ROYAL VISIT A HUGE SUCCESS

The major event of her visit was the opening of the new Terminal Building at the Gerald's Airport which was held in sunny but windy conditions on Tuesday morning 22 February. Hundreds of Montserratains and residents turned out for the outdoor ceremony which was also broadcast live on Radio Montserrat. Her Royal Higness spoke at the event and complimented Montserratians for coming through the volcanic crisis. There was a full military parade at the opening ceremony which was inspected by Her Royal Highness.

Following the opening ceremony the Princess flew around the island by helicopter to look at the damage caused by the volcano before landing at the MVO for a tour of the facility. She then visited the Montserrat National Trust to look at the museum display and to look at the developing botanical gardens. Follwing this she visited the Montserrat Philatelic Bureau to meet staff and to look at the stamps on display. The bureau issued an overprint edition of stamps to commemorate the visit.

Later that day, the Princess visited the Community College to meet the youth of the island before visiting the site of the new Cultural Centre in Little Bay.To end off the day the Princess visited the St John's Hospital to meet patients and staff and toured the facility.

The following day the Princess went on a nature walk in the mountains and was briefed on projects to preserve the Mountain Chicken and the Oriole. She then visited the Lookout Sheltered Housing Project and the Community Centre to meet with the Evergreen Senior Citizens Club members who provided a musical rendition for Her Royal Highness.

During the visit the Princess attended three receptions, one hosted by Her Excellency the Governor, Mrs Deborah Barnes Jones at Government House, one by the Montserrat Tourist Board and one by the Hon. Chief Minister, Dr John Osborne who arranged for the Emerald Community Singers to entertain his Royal guest.

Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal left Montserrat by helicopter on the afternoon of 23 February for the British Virgin Islands.

COMMENTS BY HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL AT THE OPENING OF THE TERMINAL BUILDING AT THE AIRPIORT AT GERALDS

Her Majesty has watched anxiously in the last 10 years as you have coped with one problem after another due not to just one eruption but a constant of fear of many eruptions from the Soufriere Hills Volcano. I hope that this marks, after 10 years, a much greater degree of stability and this is now an opening for the future as you say, to bring people back to Montserrat. Certainly when I was here before, Montserrat had a very high reputation as a destination and a very unique place to visit. All of that is still true, the people here, the welcome, the hospitality, the island itself are still very unique - its own unique features, its own unique environment and wildlife - all of that is what people enjoy coming to see and will do so in the future.

It is an island that has always been challenged as an island by the weather as well as by your own volcano. You have had to cope over the years with considerable misfortunes that the weather has thrown upon you but you are very resilient and you have an ability to come back and to use the assistance available and the opportunities you have given to recreate your lives on this island and I know that this has been highly disrupted. Meeting some of you last night, the number of moves that each of your families have had over the last 10 years is in its own way makes life so much more difficult to re-establish roots and to build for the future.

I hope that this also marks a point that all of you now feel more settled and more capable of building for the future and that those who did have to move will also feel the confidence to return to an economy and a future here in Montserrat that has a lot to offer, not just for yourselves but to those who make the efforts to come. The last time I came I flew into a different airport, I am glad to say it was a slightly bigger airport as flying in small aircraft is not my favourite occupation and I am also quite grateful that this airport wasn't open and that I could fly in on a helicopter which I do a lot of and much enjoyed. It will make a big difference having this airfield and having fixed wing aircraft coming in here and I wish that part of your future using this as a springboard to bring in more people here will auger well. But I also know from the past, that one of the attractions of Montserrat was that there were not huge numbers of tourists here but a group of very discerning visitors who appreciated and valued what you have here in Montserrat.

That is what you need in the future, visitors who value what you have, what you have been through. I very much look forward to having the opportunity to look at the island more closely as it was very difficult to get my bearings coming in yesterday and I look forward to doing that now. My congratulations go to all of you for what you have achieved in rebuilding Montserrat and its society and your contribution to all these new projects which will make such a difference to the future.

So to you, Chief Minister and to the Ministers who have worked so hard and to all of you who have been involved my congratulations and my very best wishes for the future and that this terminal and this airfield will really prove to be a gateway to the future for all of you as well as for those visitors who will be able to come and see your very unique island and enjoy your very unique hospitality.

WELCOME NEWS FROM FINAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH IMPLICATIONS FROM VOLCANIC ASH ON MONTSERRAT

Since 1997 the UK Government and the Government of Montserrat have been studying health aspects of the volcanic ash on Montserrat. This work has been carried out by an Ad Hoc Advisory Group that has reported to the Chief Medical Officer (UK). The Group studied the results of scientific tests, which demonstrated that the ash is only mildly toxic, and then examined the risk of contracting lung disease for those who have been exposed.

The final Risk Assessment report is now available, and has been placed on the Government of Montserrat's website and other relevant websites. Printed copies are available to members of the public, on request. The report concludes that the risk of x-ray changes or lung problems occurring in the general population of Montserrat as a result of ash from the volcano is very small. However, some concern remains about possible risks to individuals who may be exposed to higher than average amounts of ash for long periods (e.g. children, gardeners, road workers, professional house cleaners).

The UK Government and the Government of Montserrat have therefore agreed to undertake further work to assess the effects of ash on individuals who have had larger than average exposure and an x-ray survey will be conducted on island early in 2005. This survey will focus on those individuals previously surveyed (in 2000) and on people who have since been exposed to higher than average concentrations. This study is a routine follow-up from the 2000 survey and, like the previous study, will involve a chest x-ray, respiratory systems questionnaire, lung function tests and a life-time occupational history. Participation will be voluntary, but participants in the first study are strongly encouraged to return. The study will be undertaken, as last time, by experts from the Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh.

The various studies already done have shown:

• Laboratory studies have shown that the ash is only mildly toxic. The risk of it causing lung disease (silicosis) is very small. Occasionally it may cause changes on x-rays of the lungs but this does not necessarily cause any further problems. In addition, any problems will only follow long-term exposure. Those who have been more exposed to the ash (road sweepers, gardeners etc) are, therefore, at slightly greater risk.

• Studies to date show no evidence of a bad effect on the health of people living on island. There is also no evidence of any effect on health as a result of people doing ash-clearing work in their own homes.

• For the group of people who have been more heavily exposed to ash, the best approach is to reduce any future exposure as far as possible. A decision on whether future monitoring is needed will be made following the results of the survey to be undertaken in early 2005.

• For everyone, high exposure to ash should be reduced. This requires the strict use of facemasks by people working with ash, and the dampening of ash before its removal.

• The effect of ash on children is still not fully clear. There is a risk that they are more exposed because they spend more time playing outside. Children should therefore be encouraged not to play in ash and should not take part in ash clearing activities.

The risk assessment report and details of reports from previous studies, can be found in Montserrat's public library and on the websites of the Government of Montserrat and the Montserrat Volcano Observatory.

For More information Contact the Ministry of Health.

WILLIAM ROCKWELL INVESTED

The award was for Mr Rockwell's part in the formation of the Montserrat Foundation in the late 1960's. He drew up the Articles for the Foundation and recruited both the northern and southern board members. The foundation is instrumental in providing funds to support worthy institutions and projects on island and recipients have included the Montserrat Red Cross, the Golden Years Foundation, Meals on Wheels and the Public Library amongst others. The foundation is still very active to this day.

At the award ceremony at Government House held on Thursday 3, February, Her Excellency the Governor invested the award on Mr Rockwell and later in the afternoon his daughter Karen provided a musical interlude for the entertainment of those assembled.

Picture shows Mr Rockwell proudly showing off his Montserrat Certificate of Honour.

TPS COMES TO AN END

Some three dozen Montserratians under TPS have applied for a change of immigration status within the USA whilst others have already returned to Montserrat. In addition several families have decided to relocate to the UK which they are allowed to do as British Citizens.

Several months of lobbying by interest groups and US Senators have failed to make the US Government change their mind.

The Montserrat Government have appointed Dr Clarice Barnes as the point of contact for Montserratians under TPS and she is working closely with Mrs Janice Panton the Montserrat Government's UK Representative to smooth the way for Montserratians returning home or going on to the UK.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was granted to Montserratians already in the USA when the Soufriere Hills Volcano first erupted and had been renewed each year until the summer of 2004.

LOCAL ORGANISATIONS RECEIVE FUNDS

The Montserrat Small Farmers Association received almost EC$12000 to rehabilitate their food processing laboratory at Brades. This saw new floor and wall tyles installed, a general re-painting oof the building and additional lighting to bring a higher standard of hygene to the building.

The Montserrat Woodworkers Association received an EC$20000 grant to purchase a standing circular saw and other equipment for their planned sawmill.

The Montserrat Secondary School received a grant of EC$6300 for a planned school clean up campaign and for the purchase of a school bell system.

The long established folk singing group The Emerald Community Singers received a grant of EC$7000 to fund an anti drugs / HIV / AIDS education progrmme through music dance and drama. The group will perform in various communities and in the schools later in the academic year.

GOVERNOR ON OVERSEAS LEAVE

During the substantive Governor's absence, Professor Sir Howard Fergus will act as Governor.

During Mrs Barnes Jones leave the opportunity will be taken to carry out some repairs to the public rooms at Governemnt House in Palm Loop in Woodlands.

NEW GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS OPEN

The new offices include modern security and communication facilities and incorporate a conference room, open plan offices, kitchen & bathroom facilities.

and a reception area. There is a large car park adjacent to the building and a stand by generator is available for when there are power outages.

The colour schemes inside assist in making the new offices a very comfortable place in which to work and everyone who visits is impressed with the interior of the building.

The new office is accessed from the main road to Government Headquarters by turning left off the slip road. Since the evacuation of Plymouth in 1995 the Governor's Office has been housed in a number of locations, the last being in Olveston.

DEBATORS ASSISTED BY GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

A cheque for EC$1500 to sponsor the airfare of one of the Debators was presented to the Principal of the College and to the Captain of the Debating Team by Richard Aspin, Press Officer at the Governor's Office on Tuesday 22 February.

Principal, Mr Paul Payne thanked the Governor's Office for their kind and timely donation.

The Montserrat Debators and their supporters left island on Wednesday 23 February with the first round of the debate carded for the following evening.

Mr Aspin presents cheque to the Captain of the Debating Team with Mr Payne looking on

CONSULAR FEES IN BARBADOS (WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT)

ECCB INFORMATION CORNER

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