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15 CARICOM Houses Officially Handed Over By PM Baseo Panday

Housing has repeatedly been stated to be the #1 Priority for Montserrat, for the past two years at least, as the island tries to rebuild after its devastation in many ways by the Soufriere Hills volcano, which awoke with morbidity July 18, 1995.

Yesterday, December 29, the honourable Prime Minister Basdeo Pandy of Trinidad and Tobago visited Montserrat for the sole purpose of handing over 15 houses built as a little subdivision called "Caricom Village."

As explained by the Minister of Agriculture, Land, Housing and Environment, Mr. Brunel Meade, the CARICOM Village idea was born with an projected number of 25 prefabricated buildings, to be situated at Davy Hill, adjacent to the Emergency Houses Project. The houses were purchased in Cuba and were to be built with funds and expertise provided by CARICOM, coming mainly from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana.

At the beginning, then Minister of Housing P. Austin Bramble said that the reason for the reduction in the number of houses was the scarcity of available lands, but that the plans would be to construct the full number of 25 once lands were available.

Since that time of course the plan shifted to Lookout, and it was there the Caricom Village was constructed.

Following a shortage of funds, work had stopped on the houses, but in June this year, after some five months, more than 40 locals, along with members of the Barbados Defence Force, set out to complete the project.

So after all the delays and problems, Barbados promised Chief Minister Brandt to do all they could to ensure the project comes to fruition, and finally the time came for the official handing over of 15 of the completed houses, some already occupied.

Prime Minister Panday, in his capacity as chairman of CARICOM, arrived with his entourage, along with Secretary General of CARICOM Dr. Edwin Carrington; Alan Jones representing Barbados from the Ministry of Public Works & Housing, and Mr. Deighton Maynard, Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force.

The visitors kept a very busy schedule, which included a luncheon hosted by Chief Minister Brandt, the official handing over ceremony at the village in Lookout, a visit to the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, a fly-over of the devastated south by helicopter, shortly after their arrival to Montserrat, a brief press conference, and a courtesy call on His Excellency Governor Abbott.

In addition to some brief addresses and words of welcome and appreciation at the luncheon, the main speeches were made at the handing over ceremony, where Miss Anne-Marie Dewar chaired the proceedings.

Dr. Carrington hit the mark of CARICOM's unity and goodwill when he said: "These houses represent the manifestation of the community's goodwill towards its own members, its own people of Montserrat. The fact that those who have given these gifts are themselves not without need, makes the gift all the more worthwhile.…providing shelter."

He went on to describe the unity and response by the regional body, at the same time offering commendation to Montserrat: "The Caricom Village is testimony to the readiness in which the leaders of the region respond in times of crisis and they must be commended for this action. The leadership of Montserrat must also be included in this commendation for their steadfastness and forthright manner in which they presented their needs to the community in the face of this prolonged crisis."

He recalled how the honourable Mrs Adelina Tuitt, Minister of Health, Education & Welfare, while at CARICOM meeting in Montego Bay, Jamaica, "shortly after the darkest hour of the June 1997 eruption, made a stirring and sincere presentation to the heads of government meeting there."

At the end of his address, Dr. Carrington presented toys and gifts from the children of the community to the children of Montserrat through the lady minister, Mrs. Tuitt.

In his address, the main guest of honour, Prime Minister Dr. Panday, also recalled the lady minister's address at the 18^th heads of government conference, where, he said, she "apprised them of the widespread dislocation and destruction of the economic activity; there was never any doubt as to the CARICOM member governments would rally together to assist Montserrat in its hour of need."

"I shared your pain then as I share your joy now," the prime minister said,as he explained that it was there that the decision was made agreeing on a CARICOM village for Montserrat; and that CDERA was delegated to coordinate the region's assistance to Montserrat based upon the list of needs identified by the island.

He commended the Caribbean Development Bank, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and CDERA for the roles they played in carrying out the desires of the community in Montserrat.

In ending his address the prime minister expressed his pleasure and privilege on behalf of the Caribbean community to "hand-over officially the 15 houses of the Caricom Village to the government and people of Montserrat."

Chief Minister Brandt, in his response to the several speakers, welcomed the visitors and briefly recalled the destruction: "I welcome you to an island that has suffered monumental loss and mental distress…and one of the most comfortable housing stocks in the region was transformed into homelessness and the ugly inconvenience of shelter life." (See GIS page for full address).

He expressed his people's gratitude to the Community: "This is why we are so grateful to you Honourable Prime Minister Panday for making the effort. It illustrates that size is not a factor in the esteem in which each country is held. Montserrat was in trouble and CARICOM came to the rescue; that means we are friends as well as partners. It also means that the regional organisation takes the business of unity seriously."

A small luncheon in honour of the visiting party was held at the new Tropical Mansion Suites in Sweeneys prior to the handing over ceremony, which took place on location at Lookout There Prime Minister Panday and Chief Minister Brandt unveiled an engraved stone plaque marking the village site.

In his brief press conference, the prime minister spoke to the political integration of the community. He said that there are "not so serious matters still outstanding," which he believes will be concluded before the end of 2000, pointing out that he didn't believe there was any serious opposition to this Caribbean political move.

He said he had recommended a two-track system to take care of those who are "not so ready and those who are ready to move on."

It was a one-day visit and the party departed half an hour later at 5.00 p.m. at the heliport.

Brandt presents pictures to the guests

The end of any year, much less the brink of a Millennium Year, typically sets off a series of backward glances, to the community's major news stories, its most significant achievements, and its most noteworthy individuals. Going into its fifth year of a bruising natural disaster, Montserrat counts many improvements, in infrastructure, housing, the economy, and the heartening return of more of its people. Despite these signs of encouraging recovery, one unhappy event casts a pall on the island's causes for cheerfulness -- the summary execution this year of a proud and historically valuable asset, the Royal Montserrat Defence Force.

Had the volcanic crisis never arisen, Montserratians would still look back with pride and gratitude to the labours of the RMDF after the devastation of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. They would still recall with pride the pomp and precision with which the RMDF represented the Emerald Isle in all official ceremonies. And they must never forget the herculean efforts the RMDF's members tirelessly exerted to sustain the island during the volcanic crisis, before they were arbitrarily cast aside with a shrug of incredible ingratitude.

The Governor and the Chief Minister frequently remind us of the stresses and strains the volcanic crisis has placed on people. They urge us to understand individual lapses and delayed services as the unfortunate result of such stresses. In the case of the RMDF, however, apparently we are expected to demand that the rigors of military discipline immunize members of the RMDF against such stresses and strains.

They do not, and they had not in the week leading up to the Queen's Birthday Parade. For four years, the RMDF had served capably in whatever was asked of it. Unfortunately, while equal demands were made of many civilian workers and civil servants, there were galling inequities. Military traditions denied to the RMDF most of the extra benefits granted, however reluctantly, to their civilian counterparts.

Members of the RMDF were expected to work seven days a week for standard military pay. They were expected to enter hazardous zones for which their civilian counterparts were given additional hazard pay. And because they were in military housing, even those who had lost all their personal belongings to the volcano saw civilian friends and neighbors enjoying emergency benefits for which they were ineligible.

The RMDF was a tired organisation. Its members were demoralized. They decided at last to take their grievances to their military and civilian superiors. In an effort to get that attention, they declared they would not march in rehearsals for the Queen's Birthday Parade until one of more of their superiors heard them out. They had no intention of boycotting the official parade itself.

The resulting clash of pride and incrimination may always obscure what really happened. Did the Governor declare, "You will appear at the parade ground tomorrow to rehearse for Her Majesty's birthday parade or suffer the consequences."? He did not. Had he done so it would have been possible to make a much more credible case for insubordination, if not for the more laughable allegations of treason.

Instead, the Governor cancelled the entire event, to the disappointment of other organisations eagerly prepared to participate in the annual celebration. And more devastating than disappointing, he unceremoniously decommissioned the RMDF.

There is enough blame for everyone in this sorry chapter of Montserrat's history. Where stress and strain overtaxed ordinary Montserratians, did they prompt "treason" in its soldiers? The RMDF was not the betrayer, it was betrayed by military and civilian superiors who thoughtlessly exploited it as a low-cost work force, indifferent to the physical and psychological costs imposed by their demanding regimen.

Only a judicial inquest could be relied upon to unravel this tangled web, and it is unlikely that either the Governor or the Chief Minister would be eager to see it subjected to the revelations of sworn testimony.

So Montserrat looks into the Year 2000 without a force whose loyalty was beyond question but whose physical and mental endurance were taken for granted.

Whether a blow to the Governor's pride or a perceived compromise of his authority, the cost to Government House was piddling beside the price Montserratians are paying in the apparently permanent loss of this once proud and responsive organisation.

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.

Montserratians everywhere should seek to study these matters, since the matter of citizenship, which corrects an injustice does not necessarily guarantee what many believe is an easier access to gain entry to some places, especially the USA. Without the other freedoms, this privilege may not be worth it, if we will still be treated as peons.

Undoubtedly the White Paper, based on an early reading, is a good document. Surely it is reasonable to assume that it is not final and that some modification may be necessary.

April 2, 1999

The honourable D.R.V. (Frank) Edwards, first nominated member of the legislature, asked this question while addressing for the benefit of the House the issue of the elusive housing mortgage scheme promised by the British Government (BG)for nearly two years now. They have blocked Montserratians from the opportunity to begin building homes of their choice.

The Editor

Millennium---- Satan Lies BOUND?By T J. GageThe sound of the word MILLENNIUM is ringing in our ears like an inevitable breaker on the seashore. It brings with it an omen of one belief or another, depending on the depth and deity of ones upbringing. The MILLENNIUM is just a few days away...an era in which Christians acknowledged the Lord Jesus Christ for the last two thousand years.

The MILLENNIUM we are looking forward to be a thousand years, which now brings the twenty-first century into reality when it will have passed, on the night of the last day of 1999. Many will look with awe and thanksgiving at this juncture in hope and in fear of the yet unknown spectacle of its dawning, not knowing what to expect. But a thousand years have rolled by before this, and men still made war against each other.

The peculiar feeling of breathing a sigh one moment in the year 1999 and an intake of breath in 2000 will be indescribable to many that wondered what the end of a thousand years would be like. To some, it would be the time of the greatest outpouring of blessing which shall rise to the God of heaven from the voices of the people of Montserrat in whatever corner of the earth they happen to be residing.

Some people are stoical, but at this crossroad of occurring events, which of us can make light work of the last quarter of this century? No child of 12 years or over can ever dismiss the huge spectacle of this pre- MILLENNIUM dawn of a baptism of ash, lava, choking fumes, fire and other pyroclastics, which have stressed out the life and resources of the people of Montserrat. The child has watched as the family forsook all, and fled. Watched while others who could not flee, depended upon the plan of action, the government had laid down. Watched as they sheltered here and there... living in other people's homes. Unable even to till their own land... refugees on their island.

Which of us Christians will not look to the hills and remember? Which of us can pause here on this particular threshold of 1999 into the new MILLENNIUM of 2,000 and think that hitherto, the Lord hath not been with us?

Look again, and count your blessings!

Christmas will come, and we shall greet each other in the same way; for a thousand years of Christendom has done its work in binding a deep belief in the birth of the Son of God. It is a time of life that no child ever thinks of missing. But this end of the year heralds the coming of a new sound that will be forced upon us for another one thousand years. Another MILLENNIUM. Yes Christmas will come, and it will pass just as it has passed before, and on the wings of the wind, the new year era will be with us; and by the Divine grace of God, we shall still go about our business as if nothing great had taken place in our life.

It will be as simple as that, and at the end of the century, the word MILLENNIUM will be waiting another 900 years before anyone thinks much of it again. Such is the movement of any MILLENNIUM. Can this Millennium be the one in which Satan lies bound?

A Day of New Beginnings

A song called "This Is a Day of New Beginnings" was sung in the church service the Sunday just before Don an I retired and moved from the community where we had lived for almost 40 years. As I listened, I realized that this was a message not only for the others in the congregation but also for us. It seemed more like

a time of endings than a time of beginnings. Yet as I thought of it, I realized that God is the God of the new, of beginnings.

We were leaving our friends and our church. We were selling the house, leaving the wood-working shop, the beehive, our garden an flowers, our volunteer activities. Then it occurred to me that we come to new beginnings because some things have ended. We are now living in a retirement community with others who have also given up much. Many have even experienced the loss of health and of a spouse. For them as for us, there is the promise that God will make all things new. In our endings and in our beginnings, God is present, loving us and making our lives new.

PRAYER: God of our new beginnings, help us to trust you.

When there are endings for us, help us trust you to be with us

and to show us new things. Amen.

Mary Wineinger (Louisiana)

PRAYER FOCUS: Those leaving familiar surroundings

The Montserrat Cricket Association has named a 15 member squad to play the Lashings team, including former West Indies captain Mr Richie Richardson, at Salem Park in two 40 over per side games on 8^th and 9^th January. The squad is : Devon Williams (captain), Tyrone Greenaway (vice captain), Lionel Baker, Mark Grant, Caville Greenaway, Sylvester Greenaway, Jarron Harris, Roland Irish, David Lane, Nesta Piper, Mark Stephanie, Philip Tuitt, Dion Weekes, Valice Weekes, Damion White. Practice sessions will be held at Salem Park on Wednesday 5^th and Thursday 6^th January at 3.30 p.m.

Each match will start at 12.00 p.m. There will be barbequed chicken, fish and ribs available either as part of a full meal or a snack, as well as a full running bar.

Beaten, bruised and brutalised, Caribbean people must have faith! The West Indies team was finally "whitewashed" by the Kiwis at Wellington, when they were aided but beaten inside four days by an innings and 105 runs, losing the two Test series, 0-2.
Now that the West Indies have lost 10 consecutive battles on enemy turf; now that we have been "blackwashed," "brownwashed," and "whitewashed" in less than two years; now that we seem to have received the knock-out punch, even if we are still ranked highly in international cricket by the white interests which control Wisden and PricewaterhouseCoopers, we must have faith. We have always exercised faith in adversity and have always received the due reward of that faith.
We stuck with Clive Lloyd after the 1975/76 five-one (5-1) battering in Australia by Lillee and Thomson. We kept hope alive after Akram and Saqlain humiliated Courtney Walsh in Pakistan 1997/98, rallied around Brian Lara, and demoralised England in the home series when she sought to humble us "in our face." We exercised faith when we were almost dehumanised in South Africa in 1998/99, marshalled our forces after we were ground to the dust at Port of Spain (in 1999) by Steve Waugh, and were rewarded for such great faith.
Many are asking me the question: "Have faith in what?" I answer, have faith in the West Indies team. What is faith? We find the answer in Christian theology: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1. Christian theology teaches us that faith is the substance or the material or the reality of what we hoped for or longed for. But even if the evidence or the proof of that reality is visible, the basis for the longing is established.
Now let us apply that Christian theology to our behavioural response to the West Indies team. We hope for a winning or a dominating team but we do not now see the evidence of that reality. We do not now see even the evidence of the making of a dominating West Indies team. The team seemed so easily beaten or humiliated or chastised that some of us find it difficult to remove doubt from our minds, much less exercise faith in its ability to turn around the corner. The team is so spasmodic in its performance that some of us have labeled it inconsistent and expect nothing but inconsistent performances whenever they go out to do battle.
But do you know that when we cherish doubt and despondence, we become vulnerable and make those around us more vulnerable? As peasants and ex-slaves we know that traditionally Afro and Indo-West Indian families are always more resilient in adversity. We know that in the end we always triumph, for it is adversity which toughens the Afro and Indo-West Indian family.
Whether in the recreation industry or commerce, we have excelled only through travail. Why do we want it differently in the instant society? Why should we have mountaintop experiences without the valley experiences?
Well, when we (particularly the gullible West Indian sports journalists, many of whom are prepared to sell their souls for a morsel of white bread) doubt ourselves and - in this case - our team, we become easy prey to the white interests which are set to dehumanise us; to detribalise us; to destroy our self-esteem; to cause us to doubt our ability; to force us to perceive ourselves as inferior beings; to cause us to question our past achievements and our past glories which are the motivations for our present and future. This may very well be the underlying reason why some people accuse me of being too nostalgic about our period of domination.
White interests want us to forget the achievements of our Caribbean heroes and "sheroes," like our two Noble Laureates, Sir Arthur Lewis in Economics and Derek Walcott in Literature. It is not by chance that two endowments of exceptional intellectual capital have come from tiny St. Lucia and from a small region like the Caribbean. C.L.R. James, Eric Williams, Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, Walter Rodney, William Demas, Michael Manley, Edna Manley, Elsa Goveia, Dame Nita Barrow, Eugenia Charles, C.Y. Thomas, Slinger Francisco, Dwight Yorke, Vivian Richards, Garfield Sobers, Brian Lara, by excelling and reaching the mountaintop after passing through, in some cases, excruciating valley experiences, confirmed that no matter what the conditions - no matter what the situation - we must have faith!
But there is indeed evidence for exercising faith. There is solid ground for exercising faith in the present West Indies team. After all the team enjoyed no good fortune at Wellington. They did battle one soldier short (Darren Ganga, absent hurt) and were victims of hometown decisions (inasmuch as I hate to dwell on these issues) - Perry, Lara and Walsh fell to the Kiwis umpire, E.A. Watkins. And it is not strange that whether in industry, commerce or recreation, Caribbean people are always victims of human frailty.
There is hope. In the batting department, the Captain looked purposeful and led from the front with the bat. Adrian Griffith, by his resilience, tenacity, mental toughness and sense of responsibility, gave us hope. If we are prepared to give the young and inexperienced players a chance to learn and blossom, there is hope for the future. We have a stock of talents to re-engineer our middle order. There are young talented batters like Sylvester Joseph, Ryan Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle to compete for places in the middle order. Let us pray for Busta to answer our prayers.
Even Stuart William and Dave Joseph, if they compete for the middle order positions, and perform, can join the army - after all, they are still young. In fact, Stuart William may very well have a golden opportunity if he bats in the middle order. Should he get back into the West Indies team and perform, he could be considered for the leadership position.

But the critical issue is: Are the Leeward thinkers rational enough to sense the politics of selection and bat him in the middle order instead? It is clear that the firm of Campbell and Griffith will be in business for a while.
There is hope for our West Indies team. Viv is keeping the faith, and I am keeping the faith. Have faith, brothers and sisters.
Peter Adrien is an author and syndicate Sports Columnist

He may be contacted at: Adriens Enterprises,

P O Box1133, Basseterre, St Kitts

Email: Adriens@Caribsurf.com

GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

(Government Information Services (G.I.S.) is an information service produced and prepared in the office of the Chief Minister and published as a paid for service.)

It is for me a distinct pleasure to welcome everyone to this ceremony of hope and joy. But it gives me added pleasure to welcome our CARICOM guests - the distinguished Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, the Honourable Basdeo Panday, the current Chairman of CARICOM. I am extremely heartened by the sacrifice you have made to be here at this time. The government and people of Montserrat are most grateful to you.

We are also delighted to have the CARICOM Secretary General, Mr. Edwin Carrington, who is no stranger to Montserrat; and the distinguished representatives of the Government of Barbados, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Mr. Allan Jones; and the Barbados Chief of Staff, Mr. Deighton Maynard. Of course, our friend the Head of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency, Mr. Jeremy Collymore, can be considered a part of us.

I welcome you to an island that has suffered monumental loss and mental distress: its population plummeted from 11,000 to under 4,000; bountiful vegetable gardens and provision grounds became roasted wastelands; a very promising economy became a totally dependent one; a high rate of employment gave way to large-scale job shut-down and mass exodus; the island's habitable space shrank to about a third; and one of the most comfortable housing stocks in the region was transformed into homelessness and the ugly inconvenience of shelter life. As one of our artists sings with haunting pathos, " …many became refugees in their own country…"

I can continue this litany of loss and mention the destruction and dislocation of infrastructure, including educational institutions, but I have said enough to convey the fact that this little island suffered nothing short of a social and economic catastrophe unprecedented in the region. The Mount Pele eruption of 1902 has only outdistanced it in the area of loss of life. Indeed it was only prudent action that minimised that aspect of the tragedy. It is evident that we were plunged into a situation which demanded resistance, courage, vision and energetic action - values and principles which characterise my government and people of Montserrat.

But even with the noblest political will in the world and with all the mental and spiritual resources, we could not begin to transform this landscape of gloom into contours of morning without the assistance of our sympathetic and kind partners.

In your brief visit to the island you will descry something of the devastation. We still have people in shelters and this is why there is just jubilation at the opening of these 15 houses and it is critical that the others be constructed as quickly as possible; but we are convinced that our CARICOM partners will not fail us. Indeed I anticipate the day when our new Montserratian diaspora, scattered across the world but whose hearts are firmly rooted in the turf of their homeland, will be able to return. A vital condition for this is housing.

In this focus on CARICOM, permit me to thank also the British government for the substantial sums that they have spent on infrastructure, housing and in general support of the island. They were a lifeline, and continue to be. In this vein, let me also thank the Caribbean Development Bank for its continuing assistance, also CDERA and other supportive regional agencies. In fact we owe an un-repayable debt to many a CARICOM country that opened their doors and their educational institutions to Montserratians fleeing the scourge of an unrepentant volcano and the attendant trauma of joblessness.

There is something very special about the handover of these houses and this is why we are so pleased in having representation from the region; this is why we are so grateful to you Honourable Prime Minister Panday for making the effort. It illustrates that size is not a factor in the esteem in which each country is held. Montserrat was in trouble and CARICOM came to the rescue; that means we are friends as well as partners. It also means that the regional organisation takes the business of unity seriously.

I am happy for this day and for CARICOM because there were external voices that were skeptical, who tried to prophesy that CARICOM could not deliver. But you have dispelled such cynicism and by your solidarity you have emboldened us and added our voices on the wind as we say to the world: we are coming back. Thank you CARICOM.

Permit me though, to mention the Government of Barbados, where the concept of CARICOM Village was born. It is significant that Barbados also played a very vital role in the final delivery of the project. We recognise this with gratitude. But this village is in fact a monument to the vision of CARICOM and its ideal of integration. The Defense Forces of Jamaica and Guyana deserve mention for the services they performed, especially at the initial stage. But in fact all of the CARICOM countries, including Cuba, have played a significant role.

As we express our gratitude on behalf of my government and people we can do no less than pledge our support for the integration effort. Perhaps this episode dramatises the point.

Just three days ago, as part of our annual festival celebrations, a significant event was staged. This was the Miss Unity Pageant, which took the place of our all-Montserrat beauty competition. This one focussed on talent and deportment, but more importantly it featured ladies who hailed from several of our countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Montserrat. In my view this is a powerful symbol of our respect for CARICOM peoples and our appreciation for CARICOM participation in our reviving fortunes. Ours will be an arresting saga of wreckage, resilience and resurrection. We in Montserrat are pleased that CARICOM has been a prominent player.

Once again on behalf of the Government and People of Montserrat, my profound thanks.

This Christmas for the last time in the twentieth century we celebrate the birth of an extraordinary man who was to bring a message of Peace, Hope, and Love that would change the life of millions of people.

Two thousand years ago He came into a world that was filled with hate and confusion. Selfish political rivalry in Judea would cause the murder of thousands and put the love of power above the needs of the people though many were poor, hopeless and homeless. Lack of a spiritual direction would cause well-intentioned people to travel down dead end roads looking for simple answers.

Mankind needed a Healer and a Leader. The well-known carol tells us the message of that first Christmas. Peace on Earth Goodwill to men, God and sinners reconciled.

All Montserratians from every class and from every place must at this time take this message to our hearts. We have all suffered much but we have much for which we can rejoice and be glad.

Those of us who are leaders and would be leaders must understand that if we love ourselves then we must love our country and our country can only progress in an atmosphere of Peace, Goodwill and reconciliation. This is a time when we must learn humility and abandon prideful arrogance because the greatest Leader that the world as ever known was born in a manger and washed the feet of ordinary people. This is the Spirit of Christmas.

And we ordinary people who have every last one of us lived extraordinary lives and survived extraordinary perils must understand that as we look to a new millennium this is the most important Christmas of our lives. As we exchange gifts and good wishes as we eat, drink and celebrate, we must embrace the Christmas message of Peace, Goodwill and reconciliation.

And then we will not be intimidated by the challenges of the new century because we are strong in Unity, Purpose and Love.

May God bless us all this Christmas. Best Christmas Wishes from your government. Best wishes also from my wife and family. May this prove a great Christmas for a deserving people.

A Happy and Safe Christmas to all.

It is the season once again when the Christian world focuses on the birth of the Saviour of mankind. The angels proclaimed the good news with Joy - Peace on Earth and Goodwill to men. And, at this particular time, the last Christmas in the century, those of us who have decided to continue to live in Montserrat MUST begin to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas throughout the entire year, for the message transcends all seasonal boundaries.

During this year we have been tried and tested in many ways.

• The activity at the volcano continued and when we thought that it was approaching repose, we now learn that a new dome is growing.

• The Hurricane Season, did not rage its wrath on us as it did others, but made us aware that good tidings were sent our way by the Saviour of Mankind.

• Over the past year too, tragedy arrested many of our young people, and a significant number, especially boys, are becoming entangled with the law. We hear of situations in which students are no longer willing to hold fast to those characteristics which are decent and uplifting. These situations speak deafeningly of the need for greater cohesiveness in and among families and that parents must take control of their children. The Christmas Message demonstrates quite clearly, that within the family unit and through divine intervention, difficult and painful situations can be worked out. We must recognize that the family is the basic unit of our society; it is the foundation on which society is based and if the traditional values and social mores (pronounced as more-rayz) which our parents cherished are allowed to be eroded, our country will become riddled with social problems.

I wish also to emphasize that there was good fortune among our youth. We hear of students who continue to let their lights shine. We know those who have attained academic excellence at schools and institutions of higher learning. We see our young men and women exert effort and energy and the will to win in athletic and sporting endeavours. We read of our children’s successes and despite the harsh "colours" that could potentially destroy the true fabric of what is Montserratian, there is still hope. We must have confidence in our Youth.

At this time, I would like to call on every single Montserratian – indigenous or adopted, to participate and work collaboratively for the sustainable development of this land which we love so dearly. Let that which is decent and uplifting flow in our country. Let us waive the banner of impeccable standards high; let it flutter in the Christmas breeze. Our main task is to build a People who would recognize the presence of the Superior Being as the sustaining force of our existence.

The Government of Montserrat recognizes that nation-building initiatives require the establishment and improvement of suitable infrastructure within the country. To this end, the hospital has been refurbished and now affords improved services. The staff is being upgraded on a continuous basis and this action will ensure the provision of better health care services to all users. The potential for growth and sustainable development rests with a healthy population.

The Christmas message tells of the inadequate accommodation in which the birth of Jesus took place. But alas, it was special, because the events which followed the birth brought about life transforming acts. I use this to introduce the fact that our secondary school is still operating out of temporary accommodation at Look Out. Although the hard and dedicated service of our administrators, teachers and ancillary staff has resulted in pockets of excellence which beam brightly in our country and further afield, we expect the school to be relocated to permanent accommodation at the Salem Campus as we continue our pursuit of excellence.

In any community, it is recognized that there would always be some people, who, in order to live at a decent level require the support of the Government. In order to target the needy more appropriately, a new social welfare system would be implemented in the New Year. This system will target the needy in our community and provide assistance as appropriate. In addition, the Department will seek to strengthen the concept of community through a variety of initiatives.

During the year many immigrant workers joined our labour force and assisted with the implementation of a number of crucial projects on the island. Many work in the service sector too and I would like to thank all of our Caribbean brothers and sisters and those from further afield for coming and assisting with the rebuilding process.

I would like, therefore, to take this opportunity through this medium to wish my staff (ALL STAFF), and indeed all persons who live in Montserrat, those Montserratians who have returned for the season and those who are still living in neighbouring islands a blessed, joyous and peaceful Christmas and a bright and prosperous New Year. May God richly bless, all of you.

Let me first say thanks to this high powered delegation of CARICOM for taking time out at this time when all the world is very cautious about travel and where they should be at the turn of the century.

As we stand on the eve of a new beginning we cannot help reflecting on the activities of the past. The contributions of our CARICOM partners over the years and especially during our volcanic crisis have been noteworthy.

It was February 12, 1997 when I represented Montserrat at a meeting in Barbados. I presented my dream to a gathering of Donor Agencies. CDB, UNICEF, UNDP, DFID among others and CARICOM and OECS officials.

I dreamt of a CARICOM village comprising of seventy-five units somewhere in the north of Montserrat as, only the residents of LONG GROUND VILLAGE were likely to be permanently relocated at that time.

The call generated much excitement and enthusiasm. We were aware of each other’s financial constraints, but despite of these all CARICOM members pledged their support to make this village a reality. The appropriate administrative arrangements were made and suppliers in Cuba were contacted immediately to provide the houses.

I wish at this time to make special mention of the Prime Minister of Jamaica Mr. PJ Patteson. He was the chairman of CARICOM at the time and was so enthusiastic about the project that he came to Montserrat to turn the soil for the start of construction of the village.

I am not the person who will move the official vote of thanks, but I must mention also that during the construction period, the project suffered a number of setbacks and financial difficulties. In typical Caribbean style we saw the "ALL AWE A ONE" spirit come to the rescue of the project. This came through the kind gesture of the Government and people of Barbados and Prime Minister Owen Arthur did what was necessary to ensure that the project was completed thereby providing adequate housing for some of the people of this disaster struck nation. We are indeed grateful.

Today, this ceremony marks the closure of PHASE ONE of the CARICOM Village. Fifteen UNITS will be handed over today but housing is still a very crucial aspect of our redevelopment. Most shelters on the island are now closed, but many of our people who migrated to other Caribbean territories would like to return home. For this to happen further expansion of the housing stock is essential. The Government and people of Montserrat are therefore eternally grateful for this kind gesture by our Caribbean partners. When we work together, we can make a significant difference in the Caribbean Community.

By Bennette Roach

Mr. George Foulkes MP, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State, (DFID) Department for International Development, which is headed by the lady Secretary of State Clare Short, wrapped up a two-day visit, his second visit to Montserrat on Wednesday evening

Mr.Brandt said: "The Government of Montserrat (GOM) does not accept that the £75 million is adequate to meet the reasonable needs of Montserrat over the next three years."

The CPP was, however, signed publicly, and it is believed that the last clause in the Agreement and under the heading "Commitment of the United Kingdom Government," was inserted as a compromise to the situation.

George Foulkes before Parliament: "We have made great progress restoring normality to the 4,000 people remaining in the habitable north and are working to encourage the Government of Montserrat to accept their responsibility to promote development rather than demanding continuous and increasing subsidy from our aid budget."

The Government of Montserrat (GOM) has come out and publicly supported the jury in its findings from the inquest into the deaths of 19 people from pyroclastic flows emanating from the Soufriere Hills furious volcano.

In the case of the farmers and farm workers, the jury said, that contributory cause "was the failure of the authorities, both local and British, to provide alternative lands in the safe area for farmers displaced from the Exclusion Zone."

Only after two thirds of the persons had been helped and/or encouraged by them to leave Montserrat did HMG send in Brown & Root to construct some 250 houses in phases, primarily, it was believed, to relieve the shelter situation.

"If Brown & Root want to stay and work here they will have to work with the people of Montserrat." Mr. Brandt’s remarks came against the background of his having had to intervene in several disputes, the most serious of which is presently ongoing.

As of Monday this week, the main contractors working on the projects of building houses stayed away from work, having had exchanges of correspondence with Brown & Root on issues which mainly affect the payment of invoices for work already completed.

Early last week the story broke that the Government of Montserrat instigated an audit into the excessive cost of the new Government Headquarters temporary buildings at Brades.

The initial estimated cost of construction of the buildings was EC$3 million, but according to the Chief Minister Brandt, the cost exceeded EC$8million.

The British Government agreed to the investigation request, and DFID was to appoint a person, which they did, while GOM was to do likewise.

As it turned out, the DFID appointee did his investigation alone, while the disagreement ensued, but it is understood that Mr. Ryan is expected to do what he was originally appointed to do.

Today will end the fourth week that contractors working for Brown & Root have stayed away from the job of constructing houses under the British-funded housing scheme.

In a radio broadcast, the contractors through one of their spokesmen, stopped short, with some difficulty, of saying that Brown & Root was dishonest.

Meanwhile, I asked manager of Brown & Root Mike Dodds for a comment on the dishonesty matter. He obliged as follows: "It’s been suggested that we were dishonest, but nothing has been further from the truth."

For some time now people have asked when some action would be taken to look into parliamentary constituencies of Montserrat and preparations made for its next general election.

A Government House release has unveiled plans to look into perhaps new ways to deal with the reduced Montserrat and its people’s decision to make a new life of the island.

The release refers to the fact that many Montserratians have left the island, causing the population to be drastically reduced.

It says: "Four of the seven parliamentary constituencies and part of a fifth are in the Exclusion Zone and presently unoccupied. In these circumstances existing electoral arrangements are unworkable. His Excellency the Governor has therefore decided to appoint an Elections Commission."

At a press conference on Tuesday, the Honourable Minister of Education Adelina Tuitt outlined several goals that her ministry wishes to achieve.

One of the issues of most importance was the need of the Ministry to re-occupy the Salem Secondary School. When asked about the subject of overcrowding in the schools, Ms. Tuitt said:

"Our plan within the Ministry speaks for itself, that we need to return to the Salem Campus once we have exceeded the 250 (students) that we targeted for in the Lookout school. We have exceeded that number. If we do not return to the Salem Campus in September we will certainly have an overcrowding problem.

This past Monday saw the end to the trial of those accused in the Barclays’ Bank robbery. The charges brought against the individuals involved were as follows; Eric Williams, Austin Howe, Clement Cassell, Raphael Herbert, Roland Irish, and Cyril Daley were all charged with conspiracy to burgle, burglary, and the handling of stolen goods.

Eric Williams was found guilty of conspiracy to burgle, and sentenced to 15 months. Austin Howe and Clement Cassell were found guilty of burglary and was entenced to two years in prison. Raphael Herbert also found guilty of burglary was sentenced to one year.

According to Mr. Meade, "With the exception of one of the accused who had a minor offence for failing to pay a dog license, they were all first offenders.

A shortage of funds is holding up the completion of the CARICOM Village at Lookout.

The three-bedroom units are being financed by the Caribbean Community – CARICOM -- but the project has run short of funds.

Work on the units came to an end just before Christmas last year, when soldiers from several member states, including Jamaica and Guyana, left the island.

CARICOM Secretary General Edwin Carrington says everything is being done to complete the project, which will go a long way towards providing suitable accommodation for those who have chosen to stay on the island.

Mr. Carrington says all pledges of assistance to construct the houses have not been fulfilled.

As travelers into and out of Montserrat settle in to coping with the comforts, discomforts, disappointments and shabby facilities of traveling the ferry, there are those who still struggle with the difficulties involved in seeking the convenience of the short helicopter trip across to Antigua.

Governor Abbott said: "We cannot operate a commercial helicopter service because our facilities haven’t been certified as safe and secure. That means that any helicopter service has to be of a private arrangement. . . It is operational primarily as a standby search and rescue and medical emergencies.

Basil Chambers has returned to Montserrat after several years.

Chambers, has taken up the position of Senior Announcer at ZJB Radio…

The Many Happy Returns II Concert came and it is gone with a desire for it to continue and a hope that it can become an annual event. There had been much planning and now there must be some very tired people, who worked hard to entertain a crowd which was said to be over 2,500 people.

The scene was adjacent to the pond at Geralds Park, the same location where the first concert took place. From a local point of view, there must be some satisfied persons, since overall the show has been termed a great success, meeting the satisfaction of the honourable Chief Minister, who himself said he viewed it as a success. Doug Darby, Peter Filleul and Chris Runciman, the main organisers, seemed pleased as they continued what they started.

The right honourable Robin Cooke, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, last week presented to the British Parliament a White Paper called "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity."

This has been long awaited, since the matter appeared just over a year ago. (The entire document is available on the internet at www.fco.gov.uk.)

The Paper affects 13 British Dependent Territories scattered across the world, many of them tiny, remote islands, and reportedly with a total population of about 150,000 residents.

Here in Montserrat the Chief Minister has spoken briefly to the White Paper and in particular the homosexual issue. He says, "We believe that homosexuality is against the laws of God and that the people of Montserrat will not agree for that to be abolished. We believe that morality should be a question for the particular society and that it should not be imposed by any foreign power."

In a press conference just over a week ago, in response to a question, Chief Minister David Brandt said that he had been unaware of the reintroduction of Exit Certificates in relation to Income Tax. Prior to the volcanic crisis this was a requirement for anyone leaving the island.

In new developments following the conviction of four accused in the Barclays Bank robbery case few weeks ago, Governor Abbott commuted one of the convict's sentence while police arrested two of their own and charged them with burglary in the same case.

It is expected that the Governor should be willing to say, since he did not consult with government, what the urgency of the matter was, particularly that he used the advice of the Attorney General, another Britisher, who was away on holiday and who prosecuted the prisoner in the first instance.

Dr. Howard Fergus and his three-man electoral commission sojourned to England in their quest to "to formulate proposals for appropriate electoral reforms in time for the next general election on island," for Montserrat.

That was the honourable Chief Minister, in his capacity as Minister of Finance and Development, as he presented the island's 1999 budget to the legislature on Thursday evening.

Scientists, in what they have hinted may well be their last appearance in full public discussion in Montserrat on the Soufriere Hills volcanic recent eruption, are hoping "for even more specialist monitoring" equipment for the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO).

Listeners to the 1999 budget presentation and the debate which ensued on Monday would probably sympathise with Chief Minister David Brandt and former Chief Minister Reuben Meade as they played politically on each other.

Civil servants are to receive a 5-percent increase in salary this year.

The increase was announced by the Honourable Chief Minister David Brandt during the presentation of his 1999 budget in the Legislative Council on Thursday March 25^th.

"…The reduction in risk to individuals from volcanic events in these areas does, however, allow the Government of Montserrat to consider greater public access to them. The Government has therefore decided to implement the following changes to the policy governing access to the exclusion zone with effect from Wednesday 7 April:

"Access to Isles Bay will be unrestricted.

On Wednesday night this week, press information officer James White from the Chief Minister's office, hosted a discussion/call-in program with a four-man panel on the issue of the 'decriminalisation of homosexuality in Montserrat.

April 17 - First-hand View Awes Visiting Mayor or Brent by Bennette Roach

Her Worship the Mayor of Brent Council, Councilor Bertha Joseph, paid a three-day visit to Montserrat, during which time she endeared herself in the hearts of Montserratians and other residents of the island..

The Song For Montserrat Project was launched recently in Trinidad and Tobago.

Representing Montserrat at the media event, which took place at the Holiday Inn on March 29, was Miss Anne Marie Dewar

Mr. Alexander Borg was one of a five-man team visiting Montserrat for the better part of this week in connection with the Year 2000 Millennium bug (Y2K) problem.

April 30 Mortgage Payers Urged to Talk With Their Bank by B. Roach

Chief Minister David S. Brandt this week announced that banks — Royal Bank of Canada and Barclays Bank — are willing to view individually each request for mortgage forgiveness rather than on a collective basis.

The complaints emanating from England about the lack of information reaching Montserratians there continue.

May 14 - Stormy Debate Fuels Controversy Over Reliance on Bramble By Bennette Roach

Government's decision to accept British plans to renovate and refurbish W.H. Bramble airport have triggered criticism and disagreements from certain quarters of the community.

Plans to prosecute two senior police officers have backfired on the crown when "nolle prosequis" were entered in respect of the charges against them this week.

No South of Belham Re-Occupation, DFID is Boss, After Baxter By Bennette Roach

Last week Environmental Minister the Honourable Austin Bramble announced on radio that Foxes Bay would be open to those who wish to use the sand off the beach there.

On March 12 this year the Reporter front-paged a story on the audit of the Temporary Government Headquarters buildings at Brades.

We quoted from the lone auditor's report: "The GHQ sub-project does not represent good value for money . . . payments were validly made, but the original GHQ estimate from Brown & Root omitted the (eventually significant) cost for erecting the buildings; reports to DFID by Brown & Root could have been clearer and better quantified."

The refusal by the majority of members of the Royal Montserrat Defence Force (RMDF) to attend a dress rehearsal in honour of the Queen’s Birthday Parade on June 10 will result in a withdrawal of special treatment for them to get houses, according to government authorities.

Concerns are being raised on Montserrat and overseas about the approval of sand mining at Foxes Bay.

International ferry and helicopter fares are to be increased by the beginning of next year when the new heliport is completed and certified by the British and Eastern Caribbean aviation authorities, a top aid official said Monday.

Chief Minister David Brandt appealed to newly appointed Dependent Territories Minister Baroness Scotland for more aid after her first-hand view of volcanic devastation.

The Agricultural Fair and Exhibition committee held its first meeting on Wednesday September 15, 1999.

About 13 months ago, Montserrat experienced its worst from a hurricane, that of Georges, since Hugo destroyed most of the island in 1989.

This year all the hurricanes before Jose kept their distance well east of us, leaving us occasionally with a lot of rain. Just as last year the weather channel said that the "wobbled" just before reaching within striking distance of Montserrat and reportedly became disorganised, the same could be said of Jose this year.

The Government did not do well in its discussion of the land registration issue at the recent meeting in St John's. Forthright leadership was lacking. It was as if we missed another opportunity to do something correctly.

*******

Now is the time to tell the people of Montserrat that Government will have to acquire lands in the north. And the Government should use every opportunity to tell the people that sooner rather than later, this unfortunate but necessary policy will have to be adopted.

*******

And I am not really interested in a dependent territories passport. Will somebody please let me know how to get the British thing?

Putting all jokes aside, survival in Montserrat is really a serious matter.

… But who can live contentedly on an island where they cannot afford the price of house plots; or where they cannot afford the high cost of a house; or where they cannot afford the high cost of locally produced food, or when politicians are afraid to lead?

*******

Tourism is much more than building motels and guest houses, or having taxis and buses taking people to attractive sights. Tourists are highly litigious people. They also have discriminating taste, with a passion for safety.

********

And while it might be a surprise to some, it is a fact that the combined volcano claims payments of the insurance companies that operated up to August 1997, exceed 100 million dollars.

Disasters are not new to Montserrat. In fact, the truth, from my prospective, is that some people including leaders are looking towards disasters as a means to financial fulfillment. Yet, there is an absolute lack of understanding with respect to the mechanisms that create financial spin off after disasters. As a result the big picture, and the mechanism that is in place to offset the physical effect of a disaster are often overlooked and not properly appreciated.

********

The Onion, a Madison, Wis., satirical newspaper, suggested, among other things, in its Dec. 15 issue: "Develop the ability to convert sunlight into energy using the chlorophyll in your body." The paper, viewable at www.onion.com, also advises: "If disaster strikes, it's God's wrath -- quote the Old Testament. But if nothing happens, God is merciful -- quote the New Testament."

54 Weeks in 2000: Another Y2K Problem!

by
Stan Sieler (sieler@allegro.com)
Michael Hensley (michaelh@allegro.com)
Barry Lake (barry@allegro.com)
Allegro Consultants, Inc. (http://www.allegro.com)

Many software applications define a week-of-year, which is used for a variety of purposes. Usually, such weeks are defined as starting on Sunday and ending on Saturday. (These week-of-years are sometimes called "fiscal week" or "calendar week.")
A normal year has 53 weeks, where 51 or 52 are "complete" weeks, and 2 or 1 are "incomplete" (because they start or finish in the prior or following year).
For example, 1999 has 53 weeks. The first week has two days in 1999 (Friday, January 1 and Saturday, January 2). The last week has six days in 1999 (Sunday, December 26 through Friday, December 31).
If there were only 364 days in a year, and if the year started on a Sunday, then it would have exactly 52 weeks. However, we aren't that lucky, and no year ever has fewer than 53 weeks.
The year 2000, as fate would have it, has 54 weeks! The first week has one day in 2000 (Saturday, January 1), and the 54^th week has one day (Sunday, December 31).
It turns out that a 54-week year happens once every 28 years, so the last time was 1972 ... well before the birth of many software packages now in common use.
This wouldn't be a problem if programmers had been aware of it, but we've seen a number of programs that assume that the number of weeks in a year is always 53. This can cause two kinds of problems:
invalid restrictions on data entry;

We have seen code that checks user-entered week numbers, incorrectly restricting them to the range 1..53. These programs would prevent the user from entering a week number of 54.

2. run time aborts

If the code is written in range-checking language (e.g., Pascal), or if it uses the week number as an index into an array of 53 elements, the program could abort, or (even worse) possibly pickup incorrect information and continue running.
This isn't just a theoretical problem, of course ... we encountered it in code we started to maintain for one of our customers.

The team that found and characterized this problem was Barry Lake and Michael Hensley.

THE YEAR AD 2000

The year AD 2000 will be a notable one. Many people are asking the questions, `Will 2000 be a leap-year?' and `Will it be the start of the new millennium?'

Leap-Years.

Leap-years were introduced into the calendar by Julius Caesar. They are necessary as the length of the year is not an integral number of days. The Julian calendar uses the fact that the length of the year is close to 365 and a quarter days. So a basic year with 365 days with an additional extra day every fourth year will give a good approximation.

This calendar was used until the 16th century when the small discrepancy between the approximate length of the year, 365.25 days, and the true length, 365.24219 days, added up to several days. Pope Gregory realised that this meant that the date of Easter would eventually not fall in the spring but would become closer and closer to Dec 25, Christmas.

In 1582 the Gregorian calendar was instituted. It changed the rule for determining whether a year should be a leap-year by stating that century years should only be leap years if they were divisible by 400. The effect of this is to make the adopted average year-length 365.2425 days, an approximation that will only amount to one day's error after 4000 years.

Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752 when September 2nd was followed by September 14th. We still use the Gregorian calendar and so the year 2000, which is divisible by 400, will be a leap-year.

Millennia.

A millennium is a period of 1000 years. The question of which year is the first year of the millennium hinges on the date of the first year AD.

Unfortunately the sequence of years going from BC to AD does not include a Year 0. The sequence of years runs 3 BC, 2 BC, 1 BC, AD 1, AD 2, AD 3 etc. This means that the first year of the first millennium was 1 AD. The one thousandth year was AD 1000 and the first year of the second millennium was AD 1001.

It is thus clear that the start of the new millennium will be 1 Jan 2001.

Celebrations.

The year AD 2000 will certainly be celebrated, as is natural for a year with such a round number but, accurately speaking, we will be celebrating the 2000th year or the last year of the millennium, not the start of the new millennium. Whether this will be an excuse for more celebrations in the following year will have to be seen!

Produced by the Information Services Department of the Royal Greenwich Observatory.

Visit http://www.rog.nmm.ac.uk/ for more information

`The New Millennium'

Answers to all your Questions about the Start of the New Millennium and the First Sunrise of the Year 2000.

1. Summary
This leaflet covers the most frequently asked questions regarding the start of the new (Christian, Gregorian) millennium and where to see the first sunrise of the year 2000. In summary; the year 2000 will be a leap-year, the New Millennium and the New Century start at zero hours UTC (commonly known as GMT) on January 1st 2001 and on this basis, the first sunrise of the new millennium will be at places around the world where the sun is rising at that moment.

2. Why the Year 2000 is a Leap-Year
Leap-years were introduced into the calendar by Julius Caesar to ensure that the months of the year stay in step with the seasons. This is necessary because the Earth makes one rotation of the Sun in 365.24219, which is clearly not a whole number of days. Adding one extra day every 4 years would exactly correct for a year of length 365.25 days but will over correct for a year of length 365.24219. To make a more exact correction the Gregorian calendar, introduced in 1582, stated that a century year will only be a leap-year if it is divisible without remainder by 400, which is the case for the year 2000. This approximation corresponds to an average year length of 365.2425 days and will amount to a discrepancy of only 1 day after 4000 years. The Gregorian calendar was adopted in Britain in the year 1752 when September 2nd was followed by September 14th.

3. When do the 3rd Millennium and the 21st Century start?
A millennium is an interval of 1000 years and a century is an interval of 100 years. In the Gregorian Calendar, which we use, there is no year zero and the sequence of years near the start runs as follows;

3BC, 2BC, 1BC, 1AD, 2AD,

Because there is no year zero, the first year of the calendar ends at the end of the year named 1AD. By a similar argument 100 years will only have elapsed at the end of the year 100AD. Since 2000AD is the 2,000th year of the Christian calendar, it will be the last year of the Second Millennium. So the 3rd Millennium and the 21st Century will begin at the same moment, namely zero hours UTC (commonly known as GMT) on January 1st 2001.

We have received a great deal of e-mail regarding the start of the 21st Century. It is interesting to note that this is not the first time that this controversy has arisen. The Times must have received many letters towards the end of 1799, since its editors felt moved to make the following comments about the beginning of the 19th Century:

The Times, 26 December 1799

"The best way to be prepared is to have a prepared neighbor," said Janet Luhrs of Seattle, author of "The Simple Living Guide" and co-author of the "Y2K Preparedness Guide: 110 Ways to Create A Sustainable Life - Crisis or Not." "The theory is, if you pull together as a community, you're better prepared for anything than you are if you just take care of your own needs."

January

As we approached the dome, he pointed at the volcano where the main venting and explosions have been occurring over the past few days, having explained earlier:

"The last time it did it was last year sometime, and the ratio of sulfur dioxide to the other gasses was sort of suggesting that you were kind of getting into the scenario that you have at other volcanoes, when there is not much happening. For the last two or three days we haven’t had any sulfur dioxide measurement; we actually did measurements but we weren’t getting any gas."

March 26, 1999

It is now a year since magmatic activity stopped and so some of the areas in the current Exclusion Zone are no longer considered under threat, provided that a magmatic eruption does not restart. Thus careful consideration could be given to cautious reoccupation of certain areas south of the Belham Valley subject to levels of risk that will be identified in the main report. Many of these areas have substantial amounts of fine volcanic ash, which will require prior clean up and further minor ash falls are likely.

The volcano will need to be monitored carefully to help minimise exposure to the current residual hazards and to ensure identification of any signs of resumption of magmatic eruption.

The Soufriere Hills volcano, which continues to wind down since killing at least 19 persons two years ago, is slowly expanding due to sulphuric gas pressure but there were no signs of new magma, according to Chief Scientist Dr Simon Young .

The MVO has maintained that the island is safe for visitors and tourists to come once they abide by the rules governing the Exclusion Zone.

Heavy rain dumped on the island by Hurricane Jose during Wednesday and Thursday has begun triggering heightened activity at the Soufriere Hills volcano, a volcano watcher said Friday.

Speaking on state radio, Dr. Simon Young, Chief Scientist at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, reported that the rain softened a section of the unstable dome, causing it to collapse and sending a huge ash cloud into the air around 8:00 PM.

Letter - Excerpts from 1999

Dear Editor,

The Governor's office responded promptly to my requests for information on the findings and recommendations of the recent prison inquiry. Those requests were prompted by the uninformative nature of this limited release:

We can laugh at our government as they play their "Is I in charge "games.

We can listen to the Governor pontificate.

We can say, oh well, is Brown and Root’s fault .

Is the contractors’ fault.

Is the government’s fault.

We can ask Brown and Root to pay up and leave. We can ask the British government to ask Brown and Root to pay up and leave. We can ask our Government to get "jiggy with it" and work out this thing with Brown and Root or ask Brown and Root to pay up and leave.

Or we can do the next best thing.

It is time for action.

It is time for Brown People to Root out corruption and indifference.

It is time for Brown Peoples everywhere to take their country back.

It is time.

It is time to stand our Government up on its collective ear and let them know, enough is enough.

"I will agree that what we experienced was not like what Kosovo is now going through, but I consider the fact that she never saw fit to visit Montserrat, as a snub to us."

But reprehensible as this is, it is as nothing compared to the long-term negative impact of having white people rush in to show us how we can be saved after every crisis.

This government must rise to its responsibilities. As Winston Churchill once said "Generals win battles, statesmen win wars."

The suspended officers should be immediately re-instated and paid huge monetary compensation. The air doesn’t smell good and something should be done about these three white men.

Should someone suggest the need for additional sums for Montserrat, they are reminded that it will be impossible to spend in the target three years the already allocated £75 million pounds. But let anyone suggest the use of promised funds to hasten the repopulation of Cork Hill, Delwyns, Weekes, Foxes Bay and Richmond Hill, and the response is that those £75 million are already heavily overcommitted.

Dear Editor,

Please allow me to make some observations on DFID's reported concerns over the Materials Grant Scheme (Montserrat Reporter, 15 October).

7. Lastly, if the soft mortgage scheme had come on stream sooner, some of the very people that DFID is apparently objecting to might have been able to get a mortgage instead of using the Materials Grant scheme. As things were, they used what was available to good effect.

Yours sincerely

By Dr. Roy F. Lee

The British Company, Brown & Root Ltd., has been having problems with local contractors from the very beginning of its operations here in Montserrat. A large engineering and construction company, Brown & Root has worldwide operations. Before coming to Montserrat, its business dealings in the Caribbean were not without blemish. It had a very stormy relationship in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The official version of its role here is that it is under contract to the British Government's Department for International Development (DFID) and the Government of Montserrat. In actual fact, though, its company's managers treat the Government Ministers as if they are little boys, allowing them little, if any, control over the company's conduct of its affairs.

By Cheddy Browne

Mr.Cook in his White Paper states, "It is a striking measure of the degree to which the Dependent Territories value that partnership that none of their Governments expressed any desire during the review for independence." One can understand why this needs to be said at the highest political level. His choice of words will be picked up and repeated in every press release that addresses this issue, now or in the future. True or false, having said them, those words now become Truth.

"One would have thought that given all these circumstances the BG would have been anxious to have BOML issue these mortgages so that they could help BOML and Montserrat. These are not houses we are building to give to people, these houses are going to be built by solid Montserratians who are capable of servicing these loans, people who have committed themselves to remain in Montserrat and to be a part of this community and contribute to the economy of Montserrat and in terms of employment.

We Montserratians have a lot to be thankful for but it does not mean we should turn a blind eye to shortcomings of those we say thank you to. No sir- not especially of those who think they are of superior mental capability.

Montserrat and the rest of the Caribbean could in the future benefit from low-cost medical treatment via satellite and audio-video technology, according to Dr. Lowell Lewis.
"The message for us here in the Caribbean is that we are separated by water but there is no reason why we can't provide every person in the Caribbean with high-quality care by using modern technology," he told the Montserrat Reporter.

And if recognised airlines such as LIAT are willing to fly in and out of Bramble Airport, because they consider it safe to do so, I will gladly use their services. But in the meantime I would like to have access to an airstrip that will accommodate airplanes to take passengers in and out of Montserrat safely.

These were the sentiments of a very intelligent Montserratian on the airport issue. He expressed them in my presence sometime in December 1998. I myself share those sentiments on the matter of an airport for

xxxxxxxxx

The British Government is embarking on an £8-million project to reopen W.H. Bramble Airport in another two years, according to a senior British aid official.

"Once the river channel has been established and the bunds erected, the mud should flow freely to the sea," Mr. Houston told the Montserrat Reporter.

Rehabilitation of W.H. Bramble Airport is being substituted for the construction of a new airport at one of two locations in the designated safe-north of the island because, according to Mr. Houston," spending what DFID estimated at £80 million was expected to show a "negative rate of return well into the first quarter of the next century.

VOLCANO LIMERICKS

1999 RECAP

Rhys Burriss spent part of his year

Inquesting volcano deaths here.

Casting blame, with the jury,

Earned him HMG’s fury;

Pray don’t hope that he’ll reappear.

Our transparent housing assignment

Now requires a slight realignment.

Homes will not be allotted

To shelters as plotted,

So Salem, forget your consignment.

HMG’s fondest hopes are complete,

Was coincidence ever so neat?

That a magazine splash

Should re-demonize ash

Just as the scientists meet!

The reach of those flows pyroclastic

At Bramble should not be thought drastic.

But don’t plan to gamble

On life far from Bramble,

The risks there are simply fantastic.

Few are surprised by renewal

Of David and Reuben’s long duel;

We would all be relieved

And much might be achieved,

If both of them ran out of fuel.

Windies Shift

Like the Romans’ affection for Nero,

Brian Lara’s repute was near zero.

But fans warm to winnings,

So outstanding innings

Can make yesterday’s goat today’s hero.

Returnees with no place to stay

Are told the Brits still cannot pay.

So why spend on Cork Hill,

Which there’s no rush to fill,

And more reason to keep them away?

Ash "experts" are researching when

Our isle will be "risk free" again:

Martinique’s Pelee blew

Way back in 1902

And thousands have died there since then.

At last, when an answer was sought,

George Foulkes seemed a trifle distraught,

Because DFID, it seems,

Finds that soft mortgage schemes

JUS WONDERIN 

1999 Samples

Jus wonderin if the CM will stick to his promise and help needy people to get welfare.

Jus wonderin why Monlec is moving electrical transformers OUT of Cork Hill before the scientists complete their February reassessment of the volcano and the possibility that some areas south of Belham might be judged safe for reoccupation.

Jus wonderin if the judge really had ‘credible’ evidence of bribery why he didn’t disband the jury.

Jus wonderin if the Director of Agriculture is serious about the loose livestock problem.

Jus wonderin if the reason the Judge sent the statement on jury bribery to ZJB is because he was worried that there was insufficient evidence to convict the accuseds.

Jus wonderin why he did not hold hearings on the allegations of Jury bribery like he did in other matters involving the jury.

Jus wonderin what pressures if any will be brought down on the scientists to declare Bramble airport and its environs safe for public use.

Jus wonderin if it is true that Cork Hill and Foxes Bay will not be declared safe for re-occupation until Trants is also declared safe.

Jus wonderin if scientists will continue to hold their own.

Jus wonderin when the ‘gas’ crisis will end.

Jus wonderin if the Governor is a servant, boss or partner.

Jus wonderin why there is no permanent secretary or chief of staff in the Chief Minister’s office.

Jus wonderin if school teachers know where on the body feels coldest, when it gets chilly.

Jus wonderin if all a prisoner has to do is say he is sorry for his offences for the Governor to reduce his jail sentence to hours of community service.

Just wonderin why the 2000 Millennium Christmas Festival didn't get mention in the 1999-2000 Budget.

Jus wonderin how many Golden Elephant did Clare Short deliver when she went to Kosovo, and when if ever is she going to come to Montserrat?

Jus wonderin how happy Montserratians are with the news of possible ease from paying mortgages on houses they will never occupy again.

Jus wonderin if the Salem Campus will be cleared clean and be ready for September new school year

Jus wonderin if the civil servants realise that the government has promised that they will be the catalyst for the economic recovery of Montserrat.

Jus wonderin who will stop Brown and Root from building the houses in Lookout that only have one exit door.

Jus wonderin if the top civil servants have learnt anything from Mr. Teuten.

Jus wonderin if it will make sense for the phone company to digitize its charge-limit so that subscribers will not exceed it.

Jus wonderin who needs to draw to the attention of the Tourist Board and the Ministry of Communications and Works the menacing and disgraceful conditions of the Woodlands Beach road leading to the only beach with any kind of facilities on the island.

Many Thanks to all our Advertisers, Contributors and Friends, all of whom made it possible and less difficult to produce The Montserrat Reporter throughout this year, even with its failings and shortcomings.