The island’s derelict or abandoned vehicles will be removed from roads and adjacent verges shortly.
The Governor’s Office, the Police Force, and the Ministries of Health and Agriculture will embark on another drive to get rid of the vehicles.
Following this operation any other abandoned or derelict vehicles found will be dealt with under the terms of the law and cost will be recovered from the owner.
The Government of Montserrat has broken ground on yet another project. A groundbreaking ceremony was held to mark the official start of the new Montserrat Volcano Observatory in Flemmings.
The fully equipped purpose built facility is estimated to cost of over 1 million pounds.
His Excellency the Governor Anthony Longrigg, the Honourable Chief Minister John Osborne, the Director of the EOC, and other senior government o0fficials attended the ceremony.
Governor Longrigg said the building of the observatory is a sign of the British and Montserrat working together for the further development of Montserrat . Cue the governor duration 1 min 15 secs.
Meanwhile The Honourable Chief Minister John Osborne says the building of the observatory will help to make visitors feel safer when coming to the island.
The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude to the British Government for it’s commitment to funding the observatory and for continued monitoring of the volcano. Cue duration 1 min. The Honourable Chief Minister John Osborne .
Scientists have completed their latest assessment of the Soufriere Hills Volcano.
The review, the second for the year, is held every six months to assess and inform the authorities on the status of the volcano.
Among the key issues discussed were the Daytime Entry Zone, The Maritime Exclusion Zone, and the risk to areas north of the volcano such as the Salem and Friths.
One of the leading scientists involved in the review Professor Steve Sparks says a considerable time was spent discussing how the volcano works and introducing new approaches of monitoring.
Although the final report on the Hazard and Risk Assessment would not be available for another week Professor Steve Sparks says the risk is considerably lower than before the July 29th collapse.
"we had a lot of very ----- discussions ---- and the risk we know and we cant say we havent finished our work what happens is we check the hazzards and we evaluate and we cant actually say what the risks are....." Professor Steve Sparks of Bristol University.
The long awaited meeting between the Montserrat and Antigua governments will take place tomorrow.
Both sides will discuss the dumping of dredged material from the St. Johns Harbour just eleven miles away near Redonda and the impact on marine resources in the area.
The Antigua delegation will be led by minister for the environment Molwyn Joseph and will include Chief Environment Officer Dianne Blacklane.
Meanwhile Chief Minister David Brandt is supporting the government on its stance. The dumping of the material has caused alarm among the local fishing industry, and Mr. Brandt says the government is quite right to protect the interest of fishermen.
Mr. Brandt says if the talks don’t work the British Government, which has greater influence, should be brought into the picture.
" You know that Antigua is an independent state, and that Montserrat is a colony. And in matters concerning foreign affairs, that it is the british government that is in charge of that. Our constitution says that here it is the governor. I know that the british government has great influence on Antigua. Antigua was placed on a blacklist regarding the international finance and britain assisted in removing them from that list, and Antigua lobbied them to lobby the United States to have them removed. So i know the british gov has influence over Antigua and if the resolution is international conflict the question of influence is very important." David Brandt.
Listen to ZJB this evening for the programme the Environment and You. The topic this evening is the dumping of dredged material near Redonda.
Consumers are bracing themselves for increases in water tariffs.
The tariffs will increase by 18 per cent over the next three years, starting in January 2002.
In January the tariffs increase by eight pr cent, by another 5 per cent in 2003 and a further 5 per cent in 2004.
The increases are required to erase a 300 000-dollar per year deficit at the Montserrat Water Authority.
Funds from DFID for continued development of the island’s water storage and distribution network are said to be dependent on the MWA erasing the deficit and balancing its budget by 2005.
Four Montserratians are in the Leeward Islands training squad for regional Red Stripe Bowl.
Lesroy Irish, who now resides and plays in England, is the most pleasing inclusion. The tall strong fastbowler last played for the Leewards in 1998, and will bring a cutting edge to the attack.
Consistent opening batsman McPherson Meade is also included. Meade had a consistent season in both the one-day and three-day championships earlier this summer.
The other two Montserratian selectees, Devon Williams and Tyrone Greenaway are no surprise.
The rest of the Leewards Squad: Stuart Williams Capt, Carl Tucket, Runako Morton, Tonito Willette, Jason Williams, Esroy Powell, Omari Banks, Ronald Powel, Junie Mitchum, Sheldon Jeffers, Alex Adams, and Marlon Martin.
Remember Antigua will compete separately in the Red Stripe Bowl this year. The training camp begins on September 20 at the end of which a 14-man squad will be selected. The Red Stripe Bowl begins on October 2nd and the Leewards will compete in Zone A in Jamaica.