.

The Honourable Chief Minister David Brandt reacted this week to the strain of managing and acting in the place of two additional ministries.

He has been acting Minister of Communications and Works for the Honourable Rupert Weekes, who has just returned home after being ill for some time, as well as acting Minister of Agriculture, Housing, Lands and the Environment. The Honourable P. Austin Bramble has recently left on a six-week vacation, while his under-secretary Mrs. Sarita Francis has been out on sick leave.

This week the Acting Governor, His Excellency Dr Howard A Fergus CBE, swore in the Honourable Brunel D B Meade as Temporary Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing and the Environment. Mr. Meade, the Member of the Legislative Council for Plymouth has been serving in LEGCO as an opposition member.

He also has been acting in the capacity of industrial advisor to Mr. Brandt for some months, therefore his appointment is not a total shock. Questions are being asked, however around the country as to whether this will become a permanent appointment, since it is believed that the Chief Minister has been somewhat at odds with the substantive Minister.

Further rumours suggest that there are several other areas of discontent and dissatisfaction within the ruling coalition and that more changes might be imminent.

The Director of Eastern Europe and the Western Hemisphere at Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID) John Kerby made his third visit to Montserrat during the course of this week. He headed a team comprising himself, Engineer Peter O’Neil, Divisional Engineering Advisor Jim Hyde and Health and Population Advisor Jennifer Amery.

The visit was to investigate the status of British projects on island being funded by DFID. His programme included visits to the St. John’s Hospital, the Little Bay Port, the Fuel Terminal, the Salem Campus of the Montserrat Secondary School, self-build housing and the housing project at Lookout. Whilst at Lookout Mr. Kerby delivered to the Government of Montserrat a further tranche of 20 completed houses, with a promise that the final 24 houses on the project will be finished by next week.

In his speech at the hand-over ceremony, Mr. Kerby said he was delighted that many projects were moving forward in a tangible manner and that the improvements to the northern part of the island’s infrastructure were noticeable. He added that he hoped that the 20 Montserratian families already allocated their new homes would enjoy being in them for Christmas.

In reply, the Honourable Chief Minister David S. Brandt, who accepted the keys to the houses on behalf of Government, said that in times of crisis many partners come to the table to assist but as soon as public interest waned they dropped from sight. However, he added this was not the case with the British Government, who through DFID had been alongside Montserrat all the way through the volcanic crisis. He explained that housing was still the number one priority of his government, as he wanted everyone housed in proper homes and not shelters.

As well as his meetings with the Chief Minister, Mr. Kerby also met with His Excekllency Governor Tony Abbott, other Ministers of Government, the head of the MVO, police officials and various Civil Servants and DFID staff members. During Mr. Kerby’s visit it was announced that head of the local DFID office, Doug Houston was leaving the post and will be replaced in the short term by Mr. Geoff Williams, who is already on island.

EDITORIAL

Not very much is heard publicly on this matter, but it could, along with our constitutional status, very well be one of the topics that can decide who gets chosen to serve as members of our next elected government.

No effort will be made to get into the economics of this discussion. It is a matter that cannot stay hushed for too long It is about 3,200 men, women and children, often referred to as 'resilients', who remained in Montserrat. They will be called upon to bear -- and as a matter of fact are pretty much bearing the brunt -- of raising whatever income is being generated by the government.

Often enough some mention is made that businesses and people generally should be given relief from income tax in particular.  At other times, not only is it said that past due income taxes should be forgiven but income tax should be abolished.

Of course the topic is not as simple as it may sound, but surely not enough is being mentioned to the public about it and, like many other matters which have to do with the future of the country, little or nothing is being publicly discussed in this sphere of concern.

One of the ways that the government receives income is through the duty, consumption tax and service charge paid upon the importation of some or all goods or items into Montserrat. Then there are licenses, fees, property and income taxes.

Today Montserrat is deep into and dependent upon what is called "
"grant-in-aid," and thankfully, need not be ashamed of it. There was a time when this was not the case, but we no doubt would be pleased to hear those people who paid no attention to the reports predicting the onslaught of Soufriere Hills volcano admit to their irresponsibility.

This does not, however, change the reality that residents should meet their responsibilities of paying income and other taxes normally; this despite the argument that today nothing is normal when it comes to the finances and economics of Montserrat, and that the same residents should not be punished for remaining here.

The biggest argument, though, is that while two-thirds of the population, for nearly three years, have not had to meet any of the obligations of helping to maintain the country, they also benefit from not being harassed for outstanding taxes. Then comes the request to abolish income tax collection in its present form, thereby joining most of our neighbours in implementing some other form of collecting revenue, which will seem more equitable and most likely bring more revenue to the country.

Not long before the volcanic crisis, if not recently, some study was ordered (probably not completed) into the merit of abolishing income tax, but nothing has been told of this to the public. But very quietly it is a matter that is on the minds of many, because it is believed that the British government is not in favour of this idea. This raises the question why Montserratians cannot make decisions like this for themselves. The request is not to get away from taxes, but from a revenue viewpoint it seems that a more equitable form of tax collection is necessary and will certainly put more into the coffers of government. More people will participate and people are more likely to get a greater sense of ownership and a lesser sense of dependency.

Issues like this cannot be avoided and must become notable when Montserrat’s future is considered or discussed. It is not likely that this will not be talked about in any campaign for election to public office.

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

29 November 1999

Dear Mr. Joseph,

I refer to your open letter to the Chief Minister, the Montserrat Reporter and myself. I am sorry that you have not had earlier reply but a trip to the UK followed by illness has delayed my response.

Although there are always lessons to be learnt from any crisis, and this was no exception, I could not disagree more with your assertion that Montserratian and British officials "failed lamentably" to protect and inform the public during the passage of Hurricane Lenny. It should not be forgotten that on this occasion Montserrat was under a Hurricane Warning for three days. I believe this is unprecedented.

The Emergency Department tracked the storm from Sunday 14 November and issued regular advisories to Radio Montserrat concerning its position and strength. These advisories continued until the storm had finally passed. Residents were given practical advice over the radio on what they should do to prepare for the storm and asked to refer to their guide to the hurricane season which had been issued in June and made available to all members of the public. The District Committees were activated, Emergency Shelters opened, Search and Rescue teams put on standby and the hurricane contingency plans of Government Departments and public utilities activated.

To answer some of your specific points in the order you raised them: Cable TV of Montserrat is a private company, which has its own contingency arrangements to protect its facilities from the threat posed by hurricanes. I understand this involves dismantling their satellite dishes for safe storage. However, as a service to the public they continue to relay the "Weather Channel" and Radio Montserrat while conditions permit. I should add that, though the Weather Channel provides a useful service, it is not the official source of information on hurricanes in the Eastern Caribbean. In the case of Hurricane Lenny there were some conflicting signals from various weather centres about its predicted track and behaviour.

On the question of power supply, MONLEC has set procedures for dealing with hurricanes. For the protection of the public, these normally call for the power system to be shut down when wind speeds reach a certain level. During the passage of Hurricane Lenny, wind speeds only passed this threshold on one occasion, on 18 November, when power was cut for some hours. Apart from this, MONLEC endeavoured to maintain service to its customers. Unfortunately, a major fault on MONLEC's high-tension lines caused a blackout on 17 November but service was restored to most areas as soon as repairs were effected. In addition, some local faults occurred, not unexpected given the conditions, but again MONLEC staff strove valiantly in atrocious weather to repair them and restore service to the affected areas.

Radio Montserrat has full backup power at its studios. The generator did develop a fault during the storm but this was quickly fixed and the station was off the air for less than an hour. Radio Montserrat broadcasts on three frequencies in the FM band and relies on transmitters installed at various mountain sites to ensure full coverage of occupied areas. Access to the site on Lawyers Mountain, which hosts the 91.9 FM transmitter, is particularly difficult and it has not been possible to install standby power at this site. However, we continue to look for a solution to this problem and hope to have arrangements in place by the next hurricane season. The 88.3 FM frequency is powered from Radio Montserrat's studios but is only used if the other frequencies are affected by power failure. When this happens, as in the case of Hurricane Lenny, the station also operates via station to station links with ABS in Antigua and VON in Nevis. This procedure was announced on the radio at intervals during the storm and is fully explained in the resident's handbook for the hurricane season. It is worth mentioning that, as a consequence of the volcanic crisis, most homes on Montserrat have been provided with battery operated or wind-up radios.

You questioned our reliance on the Meteorological Office in Antigua. This is laid down in protocols developed by the Caribbean Meteorological Organisation of which Montserrat is a member. Throughout the world there are six global meteorological divisions called Regional Associations (RA). Montserrat comes under RA IV, which has established a Hurricane Committee. The Miami Hurricane Centre is designated as the regional Specialised Meteorological Centre for the purpose of offering scientific guidance to RA IV members. The responsibility for issuing local warnings on severe weather belongs to centres designated by countries not having capabilities of their own. In the case of Montserrat, the Meteorological Service at V.C. Bird Airport in Antigua has been so designated. That said, we too would welcome more specific advice on conditions directly affecting or likely to affect Montserrat. We are investigating how this might be achieved in readiness for the next hurricane season.

The ultimate responsibility for safety in natural disasters lies with the individual. It is the duty of Governments to educate and advise the public on how best to protect themselves. I am confident that has been done in Montserrat.

I am copying this letter to the Hon Chief Minister and the Montserrat Reporter.

Dear Editor,

Please accept my apologies if anyone thinks I am beating a dead horse, but Cable TV of Montserrat is taking all of us for a ride.

There used to be a commercial on U.S. television that warned complainers that they get what they pay for.

Maybe in the U.S., but not in Montserrat.

This writer complained last week that post-hurricane restoration of Cable TV service was unacceptably casual. Would anyone challenge that complaint?

Only days later, friends began complaining that Channel 27, the source of the non-commercial U.S. Public Broadcasting Service, had been replaced by an appalling display of glitz called "Style." Angry questions to Cable TV of Montserrat got the response that when they were restoring all the channels after Hurricane Lenny they damaged the receiver and that replacement parts would arrive in about two weeks.

Last Monday, Channel 13, the CBS major network channel went black. That channel was restored on Tuesday, but imagine the surprise of all of us viewers when we found that it was the same CNN channel that was available to us on Channel 16.

The Government of Montserrat has granted Cable TV of Montserrat a monopoly on television service to this island on assurances that are not being met. If the Government of Montserrat is not embarrassed, much less outraged, by this failure to deliver on the service promised to achieve that monopoly, then the cable television customers of Montserrat have every right to wonder who in this deal is getting what, and what was paid for it.

OPEN LETTER TO:

The Hon David S Brandt, Chief Minister of Montserrat

His Excellency Anthony Abbott, Governor of Montserrat

Maybe one of the addressees can explain to the citizens of Montserrat why the present Government chooses to deny us the benefits derived from a new enterprise wishing to establish itself in Montserrat. This is being done by refusing to issue a licence to operate. The St Johns Medical School wishes to do business in Montserrat. I understand that this would bring in up to about 30 students at a time plus approximately 10 staff. That makes a total of 40 persons who would be renting/buying property here, numerous taxi/bus fares, hire cars, grocery purchases from local stores, dining at local restaurants and drinking in local bars, using local travel agents, etc.

All of this extra revenue coming to Montserrat! Not to mention taxes paid to local Government. And the more persons buying in local supermarkets the greater the chance for those supermarkets to be able to bring in extra/additional goods. All of the above can only be advantageous to all of Montserrat, citizens and Government alike.

Most of the businesses in Montserrat stayed instead of leaving and they struggle to survive. One of those businessmen who made the decision to leave is now far better off than most of those that stayed. WHAT IS THIS GOVERNMENT TRYING TO DO TO US? Does Dr Thien’s business influence the decision of the Chief Minister, whose prime objective is to look after the interests of all citizens of this country?

Our Chief Minister is robbing us by not allowing this new business. Speak up and let him know how you feel.

When I was growing up, my father would often read his favorite Bible passage to our family, I Corinthians 13. The inflection of his voice gave the words meaning as they echoed in our minds. When he came to the words, "[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends, " he would pause for a moment after each phrase. We could feel the power of the words as we struggled to understand them.

Lately I have been thinking about the way my family has helped me to understand these words. I am thankful for parents who cared for me and for brothers and sisters who loved me even as they endured me. I am thankful for a wife and children who believe in me and give me hope for the future. Most of all I am thankful for God, who loves me forever no matter what. It is that eternal aspect of love that is most comforting. In times of pain and uncertainty God's

eternal love is the one constant that sustains me. God's love for us never ends.

Prayer: God, thank you for loving us unconditionally an eternally. Help us to express your love to others.

Amen.

God's love is for everyone, all the time.

Brian Mallett (Indiana)

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank has announced the topic for its Year 2000 essay competition. Participants will address the following topic: "Even as they seek enforcement of the WTO ruling which could adversely affect the region's banana industry, the U.S. is actively courting our assistance in their fight against drug trafficking and money laundering. What do you think our position should be?"

The annual competition, now in its fifth year, will result in the disbursement of $15,000 in prizes to schools and individual participants. Students between the ages of 15 and 18 are invited to write essays, with the deadline for submissions being May 12, 2000. Fliers stating the topic and terms of the competition will be distributed in schools and are also available at the ECCB headquarters in St. Kitts and its Agency Offices in member territories

The 1999 competition saw participants from Anguilla, Dominica, and Grenada placing first, second, and third respectively. This is the second time that Anguilla has won the competition.

A United Nations report on AIDS says the number of people dying from the disease has reached record levels and is set to rise dramatically. The report says AIDS has killed some 2.6 million people this year, while more than 5.5 million more have been infected. UN agencies say the statistics are terrifying; worldwide, more than 33 million people are HIV-positive, with the developing world suffering most. In Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia and Zimbabwe in sub-Saharan Africa, one quarter of the population is infected, with little hope of treatment.

Diabetes is a growing problem in our Community and around the world. It is with this in mind that Lions Club International designated the month of November as Diabetes Awareness Month. This means that Lions all over the world reach out to Diabetics during this month.

The Diabetics Awareness Committee of the Shamrock Lions Club undertook the task of studying the needs of diabetics or potential diabetics in the community and to determine how the club can best meet these needs.

"We endeavour to promote good health and to detect symptoms of the disease before they develop into more serious stages. Hence during the month of November, the club distributed literature on diabetes. Also, in collaboration with ZJB Radio, health promotion spots were aired from time to time throughout the day. This is in keeping with the idea that "sound mind and a healthy body, will always be a worthy goal for Lion's Service."

The Lions Club attempts to improve the quality of life for others according to the Lions Code of Ethics, which states, "TO AID OTHERS BY GIVING MY SYMPATHY TO THOSE IN DISTRESS, MY AID TO THE WEAK, AND MY SUBSTANCE TO THE NEEDY."

At this point, the members of the Shamrock Lions Club take this opportunity to encourage all diabetics to have their blood sugar checked regularly at the various clinics or as specified. Remember, Diabetics cannot be cured but it can be controlled.

The Soufriere Hills dome was visible for the first time since hybrid earthquake activity occurred between November 3^rd through 8^th, 1999. Observations on Saturday November 27^{th and} again on Monday November 29^th revealed new dome material within the July 3 rd 1998 dome scarp. This is the first dome growth observed at the volcano since March 1998. The dome is close to 100 metres wide at its base and about 60 metres tall. Poor visibility limited observation of the upper portion of the dome. The first material erupted was dark due to intense oxidation; the bulk of the dome now is the more usual pale colour. It has course rubble top, and gently sloping sides composed of rockfall material.

The new dome, while small and located on a relatively stable part of the volcanic edifice, represents a moderate increase in the short-term risk in the immediate vicinity of the volcano. The MVO is maintaining its high level of monitoring and continues to seek more visual observations of the new dome. In the meantime, residents of Montserrat are advised to listen to ZJB over the coming week for further updates on the situation at the Soufriere Hills Volcano.

5pm, Monday, 29 November 1999

CARICOM Advisor on the Single Market and Sectoral Programmes Desrie Field-Ridley says assistance is available to Montserrat to help the island back into the regional export market with fresh produce.

Since the discovery of the Pink Mealy Bug, Montserrat has been experiencing problems exporting fresh food to regional islands.

Agriculture officials say the difficulties have persisted even though the Ministry has confirmed that the destructive pest has been controlled.

The Pink Mealy Bug has been eliminated in the northern areas, with only a few pockets existing in the Salem area.

There was never any mealy bug infestation in the new agricultural area at Upper Blakes.

The CARICOM official says there is still a problem with the movement of goods in the region because of the Pink Mealy Bug.

Mrs. Field-Ridley says CARICOM has provisions in place to ensure that the pest, which has been virulent in the region, does not spread from country to country.

The CARICOM official says under the provisions, an expert will visit all the islands to certify that they are mealy bug free.

Officials at the Montserrat Water Authority (MWA) held an urgent meeting earlier this week to discuss problems plaguing the water system on island, particularly after the recent passage of Hurricane Lenny.

Emanating from this meeting was news that several leaks have been detected on the distribution lines, which resulted in the interruption in the flow of water to homes in the north.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works Eugene Skerritt says although measures were taken to bring the system above the critical level, this was not achieved.

He says steps are being taken by the MWA staff to have the situation remedied as soon as possible.

Workers have been divided into groups to trouble shoot the entire distribution system, in an effort to detect more leaks.

The Montserrat Water Authority is soliciting the assistance of the general public in terms of reporting leaks.

The MWA is hoping that the situation will be rectified as soon as possible.

The Honourable Minister with responsibility for Ecclesiastical Affairs

Mrs. Adelina Tuitt earlier this week paid tribute to long-serving Pentecostal Minister Pastor Abraham Riley and his wife Francis.

The Pentecostal family, supported by other denominations and members of the community in general, turned out at an appreciation service for the Rileys at the Brades Pentecostal Church on Sunday November 28.

In her address, Minister Tuitt referred to Pastor Riley as a "Christian Giant," who, along with his wife, have become crusaders for the oppressed.

She recalled that during the crisis the Pastor and his wife were towers of strength as many Montserratians agonized over the onslaught of the volcano.

Mrs. Tuitt said Pastor and Mrs. Riley have helped individuals to manage their emotions, to deal with self-pity and loneliness.

She says the people of Montserrat can be proud of the couple because, whereas they could have left for other shores, they decided to remain.

Saying thanks publicly today to Pastor and Mrs. Abraham Riley tells of a long process in which pastoral care, mentoring, counseling, exhorting, caring, teaching, of saying it according to God’s holy word and therefore without fear or favour are recognized.

It marks friendship, tells of loyalty, dedication and commitment. It tells of two lives that have been cemented that have become one, of two persons who have discovered what it is to be Christians and to be obedient to the will of God.

It tells of two lives that have grown in their relationship with God and by extension their congregations, and indeed with all communities in Montserrat and even further afield.

Today, I feel very honoured to be giving a tribute to Pastor and Mrs. Riley, on behalf of the government and people of Montserrat, in recognition of the high quality of service which they have given to this country.

Pastor in the field of religious services and Mrs. Riley as a Nursery School teacher and as a helpmate to the Pastor. Their lives show teamwork and provide answers to the question, what can I do for my country?

For several years, Pastor Riley was the resident preacher at the Grace and Truth Pentecostal Church in Harris’. He had previously recognized the inadequacy of his own life and surrendered to Christ as his Lord and Personal Saviour.

He grew to be a Christian Giant and during his many years of pastoral service he has encouraged others to accept Christ to follow his example and to serve Christ constantly and at all times and in all circumstances.

Pastor and Mrs. Riley became crusaders for the oppressed, for when Montserratians agonized from the volcanic onslaught, when we questioned and complained, the Pastor and his wife, even though they too were afflicted, they managed to be a tower of strength, understanding and Godly wisdom, robust and unshakable, to lead those with heavy hearts through this crisis.

Pastor and Mrs. Riley have demonstrated quite clearly what it is to step out in faith. They have lived in that trusting faith for they are assured that God, the creator of the world and the sustainer of all mankind, is in full control of every situation, and that His promises are ever sure.

Pastor and Mrs. Riley have helped individuals to manage their emotions; to deal with self-pity and loneliness. They have taught what it is to forgive.

They have helped families in crisis, and their lives bear testimony of the Love that Christ commanded. Families are the foundation on which any country is built.

Helping families, then, is planning for the future of the country. Instilling the fear of God in people is to ensure our island will be under the authority of the only wise God.

I don’t want to give the impression that Pastor and Mrs. Riley have no weaknesses. Yes, we all have, but I’m not aware of any, and I’m sure that whatever these are, they are dwarfed by good qualities.

The Rileys have responded to God in worship and prayer, and I can safely say that from my observations of their life, God is always first. From their submission to God, the Rileys have obtained strength to go on serving their God directly and indirectly through the people of this country.

As one writer once said "When we serve others, we become like burning firewood.

Unattractive in ourselves, we release God’s glory when we are expended for Him".

It is this service that has kept Pastor and Mrs. Riley and indeed their family with us. Today we give God the honour, the praise and the glory due to His Majestic Name.

Any country in which the people have moved away from God, presents all sorts of problems to any government. Today, Montserrat can be proud of Pastor and Mrs. Riley. Whereas they could have left for other shores, they decided to remain to see us through, for they recognize that God’s grace is the same anywhere and everywhere. They have decided to remain in this part of the vineyard to build up God’s Kingdom among ourselves and those who have come to live with us.

Pastor and Mrs. Riley have helped this country beyond the call of duty - in the field of religion and public life; and Mrs. Riley, a nursery school teacher for many years has helped to guide and instruct our children.

Today, she still attends schools to assist with religious instruction.

The government and people of Montserrat join the congregation of the Brades Pentecostal Church in expressing thanks to both of you - Pastor and Mrs. Riley.

Continue to influence the lives of Montserratians that we may experience that abundant life in Jesus Christ.

May God richly Bless You.

Another 20 houses have been handed over to the Government of Montserrat.

The construction management company Brown and Root, which has been contracted to build 150 houses at Lookout, delivered the keys of the completed houses on December 1.

Since August this year, 126 houses have been handed over by Brown and Root.

Project Manager Charles Scott says the remaining 24 houses will be handed over next week.

Acting Minister for Housing Brunel Meade expressed his appreciation for the hand-over of the houses.

He said housing has always been a cornerstone of government’s strategy for the recovery of the island.

Meanwhile, the Director of Eastern Europe and the Western Hemisphere at the Department for International Development (DFID), John Kerby, paid a two-day visit to the island earlier this week.

During his December 1-2 visit, Mr. Kerby visited British- funded projects in the north of the island.

These include Lookout Housing, the St. John’s Hospital, the Little Bay Port, the Carr’s Bay Fuel Depot, the Salem Campus of Montserrat Secondary School and the Salem Police Station.

Mr. Kerby also met with His Excellency the Governor Anthony Abbott, the Honourable Chief Minister David S. Brandt and other Ministers of Government.

Cultural Coordinator Rachael Collis says there is no outright winner for the 1999 Festival Slogan Competition.

She says the slogan "Catch de spirit, get in line, move in time for Festival 99" is a combination of three slogans that were submitted.

Miss Collis says all three persons will be given bonuses.

She says the winning slogan will be used on all festival banners and programmes, and on the backdrop for the stage at Festival Village at Little Bay.

The Cultural Coordinator says other creditable submissions will be used to promote the festival.

Come early next year, Montserrat is expected to have a new Attorney General.

The Government is to appoint the new head of the judicial department to replace Charles Ekins who leaves the island in early 2000.

It’s not yet official when the appointment will be made although it is anticipated soon.

The position has been advertised in Montserrat and throughout the Caribbean region.

The position of Attorney General is filled after approval by the Chief Justice of the OECS and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.

The Laws of Montserrat also require the appointment to be approved by the Judicial Legal Services Commission.

This system guarantees impartiality and protects the independence of the judiciary.

Congratulations are in place for the Cudjoe Head cricket team.

The players beat the Under-19 Youth team in the Finals of the Montserrat Cricket Association (MCA) one-day competition to secure the Basil Morgan trophy.

Batting First after being sent in, the Under-19 team was skittled out for 85 runs in 21 overs.

Tyrone "Charlie" Greenaway topscored with 33.

Gregory Willock captured 4 for 14, while Mark Stephanie chipped in with 2 for 12.

In their turn at bat, Cudjoe Head made light work of the meagre target and finished on 87 for one - winning by nine wickets.

Gregory Willock was named Man-Of-The-Match.

The winning team received some special funds donated by Cedric Sheill.

The Player-Of-The-Tournament trophy went to Jaron Harris, who is only 15-and-a-half years old.

He finished the competition with an average of over 58.

Meantime, a 14-man squad has been announced to carry Montserrat’s challenge at the upcoming Under-15 Youth championships in Antigua.

Lionel Baker has been named captain with Kenville Fenton his deputy.

The other members of the team :- Leroy Allen, Edward Andrew, Riddick Fenton, Tavio Fenton, Clavin Lewis, Elton Lewis, Ian Osborne, Percy Roach, Christian Ryan, Garnet Thompson, Dalston Tuitt and Thomas Tuitt.

National Player Tyrone "Charlie" Greenaway will accompany the team as coach.

A group of visitors with interest in geology and seismology are paying a visit to the island.

The group of 19 is mostly retired persons with an interest in volcanoes.

They arrived on a double-rigged schooner called Sir Robert Baden-Powell, which docked at Port Little Bay on Thursday December 2.

The cruise, organized by local video photographer David Lea, began in Grenada and covered islands with volcanoes.

These include St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe and Montserrat.

While on island, the visitors engaged in tours of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory and other areas of interest.

The Sir Robert Baden-Powell schooner is scheduled to leave this weekend.

The Honourable Chief Minister and Minister of Finance David Brandt has issued a statement on the closure of commercial banks on December 30.

The statement says that in accordance with the provisions of Section 32 (3) of the banking Act, the Minister of Finance has declared that all commercial banks operating on Montserrat will be closed to the public on Thursday 30^th December, 1999.

The closure will allow the banks sufficient time to back up their data and finalize their end of year records.

This is one of the contingency measures being put in place throughout member countries of the Eastern Caribbean Central bank for the Year 2000 date change.

Commercial Banks are expected to be open to the public on the first business day of the New Year, which in Montserrat will be Tuesday 4^th January 2000.

A short but what promises to be a very entertaining programme will officially launch the 1999 festival season, the last for this century.

The Honourable Chief Minister David Brandt will formally declare the season open and entertainment from masqueraders, string band, the Emerald Community Singers and cheerleaders, to name a few, will liven up the audience.

The highlight of the evening will be the first official jump up featuring the Lynium 2K Band and the Point and Villa Iron Band from Antigua.

They will be coming straight off the ferry and unto the streets of the northern safe zone.

These are the promotions:

Forget volcanic stress, Bring back the old times make festival ’99 the best

A strong Antigua representation is expected for this festival.

Montserrat’s next door neighbour has indicated its willingness to help the Emerald

Isle celebrate the passing of the century into the year 2000.

On 11^th December, a 45-strong group of dancers will take to the stage at Festival Village. The Antigua Dance Academy will perform the first authentic show at Little Bay.

The Point and Villa Iron Band will entertain street revellers on three occasions in the only three official jump-ups scheduled.

This Iron Band is very popular on the Emerald Isle and is eagerly anticipated.

The Vitus Cultural Performers will also parade in the Festival Day Show; the costumes will all be from the recently- concluded Antigua Carnival.

Vitus will bring an iron band section and stilt walkers as well. This will be a novelty attraction.

Two additional promotions:

Have a great time Let’s have fun for Festival ’99 to welcome the new millennium

SPORTS

ITS TIME FOR THE STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION

By Peter Adrien

The spirit of dominance - Can the team rekindle that spirit under Viv?

The timing is right! The man is right! The mandate is right! It is time for the structural transformation. While we are at the tail of the structural adjustment phase, the structural transformation must be evident. Like an ailing economy groaning out of the painful adjustment phase, the policy makers and technical staff of the West Indies Cricket Team appear to be laying the basis for take-off.

You would recall that earlier this year I argued in my weekly column that the West Indies Team was under a structural adjustment programme.  Well, its recent painful experiences as well as its policy decisions seem to point to the establishment of a platform for structural transformation. For a country fettered by balance of payments problems, constrained by fiscal difficulties, stifled by large debt servicing obligations, and severely restricted by low capital formation, the painful experience is usually not shorter than the medium term, at least five years.

For the West Indies cricket team, poor management, problems of technology transfer and political instability associated with the adjustment process have made the process very painful and prolonged. The adjustment began in 1991 under the leadership of Richie Richardson. It has been really a Jamaican-type painful adjustment programme.

But the administrative and technical imperatives are falling into place, and we could experience the take-off sooner than anticipated. And the men at the helm, Brian Lara, Vivian Richards and Clive Lloyd know, appreciate and understand the structural adjustment problems. They have to do with poor or inadequate batsmanship, non-threatening fast bowling and
spasmodic and weak leadership. And all the structural problems are related to the psychological weakness of the team. Some psychologists contend that the team's problem is 40 per cent psychological.

The good news to many is that the "King" has a recovery plan for the youngsters. The suggestion forced me to revisit his autobiography, Hitting Across the Line and his coaching manual, Learn Cricket with Viv Richards. I think I have stumble upon some ideas of the great man, which he can use in his recovery plan, if he does have one.
You may wish to check it out. I refer to coaching techniques and ideas in the coaching manual, Learn Cricket with Viv Richards printed by Butler & and Tanner Limited and published in by Stanley Paul & Co (London) Ltd in 1986. In this instalment, I discuss Richards' coaching techniques with respect to mental preparation, discipline and leadership.

Driven by his philosophy of Pan-Africanism, Viv appreciates the weakness of the colonial mind, and resultant mental weakness of the marginalized black man. He knows that many working class black men have virtually lost their manhood in the home and are humiliated every pay-day by their subsistent wage. And he is aware that this marginalisation is
reflected in the mental weakness of the young black sportsmen, many of whom are really products of fatherless homes. This mental weakness accounts for their inability to concentrate for long period; to be resilient under pressure; and to be easily overwhelmed by the "facety" opponent.

Viv enters into the black youngster's feeling and counselled: "I can't emphasise too much that you should keep ticking away mentally. Cricket may seem pretty physical when the bowler starts on his fearsome run-up or the batsman puts a six into the cabbage patch. But it's a game of the mind. .When you stand, still and alert, waiting for the next delivery, don't bother your head in the least with the bowler's fancy run-up, the fact that he's six feet tall or that his arms are going round like a ferocious windmill. Concern yourself with one thing only - that little red cherry. Focus your eyes on the ball and never lose it." (Richards, 1986:16).

A sportsman success and indeed consistency is unarguably linked to his discipline. By discipline, pedigree coaches, mean the players attitude to training, his on and off the field behaviour, his level of application to his task whether batting, bowling or fielding as well as his influence on the team.
The great man pointed out: "I've always taken the view that to be a good sportsman you need plenty of self-discipline. And, believe me, I know just how many distractions there can be when you are young.. My plea to you is to show that bit more determination - it won't be wasted, I promise you.  From my days as a teenager I have spent hours, often on my own, trying to make myself a better cricketer" Richards (1986:74)

If there is any one who understands that leadership is a critical factor of production, is Vivian Richards, the only modern West Indian captain not to have lost a Test series, even when he opposed gladiators like Australia's Allan Border, England's Graham Gooch, New Zealand's Imran Khan and India's Kapil Dev.

This is his advice for Brian Lara: "The skipper sets the mood.  Play with a smile on your face. Encourage a struggling team-mate. Applaud a good catch.  Avoid public reprimands; instead have a discreet private word to a snoozing fielder. And, above all, enjoy your cricket. The rest of the team will follow your lead" (Richards' 1986:74). With the fortune of the team largely depending on him, Lara will need Viv's inspiration more than any other.

The development of mental fortitude, resilience at the crease, functional batting techniques, and collegial leadership is the critical structural remedy for the structural transformation of the West Indies team. Viv's policy will not pay dividend overnight. But with all things equal, it should begin to bear fruit in the short run, within a year.

Tighten you belt and open your bosom for the structural transformation.

I am guilty of ignoring the discussions on the Social Welfare review. This should not have been so. I could have shown more interest, because I am responsible for five mentally retarded relatives, three of whom receive benefits under the Volcanic Assistance scheme. I am also partly responsible for an elderly person who receives the benefit, and at the same time she gets two monthly pensions - one from the UK and the other from the USA.

As you can see from my personal experience with the system, both the deserving and the undeserving are benefiting. And if I were to be honest with myself, I would acknowledge that something is wrong with the system or that the system needs reviewing.

Yet I ignored the discussion. Not from fear - but, this topic "social welfare review" is so outside my experiences, so unfamiliar, so broad, so touching everybody; so divisive, so attractive to biases, that, even I - the man - shiver to participate in the discussion.

And now that I want to join in the discussions, I realise that almost everybody is on the scheme. I cannot find an objective person with whom to discuss the topic. Yes... Believe it! More than half the population of Montserrat is on the thing, the "food voucher" they call it.

I laugh; but this is no joke. Really, how come almost 2,500 people are on welfare assistance? Yes, how come?

Over the past few days I summoned courage and decided to become familiar with the issue; so I questioned a few of my associates. My co-worker, for example, had a point. When asked if they should stop her payment, she said no, and that it should continue at least another year. When asked why - she said that being from Kinsale she lost everything, yet she did not benefit by evacuating to the UK or to Antigua for a $10,000 package. I told her that she got a house. She countered that she pays rent. I went on to say that the rent was much less than mortgage. The argument could have gone on and on. She had a point!

I put a similar question to my neighbour, a civil servant living in Baker Hill. He did not relocate. I asked him if the payment of $120 to employees should continue. He angrily said no, not another day. I asked why not. He said how could you give $120 every month to any employee who earns over $5,000 per month and whose rent is paid by his employer; or how could you justify paying a civil servant who earns over $3,000 each month, an additional $120? Yes, he too had a point!

Yesterday I transported a domestic worker to Old Towne. Before the relocation she lived in Cork Hill. Throughout the journey she was quite disturbed by the recent talk on radio about stopping the food voucher. She was convinced that she would not be able to care for herself and her son without the $120. I tried my best to assure her that in the end, a system would be designed to help those in need of assistance. My friend was afraid. She had valid concerns.

Last night, I again confronted my neighbour. The one who was angry and adamant that the payment to civil servants and all employees should stop. This time I asked him about our cousins who rented their homes, left for Antigua and Anguilla to collect their $10,000 package. I even named some persons who returned to Montserrat, departed for the UK and continue to collect rent on their properties in Montserrat.

I also considered the exorbitant selling price of land in the north, and wondered if the tax department would be able to lock into rental income and the profit from the sale of land. The added income could be used to offset the burden of the food voucher system.

I said the topic was broad - and touchy. Now you could see what I mean. There are so many sides to the volcanic assistance program. There are people who have real needs that can only be addressed by social welfare. And there are many people who are taking advantage of a necessary system that started very badly; whatever we do from here, it should be quite obvious that the system needs to be reviewed.

Many, many people will have to be taken off, especially salaried persons and pensioners who receive income that is greater than the established welfare benefit.

So far, I have attempted to show some concerns on the food voucher system as explained to me by others. But, for me to give an opinion on the social welfare review, I must adopt a "big picture focus" on the issue.

In considering social welfare, one must realise that in any society there will be persons who would fall outside the desired cracks and crevices of financial security. Some would not plan for retirement - some would not even be able to work so as to plan for retirement. Some would realise misfortune due to strange circumstances. And no matter what causes these persons' conditions; they have a right to Montserrat - and to what Montserrat can share or provide. And social welfare in my opinion is a duty of society, and a right to the deserving.

I see social welfare as an integral part of Government business. Any Government of a modem society must provide social welfare benefits to its citizens. And those benefits, have a legitimate demand on Government's revenue.

In fact, with respect to priority for funding, I see social welfare competing with post-natal care, early childhood education, primary and secondary education, health care, police services, public service salary and road maintenance. In other words, social welfare expense must be a legitimate item within the budget of income and expenditure. We must budget for welfare as we budget for politicians and public servants salaries, allowances and pensions.

There is no need to fear that a properly constituted welfare system will produce a welfare state, or that it will cause an excessive tax burden on the working population. On the contrary it is well known that people on welfare will put at least 90 percent of their income back into the economy through increased purchases. This added buying power will create greater customs revenue, increased tax revenue from increased merchants' profit, and increase employment.

The truth is a properly organised welfare system, assisting only those in need and participating in a properly managed tax based economy, will almost pay for itself.

By the way the mechanism of this "big picture focus" of social welfare benefits, payroll taxation, and social security contributions is beyond the scope of this article. Yet if we would only focus on the development of Montserrat into a modern society - we would recognise the importance of a social welfare review.

Besides, if it is true that a person can qualify for the food voucher - even though he is paid a monthly salary of $5,000, plus paid rent expense - then our system stinks.

And if it is true that our Government is paying individual monthly salary and allowances up to $20,000 - yet at the same time denying a minimum monthly income of $250 to the aged, the sick or the handicapped - then our Government needs to review its welfare program!

Finally I believe that it is worthwhile for Montserrat to adopt standards for economic and social growth. Standards that will reduce the likelihood of cheating and wastage. Standards that will encourage pride and honesty. And if the social welfare review is one step towards this growth... then lets step forward.

October was bad enough, but who ever hear about hurricane in November when man home relaxing, dreaming about ham and sorrel?

And you couldn't behave like any other law-abiding hurricane… No! You had to come through the back door shame on you Lenny!

You 'ca rray' over St. Martin as if you looking for some long lost friend all the time terrorizing people, rearranging landscape and furniture. You crawl like a car in heavy traffic, taking a rick-rack trail like a drunken sailor on shore leave. Lenny, you sure leave plenty people bawling.

From North to South you name on every lip… who cussing you, who bad-mouthing you, who using you name to cast blame and settle old scores. Nobody have a good word to say about you… You eh shame?

I for one glad it wasn't time for a women hurricane!

Pat Ryan

The gutters around the long white building were often covered with frogspawn, and the silent conveyor belts and empty vats provided a play time diversion for the 1960’s inmates of the Montserrat Secondary School. This was the first ‘White Elephant ‘ of my memory, doomed by the exploitive one-cent-per-pound pricing for tomatoes. The processing factory later became a dead elephant.

Since then, Montserrat has remained famous for elephants, briefly for golden elephants, but now for a growing list of dead or dying elephants.

What definition for a dead elephant? "A national asset which cost a lot of somebody else’s money, which has become of no use, but during its development and construction phases provided lucrative income opportunities for selected parties."

Fortunately, nature is responsible for most of the dead elephants. We have had for the past million years, and will probably for the next million years have a live volcano with vents that contain magma and lava. A volcano that sits on geological plates that will continue to move against each other and, every now and then, send off a little more magma up the vents. Nothing has changed since the current eruption has abated, so all we need to know is the range of potential destruction by our little puffer, and thus avoid future volcanic dead elephants by, for example, forgetting about Blackbourne/William Bramble Airport until Langs Soufriere becomes extinct.

Political paralysis and inertia have been partners of the mountain in the building of our reputation for dead elephants. The Library, New Glendon Hospital and the inadequate efforts to salvage and store millions of dollars of public property, are examples of dead elephant making which should have influenced decisions for the future.

We should launch a ‘Society for the prevention of dead elephants’, to safeguard the interests of both public and private sectors. This society would have as its principle role the identification of and publication of discussions on projects at risk of elephantine demise.

Whether it be: a reservoir that causes land slippage, a housing complex with nowhere for sewage, a cricket field too near a petrol depot, a heliport soon made redundant by a landing strip for aircraft, a jetty built in the wrong place, a discotheque that may be replaced in a few years by a 3- or 4-story commercial building, an old people's home that becomes storerooms, chipboard houses which fall apart before the option for purchase can be exercised, or a government headquarters rebuilt in continuum.

Identifying projects at risk will not be enough. The society will have to keep the public aware of the factors "Necro elephanta causa." These include: change of political directorate (where the incoming government scraps the priorities of the previous administration), poor planning, inadequate marketing, inaccurate feasibility studies and reports, suppression or ignoring of reports and studies, ignorance, greed, selfishness, nepotism and political patronage.

This has been the other story, referred to at the end of MAM’s last article. Remembrance Day Parade – A Reminder.

The term constipation has different meaning to various people. To some it means infrequent defecation. To others, a reduced quantity of faeces. To still others it means dry or hard faeces. At any rate, the term constipation refers to a condition in which elimination from the bowel is poorly timed or in some way is inadequate.

1. Ignoring the urge to defaecate. This is perhaps the most common cause of constipation. Usually and normally the urge is strongest soon after breakfast. For some persons this is an inconvenient time, so they ignore the urge, with the result that the natural desire declines.
2. Diseases or Conditions of the Colon and Rectum

A condition of haemorrhoids (piles) or any inflammation in the vicinity of the anus makes the passage of faeces painful. A person with this condition may deliberately delay going to the toilet rather than experience discomfort.

Obstruction in the colon, as from a tumor may interfere with the passage of faeces and thus contribute to constipation. Certain ailments of the nervous system can interfere with the control of the muscles, which are involved in defaecation.

3. Side Effect of Medications

Certain drugs have the effect of making the stool firm or making the sensory organs within the anal canal less responsive than normal. Examples of such drugs – Morphine, Codeine, Atropine.

4. Inadequate fluid intake
5. Inadequate bulk in diet
6. Immobilization or altered routine in activity patterns.
7. By psychological factors resulting from a strange environment or restricted use of toilet facilities
8. Old age and finally constipation occurs as a result of chronic, strong laxative abuse.

• Abdominal distention
• Decrease in amount of stool
• Dry, hard stool
• Straining to pass the stool

Diagnosis of constipation is based on the clinical manifestations

The stool or (faeces) consists of the residue that remains after the absorption of food materials in the small intestine. When a person eats sparingly, the amount of residue will be correspondingly reduced. Therefore, a decreased intake of food for any cause contributes to constipation.

The person who develops constipation during a relatively short period should consult his physician regarding the possibility that some organic problem, such as the formation of a tumor, may be responsible for the constipation. Once the individual is assured that no underlying condition is interfering with the normal function of his colon and rectum, he can then give attention to methods of self-treatment appropriate for simple chronic constipation: For example: -

1. Develop a regular, after breakfast ritual of going to the toilet. For the first day or more there may be no evacuation at such a time. However, you need to persist in the routine, until the reflex patterns involved in defaecation become active at this time of day.
2. Include a reasonable amount of bulk in the diet. The diet should include cooked of raw vegetables, canned or stewed prunes, figs, banana, whole grain cereals and bread containing bran. Such items as cheese, chocolate and coffee should be avoided.
3. Drink at least six to eight glasses of fluid per day.
4. Engage in reasonable physical exercise daily. If the individual has no preference for some form of exercise, a brisk walk for one or two miles will help to strength the abdominal muscles.

On 12^th July 1993, I joined the Health Staff at the Glendon Hospital as a Student Nurse enrolled in the three (3) year Registered Nurse Program. During the final year, I attended and worked at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Jamaica on a two (2) month clinical attachment where I gained a wealth of knowledge in Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cardiology, Burn Care, Renal Dialysis an Medical and Surgical Nursing in preparation for my Nursing Finals and Regional Examination in 1996. Despite the many adversities with the volcano, I was successful and became qualified as a Registered Nurse.

My desire was to further my nursing career and in 1998, I received a scholarship from the Government of St Kitts/Nevis where I pursued a one (1) year Post Basic Training in Midwifery the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College attached to the Joseph N Francis General Hospital. In 1999, I was once again successful and placed second in my examinations. To keep my knowledge and skills current I attend in-service education programmes on a regular basis.

I am indeed grateful for the opportunity to acquire such knowledge and skills which are valuable tool in the healing process of others.   To those contemplating a career my advice to you is to:

• Plan prayerfully
• Prepare purposefully
• Proceed positively
• Pursue persistently

On time for the scientists' stay

MVO finds a new dome in play.

They're quick to make clear

There's no cause for fear,

But block SOB anyway.

Is CM Brandt taking a gamble

Inviting Brunel Meade to amble

Across the divide

To Government's side,

Or is he finessing a Bramble?

Jus Jus wonderin if it is right for government to compulsory acquire private lands for essential housing, while at the same time leasing government land for non essential use.

Jus wonderin if the entertainment complex at Little Bay was rushed through to block the Galloway's idea.

Jus wonderin if at the opening ceremony, the keys and title deed of the entertainment complex at Little Bay will be handed over to government so that the public will get a better share when the whole area is rented for a multimillion dollar development project.

Jus wonderin if one of the ministers will get R, B and J to make him/her chief.

Jus wonderin if and when the next big ashing will occur.

Jus wonderin if man power knows that slavery has been abolished, further wondering if their nationality has changed.

Jus wonderin who is the new hush puppy in town.

Jus wonderin who is attempting to commit murder by putting the country to death.

Jus wonderin if there were no better slogans coming for festival this year.

Jus wonderin who pass the Ghaut Plan and how further down they plan to go.

Jus wonderin why those who make and enforce the law are breaking it.

Jus wonderin if its time for a new election since it seems some of our politicians careers might be coming to an end.

Jus wonderin if we are back to square one again with the volcano or is it planning a repeat performance.

Jus wonderin if Mrat has a BULLGANI.

Jus wonderin if it is true that there are thoughts to reopen the relocation package.

Jus wonderin if the latest rumours were all wrong, or just a misdirected mix-up in titles with L--suits on some and elections on others minds.

Jus wonderin who were happy, who were scared and who now frighten...

Jus wonderin who encourage who out of their new job and now have them beggin bread in their own country.