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Montserrat's new Governor, Mr Peter Andrew Waterworth arrived in Montserrat on Friday 27 July 2007 and was sworn in at a special meeting of the Legislative Council (LEGCO) on the same afternoon. Mr Waterworth is accompanied by his wife Catherine.Mr Waterworth previously served as Deputy High Commissioner and Consul General in Lagos, Nigeria and in addition, has visited Montserrat in the past when he was serving as an FCO lawyer in the late 1980's.
The swearing in ceremony, held at the Cultural Centre saw speeches from the Hon Mr Joseph Meade the Speaker of the House, the outgoing Acting Governor Sir Howard Fergus, the Hon Chief Minister Dr Lowell Lewis and the Hon Charles Kirnon on behalf of the Opposition Members of the House. The Oath of Office was administered by the Hon Attorney General.
In his speech, the newly sworn in Governor said that he recognises that he and his wife Cathy have much to learn about what people's hopes are and looks forward to meeting a wide range of people to get a better appreciation of their aspirations. He paid tribute to Sir Howard Fergus and saluted the resolution of Montserratians.
Following the swearing in ceremony, the Governor inspected a Guard of Honour drawn up outside the Cultural Centre.
It probably helped that he came from the other Emerald Isle, but in a matter of days he was won over. When he left he told friends and colleagues that if he had the chance to serve Montserrat he would seize it.
Finally, the opportunity arrived and I stand before you today both proud and delighted to have assumed the office of Governor of Montserrat.
Having returned, my first pleasant duty is to convey the greetings of HM the Queen to the people of Montserrat. I can tell you that when my wife Cathy and I had an audience with Her Majesty upon my formal appointment, it was very clear that the Queen has continued to follow developments on the island. Her Majesty was all too aware of, and saddened by, the shadow which still hangs over Montserrat and hinders its return to prosperity. She recognises the effort that people are making and the progress that is being made in the face of such adversity.
Her Majesty is the epitome of duty and selfless public service. On this subject, can I also take this opportunity to pay tribute to a great Montserratian. One who has spent more time in Government House than any substantive Governor in the last two decades. I speak, of course, of Sir Howard Fergus. I hope I shall continue to have the benefit of his wise counsel during my time in office.
While Her Majesty and Sir Howard represent continuity, this is a time of change in the UK. Gordon Brown is its new PM and the Foreign Office and DFID are led by new Ministers. But even in times of change there is continuity. For example, interest in and commitment to Montserrat remains constant.
This is reflected in me having one of the first meetings with the new Minister, Meg Munn. And, when he arrived at DFID, one of the first questions asked by Douglas Alexander, who once took questions for the OTs in the House of Commons, was how was Montserrat doing? Montserrat's leaders will not want for ministerial interest. Ministers who, like me, want to work in partnership with you to deliver for Montserrat.
Nature has been horribly cruel to Montserrat in the last twenty years.
It all began so well as the island became self-sufficient and development accelerated. But then Hurricane Hugo and the volcano struck. Plymouth and the south were lost and even more cruelly many Montserratians were forced away: many may never return. The brooding presence of the volcano has been ever present and the danger real, even if sometimes unseen.
I salute those of you who have stayed and endured the hardships, working for a new future, for a new Montserrat. Time-and-again as I have met people in preparing for my arrival I have heard nothing but praise for Montserratians' fortitude and resilience.
Let me also recognise those of you from across the region who have come here since the crisis began to make lives for yourselves and your families.
We must all stand together to confront the many challenges that face us.
First among those challenges is to secure public safety.
The safety of its people is the first responsibility of Government. Unfortunately it takes but a short burst of volcanic activity to prove how deceptive months of seeming inactivity can be. The legacy of January's eruption remains and I will not take risks with peoples' lives. I understand why people become frustrated, but Montserrat cannot afford the financial impact, the reputational damage, or most importantly, the tragic loss of life, that would result from getting it wrong.
The coming years will be no less challenging than the last fifteen. The reality is that Montserrat has to find ways to live with the possibility that the volcano will remain active for years, maybe decades, to come. So we must continue to invest in the best possible scientific advice so that difficult decisions are solidly based and so that when and where it is prudent to ease restrictions we can do so. In that context, let me welcome last week's decision to reoccupy the areas that were evacuated in February.
And disaster management must be an integral part of development - residents, visitors and investors alike need to have confidence that the necessary structures and systems are in place to allow recovery to continue even when nature does its worst.
The second challenge is to make a difference for Montserratians.
What does that mean?
The British Government shares your hope that a new Constitution will soon be in place. One that reinforces the existing foundations to sustain a modern and transparent relationship until the time Montserrat decides to take the next step to independence - a choice which will, of course, be for the Government and people of Montserrat.
But while the niceties of constitutional debate are of great interest to politicians and lawyers, and without doubt of importance to the constitutional future of the Territory, citizens have more immediate concerns. Everyone needs to house and feed their families and rightly expect government to deliver quality services to all who need them. They want to see their new capital growing in Little Bay.
Government today is about meeting those expectations, efficiently and economically. That is your and my obligation to Montserrat. We all know that in a small community it is difficult to disentangle roles and responsibilities. Even so, each of us, Governor, Ministers and officials, should do what we do best and leave the rest to others. Delivery requires rigorous prioritisation and effective delegation.
Two examples:
By the same token it is not the job of government to control economically viable activities and try to do everything itself. Ministers will have more than enough to do in planning the strategy and setting clear priorities for others to implement.
For example, getting the new SDP right is vital. It needs to be ambitious but realistic, realistic not only in terms of cost but in managerial achievability, with clear targets, if it is to command real ownership by Montserratians and support from British Ministers. It has to make a difference.
The public servants too will be busy, busy developing and busy delivering the services that Montserratians need to thrive in the 21st century. The early appointment of a non-political Montserratian head of public service is vital to the development of the professionally managed, target-led service delivery business that it must become.
If delivery is key, then the UK too has responsibilities. They need to get the funding stream right to deliver the major development projects that Montserrat needs. We all recognise that further investment in infrastructure is needed to provide the foundations for future growth - Montserrat will not thrive without Little Bay or a port better suited to the island's needs. I will seek to ensure that the money is available at the right time so that development can proceed in real time.
So, there will be continuing challenges for the Government, the public service and the community. There will also be great challenges for your new Governor. There is much for me to learn about Montserrat and its community, and the best place for me to learn it is here within the Community. My wife Cathy and I look forward with anticipation and pleasure to living among you and hopefully being able to make our contribution. We need to learn from you about your hopes and aspirations for your Families, for your children and your community and of the challenges facing civil society. We look forward to visiting schools, clinics, Government Offices and Community Centres to talk to you at first hand and to get a better appreciation of the issues.
We will listen, and with your assistance, I hope that we will be able to make a valuable contribution during our time in Montserrat.
On the way here today, I saw a sign. It read “know Montserrat, love it, show it”. If I can add “save it”, that seems a good starting point for me and Cathy.
Thank you for your warm welcome, we are delighted and honoured to be in Montserrat."
Mr Foster is a career police officer, having joined the RMPF straight from school (MSS) over 20 years ago. Mr Foster has a Certificate in Public Administration, a Bachelor's Degree and a Post Graduate Certificate in Police Studies. In the past he has headed the RMPF's Marine Unit and the Immigration Department.
Mr Foster replaces the long serving John Douglas as Commissioner of Police. Mr Douglas retired on the same day as Mr Foster was sworn in after serving the RMPF for over 40 years. He joined the force in February 1967 and worked is way through the ranks.
There were two major social events to mark the change-over. A cocktail party at Government House, hosted by the Acting Governor was attended by over 100 well wishers and a baton passing ceremony at Police Headquarters was attended by a similar amount.
The Emergency Policy Group (EPG) met on Friday 20 July to consider the interim assessment of the SAC on the hazards and risks associated with the Soufriere Hills Volcano. The assessment was issued on 19 July 2007 and can be seen at:
www.mvo.msThe EPG agreed that risks have reduced following a period of little activity at the surface of the volcano and agreed that residents from the February 15, 2007 evacuation could return to their homes on a full time basis from the following day, Saturday 21 July. About 20 homes are affected.
The areas are north of the line running from a point commencing on Old Road Bluff and running eastwards along Loblolly Lane, through to Isles Bay plantation and continuing north-westwards to Lower Happy Hill and Lower Friths.
Other areas south of this line, including those who were evacuated on 8 January 2007, will have similar access to that which pertains at present. This is 7 am to 4 pm access on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays on application to Salem Police Station.
Picture shows police checking vehicles entering evacuated areas close to the Belham Valley.
Montserratian Mrs. Elaine Fergus Stevens has been given the Medal of Honour by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis for her outstanding contribution to the nursing profession on the twin island federation. Mrs. Stevens affectionally known as Nurse Griffin and originally from Harris Village, was presented with the top award during an investiture ceremony on Thursday 21st June 2007, at the Government House, in the capital Basseterre. She was presented with the Medal of Honour by Governor General, Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, and was surrounded by friends and family, including her niece Mrs. Denise Phillip.Nurse Elaine Fergus Stevens began her nursing career at the Glendon Hospital in 1942. She migrated to Nevis in 1945 and served at the Alexandra Hospital for six (6) years before relocating to St. Kitts. In total she served twenty six (26) years in all areas of nursing in St. Kitts and retired in 1977 as Superintendent of Public Health.
Mrs. Denise Phillip said that she was honoured to share in the joyous occasion with her Aunt and was proud of her achievements.
One of the first appointments made by new British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown was to make the MP for Sheffield Heeley, Meg Munn the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). Her departmental responsibilities include:
The Overseas Territories
Caribbean / Central America
South East Asia
Consular Policy
Oversight of UK Trade & Investment
The lead on Africa / Asia in the House of Commons.
Born in 1959, Meg Munn went to school in Sheffield before moving on to York and Nottingham Universities as well as Britain's Open University. A member of the Labour party since 1974, Meg Munn is a trained Social Worker and became a City Councillor in Nottingham in 1987.
She joined the Co-operative Party in the same year and is now the Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Sheffield Heeley, having first been elected in June 2001. Sheffield Heeley is in the heart of Britain's steel industry in the north - east of England. Prior to her new appointment, Meg Munn was appointed Minister for Women and Equality in May 2005 and was based at the Department for Communities and Local Government. Before this she was the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Margaret Hodge, the Minister for Children, was the Chair of the Women's Committee of the Parliamentary Labour Party and a Member of the Education & Skills Select Committee amongst others.
On her appoinment to her new position, Meg Munn said " I am delighted with my new role at the FCO. The Government has achieved a huge amount since 1997 and is in a strong position to tackle the under-development of Africa, climate change and international terrorism. I look forward to working with colleagues and others in my new position."
A keen Methodist, Meg Munn is married (to Dennis) and speaks three languages, French, German and Italian.
Officials at the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, USA are predicting that the 2007 season will be an exceptionally busy one for the Caribbean Region. The names of prospective storms for 2007 are: Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dean, Erin, Felix, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Noel, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, and Wendy.
Earlier this year a National Hurricane Conference, was held by Montserrat's Disaster Management Co-ordination Agency (DMCA) who issued the following list of Hurricane Shelters for 2007 following the conference:
In Salem:
The Salem Methodist Church
The Salem Police Station
The Salem Anglican Church
The Salem Primary School
The Shiloh Penticostal Church
The Salem Catholic Church
The Montserrat Secondary School
In St Peters:
The St Peter's Old School
In Cudjoe Head:
Brades Pentecostal Church
Brades Primary School
Cavalla Hill Methodist Church KoinaKraft Centre
Cavalla Hill Methodist Church Education Centre
In St Johns:
Davy Hill Pilgrim Holiness Church
Emmanuel Apostolic Church
SDA Mongo Hill Shelter
Church of God of Prophecy
St Johns Anglican Church
Judy Piece Methodist Church
In Lookout:
Lookout Primary School
Lookout Activity Centre
Lookout Community Centre
The DMCA have also issued a Resident's Guide to the 2007 Hurricane Season and this informs residents what to do during a hurricane watch, a hurricane warning, and during an actual hurricane itself. The island's siren systems will announce "Shelters are now open" when they are ready for occupation, and everyone is being reminded that they are designed for short stays only (up to 48 hours). Pets are not allowed in shelters and the regulations show that there should be no smoking or alcoholic drinks in shelters. Each shelter will have a Manager and, in addition, first aid cover provided by the Montserrat Red Cross.
Following the survey, an action plan was drawn up to tackle identified key areas of dissatisfaction identified with the services provided by Customs. These included provision of information and the attitude and approach of Customs Officers.
We undertook earlier this year to keep the public updated with the action we will take and this news update is to let you know what steps we have taken in the first half of 2007.
Since the start of the improvement programme we have:
1. Reviewed our processes and produced Information Notices in the following areas:
An initial distribution of notices has been made. However if you have not been able to obtain a copy or require further copies any of these please contact us at the address given.
2. Reviewed our complaints procedures and introduced a new system to record and analyse complaints received. This included production of an information leaflet on the complaints procedures and forms to record complaints made.
3. Provided training to all our staff on Customer Service.
4. Provided and issued name badges to all staff.
5. Commissioned work on the Customs website to include provision of the Information Notices on line and to provide further information and services electronically.
The work to improve our services is on –going and will not stop with the end of our present programme. Over the next few months, we intend to:
Finally, if you have any comments or wish to provide feedback on the service we currently provide please ask at any of our offices for a feedback form.
If you wish to find out more about the survey or the action plan contact the Customs Department by e-mail at the following address: customsmail@gov.ms