prior to volcanic activity, Montserrat imported and milled rice from Guyana, which then made that product eligible for duty-free entry into Britain and other parts of Europe.

Montserrat Volcano (UK) Fund, Montserrat Chamber of Commerce, Montserrat Tourist Board and St. Patrick's Credit Union, with support from the Government of Montserrat, last weekend thanked the people of Ireland for their continued assistance to the ongoing volcano crisis.

At a reception to honour the distinguished sociologist and parliamentarian Mr. Michael D Higgins TD, whose film, "The Other Emerald Isle," continues to inspire a new generation of relationships between the two Islands. Tony Wade MBE, Chairman, Montserrat Volcano Fund, said:

"The other Emerald Isle has stirred a sense of pride in the duality of our roots and has given us a better understanding of our cultural heritage. We are proud of our cultural links, and our purpose is to strengthen them, build trading and educational partnerships that will serve to benefit us all."

Judy Greene, President, Galway Chamber of Commerce was also in attendance.

St. Patrick's Credit Union of Montserrat aims to build a Multimedia Centre for Training and Enterprise on the Island of Montserrat to promote Education and the Creative

Industries.

David Brandt, Chief Minister, Government of Montserrat, attended a board meeting of the Irish League of Credit Unions. He thanked the board for its important financial contribution to the fragile St. Patrick's Credit Union of Montserrat.

In addition Mr. Brandt brought the board up to date on the state of affairs in Montserrat and the recovery efforts and outlined the need for further technical and financial assistance.

Mr. Brandt also gave a wide-ranging interview on national television (RTE), highlighting the historical and cultural linkages between the two countries and the prospects for Tourism and Business on the island of Montserrat.

The Montserrat Oriole string band provided entertainment for the receptions and entertained the crowds at the Feakle Festival which was screened on RTE.

The outstanding success of the first Montserratians & Friends Ireland Tour has paved the way for a global celebration of Montserratian Culture, under the campaign theme of Montserrat’s Millennium Masquerades a fusion of commerce, culture; education and technology.

The visit was arranged by CIE Tours International, with support from the Green Isle Hotel, Dublin and the Clarinbridge Court Hotel, Galway.

Montserratians are among those across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) who will soon get increased protection from unscrupulous insurance companies, according to Chief Minister David Brandt.

Mr. Brandt, who holds the portfolio of Finance Minister, made the announcement at a news conference this week about the outcome of the latest meeting of the Monetary Council of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).

When the new insurance bill, already approved by OECS members, is passed by Montserrat’s Legislative Council, he said, there will be "more protection to the consumer and have more control over insurance companies operating in each state."

The Chief Minister indicated that insurance companies would now find it difficult to challenge or disregard the new law because it was unanimously supported by the ECCB’s Monetary Council.

He reported that at the last Council meeting he raised the matter of insurance companies here "arbitrarily raising" the (deductible?) from 2 percent to 5 percent and then making the insurer a co-insurer of his or her property to the extent of 40 percent, and later giving only 7 days’ notice of cancellation.

"That was unjust," Mr. Brandt told reporters. "It was heartless and it created severe hardships to the people of Montserrat and some institutions have failed because of that and persons ruined because of the unconscionable behaviour of the insurance companies."

Insurance companies, he said, would be required by the sub-regional Central Bank to "self-regulate and some clause would be put in the bill to protect all of us."

The UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) has informed Dr. Lucy Steward, CXC Registrar, of its evaluation and endorsement of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). NARIC is the official UK body that determines comparability between international and UK qualifications and advises universities on entry qualifications.

NARIC has concluded that CAPE qualifications will satisfy the general minimum entrance requirements of British higher education institutions when six CAPE units are studied. This is similar to the number of units being accepted by the UWI for normal matriculation.

NARIC said it was impressed by the structure and content of CAPE and in particular the flexibility to offer various combinations of breadth and depth. Based on the syllabus content and duration of CAPE courses, qualifications obtained from CAPE two-unit courses are comparable to the GCE advanced level in areas such as Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, French, History, Literature in English, Mathematics, Physics, and Spanish.

CAPE’s mix of two-unit and one-unit courses provide depth and breadth of study. The acceptance of the mix by UK admissions tutors will vary according to the nature of the course students wish to pursue at University level. NARIC has also said that while six units will be the minimum requirement, students may do a total of seven units (three two-unit courses and one single-unit course).

This will maximize their chances of entry to some universities where competition for entry is intense.

NARIC said it would be pleased to commend CAPE as a higher education entry qualification to UK higher education institutions and to present its full flexibility. NARIC’s full objective will be to ensure that CAPE is well understood by the full range of admissions tutors so that students with CAPE qualifications will maximize their personal benefits from UK higher education institutions.

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has been told that the EC$5 charge on savings accounts by the local branch of Royal Bank may be illegal because it cuts back on the total interest that account-holders are entitled to , according to Chief Minister Mr. David Brandt.
The matter, he said, was raised at the just concluded meeting of the ECCB Monetary Council of the Finance Ministers of the sub-region.
"By law, every bank in the OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) has to pay four percent interest on savings, so by Royal Bank charging you five dollars per month, they are in fact paying you less than four percent and the Central Bank was mandated to deal with that situation," Brandt, also the island’s Finance Minister, told a news conference Tuesday.
When the matter, which was raised in the Legislative Council about one month ago, Royal Bank would only say that it was a "policy decision."

Senior officials of Royal Bank here say that a small number of persons with low amount of deposits have reacted to the charge, which took effect last month-end, by closing their accounts.

The bank, which has been operating here for about 80-years, has suffered a huge dent to its coffers by having to write off bad loans incurred for various types of investment in the south of the island that has been devastated by four years of volcanic activity.

Also, the bank has not been generating income because economic activity is on a nose dive, but at the same time it is saddled with the responsibility of having to pay interest on existing accounts.

No new accounts are being opened as that would only result in the bank having to pay interest which it can hardly afford.

The children’s summer workshop organized by the Community Services Department climaxed last Friday, with two events showcasing what the children had achieved during the three weeks of the programme. An impressive exhibition of arts and crafts at the Brades school displayed the children’s handiwork to good effect, to the accompaniment of steelband music from the workshop.

On show was an array of beautiful articles. There were tie-dye T-shirts, mats and sheets, hand-printed T-shirts, including some which used breadfruit leaves as a pattern. Also on display were mats, bags and other items made from crochet and tapestry work, crochet pot holders and many other needlework and fabric ideas.

There were many ingenious and decorative ideas using bristol board, including baskets, desk organizers, place mats, pop-up greeting cards, foam pictures, jewelry boxes and more. From the story telling section came children’s drawings based on the events of some of the stories.

Besides the children’s work, some adult work was also displayed. Taking advantage of the presence of resource persons, classes for adults had been held at St.Peters, resulting in an outstanding array of beautiful tie-dye T-shirts and sheets.

The exhibition showed how much could be achieved in a short space of time, and was a tribute to the ingenuity, patience and creativity of the resource persons. These included Cheryl Fergus, Althea Allen, Josianne Martin, Gesi Kagbala, Joy Adams, Dionne Semple and Sasha Cabey. Coming especially for the workshop was Craft Design and Production Officer Ann Greene from Guayana, whose visit was sponsored by the Commonwealth Youth Programme.

In the evening it was time for a most entertaining concert, together with the closing ceremony and prize giving. The Brades school auditorium was packed, highlighting the urgent need for the planned cultural centre. Such a building would have allowed more people to come inside, and the exhibition could have been left in place for the audience to view, instead of having to be packed away to make room for the concert.

Among the highlights of the programme were the beginners and advanced steel band groups, who played well and with enthusiasm . The progress of the beginners was quite remarkable. Pan teachers Francis Llewellyn of St. Vincent and Lennox Green of Trinidad and Tobago, both of whom came especially for the workshop, can be proud of their achievement in helping to get steelpan back on stream in Montserrat.

While here the pan tutors also taught an adult group, who created quite a sensation with their polished performance, showing how much can be done in a few days.

In the modelling section, children and teacher modelled some of the beautiful tie-dye work displayed in the exhibition, with the tye-died sheets being most effectively used as wraps. Natalie’s dance group gave a lively and well-rehearsed performance and were enthusiastically received. Under storytelling, which was facilitated by A-dZiko Simba, an outstanding performance was given by Alfie Browne.

Under drama, former Cultural Officer Yvonne Weekes explained that she had encouraged the children to talk about their concerns and anxieties, and from these the drama developed. Family discord, and its effect on children’s lives and school performance, were highlighted.

There was a song and dance presentation based on "Little Island Live Volcano," the new children’s book by Dr. Carol Tuitt and Randy Greenaway. The children performed three songs, coached by Richard and Nancy Hermany, and accompanied by Randy Greenaway. This will later be expanded into a full-length dramatic presentation based on the book and songs.

In their remarks, Minister of Community Services Adelina Tuitt, and her permanent secretary John Skerritt, who was MC for the evening, were full of praise for the efforts of the community development officers, facilitators and children. Prizes were presented for the best work in each section of the workshop, including sports, along with some special prizes from Minister Tuitt. The Minister admonished parents to nurture the seeds that had been planted at the workshop.

Pan tutor Francis Llewellyn is also the author of a book on steelpan history and techniques, entitled "A Steelpan Handbook - a student’s companion." In a special presentation he handed over a copy of the book to Minister of Education and Community Services Adelina Tuitt, one of several copies that he has donated to the Ministry. At least one of these is expected to be made available at the Public Library.

The book was a special project sponsored by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Department of Culture of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Chief Community Development Officer Maudlyn Sweeney praised all the facilitators and volunteers, who had given of their time to share their talents and skills with the children. The Community Services staff, who co-ordinated the workshop, ‘Teacher King’ Kirwan, Mary Fergus, and others, also came in for high praise for a job well done.

The Soufriere Hills volcano, which continues to wind down since killing at least 19 persons two years ago, is slowly expanding due to sulphuric gas pressure but there were no signs of new magma, according to Chief Scientist Dr Simon Young .

The MVO has maintained that the island is safe for visitors and tourists to come once they abide by the rules governing the Exclusion Zone.

"Most sites on the whole volcano are expanding especially down on the lower flanks seem to be moving out very, very slowly," he told the Reporter in a telephone interview, adding that volcanic activity over the weekend was quiet.

The expansion rate, he noted, was so small that it was "below the detection level of our equipment" on a daily basis.
"An occupation of additional sites during last week did not reveal any major changes in the deformation rate of the volcano," the MVO said in its latest report for the period August 6 to 13.

Young, who is also the Director of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO), explained that the general outward deformation was an indicator that the volcano has "not started relaxing" but there was "nothing sinister on the surface."

He attributed the slow deformation rate of the volcano to "quite high gas pressure in the magma chamber" that has been causing some pyroclastic flows, rock falls and ash-events. Whenever those explosions occur, unstable chunks of the dome collapse.

Latest measurements show an average sulphur dioxide flux of 90 tonnes per day, described as
"low" compared to much of the eruption.

The Chief Scientist, however, cautioned that if the pattern of deformation increased there could be a chance of new magma pushing itself upwards and so result in renewed dome growth.

Young reported that there was one small pyroclastic flow last Thursday morning, causing one small pyroclastic flow of hot ash, rock and gas that "traveled about a mile down the north side of the uninhabited Tar River valley.

"Only a small amount of ash was produced, which blew westwards at low level. The ash plume also appeared to contain steam and other gases," the MVO report stated.

Last week observations of the dome, where "a large mass of unstable material still sits," were poor but with access to the Antigua-Montserrat passenger shuttle helicopter four days per week for five and a half hours each day beginning Monday, the MVO is expected to get a chance to inspect the dome later this week.

SPORTS

It's unfair! They have done it again! This is the feeling of a section of the Leeward Islands cricketing public with respect to the recently selected West Indies World Cup Team.

Is there a case for crying foul? Some persons think that the small island youth cricketers were "undone" by the prejudices of the selectors who have always tended to show preference for the so-called big islanders. Some people cannot believe that not one of the fifteen youngsters was selected to the squad of fifteen players selected to West Indies World Cup Team. Some other persons are dispirited by the fact that the "whipping boys," the Windward Islands, gained three players while the Leeward Islands, former regional champions, failed to win a single selection.

I invite you to take a rational position with me in the matter. Let us use a scientific approach to the discussion, one that is removed from the value-laden approach that often inform discussions that are emotionally charged.

What are the facts? What are the measurable issues that influence the selection process at the youth level? With respect to selection to the West Indies Youth Team, the tournament is the only platform for the ninety young cricketers to showcase their skills, to impress the selectors, to demand inclusion by their commanding performances and to force the

decision-makers to recognise them. They do not necessarily have to star in the theatre but they have to show consistency, guts, belly, purpose and discipline. It is normal that at that level, as is not normal for selection to the senior team, past performances is taken into consideration, allegiances be recognised and, acknowledged artistry, craftsmanship and brilliance influence the process.

The selectors have the difficult task of separating the good from the bad, the potential from the ordinary, and the promising from the lack-lustre. They have to identify the cream and extract the crème de la crème from the field of almost one hundred young athletes.

At the end of this year's tournament, the selectors chose fifteen players to comprise the West Indies Under-19 squad for the Youth World Cup in Sri Lanka, which starts in January 2000. The fifteen member squad for the series includes: Ryan Hinds, Callitos Lopez, Kurt Wilkinson (Barbados), Sewnarine Chattergoon, Narsingh Deonarine, Roopnarine Ramgobin (Guyana), Marlon Samuels, Andrew Richardson, Jermaine Lawson, Brenton Parchment (Jamaica), Zaheer Ali, Rodney Sooklal (Trinidad and Tobago) and Kenroy Peters, Camilus Alexander and Greg Francois (Windward Islands).

The selectees by competing team are as follows: Barbados (3), Guyana (3), Jamaica (4), Trinidad and Tobago (2) and Windward Islands (3). That is to say, no player from the Leeward Islands were able to convinced the selectors by their performances in the tournament that they merited a place in the first fifteen. On what basis were they selected? Ryan Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Narsingh Deonarine, Kurt Wilkinson, Greg Francois, Roopnarine Ramgobin, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Brenton Parchment and Zaheer Ali. All of them are batsmen and, the first five were centurions. All averaged above 30.

The others players are bowlers. Among them, Rodney Sooklal took the most wickets (31); Camilus Alexander took 27 wickets with his spinners and Jermaine Lawson, the speedster collected 27 wickets. Greg Francois is a wicket/keeper batsman. Ryan Hinds will captain the team and batting all-rounder Marlon Samuels will be the vice-captain.

Now what can we say about the performances? We have already discussed the performers in detail in our first article on the Nortel tournament two weeks ago, and made our recommendations for the development of the youngsters.

What about the youngsters from the Leeward Islands? Were they robbed of their merited places on the West Indies World Cup Team? Were they victims of a calculated plot to "keep back" the small islanders by any means necessary? Was the traditional quota system utilised once again?

Let's look at the figures and the performances of the Leeward Islanders? And we will not go into the detail but only to say that the selectors did place a lot of emphasis on present form and current performance. Only Nevisian middle-order batsman, Tonito Willett, son of former Test cricketer Elquemedo Willett managed a place among the reserves which also included: Orvin Mangru and Imran Hussein (Guyana), Dwayne Smith and Sulieman Benn (Barbados).

What about the promising youngsters form the Leeward Islands? They exhibited very little that was worthy of note. Apart from Tonito Willett who scored 204 runs and averaged 25.5 with a highest score of 97, Shane Jeffers and Elsroy Powell averaged in the twenties. Jeffers scored 126 runs and averaged 21.25 and Powell accumulated 126 runs and averaged 21.0.

In the bowling department, Omari Banks and Elsroy Powell took 12 wickets each but Chaka Hodge, the promising spinner, performed far below expectations, and therefore made no impression.

It was lack-lustre tournament for the OECS cricketers, and a rather disappointing, if not, dismal experience for the Leeward Islanders.

From the information given, would you cry foul? Would you call for the selectors heads?

We must guard against giving our athletes a false impression of themselves by shifting the blame on someone or something else.

Until then, let us strengthen our young cricketers.

Some twenty students who participated in the recently-held Summer Workshop have received special prizes.

The prizes were presented to children who were selected as the best overall performers in the three-week programme.

Best performers were selected in Sports, Art and Craft, Storytelling, Drama and Steel Pan.

Principal Community development Officer, Maudlyn Sweeney, says the children each received monetary prizes which should be used to purchase educational material.

She says the prizes were sponsored by the Community Services Department.

The Government of Montserrat continues to advance housing development on island.

And a Project Manager is being sought for the Look Out Phase Two Housing Development.

The Project Manager is expected to drive forward the development of one-hundred and two acres of undeveloped land in the Look Out area.

The purpose of the project is to make best use of land for housing and related developments, which are affordable, properly planned and serviced for the benefit of displaced Montserratians.

The Project Manager will be required to plan, lead, organize and control the design, location and provision of infrastructure services and housing, appropriate for a mixed community development.

Persons who are interested in being Project Manager for this programme are required to send their curriculum vitae to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Land, Housing and the Environment by September 3.

The organization that collects royalties for composers and songwriters in the United Kingdom, The Performing Rights Society (PRS), has agreed to waive the membership fees for Montserratian composers.

The current fee for Montserratian composers is 50 pounds.

The latest decision follows representations made by Peter Fillieu, after local musicians and composers attended workshops arranged by the Montserrat Music Fund in March this year.

The PRS, which is Britains equivalent to ASCAP and BMI in the United States, says it has recognized that Montserrat’s composers are a special case.

The organizations says that although a high proportion of music broadcast on the island is created and performed by local talent, the radio audience is so small, there is little chance that local broadcast revenues will amount to very much.

As a result, local composers and performers make nothing from it.

The PRS says from now on, Montserrat’s composers will be able to register their works, protecting them from copyright infringements and safeguarding overseas revenues that otherwise might be lost.

However, the Association says this will depend on whether or not a composer has at least three pieces of works commercially recorded or broadcast or performed in public at least twelve times.

The Montserrat public library has a current set of documents and leaflets available for browsing should anyone need more information on the PRS membership criteria or any other aspect of the music business.

The PRS has been very supportive of its existing Montserratian members during the volcanic crisis, providing grants and household goods vouchers for evacuees in London.

The Labour Commissioner in the Department of Labour Peter Joseph West says four individuals from Montserrat will leave the island August 16 for a working stint in the Canadian Seasonal Farm Workers Programme.

The four men will form part of the OECS team for the scheme.

The Labour Commissioner says these workers will eventually be deployed to different farms in upstate Canada.

Mr. West says the workers will be involved in the harvesting of vegetables and apples among other things during the three-month period.

He says while some of the workers will be going to Canada for the first time, while some others will be returning and are no strangers to the climate and the quality of work required.

Meanwhile, the Labour Commissioner says the Department is in the process of developing a standing pool of workers for the Canadian Seasonal Farm Workers Programme.

He says persons between the ages of 18 and 45 years who are interested in the programme should register with the Labour Department.

(Greetings)

Every time I attend these summer workshops, I am particularly proud of what I see and hear. It reminds me of the creative energies of our children and young people, the strength and commitment of Montserratians, generally, and the unwavering support of the expatriate community and colleagues from around the Caribbean.

You only need to look at the composition of the training team to see this collaborative effort and commitment involved.

This effort, although it may appear small, means a lot to the children. I am sure many parents felt more comfortable having their children attend summer workshop, as opposed to leaving them at home. The children learnt new skills, made new friends and obviously had time to associate with their friends from before, and in a more relaxed atmosphere.

I visited the workshop to see the children and trainers at work. I was delighted at the level of enthusiasm displayed. I will not be surprised, therefore, at the excellent results that will be demonstrated this evening.

Approximately two-hundred and fifty (250) children and young people attended this workshop, and I must admit that I was amazed at how well organized the workshop was being executed. Cooperation, planning, flexibility and shear hard work were essential ingredients combined with huge amounts of caring, concern and patience.

The Government of Montserrat fully supports programmes like this because they inspire us to be creative and to produce works of art that identify us as a people.

When we examine the results of the last three weeks, we can only imagine the nature of the accomplishments, if this was a continuous programme.

There are many limitations to operating under a budgetary aid programme, but I am sure that our efforts now and those demonstrated in past summer programmes will speak well for any investment in this area.

I would now like to challenge the parents. Programmes of this nature serve as seeedbeds. A variety of seeds were planted and cared for during the three weeks of the workshop. The responsibility is now yours, in fact, ours to continue the process.

I know that the programme is packed and my remarks must be brief. I will therefore conclude by expressing my appreciation and sincerest thanks to all persons involved in this Year’s Summer Workshop.

I wish you and your families God’s richest blessings and as much as you share and give joy to our children, that your happiness will be multiplied many times over.

We were no apart of the journey, but certainly, we are at the destination – I mean the closing ceremony – of this Summer Workshop. Relish the evening’s performance and show your appreciation.

The Montserrat National Trust (MNT) is forging ahead with its plans for the creation on a Botanical gardens.

MNT Executive Director, Steve McNamara, says the Botanical gardens committee of the Trust has had several meetings in planning the gardens.

One of the primary aims is to have all the endemic species on Montserrat at the gardens in a simulated natural habitat, so that adults and children can see and learn about them.

There are also plans to develop a local natural herbal garden.

Mr. McNamara also says after the Botanical gardens is set up, the Montserrat National Trust will then turn its attention to working with the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) to develop a Natural History Centre.

The Centre will have a working model of the Soufriere Hills Volcano built to scale.

The MNT Executive Director says the model would have a simulated version of pyroclastic flows, as well as a viewing room with audio visuals and photographs for educational purposes.

Meanwhile, the MNT continues to formulate plans for the development of a trail in the Centre Hills.

The trail would lead to the Cots and eventually link up with Duberry Estate which is still in the area of the Centre Hills.

The MNT is expected to work along with archaeologists who have worked on Montserrat before on the recreation of sections of the sugar estate at Galways.

Other development plans include the renovation of Woodlands Beach, with focus on rebuilding the toilets and the development of a picnic area.

Montserrat has been invited to participate in an upcoming workshop for media practitioners in Tortola (BVI).

The two-day workshop is aimed at promoting Women’s Human Rights with a focus on CEDAW in the Media for Editors.

CEDAW is the United nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.

The meeting, scheduled for Road Town, will bring together representatives from Government Information Services, Newspapers, television and radio stations from several Caribbean territories.

During the workshop, participants will discuss women in a working world, the status of women, gender and the critical role of the media, women in public life, and strengthening media and NGO links.

UNIFEM’s Hilary Nicholson will be the workshop’s facilitator.

Montserrat and other Caricom territories have been placed on the look out for defective Tappan Gas Stoves.

The Guyana-based Caricom Secretariat has issued an alert after receiving information from the Jamaican Bureau of Standards that model numbers 3G15T and 3G15PT have been tested by the Bureau of Standards and found to be unsafe based on a number of design and construction faults.

The findings indicate that when ignited, the flames of the surface burners travel outward to envelope the sides of the pots or other containers.

In the case of the Tappan models mentioned, when the oven is being used, the flame is extinguished before the gas flow is shut off when turning the oven off or when adjusting temperature to 212 degrees farenheit or below.

Among other defects, knobs are incorrectly fitted making it difficult to regulate flame intensity and the oven thermostat markings do not meet mandatory national standards.

The Caricom Secretariat is asking consumers in possession of 3G15T and 3G15pt Tappan stoves whether here ion Montserrat or in other regional territories to return them to the point of purchase and to have their purchase cost refunded or the defects corrected to the satisfaction of the Bureau of standards.

Against the background that the defects are potentially serious hazards to safety, the Secretariat is initiating general recall on these two models.

Complaints have also been received about defects in model 3G5VT and further investigations continue.

All models mentioned above were made in Guatemala.

The Ministry of Agriculture has announced the completion of works on the coral in Look Out.

The coral was constructed to house feral donkeys which have been disturbing residents and destroying property in the area, hence the start of rounding up and capturing of the animals.

Several persons in the community have indicated an interest in accepting some of the stray donkeys, but they will have to fit a criteria.

To qualify, the interested persons must be a farm worker in an area where access is difficult, and must have land to keep the donkey on, and must show evidence that they have permission to use the land.

Additionally, the interested person must have feed source for the donkey or show that the source is being organized in a short time frame.

Agriculture Development Officer Justin Cassell says it is important to note that the donkeys, which remain the property of the Department of Agriculture, will be returned to the Department is there is no further use for them.

The animals will be repossessed if found astray.

Mr. Cassell says so far, between thirty-five and forty requests have been made by residents for donkeys.

The Department for International Development (DFID) continues to play an important part in the housing development thrust on Montserrat.

The Honourable Chief Minister David Brandt says a 1.3 million pounds project has been approved to assist elderly and disabled persons on island.

Mr. Brandt says the money will be used to provide housing for these individuals.

In addition, Chief Minister Brandt says DFID has also agreed to accelerate several Montserrat projects currently at the advanced stages.

These include the project to upgrade the roads in Salem and additional monies to complete the roads at Look Out and in several other areas.

Mr. Brandt says he has received assurance that these projects will be approved in a few weeks.

Business was booming until the volcano erupted. It was an all-purpose, one-stop shop that sold everything from bottled goods to clothes. There was also a specialty item that had been in the family for two decades: Howe’s Pepper Sauce. That sauce is now the hope for the future.

Owned by Margaret Dyer-Howe and husband, Robert, Howe’s Town and Country Enterprises started in 1984 as a small mobile clothing service in Plymouth, Montserrat.

By 1987, the business had outgrown its humble quarters. A new three-story building was constructed with a restaurant and bar, and a special Friday barbecue. Three years later the couple decided to diversify and expand the enterprise. They started another mobile service, taking liquor and groceries to smaller shops in rural areas, hence the name Town and Country.

Their next move was a strategic one -- to open another branch in the northern part of the island. Friends and family discouraged the idea, but they went ahead anyway.

One year later, the Soufriere Hills volcano erupted, destroying almost half of Montserrat.

The volcano became active in 1995, covering most of south and central Montserrat with super-heated rock, ash and gas. The capital and several villages were devastated.

In 1997 the volcano was most lethal, erupting again and destroying the eastern coast. In two years Montserrat’s population plunged from 11,000 to 4,080. The only habitable area of the island was the north.

Mrs. Howe, whose home was in the "real danger zone," is a no-nonsense kind of person. She has a commanding presence, without the slightest hint of worry in her face. Business is in her blood , something she learned from her mother, who owned a small grocery. Getting back on track was not her main concern. "I always thought that if anything were to happen, it would happen that first night (of the eruption)."

The Howe’s survived, but not their life’s work. Their business was three-quarters covered with ash and uninhabitable. They had invested their life’s savings, but thankfully all was not lost. They had two things going for them: a store in the north and a good recipe for pepper sauce. They started working on a plan: reorganise the business to meet the smaller population and rebuild.

A construction boom, British aid and new businesses have fueled development in north Montserrat. Town and Country Enterprise, said Mrs. Howe, has moved from "emergency" stage to "recovery".

For Margaret Dyer-Howe, though, it was a Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) grant that benefited her most.

The Caribbean Technological Consultancy Services of the CDB, Barbados, contracted the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (Cariri) to provide training for a Caribbean business person. Mrs. Howe was the ideal candidate: a small business manager with a marketable product.

Before this, all she knew was preparation of the pepper sauce, not preservation techniques for long shelf life. Now, the UWI EMBA (executive masters of business administration) grad has a hot, tasty pepper sauce and a market for it.

She also has other ideas for new products.

How about "goat water"?

It’s the national dish of Montserrat; a kind of stew made with well-seasoned goat meat and "plenty water". It’s comparable to "mannish water" in Jamaica, but not quite. Montserrat’s national dish is made from goat meat; the Jamaican "mannish water" is made from other parts of the goat: its testicles and feet, and is believed to be an aphrodisiac.

With Cariri’s help, Mrs. Howe plans to capture in a bottle the unique blend of seasoning that makes the dish tasty. Then she will introduce it to the Caribbean market.

EAT from the LAND not from the CAN

• Tomatoes
• Sweet Peppers
• Eggplants

• Mango Rootstock
• Avocado
• The Citrus Group

Twenty-six wild donkeys were captured at Lookout during the latter part of this week. This figure is expected to increase to well over fifty(50) by early next week.

Request for donkeys by farmers have jumped from just over twenty(20) to forty(40).

1. must be a farm worker in an area where access is difficult;
2. must have land to keep the donkey on and must show evidence of permission to use the land;
3. must have a feed source for the donkeys or show that the source is being organised in a short time frame;

The animals:-

1. will remain the property of the crown (Department of Agriculture);
2. will be returned to the Department if there is no further use;
3. will be re-possessed if found astray;

Ross University an offshore veterinary school based in St Kitts has confirmed an interest in receiving donkeys from Montserrat. The first batch of fifteen(15) donkeys leave the end of August; with two(2) further shipments of forty(40) each by year-end.

Fishermen’s Ramp at Little Bay

Discussions are ongoing between Port Authority and Ministry Officials regarding access to the port area for fishermen once construction of the Ramp has been completed.

Obstetric emergencies are conditions that develop in a pregnant woman and which require urgent attention.

These include rupture of the uterus, prolapse cord, amniotic fluid embolism, acute inversion of the uterus and post partum haemorrhage to name a few.

1. Rupture of the uterus is one of the most serious accidents in obstetrics, occurring commonly in multi parous (more than one confinement) women.

Some causes of rupture of the uterus are weak caesarean scar and obstructed labour .

A) Rupture due to weak caesarean scar is due to certain factors.

i) wound not healing properly;

ii) another pregnancy occurring within six months and

iii) over distension of the uterus.

B) Rupture due to obstructed labour .

The uterus (womb) ruptures because of excessive thinning of the lower portion. The patient is often a grande multipara (having more than five confinements) whose uterus is liable to have much fibrous tissue that does not stretch well. Rupture occurs when the woman has been one hour in labour in the second stage. It occurs more commonly in the second stage of labour.

Rupture is manifested with excruciating pain and cessation of uterine contractions (labour pains).

Blood transfusion will be given if necessary. Patient will be treated for shock, and hysterectomy (removal of the womb) may be necessary.

A) Presentation of cord is the term applied when the umbilical cord lies in front of the presenting part and the membranes are in tact.

B) Prolapse of cord is the term applied when the cord lies in front of the presenting part and the membranes are ruptured.

Any condition in which the presenting part does not fit accurately into the lower segment will allow the umbilical cord to slip down in front the presenting part.

Multiparity is a contributory factor because the head may not be engaged when the membranes rupture.

Malpresentations common in multipara are also contributing factors. In most cases caesarean section will be performed and blood transfusion maybe necessary.

This is when the amniotic fluid (which is high in thromboplasia) is forced into the maternal circulation via the utero-placental site during labour after the membranes have ruptured. This gives rise to blood coagulation i.e., blood clotting disorders. This condition is rare but has high mortality rate.

Inversion means that the uterus is turned inside out and is a serious complication of the third stage of labour. In acute cases the inner surface of the fundus (top of uterus) appears at the entrance of the vagina. The frequency of this condition in very rare and it is only by being aware of and avoiding the causes, that it does not occur more often.

To be continued. . .

Miss Icilda Stanley received her basic education at the St John's, Primary and Montserrat Secondary School. Her nursing career began in 1977 when she enrolled in the three year General Nurse Programme which she successfully completed in 1980.

A year later she pursued the one year Midwifery Course and upon successful completion in 1982 was appointed Staff Nurse, a position she held until 1997. In September of that year she was promoted to the position of Ward Sister. Sister Stanley worked mainly at the hospital but had a brief attachment at Community Nursing between 1984 to 1986.

She worked in all areas of nursing but her specialty was Obstetric Nursing in which she received much training and an attachment at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

Sister Stanley also attended several workshops and short courses both at local and regional level, including:-

• Drug management and procurement
• Nosocomial Infection Control
• Women's Health
• Basic Nutrition

As a professional she is actively involved in the Nurses Association and held positions of Secretary, Shop Steward and Chairperson of the Education Committee.

Her activities are not limited to Nursing as she is also involved in several community organizations including the Shamrock Lion Club where she held positions of Vice President and Secretary.

Sister Stanley believes in continuing education and she has recently been awarded a PAHO Fellowship to pursue the one year Advanced Nursing Administration Course at UWI, Jamaica due to begin later this month.

The Department would like to take this opportunity to wish Sister Stanley all the best in her studies.

With the CM so often at large

By airliner, cruise ship or barge,

Should we who remain

Have cause to complain,

How do we know who’s in charge?

Long ago, Irish planters were rotten

To those who worked sugar and cotton;

Now the Tour says we’re friends

Sharing mutual ends;

Still, don’t let that past be forgotten.

Jus’ Wonderin’ if jus’ wonderin’ will ever stop wonderin.’

Jus Wonderin how many signatories the Treasury Department has why they can't sign a portion of cheques before going for lunch rather than the teller leaving a long line of customers waiting to go and search for them and then back to square one again.
Jus’ Wonderin’ if the Queen’s Representative has ‘heavy-rolled’ the recent re-marriage between ‘who’ and the Cable TV monopoly.

Jus’ Wonderin’ why the caring nurse is replaced by hostility.

Jus’ Wonderin’ if the Vet School Students will now do away with their vehicles.

Jus’ Wonderin’ if they will finish refurbishing the windows of flight GHQ in time for the hurricane.

Jus’ Wonderin’ how the new Vet School students will behave in their classrooms.

Jus’ Wonderin’ if they have put up notice-boards for any of the shell-backs wishing to nest at Isles Bay.

Jus’ Wonderin’ if Lou and her partner are really conscious.

Jus’ Wonderin’ if there is a lid on the radio program Farmers Corner why it is so short these days.

Jus’ Wonderin’ why the chicken king has to close when he's away.

Jus’ Wonderin’ if Water Authority is going to build a workshop or the men will have to learn to be weatherproof.

Jus’ Wonderin’ if the Delta's story will be repeated with the new gas station.

Jus wonderin if the green 'baby-giant' has anything to do with the smooth looks now that the red-devil is out the way.