Many Montserratians living in the United States this week can enjoy relief from the fear of having to give up their jobs or having to return to Montserrat with the uncertainty of no where to go.

Attorney Journal Janet Reno announced Monday that the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service has extended inclusion of Montserratians under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program program until August 27, 2001, to replace the six month period automatic extension provided for in the statute. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C).

The TPS for Montserratians is now entering its fourth year has been in effect since August 1997.

The U.S. said the extension was granted based on a recent assessment that found conditions and volcanic activity on the island to be disruptive to normal life.

The State Department memorandum that effected this new extension is quoted as saying: "Since the eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano began in the southern part of Montserrat in 1997, the island has remained in a state of crisis. Most recently, in March 2000, the volcano turned deadly again."

The extension makes TPS available only to persons who have been continuously physically present since August 28, 1997, and have continuously resided in the United States from August 22, 1997.
It is understood that the further argument is made that there continues to be a substantial but temporary disruption of living conditions in Montserrat as a result of environmental disaster, and the island continues to be temporarily unable to handle adequately the return of its nationals.

The order says eligible nationals of Montserrat (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Montserrat) may re-register for TPS and an extension of employment authorization. It said re-registration is limited to persons who registered during the initial registration period, which ended on August 27, 1998, or who registered after that date under the late initial registration provision. Persons who are eligible for late initial registration may register for TPS during this extension.
The 30-day re-registration period begins October 2, 2000, and will remain in effect until November 1, 2000.

No current figures were immediately available
Further information is available from Michael Valverde, Residence and Status Services Branch, Adjudications, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Room 3214, 425 I Street, NW., Washington, DC 20536, telephone (202) 514-4754.

Compiled from dispatches

Dominica - Dominica's Prime Minister Dr. Rosie Douglas 58, who turned his notoriety as a young campus activist and older crusader for human rights into political success in his island country, was found dead at his home in Portsmouth early Sunday

hours after returning to the island from an extensive overseas trip.

Communications and Works Minister Pierre Charles, 46, was sworn in Tuesday to succeed the late prime minister.

Plans for a state funeral were made uncertain by a specific request of Mr. Douglas' mother and other family members for a post mortem which determined the cause of death to be from an enlarged heart brought on by the effects of high blood pressure. A state funeral may therefore be delayed until October 14, according to an official source in the Prime Minister's office.

Official condolences on the death streamed in to Dominica from governments in the region and across the world.

The 58-year-old Douglas explained that his desire to eradicate injustice got him into trouble while a student at the then Sir George Williams University in Montreal, Canada.

His participation in a 1969 protest against racism at the university's computer center landed him in jail and he was deported to Dominica. He said he had no regrets about the incident. After his deportation, Mr. Douglas entered politics, following the footsteps of his father and of his brother Michael, although he did not join the Dominica Labour Party (DLP).

Instead, he chose to form the Popular Independent Committee (PIC) in 1975, which he said sought to educate Dominicans about political independence from Britain.

He joined the Labour Party, however, in 1980 and won his first seat in 1985.

Mr. Douglas suffered his first elections defeat in 1990, but was re-elected in a by-election in 1992 to the Portsmouth seat made vacant by the death of his brother.

He went on to become leader of the DLP a year later, lost the 1995 general elections, and became Opposition leader in Parliament.

Mr. Douglas said it had been his aim since then to give the party broad appeal.

He had been highly critical of the United Workers Party (UWP) regime of Edison James, which was defeated in the January 31 election, especially over its handling of the Dominica economy.

Mr. Douglas spent a lot of time focusing on his relations with the British Labour Party, for which he helped to campaign in the last British general elections. The party, in turn, funded aspects of the DFP campaign.

He ignored frequent criticisms from the government that his meetings with foreign leaders were no more than posturing and hand-shaking photo opportunities. That was particularly the case in the 1995 general election when he had to defend his dealings with Cuba, while many Caribbean countries shunned the socialist Caribbean nation.

Since he took over the leadership of the Labour Party in 1992, Mr. Douglas managed to shift the party from left of center to an ideological center ground.

"The DLP is now electable, it is no longer a fringe left party or the mismanaged party of Patrick John," he said. "It is a serious center party which attempts to be amenable to all sectors of society, from the private sector to the working class, to the unemployed youth."

It has always been and will always be my firm resolve to publicly write or voice my views on any matter that I deem to be within my intellectual realms of competence, and the issue of Press Freedom is definitely among my areas of expertise. This article is very timely, due to recent ongoing debates on the streets of Montserrat this past week, where words like censorship and freedom were often heard.

Usually, freedom of the press is defined as the right to communicate ideas, opinions and information through the printed word without government restraint. It is a deeply held value in many countries around the world, especially the powerful United States of America, which constitutionally guarantees freedom of the press. A clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution clearly states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievances."

Even the world governing body, the United Nations General Assembly, in 1948 enshrined the following in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

A central purpose of freedom of the press is to promote an educated and informed people that can make decision about public affairs. Freedom of the press is regarded as central to the functioning of democratic government and a free citizenry. A democratic society requires freedom of information and freedom of expression, and this gives the press its vital role, that of providing people with the information that they need to know in order to be democratic citizens. Unaccountable power is the enemy of democracy, and the investigation of both the use and abuse of power can never be an invasion of privacy.

So if one takes an absolutist view of the First Amendment, they would recognize some limitations to press freedom. Press freedom in that light does not mean absolute freedom but rather free in the sense of having minimal government restraints placed upon it. Yes, a number of factors limit freedom of the press. Some are external to the press, such as considerations of national security, court rulings, libel actions, pressures from advertisers and other groups, and subscriber desires. Some are internal such as professional codes of ethics, the editorial power structure itself, press councils and the like.

So the core of press freedom is really editorial autonomy. This means that the media are free to publish or broadcast what they want without government interference or prepublication censorship. Simply put: The press can criticize the government without fear of being shut down. Managers of the press must have the freedom to make their own decision vis-a-vis editorial content; so they make these decisions and, in so doing, are not restricting press freedom but are exercising it. In a free and open press system, at times the press may be a friend of the government and at times an opponent. One must note here that public officials have the protection of privacy but which, at best, is very limited. Once they are in the limelight they must expect constructive and destructive criticisms.

Unrestricted freedom is impossible. Any freedom that is possible and desirable does and should have some limitation. Realistic freedom must have some base point or ground. There are many rationales for limiting freedom such as the speaking of foul language, and actions that would harm others or the foundations of society must be curtailed. Speech and writing should only be free as long as they contribute to forming the public mind. For example, there can be no right (freedom) to destroy a liberal democratic state, with disloyal speech or writing that would generate a Caribbean Hitler.

According to Article 10 of the European Conventions for the Protection of Human Rights "freedom of speech should only be restricted where there is a pressing social need to do so for the advancement of some other important objective. Such freedom may be subject to conditions prescribed by law and necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security."

The writer Philip Wylie observed that "the image of our media turns out to be cowardly and unfree in a very great though not inclusive degree….The media . . . either foster industry’s synthetic image, or remain silent about the . . . human debasement and the rest of the unfavourable truth hid behind the idol. They go along, too, with the support at least by silence, of pious interference with liberty. You see, the freedom is there, but sometimes some media houses do not use it to the fullest extent. Such self-imposed restriction does not mean that the media house is not free . . . simply . . . that its ‘full freedom’ is temporarily set aside until a stronger will, coupled with more courage, will project (it) toward a more forceful and responsible utilization of the freedom that it does, in truth, have."

I was in my office when a church member stopped by to see me. He and his family had just returned from a trip to San Diego, California. Along the drive they had stopped to eat. Almost immediately, they noticed a man searching for food in the trash cans. The church member asked his wife to prepare a plate of food for the man. He was quite surprised when his wife returned and told him that the man refused the plate of food. Frustrated, he decided to take the plate of food to the man. He wanted to know why the offer of food had been refused.

"Forgive me," the man said, "but I and others like me have been poisoned when we accepted food from strangers." The church member took food from the plate and ate it. He then offered the plate of food again. This time the man accepted it with gratitude.

This story helped me remember that when Jesus established the new covenant at the Last Supper, he was telling us that we all are of profound, even infinite worth to God. We are to reflect this truth in all our encounters. At the altar or on the street, we proclaim God’s great love for all humankind.

Every encounter is an opportunity to embody our beliefs.

Jose’ Orlando Rivera (Aibonito, Puerto Rico)

Prayer Focus: THOSE WORKING TO HELP THE HUNGRY

Dear Editor,

I have many fond memories of Bachu and Asha Kothari from the time I worked in Montserrat as a district medical officer between 1972 and 1974.

Bachu was a dedicated surgeon with impeccable ethics who gave many years of devoted service to the people of Montserrat. It was a real privilege to know this gentleman as a colleague, and my wife and I will always remember the many wonderful times we shared with the Kotharis in Montserrat.

I extend deep condolences to Asha and the children.

Joe Daly

Dear Sir,

It would appear from your recent statements that you are starting to dabble in the domestic political affairs of Montserrat.  As far as I can gather that is not within your remit.  If the opposition parties have problems with access to the radio station there are many ways in which they can raise them, and I doubt anyone has asked for your help in that regard.

Your suggestions for regulatory bodies and independent boards are valid ideas; but coming at the point where you are voicing objections about things which you claim show you and your departments in a bad light, they do not sound genuine or made in good faith.

For the record, your newsletter is in my opinion falsely called the Montserrat Newsletter?  Its content has so far primarily been about the governor and DFID.  But then I suppose that was the intention.  Why fund a paper that's not going to pat your back?  No need for a different or dissenting voice there then.

I urge you to nip your meddling in the bud and concentrate on things which could improve the lot of Montserrat. 

For example: The responsibility for Offshore Financial matters falls within your portfolio.  What is being done to make sure that Montserrat benefits from this lucrative market?  Don't you see this as a growth area that is not entirely dependent on the uncertainties surrounding the volcano?  Or is it part of your directive to stifle any resurgence of this industry?

Respectfully,

Dear Mr. Editor,

I listened intently to a panel discussion and phone-in programme on radio ZJB on "Domestic Violence" on October 3, 2000.

I must admit that I was greatly disappointed on the focus of the programme. In my judgement, the emphasis was on promoting "Domestic Violence" rather than endeavouring to prevent it.

Yes, Mr. Editor, there is domestic violence in our society, but dangling penalties over would-be offenders wouldn't cure it.  What I believe is our duty as members of this society is to reduce domestic violence or stamp it out totally.  This must be our objective.

In order to receive this we need to sensitize the public as to what domestic violence is, the causes of it and then to provide curative or preventative ways of resolving its possible causes and effects, so that our families, communities and homes can live in love, peace and harmony with one another.

For example, if domestic violence stems from economic pressures within the home, alcoholism among family members, drug addiction, emotional stress, mental or psychological disorders, social or academic inequality between partners, incompatibility, racism hatred -- just to mention a few. There what I thought the panelists would have done was to come up with possible measures to prevent abuse or violence which stem from these situations. It is important for the public to know what are the sources or root causes of domestic-violence-free lifestyle.

It is counter productive to be re-active in these instances as against being pro-active. Let us panelists and people, government, NGO's, social clubs, groups and organizations get together and produce and develop pro-active programmes to educate our communities on the prevention of domestic violence.

Let us for God's sake not wait for violence to occur, then dangle penalties over the heads of our people or introduce punitive measures to deal with offenders. Let us seek not to have offenders. I hope this would be our future objective or realistic approach.

Yes laws are necessary to protect the rights of citizens, but it is more important for the public to know how not to infringe on such rights to discourage domestic violence. Deuteronomy chapter 10, verses 12 & 13 read:

"Now O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your Soul, and to observe the Lords commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good."

Let God's command be our right. It is one life, it will be past, with all its manmade rights. Only what's done for Christ will last.

Joseph H Meade

Mr. Editor:
As a past student of St Augustine School I write this article with a bit of reservation.

Reservations because who I am today started with some of the education I obtained at St Augustine School.

I must also state that I am not one of the applauding students of that education institution because of the unfortunate treatment students of poor family like me had to endure at the hands of some tutors at the school.

However, I wish not to appear too negative because St. Augustine School deserves most of the tributes which were bestowed on it, tributes to both students and institution. I am very concerned, however, about what was called an Award Ceremony to honour persons who in some way kept the school to its present day fame.  I am concerned because I cannot believe the persons who were responsible for nominating the awardees.

Mr. Editor, if we were celebrating 125 years of the school's existence, how come, with the exception of the ICM sisters, only persons who came in contact with the school from 1989 (the last 11 years) were awarded? I am in no way saying that the persons or most of the persons who were awarded did not merit the awards. Let me be one of the persons to congratulate them. What I am asking is, what became of the other 114 years? Was any research carried out by the persons who made the recommendations?

If the ICM Sisters were awarded, how about Frs. Ed and Bates, who were both instrumental in the financing and construction of the now still standing monumental school building in Plymouth? How about the students that came up with the idea to have an annual Roman Catholic Fete which is now the biggest fete on Montserrat after Christmas Festival? What about Bishop Demets, who played such a significant role in seeking financing for both the school and the church? How about some of the local teachers who championed the prejudiced system in the early years of the school? How about some of the students that are great achievers in Montserrat or where ever they are? Need I go on?

In all of this all I am trying to say that not only the persons who were involved with the school for the last 11 years deserve awards. After all we are celebrating: One Hundred and Twenty Five years and 11 from 125 is 114. What happen to the 114 years?

Montserrat Teachers on Thursday joined their counterparts in observing World Teachers Day.

The Day was to be observed under the theme Teachers Expanding Horizon’s.

The day was heralded by a live panel discussion which was held on Radio Montserrat on Wednesday evening at 8 o’clock.

The panelists for the evening included Community Development Officer Mrs. Maudlyn Sweeney, Parent Teachers Association President Dr. Ronnie Cooper and Mr. Joseph Meade a retired head teacher; they discussed a wide range of topics surrounding teachers and students. President of the Montserrat Union of Teachers Hyacinth Bramble Browne who was also present said that the discussion which was opened to the public to call in was the association’s way of stimulating thoughts about teachers.

There were very few callers but observers expressed opinions that the panelists did a commendable job in their discussions and suggestions.

Mrs. Bramble Browne said that there would have been no major activities have been planned for the day as a programme is being put together for Teachers Week later this month.

The fourth annual meeting of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Ministers of Environment Policy Committee will be held in Carriacou, Grenada, next week.

The October 11-12 meeting will involve the presentation of the Eastern Caribbean Environmental Charter, which was developed through wide-ranging discussions among OECS member states.

The OECS Natural Resources Management Unit (NRMU) said Monday the ministers would review the principles in the Charter and make recommendations on the modalities for adoption at the national level.

The meeting will also consider policy options for OECS member states with regard to energy efficiency and energy conservation.

For Montserrat, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing and the Environment Brunel Meade will attend. While in Carriacou Minister Meade will have the opportunity to visit an exhibition highlighting the work of the OECS Natural Resources Management Unit.

After the meeting hosted by the Grenada government, the ministers will meet with representatives of the regional and international donor community on October 13.

Reports earlier this weeks reveal that a workshop on Developing Executive Leadership That Gets Results and the 2000 board meeting of the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU) will be held between October 5^th and 7^th.

The two day workshop is to attract directors and senior credit Union executives to examine among other things the executive and leadership roles and styles of credit unions in the region.

Some of Montserrat’s representatives will include Yvonelle Jeffers, Keithley Chambers, Florence Daley, Yvonne Allen and Vereen Thomas Woolcock.

At the end participants are expected to create teams, departments and organizations that perform and develop an executive leadership style that delivers results.

They should also be in a position to apply leadership strategically to create vision and set direction.

Meanwhile on Thursday evening and Friday morning members of the CCCU Board began arriving on the island for a meeting scheduled for today October 6 and tomorrow.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate voted 96-1 Tuesday on a bill to provide nearly 600,000 new visas over the next three years for foreign workers sought by the burgeoning high-tech industry.
The bill's expected passage was delayed by weeks of partisan wrangling over efforts by Democrats to also allow more illegal immigrants and political refugees to remain in the United States.
Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said Democrats "have tried to make this into a political brouhaha, which it didn't deserve.''
But Sen. Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat who supported the visa bill, expressed disappointment that it lacked measures to benefit other immigrants. "I think the majority made a terrible mistake in that regard,'' he said.
The Senate bill would allow the Immigration and Naturalization Service to issue up to 195,000 six-year temporary visas annually for the next three years to skilled foreign workers. The bill also would exempt from the cap foreign graduates of U.S. master's or doctoral programs or foreign workers at U.S. colleges.
Under present law, the government issued 115,000 H-1B visas during the fiscal year that ended Saturday. With no new legislation the ceiling would fall to 107,500 this year and to 65,000 next year.
An alternate House bill, vehemently opposed by software companies, would lift the ceiling entirely on the six-year visas but condition them to employers' paying the immigrants at least $40,000 a year and not using them to replace Americans on their payrolls. It was approved by the House Judiciary Committee.
Technology companies contend that 300,000 jobs are going unfilled for lack of qualified workers; labor unions argue the companies want more immigrants to put downward pressure on the wages of Americans holding the same jobs.
Democrats in both the Senate and House of Representatives said they will try to put into some spending bills that Congress must pass before adjourning provisions to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants who arrived in the United States before 1987 and offer permanent residency to more political refugees from Central America and Haiti.

The Honourable Chief Minister (Ag), Rupert Weekes this week sent a condolence message on behalf of the Government and people of Montserrat to the Honourable Pierre Charles, Prime Minister (Ag) of Dominica.

The Chief Minister’s message reads:

"It is with deepest regret that I extend condolences to the Government and people of the Commonwealth of Dominica at the passing of the late Honourable Prime Minister, Roosevelt Douglas. The sad event certainly came as a shock not only to Dominicans but also to the entire Caribbean Community who knew Prime Minister Douglas as a vibrant leader full of ideas and enthusiasm. The people of Montserrat share in your grief even more so because of the close links between us; and the camaraderie our peoples share through familial ties.

"I personally met the late Prime Minister Douglas earlier this year in St. Lucia and it was a pleasure to meet a political leader who was genuinely focused on improving the condition of his people. His early stance as a civil rights activist echoes the fortitude necessary to deal with the many challenges as a leader of a small developing territory. Even as he made overtures to get Dominica accepted as a member of the European Union, Prime Minister Douglas was sure to state that whatever benefits gained by his government and people would be shared with fellow CARICOM States. He stood his ground and defended that position.

"I would be grateful if you can share this message of solidarity with the mother of the late Prime Minister, Ms. Bernadette Douglas, his four children and other surviving relatives. On behalf of the Government and people of Montserrat, please accept my sympathy as we reflect on this sad moment in Dominica's history."

The Honourable Chief Minister David Brandt will head a Montserrat delegation to Ireland for three days of meetings. The delegation includes, Mrs Angela Greenaway, head of the Development Unit, Ms. Ernestine Cassell, Director of Tourism, and Mr, Kenneth Cassell, one of Montserrat's leading businessmen and Chairman of the Irish Task Force.

The visit to Ireland is for the Government of Montserrat to establish a working relationship with the Government of Ireland as it pursues the economic development of Montserrat.

While in Ireland the Delegation led by the Chief Minister will be discussing Montserrat Tourism opportunities. Tourism plays a leading role in any development on Montserrat.

Montserrats industrial opportunities will be highlighted also to try and attract select industries with the potential for high paying jobs and substantial export market.

Offshore Companies and Banks will be encouraged to invest in Montserrat because they can be a very valuable source of revenue and employment.

Other potential investment joint venture projects up for discussions are:

a) Golf Course at Old Quaw. This complex would include

Golf Club and Condominium Villa Units.

2. Water Bottling Plant.
3. Hotel at Little bay.
4. Condominium/Luxury Villas at Little Bay.
5. Multi-unit Housing Complex/Flats for rent.

Chrissie Elwin, a former student of the St. Augustine and the Montserrat Secondary School, left Montserrat in 1997 during the peak of the volcanic crisis and relocated to Dominica with her mother and stepfather, Rosalind and Cecil Cassell. In Dominica she completed her high school education at the Convent High School in Roseau.

Ms. Elwin entered Convent High School in September 1997 at the 3^rd form level, where she sat seven subjects at General Proficiency and was successful in all seven subjects. She obtained grade-one passes in five subjects, English language, History, Principles of Business, Integrated Science, and Principles of Accounts. In Mathematics; and a grade two and grade three in Spanish.

She was also chosen to be one of the school monitors for the year 99-2000. She also did well in her final year of school in their school sport meet, where she placed first.in the 100 meters and second in the 150 meters.

Ms. Elwin is now in Canada where she hopes to attend college.

An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale rocked Trinidad and Tobago Wednesday morning and major shock waves were felt as far away as Grenada.

The Seismic Research Unit in Trinidad reported the tremor occurred in an area about 40 kilometers northwest of Port of Spain.
There were no official reports of damage to property in any of the islands, but many people reported being badly shaken by the experience.
The tremor immediately became the focus of discussion on a website for Grenadians maintained by Cable and Wireless.
One person on the Internet chat site described it as a massive earthquake while another labeled it the longest and strongest.

GUATEMALA CITY, (Reuters) - Belize began rebuilding crushed buildings and restoring its coral-fringed cays to their natural beauty on Wednesday ahead of the looming tourist season after being pounded by hurricane-force winds of a temporarily weakened tropical depression Keith.
"The hard work now begins," Prime Minister Said Musa told Reuters in a telephone interview late on Tuesday.
The death toll from Keith, a potentially devastating Category 4 hurricane at its peak, rose to 11 on Tuesday night after Belize reported an unidentified body was found floating in the sea near the tourist resort of San Pedro.
The storm, which was downgraded to a tropical depression on Tuesday and had moved out over the Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday morning, where it regained hurricane strength.

Keith also claimed 10 lives in Nicaragua.

Belize earns a quarter of its Gross National Product from tourism and the high-season begins at the end of October.
That gave the Central American nation little time to get shipshape the town of San Pedro, a plush tourist resort on Ambergris Caye, and Caye Caulker, a tiny island 19 miles (31 km) east of Belize City popular with budget travelers, Musa said.

The cays bore the brunt of the storm's wrath when it had 135-mph winds over the weekend and many houses in San Pedro and Cay Caulker were destroyed.

While power lines were still down, some phones were now working and San Pedro's water supply had been restored, Musa said.

A strip of land wedged between Mexico and Guatemala known as British Honduras until independence in 1981, Belize is home to some 250,000 English- and Spanish-speaking inhabitants of mostly Afro-Caribbean, Asian or Maya Indian descent.

Angered at government's failure to respond to a petition with 500 signatures calling for the scrapping of plans to introduce a 2-percent turnover tax, the private sector of Antigua and Barbuda has raised the issue of possible protest action.
Government has repeatedly stated that the move to introduce the 2-percent tax on gross income of EC$50,000 (US$18,518) or more annually was a means of garnering revenue to fund wages, and social and physical infrastructure projects.
"We have noted with a high degree of concern, the absence of a response by your government to the concerns expressed in our petition...," representatives of six business organisations said in an open letter to Prime Minister Lester Bird.

Signing the September 29 open letter to the Prime Minister were executives of the Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce, the Manufacturers Association, the Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Architects, the Antigua and Barbuda Small Business Association, the Antigua and Barbuda Medical Association and the Antigua Employers' Federation.

Chairperson of the Employers' Federation, Renee Phillips, said that up to late Monday afternoon the private sector had not received any word from government despite assurances when the petition was presented on September 6 that the matter would be treated with some urgency.
Mr. Phillips confirmed that the private sector would meet to consider the possibility of a go-slow or days of protest aimed at changing government's position.

If the business community decides to close its doors, a range of businesses will find it nearly impossible to do so, because government recently extended the list of essential services to ensure that certain services are available to the public in times of disaster and industrial unrest.

Instead of introducing more taxes, the business community has recommended that government move to collect the 75 percent of taxes outstanding under existing legislation.
The government has acknowledged that its tax-collection machinery has problems.

Government said 1,000 unincorporated businesses have paid only a total of EC$1 million (US$370,370) each year for the last 10 years.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) late last year encouraged government to increase tax revenue through the introduction of a value-added tax (VAT), as well as greater reliance on direct taxation.

The treasury can earn about EC$20 million (US$7.4 million) annually from the 2-percent tax levy, a form of direct taxation, officials calculate. Workers here do not pay personal income tax.

Government has already identified the introduction of a VAT as one of the tax measures it hopes to bring to Parliament soon.

Grenada, CANA - A national committee has been setup in Grenada to combat drug crime and money laundering, the government said Wednesday.
Legal Affairs Minister Elvin Nimrod is chairman of the body, which also comprises the Director of Public Prosecution, the Commissioner of Police and the executive director of the organization that regulates the offshore sector.
The 12-member committee approved by the Grenada cabinet on Monday is in keeping with the recommendation of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).
The committee will function as a supervisory authority on drug crime and money laundering and can set deadlines for ministries, departments and agencies to take action.

According to the release the committee will identify weaknesses and make recommendations for strengthening legislation to combat drug crime and money laundering.
The appointment of the committee comes as government grapples with a major scandal in the offshore sector triggered by the collapse of the country's largest offshore bank.

It’s a renaissance! Sydney marked a renaissance in Caribbean athletics. The developments in Olympic city indeed marked the rebirth or a new beginning for Caribbean athletes, and possibly anticipates a rebirth in West Indies cricket when we play the almost unbeatable Aussies there in the 5^th Test match on January 2-6, 2001.

Did you know that Sydney and Australia have had tremendous historical significance for Caribbean sports industry? Yes, it was in Australia, in 1960-61, that we matured into a high-quality international cricket team under the late Frank Worrell. In that series we not only recorded the historical test but stole the hearts of the Australians and they have been intimate with West Indian cricket since then.

It was in Sydney in 1992/93 that the West Indies cricket team bounced back from the abyss and went on to beat the Aussies 2-1. It was in that third test match at Sydney, after we had been near-demoralised in the two previous test matches, that Brian Lara came through with a brilliant 277 that re-ignited the West Indian camp.

This time around, Sydney has ushered in the revival and anticipates the reformation of Caribbean athletics. Despite the differential in overall performances, the athletes performed well, gave an excellent account of themselves and the governments and people are beginning to respond accordingly.

By the time the 27^th Olympiad ended on Sunday October 1, 2000, with a fighter-bomber setting the night sky ablaze with a plume of flame and a spectacular cascade of fireworks, the international community had gotten the message from the Caribbean athletes.

In terms of medals the Caribbean countries did not feature among the developing countries, but collectively, their performances, ranked them higher than many more economically endowed nations. As expected, The United States, the Russian Federation, The Peoples’ Republic of China, Australia, and Germany topped the list with 97, 88, 59, 58, 57 and 38 respectively. But did you know that the Bahamas, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago ranked 44^th, 53rd and 61st? Bahamas ranked higher than New Zealand, Thailand, Colombia, Brazil, Belgium, South Africa, Chinese Taipei, Democratic People Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Portugal, Chile, India, and Israel, just to name a few.

Jamaica ranked higher than Belgium, South Africa, Chinese Taipei, Democratic People Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Portugal, Chile, India, and Israel, just to name a few; Trinidad and Tobago ranked higher than Ireland, Uruguay, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Portugal, Chile, India and Kuwait, just to name a few. Barbados with one medal ranked with Chile, India, Iceland, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait and Former Yugoslav Republic Macedonia.

But more than this, two Caribbean nations gave arrogant Americans the thrashing of a lifetime in the final of the women’s sprint relay. The Bahamas and Jamaica led by the veterans of regional sprinting Pauline Davis-Thompson and Merlene Ottey respectively outclassed and outpaced the Americans to clinch gold and silver as the curtain came down.

A scorching season best (of 41.95 seconds) took the Bahamians to the top of the medal podium while the Jamaicans, also recording a season best, crossed the finish line in 42.13. For all her speed and power, American power sprinter Marion Jones could manage no better than bronze in 42.20. It was the first defeat for American women in an Olympic 4x100-metre relay final since 1976 when East Germany outclassed them.

It was the Bahamas’ second gold medal in their Olympic history, the first in sailing in 1964, and their first-ever gold on the track. The Caribbean triumph triggered celebrations among nationals watching and the entire diaspora. The supporters jumped, hugged, took endless photos and praised The Almighty God. They were celebrating their victory over their new oppressor – the America. Sevatheda Fynes, the lead-runner declared: "We feel like we have earned their (the United States’) respect now."

All five members of The Bahamian squad – Fynes, Chandra Sturrup, Davis-Thompson, Debbie Ferguson (anchor) and Eldece Clarke-Lewis (alternate) – expressed personal satisfaction in beating the United States because of her cockiness. Davis-Thompson, who also took silver in the women’s 200 metres, noted that when they won in Seville, Spain, last year, the Americans’ excuse was that an injured Jones was not in their line-up. This time she was present and accounted for, and they were beaten soundly. "We won the World Championships and nobody believed in that, but they believe us now," said Ferguson.

The Jamaican women's sprint relay quartet of Tayna Lawrence, Veronica Campbell, Beverly McDonald and Merlene Ottey, ran a season best 42.13 to finish second to fellow Caribbean team the Bahamas, which clocked 41.95 seconds.

A Lorraine Graham-led 4x400 metres team, which had Sandie Richards running the first leg, Catherine Scott-Pomales on the second, and 400 metres hurdles silver medallist Deon Hemmings on the third leg, then placed second to the United States in 3:23.25 with the winners clocking 3:22.63.

The Jamaican athletes then wrapped up a fine evening with a hard-fought third place in the men's 4x400 metres. Danny McFarlane, Michael Blackwood, Gregory Haughton and Chris Williams were the members of Jamaica's team.

Moreover, our athletes were not tarnished by the doping scandal that sullied the sporting spectacular with seven athletes testing positive for drugs in competition. But our boys and girls contested fairly and despite the IOC’s so-called "zero tolerance" attitude.

Where do we go from here? At least one Government has gotten it right. Barbados is on track as she plans a School of Excellence in Arts and Sports for 200 youngsters annually. Minister of Education, Youth Affairs and Culture Mia Mottley said the institution would offer four or five disciplines in the area of sports and about four specialties in culture. The students would remain at the school for about four years so they could perfect their performance in the chosen areas

"We will take persons after they complete third form and bring them into the school where they would get a higher concentration of training and teaching in their disciplines, in addition to their core academic areas," she said.

Now we look for the evidence of the reformation that always accompanies a revival. We await much action from St. Kitts, where Kim Collins has inspired hope, and look forward to some positive actions. And desperately hope for less talk and much more actions in the other OECS countries where the youngsters have lived for too long on unfulfilled promises.

Let the reformation begin!

© Antigua Sun 1999

This Poem is dedicated to our mom Margaret E. Molyneaux on your 49th birthday from your five children. We love you and we hope you have a wonderful birthday. We only wish we can celebrate with you.

Mom when we were kids, we knew that we always count on you.
We could bring you our troubles and you'd make everything okay.

When we were teens, we didn't always see eye to eye and we had our share of disagreements.
But we never doubted your love.

When we became adults we became friends We still knew we could count on you, even though you couldn't always fix our troubles anymore.

We also began to realize the sacrifices you made for us, all the sleepless nights, worries and stress we caused you. And we want to thank you for always being there for us.

We appreciate you and the constant unconditional love you always gave as our mother...and our best friend. And we just want to say thank you for everything you have done. You are the Best Mom in the World.

By special correspondent

It is over four years since we have been evacuated from the southern part of Montserrat to the North and to date a taxi booth is not in place. The way it looks we may take another 10 years to get the taxi booth in operation.

It is the norm to locate a taxi booth at the Port of Entry. Therefore I would suggest Little Bay or Geralds Heliport. Of the two options, Geralds Heliport should be the easier site to develop and there is adequate space; you only need a telephone and to convert the prefabricated building that will be vacated by Montserrat Aviation Services when they are transfer to their new building.

To develop Little Bay, you will have to backfill the area and this will cost much more, although it can be done.

The word "Taxi-cab" is not defined in the Vehicle and Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 249) which has been in place since 1^st May, 1952, and was amended on a number of occasions.

Taxi-cab is defined as a motor vehicle used for the conveyance of passengers for hire and reward.

If you need to hire a taxi in Montserrat there is no means where you can do so, which is very embarrassing.

What should be done is to put regulation in place for someone to become a taxi driver, the manner in which a taxi driver should be dressed and the marking of taxi as taxi -cabs.

I suggest a person who is a holder of a driver's licence for a period of between 3-5 years should be entitled to obtain a taxi licence. In the case were a person is a non-Montserratian or a naturalized Montserrat, that person should apply to the Minister for approval for a taxi licence.

A person can obtain a car and decide to run a taxi today, charge you anything he wants, dress anyhow, and no one can stop him from being a taxi operator, because there is no law in place to prohibit him from being a taxi driver.

Passengers on buses are charged a fee of $2.00 for traveling from point A (Salem) - point B (Sweeney's), but this is considered to be illegal under the laws of Montserrat, because there is no legislation in place stating that you should pay $2.00 from point A - point B. This is similar to the bus fee structure in Barbados and I think can be workable in Montserrat. However, persons in Lookout are excluded from this fare structure.

Seriously, we must rid the country of the burden of local political administrative expenses.  Some elected officials are like blackguards to Montserrat, they seem always to get in the way and it is doubtful whether they will ever be effective in the economic or social revival of Montserrat.

The foregoing words were expressed by one of the many persons who are seriously questioning the purpose of any elections in the near future. And except for 3-6-9 or so egotistical persons, the words capture the mood of most Montserratians and reflect our attitude towards elections, elected officials and politicians.

Many of us will agree that the elections of 1996 have not eased the plight of enough Montserratians; and it is unlikely that another national election would make life any easier for Montserratians. Furthermore it is almost obvious that the most we can expect from an election are divisions and confusion among Montserratians.

It is not surprising, then, that many of us have now begun to question the wisdom of the elections of 1996, or the one slated for 2001. The initial rumblings by the political aspirants are as discouraging as the performance of the elected officials. As a result, we are frightened by the prospect of being represented by some of the names that can be on the ballot.

Personally, I have serious doubts that anything worthwhile could be achieved by having elections in the near or distant future. Strangely, this is also the feeling in the wider Caribbean. For example, less than three weeks ago, Sir George Mallet of St. Lucia questioned me about Montserrat.

Among other things, he asked me why are the people of Montserrat clamouring for elections.  He intimated that even five years after the last elections Montserrat would not be ready for any meaningful elections. Conceitedly, I did not want to admit to Sir George that I agreed with him; so I responded by telling him that not only Montserrat, but the entire Caribbean is not ready for elections and opposing political parties.

Today, sill reflecting on the chit chat with Sir George, my incarnated soul would not allow me to rest in peace.  As a consequence I have to ask these questions of Montserratians:

• Have we benefited over the past five years because of our elected or aspiring politicians?
• Do we need the heavy financial burden of elected officials?
• Do we need elections?
• Should a group of concerned Montserratians, in association with Britain, manage Montserrat for the time being?
• Could we seek to waive and postpone the upcoming elections?
• Should Montserrat make History?

Tough questions; but even mother nature, by every action, is asking us to do some things right. And certainly if not clearly, these things have nothing to do with new methods of voting or elections.

Let us consider some of the important matters which should be addressed and agreed to before we rum ourselves over to politicians.

We need a training and education center for post secondary schoolchildren.

We have to prepare them with the skills to exist in, to maintain and to manage this economically unfortunate island.

We need to appropriately address the issue of a Commercial and Administration Center for Montserrat. We still need to address the issues of land zoning, land acquisition and land preservation. We need to look towards the future in ways that will guarantee rights to property at minimum cost to each Montserratian. Our zoning methods must embrace the housing and recreation needs for at least 50 years. We have to look towards the future - only with the children's interest in mind.

We need to agree on the quality of services that Montserrat will provide for its people; and we need to agree on an equitable method of taxation to pay for the services.

Most importantly it seems as if we need to put politicians on hold while we try to agree on what we expect from ourselves.  But the irony of all this is that Montserrat politicians must first agree to make History.  They must agree to give up the management of Montserrat to a group of capable non-political persons, or else Montserrat will make history; because who don't die here, will leave here sooner rather than later.

By: Mrs Joan Moinodeen District Nurse

Glaucoma is a condition of increased tension in the eyeball. Its main cause is not enough drainage of aqueous fluid. (Aqueous fluid – is formed daily and drained away into tiny canals). Any defect in drainage will lead to an increase in the eye pressure since the eyeball cannot swell to accommodate any increase in its contents. The end result is blindness. The particular form of blindness, which it causes, is loss of visual field, that is, how much one can see on the sides while looking forward.

These changes may pass unnoticed by the patient, especially if only one eye is affected, but the very serious fact is that the field losses are irreversible and they may gradually encroach on the central vision so that one eye may be initially blind before specialist advice is sought.

One reason why glaucoma may not be recognised is that there is often no pain in the eye and so it is frequently found during a routine eye test.

Glaucoma is mainly a disease of middle and old age but can be found in younger persons who have a family history of glaucoma.

Treatment - Chronic glaucoma is divided into two categories, depending on whether the drainage is closed or open, but the treatment in both kinds is aimed at preventing loss of vision by controlling the tension.

Medical means of reducing intra-ocular tension are by drops which keep the pupil small and drugs which reduce the secretion of aqueous fluid.

1) Pilocarpine 2% and 4%

2. Timoptic

Whatever treatment is given, regular examinations are essential to ensure that the glaucoma continues to be controlled. If medical treatment is inadequate, surgery is considered.

The eye clinic operates at the Cudjoe Head Clinic. Eye pressure testing is done on the 2^nd Tuesday of each month by appointments only. Visiting specialist come from Antigua and USA from time to time.

Persons who needs eye pressure check can book their name at the Cudjoe Head Clinic telephone number 491-5258 or Salem Clinic telephone number 491-5256. Please leave your telephone number so that you can be contacted in case of a change in schedule.

Over the last month, some blind persons in the community have been issued with white canes. This is similar to a walking stick, but longer, painted white with red at the end.

Families of these people and their caretakers are encouraged to let them use these canes when going out. Remember it is not a walking stick, but to be used as a ‘feeler’ to detect any obstruction in the way.

The general public is asked to look out for persons using a white cane and to assist them in any way.

Jus wonderin which manager at the hotel is trying to run her staff life, leaving hers behind.

Jus wonderin if and why the Lucian young lady really had to force the young man from the duty collection office to set a wedding date.

Jus wonderin if there is a shortage of women why some young men in Montserrat can’t do better.

Jus wonderin how come there are mostly strangers working at this hotel.

Jus wonderin if the senior waitress is the assistant manager.

Jus wonderin what’s keeping them back from putting a bridge at lawyer’s river.

Jus wonderin if it is possible to have to wait in line for more than half an hour at the top bank.

Jus wonderin if there ’s only one phone line is to the Bank

Jus wonderin how often and if it every half year DFID staff get a new vehicle.

Jus wonderin how many train workers are working with the government.

Jus wonderin since that there is an issue with gas already that means that we will meet hell next year, which is the real millennium.

Jus wonderin why the helicopter cannot have a scheduled flight couple times a week even now and then from Montserrat to St Kitts instead of going to Antigua all the time.

Jus wonderin if the RMPF is just a one-day wonder why it is once upon a blue moon they are there to direct the traffic at the school in Woodlands.

Jus wonderin if they don’t know there is a school in Brades as well.

Jus wonderin if homosexuality ,fornication, adultery and false witnesses against thy neighbor are not all sins in a Christian island.

Jus wonderin if the Gov is as good a boxer as his trainer who always seems to survive every bout

Jus wonderin it is true the whole government is about to ask for early retirement of the radio station reformer and that he might not even come back from holiday.

Jus wonderin if one of them foreign reporters is an ex-con man.

Jus wonderin if we will soon have a new political newspaper with a con-man at the head.

Jus wonderin if all the new projects will make a difference to the island’s economy.

Jus wonderin why the job advertised by DFID for the tax adviser for Montserrat was not done in the region.

Jus wonderin what this tax adviser job is aimed at, if it has anything to do with killing or stifling the off-shore banking business.

Jus wonderin if the fat salaries which in the tax adviser case is nearly five times the local comptroller’s salary is paid out of the allocated 75 million pounds.

Jus wonderin if there is going to be any more acting appointments for any of the ministers.