ZJB News October15-19, 2001
Minister of Communications and Works Lowel Lewis has called for the Crown land Acquisition Act to be amended.
Mister Lewis, who is deputy leader of the ruling New PLM government, called the law an injustice.
He says it dispossesses those who cannot afford to survey their unregistered land and old people who cannot get to areas without roads to identify their boundaries.
Mister Lewis also called for a new law that would in his words place statue of limitation on the acquisition of land.
This he outlined would ensure the settling of land disputes within a period of two years.
The minister revealed that the government has poured money into Look Out on land that it cannot sell until the court rules on the sale price.
Montserrat is currently rebuilding from the ongoing volcanic crisis.
And key to this rebuilding process is the proper use of land.
With this in mind the government has initiated a Geographical Information System project.
GIS manager Iftikhar Ahmed says the project is primarily aimed at sustainable planning and development.
According to him progress so far include developing thematic layers required as base maps.
This include road network, hydrological features, coastline and elevations.
Mister Ahmed states that GIS will include a land Information System, which will be capable of providing instantaneous information about any land parcel such as ownership, registration or lease details.
Mister Ahmed says GIS will also provide real times system and data sharing facilities between the Physical Planning Unit and the Land and Survey Department.
CARICOM Heads of Government have agreed to undertake a massive tourism promotional campaign to counter the downturn in tourism following the September 11th terrorist attacks.
The Heads, who met at an emergency summit in the Bahamas say they will spend 18 million dollars in the tourism promotional and marketing campaign, consisting primarily of television advertisements in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
Montserrat is among countries in the region who have suffered from the downturn in the industry and is in line to benefit from the promotional campaign.
“ Montserrat has not escaped the effects of the terrorist attacks. With the winter tourism season just weeks away the two hotels that are operational and a number of guest houses have remained mostly empty.
One can argue that is usually the case since the start of the volcanic crisis but the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon in Washington have not helped.
Montserrat is more vulnerable than most.
Without an airport the island’s only link to the outside world is Antigua via helicopter and ferry and a large majority of the tourist who visit Montserrat on day tours are cruise ship visitors the neighbouring island.
Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham, Chairman of CARICOM, said
$7.2 million of the $18 million tourism promotional and marketing campaign
budget will be spent between now and December 31.
CARICOM countries, he said, will contribute $4.5 million toward the
campaign, other CTO member-states will give $5.5 million, while the private
sector will pour in $8 million.
Full details of the programme will be announced shortly.
He said CARICOM countries will contribute to the campaign with a formula
previously agreed by CTO, which will result in a little more than 50 per
cent or $2.2 million of the $4.5 million being contributed by CARICOM to be
provided by The Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica.
With respect to aviation matters, Heads agreed to co-ordinate their efforts
to provide support for airlines in the region, both regional carriers and
other carriers.
Prime Minister Ingraham said any assistance will take account of the need
for equity and equal treatment, except to the extent that local carriers
will need additional support from their governments.
Heads also agreed to increase security at seaports and airports, and to
co-operate and consult with each other with respect of such matters.
They further agreed to redouble their efforts against money-laundering and
the financing of terrorism by not permitting their banking sector to be used
to support those illegal activities”.
Apart from the assistance from CARICOM Montserrat recently got some help from Ireland.
Director of Tourism Ernestine Cassell has welcomed a recent donation of 473, 000 dollars from the Irish Government.
The funds were a gift from the Minister for Overseas development Assistance Liz O'Donnell to provide technical assistance in the tourism sector.
Head of the tourist Board Ernestine Cassell says the funds will fund a development strategy.
The government took steps to protect insurance policy holders by passing the Insurance Act in parliament last Friday.
Under the new law every insurance company is required to establish funds equal to the company’s liability and contingency reserves which are also required to be placed in a trust.
The new law requires persons transacting insurance business to be registered, while a company carrying on long term insurance or general insurance is required to have minimum paid up capital.
When a company is registered it is required to keep proper accounts and submit to the supervisor of insurance audited financial statements.
The law allows for the appointment of a supervisor of insurance, who will be responsible for the general administration of the act.
The supervisor’s duties include acquiring the services of an actuary and submitting an annual report to the minister on the working of the act.
The Police and Fire Service is planning a week of community based activities.
The week will run from October 28th to the 3rd and is part of the Royal Montserrat Police Force community-policing programme.
Events for the week will include demonstrating to the public the work of the police and fire and rescue services, interacting with all sections of the community and creating an atmosphere of friendship through positive interaction, competition and sports.
Young people will also be given an opportunity to consider crime and safety issues in educational and leisure settings and will be encouraged to consider a career in the RMPF and the fire service.
During the programme the police plans to raise money for various charities.
The rainy season though late is turning out to be a blessing for farmers, who have suffered through a long dry spell.
According to figures provided by the Gerald's Heliport show that 172 millimetres of rain fell for the week of October 8th to the 15th.
The period of heaviest rainfall was October 14th, and 15th, during the passage of a tropical wave.
By comparison only a total of 54.9 millimetres of rain fell in the whole of September.
Montserrat is well on the way to becoming self sufficient in egg production.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing and the Environment 1 thousand 9 hundred and 62 dozen eggs were produced in August.
This was 70 per cent of local consumption.
This rate of success is the result of the work of poultry farmers and an Egg Marketing and Promotion project engineered by the Department of Agriculture.
Under the programme egg producers are being assisted to expand their chicken houses, procure chickens and access drugs and other veterinary supplies.
The Department of Agriculture also provides technical assistance to the poultry farmers.
The Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing and the Environment Margaret Dyer Howe is pleased with her government's efforts to help insurance policy holders.
The government minister feels assured that the new Insurance Law prevents insurance companies from cancelling premiums without adequately notifying their clients.
Mrs. Dyer Howe would like to see deposits increased from the current level of 100 thousand dollars, which she said is insufficient to settle even one claim in some cases.
The minister states that the supervisor of insurance should also ensure companies have adequate re-insurance to cover personal and general insurance claims they claim bankruptcy.
The capability of the St. John’s Hospital has been strengthened with the return of three nurses.
Constanshaw Weekes, Shaumen West and Noleen Meade resumed duties recently after successfully completing a three-year general nurse training programme in Dominica.
According to press release from the Hospital, the three performed exceptionally well in final examinations.
The release states that Nurse Weekes graduated at the top of the class while Nurse West was awarded the first prize for her work in Geriatric and Gerontology.
Principal Nursing Officer Valerie Lewis says the Health Ministry is pleased with the achievements and has extended congratulations to the nurses.
The St. Patrick's Co-operative Credit Union plans to increase insurance coverage to benefit its members.
Speaking in parliament Member Rosalind Cassell Sealy says the insurance firm CUNA is being asked to increase coverage for loans up to 300,000 dollars and fix deposits and savings up to 150,000.
CUNA is a worldwide insurance firm that has been associated with the St. Patrick's Co-operative Credit Union for over for forty years.
Among the services it offers is the paying off of loans if a member dies. It also doubles the savings of deceased members to beneficiaries.
Mrs. Cassell Sealy, who is also executive member of the Credit Union says CUNA is being ask to do more.
The Montserrat Secondary School has been preparing for its entry into the 2002 CAPE examinations.
CAPE is the Caribbean Advance Proficiency Exam, and replaces traditional A level courses once offered by Cambridge, London or Oxford.
6th form was re-introduced at the MSS in Sptember and in June 2002 students would be sitting CAPE exams for the first time.
And this week teachers conducting CAPE courses were involved with orientation workshop.
The workshop was conducted by Stevenson Grayson, Assistant Registrar at the Caribbean Examination Council.
The Co-oporative Credit Union Act, which regulates all credit unions in the OECS, could be passed into law by the end of the year.
That's according to Mr. Peter Adrian, deputy Director in the Office of the Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank.
Mr. Adrian has been on island discussing the act with government officials including the Chief Minister and the Attorney General.
The act is just one of five instruments the ECCB wants implemented.
The others are a policy stand on the role of the private sector, a harmonised, operations manual, harmonised inspection manual and a minimum operations manual for the credit union.
Mr. Adrian believes these changes are significant to the economic development of Montserrat.
The St. Patrick's Co-operative Credit Union celebrates Credit Union Day on Thursday.
The day is organised to emphasise the virtues of credit unions and the role they play in the empowerment of people.
Montserrat's Chief Medical Officer has moved to reassure residents that there are currently no confirmed cases of Anthrax on the island.
The re-assurance comes in the wake of the Anthrax scare in the United States and closer at home in Trinidad.
Here on Montserrat reports were circulating today that one individual may have been infected.
But CMO Doctor David Bagley has squashed these claims.
Doctor Bagley says health authorities are concerned because of the danger posed by Anthrax but the risk of someone getting infected in Montserrat is very small.
However he says because of the high index of suspicion, all doctors have been made aware of the threat.
Montserrat intends to play its part in international efforts to stem the flow of financing to the Taliban and other terrorist organisations.
That's according to the Office of the Chief Minister.
At the recent meeting Overseas Territories in London, Montserrat along with other countries took action to tackle terrorism and in particular to clamp down on terrorist financing.
According to a press statement released today Montserrat has already incorporated into its legislation all UNSCR sanctions and is vigorously enforcing them.
The government of Montserrat has already written to all the banks and financial institutions listed on Montserrat to remind them of the importance the government attaches to this legislation and its implementation.
The Office of the Chief Minister says Montserrat adheres fully to the FATF 40 recommendations against money laundering and had its compliance with them checked and approved.
It says further tightening of legislation to prevent terrorist financing can be expected in the near future.
The press statement went on to outline that Montserrat will aim to give full support to such legislation from the United Nations or other international bodies.
As necessary the government will put in place appropriate measures to support UK anti-terrorism legislation including any enhancements that may be made in the near future.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Simon Morson says he is satisfied so far with the response to the fire arms amnesty.
Although declining to give a figure Mr. Morson says the police are happy with the fact that some members of the public are responding
The amnesty began on September 6th and is continuing until the 6th of December.
During this period anyone in possession of an unlicensed fire arm, ammunition or flick knives is to hand them in to the police.
Deputy Commissioner Morson does not believe the amnesty period is too long, saying that 90 days notice is reasonable.
International Umpire Basil Morgan is satisfied with his recent involvement in the Red Stripe Bowl.
Morgan who has stood in the competition since its inception in 1998, says the 2001 contest was his most enjoyable.
The highlight for him was the advent of television replay for the fist time in regional domestic cricket.
Morgan believes that the technology makes it easy for the umpires to make decisions.
Other highlights for the Harris's native was the batting form of West Indies captain Carl Hooper and the emergence of young Guyanese opener Chattergoon.
Morgan is now looking forward to a busy 2002 season, which will include seven test matches between the West Indies, New Zealand and India.
UWI Resident Tutor Sir Howard Fergus is pleased with the result of last week's centenary celebration of W.H. Bramble.
A symposium was held last Monday to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Sir Howard says the large turn out was an indication of the respect that people have for the former Chief Minister.
He also indicated that a similar function may be held each year to highlight Mister Bramble’s contribution to Montserrat's development.
Montserrat stands to benefit from its recent participation in a human and social development conference.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Health and Community Services Idabelle Meade participated in the 5th meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development in Guyana.
The meeting addressed the issue of the reformation of the 1997 Human Resource Development Strategy and considered issues related to gender mainstreaming.
The participants also examined some of the critical challenges related to establishing appropriate policies for reducing the demand for illicit drugs in the Caribbean and the implications for human resource development.
The meeting was also updated on the Caribbean’s HIV/AIDS situation and the challenges posed to the region.
An investiture ceremony will be held at Government House next month.
According to a press release the ceremony is scheduled for 5:30pm on Thursday November 1st.
During the ceremony three persons will receive insignia’s.
They are Bertrand Osborne who was recently made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire…OBE and Frank Savage and Doctor Carol Tuitt who received the Montserrat Certificate and Badge of Honour.
PTA Presient – returned unoposed – Roy Greaves
Secretary – Patricia Farrell
Resurere – Keithstone Greaves
Floor membes – Herman Francis, Kenneth Lee, Judith Fergus.
Two new members – Jeanie Williams, Glendora Lindsay .
President says emphasis for the new schol year will be improvements to ground and the physical plant.
Foucus also onThe improvement in the reading, mathematics and sports facilities.
Working in close conjunction with Ministry of education.
Establishment of a proper school library
The Montserrat Volcano Observatory has a new Outreach Officer.
She is Karen Allen who took up duties on October 15th.
Miss Allen is in charge of the MVO’s information dissemination, outreach and public education programme.
She will also advise the MVO Director on media related issues and has additional administrative and management responsibilities.
A press release sates that the MVO continues to be the official source of information pertaining to volcanic activity on Montserrat.
The release says unless there is an escalation in volcanic activity, the MVO will continue to issue a weekly report to local, regional and international media.
The Caribbean Credit Union movement of which Montserrat is a member has a major role to play in helping the region recover from the fall out of the September 13th terrorist attacks.
That’s according to President J. J. Jolly.
He says the CCU with a membership of 1.2 million and assets valued at 1.3 billion US dollars, is well placed to initiate and influence change.
Mr. Jolly observes that the credit union has been challenged by the vulnerability of Caribbean states to external economic influences, referring particularly to the WTO ruling on banana exports and the September 11th attacks.
However he says the credit union through its wide membership network can play its part in influencing the necessary change.
Montserrat has met most of the guidelines by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for handling food.
This was confirmed by the recent visit here by a consultant employed by the western hemispheric body.
The consultant met with the minister of Health, officials in the environmental health department and management of the island’s two hotels.
The Environmental Health Department, which has responsibility for food safety has developed an training manual for food handlers, and according to the Minister of Health Idabelle Meade, this document has met 85 per cent of the guidelines proposed by PAHO.
She also announces that the thrust for the future is to train all persons engaged in the food handling industry, in food sanitation practices and techniques.
The Royal Montserrat Police have released the dates for their Police and Fire Community Week 2001 program.
This is the first time since 1994 and the onset of the volcanic activity that Police Week is been celebrated .
Included on the program are a Church Parade, a Senior Citizens Day, Sports Day, Variety Concert, various radio interviews with senior police officers and a grand Charity Ball.
The week will also see the Police and Fire Service taking part in a Fire Service Display several Keep Fit Programs a road safety driving competion and an open day at the Salem Police Station.
Superintendent Paul Morris says the staging of the 2001 week of activities is a positive sign that Montserrat is getting back to normal and also to strengthen the relationship between the Police and the community .
The Fire Department says it will be using the week of activities to educate the community about the roll of the Fire Department including the art of using preventative methods in fire fighting.
Senior Fire officer Andre West this he says is necessary because of the sometimes negative impression of the department except when they are called to put out fires.
Residents and visitors are getting a chance to see the literary works and achievements of Professor Howard Fergus all at once.
An exhibition highlighting the many works of Sir Howard has been mounted at the Public Library and the Montserrat National Trust.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Health and Community Services Idabelle Meade was among the gathering at the opening of this morning’s exhibition.
Misses Meade the exhibition represent countless hours of dedication and sacrifice and sustained effort by Sir Howard.
Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Chief Minister Sarita Francis heads the organizing Committee for the week of activities.
She says the exhibition represents the celebration of a people who share a similar history and come from humble beginnings.
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