The full report of the Risk Assessment Panel which met on 3-4 September 2002 is now available on-line. Click Here to View

Please note hard copies of the report are also available at the Governor's Office, Library, MVO and certain other public areas.

Plans for new Airport

The Government of Montserrat, DFID and the European Union recently welcomed a review of the completion of the design phase of the new airport at Gerald's as a major step towards the restoration of scheduled air services to Montserrat. DFID and EU representatives visited Montserrat during the week of 17 June, to finalise preparations with the Government of Montserrat for the new airport at Gerald's. This involved a comprehensive review of the project's technical, social, economic, financial, and environmental aspects. The project is now to be submitted to DFID and EU for formal funding approval as soon as possible. Work is expected to start on the new airport in late August / early September. The plan is to complete the new facility by the end of 2003, which should then be operational in early 2004.

The new Gerald's Airport will be a modern, efficient facility serving the needs of residents, tourists, and business visitors wishing to fly to and from Montserrat. The main features of the proposal are: a 600 metre platform with an asphalted strip running the entire length for safe operations of DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft; a taxiway and an aircraft parking apron; a new terminal, air traffic control equipment and runway lighting. Also in the project are a car park and an alternate access road to the Gerald's and Drummonds communities. The access road has been designed to allow for future expansion of the runway.

Tourism is essential for the sustainable development of Montserrat, and the new airport is fundamental to increasing the number of tourists visiting Montserrat. Tourism will also help promote the further development of local restaurants, hotels and commercial enterprises, providing enhanced employment. The new airport is also expected to bring substantial benefits in terms of encouraging external investment in Montserrat, improved access from through-ticketing, and will help attract Montserratians back to the island. A recent comparison of fares between the ferry, helicopter and planes indicates that the new airport will enable affordable air travel to and from Montserrat.

Development of the new airport has given consideration to the needs of residents of the Gerald's area where the airport will be located. An assessment of the feedback after consultations with the people of Gerald's showed that the majority supported the building of the airport. Resettlement options are being identified for those who unfortunately will need to be relocated from the site. Relocation will be handled in a phased manner and will be sensitive to the particular needs of Gerald's residents. Environmental and social impact assessments have been conducted according to international standards and in line with Montserrat's laws. The level of general disturbance during construction will be minimized through the implementation of GoM's social and environmental management plans.

The helicopter passenger service to Antigua will continue throughout construction of the new airport, operating from the present site. Emergency medical evacuation and volcano monitoring helicopter services will also continue as normal throughout construction.

A public exhibition of the plans for the new airport is being developed, to further inform the Montserrat public. The Government of Montserrat will provide staff at the exhibition to answer any queries that members of the public may have and will continue to ensure that the public is informed about progress with construction of the new facility.

GOVERNOR ON OVERSEAS LEAVE

His Excellency the Governor, Mr Anthony Longrigg CMG
accompanied by his wife Jane, left island on 23, July for a period of overseas leave.

During his absence, Professor Sir Howard Fergus will act as the Governor and was sworn in accordingly.

Mr Longrigg will return to office on Monday 2, September.

OPWA PRESENTED WITH CHEQUE

The Old People's Welfare Association (OPWA) were recently presented with a cheque for $1829 by H.E. the Governor, Mr Anthony Longrigg.

The cheque represented monies raised during a recent yard sale at the Emergency Department compound of surplus materials & furniture from Government House and the Governor's Office.

Receiving the cheque on behalf of OPWA was its President Mary Cooper, who expressed thanks on behalf of the organisation to His Excellency.

Mrs Cooper said that her organisation has been catering to the needs of the elderly in the community for the past 38 years. OPWA depends upon donations for their work and receive funding from various funding agencies, but in recent times, lamented Mrs Cooper, they have been cutting back. "This makes the Governor's donation oportune and very much appreciated" added Mrs Cooper.

She pledged that the money received would be used towards assisting the elderly in the community.

A NEW FACE AT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

Visitors to the Governor's Office in Olveston during the summer months will see a new face sitting behind the receptionist's desk.

Miss Teresena Farrell is covering for Mrs Blossie Osborne who is currently on maternity leave.

Miss Farrell, originally from Long Ground attended the Montserrat Secondary School and the Montserrat Technical College before the start of the volcanic crisis.

In 1997, she relocated to England where she took the opportunity to advance her education and currently has one more year of studies to complete a BA in Psychology and Health at De Montfort University in Leicester.

This is Miss Farrell's second visit back to Montserrat since she relocated but this time she wanted to spend extra time on the island and applied to Government for a temporary position as a Clerical Officer during the long summer vacation from University. Miss Farrell is extremely happy with the developments in Montserrat since she has been away and is excited about the prospects for the island's future.

Teresena Farrell, who is the daughter of Sylvia Farrel and William Kelly, wants to return home to the Caribbean at the end of her course and hopes to become a full time Youth Counsellor so that she can use her education to the fullest. Certainly she has impressed visitors to the Governor's Office with her courtesy and bright outlook on life and everyone wishes her well when she returns to England in September.

NEW PASSPORTS ARRIVE

The first batch of British passports since the introduction of British Citizenship for Montserratians have arrived on island and have been distributed.

Since the May 21st introduction of British Citizenship, over 1000 passport forms have been distributed locally. This led to over 100 applications for passports in the first month alone and many of these have now arrived back on island some six weeks after the applications were presented.

On Thursday 18, July 2002, the fist six completed passports to arrive on island were presented to their recipients at a short ceremony at the Governor's Office in Olveston. His Excellency the Governor, Mr Anthony Longrigg presented passports to the Lindsey family (John, Dorothea and Azrudee) and to Mr Sheldon L Carty, Ms Florestina Farrell and Mrs Sarah S. Silcott.

Mr Longrigg said that he was very pleased with the smooth way in which the passport application process had gone. He was full of praise for the Department of Administration staff dealing with passport applications as all the original applications had been processed without any mistakes. Noting that the turnaround process had been six weeks, His Excellency said that this was on target and that there had been no delays.

Asked what they intended to do now that they had their new passports, the Lindsey family said that they were looking forward to visiting new destinations that were denied them previously.

Montserratians can collect passport forms from the Department of Administration, the Labour Office and the Governor's office in Olverston.

HMS GRAFTON TO VISIT

Commander Richard Thomas

The Royal Navy's frigate HMS Grafton will pay a courtesy call to Montserrat next month. A type 23 frigate, HMS Grafton will be here on September 7 and 8th. She has a crew of 165 made up of officers and Junior Ratings, twenty one of which are female. The Commanding Officer is Commander Richard Thomas MBE who is originally from Liverpool in the north of England.

HMS Grafton is currently crossing the Atlantic to take up her duties as the Atlantic Patrol Vessel (formerly known as the West Indies Guard Ship). Whilst here, the ship's company will entertain guests at a cocktail party on board, play some sports, visit some volcanic sites and have meetings with MVO and Emergency Department officials.

HMS Grafton carries a Lynx helicopter and together they form a modern, flexible and effective fighting unit, which can be deployed at short notice anywhere in the world to fulfil a variety of tasks.

Royal Navy HMS Grafton

REPOSITIONING THE TOURISM SECTOR

Following two major workshops held in May and July, CHL Consultants have presented a framework document outlining the repositioning of Montserrat's Tourism Sector.

The National Tourism Strategy & Plan was presented to a workshop held at the Vue Pointe Hotel on 22, July. Amongst those attending were H.E. the Governor, the Hon. Chief Minister and the Hon. Ministers of Communications & Works and Agriculture, Land & the Environment.

The strategy was formulated after extensive consultations
were held with all the stakeholders directly and indirectly associated with the tourism sector on the island. In addition, a comprehensive product inspection programme has been undertaken which involved visits to hotels, villas, guest houses, and nature sites.

The document presented to Government outlined capacity building, customer knowledge and know-how, access to the island & visitor facilities, product development & packaging, destination marketing, skills and standards as well as community involvement.

The plan has short term as well as medium and long term
schedules taking the island through to the year 2020.

One of the major presenters at the July workshop was Mr Bob Hunt of PGA International who outlined the possibilities for golf to be re-established on the island. He presented reports on the possible sites for both 9 hole and 18 hole golf courses and this led to major discussions on the feasibility of bringing the sport back to Montserrat.

The leader of the CHL Consultants team on the island, Dr. Philip Heneghan said that he did not want this to be just another consultants report. He told listeners that by the end of the process Montserrat must be on the way back in the marketplace and have strategies to suit a resurgence of the tourism project.

The CHL Report is currently being studied by Government as there are major implications as to how Montserrat is marketed in the word market.

Meeting of MVO Board of Directors and Risk Assessment Panel

The MVO Board of Directors will have their sixth meeting on Friday 6 September. The Board which is co-chaired by HE The Governor and the Hon Chief Minster will have a wide ranging agenda before them including proposals for a new management contract and a progress report on the MVO building at Flemings.

Prior to the Board meeting the scientific experts of the Risk Assessment Panel will get together to examine and report on the latest threats posed by the volcano. This will be the Panel's tenth meeting since the volcanic eruptions began. Amongst those senior scientists expected on-island are Prof Steve Sparks and Prof Willy Aspinall.

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SUPPORTS LOCAL PROJECTS

Throughout 2002 the Governor's Office has supported a number of projects in the local community.

The following projects have received funding from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Good Government Fund (GGF):

· Updating and improve the library and research capabilities of the Attorney General's Chambers.
· Installing recording equipment at the Courthouse to speed up proceedings.
· A training attachment at the St Lucia Parliament for the newly appointed Speaker of the Legislative Council in Montserrat, the Hon Joseph Meade.
· Supporting the cost of the Overseas Territories Attorneys General Conference held in Montserrat.

In addition, the DFID Small Grants Scheme, administered by the Governor's Office has supported the following:

· The NGO Training Courses presented by Partners of the Americas and the University of the West Indies in an effort to provide better management of local community groups. In addition, the scheme will also support efforts to form an 'umbrella' organisation of NGO's later in the year.

· The development of a park and picnic area at Duckpond.

· Development of ornamental gardens by the Montserrat Horticultural Society at Woodlands.

· A training course to be mounted next month by the National Development Foundation (NDF) in small engine repairs geared to those people working with machines in the gardening and landscaping areas. The NDF are currently recruiting interested persons for the course and further information can be had from them at 491 3070.

· The purchase of pottery and cassava bread making equipment for the Montserrat Arts & Craft Association to assist in their ongoing training. This will include purchase of a kiln, a potter's wheel and other equipment including clays, glazing material and some hand tools and the provision of a teacher.

· Materials for the construction of a drying shed for onion farmers so that their produce can be properly dried before coming to the marketplace.

· Provision of air conditioning and a notice board at the Public Library in Brades

· A planned visit from Professor Bruce Koblenz of Oregon State University, an expert on Invasive Species, to advise the Government of Montserrat on the eradication of wild pigs in the community which are posing a health and safety threat.

These projects are in addition to funding provided to the Montserrat National Trust for their series of Biodiversity presentations and nature rambles held in June and reported on in the last edition of the Montserrat Newsletter.

Any properly organised and constituted NGO or community group can apply to the Governor's Office for funding to support their projects. The contact at the Governor's Office is the Third Secretary and Staff Officer on 491 2688.