MONTSERRAT SUCCESSFULLY HOSTS OECS MEETING

Montserrat successfully hosted the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean State' s (OECS) Heads of Government Meeting from Wednesday 22, November to Saturday 25, November 2000. The meeting, held at the Vue Pointe Hotel, started off with an impressive opening ceremony which involved a flag raising ceremony and the playing of the National Anthems of all Member and Associate Member States. These are (in alphabetical order):-

Anguilla
Antigua
British Virgin Islands
Dominica
Grenada
Montserrat
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The opening ceremony saw addresses from the Host Chief Minister, Mr David S. Brandt, the Chairman of the OECS, Dr Keith Mitchell of Grenada, and Prime Minister of Dominica, Mr Pierre Charles.. There were also opening remarks from Mr Swinburne Lestrade the Director General of the OECS.

There were musical interludes from the Montserrat Masqueraders and from the children of the Brades Primary School who presented two beutifully rendered songs.

His Excellency the Governor Mr Tony Abbott OBE, entertained the Heads of Government, other Government Ministers, OECS staff and other support staff to a cocktail party at Government House. In his address to the assembled guests, Mr Abbott said " You have a busy agenda over the next few days and this clearly shows the extent of the issues which are of interest to all OECS members. It underlines the value of getting together - to find practical solutions to common problems and explore areas for mutual advantage.

I know that Montserrat was quick to see the values of such a body and was one of the founding signatories of the Organisation in 1981. Since then it has benefited from many aspects of that membership. Areas of co-operation have included health, financial services, civil aviation, tourism and trade.

The OECS is well known to the Montserrat community for its contributions to sport.

The OECS has provided coaches for Montserrat, including high profile names in the world of cricket and football and has given our commentators training in broadcasting. Pre-volcano Montserrrat provided live coverage of cricket from Sturge Park before it was done anywhere else in the Caribbean thanks to the interest shown by the OECS Sports Desk. Possibly, the OECS may be able to help rebuild the island's sporting skills. This is the sort of practical assistance which exemplifies the goals and ideals of the organisation.

Of course, Montserrat has not only benefited, but has also contributed considerably to the success of the OECS. Many people from this island have worked for the organisation and taken part in its programmes. These include our current Minister of Agriculture, the Hon Brunelle Meade who worked at the Economic Affairs Secretariat for many years. Montserrat provided one of the OECS's past High Commissioners in Ottawa, Ms Loraine Fenton, and the current High Commissioner there, George Mario Bullen, is also a former Head of the Montserrat Electricity Company. Furthermore, a Montserratian, Paul Payne is working for the OECS in the field of Technical & Vocational Education. These are just a few examples, but I think that they demonstrate committment and co-operation at all levels.

You will be aware that this is not the first time that the OECS Heads of Government have come to the island. Montserrat hosted them in 1993. Of course this was a very different island at that time. It was still undergoing the re-building programme following Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and was oblivious to the troubles that lay ahead at the Soufriere Hills. Since that meeting Montserrat has gone through the most trying period in its history. The volcanic eruptions and all their consequences have tested the people of this island to the limit. Many have lost everything. However the resilience of the population is truly remarkable and i continue to salute all those that have persevered through these most difficult times.

But now it is a very different situation again. We are not an island in crisis any more as some commentators would have us believe. Indeed if you believed all the press reports, you would think that we are in constant danger and being showered daily by volcanic debris. As you can see fir yourselves, this is not true. While the Soufriere Hills continue to rumble we are confident that the north of the island is safe. Montserratians are not preoccupied with the volcano, but with rebuilding their island and making it even better than before.

To do this they need help and the OECS is part of this assistance. This not only comes from the various areas of co-operation I have mentioned before, but from your very presence here today. The fact that so many distinguished leaders are visiting will help dispel the myths about the volcano. I therefore much appreciate the faith and trust you have shown by coming to the island - it will send a clear signal to the world that we are back on track and it will boost confidence in Montserrat."

INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

The High Commissioner of India accredited to Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Montserrat and St Kitts/Nevis visited the island on 20/21 November to present his Credentials to H.E. the Governor. Professor Parimal Kumar Das, who is based in Trinidad, made the presentation to H.E. the Governor, Mr Tony Abbott OBE, on the morning of 21 November at Lancaster House.

In addition, he met with the Hon Chief Minister, Mr David S. Brandt, other Ministers of Government, had a tour of development projects and the MVO and viewed the damage caused by the volcano accompanied by Director of the MVO, Dr Gill Norton-Jolly. Over lunch at Government House he met with all the members of the Indian community in Montserrat.

Later in the day, Professor Das gave a press conference at Radio Montserrat and told radio listeners "I am greatly honoured and privileged to have been appointed as the High Commissioner of India to this beautiful island of Montserrat. I have today presented my Credentials to H.E. Mr Anthony Abbott, OBE, Governor of Montserrat. I had a frank and meaningful dialogue with His Excellency.

Geographically, India and Montserrat are distantly situated, but our colonial and imperialist experience have brought us closer. These have also provided a very strong basis of our relationship. Love of cricket too, brings us closer to each other.

The Caribbean islands share a commonality of identification with India, for these are called the India of the West, i.e. the West Indies.

During the last half-a-century the world has witnessed the emergence of India as a modern, nuclear powered economically strong, politically stable, democratically sustained and a resurgent country. We would be more than happy to share our experiences with all other developing countries, especially Montserrat.

Under the Indian Technical and Co-operation bilateral programme of assistance of the Government of India, we will be glad to invite the nationals of Montserrat for training facilities in India in different fields. Under the programme, the Government of India will provide two-way international air fares, board & lodging, the expenditure on tuition fees etc. of the course and internal transportation in India. I have recommended to His Excellency the Governor and also to the Honourable Chief Minister to avail of these facilities offered by my Government.

I take this opportunity to convey the greetings of the President of India and the people of India to the friendly people of Montserrat. During my tenure of office, I would make all efforts to further develop and deepen our bilateral relations in all of its dimensions". Later questioned by journalists, Professor Das pointed out that the climate of Southern India is very similar to that of the Caribbean region and as this part of India was rich in agriculture there might be room for co-operation in agricultural projects and training. Of particular interest to journalists was the question of low income housing as Montserrat recovers from the ravages of the volcano. Professor Das pointed out that Trinidad & Tobago was also interested in Indian methods of producing low cost housing. He added that on his return to Trinidad, he would discuss this with his technical team and hoped that he could include Montserrat in any future project in this area. Finally, Professor Das admitted to journalists that he would like to see sporting and cultural exchanges take place between India and Montserrat and promised to try and include Montserrat on any future itineraries of Indian groups visiting the region.

NEW GOVERNOR FOR MONTSERRAT NAMED

It was announced in London on 13, November 2000 that the next Governor of Montserrat will be Mr Tony Longrigg CMG. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office release said that Mr Longrigg will succeed Mr Anthony Abbott OBE on his retirement from the Diplomatic Service next year.

Mr Longrigg, who will take up his appointment in May 2001, is coming to Montserrat from a senior posting in Moscow. His past overseas postings include spells to Africa, Brazil and Spain. He has considerable experience of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories when he was head of the south Atlantic and Antartic Department in the Foreign Office from 1995 - 1997. Mr Longrigg's appointment has been approved by Her Majesty the Queen.

INVESTITURE AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE

Two people were invested with awards at an Investiture Ceremony at Government House on Friday evening 24, November.

Receiving the MBE was Fr Cordwell Victor Randell Peters for outstanding service to Montserrat. In his remarks at the Ceremony, H.E. the Governor Mr Tony Abbott OBE told those assembled that Fr Peters' ministrations over the last five years of volcanic activity were absolutely vital to the well-being of everyone he gave assistance, irrespective of the faith they practiced. He remained on island to give pastorial counsel to everyone he came into contact with during the period when volcanic activity was at its highest.

The Governor added " Who can forget the picture of Fr Peters and his cadre of volunteers that he had recruited, working on the landscaping of the Runaway Ghaut area as they improved the environment and instilled pride in Montserratians witnessing the transformation of the area". Mrs Margaret Rita Elwin received the Montserrat Certificate and Badge of Honour for her voluntary care of the youths and mentally challenged adults of our society.

Governor Abbott spoke highly of Ms Elwin and said "In an age where often the first question asked is 'whats in it for me?', Ms Elwin recognised where her civic duties lie and has grasped the mettle in both hands and carried them out to the best of her ability and to the benefit of all she has helped". The Governor described Ms Elwin's work over the past decades in bringing up children as a foster parent, looking after the shut-ins and the mentally sick in the community with little or no financial support. He pointed out that not even the hardships of the last five years had deterred Ms Elwin from assisting the less fortunate, even though she had to relocate to the north. She had continued to look after the mentally ill from her own modest relocated accommodation.

Both Fr Peters and Ms Elwin addressed those assembled during the cocktail party that followed the ceremony. They both thanked the Montserrat community for their help and support over the years and expressed desires to continue to work for the benefit of the island.

In related news, Pastor Kenrick Harewood recently received his MBE at a Ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London. Pastor Harewood was nominated for the award for his services to the Salem District Disaster Committee. HRH The Prince of Wales invested Pastor Harewood with the award and asked him to take back HRH's greetings to the people of Montserrat.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRAINING FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

A group of senior Civil Servants recently completed a Human Resource Management Training at the Vue Pointe Hotel. The workshop was mounted by consultants Dr R. Johnson and Dr A. Armstrong and attracted some 30 participants.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the workshop, H.E. the Governor, Mr Tony Abbott OBE told the participants " As we enter the 21st Century, the role of human resources in any organisation is at centre stage and human resource management is a function that can play a vital role in charting the course that an organisation must take to remain competitive, productive and efficient. People are the lifeblood of organisations and because human resource management activities involve people, they have to be fine-tuned and properly implemented to achieve the desired outcomes.

As you are all well aware the Public Sector in Montserrat has undergone numerous changes within the past five (5) years. Some of the major human resource management issues we are faced with, are:-

a.. recruiting new entrants to the public service at acceptable educational standards

b.. providing sufficient job training at the right level and right standard to maximise the performance of individual officers at all levels

c.. managing performance and rewards consistently to motivate staff

The Government of Montserrat having accepted these difficulties, have formulated a strategy whereby the human resource management function will be reformed to include:-

a.. refining of human resource management procedures

b.. strategic manpower, succession and career planning

c.. management & delivery of an appropriate training & development strategy.

The human resource management training programme to which managers were exposed over the past two weeks forms part of the plan to ensure that managers are fully engaged in the reform process. From the outline of the training programme, I observe that participants were involved in lecturette-discussions on important topics including:-

a.. human resource management for 21st Century managers in a changing Caribbean environment

b..leadership styles and human resource management functions performance improvement through orientation, training and appraisal counselling and coaching employees.

Judging from the discussions, managers are now better equipped with emerging concepts and techniques and even more stimulated for their involvement in the process of human resource management reform in the Government of Montserrat.

Now I know that having lectures on certain topics is one thing. Actually understanding and participating in these themes can be a different matter. But I know from my discussions with managers that they are very enthusiastic about what they have learned during the past two weeks. Indeed it ia a real testimony to the trainers that I have heard such universal and superlative praise for their efforts.

It is clear therefore, that the objectives of this course have been fully met. The eagerness in which managers have participated in this training demonstrates that they will carry these lessons into the workplace. This is not a one-off exercise, but an ongoing process. They are committed to both implement what they have learned and to pass on the training they have received to others. This is vitally important if we are to further strengthen the Public Service and parastatals which play such a critical role in the functioning and development of this island."

MVO COUNTER MISLEADING PRESS REPORTS

The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) recently said that there have been some British news reports with misleading and inaccurate information as to the status of Montserrat's Soufriere Hills Volcano.

A series of bulletins transmitted by the BBC in early November included statements insinuating that Montserrat is bracing itself for a major eruption and that people may soon be forced to leave their homes.

The bulletins included a number of statements about the state of the active lava dome, which were purported to be the views of officials at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO).

In response, the MVO continues to reiterate that any such information is far from the truth. Activity at the Soufrière Hills volcano continues with the growth of a lava dome on the summit region. From late July until the middle of October the lava dome grew rapidly, giving rise to high levels of rockfall activity, but since then the level of rockfall activity has been low, suggesting that the growth of the dome has slowed.

It is anticipated that the large and steep sided lava dome could collapse producing pyroclastic flows and other phenomenon, but if such activity were to occur this should take place on the eastern side of the volcano within the exclusion zone. If such an event occurred, the only effect to inhabitants on the island would be ash falls depending on the wind direction. The message that the MVO continues to give to the media is that the north of Montserrat, where the population resides and redevelopment is taking place, continues to remain safe and that there is no immediate risk to life on Montserrat. However, despite these repeated MVO's messages, some media houses have deliberatelydistorted the facts for the sake of sensationalism.

Late in October, two (2) journalists visited Montserrat and filed positive reports regarding the country's re-development, yet the BBC portrayed these in a negative and alarmist tone.

Moreover, in light of the influx of visitors expected over the Christmas period, the damage control has become a hard task. For the rest of the year, the MVO will be carrying out live interviews with a number of media houses, among them CANA, CBU, BBC, and CNN.

The Montserrat Volcano Observatory continues to be the only official source of information pertaining to volcanic activity on Montserrat. Unless there is an escalation in volcanic activity, the MVO will continue to issue a weekly report which is published on the MVO's website www.mvomrat.com.

If there were a significant volcanic event, which warrants alerting the local public, regional and international media, the MVO will do so without delay. Currently, the mode of operation at the MVO remains unchanged, as its staff continues to provide timely, accurate and complete information to the general public, the authorities and the media on the state of the volcano.