Governor Abbott Insults Montserratians
by Bennette Roach
When Governor Anthony Abbott arrived in Montserrat on
September 9, 1997, he came prepared to spread the British 
Government's message of development for Montserrat,
"as long as the north remains safe. His other occupation,
which was just a continuation of the former Governor's, the
phobia of 'not losing another life to the volcano.'
It was against these two hooded commitments that he found himself pressured into apologising for his maladroit remarks at about 7.30 on Tuesday night in front of his seaside home in Woodlands, when he called a peaceful group of demonstrators, 'a mob'.
The Governor had obviously received police information that leaders of these demonstrators had taken up the barrier at the police check-point, just north of Nantes River in Salem and thrown it down into the river, breaking it into smithereens. The police had been preparing for the worst and discussed among themselves their readiness for action against situations not known in Montserrat for decades.
The demonstration was the result of a meeting held on Wednesday evening just outside Rams Emdee supermarket to discuss the Governor's directive for the complete closure of Salem as part of the 'exclusion zone'. The belief that another iron-gate would be put in place followed the governor's threat of arresting persons, mounting police patrol, which would include the helicopter, and the arrest of persons found in the exclusion zone beginning 72 hours after Tuesday.
As the count down drew nigh and people gathered again the following evening, it apparently became more evident that a message had to be delivered immediately to the Governor and the gathering, after destroying the wooden barricade at the check point, opted to visit Governor Abbott.
The Governor received them, but not too well as he expressed grave disappointment in seeing that they were accompanied by the central and Salem elected representative, and it was then he made that very surprising statement about the "mob handled" crowd. He said to the Honourable Reuben Meade: "I will like see you tomorrow Reuben, and a responsible delegation, not mob handled."
What followed were quite a few and varied discussions and comments on the crisis and the current evacuation order of Salem. (see Ex-CMs Lead Gathering).
Speaking later to one prominent spokesman in the group, he said: "It is good for the governor to want to save my life, but not when he is suffocating me as well. There is no difference then how I die."
Repeatedly members of the crowd called on the Governor to be reasonable, pointing out that wanting to save lives without providing for, or guaranteeing one's livelihood makes no sense.
The Governor was ardently called upon to apologise for referring to the crowd in the midst of which he was standing 'a mob'. After refusing to apologise, he finally did so pointing out that his culture does not regard it as an insult, but the damage was already done.
As he observed the crowd did not turn into a mob even at that statement, but he will find that his remarks will not be easily forgotten, in spite of his qualified apology.
Two Ex-Chief Ministers Lead Crowd to Defy Evacuation Order
by Hilton Samuel
disciplined crowd, epressing thier grieviences at the governor's residence
Two former chief ministers of Montserrat, Reuben T Meade and John Osborne, both elected members to the present legislature in Montserrat, encouraged a big gathering at Salem, Thursday, November 6, to demolish any barriers that will seal off Salem, Old Towne and Friths as total no-go areas.
This was a reaction to a total evacuation announcement by Governor Anthony Abbott, Commissioner of Police Frank Hooper and Chief Minister David Brandt on Monday. The announcement, which was aired several times over Government-owned Radio Station ZJB, appealed to the 100 plus remaining residents to totally evacuate the area by 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 5.
The Governor told the Montserrat Reporter persons who resisted the emergency order could be arrested and fined. He said the order, which came into effect August 16, was designed to protect the health and well being of the residents.
Residents protested the action, giving improper living conditions, in access to unprotected properties, and unsatisfactory rationale for the action as reasons for defying the imposed policy.
"If a gate is put over here by Nantes River, I am suggesting to you that we knock it down. They should not pretend that we are cattle and chain us out. No governor from England is going to come here and tell you that he is going to lock you up for protecting your property. All of us will go and knock down the gate and they will have to lock us all up," Reuben Meade Chief Minister of Montserrat 1991 -1996, told the crowd that had gathered for a "what-to-do" meeting the night before.
Meade, who was in charge of the island when the volcano started belching searing rocks into the air, told the gathering that CM David Brandt was instructed to totally evacuate Salem after blaming the UK Government for the deaths of 19 persons in the June 25 eruptions.
Pointing to the low level of volcanic activity, no recent surges from pyroclastic flows in the east and the two-mile distance of Salem from the Belham Valley, Meade told the crowd they should be allowed to move freely in the Exclusion Zone depending on the level of activity.
Rams Emdee, the island's largest wholesale and retail supermarket, sits on the boundaries of the Nantes River, the line which begins the buffer zone from the unsafe zone.
"If a stone is going to hit Rams' building, Mr. Brandt's house, which is no further away from the River than Ram's, will be hit as well. The Governor's office is no more secure than this building [Rams]; why is it that the Governor's Office is going to remain there and why do we have to go all the way North to buy a loaf of bread?" Meade asked the agitated crowd.
Meade called on the crowd to form a delegation to go to the governor, who he says cannot unilaterally decide to "close us down."
"All you have got to do, when you see me pass through (the barrier) is to follow me," another former chief minister, John Osborne, announced to the obviously frustrated crowd.
Meade, on the grounds that vehicles wanting to move out of Salem were not allowed to pass through the police barricade, asked the crowd to remove the barrier. Masses of people overpowered a few struggling police (including a female officer) and threw the wooden barricade into Nantes River.
Led by organizer of the meeting, Julian Romeo, brother of independent journalist Donald Romeo, the agitated crowd proceeded to march to Governor Abbott's residence.
The Governor, who lives in a US million dollar house at Palm Loop, was seemingly upset and disappointed by the night disturbance. He expressed his disappointment not only at journalist Donald Romeo, but "a member of the legislature (Reuben Meade)."
"Reuben, I am disappointed at you for coming down here with this mob," he announced.
A loud wave of objection rippled through the crowd. A member of the crowd outside the front patio, "William Prince Ryan" demanded an apology, explaining that the term "mob" is insulting. A mob, Ryan said, would not have allowed him to stand peacefully in their midst. The governor refused, stating that his culture does not interpret the word mob to be an insult. The angered crowd however insisted. Wanting to meet with a representative delegation from the group who indicated that they will not meet without an apology, Governor Abbott said, "I apologize for calling you a mob."
A protracted inter-action with various members of the bustling crowd, resulted in a decision that a Reuben Meade led delegation of ten, will meet the Governor on Friday, 7th November at 3:30pm.
The delegation was expected to negotiate issues: such as better shelter facilities for Salem occupants to move into; controlled access to property in the Exclusion Zone for the purposes of security and maintenance; non-establishment of a permanent gate at the check points; and Rams to remain open to facilitate convenient shopping for persons in the Buffer Zone.
"Governor Needs to Get it Right"
His Excellency the Governor Anthony John Abbott in an interview with Richard Aspin, EOC Information Officer, on Wednesday on ZJB Radio spoke of his vision for Montserrat in the future while reviewing the aid Britain has put into the island since the start of the volcanic crisis.
The Governor said that he is hopeful that Montserrat will one day resume its former state and that he would do everything in his power to ensure a future for the island.
In reply to the question as to whether the British Government (BG) had plans to depopulate the island, the Governor replied by asking why would the BG commit over £45 million to the development of the north of the island. He went on to some of the projects and infrastructure that the BG had been financing from the committed funds. As mentioned here before, big business always plans budgets its losses carefully and well in advance.
It is probably not fair to the world to continue to mention these sums of money. Less than a month ago the Rt. Honourable Clare Short told the House of Commons Select Committee that the sum spent to date was £22.5 million.
On the question of depopulating Montserrat, the Governor needs to understand that the idea of a total evacuation of Montserrat is not new and to many seems very real. This was exposed by a visiting Bernie Grant, who said he was one of those promoting the idea. At the same time Clare Short was struggling but had to admit that the BG had not spent £45 million but £22.5 million, she said, "It (total evacuation) has never been the case up to now although, of course, there could be circumstances in which that would have to become the case." She defended the previous government on that, but then it was not the first time that Clare Short did not have her facts straight.
This is how she puts it: ""We have been dealing with a cumulating emergency rather than a stable situation where we can plan for the future, there are a lot of officials on the island, the Governor and so on, who live in the central part and there are questions to be considered as to whether that is safe in the long-term. If that became unsafe it would create another major problem about how many people were going to remain, what a viable community would look like."
Is there any doubt as to the necessity for the 'waiting game.'
Governor Abbott will have a difficult time convincing many Montserratians that his employers still do not have plans to reduce the number from the current 4,000 to one where they can say, when we may have to agree, 'it is not worth it.'
There isn't another program or project, except for the evacuation scheme, that has started without some kind of delay, some unimaginable. Yet Clare Short and her officials have tried relentlessly to convince their Parliament that the Government of Montserrat is to be blamed for projects not coming on stream or not functioning properly.
Miss Short was asked about a 'viability number', something she made repeated reference to throughout her evidence on the crisis. But she provided insight as to why they have not been forthcoming with the funds as promised. She said she could not speak with authority for decisions of the previous (Conservative) government, but, "until quite recently, the pyroclastic flow in July, people were temporarily evacuated but the expectation is that Plymouth will be able to be reoccupied." She called on Mr. Bearpark for support on this and he said, "Until July it had always been expected that Plymouth would at some stage be lost. There may be those who emotionally hoped they would be able to return but the planners had always assumed that Plymouth in the south of the island would be lost."
Immediately after this exchange Miss Short admitted, "it has never been planned until possibly very recently that we would accommodate a large number of people in the north."
We are supposed to believe that things should have changed when the labour government took over; but we can think again when listening to Clare Short on the subject: "We inherited the emergency and it was ongoing as the new Government came in and therefore we had to go with where we were and make decisions that arose after we inherited a whole series of decisions and expenditure decisions that had already been made. We ha to work with the existing machinery. You cannot change the machinery of Government or its budget in the middle of an emergency."
Clearly, if things were wrong under the previous government, hearing that are we now to believe any new promises or commitments? There are many matters being studied that do not require the studies, they need to be done, yesterday. And whether there are 100 people on island,that is inconsequential. We must build with the knowledge that most of those who have left, will return.
It seems clear that there is never any serious intention to carry out the promises that had been made and even today it is still difficult to believe that they are not still waiting for the 'viability' question to be answered. Meanwhile the voluntary evacuation scheme glides along smoothly, unlike any other project, and the Chief Minister and the rest of us wait for them to fulfill their promises.
There is the hot mix plant, delay after delay. The third engine for electricity; why did they have to get a different one that requires special personnel, causing delay to get it in service? Why hold up the granting of loans to small businesses for little items like audits which have to be tendered for? We understand that the Brown and Root contract was handed over without tender. No more hospital, only primary care. No primary school. Containers brought in for people's convenience and storage of their goods, but everyone gets the 'run-around' over them.
It was Governor Savage who said, "I want all the schools emptied by September'. But where are the schools? And where are the children? What is happening to the other 50 percent who are not attending secondary school or St. Augustine primary school? Where are the rest of Salem people supposed to go, when children have no where to attend classes? The British Government tries to blame local government, but one day the Ministry of Education will tell the stories, and we will publish them.
Where is the project that was written for well organised 'evacuation scheme, the posh offices in Antigua and the money being given to the Antigua government? Who is accounting for how and for what those monies are spent?
There is a Montserrat Office of Information being funded by British funds as well - what exactly are the services provided by that office?
For every idea of spending in Montserrat, there is a British employee in charge. Huge house rents are paid, making it almost impossible for local residents to compete and distorting the market in these difficult times. We should be encouraging our competent people to return for some of these jobs, but it is too late. For every project, at least 25% if not a great deal more, goes back to Britain.
We are each others keeper in Caricom
The following letter first appeared in NEWSDAY (One of theTrinidadian dailies) Tuesday September 9, 1997.
The Editor:
Sir Shridath Ramphal is reported as saying that the responsibility of providing assistance for the people of volcano-ravaged Montserrat is Britain’s and not Caricom’s. I vehemently differ from this position. Every grain of sand in the Caribbean is ours. Every falling hair drops in our face. Now more than ever we "are our brothers’ keeper". To deny them emergency assistance forthwith, is very much like telling a severely wounded child needing your urgent aid "Go find your mother" who is known to be on the run while it bleeds profusely. How callous! One could understand that position taken by a Raleigh, a Drake or a Morgan but not our own Sir Shridath.
The fact that "Montserrat is a British Colony" is all the more reason why it should not be forsaken in its darkest hour just when its people and its resources could be easily gobbled up for a paltry "penny here or pound there". Bludgeoned, bruised and battered as they are, what power of rational concentration or thinking have they? Battle fatigued, worn and forlorn, what do they need most? More "thunder" or a fair opportunity to recuperate before even considering a contract for the sale of their own property? To have them to sign any contract at this hour is brutal at worst and a betrayal at best.
Moreover are we satisfied deliberately or absentmindedly to make first class citizens of a Caribbean island last class elsewhere? Are we comfortable with having the much touted 200-mile Economic Zone around
Montserrat let alone its land mass become "the responsibility of Britain" only again? Colonialism renewed? What about the potential of Montserratians? Do they count for anything? What if enlightened investigations and experimentations eventually find that the volcano is merely a symptom or vehicle of something of incalculable value? But these are profound questions which the "Caribbean man" must never ask. His entire plan and thinking must be limited and short sighted. In fact his best stroke must give away the ashes. Of course that makes him a gentleman. Ehhem!
If some five million people of Caricom cannot adequately assist and relocate a few thousand of our brothers and sisters in distress pending recuperation, reconsideration and reappraisal of their position, then of what use is Caricom, eh?
Here more than ever the negotiator and by extension Caricom have blown a golden opportunity to demonstrate to the world that they mean business when they speak of regional integration, blah! blah! blah! But alas Montserrat is to be sacrificed for a mess of pottage. I protest to high heavens and call on Sir Shridath to tender his resignation forthwith to save Caricom, if not for this, but certainly the next generation.
O. B. Charles
Tobago
As a feedback to this letter, a formerly, well known former columnist for the Reporter writes:
"I salute every Caribbean man, woman and child who sticks their neck out as Mr. O.B. Charles has done in defense of what I regard as Caribbean national pride, whether or not I agree with the views expressed."
Tourism Department Leading Christmas Festival
The Montserrat Board of Tourism continues its efforts in spearheading the planning for some form of year end festival for residents of Montserrat.
A small committee has been meeting on a regular basis and already plans are at an advance stage for a calypso show without the usual "king" set-up. It is reported that 15 calypsonians are ready to start practice sessions. There are plans for Christmas carols, children's activities, including story telling and some of the traditional Montserratian activities. It is also hoped to have a Christmas market for small vendors.
Britain Discourages Travel to Montserrat
The British Foreign Office last week issued the following travel advice for those persons travelling to Montserrat.
Editors note:
While we agree caution should be given to persons desirous of visiting Montserrat, this may have serious implications for the future development of the tourism sector of the island. Advisories coming from the British Government ought to be more positive, mentioning the efforts that are being made to bring the safe north to a position where people can be told, even with the volcano, it is a place worth visiting.
So, we feel that reasons 3 and 4 above are good reasons why the British Government should immediately implemement projects to facilitate the growth of this vital and essential sector.
Hot Mix Plant Not Ready Yet - Fogarthy Corners are Widened
There is still no news on the assembly and commissioning of the new hot mix plant which is now on island.
The Public Works Department (PWD) had said they are awaiting a representative of the manufacturers from England to erect the plant which will be sited at Brades.
Motorists are still dodging the potholes which have become a little more maneuverable since the break from ash and gravel which the winds had been directing from the volcano on the roads.
The road works at Fogarthy continued this week as the PWD workers widened further some of the corners.
Allocating the Temporary Houses
The British funded housing project on island, is still attracting much discussion. In an effort to give clarity to the project along with the process of allocation, nominated Minister, with the responsibility for Housing, P Austin Bramble this week held a press conference at the Chief Minister's office.
Bramble told the press the $150 rental for the Davy Hill and Look Out based houses, was intended as a deposit towards future ownership of the house and property. This figure, which he said is "not cast in stone," is still being discussed.
"There is no way people will get title to land and property without paying something. The rental is just a part of the repayment requirements for those people who ultimately will own the property. We are not going to execute the arrangements for people to own the property for the first three years," he said.
The reason for this, he says, is to avoid persons taking the houses migrating and leaving them minimally occupied with relatives. He revealed this would defeat the purpose for which they were intended.
According to Bramble persons who are unable to pay, will not be required to do so in order to get a house
"Inability to pay is not going to prevent anybody, who qualifies from occupying the house for as long as they need to occupy them," he revealed.
The Housing Minister said the semi-pre-fab houses, which have the life expectancy of 12-15 years, will be given to persons based on the length of time in the shelters, number of persons in the family, the disruption experienced by the family while in the shelters, the conditions of the shelter and the health and well-being of the person in the shelters.
The minister revealed that an order for an additional 100 houses that will be sited in the Caricom Village has been placed. He noted that the condition on which the houses will be provided is that Govcernment of Montserrat provides the land and services.
Information reaching the Reporter indicates that concrete pre-fabricated units for the Caricom Village will be ordered from the Cuban Government at concessionaruy rates.
Another scheme which is soon to come on stream is a "soft loan" up to $150,000 to be administered by the Bank of Montserrat.
"We requested an interest free loan [from HMG] be made to Montserrat, for a period of about 25-30 years, to be lent to whoever lost property in Plymouth, at a interest rate of 2.5%," he said.
Commenting on persons renting or living with friends/family in the safe zone, Bramble said that the government will also take steps to address their needs.
Volcano Helps in Mosquito Control
OLVESTON, Cana -
While several Caribbean countries are bothered by rising cases of dengue fever, Montserrat is seeing a significant drop in the potentially deadly illness caused by the aedes aegypti mosquito, says Director of Health Ronnie Cooper. Cooper did not give any figures but said the reduction was due to the rumblings of the Soufriere Hills volcano.
Dengue fever is a disease which can cause high fever, headaches, vomiting and weakness. In worse case scenarios it may also lead to death, with patients experiencing severe bleeding. Strains of the illness are reportedly on the rise in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.
But Cooper said ash produced by the volcano has been killing off the mosquitos that breed in stagnant water. " ... our vector control staff have actually been recording a drop in the aedes aegypti index and one of the things we think may explain this is that when you have stagnant water and ash gets into it, it makes the water acidic and it does not provide a good environment for replication of the mosquito," he told CANA. " ... so this is one of the protective effects that we are getting from ash," he added.
Cooper however said new health concerns were developing. There were respiratory problems brought on by constant exposure to ash and gases from the volcano. Additionally, "a number of people, because of liquid waste problems we are experiencing in Montserrat, have had to open their septic tanks and have actually not closed them back properly so some of these are actually acting as a reservoir for the mosquito to replicate," he added.
The authorities are encouraging householders to re-seal their septic tanks after they open them.
The Civil Servant Association here is expecting help from sister organizations around the region.
At a recent meeting in Jamaica, Caribbean Public Service Association in its 27th general Conference, committed itself to raising $1000 from each of its members as a contribution to disaster relief on the volcano devastated island.
Secretary of the Civil Servants Association, Teresina Bodkins, told the Reporter that the money will be used to relieve the distress being suffered by members.
Construction of School Buildings at Advanced Stage
The construction of the wooden classroom buildings by the Royal Montserrat Defence Force at the Brades playing fields site are reportedly at an advanced stage. These buildings will be used to house a government primary school.
The Ministry of Education is expected to announce shortly when the school will be ready to open, so far it has not been possible to open, any government primary school as all buildings are being used as shelters.
However, the Montserrat Secondary School is in full operation using a variety of buildings at three sites. It is hoped to consolidate the entire school onto one site at Lookout early in the New Year.
A video showing the current state of the volcano and the damage to various parts of Montserrat by pyroclastic flows will be shown on local TV this weekend. The video was filmed by MVO staff. News of this was released in a ZJB program last week Monday night, hosted by Bennette Roach with head scientis Dr. Keith Rowley and deputy head scientist, Dr. Sue Loughlin. The information was provided following a caller to the program who suggested that it would serve the community well if some attempt was made to bring the volcano closer to people by showing scenes of the volcano and its disasters. The caller suggested that people would respond better to the advice of the scientists.
Cable TV of Montserrat has announced that it will show the video on Saturday afternoon on Channel 5 at 3 p.m., with a repeat on Sunday evening at 5pm.
Allow People to Secure Unprotected Property
Grassroots and MAWU commentator, Hylroy Bramble, in Labour Speaks this week not only condemned the illegal act of looting property in the Exclusion Zone, but also blamed the Police Force for not allowing persons to secure their unprotected property in this area.
"Why, if someone knowing all the dangers involved wanted to chance going in, cannot these people be allowed to go - once maybe twice a week for their things?" Bramble asked.
A signed document accepting total responsibility and clearing others of liability "in the case of death" Bramble said was a possible solution to the dilemma.
"Neither the Government of Montserrat nor the British Government are giving any assistance to persons for furnishing homes. It is problem enough getting them to provide ample and adequate housing, much-less to providing the amenities of comfort," Bramble said.
Bramble was critical of an alleged suggestion of departing Police Commissioner, Frank Hooper, to sell the present police launch.
"How would you really provide adequate protection for people's property against predators coming in by sea? It is further understood that they (the police administrators) are thinking of a much smaller craft. If a man decides to steal from sea and his boat is much bigger than yours, in his quest to escape you might find yourself in the water and beyond," Bramble commented.
"I would like to know if this is a plan to further frustrate Montserratians and further depopulate an already depleted island?" Bramble added.
Bramble said the break-ins were "inhumane, unconscionable, depraved, selfish and dastardly." He suggested that these persons should be punished through amputation of "limbs and digits."
It should be noted that this issue of protecting one's property is one of the main topics that sent demonstrators to visit Governor Abbott at dinner-time last night.
Conditions are Intolerable - says Shelteee
The living conditions here are intolerable. The toilet is
about a quarter of mile away and it is never kept clean. I am so
sorry for those old people who walk up there everyday. There are
no phones here - not even for emergency purposes. We can’t
get Radio Montserrat. No television. We are just shut out., if
Montserrat is burning down we won’t hear a thing," says
frustrated Walter Lee, a resident of the Salem Campus shelter.
Boredom and frustration is a direct result of the present state
of affairs.
Lee, evacuated from his half million-dollar four-bedroom-house in Weekes, said he was just about to build again in Salem , when he was told that he has to move once more. He was effective, prevented from providing some semblance of the type of life he wants for himself.
"I don’t want anything from the Government, I can support myself - but they don’t make it easy to live here. They are not doing anything to help the people of Montserrat," said the two hundred pound retired carpenter as he dusted fine ash from his school desk turned dining table.
"I love Montserrat, but I just can’t live under these conditions. At my age, after working hard all my life I want a decent nice place to live. Those houses at Day Hill are not my type. The government is not catering for people like me. They are just full of talk, but no substance — moonshiners," Lee said.
Rubbing his legs Lee informed us that he is seriously considering relocating to St. Thomas.
"I love Montserrat but there is no hope. You are not seeing anything happening," he observed.
While Lee admitted the volcano is not the fault of anyone he however feels that people’s possessions could have been salvaged if proper arrangements were made by the authorities. He recounted several frustrating attempts he made to permission to collect funitures from his home.
"I went to Inspector Telesford and he refused to give me permission. However the same afternoon when I Decided to walk in to check on things there, he was taking in several of his personal friends with him. I could not believe. He will let in his friends but no body else," the 65 year old shelteree explained.
Vision, action, hope and a vibrant Government are the things Lee feels will bring Montserrat back.
"A lot of people don’t have hope. Like a father who would backup and encourage a son, the government needs to hold out a vision for the people, but somehow I don’t think that the government has the knowledge," Lee said as stared intently at the home made cloth partition.
He said the reason why government officials don’t seem to care, is because they do not have to share in the hardship of the people in the shelters.
Lee counsels young people, who have to exist in the present crisis not to give hope.
"Have faith in yourself. Develop ambition and put away laziness. No government will help your you don’t help yourself. You have got to push. Decide what you want out of life and work towards it," he said.
Lee, who returned to the island in 1988 after many years in America, admitted that leaving is his last resort however, he will have to if things continue as they are. He indicated that he is waiting for his finances to be settled from the Montserrat Building Society. Building Society is at present in liquidation
Special Needs Persons Relocate to Britain
Sixty-five disabled, sick and elderly persons, and family members, were flown out on a chartered flight financed by Her Majesty’s Government from Antigua arriving safely in London today. The passengers were taken to Antigua over two days Tuesday and Thursday on the French ferry Antilles Express.
The Boeing 707 jet equipped with trained personnel and appropriate instruments necessary for a trip of this kind had also on board at least one medical doctor in Dr. Eggman from Samu, French Guiana and several nurses. Dr. Eggman accompanied the disabled persons from the beginning of their journey in Montserrat.
Reports reaching the Reporter from Health Ministry officials here in Montserrat said that everyone arrived safely in Lancaster, England today.
Police Commissioner Frank Hooper finishes his 27 months tour of duty here this weekend. Hooper declined an audience with The Montserrat Reporter citing "biased" media coverage of him as the reason.
"I am not inclined to do that (an interview) because the Reporter does not give a balanced view of the stories about me," he told staff reporter Hilton Samuel.
Very reliable sources revealed that the Deputy Commissioner received a letter informing him that he will assume the duties of Commissioner for about one week, following which of a yet-to-be-named Acting Commissioner will arrive from Britain to be stationed here for three months.
Upon reading portions of the act governing the police, this procedure seems to run against the act, which states in Section 10(2):
"The Deputy Commissioner shall act for the Commissioner in the performance of his duties in respect of the force during any period when the office of Commissioner is vacant or the Commissioner of Police is absent from Montserrat or is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his office."
For some time the post has been advertised. It is apparent that a suitable candidate has not yet been found. Meanwhile attempts to reach Governor Anthony Abbott for comments on this matter were unsuccessful.
The current shortage of cooking gas should soon be over.
In Nevis, 200 - 100 pound cylinders and 400 - 20 pound cylinders are being filled. As soon as the filling is completed they will be shipped to Montserrat on the motor vessel "Endeavour", which was already in Nevis.
Long term plans are being made to have a 6,000-gallon pressure vessel on wheels to be shipped to Montserrat from Nevis full of LPG so that bottles can be filled on island. In addition, a road tanker can be made available to Montserrat so that large users of gas such as bakeries, shelters and the hospital can be filled on site.
It is hoped that these new arrangements will produce a reliable supply of LPG for the island.
Meantime, residents from the northern and central zones were urged to return their empty bottles to Delta at the old NOSCA complex to be sent to Nevis for filling. This will guarantee a supply of gas in the next shipment.
Venezuelan Ambassador Dies in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov. 6, Cana - The Venezuelan Ambassador to Jamaica, Alfredo Vargas, was shot and killed at his apartment early Thursday morning, police commissioner Francis Forbes said.
Reports said Vargas was shot in his chest when he discovered a gunman in his apartment in an upscale suburban Kingston neighbourhood of St. Andrew. The reports also said he was rushed to hospital by family members where he was pronounced dead.
Official accounts of the shooting are sketchy. The commissioner said the police were informed of the incident by an unidentified caller who did not give any details.
CVM television news reported that the police were awaiting permission to enter the apartment to start their investigations.
National Security Minister K.D Knight expressed regret at the killing and described it as an "unfortunate incident". He said the police would be doing their utmost to bring the killer to justice.
Vargas was about 50 years old and had attended a Jamaican high school for two years while his father was stationed here some years ago.
Police probing the shooting death say they have not established a motive, saying also that investigators had found no signs of a forced entry into the upper floor apartment where the ambassador and his family lived. There were also no signs that anything had been stolen.
The ministry, in a move to counter the impact of the incident and to assure diplomats assigned here of their security, has called a meeting with them on Thursday afternoon.
Stowaway Suffocates in Container
MIAMI, Cana-Reuters - Three stowaways among a group of 10 people who hid in containers packed with clothing from the Dominican Republic were found dead when the ship reached a Florida port, U.S. authorities said on Wednesday.The men had apparently suffocated.
Others in the group were dehydrated and some were unconscious when immigration agents pulled them from the container aboard the freighter Pampero at the Port of Palm Beach on Tuesday afternoon, border patrol agent Arthur Bullock said.
"The three deceased were buried in the clothes. The survivors had pushed them out of the way because they were decomposing and there was some stench. It was quite a horrific scene," Bullock said.
The Pampero, owned by Tropical Shipping line, left Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic on Sunday and reached Port of Palm Beach on Tuesday afternoon.
"The crew had heard noises on the way over and radioed us so we were there to meet the vessel at the dock," Bullock said.
The group, nine Dominicans and a Cuban, all in their 20s, were thought to have climbed into the container at the factory before it was transported to the departure port for loading.
Inside, agents found a store of provisions - bread, biscuits crackers, and jugs of water. Although the stowaways had drilled a hole to let in air it was blocked by another container.
The survivors were released from hospital on Wednesday morning and were being interviewed by border patrol and immigration authorities, Bullock said.
"Government - The Ferry and the Hospital"
by Bennette Roach
Among the many problems facing Montserrat, here are two that Mr. Brandt and his pals can show that they are on the right wavelength.
We are expecting to hear from them on the action for the improvement of the ferry service in terms of the delays and the time it takes from checking in to arriving and going about one's business at the other point.
When people take time out to complain and write about it, it is more than time for action. Following is another brief account of more ferry delay.
"The ferry does (or at least did yesterday) run back to Montserrat on Monday afternoons. The usual purposeless, senseless delays; everyone told to board, go through the gate to the jetty, and were then kept standing in the sun by the side of the boat for half an hour or so, for no good reason until someone saw fit to allow us on.
The crossing was fine, smooth, takes about 2 hours in the smaller Anguillian boat, MV Deluxe, as opposed to the other one from Guadeloupe."
The Calman Report has met strong disapproval from every corner here in Montserrat. Here again is another view that I share, as many others do.
There is nothing wrong with making appropriate use of regional services for all sorts of major medical problems for which specialised equipment and skills will not be present - or appropriate - in Montserrat. But to say that all secondary care should go elsewhere - that Montserrat should do primary care only - is a recipe for eventual disaster unless there is an airport that is guaranteed to be open 24 hours a day.
Recently we saw that it was impossible to get on or off Montserrat for a period of 3 or 4 days due to ash and heavy surf - an ectopic pregnancy, a ruptured or rupturing appendix, an emergency C-section, and various other emergencies just cannot wait that long. It will be necessary to have the skills (ie a surgeon) and equipment here. I'm a primary care doctor, I will wave the flag of primary care as much as anyone, but when there is a surgical emergency you need a surgeon, no two ways about it.
At present there is no surgeon in Montserrat. If there's no ash, if the helicopter will fly at night, that's OK - but if not, don't get a surgical problem!
The development plan should aim to improve the present situation, not to prolong it, which it is unfortunately doing in this respect.
We have to be so very careful and not miss anything that appears in these various reports and studies that are about to take place here. We have to challenge them early when we disagree. Both of these topics are urgent and so need to be corrected NOW.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE - PRESS RELEASES
British Government Announces Grant to Assist Education of Montserrat Children in Antigua
Montserratian children living on Antigua will have better access to education thanks to a grant announced by the Department For International Development on 31 October 1997.
Over 1 million pounds will be spent on assisting Antiguan schools to cope with the extra children arriving from Montserrat.
The bulk of the package, over œ900,000, will be directed at vital improvements to the Greenbay Secondary School in the Antiguan capital, St Johns. An additional œ150,000 has already provided for: a new school bus, five classrooms, 100 school desks and chairs and 100 set of text books.
This fulfils the pledges made in September by British Development Minister George Foulkes, announcing over œ4 million in financial assistance to the Govermnent of Antigua.
As well as providing assistance to the education sector, Britain has also written off debt to the value of œ1.2 million. A œ3 million grant will help the Government of Antigua provide schooling and healthcare to Montserratians on Antigua.
Government House
4 November 1997
Restructuring of Emergency Department
As a step towards improving Montserrat's emergency response capability it has been decided to reorganise the Emergency Operations Centre and the Emergency Support Unit to create a new Emergency Department. From the 1st November this department will be officially known as Emergency Department.
The new Department will be made up of four units: Operations and Logistics, Information and Education, Administration and there are plans for an Aid Management Office implant. The Emergency Department will be headed by Mr. Franklyn Michael, currently Permanent Secretary to Emergency Operations Centre.
The Emergency Department will be responsible for preparing and executing contingency plans, co-ordinating the inputs of other agencies and informing the public of developments connected with the management of the volcanic crisis and disaster preparedness.
Government House
31 October 1997
Mr. Abbott, by royal decree,
Now confronts our volcano debris,
He is new to the job,
that he can't tell "a mob,"
From folks who believe they
Are still free
by Peter Adrien
West Indies Cricket suffered a serious setback last week during the Wills Quadrangular tournament. The West Indies Cricket Team received three body blows that could have devastating effects on its performance in the upcoming three test series against Pakistan beginning on the 17 November.
Walsh and his men were reduced to a nothing ball before the massive crowd at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. In less than a week, they were humbled by the Sri Lankans; demolished by the South Africans; and finally buried by the Pakistanis.
The bowling armoury of the Windies were severely tested, tried, and destroyed. The best that Wes Hall and company could put together was not good enough against true champions. Having previously fielded a mix of two experienced but relatively tamed quickies; two young but inexperienced 'tear-aways'; and one sometime-effective-but generally erratic seamer, against rather friendly oppositions under favourable conditions, they rejected informed public opinion, and confirmed them for tour.
Well, they failed to deliver the goods. The team lost all three matches because of bad bowling. The bowlers could neither take wickets or contain the opposing batsmen. Asked to defend 237, they allow Sri Lanka to score 240 for the loss of three wickets with more than ten overs to spare.
Against South Africa, Lara, Hooper and Chanderpaul ensured that they had a large enough score (293) to defend, but they could only take three wickets, while the Africans amassed 297 with eleven balls to spare. Asked to restrict Pakistan to a score of less than 215, they could only take two wickets, while the Pakistanis pile-up 219, with almost ten overs to spare.
Walsh and Ambrose were not good enough; Bishop, Rose and Dillon were literally destroyed and Simmons provided no option. Only Carl Hooper returned any descent analysis.
In the first round, the West Indies selectors were weighed in the balances and found wanting. They paid dearly for their mistakes. We lost our respect for their act of indiscretion, and many people are not amused. The animosity between the West Indies selectors and the cricketing public, particularly those from the small islands may have deteriorated further with the recent developments in Pakistan.
The response is mixed. Most people are still shocked by the sharp turn of events. But some others, like me, were not taken by surprise, as we knew that the management of cricket, like all other areas of human endeavour, must be guided by sound management principles, and when these principles are ignored repeatedly, the embarrassing consequences are inevitable.
A large section of the public who are still angry over the treatment of players from the Windward and Leeward Islands sees the failures as a retributive act. The general will in that social sector is that divine intervention has allowed the West Indian cricketers (and, by extension, the West Indian people) to be humbled abroad as an atonement for the sins of the wicked board and selectors against the small island cricketers.
The selectors claim that some of us are too parochial in outlook. But how do we convince a small islander that he is parochial when Wes Hall, the chairman of selectors tries to justify the inclusion of Trinidadian Phil Simmons on the grounds that he adds variety to the team and gave the selectors options, when they can make a stronger case for Keith Arthurton, and Junior Murray?. As a total package, the Nevisian batsman is superior.
What options is Mr Hall talking about? Compared to David Williams, Junior Murray is Mr options himself. As a centurion, he can open the batting; he can be sent to attack the bowling; and he can be asked to hold the middle order together. The bitterness seems so deep-seated that one die-hard fanatic prays that _the West Indies team perform poorly to embarrass de wicked selectors and the board dem...to bring them to their knees. Another angry female follower concluded that _de board and de selectors dem are reaping the evil they sow. Obviously these are not sentiments of love but expression of anger, hate and bitterness towards the managers of our cricket team.
Cricket is a religion for many in the Caribbean, if not the opiate of the people. And when the West Indies Cricket Team performs poorly, the people are the greatest victims. It is not normal for the West Indian cricketing public who oftentimes suffer emotionally with the players, to entertain the thought of giving up on the institution which represents their importance as a people and through which they successfully assert themselves on the world stage.
While the sentiment expressed above may sound unsympathetic, the object of the peoples wrath is not West Indies Cricket, or the cricketers, but the insensitive men in authority who frustrate the development of the region. Moreover, Caribbean history confirms that important changes are not achieved without a struggle or a crisis. The WICB board would be aware of this historical fact, and would be foolish to allow history to repeat itself. If they allow the wound which affecting the West Indies team to become cancerous, they could become the casualties, as was the case of the WICBC. Relations between the West Indies board and the West Indies selectors may also be at an all time low. The downturn may be an ideal opportunity for those on the board are lobbying for the removal of Hall, Carew and Findlay and have them replaced with Jackie Hendricks, Andy Roberts and Joe Solomon to move for the kill.
I am sorry for Wes Hall and company because they have left themselves no support and no retreat. What a terrible state for descent men to find themselves in.
We have always claim that the real thing is test and not limited-overs cricket, which by and large is commercial cricket. Perhaps, the selectors will be absolved. One thing is certain. We are not emotionally prepared for a consecutive tournament failure.
CAIB to Stop Sponsoring Windward Islands Cricket
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada, Nov 5, Cana - Poor match attendance and the failure of the organisers to provide financial reports have caused the Caribbean Association of Indigenous Banks (CAIB) to stop sponsoring the annual Windward Islands Senior Cricket Tournament, CAIB President, Chester Hinkson, has said.
But the organisers said the matches would go ahead as planned, late November.
Hinkson, in an interview with CANA, said the Windward Islands Cricket Board had failed to provide the sponsor with financial reports.
"This is a question of accountability, and sponsors need to account. We've requested over and over some sort of record, but it has fallen on deaf ears," Hinkson reported.
He said proper management of the Board was needed to ensure the development of the game in the four islands - Grenada, Dominica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent.
Hinkson, who is here attending the annual general meeting of the CAIB, said CAIB agreed to withdraw sponsorship about three years ago but "we kept renewing it".
Additionally, he said, the poor attendance contributed to the CAIB's withdrawal of sponsorship.
He said any CAIB involvement in sponsoring cricket in the Windward Islands will be at the junior level.
Hinkson said that the CAIB members are, however considering, making cash donations to their cricket associations.
President of the Grenada Cricket Association and vice-president of the Windward Islands Cricket Board, Walter St John, said even without the sponsorship the tournament would go ahead as planned with the first round of matches starting on November 26.
"Our backs are against the wall, but we have to ensure our cricketers are prepared for the regional championship," St John said.
A reader asks of Governor Anthony Abbott:
Jus wonderin why Salem people don't want to do what all the others did since April last year.
Just wonderin if the government knows that it is committing elderly citizens genocide.
Jus wonderin if the governor will tell Britain to consider the livelihood of Montserratians in Montserrat and not in Britain
Jus wonderin if primary school will ever be opened before 1998 and who is really to blame for that.
Jus wonderin why the scientists don't tell us what we can expect other than what they hope.
Jus wonderin if it pyroclastic flows like what went down the east side Salem people need to worry about.
Jus wonderin if workmen will profit anything by ferrying to and from Montserrat to work in Montserrat.
Jus wonderin if the workmen who ferry down to Montserrat will have to pay taxes to Montserrat on their wages.
Jus wonderin when those churches which are sheltering a handful of people will be emptied so that people can have the building for worship
Eastern Caribbean Central Bank
Applications are invited from suitable qualified citizens of the OEMs member territories and Anguilla to fill the post of Legal officer at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Basseterre, St. Kitts.
Applicants should have a bachelor of laws Degree and a Legal Education Certificate or equivalent and at least three (3) years working experience.
Duties
The successful applicant will he directly responsible to the Legal Adviser, Governor’s Office, for the proper performance of his/her duties which will include:
providing general legal advice to the Bank in the exercise of its function under the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Agreement and the Banking Act;
advising departments of the Bank on:
SALARY
Salary will be commensurate with qualification and experience.
Applications stating qualification and experience with the name and address of two references should be forwarded to:
Bank Secretary Eastern Caribbean Central Bank PO box 89 Basseterre St. KittsTo reach no later than 21st November, 1997
Applications which do not meet the minimum requirements indicated above will not be acknowledged
Forward all Questions, Comments and Suggestions to: roachb@candw.ag
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