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CM Hears About Price Control Case; Now It’s Pending

By Bennette Roach

Two-time Chief Minister John Osborne, the longest serving chief minister to date in Montserrat, has expressed the opinion that as Minister of Trade he has the right to determine when an alleged offender of the Price Control Regulations of Montserrat should be prosecuted.

The honourable Chief Minister was responding to the charge that he had issued instructions or requested that charges be dropped against the business Angelos International / Repson Ltd., more commonly known as "Angelos," for selling certain items above the controlled price set by the Price Control Department in the Development Unit.

The Attorney General has denied that any such instructions were given by that office, saying "that would be improper."

Price Control officials said, "We had advised the owners of Angelos International/Repson Ltd. that they were constantly in breach of the Price Control Regulations and that any future breach would be reported."

In a report by the Price Control Department as far back as May 31 of last year, it stated: "For example, the wholesale and retail price for whole fowl imported by Angelos Int'l / Repson Ltd. is $111.44 and $3.38/lb respectively. It was sold for as much as $177.75 and $5.25/lb. This is 59.5 percent more on the wholesale and over 55 percent on the retail price."

Chief Minister Osborne, after expressing scant knowledge of the matter regarding the charges, said "I have not directed anyone to withdraw any charges."

He later conceded, however, that after the matter was drawn to his attention and he discovered that it had been taken before the courts and "thrown out," he requested that the matter be stayed until he could investigate it fully.

"It seems to me that they are picking on Angelos," he said, "and other merchants are worse than Angelos. It is not just one merchant who is involved in breaking the price controls. I want to look at the whole matter; why him and not the others?"

He said also, "I wanted to know why the matter was going back to court."

He said he was aware that the matter had gone to court and been dropped, but the Attorney General's office reports that the matter was not thrown out of court nor dropped, but that the charges were withdrawn as they were brought against an individual of the business rather than the business entity.

It is reported that there were six different matters relating to the case, and the charges brought were for "selling goods greater than maximum price contrary to Section 5:2 of the Distribution and Price of Goods Act Chapter 310.”

The police, who prosecute most cases in the Magistrate's Court, confirm that the case against Mahesh Valecha had to be withdrawn, "owing to the fact there were some change of names regarding the organization." They added that they were awaiting the new charges.  

Attorney General, Brian Cottle

The Attorney General's office confirms that the new charges have been filed and are pending, and are the same except that they are against the business rather than an individual.

In the meantime the Development Unit said that as far as they are aware the matter is still pending and no one has asked the department for the matter to be dropped.

The Chief Minister later confirmed that he would like to look over the whole matter with a view to sending out a warning to all merchants that the government intends to take strong measures against anyone breaking the price control regulations, especially when "times are so hard for everybody."

"It is not just one merchant who is involved in breaking the price controls - I want to look at the whole matter, have a review…I suggested that the case should be dropped, but I think we should send a message to the merchants that we will be vigilant," he said.

He said he believes that the government should fully enforce the regulations and should send out the message of this intention. He also said that as Minister of Trade he should be kept informed of these matters so he could determine if a particular matter has merit for prosecution. He expressed concern based on his own experiences in circumstances where he discovered that the prices varied considerably between merchants.

One of the charges in the said Report, stated: "Although repeatedly warned, Angelos Int'l / Repson Ltd. continues to display price controlled goods for sale without any price."

The Chief Minister said that government will insist that price lists be posted in shops and supermarkets.  

Bank of Montserrat Burglar Gets Nothing

Manager of the Bank of Montserrat Anton Doldron announced that there was a break-in at the bank between the hours of Sunday night and early Monday morning, but that nothing was stolen.

He said the burglar only got into a storeroom where stationery is held. It was also confirmed that the refrigerators were found void of any food and drink that was left there over the weekend.

He apologized to the bank’s customers for delay in the start of business on Monday, as police officers were on the scene. Their investigation continues.

Mr. Doldron said the bank's current security measures will be further enhanced.  Meanwhile, the police asked the public to report having seen anyone in the vicinity of the bank on Sunday evening.  

EDITORIAL

"Enforced Price Controls are not CM's Turf, They're Everyone's Responsibility"

When the Chief Minister was recently accused of attempting to influence the due process of charges being brought against a local wholesale and retail business here in Montserrat, in addition to claiming privilege to do that, he was very quick to note that many merchants in Montserrat are charging too much for different goods.

He claimed that he had bought one item which went bad on him because it was stale-dated, and when he went elsewhere to buy the item, having checked that the expiry date was okay, he found the item to be MUCH cheaper than his previous purchase. He argues that the charges should not go forward against this particular alleged offender because most or several other merchants are doing the same thing and even worse; and in view of the difficulties facing residents of Montserrat, it was in fact time for government to take some positive steps to ensure that merchants stay within the price control regulations.

Well it seems easy to see through the CM's position, since the department responsible for price controls and for which he has ministerial responsibility, within the Development Unit, was well on the mark and was in fact sending out such a message of vigilance. That he believes -- or has the misbelief -- that he has the right as Minister of Trade to decide when to go forward against whichever offender is another matter, and must be well off the mark. That authority must at all times rest with Her Majesty's Attorney General, himself an Executive Council member.

But the issues surrounding price control on Montserrat are once again brought to the forefront, and it seems that some serious steps need to be taken to address them. The Chief Minister has to do more now trying to justify his attempt to stall charges. The matter of price control for goods in Montserrat has implications too far-reaching. In the situation we face today, prices can fly ridiculously out of control here, and that could be a serious and nation-crippling thing.

Only 33 basic items, which include most basic food items, fall under the price control gamut, from sugar to chicken to milk, with some toiletry items such as soap, detergents, toilet paper and sanitary napkins included.

Last weekend well over 200 residents took advantage of  the low ferry weekend fare to go over to Antigua. Sources suggest that each household or person took no less than about $600 for shopping in Antigua, and that had to be done between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday. What a crowd of people with bags and boxes of clothing, groceries and goods -- no doubt including school materials -- was brought back to Montserrat. Did Customs charge duties? Could they? Should they?

It doesn't require much thought for anyone to understand the implications of over $25,000 being carried off this island in one day, instead of being spent in our stores and shops in Montserrat. It is an economic disaster. The question is asked, and the suggestion in fact made, that the cost of goods (and for the discussion, services) can be quite high in Montserrat, and that encourages people to go overseas, particularly "next door" to shop. That creates a vicious cycle which has to be corrected, since this has an important impact on the structure of our economy. It is said, of course, that there is a social factor, the get away. But is the get away to do something or get something we can't find in Montserrat? There are those of us who can speak to that and it comes close to home.

The private sector and the merchants in Montserrat must take stock of themselves and the situation, and government must remove the low weekend fare to support any reasonable action that the merchants take.

In this present stages of our rebirth, we cannot afford to encourage money's easy flight out of the country. There is the argument that although the current projects have taken off, most of the money will be sent overseas by way of purchased materials and the fact that most of the labourers (over 90 percent are "foreigners" and send considerable sums home.

While hard work has not been officially attributed to the death of any one individual, it is a definite cause of death when the hard worker cannot eat properly because of the ridiculous high prices of survival food items which the price controller is mandated to protect.

An unofficial survey revealed that some two hundred Montserratians leave the island every week to go shopping in Antigua, where items are notably more expensive. It has been shown that while Montserratians spend thousands of dollars buying what they see as bare necessities in Antigua, the prices here do not vary much if at all except by a few dollars and cents.
Is it that our merchants here do not assist in nation building, to become the corporate citizens the island needs so badly? If not, there wouldn't be the call to stop trying so diligently to become rich overnight at the expense of the country.

We believe that it is about time, that Montserratians get into the business of feeding and clothing Montserratians. It is high time for the locals to own and manage those ‘life-giving’ institutions at which they spend their hard earned cash.

Our leaders have to be careful not to champion the cause of the businesses, particularly the foreign ones, which indulge themselves in gouging the locals by over charging on items. Already there is no competition, so we must go to those business places for the food we eat.

The very ordinary man may not see that he is no better off to spend $75 (and more, of course) for the opportunity of shopping in Antigua rather than here. It is for that reason, as well as to help one another, that this matter needs to be taken in hand.

It is time for our leaders and business places to rethink their mandate.  

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

Jus Wonderin items may be called in at telephone 491-4715 or Fax 491-2430  

SCRIPTURE VERSE THIS WEEK

Scripture

I Am The Only ‘Jesus’ Some Will See

So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us.

2 Corinthians 5:20

When I was young I thought it quite romantic to be an ambassador. What a privilege to represent a country, to speak in a country’s name, to work defending and protecting my country’s honour and furthering its pursuits -- even offering refuge to those in special need.

As I’ve grown older I realize that I am an ambassador -- I am Jesus’ ambassador. I am the representative between Jesus and the people with whom I minister and with whom I come into contact. I am an ambassador for the people I’ve never met. I am the only ”Jesus” some people will ever see. In Jesus’ name, I am privileged to offer not only hospitality and refuge but compassion, care, kindness, and love. In Jesus’ name, I defend and protect the sacred honor of another, a person’s reputation. As ambassador to Jesus I am privileged to spread the Good News, to draw others to Jesus, to live his tender, provident care for each, for all.

As Jesus’ ambassador, I am privileged not only to receive in Jesus’ name, to give in Jesus’ name, but to receive Jesus Himself, to give Jesus Himself!

Sr. Charleen Hug, S.N.D.

2Corinthians 5:14-21; Psalm 103:1-4,8-9,11-12; Matthew 5:33-37  

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Website Reader Says Dump the Guest Book

Dear Editor,

 I would first like to thank you and your staff for providing Montserratians abroad a fairly reliable, consistent and FREE source of news about Montserrat.

 Each week, I eagerly await the posting of the Reporter on the web. However, I am very troubled by the contents of the Reporter's Guest Book. I am afraid that its contents can serve no good purpose, no matter what angle this situation is analyzed from.

 If I look at it from the point of view of a patriotic Montserratian, I am embarrassed and angry at the complete display of vulgar, crass and, simply put, stupid behavior of many. I would be afraid to know what people outside of Montserrat must think of us as a people. When asked what the mainstay of our economy is, I am more and more tempted to say

"the export of a large number of persons with near moronic and imbecile aptitude". But then that would not be very patriotic of me would it? 

If I look at it from a personal angle, the outlook is no better. Quite often I remain in my office during my lunch break and I usually read the Reporter at this time. However, I have to be very careful not to enter the Guest Book. The Network at my company picks up on certain key words on sites and depending on the contents of the site, it blocks further entry to the website. If an employee is found visiting sites with pornographic or vulgar contents, he or she is seriously reprimanded. It saddens me to know that reading the newspaper of my beloved Montserrat could possibly put me in this very embarrassing position. 

This brings me to you, Mr. Roach, a businessman. In attempting to market your paper as a medium for advertising, your potential clients should and would be very interested in market demographics about your readers. For example, where are most of your readers located, what age group do they tend to be in, what is their level of education, what are their interests etc.? A very quick source of this information can be found (unfortunately) in the Guest Book.

I do not think that I need to tell you exactly what type of picture this paints. Your readers appear to be a vulgar, marginally educated, socially unaware, immature group of people for the most part. With this type of analysis, I would think that any businessperson would find it difficult to justify spending his/her advertising dollars on a group like this. I know that all of your readers do not fit this description, but those are the only ones for the most part that make themselves visible via the Guest Book.

Your survival and more importantly your progress as a businessman are where my major concern rests. My suggestion is that you terminate access to the Guest Book. I would not suggest that you screen entries before they are posted. How could you keep up with a task like this without employing someone to do this? That individual's salary will be a wasted investment. The Guest Book is not serving any benefit to your business.

 I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to live in a country where capitalism at its best is the order of the day. I would like to see Montserrat move towards this and one of the first steps is to be able to perform cost/benefit analysis on every area of your business. Wherever and whenever the costs (not only monetary) exceed the benefits, that action must be terminated or modified without hesitation. I have seen some people's entries pleading for the Guest Book to remain open because it is a good medium for Montserratians to communicate. That is not your line of business and that should in no way impact your decision. Technology is as such that people have many ways to keep in touch with one another. Your newspaper should not become a sacrificial lamb in the name of patriotism.

 Thank you, and I wish you much success in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Auralie Maloney  

Heavy Traffic, Dirt, Noise Won't Attract New Tourists

Dear Editor,

The Montserrat government has approved a project to expand and upgrade the pier at Old Road Bay to enable a private company to commence mining sand and rock material from the Belham Valley for export via barge.  The Montserrat Government appears content to move forward without regard for the concerns of the general public and surrounding private property and tourism business owners.

It is clear that heavy industrial activity is incompatible with the existing zoning and development in the Old Road and Isles Bay area, consisting exclusively of residential, tourism and recreational development.  The adverse impact will be considerable:

• Impairment of enjoyment of the Old Road and surrounding public beach area;
• Impairment of enjoyment of surrounding private residential property;
• Loss of revenue to tourism and recreational businesses due to the impairment of enjoyment of customers;
• Loss of property value and rental revenue due to the impairment of enjoyment of owners, guests, and renters;
• Health hazards and nuisance created by dust and fuel residues from materials mining and heavy industrial traffic;
• Noise pollution from the operation of heavy equipment, trucks and barge-loading activity;
• Risk of accident and injury to the general public and residents from heavy industrial traffic on and across area roads;
• Risk of injury to the general public (especially children) from heavy industrial traffic on or near the Old Road and surrounding public beach area;
• Environmental damage to Old Road Bay and the surrounding reefs and public beach area; and
• Road and related infrastructure damage from heavy industrial traffic.

The list goes on…

It is inconceivable that the Montserrat Government would proceed to sanction this activity without hearings to incorporate the concerns of the general public and surrounding private property and tourism business owners.  The Old Road recreational beach area is a public asset and the Montserrat Government has a fiduciary obligation to safeguard it in the public’s best interest.  How ironic that a government which claims that the future lies in attracting residents, investors, and tourism would proceed to betray the interests of existing property owners and tourism-related businesses.

The Old Road Bay and Isles Bay beach area is the premier recreational beach area in the Northern Safe Zone.  The Montserrat Government has already impaired the southern beach by supporting nothing short of commercial beach sand mining, with similar disregard for its fiduciary responsibility to the general public and private property owners.

Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me!

Resident/Owner  

LOCAL and REGIONAL NEWS

Police Target Old Cars To Help Island Cleanup

The Royal Montserrat Police Force, Ministries of Health, Agriculture and the  Environment, and the Governor’s Office plan to remove derelict and abandoned vehicles to help clean up the island and make its landscapes more aesthetic.

Residents and owners of such derelict or abandoned vehicles who wish to be part of this cleanup can inform the Police Department to have them listed for removal.

Following this operation, a police press statement sates that any further vehicle, abandoned or apparently derelict, will be dealt with under the terms of the Derelict Vehicles (Disposal) Ordinance 1973, and costs will be recovered from the owner.

The program does not extend to the exclusion zone.  

CSA Wary of Integrating Pensions, Social Security

Executive members and shop stewards of the Civil Service Association (CSA) met on Wednesday to discuss several issues critical to the CSA and its members.

CSA President Easton Farrell said in a ZJB radio interview that one of the main items was the integration of the Public Service Pension Plan and the Social Security Benefit Scheme. Another important topic, he said, was the final report on the Job Evaluation Exercise.

Mr. Farrell said the union is concerned that although the report has been presented to the Government, the CSA is being kept in the dark about its contents.

“We are not so much against the exercise because every exercise has its merits," Mr. Farrell said, "but what we are saying is that we as a union need to have our input in the exercise so that the final document, the final output is in keeping with what we expect our members to have.”

He called the integration issue “a hard topic” but said that he is trying to update people as to what is happening, “what we hear, and what we think is happening and to strategize for the way forward as well.”

He said the report should be circulated because it will have serious implications for all Civil Servants and for the future standard of living of Montserratians.  

Newly Skilled Potters Aim for Higher Level

By Helena Durand

Kennard Copeland, Guyanese national and facilitator/tutor at the Methodist Church Arts and Craft Workshop, sees a bright future for the participants if they continue with the art of pottery making which they have learned.

He said yesterday at the closing of the one month programme that with the enthusiasm of the participants, and their expressed willingness to pursue it into a cottage industry, getting into a business should not be too difficult.

A number of factors will be involved, however, he said.

“I don’t think they have been exposed to business before; and to transfer this craft into a small cottage industry will take some amount of special training in terms of doing business, and they will have to get some other groups involved in terms of knowing how to manage the business and so on.”

Miss Rose Willock, a participant at the workshop and a representative of the Montserrat Arts and Crafts Association, said the Governor’s Office was instrumental in sponsoring two weeks of the training programme; the Methodist Church sponsored the other two weeks.

Miss Willock called on persons who have acquired the skill of pottery making, to come together to determine how best to take this effort forward. She said it would be a waste of time, money and energy to wait for another summer before any further training was done. "This has been happening for the past few years," she said.

"We’ve had people who’ve come with potential, who got some training in the different art forms, and yet you don’t see anything after that until next year when some more people come in.”  This year they want to go a step further and begin making items for the market. “We have to actively pursue that, else all the funding and support will have been a waste,” she said.

She said Mr. Copeland's ownership of a pottery business in Guyana will make the importation of clay easy; a blending of clays will be required because the local clay tends to crack when fired.

Miss Willock said Montserrat National Trust Executive Director Steven McNamara visited the workshop and expressed pleasure with what he had seen, and gave permission, “to accept any items made for sale at the Montserrat National Trust.”

A representative of the Governor’s Office also visited the workshop and assured them of that office's support to move to the next level.

Among pottery items made were, cups, jewelry boxes, candle holders, soap dishes, baskets, bowls, roses, breadfruit leaves, fish, map of Montserrat, houses, and full-sized and medium-sized coal pots.  

Antigua Dredgers to Hear, 'Dump it Someplace Else' 

By Helena Durand

A high level delegation from Antigua is scheduled to visit Montserrat early next week to discuss with Government officials the proposed dumping close to Redonda of dredged material from the St. John’s harbor, said Minister responsible for the Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries Hon. Margaret Dyer-Howe.

The delegation, to be led by Minister for the Environment and Fisheries Vere Bird Jr., will include Chief Environment Officer Dion Blacklane, and Technical Officers in the Ministry of Fisheries.

Mrs. Dyer-Howe said the Government of Montserrat has already taken a stand where this matter is concerned and “will tell them to dump it someplace else, preferably on land.”

She explained that it should not be too difficult for the delegation to see the reasoning behind Montserrat’s stand, since there are wetlands and swamps in Antigua where the material can be dumped.

“We know that the Fishermen's Alliance and the Antiguan public are asking the Government of Antigua to dump the dredged material on land so that it does not affect the marine resources of the neighboring Caribbean islands; and I think that every effort will be made to ensure that we do not contribute or assist Antigua in doing this (dumping at sea),” Mrs. Dyer-Howe said.

The Montserrat Reporter has learned, however, that the Antiguan government has already begun dumping the dredged material within sight of Montserrat, but in Antiguan waters, and that they have had a helicopter observing the direction of the flow which, although not moving quickly, is said to be moving west.  The coordinates of the material dumped are said to be 17 degrees north by 62 degrees west.

A legal source told The Reporter that the government of Montserrat does not have a legal position on the matter so long as the dredged material is not being dumped in its territorial waters.

The source suggests that the matter be approached in a neighborly manner,  by the Government of Montserrat, and that more studies be done by all concerned.

Mrs. Dyer-Howe concedes that legally Montserrat does not have a leg to stand on, but is not daunted by that. She said her ministry will encourage the Antiguans to desist in the name of good neighborliness, and because they cannot help but recognize the dangers that dumping so close to Montserrat will cause; especially “as their own fishermen complain that this is their best fishing ground and that of their fellow fishermen on Montserrat.”

The Montserrat Reporter Launches TV Programme

By Helena Durand

People Television and The Montserrat Reporter will be launching a community based television programme beginning Monday, September 17 in the evening called The Montserrat Reporter.

Executive Producer and Host of the Programme is Mr. Bennette Roach, Editor of the Montserrat Reporter. Director of the programme and proprietor of People Television is Mr. Denzil Edgecombe.

On the programme, Mr. Roach will discuss with one or more guests issues of importance to all Montserratians. He said the programme is aimed at “keeping our people accurately informed about things and events that happen in, and affect the island.”

The programme is timely, he said, because “our history is being rewritten, as our island goes into rebirth.”

Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Lowell Lewis called the introduction of such a programme “a good venture, and something that has always been needed. I wish the Montserrat Reporter good luck.”

Dr. Peter Baxter Finds Air Quality Improved

By Helena Durand

Dr. Peter Baxter, the epidemiologist who heads the Ash Monitoring Programme, has given Montserrat's air quality a positive review.

Dr. Baxter did a follow-up on the air sampling exercise that began when the volcanic crisis heightened.

He attributed the favorable air quality to the successful clean-up programme in Salem, Olveston and surrounding areas in the wake of the July 29 collapse of part of the dome.

Dr. Baxter’s findings are to be factored into the ongoing Hazard and Risk Assessment report being done here this week.

He warned that children still should not be allowed to play in the ash, and that persons cleaning up should do so when the ash is wet to prevent inhaling it. He said that ash masks must be worn when working in dry ash and when ash is heavy in the air.

Dr. Baxter said the levels measured in the air were “really quite low,” because residents had spent much time cleaning their roofs, patios, lawns and walls, combined with the government’s efforts of cleaning the roads. It is an optimistic picture, he said, because it shows that “with the right weather conditions and the right actions by everyone, it is possible to get back to normal living even with a relatively heavy ash-fall like what occurred on July 29.”    

Mountain Chicken's Rescue Plan Succeeds

By Helena Durand

A programme to prevent the extinction of Montserrat's frog called the Mountain Chicken, which began in 1998 at the height of the volcano crisis, is reportedly doing well. 

Mr. Kevin Duley of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (DWCT), who is in charge of breeding the frogs in the UK, is on a one-month attachment to the Forestry and Wildlife Department in the Ministry of Agriculture here. 

He said zoos around the world “have been trying for almost 20 years to breed the frogs in captivity, but this is the first recorded success.”

Thirteen adult pairs of the frogs from Montserrat were captured and transferred to the Trust in the UK, Mr. Duley said. He said his organisation, which has a long history of keeping and breeding endangered species, wanted to ensure that should the “worst happen to Montserrat, the frogs would not become extinct. The same goes for the Oriole.”

Mr. Duley said that they have been able to breed 120 frogs so far from the original 13. He noted, however, that the Mountain Chicken habitat in the Center Hills has remained healthy despite the volcano, and because the frogs’ island habitat is safe and the population “quite healthy,” there’s no need to bring the frogs back to Montserrat.

“At the moment, what we are planning to do," he said, "is to distribute the animals we’ve bred in the zoo to other collections around the world.”

Although these frogs can only be found on the islands of Montserrat and Dominica, Mr. Duley said that distributing the frogs abroad “will not take away the Caribbean’s uniqueness, because they are being sent to other zoos, not for farming.”

Adult Mountain Chicken

”There used to be Mountain Chicken in St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Martinique,” he said, “but they are now extinct. It’s an incredibly important time at the moment in Montserrat, since we have such a small area remaining that supports the species, and you’ve got additional pressures on the species that could lead to extinction. So we have to be quite careful about how many frogs are taken.”

Mr Duley said some of the animals bred abroad might be brought into Montserrat if areas which were devastated by the volcano start to recover.

Corral Being Built For Loose Livestock

By Helena Durand

A corral is being prepared to serve as a holding area for captured animals in an attempt to control loose livestock in the Lookout area.

This became necessary after increased complaints to the Ministry of Agriculture that loose livestock have been endangering people and their crops.

At a sitting of the Legislative Council on 17 July, Minister for Agriculture Hon Margaret Dyer-Howe said the unattended movement of roaming livestock on the hillsides was eroding the landscapes and creating hazards for both vehicles and pedestrians.

Mrs. Dyer-Howe said then that her ministry would spare no effort to correct the problem.

She called on livestock farmers to tether their animals securely, or face the possibility of their seizure. She said the meat of some seized animals might be given to the hospital, the prison, or the old people’s home.

“If this problem is allowed to continue," Mrs. Dyer-Howe said this week," it will spell the end of crop farming in Montserrat. The whole island will suffer and we do not intend to sit and let this happen.”  

Cable & Wireless Back In New Customer Survey

Customers of Cable & Wireless once again have the chance to tell the company their impressions of the service it provides. The company began the latest round of its twice yearly "Voice of the Customer" survey on Wednesday.

Cable & Wireless Acting General Manager Clifton Riley said, “We have used feedback from previous surveys to guide several service improvement initiatives.  Our ‘Corporate Choice’ discount programme is one example of how we have responded to the expectations of customers raised in the Voice of the Customer survey.  Survey findings also help us set objectives for our Customer Charter.

 “For example, in Montserrat respondents in the February Voice of the Customer survey cited the need for improvement in the bill payment process.  Acting on this we reopened the Salem office, providing easier access and greater convenience for customers in and around the Salem area.”

The survey developed by Cable & Wireless and conducted by CFI Group, an independent research company, allows customers to tell Cable & Wireless what are their service requirements and the satisfaction levels expected. The survey uses methodology which allows the company to put a priority on the service areas that customers say are most important to them. 

The survey is conducted by telephone interviews with respondents randomly selected from these segments of Cable & Wireless’ customer base: Residential; Small Business; Large Business; Mobile and Internet.

This round of the VOC survey is being conducted from St. Lucia and will be completed by the end of October, with results ready by the end of December.

Lookout Primary School Opened

By Helena Durand

Minister for Education Hon. Idabel Meade proudly announced on Monday that perseverance had brought in rewards, when she cut the ribbon and formally opened the Primary School at Lookout.

"We battled all opposition such as shortage of funds, shortage of teachers, etc.," Mrs. Meade said.  "The Ministry of Education did not back down. We persevered, and today we’re opening this school at Lookout.

“A few years ago our primary school was slowly depopulated as persons relocated overseas. Today we have a primary population that could sustain two schools."

Director of Education Mrs Oslyn Jemmotte said the opening of the primary school in Lookout signified a great achievement for the Ministry of Education, because all students had been accommodated at the Brades Primary School since 1997.

She said transferring the students from Brades primary school would reduce the number of children who have to travel long distances to school. It would also reduce management problems; improve discipline, school culture, students’ achievements and strengthen the sense of community in the area.

She said the compound has had a checkered past, “but we are pleased that the buildings are now being used for their original purpose. Presently, the school accommodates students from Davy Hill to Lookout, and Drummonds to Mongo Hill, who are grades K, 2, and 3.”

An additional grade is to be added annually until the school becomes a full fledged institution.  

Miss Edith Duberry

Teacher in Charge at the new Lookout Primary School is Miss Edith Duberry. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Eugene Skerritt assured parents that the new school has a bright future, as its staff comprises of teachers from Brades Primary School, and St. Augustine Primary School.   

EC$60,000 in Books Donated via Rotary

On Tuesday, Jim Hixon, President of the Rotary Club of Montserrat, officially presented a gift of approximately EC$60,000 worth of brand new books to Ruth Allen, head Librarian of the Public Library.   

The donation includes multiple copies of educational books, picture books, science kits, puzzles, arts and crafts books and cassettes, as well as a selection of fiction and non-fiction titles primarily for children. The books were donated to the Rotary Club by Books For Kids International, an organization located in Stouffville, Ontario, Canada, dedicated to developing an international book sourcing and distribution system aimed at increasing the literacy of children around the world by improving their access to books.

Thanks to the initiative of Mrs. Flora McDonald, Project Manager for Books for Kids International and friend of Montserrat, this island’s Rotary Club was chosen to be one of the first five in countries benefiting from this program, Its objectives include fostering literacy and a love of reading among children, plus developing relationships with Rotary Clubs around to build grassroots literacy programs in book donation destinations.

In speaking of her overwhelming appreciation for this gift from Rotary and Books for Kids International, Ms. Allen said the books will be available for lending not only at the Public Library. Some have already been distributed to the St. Peter’s Community Center. Others will be given to the Brades School, St. Augustine School and to Lookout. 

Ms. Allen also announced that MAC ’89 (The Montserrat Aid Committee, a branch of the Montserrat Progressive Society) expects to deliver a mobile library to the island by the end of the year and books from this Rotary donation will comprise the majority of the collection traveling in the mobile unit.  

MVO Scientists Conduct Bi-annual Reassessment

Scientists of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory and others are attending the bi-annual Scientific Risk and Hazard Assessment meeting of the Soufriere Hills volcano at the Vue Pointe Hotel. The two-day is expected to end today.

Representatives from the MVO are Director Dr. Peter Dunkley, Dr. Ricky Herd, Dr. Marie Edmonds, and Dr. Glen Thompson. Other participants are Dr. Keith Rowley, Dr. Willy Aspinall, Dr. Jurgen Neuberg, Dr. Bill McCourt and Professor Barry Voight. The meeting is chaired by Professor Steve Sparks.

A report of their conclusions will be made public later.

Participants at the meeting are reviewing the volcano’s recent eruption on July 29 to determine whether 45 million of the estimated 160 million cubic meters of the dome actually broke off during that event. Dr. Dunkley believes that would make this latest eruption one of the largest since volcanic activities began on the island six years ago, subsequently forcing more than half of the island’s 11,000 people to migrate to England.

Other residents had to relocate from the south to the north of the island. So far MVO reports indicate that the dome is growing back rapidly. However, some 18 months have been projected for some peace and quiet, barring something out of the ordinary.  

New Head of OTD Visits Montserrat

Newly appointed Head of the Overseas Territories Department (OTD) at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mr. Alan Huckle, who previously served as the Head of the Dependent Territories Regional Secretariat (DTRS) in Barbados, visited here last weekWednesday.

During his two-day stay, Mr. Huckle held discussions with His Excellency the Governor Anthony Longrigg, and Hon. Chief Minister Dr. John Osborne.

In addition, he met with Professor Howard Fergus, Mr. Barry Kavanagh, Head of DFID (Montserrat), Dr. Peter Dunkley, Director MVO, Mr. Alexander Elder, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Horatio Tuitt, the Director of the Emergency Department, and the Media.

Mr. Huckle who previously served as the Head of the Dependent Territories Regional Secretariat (DTRS) in Barbados during his two-day stay, also saw key projects in the north of the island and viewed damage caused by the volcanic eruption.  

In a brief interview with the Montserrat press just prior to his departure last Thursday evening, Mr. Huckle said he was pleased to be back in Montserrat and able to see some of the island. He said he was particularly impressed, “by the resilience of the people who are living here. They've had a very tough time and it is nice to see a society that is still happy, relatively confident and still trying to do as best as they can.”

On the currently discussed matter of British citizenship for all of Britain's Overseas Territories, he said he did not wish to pre-empt the Parliament, but that the aim of the Parliament “is to get it enacted and to get royal assent before Christmas.”

He said there is tremendous cross party support for the Bill, and that a move to amend the Bill in the House of Lords was overturned.

Mr. Huckle assured the media that “Baroness Amos, who is the new Minister for Overseas Territories is now leading the Bill through the House of Lords.”

The Bill he said still has to go to the House of Commons, but he believes that “it should go through without too many difficulties.”  

MP Claude Hogan attends CPA meetings in Australia

By Helena Durand

Member of Parliament Claude Hogan, is to attend a series of meetings in Australia.

His first assignment will be the 21^st Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference of members from small countries. This two-day meeting will be held in Darwin, north Australia where the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Executive Committee will also meet.

As a Member of the CPA Executive, Dr. Howard Fergus, representing Montserrat Legislative Council has attended these meetings. He was scheduled to have attended this meeting, but could not for personal reasons. This is the final meeting to which Montserrat will be attending as a member of the Executive. It coincides with the termination of Dr. Fergus’ services as Speaker of the Montserrat Legislative Council in September, 2001.

Discussions at the meeting will be focused on strengthening parliaments, alleviating poverty, making parliaments more gender sensitive, and raising public knowledge about the role of politicians.  

Mr. Hogan will then join more than 500 parliamentarians and officials for the 47^th CPA Conference in Melbourne from September 4^th – 15, 2001.

The participants will have the opportunity to discuss raising public perception of parliaments and their members. The conference, which will be presided over by the current President of the CPA, and President of the Australian Senate, Sen. The Hon. Margaret Reid, will challenge members to reassess the profession of politics to find better ways to conduct business.

Australia is hosting this annual conference for the fourth time in modern history as part of its celebration of 100 years federation.  The conference will begin in Melbourne, Victoria, before moving to the Australian Capital in order to allow delegates to retrace the journey of the Australian Parliament from its original temporary meeting in the

Victorian parliament to its current home in Canberra. Conference sessions will be held in the Australian parliament.  

MSS Students Do Well In 2001 CXC Exams

The Principal of the Montserrat Secondary School (MSS), Mrs. Kathleen Greenaway, has released a report of the 2001 Overseas Examination Results, which reveals the school's success  at these exams.

Thirty-five of 52 students from the Montserrat Secondary School (MSS) who sat the Computer Literacy and Information Technology (CLAIT) Stage 1 examinations passed, with the remaining eight being successful in two of three of the elements necessary to pass the Stage 1.

Eight out of 11 students were successful at the Cambridge O-Level examinations doing agriculture.  Of the 210 entries at the General Proficiency Level, 170 were awarded grades I, II and III, yielding a percentage of 81.0.  There were 49 entries at the Basic Proficiency Level. Thirty were awarded grades I, II and III, yielding a percentage of 61.2, with the overall percentage for the CXC being 77.2.

Outstanding student was Crystal Archer, who gained passes in nine subjects. She obtained three general I’s, three general II’s ,  two Cambridge O-Level and one at OCR. Students who got eight passes are Manish Valechha, Celia Marshall, and Royden Greaves. Students who got seven passes are Adrian Abrams, Dwayon Barnwell, Maureen Bramble, Sylvier Harris, Luann Lewis, Amy Menzies, Darren O’Garro, Tomieka Shiell and Phyllis Williams. The students who got six passes are Tyrone Brade, Terrod Chalmers, Maudred Gerald, Jahron Harris, Karim Lindsey, Shaniel Meade, Vinceroy Riley, Cedricia Shiell, Jenzil Skerritt, Nikisha Wade and Kennisia White.

Fourteen form 4-A students took the English A General Proficiency examinations, the report states, and all were successful. Seven gained grade I; four got grade II, and three got grade III.  

Libya to Give Antigua US$1Million for Sports

Compiled from CMC dispatches

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua,  - Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda National Sports Council, Tim Hector, confirmed on Wednesday that he had secured US$1 million in funding from the Libyan government to aid the development of sports facilities here. The complete regional aid package totals US$ 21 million.
Mr. Hector was a member of the delegation of  St. Vincent, Dominica and Grenada leaders who met last week with Libyan officials in Tripoli administration. The three leaders were Prime Ministers Keith Mitchell of Grenada, Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Pierre Charles of Dominica

The aid package comprises largely grants and limited soft loans, and will be made available as follows: US$10 million to Grenada (with US$6 million as debt writeoff on long outstanding loan repayments to Libya, plus US$4 million in grant/loan aid); US$4 million to Dominica; US$4.5 million to St.Vincent and the Grenadines; US$1 million to St.Kitts and Nevis; US$1 million to Antigua and Barbuda; and US$1 million for the Secretariat of the OECS to help promote regional integration.

In addition, Libya pledged to establish a development bank with some US$2 Billion in initial resources to facilitate economic development in the Caribbean and other developing and poor nations.
An Antigua and Barbuda political activist and editor of the weekly "Outlet" newspaper, Mr. Hector is reported to have played a key role in arrangements for the recent
joint mission to Tripoli.

In the Eastern Caribbean only Grenada and Dominica have diplomatic relations with Libya. Mr. Hector said, however, that Antigua and Libya will establish diplomatic relations within a week.
There continues to be some controversy about Libya's unofficial relations with parties and individuals in the region.
St. Lucia's Prime Minister Kenny Anthony, for example, has said that while his government was keen on having good relations with all nations, it will not tolerate any country's establishing relations with an individual politician that may be inconsistent with St. Lucia's sovereign interests.
This was in direct reference to an old relationship that existed between Libya and St. Lucia's former Foreign Minister, George Odlum, who was sacked some months ago by Mr. Anthony. Mr. Odlum has since teamed up with ex-Prime Minister John Compton in a fledgling National Alliance to contest new general election within a year.
Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Basdeo Panday, had spoken earlier of the "implications" of some Caribbean leaders going to Libya to do business at a time of misunderstandings about Libya's connections in the region.
Mr. Panday's government has been having running verbal battles with the controversial religious/community-based Jamaat-al-Muslimeen, reported to be funded by Libya, which was involved in an abortive 1990 coup to topple the government then headed by now President Arthur Robinson.

446 New AIDS Cases Reported in Jamaica

Jamaica, CMC - A total of 446 new AIDS cases in Jamaica were reported to the National HIV Surveillance Programme for the period January to June this year.
The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) said in a statement Wednesday that 255 persons died as a result of the disease during the same period.
Since the start of the epidemic in 1982, over 5,500 persons have contracted AIDS but the figure does not include the estimated 9,500 who have been living with HIV, the virus which causes AIDS, it added.
Another 3,387 persons died over the period as a result of AIDS.
The figures were disclosed by Dr. Yitades Gebre, director of the National HIV/STI Control Programme at the Ministry of Health during the launch of a HIV/AIDS media awareness campaign.

US$16.5-million IDB Loan To Better Jamaica Security

WASHINGTON, CMC - The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced Wednesday the approval of a US$16-million loan and a $500,000 grant to improve citizen security and justice in Jamaica.
This will be done through an integrated programme that will involve community participation as well as government initiatives, the IDB said in a release.
 "Among other key activities, the resources will finance a set of violence prevention initiatives that will be carried out by non-government organisations within nine communities of the Kingston metropolitan area," the IDB said.
"The menu of services to be delivered include alternative dispute resolution training, mentoring, teen centers, skills training, parenting programmes, youth gang diversion, and drug abuse prevention and treatment."
A consultative process has been designed and carried out to give each community a voice in selecting services of the highest priority. Technical assistance and rehabilitation of community-based infrastructure will be financed in order to mobilize community residents to fight crime and violence and to improve community-police relations.

Caribbean Americans Urged to Work in Unity

NEW YORK, CMC - Caribbean community leaders and business executives in New York have been strongly urged to unite and work collaboratively for the socio-economic and political development of the community and the region.
The plea was echoed by various speakers at the recent inaugural Caribbean American Leadership Summit at the Marriott Hotel in Brooklyn.
Over 100 community leaders and business executives, including many local politicians, attended the historic summit convened by the Brooklyn-based Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI).
Delegates contended that the Caribbean community here will not advance socially, economically and politically unless everyone works selflessly for its total enhancement.

CACCI's president and CEO, Roy Hastick, said that it was essential that the Caribbean American community, begin building bridges with other communities for its survival, adding that its power lies in its numbers.
"By joining forces with our African American brothers and sisters, with whom we have many issues in common, not only (would) we increase our political clout and access to business opportunities and contracts, but we also (would) help to reduce the growing disparities, gaps and inconsistencies in such areas as health and mental health, housing, employment and education."

St Lucians Reassured On State of Economy

St. Lucia, Sept 5, CMC - Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony on Tuesday night urged St. Lucians not to panic amid growing concern about the fragile state of the island's economy.
Dr. Anthony, who is also the minister of finance, said the recession in the United States was having a serious impact on St. Lucia's economic performance, and the prospects for the immediate future were not too good.
In a 90-minute wide-ranging television interview on the economy with the Government Information Service, Dr. Anthony said that despite the problems, he was still "very confident" about the future.
In recent weeks three hotels have shut down operations, two temporarily, putting several hundred workers on the breadline. Two construction companies have also sent home workers complaining there was no work to keep them.
Fears about the country's economic status have been fuelled further by a 60-percent drop in exports of bananas, the island's main export crop, and a decline in long-stay tourist arrivals that is now in excess of 20 percent.

Trinidad's Ruling Party Sees Growing Dissension

The rift in Trinidad and Tobago's eight-month old government is getting worse, with several Cabinet members condemning the actions of four ministerial colleagues described as a "gang of four."
The Enterprise Development and Foreign Affairs Minister, Mervyn Assam, accuses the four of trying to destroy the United National Congress, led by Prime Minister Basdeo Panday.
He names the 'gang of four' as Attorney General Ramesh Maharaj, Information Technology Minister Ralph Maraj, Food Production Minister Trevor Sudama and Housing Minister Sadiq Baksh.
Mr. Assam says the ministers will be forgiven if they behave themselves and apologise to the prime minister, party members and the country for their "misbehaviour."
The ruling party has been engaged in internal strife following the elections in June this year for the national executive.  

55 Cubans Sent Ashore In Florida by Smugglers

Smugglers dropped 55 Cubans in the Florida Keys on Tuesday, bringing to 107 the number of migrants brought to the United States from that island in three days.
U.S. authorities say the latest arrivals were found in three groups near Marathon, a town about midway down the 100-mile long chain of islands at Florida's southern tip.
They are being held at an immigration detention center near Miami.
The U.S. Border Patrol said the first group of 24 told agents they had paid smugglers to transport them from Cardenas, Cuba, on a 30-foot boat that returned to the island after dropping them off.
The group included seven men, nine women and eight children.  

Nevisians at the Polls For New Administration

Nevis, CMC - The people of Nevis began voting early today for a new administration to run the tiny Caribbean island's affairs.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. with Nevisians generally not making any rush to vote.
Voting is expected to get heavy in the afternoon when construction and other workers swell the ranks of the voters.
The election is to fill five seats in the Nevis Island Assembly (NIA). The parties competing are Premier Vance Amory's Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) and Joseph Parry's Nevis Reformation Party (NRP). The CCM held three seats in the last assembly and the NRP two.
Each party fielded five candidates for the election.

Nevis has an electorate of over 7,000 and a population estimated at between 11,000 and 12,000.
The 39-square-mile island is in a federation with the larger St. Kitts, where the central government is based. The NIA runs Nevis in association with the federal government.
Polling stations close at 6 p.m. and counting of ballots will start at 8 p.m  

Trinidad's Ruling Party Sees Growing Dissension

The rift in Trinidad and Tobago's eight-month old government is getting worse, with several Cabinet members condemning the actions of four ministerial colleagues described as a "gang of four."
The Enterprise Development and Foreign Affairs Minister, Mervyn Assam, accuses the four of trying to destroy the United National Congress, led by Prime Minister Basdeo Panday.
He names the 'gang of four' as Attorney General Ramesh Maharaj, Information Technology Minister Ralph Maraj, Food Production Minister Trevor Sudama and Housing Minister Sadiq Baksh.
Mr. Assam says the ministers will be forgiven if they behave themselves and apologise to the prime minister, party members and the country for their "misbehaviour."
The ruling party has been engaged in internal strife following the elections in June this year for the national executive.  

SPORTS

THE RAIN IS GONE?

By Peter Adrien

“I can see clearly now the rain is gone.” Yes, Johnny Nash’s classic comes to mind. In this context, the rain represents the developments that washed away our fertile top soil; that eroded our stock of talented cricketers and left us near-bankrupt for almost a decade.

The rain orchestrated a crisis of skills which forced us to lower our standards and to comprise our integrity. The combined effects were the embarrassment of our people at home and abroad; the decimation of our international image; the battering of our national (regional) pride; and the loss of our international competitiveness. 

Well, “I can see clearly now” that the tide is changing. The rain that left us with a paucity of talented youthful cricketers, forcing us to recycle mediocre players year after year, resulting in the loss of our collective symbols of our international cricketing supremacy, is finally gone.

At last the rain that causes the seed to germinate is present with us, confirming that the rain that ensures a rich harvest is forthcoming. The fruit may be still maturing into its full stature, but the evidence strongly suggests that a full harvest is not far away.

The investment in youth cricket is finally paying dividends. The Under-13, Under-15, and Under-19 programmes, together with the high expenditure on coaching, training, and infrastructural development, are showing results. The regional governments, the private sector and the WICB must be commended for placing scarce resources in those programmes at a time when the expected returns seemed very discouraging – at a time when West Indies cricket was on the decline; at a time when a large section of the Caribbean cricketing public had almost turned its back against the West Indies team, having lost the hope of any future turnaround.

Who says, therefore, that the Caribbean private sector is simply inept, backward, and uncompetitive? The vision of corporate sponsors like Cable & Wireless, Shell, the producer of Red Stripe beverages, the producer of Busta beverages, Scotia Bank, and a host of others who sponsor local and regional cricket because they share the vision of a better future; the vision of a winning West Indies Cricket Team, and the vision of a competitive Caribbean private sector, indeed make nonsense of that one-sided mind-set espoused by academics, public policy makers (lamentably), and a class of banal thinkers and static theorists.

Thank God, there is indeed a basis on which to anchor our faith. There is truly hope for the future! There is hope in the future of West Indies cricket, and by extension, the future of the Caribbean economy and society in a globalised environment that is already impoverishing dependent and vulnerable small island states.

The developments in West Indies youth cricket since the beginning of the New Millennium are very encouraging. The new era started with the Windward Islands, the whipping boys of regional cricket, winning the Under-19 tournament and the regional one-day tournament – the Red Stripe Bowl. Three of the young players coming from the WICB development programme delivered “big time” – batsmen Rommel Currency and Devon Smith and seamer Kenroy Peters.  They helped the Windward Islands take the 2000 championship like true champions, just as the senior Windward Islands team dominated the regional one-day championship.

The Under-15 West Indian cricketers exhibited the talents that reminded many of the young West Indian lions of yesteryear. In August 2000, they won the Costcutter Under-15 World Challenge series, played at Lord’s in London, England.  They won the 50-over competition by beating Pakistan in the finals by two wickets.

Fortunately, our Under-15 “babies” were inspired or galvanized by their idol and World champion player, Brian Lara, when they witnessed him scoring a brilliant hundred at Old Trafford just before their crucial game. And their national pride was evident. They enjoyed the master craftsman’s exhibition clad with their West Indian blazers. These children were reflecting the tie that binds the Caribbean people.

The synergy between the different levels of cricket has been evident. Some of the Under-19 players graduated onto the Under-23 team and onto the senior team; some of the Under-15 players graduated onto the Under-19 team.

By 2001, the youngsters playing the Under-19 regional tournament without their more illustrious competitors could stage such high quality performances that all those who witnessed the competition were impressed that the future looks good. The Leeward Islands won the 2001 tournament for the first time since 1989 by defeating Guyana in their final match to top the point table with 44 points. The talents in the tournament were many, and the competition for places in the Under-23 will be stiff. That is very exciting news for West Indies cricket.

The more illustrious players that we referred to were at the time touring England, and were giving an excellent account of themselves. At the time of the writing, the youngsters who were leading the 3-Test series 1- 0, were in command of the third and final Test. Having being bowled out for 166, they reduced England to 137 and, were 322 for four wickets. Nevisian Tonito Willett had scored a brilliant 103 and Guyanese run-machine, Narsingh Deonarine was 98 and looking hungry for a hundred. 

Kenroy Peters and Devon Smith were the main tormentors of the English youngsters in a tournament which showcased a number of talented West Indian and English cricketers.

The evidence suggests that we have nothing to fear if we continue to attract our young people to the cricket, use our scarce investment capital for the development of our human capital, link our emerging sectors with the saleable cultural products (such as cricket) that are competitive in the marketplace, harness and nurture our youthful raw talents and, give them the opportunity to blossom into professional players.  Let us say a hearty thanks to the youth coach, Gus Logie.

Have Faith! Rally 'round the West Indies.

Peter Adrien is an author, a syndicated sports analyst and freelance photographer. He can be contacted via telephone (869) 465-4813 or E-mail: Adriens@caribsurf.com

PHOTO CAPTION: Gus Logie, the master young coach (Photo: Peter Adrien)  

FEATURES/OPINION

Qadafi Pledges

By Rickey Singh
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Sept 5, CMC -

The government of Libya's Muammar Qadafi has pledged to establish a development bank with some US$2 Billion in initial resources to facilitate economic development in the Caribbean and other developing and poor nations, and to immediately release approximately US$21 million in financial aid to countries of the Eastern Caribbean.
This promised flow of economic assistance to the Caribbean follows a recently concluded three-day visit to that Arab state of North Africa by three Prime Ministers, a Health Minister and a leading political activist of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
The aid package, comprising largely grants and limited soft loans, will be made available as follows: US$10 million to Grenada (with US$6 million as debt write-off on long outstanding loan repayments to Libya, plus US$4 million in grant/loan aid); US$4 million to Dominica; US$4.5 million to St.Vincent and the Grenadines; US$1 million to St.Kitts and Nevis; US$1 million to Antigua and Barbuda; and US$1 million for the Secretariat of the OECS to help promote regional integration.
But as President Gaddafi prepares to release the US$21 million aid package and send a nine-member delegation to the Caribbean within the next two weeks, as a follow-up to the trip by the trio of Prime Ministers and others, there continues to be some controversy about Libya's unofficial relations with parties and individuals in the region.
The Prime Minister of St.Lucia, Kenny Anthony, for example, has said that while his government was keen on having good relations with all nations, under no circumstances would it tolerate a situation where a country seeks to establish relations with an individual politician that may be inconsistent with St. Lucia's
sovereign interests.
This was in direct reference to an old relationship that existed between Libya and St.Lucia's former Foreign Minister, George Odlum, who was sacked some months ago by Anthony. Odlum has since teamed up with ex-Prime Minister John Compton in a fledgling National Alliance to contest new general election within a year.
Earlier, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Basdeo Panday, had spoken of the "implications" of some Caribbean leaders going to Libya to do business, without even having diplomatic relations, and at a time of misunderstandings about Libya's connections in the region.
Panday's government has been having running verbal battles with the controversial religious/community-based Jamaat-al-Muslimeen, reported to be Libya funded and involved in an abortive 1990 coup to topple the government then headed by now President Arthur Robinson.
Confirmation of Libya's aid pledge and the proposed development bank has since come from the three OECS heads of government who made the journey to Tripoli last month - Prime Ministers Keith Mitchell
of Grenada, Ralph Gonsalves of St.Vincent and the Grenadines and Pierre Charles of Dominica - as well as the Antigua and Barbuda political activist and editor of the weekly "Outlet" newspaper, Tim Hector.
Old allies of Libya in the Eastern Caribbean have been Hector, who is reported to have played a key role in arrangements for recent joint mission to Tripoli; Gonsalves; Rosie Douglas (the late Prime Minister of Dominica who was succeeded by Charles); and George Odlum, St.Lucia's former Foreign Minister.
In the Eastern Caribbean, only Grenada and Dominica have diplomatic relations with Libya.
Contrary to earlier conflicting reports quoting Prime Minister Lester Bird of Antigua and Barbuda about reservations he had in going to Libya prior to opening diplomatic relations, a 'Memorandum of Understanding' signed on August 18 in the Vincentian capital of Kingstown, confirms the nature of an agreement that was discussed at the 34th Summit of OECS leaders in Dominica from July 25-26.
The memorandum, a copy of which was obtained by the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), was signed by Prime Minister Gonsalves in Kingstown "on behalf of the Prime Ministers of the member countries of the OECS and Ali Mohamed Ageili, Personal Envoy of Brother Colonel Qadafi".
Signing of the five-page memorandum had followed a visit to some of the seven countries of the OECS sub-region in June by another representative of the Libyan leader, Mukhtar Al Ganas, who had a meeting in St.John's with Prime Minister Bird.
Then followed discussions on OECS-Libya relations at the OECS 34th Summit in Dominica from July 25-26 when, with the exception of the Prime Minister of St.Lucia, Kenny Anthony, five heads of government agreed to make a joint mission to Libya between August 25-29.
But Prime Ministers Bird and Denzil Douglas subsequently backed out of the visit. Instead, Douglas sent his Health Minister, Earl Martin, and Bird and Hector had a telephone conversation about the latter's participation in the mission with the understanding that he was going in his own right as an invited guest of the Qadafi government.
Now that the Libyan aid package has been announced, Prime Minister Bird has acknowledged that his government would be happy to accept the US$1 million pledged by Libya to Hector for the country's National Sports Council, of which Hector is chairman.
The 34th OECS Summit in Dominica that had discussed the joint mission to Libya, would have been in possession of relevant information about expectations from the visit to Libya and meeting with the President, according to OECS Secretariat and ministerial sources, including possible financial assistance for the secretariat.  

COUNTING CHICKENS

By Kevin and Siân Buley

When we arrived in the island last Wednesday and stated our business, the customs official looked at us incredulously and said “you guys are married, and you work together?” Well, there’s a first time for everything, and after a week there has still been no mention of divorce……

We are working with the Forestry Department until the beginning of September, doing a survey of the mountain chicken; and will also be trying to get some idea of how the other amphibians and reptiles are getting on in the wake of the volcano. We work for the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, which has its headquarters at Jersey Zoo (that’s the original island of Jersey in the English Channel and not the New one in the US). It is there that mountain chickens and orioles (tannia birds) are kept and bred, just in case the worst happens and they become extinct in Montserrat in the future.

The frog work is part of a monitoring programme that was developed by Dr Jenny Daltry of Fauna and Flora International, and has been carried out every 4-6 months or so by Forestry staff for the past 3 years. Basically, it involves walking up and down ghauts looking and listening for frogs at night and examining their habitat during the day.

Reptiles and amphibians (collectively known in the business as ‘herps’ for some reason) are a group of animals that people, apart from a minority of slightly odd enthusiasts, are not very fond of. In fact, all over the world they are feared, loathed or eaten. They do not have the same appeal as most birds or mammals, and are generally considered to be more useful dead than alive.

Justifying why it is a good idea to keep herps around is a difficult task. For many people simply being a part of a place’s unique collection of wildlife or ‘biodiversity’ is not enough. There are several different views to consider: Some would argue that we have a moral obligation to protect the creatures that share the planet with us. Others believe that all living things are interconnected and that removing species from that web will lead to its destruction – just how many rivets can you remove from an aeroplane before its wing falls off and it crashes? There are also economic and scientific reasons to maintain biodiversity – vast number of vital resources, such as medicines, are derived from living things, and all the time new discoveries are being made that are beneficial to the human race. Finally, there is the spiritual link that we have with nature – animals and plants have inspired all kinds of art since prehistory. Many people find a magical sense of well being in beautiful and wild places – think of the growing worldwide interest in ‘ecotourism’ and the immense popularity of bird watching,

There are actually 13 different kinds of herps that call Montserrat home, and 8 of these are found nowhere else in the world. The iguana here has recently been revealed to be very different from those anywhere else, and work is currently underway to establish if it is in fact a new species – lets hope they don’t all get eaten in the meantime!

The mountain chicken is found only here and on Dominica, although it was once much more widespread, and is known to have been wiped out on St Kitts, St Lucia and Martinique in the last 100 years because of over-hunting and habitat loss. In Dominica a growing number of tourists wanting to sample the island’s National Dish are pushing the frog closer to extinction there too. The Montserratian frogs may actually be different from the Dominican ones, but again more work is needed to confirm this.

There are some 3800 species of frog on Earth and new ones are being discovered all the time. Out of all of these, the mountain chicken is thought to be the 3^rd largest, and aside from being quite tasty (apparently), it is an incredible and unique species of frog. Next week we’ll tell you why…

Before signing off, we’d just like to ask that you please take a few minutes to fill in the following questionnaire, cut it out and drop it off at the Forestry Department, Reporter office or National Trust. This will help us to get an idea of how Montserrat’s native herps are getting on, and indicate where we can find them. Many thanks, and we shall keep you posted on the progress of our study.  

OF PSALMS AND POLITICS

No one in Montserrat is free from financial stress. Or so you thought. But you are wrong. Oh you are so very wrong. There are those, not many, mind you, but there are those who have still not yet felt the bite of dispossession, the sting of debt, the grip of despair, the discomfort of inappropriate shelter. It is these men and women who we must fear.

“For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue.”

It is these untouchable men who demand that embattled, debt-ridden, cash-poor businessmen be taken to court for non-payment of social security deducted from workers pay.

It is these misguided men who demand that national heroes and traveling businessmen be denied travel out of Montserrat.

It is these Napoleonic women who “shub” vouchers for sale-less, cash-poor suppliers of government goods and services at the bottom of the heap and demand that they wait another three months for payments.

It is these foreign megalomaniacs who visit British ire upon us and swoon and strut with the very importance of being the British aid conduit.

“Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.”

Montserratians cower and stagger under the burden of decreasing incomes, increasing debt, shrinking opportunities, leaderlessness, absence of political vision, a welfare state, misdirection, absence of a future, absence of a homeland, no real purpose for holding on!!!!

“There be many that say, 'Who will shew us any good?' Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.”

We all believed, to some extent in the rhetoric of love and money. We needed to believe it. Our miserable lives demanded that we buy into it hook line and sinker. We overlooked the price that was being demanded.  We sometimes said: “Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.”

But we never demanded: “let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.”

And then we lost sight of reason with a few Judas coins. And now as our economy rapidly dies, our meager numbers of nationals dwindle each month and our culture becomes diluted with sex workers and crimes of greed and poverty.  As our nation bleeds we point our fingers, we gnash our teeth, we gird up our ulcerated guts and we say: “He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.”

But lo and behold, we too fell in that pit of iniquity along with our imprudent leaders. We, like so many lost sheep, must follow our misbegotten Shepherd into the belly of despair and chaos. Yea, even unto the shores of the same Great Britain whose citizenship our Shepherds so glibly and disingenuously deny that we desire.

We become more impoverished each day. We see no sliver lining anywhere upon the horizon. We have no hope for tomorrow. But yet and still we hold on. We hold on: “for the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

"Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

Put them in fear, O Lord: that the nations may know themselves to be but men.”

We live in hope that even one among them, even one Technician within the Civil Service, one amongst the Shepherds will stand up and honestly say, show us the way. For we are out of our depth.  We know not what we do. We know not what to do!

But sad to say: “They are all gone aside, they all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Shall we then all not rise up, beat about our chests and scream; “mea culpa, mea culpa”? Have we not brought all this on our own heads? Who can we blame for this economic inertia? Who can we blame for the immense stupidity of the Strategic Development Plan? Who can we blame for having taken a giant step back in time? Who can we blame for the fear and the stress of everyday living? Was it not us, you and I, who purchased this turmoil for a few Judas silver dollars? Did we not sell our country’s future, our children’s’ birthright, for a pauper’s ransom? Are we having fun yet?

And if we be but honest, we can not but say: “my wounds are stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness, I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it has also gone from me. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sores: and my kinsmen stand afar off.”

But whatever be built up can be torn down again. We best be remembering that “the kingdom is the Lord’s and he is the governor among the nations,”  

FARMERS’ CORNER

By Justin ‘Hero’ Cassell

(Agricultural Development Officer)

 “EAT FROM THE LAND, NOT FROM THE CAN”

Reintroduction of Hot Peppers

The Production of hot pepper on island is almost zero.  The Department of Agriculture is in the process of reintroducing hot pepper into the local cropping system in a very cautious manner.  The domestic demand is very small, and although several overseas markets exist for this commodity, they are inaccessible to Montserrat because of transportation difficulties.

The Department of Agriculture is promoting limited production geared at meeting the needs of local processors and households' demand for the fresh fruit.  Seedlings of the Scotch Bonnet were distributed to farmers who made requests and needing a few plants for backyard production.

Road Maintenance

Further enhancement and maintenance work on the Upper Blakes farm roads have been completed.

A 2,500-foot section of road was graded, compacted with a hardcore surface, and drains were cleared.  Farmers in the area have expressed appreciation for the improvement in access to their farm plots.  Similar work will be completed on the Duck Pond road shortly.

Egg Project Approved

A project promoting egg production and marketing was approved on August 9^th.  This project provides assistance to the three major egg producers on island.  The assistance will enable these producers to attain a level of production necessary to satisfy the local demand.

DA Meets with Farmers

Director of Agriculture Gerard A.L. Gray met with farmers at Duck Pond this week to discuss irrigation needs.  With irrigation, farmers would be able to produce more consistently, hence increasing their production and profitability. VOLCANO LIMERICKS

VOLCANO LIMERICKS

Volcano Reassessment

The Emerald Isle once again girds

As 'experts' strain whey from the curds;

They're conferring now

To figure out how

To rephrase discouraging words.

Speech Therapy

Although it may not be immoral,

It surely offends when it's oral;

For hearers' morale,

Pronounce it corral,

So please stop calling it 'coral.' 

JUS WONDERIN

Jus wonderin who was de youth who used to hide when he see de big car coming.

Jus wonderin who a dis karate man and de weight lifter dem be.

Jus wonderin if MP stands for Mad Police, Murder People, Maxie Priest or Middle Pump.

Jus wonderin which part of de middle stump dat dem a bat, de back, or de front.

Jus wonderin maybe de Editor love some one inna BBC, a wha a you grudge.

Jus wonderin about de $700.00 love what it all about.

Jus wonderin wha go happen inna de year 2002 and if all awe a go turn over a new paper (no move leaf).

Jus wonderin when I de Fan say ‘nuff respec for de jus wonderin crew if it okay.

Jus wonderin if it’s true it is jus de Editor car couldn’t start at BBC.

Jus wonderin if de latter rain is already on us.

Jus wonderin if we tell Jesus half the things we say on each other to other people, what will happen to conversation in Montserrat.

Jus wonderin if we no  dat afta ebbry dark cloud there be a silver string.

Jus wonderin why some people go to work with such bad attitudes.

Jus wonderin in what year the Bank of Montserrat will have its next Annual General Meeting.

Jus wonderin what happened to the McDonalds’s play ground for Davy Hill.

Jus wonderin who got the .25cents off each Big Mac.

Jus wonderin if the projects started because they agreed to Gerald’s.

Jus wonderin who is going to tell the truth and who threatened the minister.

Jus wonderin what happened to the big RC fete this year.

Jus wonderin if dem lacking funds.

Jus wonderin why de colours of de houses in Lookout a fade already.

Jus wonderin if any money deh fe paint dem over.

Jus wonderin why dem stap de Saturday helicopter if de reason substantial enough or is just the usual DFID pressure.

Jus wonderin why the Boss asked about the ticket money, after working so hard, it shouldn’t be free.

Jus wonderin where all the love and money gone.

Jus wonderin if is true the doc is now treating non-party supporters the way he suffered at the hands of the last government.

Jus wonderin if he now knows what goes around comes around.

Jus wonderin what what happen to last years festival committee and what is happening to festival this year.

Jus wonderin how many more party supporters will be employed.

Jus wonderin if every person on the island should not get the same opportunity.

Jus wonderin what is happening in the new government.

Jus wonderin if the Civil Service Association have any support from the new government.

Jus wonderin when we are going to be told the real reason for the two PS change of office. 

Jus wonderin what new projects the new government has implemented and if there is a single one.

Jus wonderin who is willing to talk out about the hard times we facing in this country.

Jus wonderin where is labour speak.

Jus wonderin why the British, (DFID) people dem pan Montserrat tink dem could do wha dem like ya.

Jus wondrin why one of them tink PWD yard belang to e.

Just wonderin why we have to pay for DFID officials to go to Antigua to lime.

Jus wondrin if the new governor could stop all this willful waste of money.

Jus wonderin who pays the bills, or where the money comes from from when they go to restaurants and dine.

Jus wonderin what is happening with the shopping complex project that was approve for Lookout by the last government.

Jus wonderin how long the activist will bite his tongue. 

ADVERTISEMENTS

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

September 22, 2001

Notice is hereby given that the 37^th Annual General Meeting of the St Patrick's Co-operative Credit Union Ltd will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2001 at the Vue Pointe Hotel, Olveston, Montserrat at 4.30pm.

AGENDA

OFFICIAL OPENING

1.                 Call to Order

2.                 Invocation

3.                 Credit Union Prayer

4.                 Credit Union Song

5.                 Chairman's Welcome

6.                 Feature Address

BUSINESS SESSION

7.                 Ascertainment of Quorum

8.                 Minutes of the 36^th Annual General Meeting

9.                 Matters Arising

10.             Board of Director's Report

11.             Credit Committee Report

12.             Management Report

§        Auditors Statement

§        Financial Statements

§        Budget 2001 and 2002

13.             CUNA Presentation

14.             Elections

15.             Appointment of Auditors

16.             Awards and Presentations

17.             Adjournment

Sarita Francis

Secretary

^{Reporter Jobs}