This week a well-traveled and somewhat weathered Catholic priest packed his suitcase once again and prepared to make his way to St. Kitts. At dockside early Wednesday morning, Father Larry Finnegan met briefly with well-wishers before boarding the ferry to end his seven-year assignment on Montserrat.

Parishioners often become fond of their priests, but in Father Larry’s case even the most jaded observer could understand why his departure leaves some people with an empty feeling. He was the spiritual shepherd who guided the population of Montserrat through some of the darkest days in the island’s history.

Father Larry’s first sight of the island was in the 1970’s, when he stayed here for some months. Returning in 1993 he was struck by improvements in housing and the overall quality of life, but they were benefits he would not recognise for long, because even while the island was still struggling to recover from Hurricane Hugo, it would be devastated yet again by a volcano.

"In the early 1990’s I thought Montserrat had developed fabulously. It was beautiful and good," he stated, adding that he had been especially appreciative of the quiet atmosphere. "That’s always been one of the good things about the place. How many places can you leave your doors unlocked?"

Father Larry’s posting before moving to Montserrat had been in Kenya, where security of person and property was a major concern. On this island, however, he found a more gentle way of life.

Father Larry with members of his congregation

"They are a people of faith," he said of Montserratians, describing how one elderly woman surprised him with her unquestioning respect for God. The woman had just lost her home in the volcano, yet she held no grudges and her faith remained unshaken. She told Father Larry that God had a reason for destroying Plymouth. He obviously wanted Montserratians to rebuild their homeland from scratch. She didn’t know why God wanted such a thing, but clearly that was his desire.

That kind of faith was something the Catholic priest went on to witness many times over, and it left him with a deep respect for the place and its people.

Like most priests, Father Larry’s vocation brought him into contact with Montserratians at their best, and at their worst. The woman whose faith would not be shaken by a volcano, even though her house was buried by lava and ash, might have inspired Father Larry, but she could hardly have prepared him for some of the horrors he would face in the wake of the eruption.

Perhaps it was just as well that Father Larry had learned, even before coming here, to find his own inspiration in duties like hearing confessions. He explained his deep appreciation for that uniquely Roman Catholic tradition shortly after his arrival in 1993.

"Without hesitation I can say that my richest experiences have been in the confessional, where I see the mercy and compassion of God come alive…As a priest I can be instrumental in witnessing first-hand how God’s grace liberates and sets free. So many times I have seen others radiate the joy of being forgiven. It is amazing what God does in individual lives. To be part of this, something greater than my own narrow limits, is a continual experience of new life."

Aside from destroying property and causing injury and death, the volcano also chased people from their private homes into communal shelters. Some of the social problems that plagued residents of those crowded shelters would have been enough to leave most people shaking their heads in dismay and disbelief. For a Catholic priest, however, pessimism and resignation in the face of hardship are unaffordable luxuries. It is often during the hardest of times that people rely the most on their priests.

Father Larry recalled how, at the height of the crisis, overworked clergymen of all denominations would gather and pray together, in an effort to find enough strength to keep doing their duty even in moments when it might have seemed futile. He said Montserrat brought him closer than ever before to a wider variety of other theological doctrines.

It was also the suffering in the shelters that led Father Larry to champion the cause of building new homes for displaced volcano refugees. After saving life and limb, he saw building private living spaces as the most important task of all, because he realised that in the shelters there was no true refuge; no chance to enjoy peace and solitude or to be truly alone with God. Most of us need a private space where we can meditate and replenish our souls.

"You can rest. You can be quiet. You can receive the energy from your family…a shelter never allows you rest," he explained.

For the months and years ahead, Father Larry expressed hope that Montserrat will continue to rebuild and rediscover itself. He said he was very pleased to find that in addition to government housing projects, small private developments are springing up around the island. They are not always visible from the roadways, but often when called to bless someone’s new house, he would find a number of new homes nestled in a group.

In addition to continued work on housing, the departing clergyman also feels the economy needs a boost from increased tourism.

"I’ll be hopeful that something can be done in the tourism field," he remarked. Father Larry is especially convinced that bed-and-breakfast accommodations offer a bright future here, and suggested people should consider adding guest apartments to their homes.

"Eventually you can create a board that inspects the places, and so on."

In addition to these measures he also suggested the island needs some small industries, which were starting to develop when the volcano interrupted progress.

"I’d like to see smaller industries rather than the big ones," he offered, then explained that huge corporations make decisions based only on profit margins. They will hire dozens or perhaps hundreds of workers, whom they will abandon to the unemployment rolls as soon as corporate profits start to dive.

Smaller industries may behave no differently, but because they are smaller their closing would not present as big a problem for the work force, and for the economy as a whole. Such businesses often hire 20 or 30 people, which is a huge number in terms of Montserrat’s current population, yet it is not large enough for the country to become entirely dependent on a single commercial enterprise.

Father Larry’s efforts on behalf of the people of Montserrat have earned him more than the admiration and respect of the people. A few weeks ago he was formally invested with an honorary Order of the British Empire (OBE), and the Badge of Montserrat. They are formal symbols of the things he has done for the island, and like the King he serves, they label him as a leader one can aspire to emulate.

In the typical selfless style of his vocation, he departs leaving his hopes that positive things happen for Montserrat and its people in the future. In time, Father Larry feels, all or most of these things will probably happen.

"On the whole I would be very hopeful," he concluded.

Father Larry's successor waiting in the wings ----  Leaving via the Ferry

The Hon. Idabelle Meade was sworn in this week as the second nominated member on the Legislative Council. She is the first woman to serve in the post.

"I was honoured," she said after a brief ceremony at Lancaster House, the office of H.E. Gov. Anthony Abbott. "I hope to achieve a greater knowledge of the system and participate in the decision-making process."

Mrs. Meade was chosen for the post by Chief Minister, the Hon. David Brandt. The chief minister has the right under the current constitution to appoint council members into nominated positions, but Mrs. Meade’s appointment will be brief. It will stand only until the end of the next Legislative Council, during which the constitutionality of nominated positions is expected to change.

The vacancy she is filling on the council was created by the resignation of the Hon. P. Austin Bramble. He announced his departure during the last meeting of the legislative body.

As this little and reduced island continues to struggle back to a normal lifestyle, one which up to 30 years ago was the envy of many, it is expected that there will be much stumbling along the way.

Even when those inside try to massage the message going out that life in the north of Montserrat is normal, we know that if we get down to specifics it becomes a little more difficult to be convincing.

The struggle gets more complicated when we find that our support lines may well be part of the envy, strange though it may sound, of those who deep down do not share the same beliefs or feelings that we carry. One reason perhaps, is that they are not confident about the future existence of the island, both physically and economically.

But while we have to fight and struggle back to normalcy, there are some aspects of life, business and otherwise, that we must get right quickly.

We very often hear that housing is our #1 priority, but we never hear what is #2, 3, 4 or 5. Not that those priorities aren’t written some where, but we never hear of them as priorities and of efforts being made to solve them. Why is housing the #1 priority? Is it to get those still in shelters out of shelters, to allow others to own homes or to bring back home those evacuees from the destroyed half of the island?

Also crucial to the existence and economy of the island, normal or otherwise, is the transport to and from Montserrat. While we have been given Britain's big NO to an airport at Thatch Valley with their best option being "return to Bramble," with a temporary strip at Geralds, it still remains that we must in the meantime make what we have work well for the comfort and benefit of all.

There are eight seats available three times a day -- six reserved for DFID and government -- on the helicopter in and out of Montserrat each day, with a schedule that is not geared to meet any onward travel in or out of Antigua, except to a very small degree or meeting only a certain sector of ‘government.’ Then there is the ferry, with 250 seats available twice a day in and out, also from Antigua.

So what is the problem? The helicopter is not necessarily run as a commercial service but is made available to assist with travel, especially to meet the needs of DFID and government and, as such, becomes available to the public. Confirmed bookings are taken up to six, with two especially reserved becoming available if not taken 24 hours before each flight. These days the helicopter is booked solid for months, so if you do not qualify to get one of the reserved six seats for a day, any new travel arrangements leave no choice but the ferry.

Most people have no problem traveling on the ferry, which as far as the ride goes is much more comfortable coming from Antigua. Some people get quite sick, mostly on their way up. Because of the timing of departures, particularly from Montserrat, most travel beyond Antigua requires over-nighting or spending most of the day in Antigua to catch an afternoon or evening flight out.

There have been problems of people trying to use the ferry to and from Antigua being left on the docks. The authorities have tried to impose conditions to control the timing of travel on the ferry, and the problem is mostly insufficient time to do the necessary paper work. There is also the need to meet custom and immigration requirements.

The problem with ferry travel, as is the case with most other matters of life in Montserrat these days, is that it is different from most other places. Ferry travel is used mostly within a country, whereas in Montserrat it is used from one country to the next This imposes certain conditions that make the operators believe they should handle things the way airlines do. But nothing could be further from the truth, because airlines do not leave passengers behind who are standing in their lines at any hour as long as there are seats available.

Normally one goes to the ferry dock, pays his money, gets a ticket and steps onto a ferry, normally a one-minute transaction. Here that procedure is a 5- or 10-minute transaction (longer in Antigua) before you are through with immigration and customs when needed, and especially that ridiculous requirement of getting warrants to bring a package through Antigua.

The handling agent, Montserrat Aviation Services (MAS), quite rightly says that "75 percent of passengers tend to arrive almost an hour after the specified start time," which limits the time for processing, especially on those days when there is a large number of them. The problem here is that most of these people need to buy tickets.

How many people decide on a given day or even the night before that they wish to travel that day? Less than 10 percent tops, is the answer from those who know. Then why are people not purchasing tickets before hand?

Life in Montserrat may be different but some difficulties and problems are not necessary. Travelers should be allowed to book for the ferry and purchase tickets in advance, and yes, limit the sale of tickets at the port, which gives MAS and the agents in Antigua some pre-knowledge as to the number of passengers intending to travel at any give time. From Montserrat they will even know those people who need to make connections who will then be advised that they must be on time, like would need to be upon checking in for their flight in Antigua. The onus would be on those making late decisions to travel to be on time to purchase tickets.

When the LIAT office was in Plymouth, the office didn’t come to those traveling who lived in the north, south or the east. When there is a large number of persons taking the ferry, MAS may need more than one processing agent, but they will have an idea before time on occasion. So if it costs more to handle that, increase the fare to $80.00.

It can never be right for anyone to be standing in line to travel, to be told sorry we have any number of seats available, but we cannot process you.

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.

John 14:2

Today at church I bought a house-shaped pin to benefit the homeless. This is a great step forward for me because last year I was homeless. For 50 years I had a home, but after my divorce I had no job, and without family to help me, I became homeless.

I thought, What a blessing it is to be able to contribute again! I thought about the many shelters and churches into which I have been welcomed. Sometimes I miss the little church I attended in Honeybrook, Pennsylvania. The sanctuary of the church I attend now looks like a huge re-creation of that tiny wooden one in Honeybrook.

When I go to the dining hall, it looks like the one in another church I attended in Shalimar, Florida. The similarities help me feel at home. They also help me to remember that I have an even greater home awaiting me with Christ.

John 14:2 was my mother’s favorite Bible verse. I used to think of these "many mansions " as something to be experienced after death, but now for me God’s many mansions have been the shelters, and the churches, and the lovely people I have met within them.

Prayer: Thank you, lord, for the Christians who make us feel at home. Please help us to make others feel at home when they are near us. Amen

We build God’s mansions whenever we show hospitality to one another.

Virginia Nesbitt

Prayer Focus: PEOPLE WHO NEED A HOME.

People who own property at Isles Bay may soon know how long it will take to restore electricity and cell phone service to their homes.

Cable and Wireless plans to release its quarterly report to customers next week. Information officer, Ms. Venus George, said she is preparing the report now.

Ms. George would not provide any advance notice of C&W’s installation schedule for Isles Bay, but she cautioned that cell phone technology depends upon Monlec service in the area.

"We do require electricity to operate," she said, "there’s not really much we can do about that."

Mrs. Shirley Spycalla, an administrative assistant at Monlec, confirmed that the company should have power restored to the area by the end of September. The firm is not anticipating delays in meeting that target.

"They’re in the final stages and then it’s just a matter of flipping the switches," she stated.

Mrs. Spycalla explained that weather destroyed some manholes which had to be rebuilt, but work is now on schedule again.

Shauna Harley, daughter of Ms. Viola Harley, former Administrative Sister of the Glendon Hospital, completed her studies at Midwestern State University, Texas, on August 11, 2000.

Miss Harley has achieved a Bachelor’s of Business Administration Degree major in Finance. In 1995, Miss Harley also graduated from College of the Bahamas with an Associates of Arts Degree in Banking.

When asked by the Reporter about her immediate plans and if she plans to stay in Montserrat, she responded: " The reason why I am here in Montserrat is because I intend to continue to play my part in the rebuilding of Montserrat. I did not have to return because I had the option to work in the United States and complete my Masters Degree at the same time. However, at this stage in Montserrat’s development I feel young people need to come back and make viable contributions. As young people we cannot afford to sit back and wait for the older folks to build a haven, we need to actively play a part in the development of Montserrat."

Presently, Miss Harley has not started to work, but she is confident that there are employment opportunities on island for the qualified and that she will soon be back in the working world.

Montserrat Secondary School administrators are hoping to raise the standards of mathematics teaching and learning in their institution. In a press release that showed good overall results in this year’s overseas examinations, the school’s principal, Miss Kathleen Greenaway, revealed a continuing problem with low grades in maths.

Miss Greenaway told The Reporter that it’s difficult to identify the exact causes of the problem, or to pinpoint guaranteed solutions.

"That would require research," she explained.

In general terms, however, the MSS principal said there needs to be improvement in both the learning and teaching of mathematics. This means more studious attitudes from students, and increased professional development among the faculty.

"Although the results for mathematics improved from last year, there is concern that the passing rate and grades obtained in this subject are very low. There needs to be serious improvement in the teaching and learning of mathematics throughout our education system," she stated.

While teachers must find innovative ways to improve the delivery of math skills to students, Miss Greenaway’s press statement also made it clear that increased effort from students is seen as the greatest or most immediate need.

"There is concern about the low grades that are obtained by some students. Teachers are confident that if students exert themselves more, make school work their priority and respect their teachers, better grades would be obtained."

Despite these concerns, however, overall results in overseas examinations continue to improve, and that includes results in mathematics.

"The Montserrat Secondary School continues to perform creditably in its overseas examination, and students, teachers, parents, guardians are to be congratulated, while the Ministry of Education and all stakeholders can be justly proud," Miss Greenaway stated.

Over 76 percent of entrants for a year 2000 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate received a passing grade, while 28 of the 32 students who wrote exams in computer literacy were also successful. The numbers were less spectacular for the 25 students who sought Cambridge O’levels. Only four made the grade. It must be remembered, however, that the Cambridge standard is well above ordinary academic requirements.

The overall percentage of passing scores in overseas examinations was 71.9 percent.

Special performance notes were as follows:

Three students passed nine subjects: Ronnie Cooper; Jameil Greenaway and Dyonne Duberry. Two students passed eight subjects: Sasha Cabey and Kimesha Ryan. Six other students got passing scores in seven subjects: Laurian Brand; Angelle Cassell; Odingo Gordon; Flavia Perkins, Danielle Lee and Deonne Semple.

Other graduates whose performance was considered noteworthy by the principal included Lorraine Hoyte, Sandrina Tuitt, Denelta Weekes, Jon Wyke, Alexander Neveine, Selvyn Allen, Dairius Browne, Carmencita Duberry, Sasha Farrell, Shiamara Gerald and Shanique White.

Miss Greenaway also noted that a passing rate of 100 percent was achieved in six subjects: clothing and textiles; food and nutrition; two levels of geography; principles of accounting and principles of business. The student body also performed well in Caribbean history and English language, with everyone scoring over 90 percent. In biology; French; chemistry and integrated science all students broke the 80 percent barrier.

Meanwhile, the Barbados-headquartered Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) announced improved performance across the region.
For the first time in 10 years, 38 per cent of the 74,051 candidates who wrote the General Proficiency Examinations in Mathematics, achieved Grades 1 - 3, compared with 27 per cent in 1999. Six per cent received Grade 1 compared with 3.24 in 1999.
However, despite these improvements, CXC officials seemed to confirm Mrs. Greenaway’s concerns.

"Candidates showed marked improvement in comprehension and reasoning but the results indicate that they still need to strengthen skills required for measurement, geometry and algebra," the council stated.
Improvement was noted in performance on practical skills, but the council warned that questions requiring comprehension and expression continue to pose challenges to candidates.

The information was contained in a letter written to the MFA by FIFA’s President Joseph Sepp Blatter.

Vincent Cassell, President of the Montserrat Football Association (MFA), said Montserrat was chosen in the new list after submitting its financial report and project proposals.

Mr. Cassell, MFA Treasurer Lionel Nanton and Referee’s Representative George Skerritt have just returned from Zurich, Switzerland, where they were invited to discuss the details of the programme.

In the letter to the Montserrat Football Association, Mr. Blatter says the launch of the Goal project heralds a new era of development work at football’s world governing body, coinciding with the new millennium.

Initiated by the FIFA President, the Goal project was ratified at the FIFA Extraordinary Congress in Los Angeles, USA, in July last year. The approved budget for Goal totals US $80 million.

The letter to the MFA says the ultimate aim of the Goal programme, and that of the accompanying financial aid, is independence for each national association.

Meanwhile, in related news, Montserrat will participate in the FIFA World Cup 2000 Under-20 CONCACAF Zone competition later this year.

Montserrat has been drawn in Group-C alongside Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Grenada and Dominica.

Montserrat will engage Dominica in their home-and-away playoff on October 1^st and 8^th.

The competition runs through December 2000.

In other news, Mr. Charles Thompson has just returned from Trinidad, where he participated in a CONCACAF Level-Two Coaching Course.

The course was held at the Dr. Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence August 23 to 27.

The Good Life Restaurant was the pleasant setting for a recent ceremony to bid farewell to three members of the Health Staff on their retirement. Hospital Nursing Manager, Mrs Eunice Morgan, Senior Enrolled Nursing Assistant Elaine Hazell, and Maintenance Technician William Lindsey, better known as "Square Me," are all retiring after long years of service to the Health Department.

The occasion was attended by a wide range of health staff, including top officials, as well as other invited guests.

Mrs. Morgan joined the Glendon Hospital as a voluntary probationer nurse in 1963, progressing to Staff Nurse, District Nurse, Ward Sister and eventually to her present post. In paying tribute to Sister Morgan, Principal Nursing Officer Valerie Lewis was full of praise for her dedication and commitment, making special mention of her support during and after Hurricane Hugo and throughout the volcanic crisis. She added her personal thanks for her support and encouragement as an administrative colleague.

Nurse Hazell joined the staff in 1979, although she gave voluntary assistance before this. For the last few years she was in charge of the Margetson Memorial Home, which forms the geriatric ward within the Hospital, and was an advocate for her elderly patients. In her words of appreciation, Ward Sister Icilda Stanley commended Nurse Hazell for her commitment, hard work and devotion to her patients, and also for her services to the Shamrock Lions Club, of which she is an active member.

"Square Me" worked in the Health Department for 23 years, and was commended for his skills in many different fields, including electrical, refrigeration, mechanics, carpentry, and many more. Facilities Manager Schon Daway, as well as former Principal Environmental Health Officer Major Joseph Lynch, praised Mr. Lindsey's cheerful attitude and his willingness to turn his hand to anything that needed to be done. All three of these stalwarts will be much missed.

Also included in the ceremony was the official presentation to Principal Nursing Officer Valerie Lewis of her recent Honorary Award from the Caribbean Nurses Organization (CNO). The award was presented on behalf of the CNO by President of the Montserrat Nurses Association, Angelae Skeritt, who explained that Miss Lewis had been chosen from candidates all over the Caribbean for her services to nursing education.

Nurse Skerritt, a Family Nurse Practitioner, was recently elected to the CNO Board as Director of Region 3, which includes Montserrat, Dominica, Antigua, St Lucia, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Haiti. This is the first time a nurse from Montserrat has held such a position, so it is a big boost for nursing here, as is Miss Lewis' prestigious award, which is another first for the island.

Earlier in the proceedings Permanent Secretary for Health Alric Taylor and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gordon Avery addressed the gathering, while several other guests added their own words of praise for the three retirees. To round off the occasion a tasty dinner was served.

Midway through the first act, there was a ruckus as 20 people left in a huff. They claimed their ears were burning and they couldn't stick around another minute for any more of that filthy language.
The venue was the Basseterre Senior High School, St. Kitts, at CARIFESTA VII, August 2000. The cause of offense, the "bad words" in my new play, "Smile, Natives, Smile."
The next night Prime Minister Denzil Douglas and his entourage left early as well, though I can't say for certain it was in a huff. One person said he didn't want to have to explain to the nation how he could sit through a play with such words.
Certainly, the predominant response to the play is that the language was too strong. In Montserrat, after one of two performances at the Pelican Room, Vue Pointe Hotel, I saw Edna Kirnon. She used to be responsible for typesetting way back when I used to write for the Montserrat Mirror and we always enjoyed a warm relationship.
She gives me one of those famous Caribbean cut-eyes and push-up mouth and lets out a loud, long chups. "Hey, hey!" I say, "Me no get no li' hug-up or nutn?"
"No!" she responds, "Yu no deserve no hug-up. The language was awful and uncalled for an' yu should be shame o' yuself!" And I never did get the hug.
In St. Kitts, Bouncing Williams, another long-time colleague, retired teacher, playwright and director, reportedly said he and his wife barely managed to sit through the whole play, but CARIFESTA should never have allowed it to be staged, in the first place.
I understand there has since been a huge discussion on St. Kitts radio in which it was proposed that policies be set up for future CARIFESTAs, to ensure "decency and decorum" at all levels. It seems there was also a play from Barbados that was offensive in a way similar to "Smile" an' nuff o dem dancehall man dey carry arn bad-bad.
From the very first public performance of "Smile, Natives, Smile," before an invited audience at the Reichhold Center for the Arts, St. Thomas, the language issue surfaced. Malcolm Kirwan, UVI's vice-president for Finance and Management, posed a crucial question which in effect was this:
"Given the timeliness and relevance of the play, wouldn't it make sense to tone down the language so it can be performed for school children? The play would be just as effective and would be accessible to a far wider audience."
Someone else said her concern was not just for school children. Many are turned off by foul language, wouldn't come if they knew it was in a play, and if they did come and hear it, would be offended.
A lively discussion followed. There were those who avowed the language was true to life, used all the time and heard everywhere. But the majority view was that the language was too strong.
My position was that as an educator and someone who has long agitated for more Caribbean plays in our schools, I was certainly willing to adjust the language to allow for performances for and by schools. But the language was realistic, did help to define the characters and on that basis, with some adjustments, should pretty much stand until a version was prepared for schools.
After that first showing, I sat with the director George H. Brown, and the two actors Alvin Hippolyte and Debbie Blossom. We made and rehearsed numerous changes. And on the road, after each showing we made further adjustments, but clearly not nearly enough to the language until word from Antigua reached me in St. Kitts.
Megan Samuels-Fields, who along with the UVI Alumni Association of Antigua was responsible for hosting the Antigua performances, called to say there was mounting concern about the language of the play. As a result she checked the conditions for renting the Cathedral Cultural Center and it stated specifically that foul language was not permitted. It was either all the bad-words were cut, or the performance would have to be cut.
I explain this dilemma to the famed poet Kamau Bathwaite, with whom I'm hitching a ride from Jack Tar Village to the CARIFESTA Secretariat.
"What's your decision going to be?" he inquires
"It's already made," I tell him. "I'm on my way to meet with the cast to cut the offending language."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Two reasons. The promoters in Antigua acted in good faith, have put a lot of time and money into promoting the show and, as we all know, the show must go on. And the other is that I want to see what the audience response would be if it didn't have to struggle so much with the language."
"That's the right response," he says. "It's too easy for people to get hung-up on trivialities and the non-essential and miss what's truly important."
Amen.
So the new version of the play goes on at the Cathedral Cultural Center in Antigua. The actors are hesitant and cautious. They're concerned with not letting any unwanted words slip out. It's not their best performance, but the audience doesn't know this. Most people are polite. Some express great enthusiasm for the play. No one is offended by the language. Someone even asks if the language had to be toned so far down.
The next night the play moves to the Royal Antigua Hotel. It's a very cozy space. The actors hit their stride. Very confident tonight, more sure of their footing. The audience is hanging on to every word, getting caught up in the drama. Soon, actors and audience are locked in that magical zone where nothing is the equal of theater. One or two no-no words slip out, but so clocked in the intensity of the moment as to be completely natural and almost unnoticeable. Nobody complains. In fact the positive response seems unanimous.
Glen Edwards is an old friend of mine. As schoolboys we were in a drama workshop together and fooled around with putting on plays. Today he's a busy, highly regarded ophthalmologist but has not lost his love for theater and the arts in general. "That's a fantastic piece of work," he beams, " That's a play you need to publish. That's a play that belongs on Broadway."
Arthur Bird, another colleague from way back when we both were on radio, is now the director of culture in Antigua. He says, "I agree with Glen. And it's great to see you're still turning out good work after all these years."
Members of the audience congratulate the actors. They huddle in little groups taking about the play. They're not distracted or put off by the language. They discuss the performance and the merits of the theme. They bemoan the decline of drama in Antigua and vow to revive it.
I wish I could say this was all inspired by my play, but the truth is it had more to do with the spirit of CARIFESTA. I had heard the same vow many times on St. Kitts. Paul Ferguson, another friend who was with me in the renowned play "Fences," by August Wilson, said he plans to be in the forefront of the revival of drama on St. Kitts. My dear sister Olive Edgecombe-Howell, head of the UWI School for Continuing Studies, said she's quadrupling her efforts to bring back the Leeward Islands Drama Festival.
Back in Antigua it's agreed that CARIFESTA was a wonderful experience. One woman says: "I went to see Ash (undoubtedly the hit play of the festival) and when I saw what fine drama is being done in Montserrat, in spite of the volcano, I said the rest of us in the Leewards need to get up off our behinds and start doing far better than we have been doing."
Amen, again.
"Smile, Natives, Smile" will play St. Thomas in September and we're accepting other bookings. The lessons learned so far from audiences on four different islands and the inputs of many, many people have helped make it, if I may say so myself, as damn good a play as I've worked on.

Some 117,331 candidates, compared with 114,538, in 1999 from took the examinations from 16 CXC Participating countries, the Netherland Antilles and Suriname. There were 445,872 subject entries, compared with 429,902 subject entries in 1999. Suriname entered two students for the first time but CXC expects the entries from Suriname to increase rapidly as cooperation with that country is strengthened, a statement from the Council said.
Fifty-eight percent of the candidates who wrote subjects at the General and Technical Proficiency achieved Grades 1 - 3, compared with 44 percent in 1999. At the Basic Proficiency, 33.4 percent achieved Grades 1 - 3 compared with 34 percent in 1999.
More than 50 per cent of the candidates who wrote the General and Technical Proficiency examinations, achieved Grades 1 - 3 in 15 of the 34 subjects that were offered.
In English A, which examines the use of English, the candidates performance declined marginally when compared with 1999. Forty-two percent of the candidates achieved Grades 1 - 3, compared with 49 percent in 1999. The results show that candidates still need to improve their skills in drawing conclusions, making inferences from written information and recognizing and evaluating opinion. They also need to pay more attention to punctuation, and grammar.
In the Sciences, the results were very similar to those of 1999. In Biology, 56 percent of the candidates achieved Grades 1 - 3. In Chemistry, 54 percent achieved Grades 1 - 3 compared with 46 percent in 1999, and in Physics 48 per cent achieved Grades 1 - 3, compared with 46 percent in 1999. Performance in Integrated Science, one of the popular science subjects was commendable. Seventy-eight percent of candidates achieved Grade 1 - 3, a drop from 87 percent in 1999.
Improvement was noted in the candidates' performance on practical skills in the School-based Assessment. However, questions that require comprehension and expression continue to pose challenges to candidates.
Results in Business Education subjects are encouraging, the Council reported. Sixty-five percent of the candidates in Principles of Accounts, 76 percent in Principles of Business, and 69 percent in Office Procedures, achieved Grades 1 - 3.

More that 50 percent of candidates achieved Grades 1 - 3 in the technical and vocational subjects such as Building Technology, Clothing and Textiles, Electrical Technology, Food and Nutrition, Home Economics: Management, Mechanical Engineering Technology and Metals.
CXC Participating Territories: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands.

External Territories: Saba, St Maarten, Suriname.

The Reporter has learned that mortgage market researchers with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank are gathering information about the number of owner- or renter-occupied homes in Montserrat. They are gathering the data confidentially from sources in real estate and possibly other industries.

The information is being collected under the auspices of the Eastern Caribbean Home Mortgage Bank, (ECHMB), a division of the ECCB. The ECHMB is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that an adequate supply of credit is available in the member nations of the central bank, to meet the needs of residential mortgage hunters.

The ECHMB invests the central bank’s money into mortgages, thereby increasing the availability of loans to homebuyers. This could mean that central bank funds from across the Eastern Caribbean might be diverted into places like Montserrat, where there is a shortage of affordable housing and available mortgage money.

Prospective home buyers in Montserrat shouldn’t get excited too quickly, however, because the investment criteria of the ECHMB might not result in any noticeable difference in the housing market here.

Bank of Montserrat Chairman D.R.V. (Frank) Edwards, who recently committed his bank to provide retail banking services for the so-called "Soft Mortgage Scheme," explained that there is nothing "soft" about the mortgage investments of the ECHMB.

"The ECHMB buys mortgages from commercial banks. The mortgages would be at commercial rates," he said, which would peg them at about 13 percent interest or higher.

Mr. Edwards said that although the ECHMB can increase the pool of mortgage funds available in an area, it only uses central bank capital to buy out the very best mortgages. This happens because banks like his own must keep money available for short-term investments, which provide their shareholders with faster returns. They can only afford to lend out a limited part of their capital for long-term home mortgage loans.

"They don’t want to put too much of their funds out for the long term," explained the BofM chairman.

The ECHMB scheme is comparable to the business of ‘laying off bets,’ a common practice among bookmakers. Gambling czars in places like Las Vegas often sell bettor’s chits to each other, so their profits don’t end up too dependent upon the outcome of a single sporting event. It’s the same with mortgages. Retail bankers don’t want to have too much money tied up in long-term loans to homebuyers, which provide limited returns for moderate lending risks.

To help the main street banks reduce their home mortgage investment load, the ECHMB buys out the very best mortgage contracts: those that are being paid fully and on time. This provides safe long-term investments for the ECCB, and helps the retail bankers free up some of their mortgage lending funds.

Since the ECHMB purchases only the best mortgages, however, the scheme seldom assists those with limited incomes or assets. When bookmakers lay off bets, the risk is spread among a larger number of gambling enterprises, but the gamblers’ names remain the same. With the ECHMB mortgage scheme, the risk and duration of investment is spread among a larger number of banks, but homebuyers seeking a mortgage must still qualify for loans without assistance.

"It’s not a way of assisting people who are hard hit," stated Mr. Edwards.

He stopped short of saying the ECHMB scheme will not help homebuyers in Montserrat, but he said he doubts very much whether it will provide competition for the Soft Mortgage Scheme.

A Grenadian man has caused a popular Caribbean dish to be on sale at Britain's biggest supermarket chain, Sainsbury's, according to the latest edition of the Grenadian Voice newspaper.
Sainsbury's, which also buys bananas from the Windward Islands, is selling Garfield Davis' curried lamb, rice, and peas as a ready-made meal in its stores nationwide, the paper reported.
Davis, who left Grenada for London 25 years ago, came up with the winning recipe of curried lamb and rice and peas in a competition involving over 60 chefs, the Voice said.
His winning dish earned him a place on BBC's prime time cooking show "Whatever You Want."

Davis' recipe, which comes from his aunt Agnes Chamb, ignited his passion for cooking.
"She used to marinate the dish the night before and prepare it in record amounts," he told the British newspaper the Voice.
He can be seen selling Caribbean dishes from his stall at a south London market on weekends.

By Colin Croft
LONDON (Reuters) - A fast bowling era will come to an end at The Oval during the next week, when Curtly Elcon Lyndwall Ambrose bows out of international cricket.

The equivalent of the Ambrose-Courtney Walsh partnership is unlikely to be seen again in the annals of West Indies' cricket, perhaps even in the world game.

In his 97 tests to date, Ambrose has taken 402 test wickets, while his partner Walsh, the world record holder, has 476 from 121.
"I know when I have had enough," said Ambrose, as he looked forward to the fifth test against England which started yesterday.
"I am not enjoying my cricket as much as I used to. I am very certain that the time for me to take my exit is now. I have always given my best at all times but it is just about time now for the youngsters to take over the mantle.

"I hope that I have passed on as much as I can about fast bowling to the youngsters, so it is now up to them."
Many international teams have had great fast bowling pairs:

Harold Larwood and Bill Voce for England, Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller for Australia, Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith (West Indies). Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson (Australia) and Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram (Pakistan).
Then came the four-pronged attacks starting with Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Gary Gilmour and Max Walker of Australia followed by the great West Indies' quartets.

ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada, CANA - Police in Grenada have laid criminal charges against two foreigners associated with the financially troubled offshore bank First International.

A report in Thursday's edition of the Grenada Today newspaper identified the two as Canadian offshore bankers David Springer and Peter Bean.

Springer and Bean have already made their first court appearance and were placed on bail of EC $10,000 (US$3,700) following their arrest in St. George's.

Grenada Today is reporting that Bean, a lawyer, was nabbed at the Point Salines International Airport as he attempted to board an aircraft.
Springer has been charged with three counts of fraudulent breach of trust and three counts of attempting to defraud, while Bean was charged with six counts of aiding and abetting.
Chief Magistrate Patricia Mark has ordered the suspects to return to court on November 3.
Bean and Springer are alleged to have attempted to defraud a local bank of over EC$100,000 (US$37,000) in funds lodged by First Bank.
The Grenada Today quotes police as saying the two are also alleged to have defrauded another local bank of over half a million dollars in funds belonging to First Bank.
Police are also said to be looking for two other offshore bankers associated with First Bank, Larry Barnabe and Colin De Souza, to lay similar charges against them, but the two are believed to have fled the country.

The arrest of the offshore bankers comes at the height of a Government probe into the operations of First Bank following its refusal to comply with the state's request for a proper audit of its accounts.
Government has since taken control of First Bank and Accountant General Garvey Louison is carrying out a 21-day review of the controversial offshore institution and will report his findings to Finance Minister Anthony Boatswain.

For the third time in its five-year history, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s annual essay competition has been won by a Anguilla. Mary Clare Haskins, 18, won $5,000 with a further $2,000 for her school.

Second place went to Hazel Gumbs, also of Anguilla. Both were students of Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School. Ineacho O’Garro of St. Kitts, and Tineesha Chapman of Nevis tied for third place.

The students wrote about international restrictions on the region’s banana and banking industries. Prizes shared by all winners totaled $15,000.

The St. Vincent-registered New Bank Limited, an offshore company that recently lost its operating licence, has written to St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell, other ministers of government and senior civil servants, demanding that they repay loans and advances it claims to have made to them.
The bank is also demanding to be reimbursed for financing offshore legislation in 1996, Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell said at a noon news conference Monday.
Sir James denied having obtained loans or taken advances from the bank and said, in a reply to the company, that he was "unaware of any such request made to your bank or any undertaking given to reimburse your bank for any costs which it may have incurred in the preparation of (the offshore laws)."
The move by the bank came after its 15-year offshore licence was revoked last month by the Offshore Finance Authority, which said the bank had failed to comply with this country's International Banks Act.
Sir James said he felt the bank's latest actions were not co-incidental, and he saw them as essentially political in nature.
Last Friday, Finance Minister Arnhim Eustace hastily called a news conference at which he disclosed that New Bank had demanded of him repayment of loans and advances of which he said he had no knowledge.
So far, Sir James, Eustace, Communications and Works Minister Glenford Stewart and Offshore Inspector Linton Lewis have confirmed receiving similar letters dated August 24, demanding repayment of loans and advances within 30 days, failing which the bank has threatened to place the matter in the hands of its lawyers.

Sir James acknowledged that New Bank Limited had made financial contributions to his New Democratic Party (NDP) for its elections campaign, but that no money was accepted from the bank after 1994 for elections financing.
The bank did not disclose in its letters of demand how much money was outstanding. It said after the 30-day period the matter will be placed "in the hands of the bank's lawyers for collection through the legal process based on documentary evidence."
Sir James said he, too, had placed the matter in the hands of his lawyers.

Information technology wizards on Tuesday assured that the recall by Intel Corporation of its Pentium III
chip would not affect computerised operations in Antigua.
Intel's recall of the Pentium III chip became necessary after it discovered it could fail when the right combinations of data, voltage and temperature conditions were applied.
The Antigua branch of regional telecommunications giant Cable and Wireless said its operations would not be affected.
"We have not purchased any computers using any of these Pentium III chips, so in terms of affecting us, it will not," Alan Scholl, Acting Information Service Manager of Cable and Wireless told the Caribbean News Agency (CANA).

Scholl said the Antigua operations, which exclusively provides all international telecommunication services here, would "definitely" be on the lookout for the 1.13-gigahertz speed chip now that Intel has recalled them.
A leading computer assembly and sales company here also assured that Antigua and Barbuda would not be affected because the speed of chip being used is way beyond the 1.13-gigahertz frequency.

After much fuss and fanfare about electing a successor-in-waiting to party leader Desmond Hoyte, Guyana's opposition People's National Congress (PNC) wrapped up its 12th Biennial Congress Sunday.

Party members decided to postpone the selection process until after general elections, due next year.
The Hoyte successor plan was announced three weeks ago by General Secretary Oscar Clarke, who said that Hoyte would be the PNC's presidential candidate at general elections scheduled for January 2001.
Clarke said, however, the Congress would "elect a member of the party to the position of Successor Party Leader" in keeping with the decision of the Party's General Council of December 11, 1999.
According to Vincent Alexander, Deputy Registrar of the University of Guyana, the heir would have been selected in an open and competitive atmosphere. But in a surprise move late Saturday night at Congress, a motion was put up to suspend the election of the leader-in-waiting until after general elections. On the resumption of the congress Sunday, the motion was adopted with the thinking being that the PNC should be united and unified behind Hoyte, members' energies focussed on winning the 2001 elections and not being distracted by the business of a successor leader.

Addressing the opening of the 59th Annual Delegates' Conference of the Barbados Workers' Union Saturday, Greenidge admitted that Barbados was far behind other countries in legislation against sexual harassment.
He said strong legislation to protect Barbadian workers would soon be in place.
The Sunday Sun newspaper also quoted an attorney-at-law, Jacqueline Cornelius, as telling a gathering of magistrates, lawyers and researchers that rough and commonplace talk, sexual innuendoes and sexual touching, which constitute sexual harassment, were neither necessary nor desirable aspects of Caribbean life and they were certainly not acceptable in the workplace.
Cornelius said: "Sexual harassment is a question of discrimination. It is not about the tender sensitivities or lack of humour on the part of the victim."
She said she was happy to hear of the proposed legislation to deal with sexual harassment. However, she said there should also be a public education programme to sensitize the public to what harassment is.
She urged employers and employees to view the legislation with an open mind. "It isn't government wanting to interfere in a person's private relations, but the state has a duty to protect citizens against discrimination," the newspaper quoted her as saying.

Four men have been charged for currency counterfeiting in Dominica and released on bail, a police spokesman has said.
The four were among five men arrested last week for copying and circulating phony East Caribbean currency notes.
Acting Police Superintendent and Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Duke Severin, told the Caribbean News Agency (CANA), that a fifth man who was arrested but not charged was released pending further investigations.

Prime Minister Lester Bird, Chairman of the CARICOM Sub-committee on Cricket, has raised the question of the validity and sense in continuing the policy of the West Indies Cricket Board that only players who either play or make themselves available for the Domestic Busta Tournament are eligible for selection to the WI Team.
Bird said the recent debacles in South Africa, New Zealand and now England stand as testimony to the parlous state to which West Indian cricket has fallen.
The PM, in a speech to the 40th Anniversary of the Jaycees this week, counseled against despair. "We tend to forget," he said, "that the WI Cricket Team was feared and respected for close to three decades as they laid waste to those who challenged them to a contest. When we were on a winning streak, the team was drawn from the same reservoir of four million people in the Caribbean from whom they are drawn today.
The reservoir, Bird said, is more than five times smaller than the reservoir from which Australia draws its team, six times smaller than Sri Lanka's, 12 times smaller than England's, 32 times smaller than Pakistan's and 238 times smaller than India's.
"Yet we beat all of them and reigned supreme for years."
The PM said it serves no useful purpose to denigrate and castigate our cricketers. What we should seek to do is to professionalize our system as Bob Wooler did with South Africa when they returned to international cricket, and as the Australians have done. With our small resource base, the law of averages is catching up with us.
Bird stated categorically that with limited resource base the West Indies cannot afford to limit selection to only those who play in WI's domestic championship, but tap instead all players no matter where they play so long as they are playing 1st class cricket in any of the Test playing countries.

He added that the actions were being taken to convince the FATF that Dominica was committed to meeting its obligations to combat drug trafficking and money laundering.
"A number of measures were indicated which government would have to demonstrate, that those measures would have to be put in effect with respect to our offshore financial services and to put us on par with the international standards as required, and to demonstrate our compliance with the international standards as far as the offshore financial services are concerned," the finance minister said.
Dominica will present its case to the FATF at a face-to-face meeting in Washington in September 2000, which will review the country's status and that of other offshore jurisdictions in the region of the Americas, before issuing its next report in October.
Dominica was among 15 nations, including five Caribbean states, identified by the FATF last June as being non-cooperative in the international fight against money laundering, and was also included on an OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) list of jurisdictions with harmful tax competition.

Carifesta VII was a resounding success! The scenes from Echoes of the Mills (Dominica), Malfinis (St Lucia) and Harmony in Diversity (Trinidad and Tobago), just to name a few memorable performances, will remain with us forever. Carifesta VII (August 17-26, 2000) was truly a festival of Caribbean arts in a twin-island state.

Carifesta VII in St. Kitts and Nevis was truly a reflection of the rich performing, creative, visual and literary art forms of the Caribbean region. It was a concentration of high-quality performances and displays of the unparallel tapestry that is the Caribbean culture - expressions of the indigenous peoples reflecting their aspiration and struggles and identity, whether they are fettered by British, Spanish, French and Dutch colonial and neo-colonial experiences. And I was glad to be alive to taste of its riches, at minimal cost.

It is no mean achievement that a mini-state of just over 100 square miles and less than 50,000 people (and given its migratory character, one questions whether there is at any time, more than 30,000 people in the twin-island Federation), could have managed such a successful festival in an open and dependent economy that is definitely limited in resources by international standards.

What the sugar cane nation proved to the Caribbean, and the world, is that, as a people, they can manage their domestic affairs and resources efficiently and competitively if they can neutralize the negative effects of the internal and external interests and forces that tend to divide them and prevent them from unleashing their creative energies.

Bravo! Well done! The combined unselfish efforts of government officials, nationals, residents and visitors have added to the international competitiveness of St. Kitts and Nevis. The income, social and political effects will be long-term, but the tourism industry will be the major beneficiary in the short- to medium-term.

But did you know that a very significant artform was not given sufficient coverage in the premiere cultural event? Did you know that except for a short discussion in one of the symposia (and mainly among armchair thinkers on the artform and industry), cricket, one of our most viable and significant artforms, and one of our two internationally competitive cultural products (the other being music), was not given its rightful place and accorded its importance in the majestic event?

Many people are still either unconvinced or unaware of the fact that cricket is an integral part of our culture (our learned behaviour) and a significant expression of our artistry and craftsmanship. Cricket is indeed one of the most lively, creative, imaginative and dynamic performing arts. We might have forgotten to level the playing field because our current senior cricketers, in their recent performances, are misrepresenting the indigenous artform choreographed, perfected, exalted and internationalized by dramatists and artists like Sir Learie Constantine, Sir Frank Worrell, (Sir) Lawrence Rowe, Sir Vivian Richards, (Sir) Carl Hooper, just to name a few high-quality performers. And I suspect that we dread the thought of another defeat in the fifth and final battle currently being fought at the Foster's Oval.

West Indian cricket is an art and a science. As a performing art, cricket is a ritual and a stage performance. Test cricket is ritualistic in that it has its peculiar religious attire (although commercialization is beginning to modify it a bit), is guided by set of sacrosanct rules, involves repetitive movements of the bowler, the batsmen, the captains, the fielders and the umpires. This makes the game similar to a Church service or a Shango, Pocomania or Voodoo ceremony.

The bowling, fielding and batting have their movement, beauty and artistry. In fact, the entire game is really a beautiful piece of choreography or a symphony.

The overall choreographic character of the game is complemented by the grace, rhythm and timing of the bowlers, batters and the fielders. In fact much of the success of the fast bowlers is directly related to their demeanor during delivery in the very same way that the dancer assumes a character and stance indicative of his or her role in a dance performance. Bowlers’ movements of the the wrist and arm correspond to the dance movements where hands and wrists are almost entirely expressive of the dance. The effective delivery of the ball depends on the smooth working of the legs as it is for the dancer and performer.

Success, as we hope that Reon King, Franklyn Rose and Nixon McLean would have discovered by now, would demand that the bowlers have a rhythm to their run-up complemented by a mixture of line, length and movement. Under English cloudy conditions, they must be able to swing the bowl both ways. The spinner, who is almost a nonentity in the commercialized game, would need to master the craft of spin, variation, change of trajectory and bounce. All these are pre-planned choreographic workouts. And the end effect, given the exhibition of the batters and the fielders, may be success. The total effects of a mixture of movements are seen when the batter caresses the ball and the fielder who executes a catch or saves with the ball, and, in the same, movement, fires the ball back to the wicket-keeper or at the stumps. The symphony is best appreciated when the receiving batsman is run-out to exceptional piece of fielding followed and a direct throw. This is choreography for you. This is indeed an exhibition of art, craft and class as we experienced at Carifesta VII.

For both the performer and the cricketer, the end product or the quality of the output is largely dependent on the mastery of the movements of the arm, trunk and the legs. Those of us who have been privileged to follow the current English tour may have already come to that conclusion, particularly, with respect to the West Indian support bowlers, who, because of poor arm, trunk and leg movements have performed miserably, if not disgracefully. For the two legends - Ambrose and Walsh - it is their mastery of body movements that has made them impeccable, if not invincible. Oh for the art this is so critical for West Indies fast bowling success. It is this art that has made West Indian pacers so feared internationally. Review your videos and you will notice the economy of movement and the synchrony of bones and muscles in our fast men, from Sobers to Ambrose.

Space will only allow us the discussion of one of two strokes and the choreography. A popular shot, which is sheer-dance, is the hook shot. This is usually played on the back foot with the ball going towards backward square leg and fine leg. In this movement, according to Rex Nettleford, "The torso actually spirals and the legs are made to follow as a result of the spiral is much the same way that a the spiral movement is effected in dance from the base of the spine centered on the firm pelvis. In the case of proficient and graceful player given the form and style, this shot can culminate in an exaggerated position where the left leg is raised mid-way between 45 degrees and 90 degrees, like a developed position in classical ballet.

The pull shot is often played through square leg and involves a spiral of the torso. The shot ends in a hunching of the upper body with the leg leaving the ground in a position preparatory to a spin - a dance movement.

Where a batsman is required to play a ball delivered by a spinner, the exceptional batsmen like George Headley, Gary Sobers, Rohan Kanhai, Lawrence Rowe, Gordon Greenidge, Vivian Richards, Jeffrey Dujon, Carl Hooper, Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan (mentioned advisedly), do not anchor in the crease, and attempt to play the ball "unattractively" as is often done by mediocre batsmen like Adrian Griffith, Sherwin Campbell and Jimmy Adams, but most often initiate a shot by chipping or dancing down the wicket (making one or two dance movements) towards the ball to avoid it bouncing or turning, and to take advantage of it while it is in flight. This produces the on-drive or off-drive or straight-drive.

The shot is characterised by movement and energy, which is illustrative of the creative energy, which gives to the game of cricket that quality of dance.

For a more detailed lesson on cricket and performing arts watch a video of  Sir Carl Hooper, the most classical cricketer who have occupied the crease.

But you what, if cricket was not given its right place in St. Kitts and-Nevis, a Federation that has produced so many quality cricketers and, where cricket is religion in Nevis, it is most likely that the institution will not receive more than an honourable mention in Carifesta VIII in Suriname in 2004?

Carifesta loses some of its luster without cricket!

PHOTO CAPTION: Carl Hooper, artistry personified (Photo: Peter Adrien)

There is no story like this one based on personal experience. Hence in this article, "How come people owe taxes," I share my experience with you.

Less than two months ago, a clerk from the Income Tax Office called me with respect to my tax returns. She wanted to know if I was earning fees and commissions that were not declared on my returns. She continued to say that I must let her know soon. That's all she said. That's all!

Since then I have gone through emotions of guilt, and shame. You know what I mean, the whole set of emotions that comes with knowing better and that I should do better, especially in relation to paying taxes on my income.

As a result I feel compelled to write about "how come" I owe taxes too. In addition to my situation, I have been given permission by a couple of friends to present their feelings about owing taxes on income and not paying those taxes.

As an employee, tax had always been deducted from my salary. However, in 1994 I received $225 in fees for services rendered. No tax was deducted from those fees. I did not declare them either. And each subsequent year, I received fees from the same source, no tax was deducted, and no declaration was made either. As a result, by 1999 those fees had accumulated to a huge amount and accrued tax payable of about $4,000 for the non- declared years. That's my story; a true tax confession.

I have related a true story. But now let us assume that I had other sources of income which was not declared and from which no tax was deducted. And let us further assume that the income amounted to say $60,000 - over a five-year period. Then that additional income could accrue tax payable of up to $20,000. Did you know that? And do you realise that I might continue to hide that income - living in fear of the tax man finding out my dishonesty.

There then is a very simple case of "how come people owe taxes." It could result from not deducting tax at source, or failure to honestly declare income from all sources… Until the tax man catches up with you.

Like any normal person, I shared my tax problem with my buddy who is in the trucking business. He did not understand my guilt or my shame and he felt that as long as some tax was deducted from my main source of income, that I should not declare or pay any more tax.

He reasoned that other high-income earners in construction, in the trades and in the professions, were not paying tax or not declaring their true income. And he hinted that he would never declare even half of his earned income.

However, little does he know that when these high-income earners are confronted by the tax man, they would be faced with large tax bills, which may have to be paid within a very short time. I wonder if they know that too!

So, there again is another reason why so many people have large amounts of taxes owing to the Government. It normally starts from a failure to submit returns on their income for many years. It is about our attitude towards taxes. Do not declare, do not pay; even if the tax man catches up with you.

Another friend has been quite open with me about his indebtedness to the Tax Department. He said that he received a statement from the Tax Department for taxes, fine and interest amounting to almost a quarter of a million dollars. He claimed that the Tax Department sent him assessments for three or four years at one time, totaling over $100,000. He confessed that his initial reaction was shock, anger and denial;

Then he put the papers away "to forget" about them. Mind you, he did say "and forget" about them. He said it was the tax office that forgot about the assessment, or rather only pretended to forget about the assessments. Because after four years, and without any reminders in the intervening years, the tax office sent him the statement with tax plus fines and interest totaling $250,000. This time he reeled into further shock, anger and resentment. But now he can't forget about the tax. He thinks taxes, he sleep taxes, he can’t get taxes out of his mind.

My friend wants to pay his taxes, but he cannot pay a quarter of one million dollars in the remainder of his lifetime. Like many Montserratians, he lost everything to the volcano. He cannot even begin to build a home for his family. So how or when will he be ever able to pay?

There again is another reason why people owe large amounts of taxes. This time they blame the tax office for failing to assess persons on a yearly basis. It is even claimed by some that the Tax Department trickily and deliberately send three or four years' assessments at one time, knowing that the taxpayer would be unable to pay the tax and instead accrue fine and interest.

The contents of this article are true. And believe it or not, many, many Montserratians fit into one category or the other. Yes, that's "how come" the people of Montserrat owe over $14 million in tax arrears, plus at least another $6 million in taxable undeclared income….. When the tax man catches up with us.

I have attempted to show "how come" people owe so much tax. Firstly I showed the situation of an employee not declaring additional income… until the tax office catches up with him.

Secondly, it was the case of a self-employed person comparing his status with other non- taxpaying tradesmen and professionals. The person blamed the system for allowing some categories of high-income earners to pay little or no tax.

Thirdly, it was the situation where it is claimed that the Tax Department, through its tax methods and its follow up and collection practices, frightens the good intentioned person into tax shock, tax denial and tax carelessness.

Now this has been more than a mouthful - still I have to leave you something to chew on.

Collectively, Montserratians must deal with the issue of tax arrears and tax collection now, this year, not next year. But, are our politicians smart enough to understand how come we owe so much taxes? And are they bold enough to make tax arrears, tax abolition or an improved tax collection system a campaign issue for the next election?

Jus wonderin really if the Reporter is really soft on and protective of a certain Big Man.

Jus wonderin what is the other connection is between the "proactive" farmer in the corner and his boss.

Jus wonderin if the man of language should not take a page out of the communication skills of the grassroots commentator on radio.

Jus wonderin if ZJB should charge any declared candidate for time while giving another time free.

Jus wonderin if a radio interview is not a disguised way to give a candidate free airtime.

Jus wonderin if the great radio call-inner realizes how contradictory his arguments can be.

Jus wonderin why the standard of education has not fallen to very low levels at all levels.

Jus wonderin why dem Jus Wonderins seem to rejoice only in certain topics while puttin a break on others.

Jus wonderin if the Reporter’s policy is not to publish local news.

Jus wonderin if they want us to believe that there is only one small fry in the hush-hush passport query.

Jus wonderin who is going to dissuade everybody from being a candidate in the next election.

Jus wonderin if the process of electing representatives to government is not short of something.

Jus wonderin if locals have any say in the selection of the Queen’s representative on island.

Jus wonderin if Her Majesty or her government has any clue about the people who are honoured in her name.

Jus wonderin if it is true that Mount Kick Em Jenny will flood the Caribbean Islands soon.

Jus wonderin if he should not keep on firing those he does not like until he fires himself.

Jus wonderin where the dismissal letter is going to be delivered and all who now nervous to travel.

Jus wonderin why the 18 year old told her mother she don’t want to drive in that strange color car.

Jus wonderin if the Ministry of Health learnt a lesson from the foreign school bus driver.

Jus wonderin if it is not worthwhile to change the name of Fogartys to "For Goaties".

Jus wonderin wha de relationship is between de off-shore nurse fan Cudjoe Head District and de man fan deep north.

Jus wonderin if its private practice she giving (fo lyin) why she a play nice wid de madam.

Jus wonderin if its true that a certain fast food shop selling yesterday's food for today's breakfast.

Jus wonderin if they can't let the man rest in peace first before Tom, Dick and Harry a fight for de car dem.

Jus wonderin if a really jus wan parrot e me be and if e will no longer be chirping on the nation's station.

Jus wonderin if she will get a chance to chirp anew, like some others who seem indespensable.

Jus wonderin if there isn't a cultural department any more and how long it will be before another cultural officer is installed to begin the festival planning process.

Jus wonderin after Austin who is next to go.

Beautifully landscaped grounds (1-2/3 acres); exceptional mature irrigated gardens with flowers , ornamentals, terraces, specimen palms and fruit trees .

The property is walled and fenced for privacy.

Enjoy breathtaking views of the Caribbean sea, and lush green hills, from an observation deck above the dining room accessible from spiral staircase. This home is beautifully appointed - three bedrooms, 2 baths, living room, fully equipped kitchen with adjoining pantry and laundry; 2500sq ft main living areas, 1000 sq ft covered veranda.

About 550 sq ft living space, which includes living room, dining area, kitchen, bedroom and bath.

Sparking 40ft swimming pool with large tile deck surrounded by matured foliage

At garden level there is a laundry, garden storeroom, shade house/hydroponic garden and five additional storage areas. Covered garage.

Telephone, Water, Electricity, Cable TV

(Transfer fees-8%)

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons for the post of Station Manager in the Broadcasting Unit.

To inform, educate and entertain the population of Montserrat and others within broadcasting range to reflect Montserrat’s culture and society and to encourage its economic and social development.

• To provide radio programmes with appropriate content which are effectively
• delivered in order to increase listenership.
• To ensure continuity of broadcasting provision and adequate reception across the
• island.
• To prepare and gain approval for the annual Work Plans and budgets for Radio
• Montserrat.
• To provide communications links between Montserratians at home and in the
• neighboring islands.
• To generate revenue through advertising and sponsorship and to manage all
• resources efficiently and effectively.
• To coordinate training initiatives for staff with the Office of the Chief Minister and the Department of Administration and assist with on-the job training.
• To provide information support services to Government, to inform the population
• about government policies, functions and activities, and to provide information
• support services to groups within the community.
• To coordinate the activities of all sections to ensure that sectoral objectives are met within time frames and budgets.
• To coordinate proper access of the public to the Radio Station for greater interaction and feedback.

Interested applicants should:

• possess a Diploma or a Degree in Mass Communication/Journalism or other
• related discipline; and have at least eight (8) years' experience in the field.
• have good leadership skills, with ability to competently supervise the performance
• of subordinates and provide appropriate coaching and on-the-job training;
• have good experience in general or media management.
• possess some basic knowledge of the technical operation of a Radio Station.
• have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• be computer literate.

Salary is in the Scale M14-10, that is, $44,844 - $50,268 per annum.

Applications should be accompanied by full curriculum vitae, proof of qualification, and two original letters of reference and sent to the Permanent Secretary, Administration, Government Headquarters, Brades, Montserrat, to reach her no later than

30 September 2000.