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Another testing year.The volcano has been the constant backdrop to our activities this year. The dome continues to grow. The communities on the flanks of the Belham are not at risk at present, but do need to be vigilant. During the course of the year, the Disaster Management Coordination Agency, the DMCA, working with the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, the MVO, reissued the alert levels to allow the public to have a better understanding of the level of volcanic activity.
Looking back to last May’s dome collapse, special thanks to all those who helped with the clean up whether professionals from Public Works Department, or volunteers. Particular thanks to the men from the Water Authority and those who assisted them with the back breaking job of getting the Killikrankie spring hooked back up to the water distribution. I have great respect and admiration for what they did.
The DMCA, Disaster Management Liaison officers throughout Government are working continuously to prepare themselves and us, the community, for all that would need to be done in case of emergency. It is something that all of you need to think about as individuals, so that you are not taken by surprise if we do get to the stage where it becomes advisable for those nearest the volcano to move further north for a time. If you live in the North, prepare to cooperate with the authorities as they assess what accommodation is available to house, in reasonable comfort, those who may have to move for a time.
During the holiday season, please take care when showing guests around south of Belham. We want returning Montserratians and guests to see the island. But that river bed can change very quickly from dry and tranquil to a roaring maelstrom of dirt and rocks. Don’t get caught.
Budgetary aid talks with the Department for International Development took place in November. DFID was briefed by officials on the thread of disaster management capability and capacity, which runs through all the budgets of the different Ministries, popping up in different ways, examples are budgeting for; a request for mechanical sweepers that can better bear the burden of ash; equipment for the MVO; a reliable net of radio communications to allow the various Agencies to respond in case of need; a budget line for ensuring business continuity through emergency whether caused by the volcano or other reasons. Being able to point to well laid plans makes it that much easier for the Chief Minister and I myself, to go to the UK authorities to ask for funds to meet our reasonable needs.
At 17m sterling for 2007, Montserrat will receive more than in 2006, but rather less than the Government has requested.
This year, Ministries and Agencies made the budget process a more measurable affair, linking their budgets firmly to the outputs that they envisage for 2007 in business plans. Officials were congratulated by DFID for the serious and comprehensive work that they did to identify their core tasks and programmes for 2007 and to link them all in to the resources available to them in terms of manpower and finance. It has been disappointing to those who submitted the plans to learn that they will not fully resourced. It makes the public service review and implementation of reform all the more important. It is only through using the existing resources as efficiently as possible, with each person having a clear idea of where they fit into the plan, and what they will deliver, and being trained to realize their potential, that our Public Service can deliver what Ministers ask of it.
A new development in 2007 will be the recruitment of a Deputy Governor, who will be a Montserratian and to whom I plan to delegate the every day running of Montserrat’s public service.
We have had some trying and testing times with transport on and off the island this year. I welcome Air Montserrat. I hope to see Winnair providing a service that really does meet the needs of the people flying to and from Montserrat.
We had a few periods where, due to various mixtures of adverse weather conditions volcanic activity, planes could not get out of the airport. The Government was concerned about this, and I want to assure you that the health team and the airport have always had plans in place for medical evacuation under whatever the conditions might be. In addition, the authorities are working to put in place arrangements to get a helicopter field certified. Once this is in place, if we have a situation where the airport cannot be used, but other parts of the island could be, then the private sector would be able to take the initiative to bring in charters to meet demand.
As we finish the year, we welcome our beautiful Cultural Centre. You will remember that this was handed over by the contractors recently. I echo Sir Howard Fergus in thanking Sir George Martin and all the people who worked with him to raise funds to make this centre a reality. There is still much to do to ensure both that it is properly equipped and that it pays its way. I know that the will is there and that the Friends of the Cultural Centre and the Government are determined to make the most of this wonderful facility. I very much look forward to experiencing it in use.
I wish all of you listening a happy and a merry Christmas and I enjoin you all to make it a safe Christmas too. I thank all those who will be working over the holidays, the police, those who supervise our utilities and any other public service officers. I look forward to a prosperous New Year for all of you and for the island.
Lord Triesman, Overseas Territories Minister, hosted the eighth meeting of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council (OTCC) on 21 and 22 November at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Premiers, Chief Ministers and equivalent senior politicians from Britain’s Overseas Territories, except Gibraltar, attended. The Council is held annually in London and provides a forum for consultation with British Government Ministers.Lord Triesman said:
“This was my second OTCC and I was delighted, but not surprised, that our discussions were so productive. I was especially pleased that my Ministerial colleague Bill Rammell was able to announce on the first day of the meeting that citizens from the Overseas Territories will benefit from next year from the home student fee rate at English universities. This is something that the Territories have long been pressing for: I would like to pay tribute to the determination they have brought to this issue which has been instrumental in bringing about this result.
Our meeting this year included presentations from Hilary Benn, Baroness Patricia Scotland and Sir Nicholas Stern. Their presentations on international corruption, criminal justice and climate change struck a chord with us all.”
The UK and the Overseas Territories represented at the OTCC agreed the following:
That the UN Convention Against Corruption would be extended to the Overseas Territories at the earliest opportunity. The British Virgin Islands had already agreed to this and all the other territories had signified their agreement in principle.
To take note of a document which sets out the principles of Good Governance.
To work together towards the implementation of a strategy for each of the Territories which would integrate the work of all those involved in the criminal justice system. The FCO announced that it would consider funding projects to take forward immediate priorities which would be of benefit across agencies and across territories.
To carry out reviews of Disaster Preparedness as part of a rolling programme.
The OTCC also welcomed the planned programme of assistance to support the development of Human Rights initiatives in the Territories.
The Overseas Territories Consultative Council was established in 1999 as a forum for discussion of key policy issues with heads of territory governments. The Council meets once a year in London. An FCO Minister (currently Lord Triesman) has specific responsibilities for Overseas Territory issues.
The territories represented at the OTCC were:
Anguilla
Ascension Island
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands
Montserrat
Pitcairn
St Helena
Turks and Caicos Islands.
Mr Waterworth is presently the Deputy High Commissioner and Consul-General in Lagos, Nigeria and has previously worked in Islamabad, Rome, Bonn and in the Northern Ireland Office. He is a Barrister-at-Law and has served in the past as the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) Assistant Legal Advisor.
Mr Waterworth is married (to Catherine) and is expected to arrive in Montserrat in late June next year.
The new operating rules, known as Overseas Territories Aviation Requirements (OTARS), describe the standards that civil aviation must meet and will cover aviation in Montserrat and the other UK Overseas Territories (OTs).
HE the Governor, Mrs Deborah Barnes Jones, explained: “We will now have in place a single coherent code which has been specifically developed to cater for the aviation industry in the Overseas Territories.
“The new requirements will have a significant effect on those who manufacture, maintain or operate aircraft to the Island; on the airport, including air traffic control and other services; and on those who hold personnel licences or validations issued by the Eastern Caribbean CAA for Montserrat.”
In order to ensure that the industry is aware of these changes a series of presentations have taken place in all the Territories as well as in the USA and Europe.
The seminar in Montserrat was held on 17th November and took place at the Tropical Mansions Suites Hotel, beginning with a special session for the Governor’s office and government officials. This was followed in the afternoon by presentations and discussion for the industry.
A new airline is operating in Montserrat from 1 December 2006.Air Montserrat started charter operations using a Britton Normander Islander aircraft. The Montserrat based airline is owned and operated by Montserratian businessman Mr Philip Rogers. The aircraft will fly four consolidated flights per day between Antigua and Montserrat and vice-versa and will also be available for individual charter.
With WINAIR already announcing six flights per day in each direction during the winter season this will bring to ten (10) the number of flights per day operating between the two islands thereby offering a total of 150 seats per day. This, it is expected, will be enough seats to cater to the influx of visitors expected over the Christmas and winter seasons.
Montserrat's new airport at Gerald's was opened in the summer of 2005 and replaced the old W.H. Bramble Airport in the east of the island that was destroyed by volcanic flows.
This means that from the 2007/2008 academic year, students from the following British Overseas Territories; Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antartic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, St Helena and its Dependencies and the Turks & Caicos Islands will be charged the home fee rate for their further education and undergraduate courses at colleges and universities in England.
The change will be implemented through amendments to the Education (Fees and Awards) and the Education (Qualifying Courses and Persons) Regulations and will be implemented in time for the 2007 /08 academic year.
At the same time, students of the overseas territories of EU countries will also benefit from the home fees in England.
Bill Rammell and Foreign Office Minister, Lord Triesman have worked hard to bring about this change and Lord Triesman said after the announcement was made “This change will have long term benefits in terms of self sufficiency to the Overseas Territories and fits well with the commitments we gave in the 1999 White Paper on the Overseas Territories.”
Her Excellency the Governor, Mrs Deborah Barnes Jones, presented the cheque to Miss Paulette Ward representing MONFEST and in attendance was the Government's Director of Culture, Mr Herman Sergeant.
The Carol Service has not been sponsored in the past and the donation will allow the venue to be lighted, a stage to be provided and song sheets for all. The official opening of Montserrat's Christmas Festival will be on Saturday 9 December under the theme "Caribbean Party Mix, Montserrat Festival 2006 and concludes on Tuesday 2 January with the Parade of the Troupes at Festival Village.
It was observed that pyroclastic flows following the May 2006 collapse of the dome travelled a distance of up to 3 kms over the sea from the Tar River area and hence the zone in the area has been extended to 4 kms out to sea. The zone has also been widened.
Yachts, fisherman and all boat owners are advised not to enter the zones, which are shown on the new map, as they are extremely dangerous.
Credit is not a bad thing provided it is managed properly. It can be used to meet expenses which arise from unexpected emergencies, or to take advantage of sales and special bargains. But, on the other hand, credit can cost you money in the form of interest charges. Using credit to obtain goods and services that you cannot afford, can cause you great difficulty to keep up with the payments. It can also make it easier for you to buy on impulse, which can throw your budget off track and make it harder for you to achieve your goals.
Here are some guidelines to be used when applying for credit:
Credit Cards - Credit cards are good to have when used properly, but when misused they can be a terrible burden. You can find yourself paying for items which have been used up long ago, or broken or discarded. Here are some tips to help you use credit cards wisely.
