New Aid Team Targets Commerce as Partners
Last week Monday, December 14, Governor Abbott hosted a reception in honour of Mr. Tony Wade MBE, chair of the Montserrat Volcano (UK) Fund (MVUKF) and Mr. Rudi Page, managing director of Statecraft Consulting Ltd.
L to R Tony Wade, Sarita Francis, Rudy Page
The MVUKF was launched on October 27, 1997, at the House of Commons in London with its stated aims to assist the process of rebuilding the island, helping relieve hardship on the island, and aiding the resettlement of evacuees.
The Fund recently appointed Statecraft Consulting Ltd. as official fundraising consultant. It was in their respective capacities that they both visited Montserrat from December 7 to further understand the needs and wishes of Montserratians in their quest to redevelop Montserrat.
In announcing the appointment, the Fund said in a release, "Statecraft Consulting have a proven track record in building partnerships between commerce and local communities."
It observed that "Montserrat has a rich cultural history, popularly known as 'The other Emerald Isle'. It is the only English-speaking Caribbean Island with historical ties with Ireland."Mr. Page said he hopes to use this fact as part of his plans to achieve his goals for raising funds for Montserrat. He plans to have a campaign known as the Montserrat European Cultural Expo ‘99 during several months of next year, which he will take to Ireland. As part of his strategy, he expects to forge certain ties and maintain a very strong information link/exchange with Montserrat businesses, culturally and otherwise.
To fulfil part of this, it is hoped to make The Reporter available to Montserratians living in London, where it will contain information on all those areas to which Montserratians have scattered, including other Caribbean islands.
In his own words, he explained: "It is a privilege to be involved in such a worthwhile cause in partnership with the people of Montserrat. We will assist with the regeneration of the island and its communities by promoting their cultural expertise through our integrated network of festivals, events and exhibitions".
Tony Wade said, "Our aim is to help convert tragedy into hope for the future and to demonstrate to ourselves, as well as the world, that it is possible to transcend appalling circumstances and constructively rebuild our lives and what is left of our island into a new, reinvigorated and resourceful Montserrat. This should be the goal of every Montserratian."
The project is not without wide support. In addition to the British and local governments’ support, there has been individual and other support, including the Mayor of Brent, Cllr. Bertha Joseph, Brent Cllr. Colum Moloney, businesses, community organisations and schools throughout North West London and the surrounding areas. Dr. Alston Meade, President of the National Coalition of the Caribbean Affairs (NCOCA) based in Washington, USA, has also spoken out in support.
Both these gentlemen have strong Montserrat connection. Mr. Wade was born in Montserrat, while Mr. Page's mother is from Montserrat, his father hailing from Jamaica.`
Tony Wade is currently the Director of the London Training Enterprise Council, which is a business link to prepare work force for training for a population of 750,000 and which has a budget of £19 million. He has successfully implemented government projects in North London to stimulate black businesses in the UK, having also taken on a Housing Action Trust project in North West London, this with a budget of £165 million.
Rudy Page comes very well qualified for this new position and much is expected of him with his long list of achievements. Himself the owner of Stagecraft Consulting, he is a management expert with expertise in the ability to integrate commerce with culture, education and technology to reach previously untapped target audiences. Among his many achievements, he is the founder of the IDF World Dominoes Championships, which uses corporate sponsors of the game to bring people from different cultures together in the spirit of friendship and harmony. This year he organised "Discover Singapore 98," the first Caribbean Dominoes Festival in Asia.
He is calling on Montserrat to get ready as he plans to bring a Domino International Championship to Montserrat in 2000, which will see over 500 participants.
A local co-ordinator for the fund, Mrs. Sarita Francis, has already been appointed. During the reception at Government House in their honour, both Wade and Page made a presentation to Mrs. Francis. A sum of $1,000 each will go to 11 selected needy families as beneficiaries of the fund. A further donation was made to her for the mobile library facilities, which was later passed on.
Local Football Association Kicks Off Youth Program
By B. Roach
MFA officers L to R Steadroy Cabey, Nigel Osborne, Lionel Nanton, Vincent Cassell, Sinclair Thornhill
The Montserrat Football Association (MFA) on the evening of December 19, 1998, held a Media Launching Ceremony of its Youth Football Programme. Among the guests at this function were the local media, the Governor, ministers of government, government sports officer, the clergy and football association and other officers.
The Chief Minister was represented as sports minister by his technical advisor, Mr. Salas Hamilton, who delivered the feature address. He commended the association which, he said, "is facing the most challenging time in recent history, but there is hope…which must be harnessed to represent our goals for the future."
"The reality is that we are already in the 21st century with its opportunities and challenges. We in Montserrat have a wonderful chance in the face of crisis to build an island and mold a people to be an example for this dynamic creature called the 21st century."
Mr. Hamilton recalled his own time playing football and encouraged the association in its work. "This routine took us off the streets and had a group of young people focusing their energy on something beneficial. Our youth are the most vulnerable to the temptations of the world as their bodies complete."
Salas Hamilton & Fitzroy Buffonge
Sports officer Fitzroy Buffonge spoke briefly and promised the support of his department, announcing that thanks to efforts via the Red Cross, over 120 pairs of football boots had been donated to the association. He said this should go a long way in assisting many boys to get started in the game.
Vice President Lionel Nanton gave a brief overview of the Youth Program. He lamented that the association had been frustrated for some years in getting the program going, "for the most part, caused by nature, but some (problems) are man-made."
"But," he said, "we the executive of the MFA will not give in easily…we are serious about the welfare of the youths of Montserrat."
Nanton explained that the program is spread over a wide age group, from 10 to 23 years. This will ensure material right through the senior national team.
He then announced the association’s plans for creating a Centre of Excellence "where our children will be taken off the streets and taught skills in all aspects of sports."
He said this would include tennis, netball, basketball, volleyball, swimming etc., but not cricket, because of the size of field required for that sport.
The program is aimed at girls also. It is described as a progressive programme and a phasing-in-system will be employed to incorporate all age groups up to 23 (divided in six groups) over a three-year period, with the hope that there should be national teams in each of the groups.
The association says this is critical, since Montserrat is expected to participate actively in FIFA and other internationally organised competitions, beginning in 1999.
When Montserrat must host matches, they will be held in Antigua until suitable grounds become available locally, but local practices and matches will take place at Salem Park.
The vice president, in his overview, said that suitable grounds are being sought since they do not expect to have the use of Salem park all the time.
The training program will include: physical conditioning, training exercises, technical exercises (skill training) games and matches, with the emphasis being placed on the practical aspects of the game during the first phase of the program.
It was revealed that the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) had provided the funding for the program, with Mr. Stedroy Cabey, a floor member on the board, being the project coordinator.
Master of ceremonies for the evening’s proceedings was Mr. James White Jr. from the Government Information Services Department (GIS), while Secretary Thornhill delivered a vote of thanks, ending the formal part of the evening, following which cocktails were served.
Clare Short Invites Questions, to Which There are Short Answers
Quite recently it was announced that Clare Short was receiving questions and her address to these questions was
made
available.
Mr. Peter Beadle posed the following to the Rt. Honourable Clare Short:
"When the Labour Party was elected the people of Montserrat hoped for a more compassionate and urgent approach to resolving problems caused by the Volcanic disaster here. Regrettably that has not happened and the problems continue.
"The problems are many and inexcusable to the inhabitants, considering that this crisis is now almost four years in the making, but typical of these is the fact that 400 persons are still living in primitive shelters and there has been a critical shortage of Liquid Propane Gas for the last two years that is used by everyone on island to cook and heat water. Plans exist to resolve both these problems, but they illustrate the lack of urgency that seems to exist in addressing problems here.
"While much has been accomplished and is planned, gaping holes are apparent in the recently negotiated Three Year Country Policy Plan. For example:
"(i) A Fixed Wing Airport, to replace the existing devastated airport, was recently placed on a back burner indefinitely in spite of multiple feasibility studies.
"(ii) The area to the South of the Evacuated Zone has many habitable houses, that will be usable in less than three years as the Volcanic activity diminishes, yet no plan exists to restore the infrastructure there.
"Probably the most painful thing for Montserratians is that the ‘Aid’ they receive is constantly compared by UK Officials to aid sent to countries such as Bangladesh on a pound per person scale. Considering that Montserrat is governed by the UK and populated by British subjects, Montserratians find this mind set very objectionable.
"They also strongly resent the fact that you have never visited the island. This is also hard to understand, considering that this is the worst disaster that the UK has had to manage since World War II and requires a significant portion of your annual budget. They continue to wonder whether this is benign neglect or negligence?
The lady responded:
"The Sustainable Development Plan agreed last month by the Government of Montserrat (GoM) and the British Government followed a wide-ranging consultation exercise involving Montserratians on the island and elsewhere in the Caribbean and in the UK, and regional and international aid agencies. It reflects the shared priorities of our two governments for the social and economic recovery of Montserrat and sets out a plan for the future of the island and the strategies needed to achieve its goals and objectives. To support the GoM's plans, we have pledged a further £75m for the period 1998/99 - 2000/01.
"A Physical Development Plan (PDP) is also to be produced which will guide planners in deciding land use, taking account of likely longer term uses. This will reduce the risk of short-term decisions being taken which limit future long term options.
"Following a survey of housing needs in November 1997, we approved £13.9m for 264 houses which people can build themselves and the costs of preparing the land. We are also providing accommodation for 100 elderly people at two homes and financial grants to buy materials for self-build housing. We are examining the feasibility of providing funding for a soft mortgage facility which would raise private finance on the regional financial market.
"This would enable the GoM to provide loans, over a 20-25 year period, for the construction of 65 houses initially. GoM accepts that the Thatch Valley site for a new airport is not financially viable. Neither of the potential alternative sites (Geralds and Blakes) has been agreed by the island. However, the volcano's continuing dormant period makes the reopening of the existing airport (WH Bramble) more feasible.
"In the meantime, we are funding the helicopter and ferry services to Antigua, and have funded the construction of a new jetty at Little Bay. In September 1997, our Minister for International Development, George Foulkes, visited Montserrat to see the impact of the tragedy. He also talked to the islanders to enable them to make informed choices about their future and to ensure that British Government policy is clearly understood in the region. Mr Foulkes is planning to visit Montserrat again early next year.
"The tragedy in Montserrat is, of course, terrible for the people of Montserrat, but it is nowhere near the worst crisis of recent years. British assistance to Montserrat has been more generous than to any other place on earth. We have in fact been criticised for spending too much in Montserrat.
"Our Woes Must Not Obscure The Real Meaning of Christmas"
If we return to our last Editorial of 1997, we find a call for us to "make a new resolve to prove our resilience, show our efficiency and get down to the drawing board for a strategy and a good plan to chart our way forward. We must not continue to appear to need others to decide for us our future as to what is good or not, for us."
Upon reflection exactly a year later, we can boast that while we became depopulated finally by nearly two thirds of our population, to a low of about 3,500, we are now back over 4,000 and rising slowly, a fact which seems difficult for some to accept.We have completed a Sustainable Development Plan in collaboration with the British Government. We are now awaiting confirmation of the outcome of the negotiations of the ensuing Country Policy Plan for the next three years.
However, there’s a problem. The Rt. Hon. Clare Short advised the British Parliament that the £75 million pounds which has been allocated for the next three years is only for the sustenance of Montserrat as against its development. At the same time, our Government has pledged to be the catalyst of our recovering economy in the plan, which should now be renamed, leaving out the word ‘development.’
As far as being a catalyst, there seems much to be desired. Indeed the GoM may have a problem carrying out that plan, if for no other reason than that statement by Clare Short and another recently made by Governor Abbott about the civil service’s lack of understanding of commercial business.
As far as charting our own course, our own way forward, aside from the plans for running government, fixing the roads, providing water, electricity and some essential services, the commercial sector is still waiting for at least the physical development plan.
Now the lady, who we would very much like to pay us a visit, has recently spoken about the long-awaited soft loan mortgage scheme. It would have been a good Christmas present for us if, instead of saying, "We are examining the feasibility of providing funding for a soft mortgage facility," she had said that the scheme is ready to go at the beginning of the new year.
However, since we can go on and on with problems, perhaps we can take the few days of the Christmas holidays and be happy. Perhaps, instead of reminiscing over our problems and disappointments, we can reminisce over the reason for Christmas; gather grace and strength, and find the courage to persevere a little while longer. Perhaps our fresh vigour, vision and wisdom will enable our children to say someday, "From the little we remember, they have done well." They then will be better able to brighten those days when we may be able to say, "It was worth it all."
Customer Finds MAS Rude and Uncooperative
I am writing to express my profound dissatisfaction with MAS in respect of the reservations for the helicopter service to and from Antigua. For a so-called service organisation, all I have experienced to date on a number of occasions is a total absence of service!
Some of my experiences are listed below:
To summarise on each occasion that my family, friends and myself have tried to use the helicopter service to and from Antigua during the past month, on each occasion (four to date) there have been problems with MAS.
In addition nobody that I have spoken to on Montserrat regarding these issues has had a good word to say as far as MAS is concerned, and many have similar complaints to ours, especially concerning the rudeness and inefficiency of the staff.
Although, if this letter is published, I can be sure that in future, any bookings made by myself may result in my family, friends, etc. being bumped off and removed from flights. I will not accept these standards – or perhaps I should say the lack of them – which MAS is trying to impose. DFID and the appropriate authorities should take the necessary action and if need be find a service organisation which is able to handle the helicopter service reservations in a professional and friendly manner.
Mike Joseph
Could somebody please explain to me why nobody is addressing this important issue now? Meetings are taking place already with the Committee representing south of the Belham Valley with a view to reoccupying certain areas once it is considered to be safe by the scientists. This could happen as early as February 1999, if I have understood this situation correctly.
Yet until then, something needs to be done regarding the bridge -- either by raising its level or by building dam(s) higher up in the valley – nobody can safely live south of the Belham Bridge as they can potentially be cut off from the rest of the island as we have experienced several times recently when there has been torrential rain over a prolonged period of time!
Surely the appropriate authorities should be investigating NOW what needs to be done so that immediately the scientists declare that it is safe for people to live south of the Belham Bridge, then the Belham Bridge problem will not further delay the re-occupation of these areas and thus preserve the substantial investment that Montserratians and expatriates have in property there.
Surely this has to be the right sequence of events under the present circumstances.
Does Montserrat Have An Economic Future?
I am somewhat surprised that apparently nobody appears to be addressing the issue of how and when Montserrat’s economy is going to get restarted so that one day the island may be able to balance its books without relying on cash from Great Britain.
It the situation continues as at present then the UK is going to have to make up the short-fall between income and expenditure for many years to come. The UK government should be addressing this question now and, instead of working on annual budgets to ensure this country’s future, must analyse together with the Montserratian Government what amount of capital investment is needed over the next 2-3 years to ensure that the economy is kick-started, so that hopefully in the years to come Montserrat will become very much less dependant on aid from the UK as far as its economy and balance of payments is concerned.
It is evident that any such funds must be used carefully and a thorough review of the direct benefits to the economy of any such investments must take place initially – i.e. how many jobs will be created and what potential exists in respect of the export of the goods produced and/or the services provided. Everything possible must be done quickly for Montserrat to try to become self-sufficient from an economic point of view without delay.
One final issue – there exists on Montserrat a certain number of expatriates who are committed to the island and with a substantial investment here. These individuals have time available and in many cases substantial business experience from their previous careers. I find it difficult to understand why neither the UK Government nor the local Montserratian Government are not interested in utilising this resource and their experience as far as the local economy and its development is concerned, as their services and advice would certainly be made available without any charge and would surely be beneficial to the community in which they wish to share.
Keeping My Heart Open To God
. . . and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord
whom you seek . . . Malachi 3:1
Why do I think that -just because I pray faithfully and follow certain prescribed spiritual practices during Advent (or any other time) that God will immediately be revealed to me? Why do I get discouraged when I do not feel joy and enthusiasm as Christmas nears? I get caught off guard by my desire to control my spiritual process. Usually I know very well that I can only be receptive and cannot force God, but sometimes I forget and go into a spiritual pout wondering if my prayer life is any good fit all.
God will be revealed in the temple of1ny life when it is God's time for revelation, not when 1 demand it.
My culture tells Ire that when I work hard, I'll have something to show for it, but this is not God's way.
Divine revelation is always a gift, a surprise, a totally unearned happening. My seeking God through prayer and good deeds is simply a way of preparing1ny heart
to be open for the great event of revelation, not a way to get God to give me what I want.
Holy One, Word-made-flesh, I wait with hope as I keep turning my heart toward your love.
Rhiana Meade Shines For Montserrat in UK
The following letter was received from The Royal Hospital School in Suffolk, England, dated 30 November 1998
Dear Editor:
For the past four years, we have had the privilege of educating Sixth Form students from Montserrat at the Royal Hospital School. We have been able to offer places free of charge or on very heavily subsidised scholarships due to endowments made during the Tercentenary in 1994 of our parent organisation, Greenwich Hospital.
After three outstanding girls, who have now progressed to university with excellent A-Level results, we are left with one girl in the Lower Sixth Form, Rhiana Meade, with whom we are quite delighted. Rhiana is currently producing a piece of work which she hopes you will publish. It deals with her experiences in joining one of Britain's largest and most successful boarding schools and I am sure it will be of interest to your readers. Incidentally, we still value our links with Montserrat and would be pleased to consider any student looking for A-level education for one of our academic scholarships.
I hope you will be able to publish Rhiana's work and I know that she will be contacting you again soon.
With all good wishes.
Yours sincerely
M L March
Senior Master/Registrar
Rhiana, the daughter of Jennifer Meade and Howard Meade, has been in constant contact with the Hon. Minister, Mrs. Adelina Tuitt and wrote her saying that she keeps in touch with Montserrat via the Montserrat Reporter on the Internet. She hopes to submit monthly articles to The Reporter which she would hopes would assist in answering any questions would-be students to the UK might have.
The minister has said that she is trying to get as many students as possible into this school and that she is seeking to do so, even on half scholarships from the school.
Andre White Receives City & Guild Medal
At an award ceremony on
Thursday, 16th December, 1998, the Hon. Mrs. Adelina Tuitt was full of praise
for Andre White who hails from Tuitts. Andre is the son of Mrs. Linda White and the late
John White.
Mrs. Tuitt in praising the work of Andre said that this is the second award ceremony involving someone from the East she is involved in this year.
The young man who is a past student of the Montserrat Technical College, received the Bronze medal award from the City and Guilds International for outstanding achievement in examinations in the academic year 1997.
In a letter announcing the award by the Regional Marketing Manager, it said: "Please pass our congratulations to the student and, of course, the student’s success is a reflection of a high standard of teaching/training at your centre. In total 113 medals were awarded outside of the UK for 1997 exam results, so you student is indeed very special.
Banks Offer Seminar To Inform Journalists
The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) and for Latin American Monetary Studies (CEMLA) will be joint hosts of a seminar for journalists scheduled to take place at the Trinidad Hilton on January 13 and 14, 1999.
Invitations have been sent to journalists in Montserrat to participate in the event.
The seminar aims at contributing to improved media coverage of the work of central banks, and to review current economic events affecting the Caribbean.
Facilitators for the seminar will come from the central banks of Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, the Eastern Caribbean and CEMILA.
The topics to be covered include: The Role of the Central Bank in the Economy; Economics for Central Banking; International Financial Institutions and their Relations with the Caribbean; Relations between the Media and the Central Bank; Economics in the Caribbean Context; The Relevance of the European Union and Implications of the Euro for the Caribbean.
All costs will be the responsibility of the participants, but the cost of tuition and lunches will be borne by the hosts.
The organisers hope journalists will make use of the rare opportunity for journalists to learn more about a subject which is becoming increasingly important in light of global developments, suggesting that those who may not have the resources to send someone, might seek from the private sector.
Duberry, Skerritt Promoted by RMDF
On 9th December, 1998 His Exellency Governor Abbott announced the promotion of Captain Michael Duberry, Commanding Officer of the Royal Montserrat Defence Force (RMDF), to the rank of major, with effect from January 1, 1999.
Meanwhile, Lt. John Skerritt will assume the rank of Captain from the same date.
Captain Duberry’s Defence Force career spans a a total of 35 years so far, from January 1963, with his first promotion to Lance Corporal in 1969. He has since moved through the ranks of Corporal in1972, Sergeant in 1975, Company Quarter Master Sergeant (CQMS) in 1984, Company Sergeant Major (CSM) in 1987.
On the way he received the Efficiency Medal in 1975 and in 1981 he received the Efficiency Bar. In 1991 he received two Efficiency Roses, while in the same year he received his first Commission as an officer to 2nd Lieutenant.
In 1996 he was promoted to the rank of Captain, followed by his promotion in 1998 to the rank of Commanding Officer of the RMDF.
Captain Duberry feels fortunate to have served under quite notables, including Majors V.B. Browne, W.O. Barzey, T.T. Bramble, Joseph Lynch, former Captain Vernon Buffong, along with Royal Marines and various British Regiments on island.
He has attended the intensive staff command course in Barbados with the Regional Security System (RSS), and the British Military attachment Training Team (BMATT) at Barbados Defence force HQ at Paragon.
Lt. John Skerritt, now promoted to Captain of the RMDF, joined the force in September 1979 after a two-year stint with the Montserrat Cadet Corps. He attended CAST in Jamaica from 1982-85 and three years after his return to Montserrat and the Defence Force got his first promotion in 1988, followed three years later by promotion to Corporal.
He moved quickly to Platoon Sergeant a year later in 1992 and received his first commission as 2nd Lieutenant on 15th February, 1995, promoted later to Lieutenant exactly a year later. During this period he also received his Efficiency Medal in 1991.
During his career he has been on attachments with the Irish Guards at Camp Wainright in Alberta, Canada, in 1994. In 1995 he attended the Platoon Commander’s course at the school of infantry at Warminister, England. He has now received the deserved appointment of Captain of the Defence Force.
The Reporter wishes these two gentlemen success in their new positions.
Final VSO Volunteer Ends Link of 30 Years
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications & Works announced that after more than 30 years involvement in Montserrat, Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) is ending it’s association with the island.
The last volunteer, Richard McGowan, left the Public Works Department on the 14th December after completing his two-year post.
VSO first sent two volunteers to Montserrat in 1965 to work with the Public Works Department and the Ministry of Agriculture. Since then over 50 more volunteers, including agriculturists, social workers, teachers, civil engineers and electricians, have been posted to the island to assist in its development.
Mr. McGowan explained that the departure from Montserrat was part of the overall closure of VSO’s Eastern Caribbean programme and explained further: "VSO wants to concentrate resources in the poorest and most needy countries in the world. They also found that many recent requests for volunteers in this region were for specialists posts, and VSO were having difficulty fulfilling these needs."
In September the regional office in St Lucia closed its doors when Mr. John Drysdale, the field officer for the Eastern Caribbean and a former volunteer Chemistry Teacher in Montserrat, left for a new posting in Ethiopia.
The departure of VSO reflects the economic development of the Eastern Caribbean over the last 30 years. The pullout in Montserrat was originally intended for 1996, but VSO agreed to send out two further volunteers in 1997, Mr. McGowan and Mr. Pierre Hinkleltz, an Architect, who left earlier this year, to fill staff vacancies at Public Works Department during the volcanic crisis.
Mr. McGowan hoped that VSO would be acknowledged as having played a small but recognisable role in the development of Montserrat since 1965 and expressed his thanks to the Public Works Department for their support during the last two years,
Social Conditions Important to Development
Dr John Cuddy, Co-ordinator for Sustainable Development for the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), says any prescription for economic development must go beyond a focus only on trade and economic growth to encompass social, cultural and environmental considerations. Issues of poverty alleviation and domestic and inter-country income distribution must be included.
Dr Cuddy, who presented a paper entitled Trade and Development in the Emerging International Economic Order at the just concluded ECCB sponsored Development Conference in St. kitts, conceded that the standard policy prescriptions from Washington for the 15 years-of liberalisation, privarisation and stabilisation- had failed to result in growth with equity. As a consequence, international agencies including the World Bank and UNCTAD were rethinking their development strategies, with a new emphasis on the social implications of economic growth.
Dr Cuddy recommended that given the size and vulnerability of individual islands, Caribbean nations should seek to have an active voice in the various rounds of negotiations with international bodies as a regional grouping. "Caralysing the necessary changes for social transformation can only come from within the country itself, imposing change from the outside cannot work; the process where donors impose conditionalities undermines both the incentives for recipients to acquire new capacities and confidence in their ability to use them," he stated.
Students To Write About Survival Of Small States
Two weeks ago the East Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) issued a press release announcing its 1999 Essay Competition.
The survival of small states in an era of globalisation is what students will be asked to write about in the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s1999 essay competition.
The annual competition, now in its fourth year, will result in the disbursement of fifteen thousand dollars in prizes to schools and individual participants.
Students between the ages of 15 and 18 must write on the chances of survival for small states in an era of globalisation, with the deadlines for submissions being next May 14. Fliers stating the topic and terms of the competition are being distributed in schools and are also available at the ECCB headquarters in St. kitts and its Agency Offices in member territories.
The 1998 competition saw participants from Dominica, St. Vincent and The Grenadines and St. Kitts placing first, second, and third respectively.
New Deputy Commissioner Leads Police Promotions
Over the past three weeks, Commissioner of Police, Chris Burgess
announced the promotions of a number of police officers, all of which will took effect
December 14, 1998.
(Right
Simon Morson)
Some promotions were announced earlier, but a final announcement included the newest appointment, that of Simon Morson from Inspector to Deputy Commissioner, replacing Mr. W. Telesford, who recently retired.
The November 27 announcement promoted Steve Foster from Acting Inspector to full Inspector, while Sgt. Ezekiel Woodley has been promoted to Acting Inspector.
Miss Margaret Lee, an Acting Inspector for some time, was made substantive as November 27, 1998.
In the earlier release, Sgt. Kenneth Winspeare was also named as having passed successfully a promotion board for the rank of Inspector, to be promoted when a vacancy occurs.
These officers served the Royal Montserrat Police Force (RMPF) for periods ranging from 14 to 28 years, with Inspector Foster serving for 14 and Inspector Lee serving 28.
These posts all became available with the retirement of several officers beside Deputy Commissioner Telesford. They include Inspectors Cabey and Lewis, Sgt. Taylor and Superintendent Philford Reddock.
Each officer is credited with having worked beat and patrol. Inspector Foster served for most of his career at the outstation in Harris’. He is described as having a great interest in supervising and training officers under his command, having successfully attended many training courses regionally and locally.
Foster is currently taking a BSc in management studies with UWI School of Continuing Studies and already holds a certificate in public administration.
The 34-year-old Inspector chairs the police welfare association and is also deputy co-ordinator of the Montserrat Search and Rescue teams. He now holds responsibility for personnel, training and community relations.
Acting Inspector Woodley is 48 years old and has also served in charge at the Harris’ outstation between 1993–96. He is a qualified scenes-of-crime officer, having attended courses in this field regionally and in the UK. He takes over CID, Immigration and Marine.
Inspector Lee has wide experience in several branches of the force, including 10 years as Drug Liason Officer until 1993. Since that time she has served as the Court Prosecutor Officer.She was awarded Montserrat’s Badge of Honour in April 1990, as well as the Colonial Police Long Service Medal and the 25-year Service Clasp. She too has attended several training courses locally and regionally and now takes over command of beat and patrol.
In other updates, the Commissioner’s release states that "with the retirement of Supt. Reddock, Supt. John Douglas takes over as Operations Superintendent, while Miss Lindona Lambert will take over the role of business manager for the force. This post is being filled by a civilian as recommended in Resource Allocation Review of March 1998.
The release goes on to state that Acting Inspector Woodley will
Rose Willock Explains Gap in Printed Remarks
In the last issue of The Montserrat Reporter, one of the front stories titled "ZJB Rededicated" carried portions of the station manager’s opening address.
When a ‘jus wonderin’ caller questioned why the stalwart Lowell Mason did not get a mention among the station manager’s list of names worthy of praise, it was soon discovered that Miss Willock had indeed not said the same things as appeared in the text in our possession.
Miss Willock has since explained as follows: "I only found out quite recently that I had made an omission from my opening presentation at the Recommissioning exercise of Radio Montserrat's upgraded facilities in Sweeneys.
"Apparently I missed a complete paragraph of my presentation, which was a very significant one, as it extolled the contribution made by our senior technician during the early stages of the volcanic activity.
"In retrospect I now see how it was missed, as I had at the time diverted from my prepared speech with an aside . . . and then resumed my speech from further down the page, thereby missing the section referred to above."
Miss Willock asked that her speech be reprinted in its entirety, but we thought it sufficient to print the section referred to: "The station manager was full of praise for their survival, which she said was mostly fed ‘by the tenacity of a small team of young, resilient, aspiring colleagues comprising program staff, technical staff and administrative staff, and the support of a larger network of persons such as yourselves, volunteers and agencies in the public and private sector here at home, in the wider Caribbean and outside the Caribbean.’ "
Credit was given to the international effort, which she said brought the station this far. She mentioned each staff member by name, offering special thanks to "Miracle worker Lowell Mason, who worked tirelessly in spite of ash, rain, thunder and lightning (and) kept our transmitters running, with the able assistance of John Silcott, a broadcast engineer who until very recently was GEM Radio's chief engineer."
The manager had just spoken these words, "My personal thanks to all of them and in particular to those of my colleagues who have remained to help hold the system together," preceded by a list of names she referred to as those "of the local staff who battled to keep ZJB on the Air from 1995 to now."
She explained that at this point she paused for applause, which she referred to above as "an aside."
Marcus Daniel Excels In St. Thomas School
Another Montserratian evacuee is performing well in his new school environment.
Marcus Daniel, son of retired Permanent Secretary Joseph Daniel and Senior Teacher Elcia Daniel, enrolled in 1997in the Charlotte Amalie High School, the largest on St. Thomas, with a population of over 2,000 students.
The November 17, 1998, issue of the Virgin Islands Daily News named Marcus as one of the school's two semi-finalists in the prestigious National Achievement Scholarship Competition. This is an academic competition among black American high school students. The two students qualified for recognition because of their outstanding performance on the Preliminary Scholastic Achievement Test (PSAT), which they wrote during the 1997 academic year.
Finalists will be announced in January.
More recently, Marcus was selected as one of the winners in the 1998 National Council of Teachers Achievement Awards in Writing. A major goal of the Achievement Awards is to recognize some of the best student writers in the nation. Marcus was the only student from his school to qualify for an award. The young man has also been selected to represent his school as a member of the Quiz Bowl team.
On the extracurricular side, Marcus played the role of Macduff in an impressively staged school performance of Macbeth. He practices guitar and trombone music, and plays with the St. Andrew's Golden Miracles, a steel orchestra.
Marcus' commendable performance is a tribute to the Montserrat educational system, which has proven that it is one of the best in the Caribbean.
The Reporter wishes Marcus continued success.
Montserratian Perkins Called to Bar in St. Kitts
Mr. Clayton K. Perkins, son of Kenneth and Rosemary Perkins of
Montserrat, was called to the bar on October 16, 1998, in St. Kitts-Nevis and now works as
an associate with the firm of Kelsick, Wilkin and Ferdinand in St. Kitts.
He was born in Montserrat and had one sister, Bernadette.
Clayton Perkins emigrated to Canada in the mid ‘70s and attended primary and secondary school there. He graduated York Mills Collegiate, Toronto, in 1993, then attended the UWI Cave Hill campus, Barbados, from 1993–96, where he graduated with LLB honours.
Following this he moved to Jamaica, where he received the LEC at the Norman Manley Law school earlier this year.
Lawyer Perkins hopes to visit Montserrat soon, with the intention of being called to the Bar here.
The Montserrat Reporter extends best wishes to this new Montserratian-born lawyer.
Plane Reliving History Lingers Over Montserrat
By J. Donald Brandt
Montserratians who have grown accustomed to the sounds of the
MVO helicopter frequently passing overhead may have looked upseveral times on Sunday,
December 13, and Monday, December14, in wonder.
No more than 200 feet above them, moving at 90 mph, flew an ugly duckling of corporate aviation history, a tribute to the deep pockets and family pride of heirs to the Johnson Wax empire.
The twin-engine amphibious airplane, capable of carrying eight passengers, a pilot and co-pilot, is a mechanically and electronically improved replica of an amphibian used regularly in the early 1930s, the Sikorsky S-38.
It was built to re-enact a bold intercontinental flight in 1935, when H.F. Johnson Jr. of S.C. Johnson & Son Inc., flew from Racine, Wisconsin, to Florida, then across the arc of Caribbean islands to Fortaleza, Brazil. His purpose was to assure continued production of Brazil’s carnauba palm, at that time the world’s most highly valued source of wax.
The plane is named The Spirit of Carnauba.
Among those aboard the plane are H.F. Johnson’s son and two grandsons: Sam, company chairman, Fisk, president of consumer products, and Curt, chairman of commercial markets.
The S-38 was designed by Igor Sikorsky, the Russian-born American aviation pioneer better known today for the development of the helicopter.
Like most airplanes of that period, before aeronautical engineers discovered that esthetics meant speed as well as beauty, the S-38 must have been daunting to first-time passengers. Its appearance suggests the firstborn in the marriage of a box kite and an enclosed kayak.
Nevertheless, S-38s were flying workhorses. In addition to the 1938 flight being re-enacted today, they were flown by explorer pilots establishing South American routes for Pan American Airways’ flying boats of that era.
The Johnsons were forced to have the S-38 replica built because none of the originals survived. The one used by their patriarch was later sold to Shell Oil and sank off Indonesia in 1938. Johnson Company efforts to recover even portions of that plane failed. So they decided to have a new one built, using original S-38 blueprints on file at the former U.S. Civil Aviation Board.
Further information on this modern re-enactment is available on the Internet at www.scjohnsonwax.com.
Clinton Ends Iraq Raids, Saying Goals Were Met
Compiled from Dispatches
President Clinton suspended military action against Iraq on Saturday, Dec. 19, after
four days of punishing U.S. and British air strikes.
"I’m confident we have achieved our mission," the president said in an
address from the White House.
"We have inflicted significant damage on Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction
programs, on the command structures that direct and protect that capability and on his
military and security infrastructure."
Clinton also called anew for the Iraqi leader’s removal.
Meanwhile in Iraq, Hussein told Iraqis in a taped address on Sunday they had achieved
victory against their enemies.
"You were up to the level that your leadership and brother and comrade Saddam Hussein
had hoped you would be at...so God rewarded you and delighted your hearts with the crown
of victory."
And at the Vatican, Pope John Paul lamented the raids. "Not only do I feel profound sorrow for the Iraqi people, but I am also bitter to see how often the hopes invested in the power and validity of international law and in the organizations meant to guarantee its application are disappointed," the pontiff said.
Actual casualty figures were unknown, but Iraqis held a mass funeral for the 68 people
an official said had been killed in the bombings.
Despite the most serious military confrontation in Iraq since the Gulf War, the United
States and Britain were again left with the challenge of how to contain Saddam.
Clinton said he was "prepared to use force if we see that Iraq is rebuilding its
weapons programs." The president said the United States would remain vigilant and
monitor whether Iraq tried to rebuild its weapons program.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair issued an equally stern warning. "As long as Saddam
stays, the threat and our readiness to confront it stays," Blair said.
But it remains uncertain whether Saddam Hussein will now resume building an arsenal of
nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, unhindered by U.N. inspectors. It was his
alternating promises of compliance each time air strikes appeared imminent and his
defiance of actual inspections that led to the latest attacks.
Caribbean Vacationers Abandon Grounded Ship
Compiled from despatches
PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - A luxury Caribbean cruise ended abruptly Tuesday, Dec. 15, for 2,557 passengers when the huge cruise liner Monarch of the Seas was deliberately run aground here and sustained a 120-foot gash in its hull All of its 2,557 passengers were removed safely. Most were flown the following day by 12 charter planes to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Miami. Spokespersons Lynn Martenstein and Rich Steck gave this account:
The 880-foot vessel, owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., carrying 2,557 passengers and 831 crew, was on its way from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands to the French island of Martinique when a tourist developed a heart problem. The captain diverted the ship to St. Maarten to drop the patient off. As the ship was leaving the island, it struck a reef and began to take on water in the forward compartments. Steck said the ship was not sinking but the captain decided it was best to bring it to rest on sand in the harbor.
Royal Caribbean operates cruises under two names, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International. Royal Caribbean said it had cancelled 10 scheduled Monarch of the Sea cruises through Feb. 14. Each passenger will receive a full refund and a certificate for a free cruise, the cruise operator said.
GOVERNMENT INFORMATON SERVICES
Honourable Adelina Tuitt Meets the Press
Minister for Education, Health and
Community Services the Honourable Adelina Tuitt met with members of the media on Wednesday
9th December. Mrs. Tuitt fielded questions on a number of topics. Below are
highlights of some of her responses:
Montserrat Community College
The Montserrat Community College will be developed in phases. This would take into consideration the Montserrat Technical College, the 6th form and the training of nurses and teachers. The first phase will be A-Level and technical and vocational studies. Consideration is being given to starting the programme on a smaller scale at the beginning of the new year. For example, we are in the process of examining how best we can introduce 6th form, perhaps at evening time so that we can make best use of the resources we have. The Community College is a regional concept, and had it not been for the volcano we would have started it already. This would take some of the responsibility from the School of Continuing Studies. In fact, what we would like to see is a campus where the School of Continuing Studies are operating in conjunction with the Community College so that we can share resources.
Cultural Center
I must take this opportunity to thank Sir George and Lady Martin for their contribution towards cultural development on the island. They have allocated some US$500,000 for the project and we have formed a committee to look into the cultural center. Two sites have been identified for the Cultural Center (one at Little Bay and the other at Look Out at the entrance of the MSS) and we are in the process of coming to an agreement on the preferred site. We have also spoken to architects on the design concept.
Upgrade of Primary Schools
There are plans to have the children at Brades School return to their original classrooms. We have quite a few of the classrooms available to us now and it is our hope that by the new school year, or even at Easter, we may be able to re-occupy the other block that is now being used as shelter by some 19 persons. We are anxiously waiting for that because the re-introducing of the computer programme could only take place when we clear the last block of the Brades Primary School, and that can only be done by finding accommodation for the people who are there. We have given the St. Augustine School all the support we can. We have assisted them with supplying teachers and a yearly subvention. We do have plans to reopen the Salem Primary School but that would depend on the number of children. When the time comes for us to return to the Salem Campus, the school at Look Out will be used as another primary school and the school at Salem can be used as a nursery school or daycare, depending on the number of people who return to Salem.
Health- (Mrs. Tuitt was responding to questions about hygiene and the fact that somepeople have to go overseas for screening.)
The Department of Labour, along with the Ministry of Education, will be running a number of training workshops during the upcoming year, some of them in the service industry dealing with food handling.
Due to the volcano we have had to cut some of our services because a lot of nurses had to go overseas. Some of our screenings are done in Montserrat and the most serious cases are sent abroad. What we have in mind now is the upgrading of some of our clinics, like St. Peters and Cudjoe Head, and once the St. Johns Hospital is renovated we might be able to provide those essential services.
We have a new Primary Health Care Manager/Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Gordon Avery took up his appointment on the 1st of December. Prior to that Dr.( Ronnie) Cooper had held the position of Acting Director of Health Services for two years and had done a wonderful job. We are grateful for his services.
Encouraging Montserratians To Return
To encourage people back into Montserrat the key issue is housing. I cannot see anybody wanting to come back to Montserrat to return to shelter life. Secondly, job creation is another problem we as a government will have to look at seriously. I personally think the return of any Montserratian should be by choice, although consideration could be given to assisting some persons who would wish to return. I think they should be told what they are coming into: lack of housing, lack of jobs. Some of the persons who are willing to return are elderly persons and persons with special needs, and in both cases we need to address the situation. The Ministry of Health is working tirelessly on the issue of finding housing for the elderly and taking care of our special needs persons and our mentally ill persons.
Guidelines For Immigrants Entering The Island
The guidelines for immigrants entering the country are very simple and clear. We have opened our doors to all CARICOM nationals. They are free to come and work as they please as long as they know where they are going to work, who they are going to work with and have some place to stay. We have removed the cost of obtaining a work permit, there is a health certificate you need to give and there is a police certificate you need to produce. Once you produce those you are free to work wherever you like, and stay perhaps as long as you like. It has not been brought to the attention of the Labour Department that there has been any abuse and until this is brought to our attention we cannot (go) on hearsay.
Chief Minister Brandt’s statement on police promotions
The Royal Montserrat Police Force (RMPF) plays a critical role within the Montserrat community and I am heartened that deserving officers have been promoted.
Such upward movements are overdue and are just reward for these men and women who have long had distinguished careers in the force. It is also an acceptance that there are qualified persons in the RMPF who should be groomed to take up the mantle of leadership. As in any institution or organisation, staff members are more motivated and committed when opportunities are regularly presented to create new challenges and to exploit full potential.
It is my belief that top positions in the RMPF and all other Montserrat institutions should be filled by Montserratians because we must have the legitimate expectation to reach the pinnacle in any organisation.
When such expectations are realised, it gives hope to others who will try to emulate, because the example is present and can be associated with. There is no top position in this island that cannot be held by one of us.
We have repeatedly proven that our intellect and expertise can succeed in any regional and international environment. It is a pity that our greatest challenge is receiving respect and deserving reward for abilities come from within.
As I have previously mentioned, my desire is to see a Montserratian in the top post of Commissioner of the Royal Montserrat Police Force. The plan, as I understand it, is to have this in place within five years time, by the year 2003.
However, as a firm supporter of Montserratian solutions in surmounting situations like this, I feel it should be done sooner. The officers who were recently promoted deserve our commendations and kudos, as we aspire to rebuild an island reflecting our possibilities as a people.
Radio Montserrat’s Internet Demonstration Broadcast
Presentation by the Hon. Chief Minister at Demonstration of Radio Montserrat Broadcast on the Internet.
Welcome to the Office of the Chief Minister - Government Officials - Members of the Media - and those listening via Radio Montserrat – SEASONS GREETINGS.
The Community of Montserrat as we know it has changed. There are no geographic parameters for our people any more. With the volcanic crisis dispersing the majority of our citizens, this Government has been challenged to make representation for Montserratians in the region, the United Kingdom, the United States and other places.
It is out intention for Radio Montserrat to be heard every day by our relatives and friends overseas.
Information technology must be harnessed to reach our citizens and for the development of Montserrat. What we are about to witness is a demonstration of Radio Montserrat broadcasting on the Internet. This is an exercise that gives me great pleasure because it shows that we are moving in the right direction.
Hopefully, by next week, certainly in time for Christmas, Montserratians all over with access to the Internet can log on and hear our Christmas messages and share our cheer for the season.
Cable and Wireless Montserrat is collaborating with us in this exercise.
They will be providing the information necessary so that our technicians can implement the most cost-effective system for a quality broadcast. Already Cable and Wireless has indicated that a leased circuit can be used in conjunction with a dial up facility to cut costs.
Putting Radio Montserrat on the Internet is just a first step. It is our plan to have our own server on island, which should facilitate the development of a national Internet Web Site with links to other government and non-government sites.
We will link with sites belonging to the Development Unit, Tourism, the Montserrat Reporter, the Emergency Department, etc.
We must not be only passive receivers of information, the technology and software from the industrialized territories. We, too, have a culture to be exported, if only for our own people. Already there are other Caribbean radio stations on the Internet, as we shall also see demonstrated today.
Radio Montserrat has to be a 21st century station, meeting the needs of a community that is changing and expanding horizons.
http://www.montserratwestindies.com/zjb/ (note the site is still under construction)
Thank you all for coming.
Montserrat gets New Chief Medical Officer
The Government of Montserrat has appointed a new Chief Medical Officer. He is Dr. Gordon Avery, who took up duties on 1st December 1998.
He replaces Dr. Ronnie Cooper, who performed with distinction as Acting Director of Health Services for the past two years. Dr. Cooper, however, plans to remain in Montserrat and contribute to the development of health care and the island in general.
Dr. Avery is a public health physician and was a consultant in public health medicine in Wales and director of public health in Warwickshire in the British Midlands.
The new CMO also worked for 10 years as a medical officer and malariologist in the Solomon Islands in the Western Pacific.
Dr. Avery said among the things he would like to achieve during his tenure here is to produce an annual report on the state of health of the people of Montserrat.
Dr. Avery would also like to tackle the problem of diabetes, which is a chronic health care problem in Montserrat.
He would also set up a health information system which will be used to deal with heart disease, diabetes and hypertension, all common diseases here.
Government Assesses Damage in Plymouth
The Government of Montserrat is presently assessing the ongoing erosion of roads and damage done to buildings, the Public Cemetery in Plymouth and surrounding areas due to mud flows and pyroclastic flow activity.
In a recent visit to Plymouth, it was also observed that the War Memorial was rapidly being demolished by mud flows, while many buildings were almost totally covered by ash and mud.
At a meeting of the Volcano Emergency Group on Monday 7th December, Commissioner of Police Christopher Burgess voiced his concern over the erosion taking place at the Plymouth Public Cemetery. He says that already burial wrappings are being exposed. He says the situation could worsen in light of the ongoing rains.
Minister of Communications and Works the Honourable Rupert Weekes and Director of Public Works Vernon White flew over Plymouth on Tuesday to survey the damage.
Also at the meeting Chief Minister, the Honourable David Brandt recommended that efforts be made to retrieve the antique organs in the Plymouth Methodist Church and the St. Anthony's Anglican Church, along with much needed pews.
Ministers Meet the Expat Community
Ministers of Government met with members of the expatriate community at McChesney Estate in Olveston on Monday 7th December 1998.
The meeting was chaired by Minister for Education, Health and Community Services the Honourable Adelina Tuitt. She was accompanied by Chief Minister the Honourable David Brandt and Mister for Communications and Works the Honourable Rupert Weekes.
Mrs. Tuitt said the meeting was timely and productive. She said the opportunity gave the ministers a chance to hear the concerns of the group, which over the years has contributed in a significant way to the social and economic development of the island.
Mrs. Tuitt said the ministers took note of the concerns and pledged to do all in their power to address them. She also recommended that the group select a committee that will meet with members of government from time to time.
Among the matters raised during the meeting were:
Nurses Get Updated On Diabetes
The Ministry of Health hosted a workshop Thursday, December 10th, on the Management of Diabetes. The workshop, designed to update nurses on new information regarding the chronic disease, was sponsored and organized in conjunction with the Eastern Caribbean Drug Service (ECDS).
At the start of the workshop new Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gordon Avery congratulated the Ministry of Health for the considerable work done to make the health service recover from the effects of the volcano
He said the participants would learn more about how to deal with the problem of diabetes, which is a very chronic problem in Montserrat, and make sure it is kept well under control and, in the long term, see if ways can be found to prevent it.
The workshop was conducted by Dr. Livingstone Ford and Debra Ryner (Montserratian) of the Eastern Caribbean Drug Service.
Following is Ms Ryner’s statement:
The Eastern Caribbean Drug Service, a sub-unit of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, is a procurement agency located in St. Lucia. Its main function is that of obtaining high quality pharmaceuticals and medical supplies at an optimum cost on behalf of the nine OECS countries.
ECDS operates a centralized restricted tendering system of which all approved suppliers are pre-screened. This is necessary to assess the quality standards, technical competence and financial viability of competing suppliers. ECDS does not warehouse supplies; rather suppliers ship consignments directly to participating countries, which in turn reimburse the ECDS drug accounts in order to settle payments.
The member states of the Eastern Caribbean Drug Service include Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, St. Kitts/Nevis, and Grenada.
Despite our many efforts to provide the best possible service to participating countries we are constantly faced with constraints. One such is that of finance. The current financial situation in most countries is not very favourable at this time and this is severely hampering our progress and eventually results in the withdrawal of some of the suppliers leading to increased prices.
Montserrat so far has managed to pay its suppliers within the contracted period of 60 days, with an average payment lead time of 51 days, and this is quite commendable.
Additionally, suppliers have requested that all orders be of a minimum value because shipping of orders with small dollar value has resulted in insignificant or no profit at all. We have, therefore, requested that supply officers make every effort to maintain minimum orders of US$1,000. This problem has been recurrent for Montserrat due to the numerous changes since the onset of activities at the Soufriere Hills Volcano. We are mindful of the situation and have made every effort to assist in this respect. We are, however, recommending that wherever possible orders be reduced to once or twice annually.
The workshop today is in keeping with our policy of ensuring a high standard of health care within the OECS. We place much emphasis on education because we are convinced that in order for medication to be most beneficial, professionals must keep updated on new treatment protocols.
A workshop of this nature has been long overdue for Montserrat and this has been due in part to the awakening of the Soufriere Hills Volcano. We are hoping that this would be an annual event.
Diabetes is an appropriate topic at this time, considering the high prevalence of this problem in Caribbean countries. Although this condition is incurable, proper management can greatly reduce incidents of complications, especially those associated with the eyes, kidney and feet, thereby improving the quality of life.
The current list of anti-diabetic drugs or medication procured through ECDS includes insulin.
Diabetic medication for Montserrat accounts for approximately 14 percent of the drug budget, whereas insulin alone accounts for approximately 12 percent. This goes to show that a large percent of our money is expended on anti-diabetic agents.
The workshop planned for today will focus on a generalized approach to the management of diabetes. Some of the information will serve to reinforce information we have already learned in our various practices, and others will be new updates to further enhance our proficiency.
I trust that all present will make very good use of the information as we endeavour to make an impact in the health delivery system.
Developments in the Ministry of Communications and Works
Minister of Communications and Works the Honourable Rupert Weekes has reported on developments within his ministry.
In an interview on the Government Information Service radio programme "IMPACT," Minister Weekes made the following points:
Port Development Project
A project proposal in the final stage of preparation will further develop the emergency jetty at Little Bay. This project includes additional work on the jetty itself and the erection of proper storage, while improving other facilities. A study will be conducted shortly to examine the effects of wave action at both Little Bay and Carrs Bay. A decision will then be taken whether a new port needs to be built at Carrs Bay or improvements made to the existing emergency jetty at Little Bay.
Airport Development Project
The position of the Government of Montserrat is that a fixed wing air facility is needed on the island. The matter will be looked at in more detail in order to determine the best site. That site should allow us to have a viable air link and expansion capabilities. Work will start very shortly on upgrading the heliport to meet international aviation standards. While W.H. Bramble cannot be completely ruled out, the Government of Montserrat would have to be convinced that it is safe for aircraft, staff and the public. In the meantime, the Government will continue its own investigation to determine the best site for the airport.
Roads
There are a number of projects currently before DFID in London awaiting approval. These include proper road access to the Davy Hill and Look Out Housing Projects and the Geralds Main Road.
New MONLEC Power Plant
There are plans for a new power plant for the Montserrat Electricity services. Land for this project has already been allocated. For over a year MONLEC has been generating electricity from emergency generators.
Merger of MONLEC and MWA
Executive Council has taken a decision that there should be functional cooperation between MONLEC and the Water Authority. The Government is looking at setting up a new entity known as the Public Utilities Authority, which will include both MONLEC and MWA. Under such an arrangement the management and accounting departments will be combined. The benefits of this move include more efficiency and a reduction in costs.
UNICEF Survey conducted on Montserratian Evacuees in regional territories
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has completed a study of Montserratian evacuees living in the region.
Financed by the Department for International Development (DFID), the survey was conducted in six islands, Anguilla, Antigua, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Nevis and Tortola.
UNICEF’s Regional Coordinator, Grenadian Leon Charles, said when the survey was commissioned, it was specifically requested that the surveyors try as much as possible to quantify the situation of Montserratians in the six territories, to provide information for programming purposes.
The survey found that most Montserratians on the six islands were dependent on outside funding in order to sustain themselves.
It also indicated that Montserratians were experiencing the most difficult conditions in Antigua/Barbuda.
The UNICEF regional coordinator said in Antigua there were cases where landlords would attach little rooms to their existing houses and would rent these to Montserratian evacuees at very high costs.
Mr. Charles said also the high rental costs in St. Maarten were creating a lot of hardships for evacuees there.
The survey indicated, too, that the dislocation and lack of information from their homeland had left 54 percent of those surveyed frustrated; 34 percent feeling lonely; 25 percent depressed; and 63 percent anxious to return home if possible.
Mr. Charles said the evacuees were particularly concerned about what will happen to them after the DFID assistance package ends, since a number of them are unemployed.
He said there were cases where two or less persons out of a household of six were working, thus creating hardships.
The UNICEF Regional Coordinator said these are crucial areas that need urgent attention.
Mr. Charles said although the Targeted Assistance for Montserratian Evacuees (TAMEC) project is a move in the right direction, the programme is focusing primarily on the elderly and disabled.
The TAMEC programme, which is being administered by the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC), has funding for one year, but a review will take place in nine months to determine whether it needs to be extended.
Fitzgerald Strikes on Arrow Again
By A. Fitzgerald
With no political speeches; No
cutting of ribbons; No politicking over who is really in control of festival; The man who
really calls to order and sets the festival-pace, will do that this weekend with the
release of "TURBULENCE"
After a two-year hiatus, ARROW will officially release his 1998 album on ZJB this weekend. I could not wait so I drove to the Manshop to get mine.
Now there are rules to listening to an Arrow album.
One, listen to all the songs 3 times before passing judgement. Two, Expect nothing . Three, Don’t look for the sequel to Hot, Hot, Hot (there will never be another song to replace it; accept that). Having followed my own rules, I will write:
Turbulence is a fine piece of work, I have looked it up down and across; it is in my opinion, flawless.
The first thing you realize is Arrow’s voice; He dances in and out of rhythms as usual but this time he has edge. Like a man with something to prove, he dominates every song, playing captain to the Soca ship; commanding every dip and slide,( not unlike a merciless aerobics instructor). His voice is not forced; instead it comes across like a Pentecostal evangelist passionately pleading for lost souls to convert to the religion "Soca".
The album contains 12 new songs and every song can stand on its own.
"Bacchanal Soldier" opens the album and from there the "Turbulence" does not stop.
"Turbulence" follows with a vivid description of a dance party with enough chants to keep you swinging through the night.
"How time flies" slows the tempo for us older folk. With killer brass arrangements; and catchy chorus.
Later on the album is "Time Movin", a heavy version of How time flies "heavy" on the effects and vocals.
"Dance together" fuses Soca and Latin music. This song catches Arrow at his best; from the lyric: "Start up de music Mr.. Arrow play one for we!" The shameless dance tune is perfect and the Spanish guitar it to die for.
"Island music" and "Tame De Bumpsie" are classic Arrow party tunes, Nice
brass arrangements, wonderful pauses and sweet harmonies dominate these two songs. (May be Ill try "taming" a wild bumpsie this season).
The silent hit on this album will definitely be "Scream." Arrow lashes out at the "Authorities" early this year, not waiting to get on his soap box at the calypso show. That aside it is a good demonstration of dance-music-therapy. I hope Arrow is not practicing without a license, I also hope that this song is not banned on the radio.
Next there is "Come Girl" Featuring Lady Saw. When these two get together and start talking " Sexual Healings " all I can say about this one is "prophylactic please."
"No More" Mixes House and Soca and unlike previous attempts by Arrow, this one actually works.
The album takes a turn and slows down the pace. "Montserrat Nice" is sweet.
>From the beautiful lyrics and fine steel-pan arrangement, It calls us home to paradise. The melody is brilliant and the message true.
"Move Dat Body" Is a high energy, percussive-laden version of Dance Together which closes the album.
"Turbulence" Is Arrow’s finest album and will lay to rest rumors that the king of Soca had passed on.
With the album’s lyrical and musical arrangement his critics will have a hard time finding fault with this masterpiece.
If I was to sum up the album, it I would say it was an "Intelligent" dance album with music for every one. Arrow should be congratulated. "Long Live The King!!"
Jingle Fells .... Tribute To Marmie Kelly
By Man from Baker Hill
Christmas is a time to be jolly and merry. A wonderful occasion for Mamas to bake cakes of all sizes and shapes. Christmas is a special time to carry joy and good cheer or just wish everybody the best. And what is better than to wish a soul, what that soul wishes for himself?
Christmas is also that time of year when you hear as many versions of "Jingle Bells" as there are people willing to sing it.
For Marmie Kelly (the name is Marmie not Marma.), Christmas was her special season. Christmas was not the only reason for Marmie to be jolly. She was merry and jolly all the time. But Marmie took advantage of the days of Christmas to express herself, and to stamp her impressions of good cheer and glad tidings on everybody.
Every Christmas eve, she would start serenading from her closest neighbour. And she would, if possible, "sing out" at every house from Baker Hill to Salem, and back towards St. Johns for St. John's day.
As her close neighbour, I could be her first visit. She would "wild Shepherd" me. She would "Jingle Bells" me. She would "Mama bake you Johnny cake" me. And the funny part of her serenade was to "wish you wash yourself" me.
You see, Marmie was mentally handicapped. And with all her good intentions, sometimes instead of singing "that I wish you what you wish yourself," the slip of the tongue would cause her to say "a merry Christmas and a wish you wash yourself."
I believe that in her 50 and more years of serenading, Marmie Kelly would have sung "Jingle Bells" more times than anybody else in the world. Her repertoire of songs was limited. As a matter of fact, I don't recall that her list extended beyond four or five songs. For sure, it was always "Jingle Bells," "Mama bake your Johnny cake Christmas coming"; and without fail she had
to sing a "wish you a merry merry Christmas and a wish you ..."
Occasionally she would pitch in "Silent Night" and "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks". As I said before, Marmie was mentally handicapped. She was not able to sing more than a few lines, never ever a full verse. Her singing was not good. And by golly, if you are like me, you would prefer to pay her before she started singing.
However, Marmie Kelly was much more than a Christmas personality. She was unique. You got accustomed to her, even though she could be irritating at times. To be honest, I usually got irritated when I saw her walking the streets, begging a ride. With one arm outstretched across the road, as if demanding the driver of the vehicle to stop or break her hand, she would beg a ride home.
Mind you, it was always a ride home. She never seemed to beg a ride to go to town. Besides, she was willing to pay if the buses would take her. But then the buses did not always carry her.
Some years ago she broke her ankle and had to be hospitalised for a very long time. But it was impossible to keep her at one place long enough for her ankle to heal properly. As a result she developed a slight drag as she walked. However that only slowed her down a little because she kept on walking out and begging a ride back home.
Marmie was useful. She also worked for her living, although she begged a little. She collected and sold empty bottles when that was good business. She walked the mountain trail to collect mountain porridge leaves to sell at the Plymouth market.
Marmie was special. She was never vexed with more than one person at a time. She was not moody. You could tell when she was vexed; she had a frothy way of speaking, dragging out her words in an undertone, yet loud enough to be heard 50 feet away. As I said, she was not moody, but if she was angry with somebody she would fuss for hours. Yet, just pass and say "hello," and she would break her frothy grumbling to greet you with a smiling "hello man" that can carry on into a sing song "how you do Maas Alfred," and the then back to her fussing again.
She was a neighbour you could not ignore. She lived by the roadside. She had a corner spot. She had no kitchen. She cooked outdoors on a wood fire, right by her doorstep. She cooked mostly at nights because she often reached home after dark. And if you lived as close to Marmie as I did,
the smoke from her wood fire would find its way into your house.
Nevertheless, the smoke from Marmie's cooking was not offensive. It was a gentle wisp. Yet it was smoke and I do not like smoke. As a result, I was forever drawn to the window, not to peep at her cooking but to track down the smoke. And more often than not, as if transfixed, I stared at the fire from the window. The fire under the pot would flicker, sometimes blazing into a flame and then simmer down to burning charcoal. Quite often I wondered if somebody living two miles away were not saying that a Jack-a-lantern was in Baker Hill.
Despite her mental and physical handicap, like most women she had upward mobility. Marmie reached up into the communities and plucked strong, handsome men to father her six children. Her grandchildren are good-looking, some look like apple blossoms and cherries. And I am sure that some of her great grand children will take many to ecstatic heights, from which only oil of gladness can flow. Marmie was fruitful, her offspring will continue to inherit the earth.
There is still more, Marmie Kelly always knew for whom the bell tolls. You could rely on her to tell you who the bell is tolling for. She attended if possible, all the village funerals; and if it was only one croton, she almost always had a flower to toss on the grave.
Like all of us Marmie loved living. She enjoyed life. She always wanted to be up and about, going here and there without fear. And until a month ago, Marmie Kelly was as much a part of Baker Hill as the hill itself. But she left home one Thursday morning on a journey, and where she has gone to nobody knows for sure.
Marmie Kelly the Christmas-serenader, mountain porridge leaf-picker, the bottle-collector, special friend, remarkable neighbour, unique character and good mother, must have given up the ghost. Not one bell was tolled. Not one song was raised. No flowers were tossed, and for the time being, there is no marked grave.
So, this Christmas when we share glad tidings and good cheer, when Mamas bake their cakes or as we serenade one another with "silent nites" and "holy nites," let each of us jingle one bell in memory of Marmie Kelly.
And sing, sing "Jingle bells Marmie Kelly, Jingle, Jingle all the way."
Is All Talk Cheap, Or Just in Politics?
By John Bardis
May people in the past get away from it all by living their lives as Hermits? With the modern systems of communication, it would be very difficult to go away and stay out of the mainstream for any length of time. The jangled systems would soon have you in touch with someone, somewhere on this planet.
As a social animal, man needs to keep in touch with his brother, and in so doing, ideas and insights are gained which generally assist our progress. In these exchanges, some of us are able to gain influence over others and develop strong powers of persuasion that bring us to the forefront.
In the debate leading up to the elections of ’96, three men who were offering themselves as modern Moseses, men who promised to take us out of the trials and tribulations caused by the erupting volcano, made a promise which I understood thus:
No matter the outcome of the elections, they would each work with the government for the benefit of all Montserratians.
Look around you for those three men, who for weeks wouldn’t let us hear ourselves think but for the plans they had for bettering our lives. Where are they today? How are they working toward our relief? Was it just talk at the moment, with no substance? Was it just a matter of CHEAP TALK?
We all know that when you use Cable & Wireless’ facilities you have to pay. On checking your bill when it comes you are able to work out how cheap all the talking you’ve done was. You would agree that especially for the overseas calls, the talking is not cheap – only, perhaps, if you are on the Internet!
So what are the politicians on when they bombard our brains with all the talk they pitch at us, especially at election time? They definitely are not on the Internet!
How is it, then, they are able to come to us with all the things they do, expecting us to buy into ideas, which shouldn’t even be accepted for free? Is this kind of talk so different from all other forms? Is there no cost to it?
I am not an economist or an accountant, nor am I a sociologist. What I would like to know is, how does one cost the amount of talk thrown at us by people seeking election to public office. Who bears the cost?
Is it the body of citizens who cannot avoid listening to the speeches and trauma of making sense of all they are exposed to, or the proponents of the ideas pulling them out of the bottomless bags they all seem to carry around with them?
In these islands, the only free goods are thought to be the air we breathe and the sunshine we enjoy. At least that is what the classicists (economists) say. But it seems as if they must now add another –TALK, especially by politicians. For when you have had time to examine what they say, they have talked in abundance and it surely is so cheap that it can be considered free!
Maybe after all talk is cheap
Emerald Community Singers On Target
By Cathy Buffonge
Emerald Community Singers
The Emerald Community Singers delighted audiences with their annual Christmas concert, entitled "Break Forth into Song," which drew a large crowd at the Brades School hall last weekend.
The first half of the concert featured Christmas songs, including several traditional carols set to the group’s own arrangements, beautifully rendered with their usual impeccable harmony. Outstanding in this section were "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Infant Holy," while the lively Caribbean Christmas song "Cum dung to all a we" made a good contrast to the more formal carols in this section and was a favourite with the audience.
The second half of the performance comprised lively Caribbean folk songs, evocative Montserrat songs, and other songs done in Caribbean style. Lighthearted and spirited "Singers’ " folk songs, like "Run run Ben Dyer run" and "Gold Ring," a lighthearted medley of nursery rhymes complete with actions, and the group’s adaptation of "One More River to Cross," cleverly applied to the volcanic situation, were some of the favourites. "Oh Motherland [Montserrat]" stirringly and fittingly brought the programme to a close.
The staging of this concert was quite an achievement when you realize that many "Singers" members are scattered overseas and have been replaced by new faces and voices. However, a core of long-time members are still there, including founding member and director of the group, Vernon Buffong, as well as Sarah Allen, Emily Lewis, Elizabeth Piper Wade, and others, supported by veteran behind-the-scenes members Geraldine Mason, Ionie Yearwood (who does the costumes) and Richard Aspin.
Herman ‘Cupid’ Francis brought a special flavour to the solos and spoken parts with his inimitable voice and personality; while the newer members also made an enthusiastic contribution, fitting in well with the total team effort, and giving us the reassurance that in spite of loss of members the "Singers" will continue to perform with excellence.
With the shortage of suitable venues for performances, the Brades School hall fulfills this need, and holds a good-sized audience, although its plain fluorescent lights are a far cry from the sophisticated lighting effects we used to see at the University Centre in Dagenham (now sadly just a memory). But in spite of this, the singers in their neat costumes were visually effective, and made good use of the stage as they performed their well-rehearsed movements in tune to the moods of the songs.
Now in its 27th year, the Emerald Community Singers was founded in 1970 by Dr. George Irish with the purpose of keeping local folk music alive. The group has broadened its repertoire as the years have moved on, but still maintains its Caribbean and Montserrat flavour, its sparkling singing and actions, its commitment, enthusiasm and high standard.
More from the Executive Service Corps
By Ken Walter
One of the reasons I am on island is to try and promote the establishment of an Executive Service Corps Chapter. With this in mind I would like to take up the editor’s challenge, regarding the LP gas crises, as though the government agency currently providing this service had come to us as a client.
Step 1 would consist of an initial meeting with the Assessment Team. The purpose of this meeting, which would last one to two hours, would be to obtain background information regarding the project, plus input on the client’s goals and objectives. The Assessment Team would be endeavoring to ascertain as much information as possible, in this case for example - who are the decision makers, what was the justification for the current scheme, what resources - equipment, manpower and financial are available, etc. I would like to note that we would not be interested in assessing criticism or blame. The Executive Service Corps is a results-driven organization, and while it is necessary to understand the history relative to a client’s project, the goal is to generate positive action as quickly as possible.
After this first meeting the Assessment Team would draft a report detailing the information gathered. They might also add comments and observations to provide maximum insight relative to the client’s perception of events and action taken to date. Please note that I use the term "client’s perception," because more often than not the client’s perceptions and reality are not one and the same.
Next the Assessment Team’s report would be sent to the appropriate Action Team Committee. At this time we would begin the process of selecting from our volunteer pool of consultants a group of approximately five (5) individuals, whose combination of individual expertise would provide the ingredients for a successful consulting team. In this case we would look for people who would have a background in: distribution -- a local beer distributor for example; logistics -- possibly someone involved in Emergency Services; finance/accounting -- a local bank manager; Port of Entry policies and procedures -- Port Manager, and lastly, project management -- possibly someone from municipal services. My list is for example purposes only. The concept is simply to bring together a team of professionals, who by virtue of their backgrounds would, in combination, best suit the needs of the individual project undertaking.
This Action Team, once organized, would then send the client a questionnaire to be completed prior to the client’s first meeting with the Team and at the same time schedule a date and time for this first meeting. Usually two or three meetings are required. The objective of the first meeting is to review the data contained in the Assessment Report and Action Team Questionnaire, ascertain if additional information will be required, begin the process of establishing a rapport with the client and each Team member, and initial brainstorming for solutions.
Prior to the next meeting, the Team will meet to review events to date, decide if further Team research is required and begin the drafting of an initial Action Plan and Action Plan Schedule. At this time a Team Leader is chosen. This individual will act as a Project Facilitator and be the client’s primary contact. At the second meeting, which is always the most difficult because the client will be expecting a resolution and not be expecting some of their perceptions to be challenged, we really begin the resolution process. Now the Team will be working with the client in further brainstorming, offering suggestions and recommendations, while trying to reach a consensus on a final Action Plan and Schedule.
I do not wish to either oversimplify the process or make it seem overwhelming. My goal, hopefully, is to make the point that the Executive Service Corps concept works so successfully because -- a) the consultants are volunteers who have no interest in material gain or profit, but are driven solely by the personal reward of success; b) the power of diverse backgrounds and experiences, blended to complement each other for the benefit of the project, and c) the fact that the Action Team is derived from the local community truly creates a winning combination -- for whether the project comes from small business, a not-for-profit organization or government agency, no outsider can ever understand the project as well as someone who is a community member.
Ken Walter and his wife Norma own property in Woodlands and have been coming to Montserrat for many years. Ken is Chairman of the Oneonta, New York, Executive Service Corps, Small Business Development Council.
He was on island in early May of this year and was struck with the idea of bringing the concept of this organization to Montserrat. Ken proposed this plan to his chapter’s Board of Directors and subsequently received their endorsement to undertake this project.
He is currently on island until the end of February and very willing to volunteer his time to facilitate the organization of a Montserrat Chapter, if such is the desire of Montserrat. Ken and his wife (also involved in a volunteer project) are renting a house in Lime Kiln and can be reached at 491-9345.
CHRISTMAS IN MONTSERRAT
by Dr. Howard A. Fergus (UWI)
Christmas was always a special time for slaves on Montserratian plantations and some of the celebrations were rooted in their African lifeways. There are those who would have us believe that "The African slave... carried little cultural baggage with him on his... voyage to the New World". True the deculturalising process, including the loss of language, was effective, but a strong element of culture survived the transatlantic crossing and plantation crosses; and some of these found expression in the Christmas celebrations.
The jury is still out, strangely enough, on what precisely are our African legacies, colour apart; but I believe there is Africanism in speech, food, dress, religion and music, even though there has been some cultural dilution over the years. In the very first Christmas after emancipation, President Henry Hamilton spoke of a well-dressed peasantry and crowded churches. The urge for new dresses and outfits for Christmas may well run deep in our Afro-Caribbean culture. Our parents were often forced to resort to credit in order to provide new clothes for Christmas.
Food was and is a big thing, even if we have gone from pork to turkey (cultures are dynamic and do change), but the traditional jumbie table (apart from its link with ancestral religion), portrays some of the foods which our foreparents enjoyed at Christmastime. We need to somehow ensure that all our people have the little extra to enable them to eat well this Christmas.
Our prolonged Christmas, which now lasts for a full week, has deep springs in our history. In the 18th century the Christmas holidays lasted for three days. It was Christmas and year-end and the brief respite from plantation drudgery found expression in dance, music, masquerades, drumming and serenading. The Christmas season later evolved into a generous week beginning Christmas Eve and ending on New Year’s Day.
What has also evolved are the celebrations, as folk entertainment mingled with the tone and sounds of carnival, which has a different provenance. Christmas is now beauty contests, cheer leading, calypso shows, costumed troupes, choral singing etc, and Christmas in volcano land is likely to be judged by the absence or the quality of these items.
Nothing negative about that. But I believe there is a case for reviving and preserving some folk traditions. Thankfully, masquerading, which combines dance, art and music, has survived even though the presaging sounds of practice are not heard in November. Serenading with carols exists in a form, though somewhat commercialised. But are John Bull, moko jumbie, Miss Goosie, Guppies and mummers of that ilk destined to be buried forever under the eruption of modern imports?
Perhaps the purveyors of entertainment ought to re-examine these, not just for tourist attraction but for indigenous knowledge and affirmation of aspects of our culture, since these help to define our uniqueness. But it is deeper than entertainment. Migrant Montserratian groups in the UK are struggling to maintain their cultural distinctions. A string band is very much alive in England. We at home should not be complacent. Those aspects of the African heritage which survived European intervention are critical for our self-definition and cultural health. Christmas saw the richest expression of folk life which embodied these traditions. Revival may be worth the effort. Culture is dollars as well as distinctiveness.
St. Augustine’s Christmas Concert
by Howard A. Fergus
It has been a while since I’ve been to a Christmas concert and the return via the St. Augustine School’s concert of 10th December was a most pleasant experience. The renditions by the Glee Club, especially at first when the voices were fresh, were melodious. Theodore Phillip did quite well with "O Holy Night" and is obviously a voice for the future.
What impressed me most was the very strong indigenous or Caribbean content of the programme. This says something for our development, our psyche and our collective personality as people. Useful poems were written and choreographed by teachers or local individuals and recitations were expressive and void of sing-songyness, especially in the pieces "Ley Me Tell You" and "Yuh Tink It Easy".
My favourite poem, though, was "My Grandfather’s" which captures the pathos of the loss of villages in the East and South in the wake of volcanic convulsions. There is a haunting and harrowing sense of loss in the melody of village names which may be all that we have left.
"Their names are sweet as we say them still," as the poet seeks consolation in precious memories. "Don’t Call Me Old" was well performed, and its flashback on folkways such as the kerosene lamp, the iron and ‘bare foot’ was intriguing, as was the suggestion that the old were keepers of the nation’s memory. And the method and message of the inevitable play came through well, although given the difficulty of acting on these stages, audibility at the back of the room would have been merely moderate.
"Shovelling," by Randy Greenaway, will be one of the classic compositions to have emerged in the volcanic era. That the dance to "Shovelling" was so aptly and so expressively choreographed, to convey the frustration and disappointment stemming from the volcanic ash experience, was a triumph of art. The dancers were convincing.
I am sorry I missed the Brades school concert, but St. Augustine’s was a success. These children’s concerts are worthy to be placed on the island’s entertainment calendar if this standard is maintained. I congratulate the teachers and children for this effort. Improvement in managing the pace and in the use of the curtain could raise the standard even higher. (Perhaps a blackout might even be substituted for the curtain, in some cases). But all in all, the concert was a highly commendable achievement.
Bob Bemer may not be a household name, but his many accomplishments are. He is the man responsible for ASCII text, which paved the way for worldwide communication via the Internet; he helped design the computer language COBOL and the standard by which binary digits (bits) travel in eight-packs (bytes); he developed the escape sequence in computers, which was essential to achieving laser printing; and even created the backslash.
But 15 years after retiring to his mountaintop home in Phoenix, Arizona, the 78-year-old computer whiz is making a comeback in the world that he helped create -- he says he's come up with a solution to the so-called Millennium Bug, or Y2K, for a number of computerized systems.
Most computers are programmed to recognize only the last two digits of the year. So when 2000 rolls around, the computer will only see "00" and think it is 1900, wreaking havoc on unsuspecting systems the world over.
Despite the billions of dollars being spent by companies worldwide to beat the 2000 deadline, Bemer is steadfast in his belief that many are going about it the wrong way and that few will be ready. So in June 1997, after reading a Wall Street Journal article that proclaimed a solution that Bemer says he knew wouldn't work, he opened a company -- BigiSoft Inc.-- and decided to tackle the problem himself.
American Way: Why is the date so important to computers?
Bob Bemer: It's hard to find any program for controlling or running a business that doesn't have to do with dates. It may be the manufacturing dates, shipping dates, billing dates, accounts receivable dates, when-you-put-it-in-the bank dates, when-they-owe-you dates.
AW: Why weren't computers set up with four-digit years in the beginning?
Bemer: There's a whole bunch of folklore going around saying that memory was too expensive at the time. Not true. It was expensive, but there's no reason programmers couldn't have done a better job. They could have found the memory had they improved their programs, made a couple of short instructions in their programs. [If they'd] made it more elegant, they'd have had enough space left over for 19s and 20s.
We had a standard for this in 1973, and it said to use a four-digit year so people don't get confused, but no one took it seriously. I told them a long time ago -- I said, "Watch out, watch out, it's going to be terrible," but people didn't bother.
AW: What is likely to happen if his milennium prob1em isn't fixed?
Bemer: The two biggest things that can fail are the worldwide banking system and electric power. Unless the banks get with it, you probably won't be able to take out your own money -because they won't know when you deposited it, when it's due, and they won't be able to figure out the interest.
The Federal Reserve pays $2.5 trillion per day -- that's one-third of the U.S. yearly gross national product -- which means they are exchanging checks from this bank to that bank and so on.
If all those banks aren't talking the same language, where do the checks go?
Electric power plants are impregnated with embedded chips, and embedded chips turn on things automatically, like the doors of an elevator and traffic lights.
The thing about an embedded chip is the program is built in; it's not changeable. And if it wasn't built for 2000, it'll never work. So you've got to throw it out and put in a new one that will work. But embedded chips are often difficult to find. Some of them are in underground wells, in underground gas lines, and in telegraph repeaters under the Atlantic Ocean.
AW: In your opinion, what percentage of the country will be compliant by 2000?
Bemer: Trying to figure what percentage will be compliant is pretty meaningless. If I'm compliant and the telephone system does not work, what good is it? If the entire U.S. were compliant and the rest of the world weren't, how would our economy stand the loss of all internally?
AW: So what are the chances that industries such as banking, power) and the stock exchange will be ready when the clock strikes midnight?
Bemer: My guess is banking may come close. Power is in danger due to the embedded-chip usage, and the stock exchange may work, but their current tests are not very rigorous in mimicking the real world. The states are really behind and trying to pass laws exonerating themselves from blame. Small businesses don't even know they have a problem yet. The government is woefully behind. The best figure is we won’t get this done until 2012.
AW: Any advice on what we should do to prepare?
Bemer: Make sure to keep records of all bank transactions .... If the bank loses the records due to this thing, there's nothing to prove your money is there. I'm buying a house on a lake, so if the power fails, I can still get water out of the lake. You can't survive without water. I'm also buying dried food and gold.
AW: Why did you decide to come out of retirement to fix this bug?
Bemer: I could see that nobody was doing this thing right. They are changing the COBOL programs by hand. In doing so, they often make more mistakes than they need to. New mistakes are made, huge amounts of retesting are needed, it's a "people-slow" process . . . . Unlike the thousands of computer programmers trying to fix this by hand, rewriting each line of code, our process is automated -- the computer does all the work. The Vertex 2000 is 40 times faster and costs about [two-thirds] less than trying to rewrite code by hand.
We installed the Vertex 2000 in the mainframe of the Puerto Rican Telephone Company and it took one person three days to do the entire job. Using conventional line-by-line methods, it would have taken that same person three months.
AW: How were you able to come up with this solution?
Bemer: Every part of your experience brings some new facet and allows you to synthesize something new. I guess I've had more facets than the average person. I worked for an architectural firm. I was an aerodynamicist at Douglas during World War II and played the trumpet at night at the Hollywood Canteen. I have also played 14 other instruments. Back then, I made custom furniture for movie stars, too. Maureen O'Hara loved my tables.
AW: In an industry dominated by ponytails, Birkenstocks, and 30-year-olds, many are surprised that a 78-year-old beat them to the solution to the world's most vexing computer problem.
Bemer: People under thirty are sort of stunned that I've come up with the solution because I'm old. But I could because I'm old. I know enough. I've seen the beginning.
It's a Question of Communication
Why does she always want to talk?
Her Way of Bridging the Gap
Suzette Haden Elgin, Ph.D., director of the Ozark Center for Language Studies in Hurtville, Arkansas, and author of Genderspeak, says men must understand that, for women, "talking is more important than sex. Men who use talk as a move to get a woman in bed will be horrified when it turns out she is interested in conversation as an end in itself Men think women should recognize it as only another play that gets them closer to the end zone. But for women life is not a succession of plays. It's all connected. They take it all seriously."
And men should, too. Talking with your partner and communicating your feelings is the most stimulating foreplay a man can perform on a woman. Great sex will be a mere residual benefit compared to the great sense of intimacy you'll feel.
She also wants you to listen to her.
Really listen. It doesn’t matter what she's talking about: It could be how she scored a cut-price pair of Gucci pumps at the mall.
The important thing is to look her in the eye and give her your ill attention as she talks to you.
"Men, there's a billion-dollar industry out there. It's called therapy, and 90 percent of the people who go to therapy are women. And why is that?
"Because women will pay to have somebody listen to what they're feeling," says Dr. Gray. In fact, he says, "What women are looking for in their relationships most of all is a man who will be attentive, who will take the time to listen."
Indeed, you can do all the dishes you want, but if you don't listen to her, says Dr. Gray, you're just wasting your time.
While we're on the subject, why does he take the perfect opportunity for a romantic kiss and turn it into a chance to get it on?
The Passion of the Lips
To hear women tell it, guys tend to think of kissing as little more than an impediment to intercourse, like that last, stubborn button. For instance, San Francisco sex therapist and author Lonnie Barbach, Ph.D., writes that "men learn, while growing up, that touching, holding, hugging, and kissing are feminine needs and that 'real men' only like intercourse."
It's probably true that both men and women, especially in long-standing marriages or relationships, tend to forget how delicious and meaningful the little things like kissing can be. And when lovers gradually forget to kiss and touch each other except when they want sex, touch begins to seem "more like a demand rather than an expression of love," Dr. Barbach says.
In a tongue-in-cheek book called "Art of Kissing," writer William Cane reports on the results of a kissing questionnaire he distributed to a group of men and women. A few practical suggestions for becoming a better kisser emerged from their comments.
Soften up. Relaxed lips and facial muscles are soft and sensuous; kissing tense, fight lips is like smooching with a lamppost.
Brush your teeth, boy. When asked what they didn't like about kissing, many of the women mentioned bad breath. To be safe, brush your teeth before kissing encounters.
Be kissed. There is a subtle difference between kissing and being kissed and just because you're a guy doesn't mean you always have to be the lip-aggressor- Try being the kissed sometimes, not leading the kiss, just passively receiving the pleasure.
"Listen" to her kiss. Great kissers, like great lovers, are sensitive to how their partners are feeling and responsive to what they're trying to communicate with their mouths, Cane says. Take a deep breath, relax, and just try to imagine what she's feeling while she kisses you.
By Cathy Buffonge
At Christmas time good health may be the last thing on one’s mind, as people set about eating, drinking and enjoying the festive season. But it’s quite possible to celebrate while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few tips.
These tips are not intended to spoil your Christmas, but to make all of us aware of things we can do to remain healthy, while still enjoying the Christmas season.
Top 7 Beliefs To Empower Your Day
1. When I can see the future clearly in my mind, whatever I imagine, I can manifest in my current reality.
2. I have more than enough money for anything I want. Money attracts to me, because I give more than anyone else I know. Money is only a scorecard as to how much value I've created for others.
3. Action is power. The more action I take, the faster I can accomplish my goals. I enjoy being in action.
4. I am certain of where I am going with my future. Certainty has power. Because I read, research, explore & invest enough time to properly understand my trade, I'm able to make decisions faster and more clearly.
5. If you're young, Tony Robbins would say: "Youth Is Power." You're not bound to tradition or "set ways."
6. Only I can decide how I'm going to feel on a day-to-day, minute-by-minute basis. No one else determines how I'm going to feel, ever.
7. It's not what happens, it's what I do, that makes the difference.
Submitted By Multi-Million Dollar Business Builder & Email/Web/Internet Strategist, Christopher M. Knight.
By Norma Walter
Some of the other things that come to my mind as I walk around the island are some of the really "fun times" we had before the volcano.
We used to go to the Great Alps Waterfall and have an ice cold beer (brought along in a small cooler) while standing in the ice cold water. It was a great walk and a great reward when we arrived at the waterfall.
In the evenings we would walk around Plymouth and often wind up at the Harbor Court for some ribs and steel band music. It was truly an institution in the city. And
