on Properties in Exclusion Zone
by Staff Reporters
Lower Parliament St. - Royal Bank of Canada & Wilson's
Persons with insurance claims in the exclusion zone can now breathe a sigh of relief. Government this week announced plans to implement what is being called a "Managed Entry" project. This project, according to CM David Brandt, is designed to allow appraisers and adjusters into the exclusion zone to appraise properties of people who have claims in these areas.
Working in collaboration with the MVO scientists, clearance will be granted for adjusters and appraisers to periodically visit properties in the Unsafe Zone. This comes as a result of a meeting with insurance companies, appraisers, adjusters and government officials on Wednesday this week.
"I am satisfied that we are going to expedite the settlement and payment of claims. When ever it is safe to do so the team will go in and do the assessment and the insurance company have undertaken that they will make prompt payments," the CM said.
CM Brandt also revealed that he has made a request of the Secretary General of the Caricom Secretariat to make available an insurance expert. This, he says, will aid insured person who may not be versed enough to "stand up against insurance companies."
"An insurance policy is a very technical document and the insurance companies will always be at an upper hand as against the common man. That is why we are engaging an expert who will be equally skilled in the interpretation of the policies," he said.
Speaking on the issue of the development of the north of the island Overseas Manager of United Insurance Company, David Alleyne, said he recognizes the importance of insurance to development, however they are yet to see the plans outlined for the next five years.
"In the absence of a real plan to look at we can't say whether we will be part of it, One of the things that will impact greatly on our participation in the plan is the prognosis of volcanic activity in the North, We cannot provide cover where damage is certain," he explained. He added that United Insurance is very "interested to see where we could help." He said he was not in a position to say if premiums would go up.
Insurance companies represented at the Wednesday meeting include, Nemwil West Indies Insurance Ltd., Sun Alliance, and United Insurance company.
"Signs of Recovery"
Some months ago the government held meetings with various insurance companies and representatives that have held policies of insurance for residents, businesses and homeowners on Montserrat. The result of the meetings were disastrous and made the us all forget the reason why such meetings were ever held.
Already it seemed that the insurance companies were going to turn their backs on Montserrat. And so they did with some exceptions. But then came the August 16 weekend Volcanic Update Report, which was so blown out of proportion and misunderstood by the British and local governments, that the insurance companies could not resist the help. So it was we were all left practically uninsurable. In fact it is a wonder that we are still here to enjoy the good news circulating this week about the settling of claims and the possibilities of getting insurance coverage, not for volcanic hazards, but then who will complain.
This should have a 100% turn around effect for the homeowners, businesses and residents and should do something very good for the hope of any economic base that we need to begin a recovery.
Not even Clare Short, who for our sake, and maybe for her career need to visit Montserrat soon, can take away the ecstasy that this week's news must bring. It is true there just over 4,000 people on the island, but it well accepted now that her name has become a household name, never mind she is not spoken of pleasantly. She has apologised once and she will again, but it would be good of her and may regain her some respect which is not yet known in Montserrat.
The volcano, even though it is still reported to be very active, is momentarily leaving the scientists somewhat at a loss for words. Perhaps the new head and deputy will bring a change (hopefully a better one) and will have much to say. It is still not late to educate the population more closely about the volcano. It will benefit not just us, but the entire Caribbean and particularly those islands who can expect some volcanic activity, maybe not tomorrow and may not next year, maybe 20 years or longer from now, and then again maybe sooner than anyone would like.
The insurance companies began the decade after Hugo, fearing that there would be more and more devastating hurricanes, but they like many others did not take in the equation, volcanoes, which are many hundred times as we now know more devastating that the hurricane or flood that come and goes in hours.
Because of their (insurance companies) action, we have lost millions in Plymouth and the other impacted areas, yet, some such as furniture, equipment could have been saved, but the question being asked today is, will we turn around and give our business back to those insurance companies who were so quick to turn their backs on us even though they are now trying to honour their obligations? Or will we look to those who stuck it out in however small way and who are showing understanding and common sense?
Safe or Unsafe - Salem and Old Towne!!
Dear Mr. Editor,
Through the Internet, Nov. 13, I discovered that there is a problem with waste products from the government-built houses in the North. The government, or who ever is in charge, has decided to pipe the waste water into the sea.
I think that this is a very, very bad idea. It is going to cause pollution because there will be mal functioning at some point and this will cause raw sewage to be pumped into the sea. It is going to pollute the ocean, the shores and also the fish. It is going to be a very bad thing. This will create an environmental hazard, which Montserrat cannot afford to bear. We do not want such a thing in Montserrat.
There are other alternatives that we can use, namely toilets that are water saver toilets. These use 1.6 gallons per flush instead of the normal toilets, which use 4-5 gallons — that will be a saving of 50% water. They can also use shower heads that reduces the flow of water. The treated water could be piped through PVC pipes buried along the roadside with drip holes in the pipe, which can be used by decorative flowers, grass and plants planted along the roadside. This treated water can also be used for fire. It can also be used for irrigation for lawns and other things.
Here in southern California the city has a plant, and every year they have the same problem. Every year they are charged by the Environmental Protection Agency for accidental dumping of raw sewage into the area. Even though it is being piped about 15 miles out it still pollutes the ocean and shoreline to such an extent that people cannot bathe in the sea.
We know the dangers of things like this. It can cause Hepatitis, which can kill people. I hope that that government does not follow this policy.
Noel White
Los Angeles, California
Search and Rescue Training for Inter-disciplinary Teams
After this week, members of the Montserrat Defense Force, Fire Service and Police Force will be better equipped to search for and rescue victims of disasters, said Bazil Walters of the Fire Service in Brades.
Speaking to the Montserrat Reporter earlier this week, Walters revealed that a two-week course, which is been conducted by search and rescue experts from the United Kingdom, will focus on first aid, search and rescue techniques during disasters such as earthquakes, storms, fire, floods, and volcano rescue. He said that some 30 persons were involved in the training, which is being sponsored by the Aid Management Office.
The Search and Rescue team from Britain includes, Peter Crook (leader), Jess Horton, Malcom Lowie and Lee Street.Crook told the Montserrat Reporter the participants have worked very hard. "They have integrated all of the various skill we have taught them," he said.
Another attempt will be made by MS Osborne to bring the family-owned block making plant out of the unsafe zone.
This comes in the wake of lowered volcanic activity at this time. The plant, which is located near to volcano affected areas, is one of the main block-making plants on the island. Blocks are being imported from neighbouring islands. This has increased the cost of building on the island.
Officials at the MVO will be involved in the process of relocating the plant from the unsafe zone.
ECCB and Regional Commercial Banks
Look to Better Inter-Island Monetary Transactions
Inefficiencies in the current method of cheque payments among the OECS countries will soon be ironed out, according to a press release from the East Caribbean Central bank.
The release said the ECCB and commercial banks in the currency union agreed on the need to develop an efficient and reliable payment system for the OECS countries. This announcement was made at a recent meeting in Antigua.
Participants at the November 13 and 14 annual conference, the eigth of its kind, noted that the inter-island transactions in cheques can take up to six weeks to clear. That the person drawing the cheque must pay an amount that is often relatively high in relation to the value of the cheque, was another problem identified by the representatives at the meeting.
The representatives heard presentations from the Central bank of Japan, the Center for Latin American Monetary Studies and a consultant to the Central bank on the need to modernize the current system. They also looked at various recommendations on how it could be made efficient, secure, convenient and cost effective.
Following further in-house discussion, the commercial banks and the ECCB will form a committee to spearhead the redevelopment process, the release said.
Readers of all age groups now have a wider selection of books to choose from at the public library. Six boxes, containing children picture books, novels and some textbooks were presented to the library on Wednesday, by representatives of First Editions book store in Antigua.
Barbara Arindell and Adam Winter
Librarian Ruth Allen, told the reporter that she is "extremely delighted and appreciative of the donations."
"They meet our needs. So often you get books that you cannot use. These are what we are looking for. Mothers with their children can come in ad get picture books for all age groups," Allen said.
Barbara Arindell, Purchasing and Marketing Director of First Editions said the idea, which emerged from the Electronic Evergreen web site, started when someone donated $700.00 worth of books to the Montserrat library. Her company, located at the Woods Mall, Antigua, added $300.00 and sent the library $1000.00 worth of books. According to Arindell the books, which were shipped with the help of Percy and Pam Arthurton, are a mixture of new and good second hand books.
"We hope to support the library and Montserrat in what ever away we can," Arindell added. She announced that Montserratians visiting Antigua during the month of December will get a bonus of 15% off purchases made at her company."All they need to show is a return ticket to Montserrat or their passport," she said.
Adam Winter, owner of the business, who was Montserrat Airways first pilot to fly to the island, commended what he calls the show of courage demonstrated by Montserratians. "I think it is a tribute to the people here that they can move to the North and try to live a normal life," he said.
Access to Undamaged Property Zone Needed - says Former PS
by Staff Reporter
The government should give people periodic access to their properties in the Exclusion Zone is the view of former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Anthony Maloney.
Along with helping people to maintain a psychological bond with their possessions, Maloney said that periodic checks could reveal "some little thing that can be done to prevent further deterioration [to assets]." "As we all know properties that are kept continually closed could be damaged in several ways, one of which is termites,' he said. Maloney was quick to point out that the people of Montserrat are more cautious than the authorities credit them for.
"I believe that our people could be considered more reasonable and responsible. I don't think that they will want to go and lime and be frivolous in an area that is dangerous. People should be allowed to go into areas that have not been touched, with reason of course ," he pointed out.
He said that the two-year duration of the volcano should have given officials enough time to have worked out what he calls a "permit-system." He added that the authorities, who have been flooded with requests for permission to go into the exclusion zone, have not responded with sympathy. "I heard on the radio that people had enough time to bring out their stuff. But even if this was the case, you do not have any place to put your things," he commented.
Specific times where police could be stationed in controlled positions, specified days and areas when people will be allowed in, or a written pass are some of the suggestions that can help in the situation.
Commenting on the protest against the recently enforced August 16 evacuation order of Salem, Maloney wondered if the Salemites developed a false sense of pride because they were the "nucleus of the first movement of people."
"Are they feeling that where the others went they cannot go too? Why did the leader of that group never question moving other people?" he questioned. Maloney condemned what he calls "lawlessness" on behalf of the protesters.
"I believe that in any society, especially one with nerves as frayed as they are in the country, many of us who are in responsible positions must show an example. Although we must help people to speak and stand up for their rights, we must never take lawlessness on board," he said. Although Maloney is dissatisfied with the type of accommodation provided in the shelters, he said that building proper shelters and homes takes time. "You cannot go and make an unreasonable request for what cannot be provided. We are short of housing and I am not sure that can be remedied overnight," he said. He said that the police, who have recently announced that they will beef up patrol and surveillance of properties by land, sea and air, have opened themselves up for some criticism. "If they are saying that they can do it now, it means they could have done it before," he commented.
MONTSERRAT BENEFITS UNDER US TPS
On August 26, 1997, United States Attorney General Janet Reno, passed legislation which read: "Nationals of Montserrat (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Montserrat) who have been ``continuously physically present'' since August 28, 1997, and have ``continuously resided in the United States'' since August 22, 1997, may apply for Temporary Protected Status within the registration period which begins on August 28, 1997, and ends on August 27, 1998.
Reports from the U.S. explain that the order makes the evacuees eligible for "temporary protected status," a designation under which thousands of people fleeing wars and political turmoil have gained refuge since 1990. Immigration officials said it was the first time the program has been opened to victims of a natural catastrophe.
The Reno order said that only island residents already on U.S. soil as of August 22 will be allowed to apply for refuge for one year and receive U.S. work permits.
The order cites among other things:
(1) The government of Montserrat officially has requested designation of Montserrat for TPS;
(2) There exist extraordinary and temporary conditions in Montserrat that prevent aliens who are nationals of Montserrat (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Montserrat) from returning to Montserrat in safety; and
(3) Permitting nationals of Montserrat (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Montserrat) to remain temporarily in the United States is not contrary to the national interest of the United States.
Part of the Order reads: "An application for Temporary Protected Status does NOT preclude or adversely affect an application for asylum or any other immigration benefit. Regardless of the denial of an application for asylum or another immigration benefit, Montserratians who apply for TPS during the initial registration period would remain eligible to re-register if the designation of TPS is extended."
FOR MONTSERRATIANS LIVING AT HOME OR ABROAD...
As an Executive Member of The Montserrat Chamber of Commerce and Industryand a representative on The National Consultative Forum, I have been asked to highlightan area of concern which is adversely affecting many of us individually and consequentlyMontserrat as a nation.
There may be a relatively large sector of our population who, although not eligible for Government Housing, are desirous of building a home in the north of Montserrat, but who have not been able to purchase land as an individual.
The main obstacles in identifying and securing property seem to stem from the lack of clearly defined ownership, multiple ownership problems, greatly inflated land prices and inaccessible land causing prohibitively high costs of services.
The lack of readily available resources is due mainly to the loss of collateral and the withdrawal of insurance coverage which enables private individuals to borrow money.
Two possible solutions are:
Either of the these options could benefit from the use of common services, possibly subsidized by government.
If these housing areas had uniform lot sizes and similar housing plans, costs could be greatly reduced but this would not preclude some custom-built houses of the owners' choice. In the future, if presently designated "unsafe" areas became inhabitable again, these homes could be rented or even used for possible visitor accommodation.
Although the Government is presently considering the facilitation of subsidized soft loans for housing to the private sector, persons interested in this proposed joint venture should have the resources readily available to build a modest home in the immediate future.
The purpose of this notice is to assess the actual need and identify the number of interested persons. Those wishing to participate in this private sector initiative please contact me:
Mrs. Carol Osborne Montserrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry P.O. Box 65 Montserrat, West Indies Tel. 664-491-5318 Fax 664-491-5318Survey for Relocated Persons Living With Relatives and in Private Homes
The needs of relocated persons living with relatives and in private accommodations are being documented through a survey that was recently launched by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Questionaires, available at the Ministry of Agriculture, will be issued to these persons so that their housing needs can be adequately addressed.
This is said to be the government’s effort to facilitate and encourage hosuing construction.
Persons who fall in this category have one week to complete these forms and return them to the ministry.
Job status, living arrangements, size of home, special needs of the family and the family’s ability to pay a mortgage, are some of the information the questionnaire requested.
November 21 is the deadline for the return of the questionnaire.
CM Brandt's Visits Government Offices
After nearly three months of being in office, Chief Minister David Brandt started his official tour of government offices this week.
A release from the CM office said he started his tour by visiting offices in Olveston, St. Peters, Palm Loop and Hill Top. Next week he is expected to visit Brades, Davy Hill, Sweeney’s and St. Johns.
The CM also made an unscheduled visit to newly opened primary school at Brades. He praised the teachers for their dedication and promised to improve the conditions at the school by installing fans and extra toilets.
According the the release, Minster Brandt was full of praise for civil servants, who he said continue to perform admirably under extremely difficult circumstances. He update them on the progress in improving working conditions with the construction of temporary government offices in Brades.
He also visited police offices and promised to look into the grievance and concern of the officers, whose morale we understand is at an all time low now. The CM was accompanied by Financial Secretary C T John and government’s information officer, Herman Sargeant.
'Count' Wants to Count His Money
Port worker, John "Count" Markham feels he has been given a raw deal by the Montserrat Port Authority.
Markham, who lives in the Salem Campus Shelter, claims he is yet to receive salary for work he did at the port since the tragic June 25 eruptions.
"We were loading tons of rice on the rice boat. The whole town became black. We had to run all the way To Cork Hill. I even ran without my shoes, they are still on the boat," he said, as recounted the historic June 25 eruption.
Ash, rain and hot sun are weather conditions Marham said they braved in order to load over a 100 tons of rice on the boat. While he admitted that there was a 25% increase of salary for working in the Exclusion Zone he is still bitter that he has not received his hard-earned money.
"They don't even have the manners to call us together and say, 'thank you fellows for the work you did,' he explained.
Port officials, however, pointed out that they have not received confirmed record of the quantity of work done by the Port team. This, they say, has to come from the now closed rice mills.
"Mr. William Bramble (manager of rice mills) is off island and another of the key workers has relocated. There is someone doing the wrapping up work of the company. However, until we get the figures from the rice mills we cannot pay the workers," the official said.
Count says this situation is unsatisfactory, since he scarcely gets work now. He survives on food vouchers and donations from charitable organizations.
Primary and Nursery School at Last
Wooden buildings at Brades are facilitating long overdue Primary and Nursery schools. School opened this week with 145 children -- 97 boys and 48 girls.
According to a release from the Ministry of Education, the children are being bused in. Mini-busses leave Salem Campus in Salem and Look Out in Brades to transport children every morning.
Parents, who have not done so should note that children who are entering school for the first time should have their birth certificates and their health cards for proper registration.
School opened for half day on Monday, however full school schedule 9-3 operated from Tuesday. Lunch will be served at school.
Nursery school is being held at the St. Johns Day Care Centre. Transportation is also provided for the nursery school children. Pick up is at 8 am every morning and children are transported from day care center at 2:30 pm every afternoon.
US CONGRESS CHARGED WITH RACISM OVER IMMIGRATION LAWS
NEW YORK, Nov 18, Cana - Caribbean leaders are up in arms over a U.S. Congressional measure that denies amnesty to their community, but which grants the dispensation to Latin Americans.
They are charging racism over the action and have called for heightened protest action.
"It's a racist and ethnic move," says Una Clarke, a Jamaica-born New York City Councilwoman, who represents the 40th District in Brooklyn, where a large number of Caribbean immigrants live. "It's an on-going onslaught on black people. It's a shame that we have very few voices (in Congress) that are willing to stand up for us."
The Congressional provision grants amnesty to 150,000 Nicaraguans and 5,000 Cubans who have been here in quasi-legal status since Dec. l, 1995.
It also permits 200,000 Salvadoreans and 50,000 Guatemalans who have been in the country since 1990 to apply for permanent residency, or the coveted "green card," under the more lenient rules that existed before the 1996 law.
An undisclosed number of immigrants from Eastern Europe or the former Soviet republics have also been exempted but not immigrants from the Caribbean, including Haitians, who face harsher standards to avert deportation.
Section 245 (i) of the 1994 immigration law allows illegal immigrants here to obtain permanent visas in the country, instead of travelling overseas to get the same at U.S. Consulates, by paying a $1,000 fine.
But under the Legal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act of 1996, illegal Caribbean immigrants who did not adjust their status within six months from April 1, 1997, would be barred from re-entering the country for three years, if caught and deported. Those who stayed for over a year would be prohibited for 10 years.
As immigrant advocacy groups, community leaders and lawyers pleaded with the Republican-led Congress for compassion on the five million illegal immigrants reportedly living in the United States, lawmakers agreed to the September 30 deadline.
Their latest action provides for a 10-week extension, giving illegal immigrants until Jan. 14, 1998, to file applications with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to adjust their status.
But, ironically, as the Caribbean community began to feel appeased, it's confronted with another measure that leaders say is "a clear slap in the face" and "downright discriminatory."
Irwin Claire, co-director of the Caribbean Immigrant Services with offices in Brooklyn and Queens, who's been in the vanguard of advocating amnesty for Caribbean immigrants, says he's aghast over Congress' preferential treatment of certain groups of immigrants.
"We're witnessing a continuing trend of gradual erosion of any kind of benefits to Caribbean nationals," Claire says.
"These harsh immigration measures will have devastating effects on the region. Most Caribbean immigrants send remittances back home to their relatives and friends. And more burden will be placed on the already fragile economies of the island-nations if nationals here continue to be deported in large numbers."
Kawal Toteram, who hails from Guyana, says he's confounded by Congress' action of granting amnesty to refugees from Central America who fled persecution at home, and immigrants from former communist regimes, while Haitians, who faced similar fate, are denied that opportunity.
"While I welcome and do not begrudge measures taken in granting green cards to certain groups of people, what about others who have suffered under similar political and economic repression?" he says.
"What about those Caribbean people here? What about those who, though illegal, have contributed towards the social fabric of the society. The whole system smacks of two-facedness."
OECS MINISTERS AGREE TO STICK TO CET SCHEDULE
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Nov 18, Cana - Eastern Caribbean trade ministers have agreed to stick to the schedule adopted by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to reduce the levels of the common external tariff (CET).
At their 27th Economic Affairs Committee meeting held here the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean (OECS) ministers committed themselves to this action, and noted the impact of the tariff on fiscal reform will be included in a study now being undertaken by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) and the OECS Secretariat.
"St. Lucia has committed to go to the fourth and last stage at one go, not having gone through the third stage," OECS Director General Swinburne Lestrade said.
At their last Heads of Government meeting in Jamaica, CARICOM leaders indicated that their final phase of adoption of the CET should come into effect in 1998.
A target date of January l was set for the publication of the new national tariff, and OECS Economic Affairs Ministers have agreed to continue to move towards the new deadline.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade of St. Kitts and Nevis Sam Condor told the Caribbean News Agency (CANA) that the OECS had experienced delays in the implementation of the tariff as a result of a shortage of revenue.
Condor said that the fact that the OECS was more dependent on import duties and taxation of international commerce than other CARICOM states, forced it to think harder and more carefully about taking action that reduces tariffs, "if only because we are letting ourselves in for a rather serious revenue impact".
He added that traditionally the way countries have sought to make up for that revenue impact has been to impose consumption taxes at equal levels to the extent of reducing import duty.
"That has certain ramifications in that the manner in which we impose consumption taxes we have to ensure World Trade Organisation (WTO) compatibility," he said.
The St. Kitts minister added that "any action you take these days with regard to the management of your national economy may have WTO implications which have to be carefully examined".
The EAC Chairman said that depending on the manner of application of consumption tax it may end up having unintended adverse consequences on the domestic product, because consumption taxes, because of WTO, compatibility have to be applied across the board to items consumed in the country whether imported or produced locally.
"One has to carefully examine the effect this may have on domestically produced items and ensure that the consumption tax is not imposed in a way that makes life more difficult for domestic production by making the competitive position worse," he added.
Condor said that if the level of consumption tax is too high, that could constitute WTO incompatibility if the OECS make it more difficult than before for imported goods to compete in the sub-region.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Cana - A murder earlier this year and the rape of a student over the weekend at the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) have left students worried about their safety and their lives.
"Students are extremely fearful for their lives. Not only are you under pressure to perform at this institution where your parents have either mortgaged or you are mortgaging your life through student loans, but you are also risking your life in becoming a possible statistic," Students Guild President Ramyond Lee Moon told the Caribbean News Agency (CANA) on Tuesday.
"No one wants to be a statistic of rape or murder or assault or battery or robbery or any of these things, but these things are coming on our campus," Lee Moon said.
The student spokesman said that students have agreed on a number of initiatives that will help to protect them while they are on the campus of the University, which is situated in St Augustine in the Eastern district. He said that the Guild met with UWI's administrators on Monday about security issues and another meeting is planned for Thursday. Lee Moon said that if the security situation was not improved, the students would embark on their initiatives from next Monday.
Among them was the launching of a fund for the hiring of additional security guards on the campus and a bus shuttle service which will take students outside of the campus to the nearby busy districts of Curepe and Tunapuna.
"In addition, we will also be providing an escort service," he said adding that they will be escorted from the Guild conference room to particular locations at specific periods.
(US$8,245) represents Guild fees paid by students. The Guild is also calling on members of the public to make contributions.
Earlier this year, Shivanand Latchman, who was studying at the campus was waiting for his brother who is a student there when he was stabbed to death by an intruder.
On Saturday, a 20-year-old female student was raped in a washroom by an unmasked man who was hiding in one of the cubicles. There have been other reports of assault and robbery of students by strange men.
"We have taken the decision that our policy is not going to be one of protest and demonstrations but one where we are prepared to do whatever we can if the administration does not take action, " said Lee Moon.
HAITIANS PULL OFF BIG COCAINE HEIST
By Nicole Volpe
Haiti (Reuters) - A village of peasants, allegedly led by
their local pastor, were suspected in the heist of two tons of Colombian cocaine that frustrated police said Sunday they were so far unable to recover.
"Everyone in the village is implicated," said the chief of an elite police intervention force called in to find the drugs. "We understand there was as much as two tons of cocaine on board and everyone took some."
Among those arrested was the local pastor, Joseph Henri, who police alleged was a ringleader in the theft.
"We have solid evidence against the pastor," said the police chief. "He must have told his congregation it was a gift from God."
Residents of the impoverished southern village of Flamand, who watch a fortune in illegal drugs regularly coming ashore on local beaches, said a Colombian drug-trafficking boat ran aground last Tuesday just offshore of the village.
The peasants massed on the beach in large enough numbers to terrorize the boat's captain away, police said, and seize the valuable stash.
"They took the drugs and even stole the motor off the boat," said the police chief. "We understand they buried the cocaine, God knows where. We haven't heard anything more about the captain, so maybe they buried him too. We searched every house and made arrests, but we still haven't found anything."
Police said they didn't know what measures, if any, would recover the cocaine. International and Haitian police were meeting over the weekend to discuss strategy.
But the peasants in Flamand said they only had to wait. "Eventually they will forget about it," said one resident. "Then, with the heat off, people here will just very quietly get rich."
Police said a portion of the cocaine has already been sold by theFlamand villagers, producing a deadly skirmish with police and yet another heist by locals. A panel truck filled with the stolen cocaine bound for Port-au-Prince was caught in traffic near a routine police checkpoint on the road to the capital, officials said. The traffickers tried to turn the truck around, smashing into surrounding cars and ultimately opening fire on police, killing a driver in a nearby car, said Miragoane Police Chief Jolicoeur Serge. "I had to hide. They had automatic weapons, and all we have are these," said Serge, waving a pistol in the air. Police ran in one direction, and the gunmen ran in the other, leaving a truck full of cocaine in the middle of the road, which was promptly raided by the local population.
Merchants said the looters ran through the streets with kilos of drugs under their arms."When we got back to the truck, there was still 150 kilos inside,"said Serge. "We don't know how much was there before."
The deadly road skirmish may not be the end to the violence associated with the stolen cache. Expensive four-wheel drive vehicles, believed to belong to Haitian drug traffickers, have been driving through Flamand on a nightly basis, presumably in search of the missing cocaine. "There have been gunshots at night all week," said a resident. "Mostpeople buried their drugs and went into hiding."
Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is considered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to be a major transshipment point for cocaine moving from Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Central America to the United States.
The U.S. Coast Guard estimated as much 30 metric tons of cocaine annually transit through Haiti to the United States, despite a U.N. peacekeeping presence and international police trainers, who act as advisers at police stations throughout Haiti. Drug trafficking experts attributed much of Haiti's rampant instability to competition between various sectors to control the country's drug trade.
Sparks Resented on the 'Short' Circuit
Many of Us Resent the Arbitrary Ways Used to Manipulate Us
But That Doesn't Mean We Do Not Respect the Volcano as a Menace
By J. Donald Brandt
by Dr. Tony Glaser
Glendon Hospital totally destroyed by pyroclastic flows
Clare Short recently caused a good deal of consternation with her Parliamentary mention of the poisonousness" of the volcanicash in Montserrat. It seems that this interpretation ofhers was based on a report written on 5th September, 1997, entitled "Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Ash Emissions from the Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat" by Dr Peter J Baxter,MD, FRCP, University of Cambridge (one of the world's top experts on volcanic effects on health, who has been publishingon this topic since 1986 if not before) and Prof Anthony Seaton, CBE, MD, CRCP, University of Aberdeen.
Health
The first paragraph reads:
"This health risk assessment is based on the results of the surveys of exposure to volcanic ash made by the Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, in September 1996 and June 1997. The surveys were undertaken as part of an evaluation of the risk of silicosis in the communities exposed to ashfalls. Laboratory tests suggest that the respirable fraction of the ash in the air (PM10) contains 10-20% cristobalite, a form of crystalline silica, which is considered to be more toxic to the lungs than quartz."
(PM10 is an abbreviation used by everyone in the air quality field - it refers to Particulate Matter of less than 10 microns, or 10 millionths of an metre, in size; this is important because it is only particles well below this size are deposited to any substantial extent in the lungs - once again, it is the dust that you can't see that is dangerous, while the visible dust does not get into the lungs in the first place! Cristobalite is a form of silica which is produced at very high temperatures, above 1400 degrees C - eg in volcanoes; it has been found in significant quantities in the Mount St Helens ash and in the ash from Mexican volcanoes - TG)
The report then goes on to describe some now-outdated data about ashfalls in Cork Hill, Old Towne, and Salem. However it concludes with "The north of the island has so far escaped significant ashfalls". (I believe that since the report was written there have been some significant ashfalls in the north, but they were (according to people I have spoken to) of relatively short duration and fortunately followed by heavy rainfall. This is not to say that future ashfalls may not be more concerning.)
The second section is headed "Summary of silicosis risk". It says:
"The average levels of respirable ash,and hence cristobalite, measured in the ambient air are comparable to exposure levels in metal mines where workers have developed silicosis from inhaling crystalline silica and are therefore of concern. The 24-hour exposure levels in the affected communities regularly exceed the equivalent occupational standard for cristobalite adopted in the United States."
It then goes on to discuss the effects of type of quartz, length of exposure, concentrations, and so on. It continues:
"The duration of exposure to the cristobalite in the ash at these levels in the impacted communities has not been long enough to lead to the development of silicosis, and it is very unlikely that anyone would be adversely affected if their exposure to ash were now to cease."
" . . most evidence points to silicosis being associated with a small increase in lung cancer risk (very small in relation to cigarette smoking)". (In this regard it is interesting to note a 1990 study that was done among gold miners, one of the occupational groups who are classically at high risk of silicosis-related lung disease, concluded that of the miners who died from chronic lung disease, 5% of the deaths were attributable to the dust alone, 34% to smoking, and 59% from the combined effects of dust and smoking - TG)
"More severe silicosis, leading to impairment of lung capacity and symptoms of breathlessness, could develop in individuals exposed regularly to cristobalite concentrations of around 0.5mg/m3 over 24 hours in a matter of only 2-3 years. Exposure to the lower concentration (c. 0.1mg/m3) estimated for workers in the central area might be anticipated to lead to the same consequences if exposure were to continue for a further 8-10 years. This assumes that cristobalite is twice as toxic as quartz and that 10-20% cristobalite in a mixed dust is as toxic as pure cristobalite at the same concentration. In the longer term some subjects who developed severe silicosis could die as a consequence."
The third section is titled "Recommendations". I will quote it in its entirety:
"As it is impossible to ensure that exposures to ash can be maintained at acceptable safe levels to protect against the development of silicosis in the general population, as well as the majority of outdoor workers, people should be advised to relocate in the event of heavy ashfalls and if there is no immediate expectation of a decline in volcanic activity.
Families with young children should be especially advised to relocate from areas impacted by ashfalls.
Ashfall on the northern parts of the island have been too light, or the deposits have been too short lived, to pose a silicosis risk to the communities there. The probability of the north being impacted by ash has been low, but is likely to increase with new and more vigorous pulsations of the volcano.
Measures such as advising the population to wear masks when exposed to dusty condition, avoiding work such as shovelling ash off roofs or cutting grass, and staying indoors during periods of heavy resuspension of ash, are either widely ignored or are impracticable. Exposures in young children are especially difficult, if not impossible, to control.
The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) is equipped with a DustTrak instrument which would enable the scientists to quickly evaluate condition in future ashfalls by measuring PM10. Guideline levels of PM10 would be 1mg/m3 (short term - days) and 0.3mg/m3 (long term - weeks); above these levels temporary relocation would need to be considered as a precautionary measure.Elevated levels of PM10 will also exacerbate symptoms in asthma sufferers and others with chronic lung disorders.
"At least weekly DustTrak measurements should be made by the MVO at representative sites in inhabited areas in an air monitoring regime. The frequency of monitoring will need to be increased during periods of deteriorating air quality due to the ash.
"This health risk assessment will need to be reviewed when the results of the toxicological tests on the ash are completed by the Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, in the next few months."
In the light of the above guidelines, it is useful to review the MVO scientific reports since August (when the heaviest ashfalls in inhabited areas have been) which report frequent DustTrak measurements at multiple locations. I have looked over the reports on the Web covering the period from August 11 to September 14; during this entire period only one measurement exceeded the short-term PM10 guideline level of 1mg/m3, and that as a measurement of 1.067 mg/m3 (ie only barely above the guideline) in Salem Car Park on August 25. Only three measurements in the entire period, as far as I can see, exceeded the long-term guideline of 0.3mg/m3 - these were an outdoor measurement at the old MVO in Old Towne (0.621mg/m3), a measurement on the pool deck of MVO in Old Towne during a fallout (0.55), and a measurement at Salem Police Station (0.734). It is interesting to note that all of these figures were obtained in areas that are now in the exclusion zone, and they are far higher than the typical measurement, which (by my eyeball estimate - if anyone has the time they can get out their calculator and work out the average of all the numbers in the scientific reports!) is about 0.05; just as another example, the figures reported by MVO today for Olveston, Woodlands and Mongo Hill were in the range 15 to 50 micrograms (not mg, milligrams) per cubic meter, ie. 0.015 to 0.050mg/m3.
(Bear in mind that the DustTrak figures report all the small particles of ash, only part of which is the toxic cristobalite. Also, remember that silica is the commonest material there is in the earth's crust - if you lie on a windy beach you will be inhaling silica in some form or another - in fact it has been estimated that crystalline silica concentrations of 0.001 to 0.010 mg/m3 are common in rural and urban settings in "normal" places.)
The guidelines suggested in this paper are compatible with the US NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety) recommendation of a limit of occupational crystalline silica exposure of 0.100mg/m3, and a generally accepted limit of 0.050mg/m3 for cristobalite. If the Soufriere dust is 10-25% cristobalite (this is the range of figures that have been obtained by different labs from various ash samples sent to the UK so far), this means that the limits for Soufriere dust overall would be between 4 and 10 times the NIOSH figures, i.e. from 0.200 to 1.000mg/m3 - in other words, pretty much the same as this paper recommends. And the NIOSH figures are assuming a worker will be exposed the dust 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 40 years (about 80,000 hours of exposure)
So, what does all this add up to for the people of Montserrat?
Let's say that the average long-term PM10 level, day in, day out, all the time, in the inhabited parts of Montserrat is 0.050mg/m3 - that's about the average so far, and is the highest figure the MVO found today (a windy, dry day, but with no explosions or pyroclastic flows). Let's assume that as much as 25% of this is cristobalite, the bad stuff - so we are exposed to 0.012mg/m3 of cristobalite. This is a quarter of the NIOSH limits for a person over an 80,000 hour working lifetime. Let's assume the present level of ash will continue for a total of 10 years in Montserrat - this still leaves a total cristobalite exposure of a little over a quarter of the NIOSH limits. There are some people who will be exposed to much more dust - I can't put my hands on it but one report stated that cutting grass and so on can multiply airborne dust levels seven-fold.
My personal conclusions so far about this are:
" A . . disease. . such as silicosis usually requires a consistent heavy exposure over two or three decades. There have been no exposures of this magnitude anywhere in the world as a result of volcanic eruptions"
"common sense dictates that exposures should be minimized whenever possible by use of appropriate preventive measures, such as wetting the sedimented ash before disturbing it, and using commercially available disposable paper masks meeting NIOSH code TC-23 for dusts for light exposures and industrial half- or full-faced "respirator" and goggles for more extensive and heavy exposure".
A new report from Dr. Baxter, based on recent detailed lab work on the ash in the U.K., should be finished very shortly. I hope the U.K. and Montserrat governments will publish the reports promptly, rather than wait for Clare Short or another politician to produce their own off-the-cuff, melodramatic interpretation.
Montserrat to Take Part in Discussion About Dependent Territory Status
Montserrat will take part in an inquiry into Britain's policy towards its dependent territories. As part of our response you are invited to submit your views on issues such as:
1. Citizenship.
You are invited to consider if UK citizenship is sought, whether it would be on the basis of non-reciprocity; would you see a need to continue to impose immigration: controls on other UK citizens or would you be prepared to see existing controls removed or modified?
2. Constitutional Status.
Consider a continuation of the status quo, integration into the UK along the lines of the French Overseas Departments, Crown Dependency status or independence.
3. Nomenclature.
Our present designation is known as "British Dependent Territories. Would a different term, such as "British Overseas Territories" be preferable?
Send your responses to Herman Sargeant, Information Officer, Chief Minister's Office by Thursday December 4.
For many Jamaicans, Sunday's entry to the World Cup finals by the national football team was the happiest and proudest moment of their lives.
Spontaneous street celebrations continued until late Sunday night islandwide after the "Reggae Boyz" before an overspilling crowd of more than 30,000 played to a tense 0-0 draw with Mexico in Kingston's National Stadium to secure the single point necessary for a place in France next year. Motorists honked their horns and people danced in the streets, in some cases making music by banging pot covers and other makeshift instruments.
The party actually began early Sunday morning.The thousands - most wearing gold shirts and waving the black, green and gold national flag - who packed into the Stadium hours before the game danced in the heat to reggae music served up from huge sound systems.
As the game - televised nationally, regionally and to Europe and North America - approached its end and it became clear that the "Reggae Boyz" would maintain their proud record of never having conceded a goal at home in nine previous World Cup qualifying games, the crowd took up the frenetic chant: "France, France, France...."
Jubilant spectators raced onto the field to embrace the players and coaching staff as the final whistle sounded, and they stayed back for more than an hour dancing to the rhythms of an impromptu stageshow. "I have watched many football games but I have never seen anything like this," said an awestruck American journalist, as he looked around at the pulsating sea of gold-dominated colour.
Caught up in the euphoria, Prime Minister Percival Patterson announced a public holiday Monday to mark the team's achievement and facilitate the celebrations.The prime minister's decision drew criticism from Opposition Leader Edward Seaga and others. They said he had failed to follow the letter of the law in serving notice before declaring a holiday. But even the critics saw the logic and pointed to the positives from an achievement that had pulled together a nation divided on so many issues.
Seaga, who along with Patterson watched the game from the stands, hailed the football team for bringing "Jamaica together as one nation". Patterson, whose negotiation of a government-to-government agreement with Brazil effectively launched the "Road-to-France" programme by bringing Technical Director Rene Simoes here three years ago, echoed similar sentiments as he proclaimed the public holiday.
Popular Sports Minister Portia Simpson urged political activists who are preparing for parliamentary elections by early next year to draw from the football experience. "Let us take this unity and this love and spread it around the land. We are having an election soon; let's take this same spirit into the election," said Simpson.
Players and coaches also saw the wider picture. _ Head Coach Carl Brown saw his team's success as an opportunity to "get us united", reduce rampant crime and "... stop the killing". According to Brown, "this shows us that we can move mountains ... this will lift the national spirit".
Captain and goalkeeper Warren Barrett dedicated his team's success to the "entire Caribbean, particularly the English-speaking Caribbean". He thanked God for helping the Jamaica squad to "carry out his message of bringing this nation together". Simoes, a devout Christian who routinely wears the caption "Jesus saves" on his tee shirt, also gave credit to The Almighty. "We have to praise the Lord," said the Brazilian, who was often the butt of ridicule when he told Jamaicans that making it to France was not an impossible dream.
Check out the Reggae Boyz web site (will open in a new window)
By Peter Adrien, Author and Sports commentator
It's Celebration Time! It's a Caribbean Celebration! On Sunday, November 16, 1997, Jamaica made soccer history. By drawing 0-0 with the South American country, Mexico, the land of reggae music became the first English-speaking Caribbean country ever to qualify for the World Cup finals. Jamaica finished the CONCACAF preliminary rounds in third place with 14 points behind the United States with 17 points and Mexico with 18 points.
The good news is that Jamaica is going to France in 1998 while larger countries like Costa Rica, El Salvador and Canada are remaining home to view the games on television. The Jamaicans will join other black teams like Morocco, Cameroon and Nigeria in prestigious competition. It will be a privilege for the Jamaican foot ballers play in the world's highest competition with established teams like Brazil, Argentina, Germany, England and Italy.
But the victory of the Jamaican foot ballers, like the victories of the St. Lucian Nobel Laureates Arthur Lewis and Derek Walcott, are really the victories of the Caribbean people. This is why we all have a right to celebrate. Therefore, rejoice, with the Reggae Boys. Shout for joy, for the Caribbean has made history.
This is our second landmark achievement in the area of soccer. Earlier this year, Trinidad and Tobago won the bid to host the 2001 Youth World Cup. The twin-island state was selected by the world governing football body, the Federation of Internationale Football Associations (FIFA) to host the 2001 Under-17 World Cup Finals, beating the out the bid of Portugal, a well respected European football nation. Now, Jamaica, (not Trinidad and Tobago as many of us expected) has entered the world_s highest level of soccer, the world of immortal foot-ballers.
Many ask why should we identify with the Jamaicans when they seem to care very little about us? Some claim that they are not part of the Caribbean society. Some others argue that they are not integrationists. Is that really true? Having lived there for some time, I think differently.
Contrary to popular opinion, Jamaica has always played a significant, if not a pathfinder role in Caribbean development. From the Morant Bay Rebellion in 1865, which anticipated the decolonisation process that was triggered by the 1930's rebellion against laissez-faire British policy, to the struggle for self-determination in the 1970's, and to the present day struggle against American imperialism, the northerly country has been a pace-setter and a trend-setter for the Anglo-phone Caribbean.
While the belligerent attitude of her leadership may have orchestrated the failure of the federal experiment in post-war period, a criticism which has always been highlighted by her critics, and perhaps, rightly so, we so often fail to appreciate the geographical disadvantage of the Jamaican people. The geopolitical position of the country as well as its historical trading and migratory links with the western metropolitan centres have contributed to the apparent apathy of the population. Located in close proximity to Cuba, Dominican Republic and the North America with which it enjoys important trading relations, and, having developed strong familial bonds in North American, England and some of her dependents, the majority of the population, particularly, the rural population, finds it easier to conceptualise -- foreign with respect to England and North America than with the rest of Eastern Caribbean islands.
Jamaica has been a trend-setter for the rest of the Caribbean, and continues to set the pace and define the social and cultural landscape for the region. It was in Jamaica, that the social and political resistance with emanated in the 1970's to deal with the issue of black empowerment and black dispossession was nurtured. The black struggle championed by Marxist revolutionaries and black activists, and members of the Rastafarian cult, swept the Caribbean like wild-fire, leaving behind a cadre of young black people who had become conscious of their being, their self-esteem and, who were willing and ready to resist the oppressors and to take control of their own destiny. Many of us who are humble enough would confess that the seed of our popular education was sown by the art and culture exported from Jamaica through music and literature. And we are thankful for that.
The achievement of the Jamaica Football Team could bless the Caribbeanregion in the very same way that the achievement of the West Indies Cricket Team has blessed us. In fact, our success in this area of sport is very significant and timely, as it achieved at a time when our cricketing invincibility and domination are being challenged; at a time when many of our people are beginning to lose confidence in our ability to achieve; at a time when the West Indies Cricket Team is beginning to lose its influence on the international community.
It was an opportune time for we needed a reinforcing mechanism, and thegods have blessed us with the success of the Jamaican Football Team. While the international community is gradually marginalising us on the international commodity market through its policy of trade liberalisation, while the weak are challenging our claim for cricketing supremacy, the higher power has shifted the price tag, stamped our name on the international agenda, and as result, forced has the world to take notice of the six million people in the British Caribbean.
Like the 2001 Youth World Cup, this undertaking offers a golden opportunity for our foot-ballers in the Caribbean. The Jamaican Team will enjoy the exposure but we all will benefit from the promotion. This should prove to be a real boost for football and for the development of the national teams. If this event is promoted properly, in the next few years we expect to see young people in all the Caribbean countries more actively involved in the football and, more purposeful in their approach to the game. Yes, this is definitely a golden opportunity for the talented Jamaican foot-ballers to sell themselves to the many talent scouts who will graze the World Cup venues during the event.
Like I noted for the 2001 Youth World Cup Tournament to be hosted by Trinidad and Tobago, this is a time for collaborative effort, a time for the harnessing of resources. This is a time to apply some of the lessons of teamwork we have learnt from West Indies cricket, and make things work for us.
It is not a time to think small; it is not a time to be insular; it is not a time to be inward looking. Don't say, this is Jamaica's business. No, it is our business.
Let us rally 'round the Jamaican World Cup Team, and transform the venture into a Caribbean enterprise.
Let us make the 1998 World Cup a Caribbean undertaking, and together cash-in on the economic benefits to be derived.
One love.
Morgan Receives More Umpire Ratings
Son of the soil, Basil Morgan, is bowling his way into recognition among top umpires in the region.
"Basil Morgan is an umpire who has shown tremendous improvement over the past two years, consistently receiving 'good' reports from both captains and match referees," is the report coming from the West Indies Board of Control.
According to the report Morgan and Dominican Billy Nutgroove, "are our umpires of the future."
Ratings of regional umpires are done every year, according to Executive Secretary Andrew Sealy.
Morgan told the Montserrat Reporter that he became involved in umpiring since he was 14 years old.
"I formally became a member of the national umpires association in 1969, through the encouragement of Bennette Roach," he said.
He then blazed his way up the corporate ladder of umpires in the region. In 1981, he placed first in the Caribbean umpire examinations, both in the orals and the practicals.
"I did my first Leeward Island match in 1983. I went on the regional scene in 86, when I umpired under the auspices of WIBC," he added. His first Red Stripe match "came about in 1992."
Morgan has the distinguished history of umpiring in every first class season since he qualified: "I have done matches involving international cricket teams which have come to the Caribbean, except the Indians,, on the first class level," Morgan revealed.
Concerning the future of his career in umpiring, Morgan said his goal is to umpire a test match.
"Outside of my work and church, cricket is my thing. I have one more hurdle to climb. I am looking forward to doing a test match," he said.
Morgan during his cricket career as a off-spinner, represented Montserrat in Leeward Islands cricket tournaments and is also one of the noted regional cricket statistician. He is a member of the World Body of Cricket Statisticians.
In him Montserrat may yet find its first representation at test match level.
Jus wonderin why the promised helicopter patrols of the Exclusion zone have not turned up the man who strolls about Isles Bay with a dog, a machete and a huge sack.
Jus wonderin whether the acting patrol commissioner is in hot water because he is not a clone of the former police commissioner.
Jus wonderin if the Chief Minister thinks Montserrat will ever have a Caribbean commissioner of police as long as the island remains a British Dependent Territory.
Jus wonderin whether the claim of this week was a result of Gov. Abbott's call for law and order or just plain despair.
Jus wonderin what will come out of the MVO's new assessment of the volcano when the scientists all get together in December in Antigua.
Jus wonderin what Clare Short will do with that reassessment, whatever it says.
Jus wonderin how many weeks it will take to dig a pit for raw sewage at the newly acquired site to air out and dry out.
Jus wonderin why at least three medical doctors are allowed to practise on island without being registered as the law of the land requires.
Jus wonderin if Governor Abbott is waiting for his emergency powers to be tested in court before he relents his threats of arrests, prosecution and fines.
Jus wonderin if we are experiencing on this side of the island the calm before the storm from the volcano.
Jus wonderin if the Chief Minister and his quiet thinkers understand the economic implications for the island by following through on his plan to give cash instead of food vouchers.
Jus wonderin if he doesn't understand how the situation has changed since he made the suggestion.
Jus wonderin why the Governor is so angry at our local top cop for allowing people to do important things in the Exclusion Zone during this period of quiet.
Jus wonderin what control the Deputy will have when the three trainers arrive.
Jus wonderin if it is the cold or poor treatment why so many want to return from England already.
Jus wonderin why there is such a rush to clear the buffer zone.
Vacancy
Accountant
Applications are invited from suitably qualified CARICOM Nationals to fill the post of Accountant/Personnel Manager at the Montserrat Port Authority.
Qualifications and Experience
Applicants should:
Main Duties
Financial Administration
General Administration
Salary would be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Applications should reach the Chairman on or before December 7, 1997. Applications should be accompanied by a full Curriculum Vitae, documentary evidence of qualifications (i.e. copies of certificates) and the names and addresses of two (2) references addressed to:
The Chairman
Montserrat Port Authority
P.O. Box 344
Montserrat
The BANK OF MONTSERRAT invites applications for the post of
ASSISTANT MANAGER OPERATIONS.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
ALTERNATIVELY:
REMUNERATION:
The salary package offered is commensurate with experience and qualifications.
APPLICATIONS:
Applicants, together with copies of certificates of academic qualifications, a comprehensive resume and three references should be sent to:
Forward all Questions, Comments and Suggestions to: roachb@candw.ag
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