The Montserrat Reporter - November 8 2013

Friday, November 08, 2013

These latest buildings are open for classes

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Today’s Scripture

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[Jesus] said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 (NRSV)

No asbestos falling from the roofs at the Montserrat Secondary School Vol. XXVIII No. 36

Minister of Education & Health , Hon. Colin Riley

Week Ending Friday, November 08, 2013

Price $3.00

On Friday evening last week, (November 1), there came the revelation that teachers were complaining Project Implementation Unit (PIU) Director Owen Lewis that reports of asbestos had been discovered in the roof of the Montserrat Secondary school hall, since the Wednesday before and had been hidden from them until the news leaked.

Before the dust settled and the air cleared, the MSS students rehoused, some returning to take classes on the compound, several conflicting reports circulated, at one time there is no asbestos at the school, another there isn’t any in the roofs; ending up with samples of the suspected material being shipped to Miami for testing, by the end of this week.

Meanwhile several meetings including consultation with the , some students (fifth form an those preparing for CXC have returned to the campus. (See GIU release: MSS Students to use site to complete CXC SBAs, says Ministry of Education) on page 7

By Monday, November 4, 2013, government was ready to address the people after the Premier the previous Saturday, promised that statements would be made on Monday.

cont’d. on page 8

Main buildings at back of this section below

Montserrat Secondary School, Salem

More

Headlines...

Man from Baker Hill...pg 2

MSS emergency could mean new school...pg 6

Sexual Assauld...How much do you know...pg 3

Students to take CXC SBAs on site...pg 7

R.C. Church celebrates first Harvest...pg 5

Threats and Domestic Abuse taken seriously...pg 7

24 HOUR ATM SERVICE Bank of Montserrat Your Bank. Your Future.

www.bankofmontserrat.ms (664) 491-3843

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Friday, November 08, 2013

Political Mentor...ifi...cation Man from Baker Hill

No person can become a skilled tradesman without help from someone. And therefore any person desirous of becoming a master tradesman should seek to undergo a period of apprenticeship.

Except the master politician, every other tradesman wants to leave his tools with his trusted apprentice.

And so he does not wait until he is near death to look for someone with whom to share the fine points of his trade. In fact a master tradesman is always looking for that special person; and when he finds that person, he trains the person, sharing all the knowledge of the trade that he possesses. It is no different with any skilled person or professional; whether it is the fisherman, the printer, the doctor, the professor or the plumber; they all have the desire to mentor someone. Even the elders in the village will spot a talented youth and seek to assign him to a master tradesman so that he can become something of value to the community.

Similarly, except for the aspiring politician, no man or woman waits until he or she is near death to seek to learn a trade. No one would take that person seriously. In fact it is impossible to learn much about anything in a hurry. A person who is in a rush to become something should be likened as a jack Spaniard trying to copy the trade of the honey bee in order to make honey.

This article, dubbed political MENTORIFCATION, is not about tradesmen or about the ordinary men and women of Montserrat whose desire is to practice love and unity among themselves. This article is about the men and woman with extraordinary intentions or desire to exercise power and to influence ‘pseudo change’ on Montserrat. More specifically, it is about being taught the art and science of governance through political management via an apprenticeship. It is about mentoring.

This article is about the lack of meaningful political alliances, political parties or political continuity to plan the ‘now and when’ for Montserrat. But unfortunately, the essence of this article is implied, not expressed.

You may not agree, but it seems as if we have a culture on Montserrat where persons with a desire to Become, idly sit out the ‘quiet non- election time’ days, not learning a damn thing about important matters. Yet as soon as the election storm approaches, and even during the storm you will see persons with ‘election sledge and hammer’ manners or with ‘independent candidate cutlass and hatchet’ tactics rushing to become elected representatives. And when you listen to them, they do not know and will not learn the tools of political constructiveness or political management.

Worse yet, some of us leaders on Montserrat, especially the political leaders, run after the ‘sledge and hatchet’ want to be politicians, grab at them and applaud them, even though we know that they are not suitable for political office. Moreover, of course, we confuse them; we tell them they are part of a political party, even though the so-called party does not, have no intentions to and will not last beyond the day of election. Those who return under the same party name do so after extinction from Election Day to the next election campaign. Montserrat deserves better.

Montserratians, if you and I are feeling the election chill, let us do something before the temperature rises to a fever, because some fevers can turn people mad! And mad people create madness. Nine independent politicians cannot manage a car park, much less a post office; they are the ingredient for political madness.

Believe me; I am tired of political madness and immaturity! Montserrat deserves at least two political parties to contest the next elections. Even now it is still not too late to influence the pathway to political maturity. If the journey begins with the first step and the path is cleared with the desire. Then our first step should be to embark on a journey of Mentoring and political apprenticeship.

Mentorification is my political phraseology.

I believe Montserrat’s political maturity depends on the quality of leadership that each of us can visualize for the journey forward. Therefore, I beg every non-political leader to come on board. Whether you are a preacher, teacher, healer or editor, please become a mentor to some youth. We must see and believe that the youths have in them the ingredients for political energy and hope. And we must see and believe that the elderly possesses some measure of experience or political wisdom. We must therefore seek to blend the elderly and the youths. We must blend wisdom, experience, energy and hope. We must encourage the political apprentices to align themselves with the experienced politicians. We must support all the alliances.

We must mentor and guide the hopefuls and aspirants, remaining neutral to their alliances. We might even be bold enough to assign the doubtful to a leader who best fits the temperament of the young aspiring politician.

If the date of the next general election date is set, as the Premier intimated, then the political storm OVERSEAS TERRITORY OF MONTSERRAT IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE A.D. 2013 LEGAL NOTICE In the estate of ANNETTE MEADE, deceased

is shaping up. But there is so much work to do in this year of election. There is a dire need for youth and enthusiasm in each political alliance; yet we need experience and wisdom to guide the journey.

Montserrat deserves the best.

Therefore we must start a program of mentoring. It is a good place to start in the journey towards political maturity. We must show to the elder political statesmen the youths who we believe can be and should be trained as politicians; so that these youths can be helped and encouraged. Similarly, we must seek out the youths with potential, inspire them to develop an intense desire to lead Montserrat and point them to one of the elder political statesmen; so that they could learn the craft of political management.

Finally, the essence of this article is this.

Montserrat, in the year 2013, is politically immature! The absence on Montserrat of political parties with structures for attraction, succession and continuity is a sign of political backwardness. In addition, collectively, each of us who holds himself out to be a leader is to be blamed for the political state of affairs on this island. Each of us can offer some political guidance to the youths and we must. The Master politician or Elder Statesman of the political class who has not trained an apprentice as every class craftsman has done, will be deemed a failure.

In other words, Montserrat has been a political failure. Montserrat must enter into a period of political Mentor… Ifi…Cation Now! Or else, Montserrat is politically doomed!

Two men nabbed with 10 pounds of weed outbound to Montserrat

Written by Chronicle News Two men have been jointly arrested and charged for having in their possession 10 and a half pounds of Cannabis on Wednesday, November 6, 2013.

Daryl Charles, 27, of Cassada Gardens and Deon

Perkins, 37, of Hatton, were both charged with Possession of cannabis; Possession with Intent to Transfer; Attempting to Export; Drug Trafficking and Conspiracy.

Both men were charged after they allegedly attempted to traffick the Class “B” Drugs

to Montserrat aboard the Ferryboat.

A joint operation between the Police and Customs discovered the substance concealed inside two large acoustic speakers that were about to be loaded on the boat at the Heritage Quay Dock.

It is said that one man fled the scene, while the other was later picked up by the police.

Both speakers were found with a wrapped package weighing 5 ¼ pounds each.

The incident took place on Monday 28th October, 2013. They are expected to appear before the court on Thursday.

OVERSEAS TERRITORY OF MONTSERRAT IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE A.D. 2013 LEGAL NOTICE In the estate of LENROY THEOPHILUS LLEWELLYN DALEY, deceased

NOTICE is hereby given that after the expiration of fourteen (14) days from the date hereof, application will be made in the Registry of the High Court of Justice for an Order that Letters of Administration to the estate of ANNETTE MEADE also known as ANN ANETTA MEADE late of Judy Piece Montserrat who died on the 15th of November 2004 at the Glendon Hospital St. Johns Montserrat be granted to CLERENCE SYLVESTER MEADE of Judy Piece Montserrat the son of the deceased and Personal Representative of the deceased.

NOTICE is hereby given that after the expiration of fourteen (14) days from the date hereof, application will be made in the Registry of the High Court of Justice for an Order that Letters of Administration to the estate of LENROY THEOPHILUS LLEWELLYN DALEY late of Lookout Montserrat and 3 Edinburgh Road Upper Edmonton Enfield London who died on the 31st of August 2013 at North London Hospice 47 Woodside Avenue Finchley London England be granted to SAMUEL ARTHUR DALEY of Lookout Montserrat the brother of the deceased and Personal Representative of the deceased.

ALL persons claiming to be beneficially interested therein are requested forthwith to send particulars to me the undersigned.

ALL persons claiming to be beneficially interested therein are requested forthwith to send particulars to me the undersigned.

FURTHER, any person objecting to the issuance of a Grant to the Applicant should notify the Registrar of the High Court of Justice no later than fourteen (14) days from the date of this notice.

FURTHER, any person objecting to the issuance of a Grant to the Applicant should notify the Registrar of the High Court of Justice no later than fourteen (14) days from the date of this notice.

DATED this 6th day of November 2013

DATED this 6th day of November 2013

Kharl Markham Allen Markham & Associates

Kharl Markham Allen Markham & Associates

Friday, November 08, 2013

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Letters/Opinion

EDITORIAL Stop the confusion, understand the mistakes, begin the growth pattern There is confusion in the region even though it is widely accepted that transportation is key to the tourism industry, which many of the islands must rely on just to stay alive. But not only that, if the Caribbean (the Lesser and the Greater Antilles) are to survive, integration, a key factor, will be possible with one major achievement, a good transportation system.

For over 50 years, the Caribbean is struggling with integration, and even after they have come up with systems that are being copied by the world powers, its reality continues to elude us.

Montserrat is center in the mix of things with the integration issue in two ways. It enjoys opportunities born out of natural disasters, which may be argued have set its people back. With Strategic Growth Plans to 2020, its leaders refuse to fix the present, by understanding the past and at the mistakes. Blinded by confusion and rush we blunder along, going nowhere.

Six, more accurately perhaps, seven years ago, the Gerald’s airport (now John A Osborne airport) when opened saw the eventual departure of the ferry service, not immediately on a gradual scale down basis. At that time Montserrat talked about tourism in a real way as although, the activity was nothing like pre-volcanic activity, it was encouraging enough for HMG (Her Majesty’s government) to begin planning funding for developing the tourism product.

When the airport opened, it was believed that it would improve the transportation system which provided access to Montserrat through ferry and helicopter. The latter provided for official travel and for the few who just could not handle the ferry or pay the extra $100 when it was available for avoiding the difficulties or discomfort of ferry travel.

We had written that the airport, which was accepted by the John Osborne government, because they felt they had no choice and the construction would provide economic activity, would likely become a “black elephant” and would not provide the stimulus for tourism development, primarily because it was the wrong size runway and could not serve Montserrat future needs.

The government culminated their mistaken acceptance by refusing (for corruptible reasons) to accept LIAT as the carrier to serve Montserrat. Pricing was critical but corruption we know creates confusion, as confusion creates corruption, so those responsible became blind by the confusion, unable to see what was best for Montserrat.

WINAIR became the carrier and had its woes, but as you saw recently, there is the argument that the airline served Montserrat’s purpose better than what we have today.

As the emphasis drifted to the air service, the ferry service received little attention as the tourism began a decline even with the signs of the abating of volcanic activity, and by 2009, HMG (DFID) had rolled out the “tourism challenge fund”, which by the way in spite of warnings of some pitfalls, was very poorly managed. Meanwhile, WINAIR, who said that they did not make a lot of money, but did not lose any either, was on their way out.

By now the day-tour business was down and floundering, travel costs were going higher and higher and with harsh economic times rampant, an already dead economy, ferry travel unreliable, travel became unaffordable, with business and must-travel, and the faithful few expatriate homeowners in particular and determined tourists, keeping the airport open.

But Montserrat once again dropped the ball. DFID admitted they made mistakes not agreeing to purchase a ferry in the early 2000s and building an acceptable airport, and they would do anything to improve on the situation.

Alas, corruptible politics stymied as the confusion blinded us again.

Instead of noting, in the face of ‘harsh economic times’ (a phrase we hear much of from HMG) they were willing to come to the rescue right down to early 2012, when they, in their usual fashion, instead of balling out the leaders, did so only in private.

It is not the crafter’s fault, but ‘Unfortunately’, UK Overseas Territories White Paper of 1999 and 2012 allowed for immaturity, mediocrity, and small mindedness to go on parade, aided and abetted by corruption, no economic foundation from the mistakes of post volcanic mismanagement and poor representation. There is a need to correct.

The Montserrat Reporter Published by: Montserrat Printing & Publishing, Inc. - Editor: Bennette Roach Office: Davy Hill, Mailing Address: P.O. Box 306, Davy Hill, Montserrat, W.I. Typeset and Printed by Montserrat Printing & Publishing, Inc. - monp_p@candw.ms.

Tel. (664) 491-4715 Fax: (664) 491-2430 E-mail: editor@themontserratreporter.com or monrep@candw.ms - Web Site: http://www.themontserratreporter.com

Sexual Assault - How much do you know?

By VelikaLawrence PROSAF_ThePower OfOne PROSAF - Surviving Sexual Abuse in the Caribbean What are you doing? Please don’t touch me there. Please stop. No don’t do it. No, I don’t want to, I’ve changed my mind. Please leave me alone. Screams, Cries and Pleas.

I can’t adequately explain what it feels like to have someone infringe on your right to be free and secure in your own body, I can’t explain what it feels like to know there is nothing you can to do stop what is happening, to know that nothing will erase the smell, the memory, or the feeling of what is happening. Rape, Child molestation, incest, fondling, touching, oral/anal/vaginal intercourse that isn’t wanted leaves the victim feeling very out of control.

Knowing that nothing that is said or done will deter them, nothing will change their minds. One need only turn to any news channel to find a litany of stories from women, men and children, who have to deal with the ramifications of someone’s decision to sexually violate them.

Why did you let it happen, why didn’t you say anything, what were you wearing, why did it take you so long to come forward?

From these questions it appears we are almost complicit in the crimes committed against us. These questions don’t help survivors; they only serve to revictimize them. The act in and of it-self leaves you feeling shameful and somehow blame worthy and these questions only serve to reinforce those feelings.

Any one who understands the nature of sexual assaults will also know that it is very rarely about sex and more often about power. Sexual assault is never about compromising. There is rarely a chance to stop what has started occurring. Saying no does nothing to deter one who is hell bent on committing the crime. There seems to be a lack of concern for the welfare of those who have been assaulted and I can only assume this is because there is a lack of understanding as to what sexual assault is.

Sexual Assault includes any sexual

activity that one party does not agree to; rape, incest, child molestation, fondling, sexual touching, sexual activity that one person doesn’t agree to, oral, anal, vaginal intercourse that isn’t wanted by one party.

Sexual acts aren’t always physical but can also be visual or verbal. I hope that with this knowledge we are better able as a society to support those who have been abused, to stand with them and help them down their difficult road to recovery.

Many don’t understand that sexual assault not only damages you physically but also psychologically. The after-effects of sexual assault are lasting and more damaging when there is a lack of support.

Sexual assault is more rampant on our island and through the wider Caribbean than we are willing to believe or acknowledge.

I have found that with this crime many believe that if they will themselves into believing it doesn’t exist or didn’t happen that they don’t have to face it, that they don’t have to take a stance. By ignoring what is happening you have already taken a stance, by asking that we remain silent, you have already chosen a side.

The message you are sending is that we have something to be ashamed of, that we are guilty of something. You are telling the abusers that they can get away with the crimes they are committing. As a country we have to take a stand on issues that affect our people, our future leaders.

Sexual crimes are rampant and while the statistics show that it isn’t a great issue, it is noted that sexual crimes are one of the most underreported crimes.

I ask that we educate ourselves on this issue. That we educate our children on issues surrounded sexual assault. They need to feel safe coming forward and confiding in a parent, teacher, police officer, etc.

They need to feel they will be protected.

Survivors need to believe that they will be believed, that they will be supported and helped while dealing with what was done to them. I ask as a nation that we stop being ignorant to what is happening in our country and the wider Caribbean.

We can be found on Facebook: PROSAF- Surviving Sexual Abuse in the Caribbean

Our Scripture Verse Today All We at he r C ommi t t me nt [Jesus] said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 (NRSV) On one warm, sunny day I was out mowing our yard. Eventually I noticed Ben, our lovable Golden Labrador, following me.

He easily couldÊve gone into the garage · where it wasnÊt as hot · and lapped up a drink of water to cool down, but our loyal Lab continued to follow me in the heat, panting profusely.

W he n I t h o u g h t a b o u t B e n Ês commitment to following me, the question

came to mind, Am I that committed to following Christ? When things in my life arenÊt going well or when the Lord doesnÊt answer one of my prayers the way I would like, am I still committed to following him? Or am I loyal to Christ only when everything in life is going my way? Our lovable LabÊs commitment to following me, in spite of tough circumstances, challenged me to be more devoted in my commitment to follow Christ.

Tyler Myers (Ohio, USA)we pray.

Prayer: Dear God, give us your grace and strength to be committed to you even when life is full of trials. Amen.

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Roman Catholic Church celebrates first Harvest in memory Fr. George Agger Roman Catholic parish priest in Montserrat said it would be historic when St. Patrick’s parish in Montserrat celebrates on Sunday, November 3, 2013 a harvest festival.

Beginning at the usual 9.15 a.m. Sunday Mass at Lookout, joint with St. Martin de Pores for the occasion, the first harvest for the Roman Catholic church in Montserrat took place where parishioners brought food products and food grown and harvested on island and decorated the church with these strewn over the foyer and with the church.

Harvest hymns and songs, incense and blessing with holy water throughout the mass, celebrated with additional accompanying steel band music provided by the Genysis steel orchestra.

Earlier reports said that although other denominations on island observe this popular event annually the Catholic Church community here has never followed suit until now.

Father George addressing the historic occasion, said that harvest celebrations are not new within the Catholic Church throughout the world but, “it is not the most common of festivities.”

On Sunday he said, “I think it is an appropriate occasion to remind ourselves that we must give God thanks… not because the other churches are doing it, thank God they are, but because here in Montserrat we are very conscious of the fruits of the earth…,” as he noted that the readings for the Mass were taken from the first and last books of the Bible.

He explains that although it started in England, as he recalls knowing about in his own country in Ireland, it comes the end of the Harvest Season. “…traditionally in Europe in the Early Century the people would gather and give God thanks at the end of the year.”

This is something we haven’t done as a local church and even at the worldwide Catholic Church. We don’t do it very often, “but I just thought it was something beautiful and the other thing that connects it with giving God thanks, is that people sharing their gifts, their talents, their craft and putting that at the service of those in need of the community,” he said.

He concluded: “For our Harvest Festival Sunday, any funds raised from the gifts etc., will be given to the St. Vicent de Paul Society, who will share it among the poor and the elderly of our community. That is like sharing the gifts of God given to us, sharing them with those who need them more than we have them.”

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Montserrat Secondary School Emergency could lead to modern school says Education Minister GIU (November 5, 2013) – Honourable Minister of Education Colin Riley on Monday said he will be pursuing the possibility of a creating a 21 st Century school now that steps need to be taken to rid the Montserrat Secondary School of materials thought to contain asbestos.

Students were asked to stay home on Monday and Tuesday while officials decided on the best course of action for housing the more than 300 students and teachers of the secondary school in Salem.

Following an independent consultant’s group findings of material which may contain asbestos, the decision was taken to close the school and find alternative accommodations.

Technicians from the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), the Environmental Health department have conducted independent investigations, both of which found “lagging” material in the roof and walls which are thought to be made from asbestos products.

PIU head Owen Lewis

said the materials were discovered while a consultant team was making structural evaluations on the school campus to ascertain the life of the buildings and recommend a phased approach to upgrading them.

Minister Riley said they had been under the impression that when the school’s roofs were changed in the 1990s that all of the asbestos material had been taken care of. He acknowledged that it was a serious but inherited problem which the government is working on collectively with teachers and other ministry officials to find the best possible outcome for the students and Montserrat.

This emergency, he noted, is providing the impetus to pursue more speedily the creation of a state-of –theart secondary school for Montserrat. “Salem is the preferred location for the school in the future and we want to work with all of our partners including the Ministry of Finance, DFID, the teachers, students and parents to create a school which we all can be proud

In Photo from left to right: Project Implementation Unit (PIU) Director Owen Lewis, Honourable Premier Reuben Meade, Honourable Minister oof Education and Health Colin Riley, Permanent Secretary of Education Phillip Chambers, and Director of Education Glenn Francis.

He noted that this nega- November 11 at the Brades want to keep safety at the tive circumstance has cre- Primary School campus. forefront.”

Starting this Wednesated the opportunity to ad- As it relates to returning vance the plans for building to Salem, after some work day, fifth formers are asked is done it will be possible to return to classes at the a new secondary school.

The minister acknowl- to reoccupy the buildings Salem Primary School until edged the support of the which were not affected. We Friday. From next week planning team which in- will also refurbish the Salem Monday, classes will resume cludes Permanent Secretary Primary School compound for all secondary school of Education Phillip Cham- including the 1920 build- students at the Brades Pribers, Director of Education ing and the ones built in the mary School. Students from Glenn Francis, PIU Director 90s. In the second phase, Brades Primary will attend Owen Lewis, and the prin- we will have enough space classes at the Lookout Pricipals of all three public and functional capability to mary on a shift basis until schools. take the school back to that November 18 when the “We do not know the community,” the minister buildings now under reexact timeline for MSS to stated confidently. “We do pairs will be completed and South American cocaine. At the return to Salem. In the initial ask people to be patient. handed over. At that time, same time, there was a crackdown phase we will operate a com- The quality of the education both primary schools will along the U.S.-Mexico border. plete school from Monday, will not be any less and we operate concurrently.

“Whenever those two get squeezed, the movement is toward the Caribbean,” said Ricardo Martinez, an associate police superintendent in Puerto Rico.

Islanders fear growing bloodshed and drug use. “The violence is overwhelming and it has been increasing,” said a man who would give his name only as Kike in La Perla, a slum perched above the sea in the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan. “Young kids who are coming up the ranks think they’re James Bond.”

In the October 25 issue the story captioned “Public Service Appraisal system…”

A similar anxiety is expressed carried a line which read: “He says that with fair and satisfactory at the bottom and no by a few residents of the tiny fishing village of Forum, on Jamaica’s category to suggest that anyone is performing poorly, the number of categories, “should southern coast, where the main be reduced and more clearly defined and distinct from each other.” road leads past rickety wooden The word satisfactory was later changed by a press release from the Governor’s ofshacks to a rocky shoreline lined fi ce which said, “it has been drawn to the Governor’s attention that the lowest marking with small boats. in the performance appraisal system for the public sector is in fact “unsatisfactory” and “If the drugs take over, this place will never be the same. It not “satisfactory”.” will be bad, bad,” fisherman Oneal This corrected information was conveyed to us by email, which had been completely Burke said as he scaled fresh red overlooked by us. snapper.

The complete performance markings are therefore: Police in Puerto Rico say Outstanding about 75 percent of homicides _ which hit a record of 1,135 in 2011 Very good _ are tied to drug trafficking in the Good U.S. territory of 3.7 million people.

Fair In recent years, smugglers Unsatisfactory. cont’d. on page 7

of,” Minister Riley said.

The education minister said the vision includes the creation of a campus which can house up to 750 students and provide for all of the modern functions of a learning environment, including the performing arts and sports.

A rising tide of drug traficking in Caribbean The Associated Press Assault rifles at the ready, police in a speedboat scan the coastline as they slice through the slate-gray water, aware that the rocky shorelines and fishing villages that line parts of southern Jamaica are not always very sleepy these days.

Seizures of South American cocaine in Jamaica have doubled since last year, and that has prompted island authorities to step up their game, dispatching more patrols to locations that haven’t seen such sustained law enforcement activity in years.

“All these areas are constantly monitored for illegal contraband. We keep our ears close to the ground,” said Det. Cpl. Orville Welsh, the lead officer in the patrol boat, after his team searched a fisherman’s canoe and a village of wooden shacks for drugs and guns.

It’s not just Jamaica that’s on alert. The central Caribbean as a whole seems to be coming back into favor with transnational drug cartels, with authorities reporting sharp increases in cocaine seizures and scrambling resources to contain the apparent surge.

Long a smuggler’s paradise, the Caribbean was eclipsed by Mexico as the prime drug route to the U.S. in the 1990s when

Colombian cartels retreated amid stronger enforcement off Florida.

In recent years, cocaine seized in the Caribbean dropped to around 5 percent of the total found by U.S. authorities.

Activity is picking up, possibly a result of the violent drug war in Mexico and Central America. The frequency and size of cocaine seizures in the Caribbean, particularly off the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, have been steadily climbing. In the first half of the year, Caribbean seizures accounted for 14 percent of U.S.-bound cocaine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The DEA says 87 tons (79 metric tons) of cocaine were seized in the Caribbean corridor in 2012, nearly double the year-earlier total.

The high pace is continuing, with 44 tons (40 metric tons) seized in the first half of this year.

“I don’t think it’s just a one- or two-year blip,” said Vito Guarino, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Caribbean division.

DEA officials and others say the Caribbean surge is partly a result of efforts such as the U.S.-led Central America Regional Security Initiative, launched in January 2012, which increased enforcement in Central America, often the first stop on the export route for

Correction: Public Service Appraisal System Change of word Satisfactory to Unsatisfactory

Friday, November 08, 2013

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MSS Students to use site The Office of the DPP, Police to complete CXC SBAs, and courts are dealing says Minstry of Education seriously with threats and Ministry of Education officials on Wednesday, November 06, 2013 said students preparing for CXC examinations will be allowed to use the labs at the main Montserrat Secondary School site to complete their School Based Assessments (SBAs).

“In preparation for CXC examinations students need to complete labs /practicals in the following areas: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Integrated Science, Clothing and Textiles, Food and Nutrition, Electricity/Elec-

tronics, Wood Work, ICT. If the required number of labs is not completed the children will fail their exam in those subjects,” a statement from the ministry explained.

“At the PTA meeting on the evening of Tuesday Nov 5th, it was explained to parents that children will be taken to the MSS site this week to complete these activities using only the top tiers of the compound which have been declared safe. The intention is to complete the labs before the work to remove the asbestos

starts. The parents who were present at the meeting understood this and raised no objection to that plan. The teachers are willing to work with the children on site to ensure that the required number of labs is completed on time.

“We ask for the full support and understanding of the parents and of the community,” the release ended.

Work to remove the suspected asbestos material will only begin after the students have completed all of their SBAs.

domestic violence

The office of the DPP, Police and courts are dealing seriously with threats and domestic violence The police before reporting on a case with two serious counts of threats, had reported two separate cases that included charges of armed with an offensive weapon, assault, threatening language and indecent language. Another was

CARIBBEAN DEVELOPMENT BANK JOB OPPORTUNITY ECONOMIST The Caribbean Development Bank is seeking to fill vacant Economist positions in its Economics Department. The successful candidates will be based at its headquarters located in Barbados.

The Economist is responsible for economic research and related activities aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Bank’s operations and interventions in its Borrowing Member Countries. The successful candidate is required to have: 1.

A first degree in Economics augmented by the appropriate masters’ degree in a field of economics relevant to development.

2.

At least eight (8) years as a professional economist. Applications are encouraged from Economists with the following sector/area experience: Energy (conventional and renewable forms) Environment/climate change Transport Trade Public Private Partnerships

Candidates must be nationals of one of CDB’s Member Countries. The Bank’s Member Countries are the Commonwealth Caribbean countries together with Canada, Colombia, Germany, Haiti, Italy, Mexico, Suriname, the People’s Republic of China, the United Kingdom and Venezuela.

CDB is a multilateral development bank that collaborates with its clients to promote sustainable social and economic development, economic cooperation and regional integration.

APPLICATIONS Full details of the job opportunity, guidelines for the submission of applications and general information about the Caribbean Development Bank may be obtained from the Bank’s website at http://www.caribank.org. The closing date for applications is November 22, 2013.

on a charge of Insulting Language.

Kingsley Murrain of Friths, after pleading not guilty to the first set of charges allegedly committed against the owner of a bar in Salem, was found guilty by new senior Magistrate Robert Shuster on October 23, 2013. Murraine received a six months imprisonment suspended sentence for two years on each account and to pay compensation to the victim in the sum of $500.00 EC. He was also fined in respect of the charges one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) to be paid in sixty (60) days, and in default fourteen (14) days in prison.

In the other case, Emmanuel Lee of Davy Hill appeared before Chief Magistrate Veronica Dorsette–Hector on October 23, 2013 on the single charge of Insulting Language in an incident, which occurred in the public road at Salem. He also pleaded not guilty, convicted according to police reports, based on the circumstance, no conviction was recorded against Lee. He was however ordered to pay prosecution costs of $500.00.

Jermaine Cox of Sweeney’s languished on a charge of allegedly obstructing a Sergeant female Police Officer while acting in due execution of her duty at Little Bay on the 6th day of January 2013. On October 24, 2013, he appeared before Magistrate Robert Shuster, pleaded not guilty, but convicted at the end of the trial. He was fined $300 dollars

in default of payment, fourteen (14 ) days in prison.

These and the following matter prompted the Police to issue a press release last week. “The Royal Montserrat Police Service (RMPS), Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, and the Judicial Courts - are doing their best to send the message that domestic violence in Montserrat shall not be tolerated,” the release said noting that , “Since 2007 the most frequently reported incident to police has been “threats of violence”.”

Deputy Commissioner Siddell said unfortunately, a large number of these reports do not make their way to the courts because the complainants/ victims are discouraged to cooperate with police.

The matter of two counts of threats involved Delon Giddings of Lookout, who after pleading guilty on both counts was handed a prison sentence of two months’ imprisonment for each count to be served concurrently. The threats were meted out to his female partner who had previously lodged assault complaints against him.

He vehemently repeated the threats in the presence of the police who arrested and charged him accordingly as above.

Magistrate Dorsette-Hector in handing down the sentence noted to the accused that incidence of abuse and violence is becoming more prevalent in the island and she must act to send the appropriate message that that cannot be tolerated.

often took off by plane from Venezuela en route to Honduras or elsewhere in Central America. U.S. officials say those clandestine flights have dropped by 33 percent since 2011. Some of that slack is being picked up by speedboats racing across the Caribbean.

Angel Melendez, a Puerto Ricobased special agent for Homeland Security Investigations of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, said cocaine is increasingly trafficked in larger amounts directly north from Venezuela on boats that refuel at sea during the roughly two-day voyage. Just last week, federal authorities seized more than 1,100 kilograms (2,425 pounds) of cocaine from a speedboat off St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, just east of Puerto Rico.

“It’s a bigger risk, but it’s a bigger profit,” Melendez said.

The Dominican Republic is now the region’s biggest transit point for drugs. A U.S. military assessment projected that 6 percent of the cocaine destined for the U.S. this year will pass through the

Dominican Republic alone.

In Jamaica, authorities saw seizures doubled to 354 kilograms (780 pounds) in the first half of the year, according to police statistics. Police Commissioner Owen Ellington says he fears transnational criminals are funneling resources into Jamaica because they see the country as “a soft spot that can be exploited.”

But Guarino and regional anti-drug agents say they are confident that island governments and law enforcement can effectively battle smugglers with assistance. DEA figures show Caribbean drug seizures doubling from 2009 to this year, and increased seizures are perceived as a sign of progress against traffickers.

“We’re here, we’re ready, we’re focused,” Guarino said. “We know how it’s coming and so I think we’re equipped to handle it.” ___ Danica Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

David McFadden on Twitter: http:// twitter.com/dmcfadd

Drug traficking in the Caribbean...cont’d. from page 6

Page 8

Friday, November 08, 2013

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Montserratians Overseas donate cardiac monitor to Glendon Hospital

Adapted – Medical practitioners at the Glendon Hospital on Wednesday, November 06, 2013 expressed their gratitude for several new gifts which will make their jobs a little easier.

Local entrepreneur Mrs. Lorraine Lewis on behalf of a group called Stratians for Strat. presented a cardiac monitor defibrillator, a fetal Doppler, and an automatic blood pressure machine to the Casualty Department of the Glendon Hospital in St. John’s.

In September, the group launched an online crowd funding campaign which raised US$6,893.06 after fees to purchase the equipment. To date, US$3,112.95 remain, which Lewis said would go to acquiring additional machines and materials that hospital officials have said they need.

Lewis said in addition to the Stratians for Strat groups,

other Montserrat associations in the UK, US and Canada have pledged their support to assist in purchasing what the hospital has indicated it requires to offer quality care to patients. “…but it doesn’t end here folks,” Lewis said on behalf of the donors. “We’re now in constant communication with you guys on the ground, trying to understand what is needed and what we can do,” she said, continuing, “we still have some money left and over the next coming weeks we hope to present other items to the hospital and it won’t end there this is just the beginning…!”

Dr. Ingrid Buffonge (left) and Lorraine Lewis look at the new equipment donated

by Stratians for Strat from funds raised through an online crowdfunding campaign in September.

Chief Surgeon Doctor Braimah Kassim and Nurse Anaesthetist Brenda Daley expressed their gratitude for the equipment. Daley said the Fetal Doppler was of importance to the Obstetrics department.

Lewis added that the next delivery of equipment will be for the Pediatric/Obstetrics Department. “Future funds raised will also be invested in training for the doctors and nurses of the hospital,” she noted.

Dr. Ingrid Buffonge in expressing her share of gratitude, said: “We’re very grateful. It’s a cardiac monitor and it’s also a defibrillators so it can shock the heart back into normal rhythm in patients who are in cardiac arrest or who have very fast rhythms that are not compatible with good health - we can get the heart rate up through this machine until we can get them to a cardiologist, so we are very thankful.”

Asbestos scare at Montserrat Secondary School Montserrat Secondary School, Salem

cont’d. from page 1 The Hon Minister of Education Colin Riley, then on Monday with his purpose team, joined by the Hon Premier Reuben Meade, moved to dispel the first information to hit the scene that there was asbestos falling out of the roofs at the Montserrat Secondary school buildings. They also addressed issues arising from the confirmation that there could be buildings with ‘asbestos material’.

The team consisted of the Premier Meade, Education Minister Riley and Permanent Secretary Philip Chambers, Director of Education Glenn Francis, and head of Project Implementation Unit (PIU), Owen Lewis. They confirmed that there was no asbestos falling from the roofs at the MSS but said there was a suspicion that there could be asbestos present in the buildings

but was of no danger to anyone’s health, since asbestos can only become harmful when ‘disturbed’.

PIU head Lewis said inspections were carried out Saturday and Sunday and teams which also involved Environmental Health personnel, covered one building, currently sub divided into three classrooms. He said, “debris is falling from the roof, but on further inspection the technical team identified that the ceiling of the building was termite infested, and the debris that was falling and accumulating on the ground was the result of the termite infestation.”

The problem developed when according to Lewis, “…the team had to go into the ceiling compartment of the main hall and the material used for lagging, that has a high probability of containing asbestos was identified…”

The problem grew worst

when that Monday morning further investigation showed the situation to be greater that originally reported. Lewis said: “This investigation has identified that the material is allot more extensive than was originally thought and this was due to the work that was carried out back in the early 1990’s as the minister reference before.”

Lewis then concluded, “so the technical team will continue to work with the Ministry of Education, as we put together now a plan in terms of how the material can be safely removed from the compound and dispose of properly and we will share that plan with the Ministry as it is developed later this week.”

It was this last report that threw the Ministry into top gear, a plan that the Minister said had been in place to transfer MSS operations to the north if volcanic

activity made that necessary. “If Salem went into emergency mode we would take all the schools to the north of the island…” he said.

The problem he said is that the upgrading of the Lookout school had been slowed from court involvement and is not fully ready. At this stage, other plans had to be made to facilitate the new unforeseen circumstances to remove school operations from the compound.

The Minister then revealed that there are ongoing plans to rebuild the MSS compound as a fit for purpose secondary school and the opportunity may be right to advance to these plans. “When I came in as Minister in 2009, I was anxious to build a new secondary school,” he said.

“Salem is the preferred site now for the MSS of the future and that land is already government owned. It already has some assets -what we’re going to be doing - we’re proposing, a major reconstruction that is goanna take all of the functions of a modern secondary school in mind,” the Minister said.

(See GIU release: Montserrat Secondary School Emergency Could Lead to Modern School says Education Minister) on page 6.

Doubts of asbestos presence at MSS campus The report of the increased gravity of potential asbestos on the site, raised questions of the

works referred to as carried out in 1994. And the further questions are, if, how or why there can be asbestos “remnants” on the buildings?

JE Galloway Construction Company Limited in a ZJB report, Managing Director Emmanuel Galloway said it was necessary to clear the air on reports that they covered up the findings of asbestos at the MSS. He went on to assure: the MSS staff and students and the Montserrat community that in the performance of our works we took that necessary precautions and that the ministry of communications and works …correspondence on test results related to this matter.

He acknowledged that in April 2000 his company won a contract to perform some renovation work on the Salem campus of the MSS. He said that the contract entailed, “repainting the buildings, replacing defective windows and doors, upgrading of the electrical and plumbing services and the removal and replacement of the roof covering on some of the buildings.

“During the first site meetings the project architects saw material resembling asbestos.”

He said his company suspended all works on the building that appeared to contain the suspected material until the appropriated test could be conducted. This they did, adding that representaives of the Ministry of Communications and Works, (to whom no reference has been made since the new suspicions) at the time took samples of the material and had the material tested for asbestos.

Galloway reports that in April, 2000, his company sent samples of the suspected materials to asbestos testing lab in the USA…the test result revealed that asbestos was not detected in any of the sample.

He said, “likewise the results of the test conducted by the Ministry of Communications and Works at the time came back negative.”

Today, the PIU announced that samples of materials from the buildings at MSS would be sent to Miami, USA for testing. The results were expected back on island by the beginning of next week.

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