The Montserrat Reporter - November 29 2013

Friday, November 29, 2013

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Today’s Scripture

www.themontserratreporter.com Vol. XXVIII No. 39

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It is by grace you have b e e n s a v e d , t h ro u g h faith — and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

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welcome, castigates public servants seeking 12% increase,

CSA president fires back

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Headlines...

World AIDS Day...pg 2

Honouring John Jeffers...pg 5

Accident in St. Peter’s...pg 2

Salem Methodist hospital donation...pg 6

Man from Baker Hill...pg 3

Foot care workshop training...pg 7

Bank of Montserrat Your Bank. Your Future.

LAND LOANS Enquire about interest rates from our Loans Department (664) 491 -3843

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Friday, November 29, 2013

Rapid Testing comes to Montserrat for World AIDS Day Rapid Testing Comes to Montserrat for the World AIDS Day GiU – Clients will be able to receive the results of their HIV test in 10 minutes as part of the World AIDS Day activities for Montserrat on Monday, December 2, 2013.

According to Health Promotions Officer for the Ministry of Health & Social Services Wayne Hunte, for the first time rapid testing will be provided on island. “It will be part of the ‘Check Your Health Campaign’ to mark World AIDS Day,” Hunte explained. “Reverend Joan DelSol Meade will be the chair for the ceremony which begins at 9 a.m. at the St John’s Health Centre,” he confirmed.

The new Chief Medical Officer Dr Tracy Higgins will deliver the feature address.

Throughout the day residents can come in for free health checks for dental care, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), diabetic foot screening, blood sugar and blood group testing.

Community partner for the project is DR Diagnostic Services in Little Bay, which will be offering 20 free HIV screenings and counselling on Monday.

Truck accident in St. Peter’s considered serious

At just after noon today, Nov. 29, 2013, the sounds of the ambulance and later, search and rescue and the police rushed past Cudjoe Head to the news that there had been a rather serious truck accident on the church corner in St. Peters.

Early reports suggest that the truck

cont’d. on page 3

Friday, November 29, 2013

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MINDFULNESS..., Political Mindfulness Man from Baker Hill The world has changed! And I am not sure that persons over the age of sixty should run for political office, except they know how to bridge the modernity gap with respect to fair taxation, globalization, information technology and potential ethnic conflict (even on Montserrat). But without a doubt, each nation requires a special kind of dynamism at the helm of its leadership or governance.

So I want each person who intends to present him or herself for election to political office in the next general elections to be mindful that the successful supermarkets on Montserrat are not owned by Montserratians. Oh yes, I want every living Politian to explain to the young voters how a thing like this could happen. How the ownership of the most important and lucrative service in the buying and selling industry could exclude native Montserratians?

I want every politician to be mindful that Montserratians spend more money in the supermarkets than they spend in paying income and property taxes. Oh yes, I want every member of each political party to be mindful of the fact that we do not spend as much money at the hardware stores as we spend at the supermarkets.

In fact, Montserratians in aggregate spend more money at the supermarkets than they spend on mortgages. Yet they are scarcely employed in that in the supermarkets.

I want every politician to be mindful that Montserratians do not control their food supply chain. Oh yes, Montserratians grow and sell at exorbitant prices a few food items. So I want our politicians to be mindful of the fundamentals of buying and selling and the part

merchants play in the collection and payment of the nation’s taxes. I want every politician to understand and be fully aware of the trust Montserratians place in the hands of merchants. I want every politician to know what constitute the price paid for an item of merchandise.

Of course, each dollar we spend on merchandise has in it a few cents of income tax payable to the department of Inland Revenue. And I want the politicians to ponder whether the aggregate of these few cents is ever paid into the tax department.

Again, I shall repeat! I want our politicians to be mindful that although Montserratians throughout the Diaspora are successful doctors, lawyers, professors, architects, bankers, entrepreneurs and economists, when these Montserratians visit Montserrat they are shocked to see that the food supply chain is not owned by Montserratians. They realize that buying and selling, the most lucrative enterprises and the simplest form of businesses to operate, the surest business method to become wealthy is not owned or controlled by Montserratians.

I want the politicians to be mindful of our formal and informal education system and to wonder if and when it went wrong. It will be unbelievable to some that when the Honorable William Bramble left the political scene all the supermarkets, wholesale and retail shops were owned and operated by Montserratians. But that is a fact. So what is the matter?

Don’t we know that…‘buying and selling’ is as natural to the natives of a country, as trees and grass are natural to hills and valleys of that country?

Therefore licenses for businesses that operate for the most part in buying and selling should only be given to non- nationals as a last resort.

St. Peter’s accident

...con’t.d from page 2

cont’d. from page 1

laden with building blocks travelling downhill in southerly direction, developed control difficulties

with speed, causing the truck to first collide with an oncoming pickup on the corner and careening

over the embankment of the church lawn below the road, carrying with it a car that was parked off the

SAGICOR LIFE INC. CAMELLA THOMAS of Virgin Islands, St. Peter’s, having made sworn deposition that Policy No. S00121042 issued by Sagicor Life Inc. on the life of CAMELLA THOMAS has been lost, and having made application to the Directors to grant a duplicate of the same, notice is hereby given that unless objection is raised within one month of the date hereof, the duplicate policy asked for will be issued.

Dated 13th day of September, 2013.

By Order Sandra Osborne Corporate Secretary

road on the corner.

Both occupants of the truck were taken off to the hospital with the man seated on the passenger side suffering from what appeared to our source as having serious head injuries. Last news was that the driver was released from the hospital.

The police who said they are investigating the accident, can be seen in the photos here, gathering scene evidence.

Is it reasonable to say that…it is politically and nationally embarrassing that refugees, who arrived just a few years ago, own the fastest growing buying and selling enterprise on Montserrat?

And maybe…it is also fiscal ignorance that nonnationals are given a trade license to operate a supermarket to buy and sell when those persons have never paid income tax or a special license on Montserrat!

Now, what is buying and selling? Oh yes, what is this thing? It is a service relationship between a buyer and a seller in which the buyer pays to the seller a price that includes all of the following ingredients. These are the full cost price of the merchandise, the cost to ship the merchandise to Montserrat, the customs duty and port charges paid by the seller, the cost of rent or mortgage for the shop, the cost for the seller’s trucks and cars, the cost for the sellers workers, the cost for shelves and refrigerators, the cost to send the sellers children to school, the cost of all the food and clothes and fun for the seller’s family, the cost for utility and telephone bills, the tax to be paid on the profits made by the seller, the cost of all the buildings and homes owned by the seller and their families and the cost of all the spoiled goods that are sent to the garbage dump.

Although the foregoing has been directed to the political wan-a-bees, it is worthwhile for all Montserratians to be attentive and thoughtful about the matter of ownership of the lucrative business enterprises, especially those that engage in buying and selling.

Furthermore, as the nation gears up to stay or change the political course, the issue of overall mindfulness is relevant. Moreover, yes, relevance in itself is important as Montserratians search for their footings!

And what else will be relevant for political discussions? Building another secondary school in Salem?

Setting a national retirement age? Revisiting the Social Security Amendment of 2009? Starting some form of national health insurance? Believe me; none is more relevant than the lack of success that is apparent with supermarkets - buying and selling businesses owned by natives. WE MUST BRING THIS MATTER TO THE POLITICAL TABLE NOW! And in case you are afraid to do so, just say the manfrombakerhill tell you to be mindful, especially this election year.

And, there is more to arouse the consciousness of voters. For example, you could be mindful of the fact the ordinary contractor on a budget of $500,000.00 employs as much as 10 workers. Even the Montserrat Reporter employs more workers than some supermarkets.

Moreover, consider this! The supermarkets in aggregate collect more money than the GOM collects from income taxes.

Oh yes, mindfulness! Much political mindfulness is expected from each candidate this election year; because Montserratians will… change!

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Friday, November 29, 2013

Letters/Opinion

EDITORIAL Is CARICOM guilty in any matter similar to the Dominican Republic?

Ronald Sanders has always been, and more recently writing several commentaries on matters and issues involving and relating to CARICOM member states and the region in general. For this purpose we do remember that most of the OECS states/territories and associated states/ territories are members of CARICOM. It didn’t escape Sanders the dangers to the Caribbean Community of the issues in Barbados and now Trinidad and Jamaica. The fact of that is, perhaps may on a smaller scale, the problem/s exists between most or the entire region and the Community in particular.

Couple months ago the Dominican Republic’s Constitutional Court ruled that it will block citizenship for people born to immigrants without residency permits since 1929. Activists say it would affect more than 200,000 people, nearly all of them Dominican-born people of Haitian descent.

Trinidad was probably the first among others to abhor the ruling.

CARICOM spoke for them all issuing a statement saying, “the ruling renders tens of thousands of people ‘stateless in violation of international human rights obligations.’ The statement calls on the Dominican government to protect the rights of ‘those made vulnerable by this ruling and its grievous effects.’”

St. Vincent had their say, Montserrat’s Premier chided, and the OECS at the end of their 58th Meeting of the Authority, issued a statement, which said, among other things, “until this injustice has been addressed, the Member States of the OECS would find it extremely difficult to engage with the Dominican Republic in various for a including with the councils of the Caribbean Forum of Aftrican Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (CARIFORUM).

Premier Meade prior to the OECS Statement said, ”during his welcome at the opening of the meeting, “, we must stand firm to ensure that our Haitian brothers and sisters are treated fairly. We do not want to reach the stage where, within the OECS, where we are asking our Dominican Republic nationals to transit out of our region until their host government…their national government does the right thing.”

Haiti is a member of the Caribbean Community. The Dominican Republic has declared its intention to join.

We asked the OECS heads at the post meeting press conference on Nov 22 whether any of our islands within the OECS are guilty of anything close to what the DR has done? The reply: “Let’s mark this thing out of 100, the guilt of Dominican Republic is 99.999 therefore the difference from that and hundred is our level of guilt.”

That of course says that the problem is next to 0, but while the question did not ask about similar situations, it was alluding to the immigration problems within the Community that must be a serious hindrance to integration and CSME. We then remember the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ) Barbados - Jamaica ruling and in the face of that up jumps the Trinidad-Jamaica turmoil.

On November 19, Trinidad and Tobago immigration officials denied entry to 13 Jamaicans and sent them back to Jamaica the following day. If taken to court it seems Jamaica will prevail. Sanders noted, “In denying them entry, immigration officers did not take account of “Community Law”, which has precedence over inconsistent domestic legislation, as stated by the CCJ. The issue that this occurs frequently within the Community, even if the numbers are much smaller, people do not usually react as is obvious the case now.

The matter is a people issue, one which the CARICOM leaders must realise they need to get down, way down, through those to whom they have entrusted the authority and get Caribbean people to love one another, understanding that their future demands this, now.

The Montserrat Reporter

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

Concern raised as Iranian enters Canada as St. Kitts-Nevis diplomat

By Caribbean News Now contributor St Kitts -- The reported entry of an Iranian into Canada on a St Kitts and Nevis diplomatic passport has raised concerns on the part of the Canadian government.

The alarm was raised after Alizeera Moghadhan, an Iranian, entered Canada with not just an ordinary St KittsNevis passport but, instead, a St Kitts-Nevis diplomatic passport of.

Moghadam reportedly stated that he came to Canada to see the prime minister of Canada. He breached all protocols relating to the visit of foreign officials entering a country on official business with the Canadian

prime minister. He had no appointment. He was an unknown. He could not state the nature of his diplomatic engagements.

Without a St Kitts and Nevis passport Moghadam would have had difficulties in getting access to Canada.

Moghadam told officials that he paid $1 million for his diplomatic passport.

So concerned was the Canadian government that they reportedly sent an envoy to speak urgently with the St Kitts and Nevis government led by Dr Denzil Douglas.

The Canadian official reportedly told the St Kitts and Nevis government that the government of Canada would no longer permit visa

free access to Canada if its borders were penetrated by persons of dubious character carrying St Kitts and Nevis passports. The Canadian government insisted that citizens from Afghanistan and Iran could not be part of the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investments Program.

Douglas has since issued a press release indicating that the St Kitts and Nevis government would no longer extend the sale of passports to citizens of Iran and Afghanistan.

Dr Timothy Harris, the leader of the opposition Team Unity, said, “Serious damage has been done to the image and reputation of St Kitts and Nevis.”

Jamaica issues travel warning against Trinidad and Tobago Caribbean360 Adapted CMC – On Nov. 21, 2013, it was reported that 13 Jamaicans were denied entry into the twin island republic on Tuesday. According to a report in the Jamaica Observer newspaper Trinidadian immigration officers denied them entry, detained them and sent them back to Jamaica on the first flight on Wednesday morning.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a warning to persons traveling to Trinidad and Tobago in the wake of recent reports of several Jamaicans having been denied entry into that Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

country recent weeks.

“The ministry is concerned at this development and continues to interface with the relevant authorities in Trinidad and Tobago on the matter, including in the light of the Shanique Myrie ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice,” said a release issued by the Ministry.

It stated that a few Jamaicans have reported the incidents to the Ministry and as a result the High Commission in Trinidad has been instructed to obtain clarification and information from the authorities in the twin island republic.

The Ministry has urged Jamaicans who believe their

rights under the CSME Regime were breached, to make a report to the nearest Jamaican High Commission or the Ministry.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry also reminded Jamaicans that the freedom of movement provision does not give permission to work and persons falling outside of the ten agreed categories will require work permits or exemptions.

On Monday November 25, 2013 - Arnold J. Nicholson, minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, has invited his Trinidadian counterpart, Winston Dookeran to visit Jamaica before the end of 2013 for discussions on cont’d. on page 9

Our Scripture Verse Today Grateful for Grace It is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) As a municipal prosecutor, I often review requests to seal the record of someone convicted of a criminal offense. Records are sealed (removed from public access) at the discretion of the court. One question on the form for sealing the record is, „Why is this sealing deserved?‰ I have only seen one answer that I thought demonstrated true humility. The answer was, „I donÊt deserve to have my record sealed, but I would be grateful if the court did grant this request.‰ That response is a model of the way we should respond to GodÊs offer of salvation.

God, through the death and resurrection of Christ, is willing to erase our entire record of sin if we accept salvation with a right heart.

Someone who tries to grasp salvation with good works thinks that he or she has earned and therefore deserves salvation. To think that salvation is a matter of luck or fortune is to see God as arbitrary and therefore to miss the concept of grace. But the person who sees himself or herself as unworthy, yet loved by God, understands that through faith and the grace of God, we are saved from our transgressions. The sealing God provides is not deserved, but we are grateful for GodÊs love and ChristÊs sacrifice that brings salvation.

Matthew L. Reger (Ohio, USA)

Friday, November 29, 2013

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John Jeffers elevates the MBE Award

By Claude Gerald

John Jeffers has distinguished and dignified the Member of British Empire (MBE) award that has been accorded to him recently in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

In a time when such awards are freely given for nebulous reasons or purposes, including personal and political patronage, to individuals undeserving generally, citing John Jeffers, the veritable name linked with marine resource management for over 30 years on Montserrat, is welcome news.

Jeffers has given meaning to the MBE and thus has made that age-old honour, linked to the former colonial power’s dominance in world affairs, respectable again.

That John Jeffers worked in the public sector as a paid servant and should hardly qualify is an attractive argument to make. However it was his singular and sterling dedication to a consistently high standard, including to a beyond-the call attitude, as he provided yeoman service; that uplifted, educated, transformed and impacted our collective consciousness to coastal zone issues and their interconnections with basic survival instincts on Montserrat. These stand tall in his contribution to national life.

John Jeffers on the cusp of retirement has become, by reason of his ability and personality, an institution worthy of reference, and a legend of much humility in his chosen field of endeavour.

His career focused on building, improving and sustaining the fisheries stock in our waters by creating capacity in every linked crucial area. John Jeffers embodied a special single minded attention to detail that made him a one man army, filled with knowledge, theoretical and practical, which empowered him to successfully wrestle with a bureaucracy, not always conducive to guiding productivity.

Jumping off from the then Montserrat Technical College, where

he majored in auto-mechanics and later spent 4 months at International Seafood Ltd, Barbados, to master diesel engines, Jeffers did not foreshadow his defining role in our food systems, when joining the Fisheries Section of the Ministry of Agriculture in 1979, to work on boat engines.

He quickly became the official face of fisheries and manned operations like a veteran as he absorbed training courses from diverse sources. With the assistance of the Regional Fisheries Advisor (19791981) A. I. George, he developed the bye-laws for the Montserrat Fisheries Cooperative, one which is yet alive due to Jeffers’s energy and commitment; despite dormant periods related to nearly 20 years of social disruption. The Cooperative was registered in 1981 and this impetus attracted regional and international attention to the sector. This helped to serve the economic needs of many fisher folk on Montserrat.

Montserrat’s efforts in successful fisheries legislation outpaced other territories in the region. Jeffers’s worth and value climbed disproportionately to his experience and so did the respect of his regional colleagues for him. Key to this was the fact that our Fisheries Legislation became the corner stone for the development of the OECS harmonized fisheries’ legislation, given the foundation that was secured by the trail blazing and enterprising nature of John Jeffers.

John’s training in Fisheries statistics allowed others to be trained to man the collection of data across the many landing sites on island.

As fishing entered a more organized phase, John’s training became more diversified. He acquired skills in using technology that provided for different simultaneous gear use to increase catch; he pursued the mastery of long-line purse seine nets that allowed escape of young fish to sustain the next generation.

Real development of people for Jeffers translates into being cont’d. on page 9

A toast to John Jeffers upon receiving his MBE

Rotary International District 7030 Governor Honoré visits Dr. Henré Honoré is the Rotary International District 7030 Governor from Martinique for all islands from St. Kitts-Nevis to French Guiana. He made his official visit to the Montserrat Rotary club on November 19, 2013 accompanied by his Assistant District Governor for Antigua and Montserrat, Dr. Errol Samuel.

The two District head Rotarians during their paid courtesy calls on His Excellency Governor Davis and Premier the Honorable Ruben T. Meade Premier Meade while joining and holding discussions with the local clubs and their two cont’d. on page 9

Dr. Errol Samuel

Dr. Henré Honoré

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Friday, November 29, 2013

MTB skills training workshop in Salem Methodists make donation to food and beverage preparation the hospital and Margetson Home

Three weeks ago on November 8, Twentyfive (25) persons completed a two-week food and beverage operations workshop, which was once again, took place at the Windsor Restaurant. cont’d. on page 12

For a little while it was becoming almost the norm for the hospital to be the recipient of supplies and equipment and though not the first time a church in Montserrat joined the giving. The Salem Methodist church however went a step further and encouraged other districts to join. The call made as, “an encouragement to the other congregations to maybe liaise…and see how they can contribute further…”

The donation of commodes chairs and other

equipment (wheel chairs), came on November 22, a few days after a Seventh Day Adventist originated group (MAD) from the UK made a donation of medical supplies to the hospital, Golden Years, the Mental Home and the Margetson Memorial home.

Mr.Clifford Lyte made the prsentation on behalf of the Salem Methodist Church, pointing out that the, “Methodist church is tasked basically with outreach programs…” Principal Nursing Manager at the hospital and Mrs. Marjorie Smith Assistant Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, accepted for the hospital, and the Margetson Memorial Home.

Mrs. Smith expressed thankfulness. “We are thankful that we have found another partner in the Methodist church,” noting that this was, “the second time for this week that we are actually receiving donations,” from churches.

Rev. Dr. Joan Delsol Meade explained the origin of the idea at the Salem church. Sister Jocelyn Tuitt’s grandmother was hospitalized (she saw the need), but unfortunately, “she can’t be here at this time.” “She was the person who actually purchased the commodes and had them shipped here.

Rev. Meade then made the suggestion. “I want to make the point though that

this is a contribution from the Salem Methodist Church.

This might very well be an encouragement to the other congregations to maybe liaise with sister Tuitt and see how they can contribute further to importing the service that our elderly and all persons cared at the hospital.”

Miss Desereen Silcott, Principal Nursing Manager, joined the call for other denominations to join. “We are really grateful for persons to really consider making their contributions right here in Montserrat. We anticipate that other religions in Montserrat will be more motivated to see evangelism in another light…” she said.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Foot Care workshop provides training for nurses and establish foot care clinic

“Today marks the beginning of a new era, all diabetics on island will continue to receive improve diabetic foot care thereby reaching the ultimate goal of reducing amputations here in Montserrat,” declared Miss Donelda Henry, a nurse at the opening ceremony of the launch of a Foot Care Workshop.

The two-day workshop began on November 26, 2013.

Miss Henry was the chairperson for the event, but along with cont’d. on page 9 top left: Dr. Brimah Kassim Centre: Nurse Donelda Henry, top: Mrs. Valerie LewisLynch bottom: Nurse Christine Layne left - workshop participants, seated

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Montserrat team promotes development plans at UK Investment Summit GIU – Information on Montserrat’s present and future development plans were on display in London today at Lancaster House for the UK Trade & Investment Forum for Overseas Territories.

Present at the one-day event were representatives from OTs around the world including the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Montserrat.

The Montserrat team lead by the Honourable Premier Reuben T. Meade comprised of CEO

of the Montserrat Development Corporation (MDC) Ivan Browne, Trade and Investment Manager at the MDC David Crichton, Head of the UK Montserrat Office Janice Panton and Chevening Scholar and Government Architect Designate Linda Dias.

Ivan Browne said they were able to meet with more than 20 companies who were offering goods and services as well as interested in the investment opportunities available in Montserrat.

The team fielded information on the proposed port plans, the Little Bay Development, geothermal and private sector regeneration.

Browne added that the His Excellency the Governor Adrian Davis also provided support throughout the day.

The MDC representatives also took time to visit the booths of the other Overseas Territories to see what was on offer and to how they could learn from their best practices.

Photo Courtesy Linda Dias: Montserrat Development Corporation CEO Ivan Browne, Hon. Premier Reuben Meade, Chevening Scholarship Winner Linda A.S. Dias, and Trade & Investment Manager for the MDC David Crichton.

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Friday, November 29, 2013

Kids time - In your own korner Hello everyone – It is kid’s time with Auntie Lyka “In Your Own Korner”. End of term exam is here. I hope you are prepared.

Remember “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” Are you excited that Christmas is almost here? What gift do you want for christmas? Do you think your parents would give it to you? Have your family put up christmas tree and lights as yet?

Once upon a time, Brother Anancy and his good friend, Brother Lion were hungry and were in the mood for something tasty to eat. They decided that they wanted to have some chicken at Island Grill. Brother Anancy had just bought a sporty new car and offered to drive. But there was only one problem. Brother Anancy did not know how to get to Island Grill by car.

Luckily, Brother Anancy’s new car came equipped with a Jamaican GPS Navigation system. He was certain the GPS could get him to the restaurant.

After he and Bredda Lion settled in the vehicle, he turned on the GPS. The voice of the GPS blared through the speakers with a husky male voice.

“Where di two a unu going?” the GPS asked.

Bredda Anancy replied, “Mister GPS, mi an mi fren want to get to Island Grill to get something to eat. But we don’t know how to get there from here. Can yuh give us di directions , please?

“No problem man! Is easy drive dat. Put the car in gear and head down the road until yuh get to Bredda Jancrow food stall,” the GPS instructed.

Bredda Anancy is shocked and amazed.

“Breddda Jancrow have a food stall? Whateva food im selling must smell bad, because as far as I know, jancrow love dead meat,” Anancy asserted.

“Yes man, I know about that stall very well, Anancy,” Bredda Lion said. “Every time one of the animals dead in the district, Jancrow set up di food stall.”

“Yuh si what a tell yuh! I know what I am talking about, the GPS remarked . Soh drive down the road til yuh get to Bredda Jancrow food stall. Yuh cyaan miss it!”

Bredda Anancy puts the car in gear and charged down the road. A few minutes later, sure enough, he saw Bredda Jancrow sitting on a bench selling dead meat by the pound at the side of the road. Just then, the GPS gave him another direction.

“Now, buss the left here soh and drive for about 200 feet an mek a right turn when yuh come to one big, red building. Dat is Bredda Rat famous restaurant.”

Again Bredda Anancy is astounded.

“Bredda Rat have big restaurant?!” He asked in disbelief.

“Yes man! Bredda Rat use to live inna people restaurant and eat up dem scraps and him neva like how di food taste. Soh him decide seh im going to open up im own restaurant. Im most famous ting pan di menu is, rat bat soup,” Bredda Lion explained.

The GPS added, “yes boss, Bredda Rat a big time chef dese days. Now, in another two minute, I want yuh to look out for Bredda Puss Fry Fish place. Yuh cyaan miss it.”

This time Brother Lion is caught by surprise.

“Bredda Puss can fry fish? Since when?” he asked in disbelief.

Pre-School Corner Hello boys and girls today we will be Tracing the circles.

Bredda Anancy and the Jerk Fowl Anancy replied with a big grin, “but wait, you never know seh Bredda Puss a fish tief? If I was a betting man, I would bet seh every last bit of fish im fry in dat place, is tief im tief it.”

The GPS chuckled along with Brother Anancy. Soon, the smell of fry fish seeped into the air. Brother Anancy and Brother Lion could not believe their eyes as they drove alongside Bredda Puss dressed in an Apron, frying fish in his shop.

The GPS warned, “Unu keep unu head straight an noh badda stap. The fish may smell good, but is only stale fish im sell. Lickle fram dis, as yuh come to di commercial bank, look to yuh lef and yuh wi si Bredda Dankey Patty Shop.”

Kiss mi forty leg! Bredda Dankey open up patty shop to?!” asked Anancy.

Anancy, is only eight legs you have. Where you get 40 legs from? Bredda Lion asked confused.

“Bredda Lion mi fren. Anyting is possible, because I do not know what di trousis foot Bredda Donkey know bout baking patty! If him can have a patty shop, den I can have 40 legs!” Anancy argued.

“A true ting enoh Anancy, because I would tink di only ting dat Bredda Donkey know how to bake is jackass carn – but not patty!”

Anancy then said, “next thing this GPS is going to tell mi fi look out fi Bredda Fowl fry chicken restaurant.

But wait…talking about Bredda Fowl, is a long time I don’t see him running around the place enoh. Wonda if im sick?”

“You know Anancy, I don’t see im at all since im come back fram country di odda day enoh. Im did lose a couple feada an im did get mawga, soh maybe im sick fi true,” Bredda Lion responded.

The GPS was quite amused with how surprised Brother Anancy and Brother Lion were that their friends had become entrepreneurs in the food business. However, the GPS had not heard of a restaurant owned by Brother Fowl and tried to reassure them.

“I don’t know anyting about Bredda Fowl owning any fry chicken place. Dat is not coming up on my satellite. But di good news is, unu is not too far from Island Grill. Unu coming up to a Shell gas station where the bus stop is. Right across fram dat bus stap, look out fi Bredda Dawg Jerk chicken stan.”

At this point Brother Anancy and Brother Lion are flabbergasted.

“Holy pig tail! No sah! Bredda Dawg coulda neva have jerk stan an im noh know nutten bout Jerk Sauce!”

Anancy protested.

Bredda Lion remarked, “Well Anancy, im may not know any ting about jerk sauce but Bredda Dawg sure know how to chase fowl. Soh im suppose to have plenty fowl fi stock dat restaurant fi monts.”

As they approach the restaurant, Brother Anancy took a whiff off the scent coming from across the street.

He is entranced in the smell of the rich aroma floating through the air. He stopped the car on the side of the road and murmured.

“The jerk chicken smell good eeh man. I feel like eating right here soh an get a taste off Bredda Dawg jerk fowl. What yuh seh about dat, Bredda Lion?”

Anancy asked.

“I say wi forget about Island Grill and mek wi patronize wi good fren Bredda Dawg. Di jerk fowl smell like it wi nourish mi belly good an propa!” Bredda Lion replied with excitement.

The GPS realizing they were not going to continue onto Island Grill as planned, cautioned the two.

“I tink dat is not wise idea. Island Grill is a more decent restaurant and unu don’t know what kinda fowl Bredda Dawg a sell. Im could be selling some old fowl dat im buy fram Bredda Jancrow food stall. “ “No man! I believe is good meat im sell. Old fowl don’t smell soh sweet. Mi an Bredda Lion going to tek a chance an support Bredda Dawg,” Anancy rebuffed.

And so it was, Brother Anancy and Brother Lion went into Bredda Dawg’s restaurant, marched up to the counter and greeted their friend.

“Whappen Bredda Dawg?! Yuh look like yuh doing good business here mi fren. What yuh have on the menu? asked Anancy.

“Well, mi sell jerk chicken back, stew chicken back, curry chicken back and fry chicken back by di pound,” Bredda Dawg replied.

“Ah-rite…sell mi a pound a jerk chicken back,” Anancy ordered.

“Mi wi try di curry chicken back,” Bredda Lion followed.

Within minutes, their meals were brought out to their table. Bredda Anancy and Bredda Lion ate to their hearts content; licking their fingers and savoring their meals to the last bite.

Once they finished their meals, they told Bredda Dawg that it was the best tasting chicken they had ever had and that they were so glad they decided not to go to Island Grill. Then Bredda Anancy had one burning question to ask Bredda Dawg.

“Bredda Dawg, yuh know seh mi an Bredda Lion was just saying how wi noh si bredda Fowl fram im come back fram country? When laas yuh si im?” Anancy asked.

Bredda Dawg had a stunned expression on his face.

He then made a big gulp and confessed.

“Is im unu jus dun eat.”

Jamaican words and their meanings

Ice Cream Word Search

By Joelle “Wendy” Wright

Taken from LMH Official Dictionary of Jamaican Words & Proverbs

Unu/unnu, n. All of you. “A unnu mek mi sad.“ All of you made me sad.

Yuh, pron. You. Used in almost every sentence regardless of subject matter.

Bredda, n. Brother; friend. “Yes mi bredda! This greeting could either refer to one’s biological brother or just a friend.

Im, n. Him. “Doah go wid ‘im!” Do not go with him.

Dat, pron. That. “Jus look at dat.” Just look at that.

Wisdom of the Ages

In Your Own Korner.

Where we will have fun Kids write your stories, tell us about yourselves. Email or post - Write to Aunty Lyka, at P.O. Box 306, Davy Hill, or send email to: kidstime@themontserratreporter.com

Your result should be your birth month, date and the last two digit of the year.

See you next week right here

Follow the instructions carefully, ONE LINE AT A TIME. Be sure to do exactly what it says before moving to the next instruction.

Sharpen your pencils -- some of this math cannot be done in your head probably!

1) Write down the number of the month you were born 2) Multiply it by 4 3) Add 13 4) Multiply the result by 25 5) Subtract 200 6) Add the day of the month on which you were born 7) Multiply by 2 8) Subtract 40 9) Multiply the result by 50 10) Add the last two digits of the year of your birth 11) Finally, subtract 10,500 Notice anything funny about your answer?

CINNAMON

PEACH

ALMOND

COOKIE DOUGH

PISTACHIO

BANANA

HAZELNUT

PUMPKIN

BLUEBERRY

LICORICE

ROCKY ROAD

BUTTER PECAN

MAPLE WALNUT

STRAWBERRY

CHERRY

NEAPOLITAN

VANILLA

CHOCOLATE

Friday, November 29, 2013

Foot care clinic to come cont’d. from page 6

Dr. Brimah Kassim, resident surgeon at the Glendon Hospital, both of whom received specialist training in Footcare, were the facilitators for the workshop. Later in the ceremony the nurse would advise that they both delivered a workshop for the Association of persons with disabilities.

Nurse Henry opened the ceremony with a prayer and in very brief remarks, gave graphic statistics in relation to foot problems and diabetes. “Foot complication

is among the most serious and costly complications of diabetes - diabetes accounts for 40 to 70% of all lower extremity amputations worldwide,” she opened.

P S Health, Elijah Silcott sent late apologies for his absence to give brief remarks.

President of the Montserrat Diabetes Asssociation, Mrs. Valerie Lewis-Lynch, who would leave few days later for Australia to attend a Diabetes Convention, gave brief remarks, and she gave even more statistics on the

debilitating Diabetes disease. She said the workshop was timely and necessary, informing that in the last five years there were 19 leg amputations with twelve due to diabetes. “There is no doubt that this workshop is necessary and timely… because of the concerns over the number of amputations especially done on people with diabetes,” she said.

The former head nurse gave some facts why foot care is a big issue on the matter of Diabetes. “The International Diabetes Federation

recently chose as its theme for World Diabetes day “Diabetes and Foot Care” and the slogan was, “Put Feet First, Prevent Amputation”.

She pointed to some facts. “…that were given at that time: Every thirty seconds a leg is lost to diabetes – they are saying now, it’s every twenty seconds.

Another fact - 70% of all leg amputations happen to people with diabetes. The third was, in developed countries up to 5% of people with diabetes have a foot problem.

The fourth, foot problems

Rotory District Governor visits cont’d. from page 5 junior extensions of the club, Rotaract and Interact.

Dr. Honoré in a press briefing informed that he was obliged to visit each club, whose membership comprise, businesspersons and professionals at least once a year. He said his visit is mainly to see what kind of support the club needs from the District and Rotary International (RI) “to help them to better work for their communities.” This allowed him the opportunity to see what the club is doing and how to help for better success in

their projects.

He happily reported that he was, “pleased to see that there is a continuity between the Rotaract in Montserrat and the Senior Rotary,” pointing out that one of the requests by the Club was to receive, “training support to be sure that they will have a continuity in processing the Rotary club of Montserrat.”

The DG said there 34,000 clubs making up RI. Then there is the Rotary Foundation (RF), “our bank.” He explained, “We raise money with the RF, and we use this money to

support communities. What Rotarians for Montserrat ask me is to know more knowledge about the RF grants they can receive, and how the Foundation can support them for the communities in Montserrat.”

Dr. Samuels commenting generally on Rotary International, said, “volunteers must be able to devote allot of time to the work of the Rotary Club.”

“One of the elements of the Rotary is that you have to have time to carry out the work of Rotary and I think in a number of cases that

is more endurance than the cost, because it means that you have to leave your business, leave your family, because the work of Rotary is extensive. I think in terms of costs, it’s not a deterrent as opposed to the time that one has to not only attend meetings, but also putting back into the community in terms of community service.”

They both also met with The Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Montserrat, the general membership of the club and its youth arms the Rotaract and Interact Club.

John Jeffers honoured ...cont.’d from page 5 positively creative. In 1982 he led the construction of an Artificial Reef off Bransby Point to act as a feeding ground for an assortment of fish. Made of old cars stored outside the cotton ginnery, Plymouth, abandoned steel and concrete chunks, and used tires with foam in them, the reef was placed 60 ft deep beyond the breaking point of swells. Each constituent of this reef when suitably placed served different purposes depending on feeding habits of the population of fish.

Cars functioned for example as a protection for the demersals and juveniles that feed at the bottom of the sea. At mid water height, the tires anchored and foamed, attracted ocean pellagics, like king fish and wahoo, whereas the concrete held the attention of lobsters and their kind.

The reef lasted up to the eruption and significantly impacted fish population. Over 40 different species of fish lived on the reef within 6 months after construction whilst living corals grew to over 10 feet. It became a major tourist attraction and a model for the region. Fishermen prospered; apart from increased sizes of fish catch they saved time and fuel as the reef was convenient to reach. Construction centrally involved Jeffers himself, and James ‘the Great’ Cabey, who passed recently at Glendon Hospital. An underwater video of the construction still exists for posterity.

It is no small task to adequately cover John Jeffers’s career of service on Montserrat. Much of it is voluntary given his overall generous spirit. His turtle monitoring and conservation interests were entirely by accident and not part of his duties. Watching over them was recreational and a good way of enjoying nature. He and James ‘the Great’ Cabey, given that turtles are endangered, monitored our beaches 7 days per week during the closed season, recording times, types and landing sites for many years.

Some fishermen reportedly became aligned to the conservation ideas and ceased turtle catching altogether.

Jeffers used the Milky Way, a dim flowing band of invisible

stars to track turtles to our beaches with pin point accuracy. Turtles do not like visible light, though the Hawksbill is more tolerant than the Greenback and the Loggerhead species. The Leatherback is the largest, with one weighing over 1000 pounds, recorded at Foxes Bay. Turtles love vegetation and find comfort in nesting in the thickness. Development at Carrs and Little Bay mean these creatures are further imperiled.

International academic institutions were attracted and used the data collected by Jeffers. Tagging of turtles with transmitters to determine their movement became fashionable. Jeffers’s work defied the myth that turtles returned to nest at their hatching sites, since our turtles were found nesting in the Federation of St. Kitts Nevis and as far away as Costa Rica in Central America.

Jeffers is no academician: society’s standard for acceptance in a world of distorted values and pretenses. He could be if he so chose. But John Jeffers is admirably intelligent and adaptably smart, confident and assured. His oratory is always clear and distinct and he plays the part with much aplomb when it really matters. Reliability and commitment are his watchwords.

A book is judged by its contents. John Jeffers, the simple styled villager of Mars Hill, St. Peters, Montserrat, is worth his weight in gold, when his total contribution to the real life of all life forms is considered. He brings strength to the worldwide movement to preserve earth’s declining natural assets, making meaningful the true essence of our existence on planet earth.

Montserrat is fortunate to own his type and his gifts. The documenters of our history can do no less than to chapter this unassuming citizen’s place in this period of our evolution.

John Jeffers is a national treasure fit for conservation, preservation and emulation.

Claude Gerald is a social commentator. He lives and enjoys life on Montserrat. Ceegee15@hotmail.com

Page g 9

are the most common cause of admissions to hospital for persons with diabetes; The fifth, most amputations begin with a foot; and last but not least, in developing countries it was estimated that foot problems accounted for as much as 40% of available health care resources.”

Dr. Kassim gave an outline of a Step-by-Step program which described an interactive and hands-on training for senior nurses, that he and Miss Henry would conduct. He acknowledged, “the assistance that had been given to us - the Diabetic Association in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and the Government of Montserrat for allowing us to participate in the trainer of trainers course that was held in June 12-16, 2013.

He noted further, “Coming out of that training we have been able to setup what we have - it’s just the beginning because we still have

allot of work to do,” pointing out, “this came about… as a result of the figures that Mrs. Lynch just give you, the world was really concerned about the amount of amputations due to diabetic complications.”

The programme on the workshop, would include presentations on: Patholgy of the Diabetic; Foot examination; Callus Removal; Patient education; punctuated with several interactive and practical sessions.

There were five (5) objectives for the workshop, which included: The implementation of the step by step project; To establish a local faculty to collaborate with regional and international faculties; Train staff for efficiency and effectiveness; To establish a Diabetic foot clinic; and, To start reporting to the International faculty.

A vote of thanks by Nurse Christine Layne end the opening session of the workshop.

Jamaica issues travel warning cont’d from page 4 Jamaica-Trinidad and Tobago relations in the context of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Nicholson handed the letter of invitation to Reverend Dr. Iva Gloudon, High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to Jamaica, who had been called to a meeting at the Ministry’s offices on November 25, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade media release.

The release further stated Nicholson advised the High Commissioner that the number of Jamaicans being returned from Trinidad and Tobago had generated considerable public outrage and had the potential to undermine confidence and diminish goodwill on the part of many Jamaicans towards Trinidad and Tobago and the wider regional integration movement.

Pointing to the importance of a visit from Dookeran, he added that “I believe

that our personal intervention and collaboration can go a far way in bringing this issue to a speedy and successful conclusion. This is of the utmost importance as a regional integration movement which does and is perceived as protecting and advancing the interests of all sides is vital to the progress of our regional enterprise.”

Nicholson outlined a number of areas for discussion, including the activation

by Trinidad and Tobago of all ten categories for movement of skills; the perception of profiling of Jamaicans travelling to Trinidad and Tobago; the right of nationals to contact their consular authorities upon being denied entry, as well as the obligation of the immigration officials to facilitate this communication, in accordance with Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations; and mechanisms to exchange information between the immigration authorities of both sides.

Who wants to go to Heaven A preacher goes into a bar and says “Anybody who wants to go to heaven, stand up.” Everybody stands up except for a drunk in the corner. The preacher says “My son, don’t you want to go to heaven when you die?” The drunk says “When I die? Sure. I thought you were taking a load up now.”

Page 10

Friday, November 29, 2013

As at November 28, 2013

Abandoned Property - Over 15 Years

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA BRADES, MONTSERRAT

In accordance with the Banking (Abandoned Property) Regulation under section 34 of the Banking Act 2005 (No. 2 of 2005) Section No. 62. The following customers are hereby advised that the balance on their account will be transferred to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, if no claim is made within thirty (30) days of the date of this notice. All claims should be made to “Royal Bank of Canada, Brades, Montserrat”.

NAME B J’S DEVELOPMENT BETHANY PENTECOSTAL MENS MINISTRIES CECIL DYETT CUDJOE HEAD PENTECOSTAL CHURCH DAVID BRANDT JR GEORGE ELECTRICALS JEM DEV & INV CO LTD KOOLTEC ENTERPRISE MISS CHARMAINE DALEY MISS HENRIETTA PYKE OR MR BRUCE FARARA MR CLIFFORD CROWE MR GEORGE B NORVILLE MR GLENVILLE E LEWIS MR HARVEY LITTLE OR MR J ABRAHAM ROACH MR J ROY CROCHET MR JAMES P ALLEN MR JAMES R GALLOWAY OR MR JAY RIGDON & MR JOHN C RYAN & MR JOHN E RYAN MR JOHN GRAHAM CARRINGTON MR JOHN R PELLATON MR JOSEPH WEEKES OR MR KENNETH SCOTLAND OR MR LEROY SKERRITT MR LLOYD CHRISTOPHER MR PHILIP FARRELL MR RAPHAEL EVANS MR RICHARD HENRY JEFFERS MR RICHARD MEADE OR MR TREVOR HOWE MR VERNON L BUFFONG MR WALTER CHRISTOPHER MR WAYNE I ANDERSON OR MR WILLIAM J MCKEONE MRS ISLYN LAFRANCE OR MRS JOYCELYN DYER MRS MARY C OSBORNE &/OR MRS MARY PEACOCK MRS MELVINA MALONEY MRS PEARL RYNER-SILCOTT MS CATHERINE ALLEN OR MS MS CHRYSTAL BUTLER MS ELLIE R. WADE MS ESTHER DOWDYE OR MRS JANE MS JOSEPHINE E. ALLEN OR MS JOSIE DAVIS MS MARY FAGAN MS MARYBETH MISSENDA MS ROSANNA DYETT NEVILLE & LEAH BRADSHAW OR PRINCE A DAVIS OR SHAMROCK INSURANCE AGENCIES SHAMROCK INSURANCE AGENCIES ST AUGUSTINE PARENT/TEACHERS ST PATRICKS MOTHERS UNION TROPIX TRADERS LIMITED

NAME (cont’d)

MISS CHRISTINE PYKE MRS LILIAN CROWE

MRS ELLA LITTLE

MS SARAH WEEKES MRS DONNA RIGDON MRS MARY E RYAN

MRS VERA WEEKES MS CHERYL WHITE

MRS PRISCILLA BRAMBLE

MRS JUDITH ANDERSON MS HENRIETTA BUFFONGE MR ALFRED DYER MR NICHOLAS OSBORNE S A W MALONEY & SELVYN MALONEY YOLANDA OR MR WESLEY DYER

OR MR VINCENT ST.CLAIRE MS ROSALIND E. WADE

ALISON FOY VIGNEAULT ANNETTE DAVIS LIMITED ‘COMPANY ACCOUNT’ LIMITED ‘COMPANY ACCOUNT’ ASSOSIATION

ACCOUNT NBR 100-991-9 700-960-8 731-036-0 101-021-4 702-210-6 501-300-8 100-289-8 101-204-6 739-425-7 702-836-8 739-699-7 500-355-3 711-578-5 709-701-7 200-349-9 500-001-3 500-269-6 709-749-6 732-035-1 714-928-9 701-878-1 200-044-6 501-889-0 500-082-3 500-153-2 101-266-5 739-393-7 712-743-4 709-016-0 709-678-7 702-364-1 708-949-3 739-489-3 501-520-1 501-748-8 500-917-0 500-225-8 735-127-3 700-260-3 706-613-7 200-269-9 500-196-1 735-112-5 713-586-6 500-105-2 200-392-9 713-719-3 732-238-1 731-101-2 714-360-5 709-040-0 701-577-9 101-205-3 705-043-8 100-186-6 100-941-4 100-191-6 706-471-0 101-300-2

ADDRESS (Line 1) P.O.BOX 402 C/O CHARLES DALEY P O BOX 30 CUDJOE HEAD OLVESTON FRITHS C/O MR JOSEPH W BASS P O BOX 458 P O BOX 317 CORK HILL P O BOX 247 HOLD MAIL 71 HINDREY ROAD MOLYNEAUX P O BOX 3200 P.O. BOX 310 18709 CAMPBELL ROAD ST PETERS GERALDS P.O.BOX 4087 523 CLEVELAND ST FOX’S BAY C/O GOVERNOR’S OFFICE 39 EAST 12TH ST., 703 C/O BRADES POST OFFICE P O BOX 234 WEEKES CORK HILL HARRIS VILLAGE P O BOX 358 2240 ANTOINE STREET TUITTS ST.JOHN’S P O BOX 294 PARSONS ROAD C/O SUSAN MCLEOD 5622 SHENANDOAH DRIVE ORINOKE SQUARE PARSON’S #6 CLIVELLOYD HOUSE 362 GROSVENOR P.O. BOX 181 WEBBS EXTENSION 1985 WEBSTER AVENUE KINSALE RICHMOND HILL 5380 WALKLEY AEVENUE ST PETERS KINSALE CORK HILL C/O GLENDON HOSPITAL CORK HILL P O BOX 270 5680 GRANDE ALLEE WATERLANE STREET WATERLANE STREET C/O MRS JOYCE CHAMBERS C/O INEZ LINDO P.O.BOX 109

Friday, November 29, 2013

Page g 11

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Friday, November 29, 2013

www.themontserratreporter.com

Premier castigates public servants

Premier Reuben T Meade

P

remier the Hon Reuben T. Meade as head of Montserrat government (GoM) had the honour of welcoming his colleagues heads to Montserrat, and to the 58th OECS authority meeting on Thursday, November 21, 2013.

He began by thanking the children who sang what he now calls, ‘the territorial song of Montserrat.’ “I want to thank the children for singing what the rest of us would call a national song but since we are still a British colony, it’s a territorial song and the territorial song of Montserrat,” he said.

He then joined in placing Montserrat with the OECS in the recent Dominican Republic and Haiti citizenship issue, that has wrought the ire of the region. “As

the OECS, we must stand firm to ensure that our Haitian brothers and sisters are treated fairly,” he vouched. “Montserrat stands firm and committed in ensuring that the Dominican Republic does what is right,” using that phrase, ‘doing the right thing’, several times in his brief address.

Following that he spoke of, “The region in crisis is also one where we are seeing increasing debt, increasing difficulty in balancing budgets, increasing difficulty in raising funds and there-

fore, as a community, as the OECS family, we must also be saying—not only to our regional public servants but to the public servants throughout the region—you cannot, without increasing your productivity to be always asking for salary increases which the countries cannot and absolutely cannot meet.”

He said some of the governments in the region have cut their civil servants salaries or pay levies, “so that their government can come out of financial crisis and balance their budget,” saying that others are looking at “a range of options.”

He then addressed his public servants in Montserrat and accused the head of the Public Service Association, to be seeking a 12% salary increase.

“I find it rather interesting,” he said, “that the public servants of Montserrat, at this time, will be seeking a 12% salary increase simply because it is my understanding that the union head is seeking political intervention…”

He said introduced that with this. “I want the message to be very clear that while we are discussing aid and seeking support from our financiers, HMG, (and this is HMG London) where they themselves are in financial straits.”

As if to get back on track, he told all at the opening ceremony, “We must ensure that as a region that we do the right thing and if it means doing the right thing [sic]

Food and beverage workshop There were 23 females and 2 males received certificates following their successful completion of the course, which is part of the skills training, this time in the area of food and beverage operations. The skills training project includes training in various disciplines, including house keeping, customer care, customer service, food and beverage preparation and Tour and Taxi drivers training.

The workshop was organised by the Montserrat Tourist Board (MTB) as part of its ongoing Skills Training Programme.

This was one of several such workshops hosted by the MTB and at this closing graduation ceremony, Culture director

Herman ‘Cupid’ Francis was the chairman, while the Windsor Restaurant owner/manager opened the event with prayers.

The food and beverage operations workshop exposed participants to both food preparation and presentation as well as restaurant and bar service.

Acting Director of the MTB Elveta Chalmers described the occasion as an important milestone for the organization and Montserrat as a whole.

“Over the past four years the Montserrat Tourist Boars has trained 187 participants in the various disciplines,” she informed, pointing out that the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) through the Caribbean Technological Consultancy Ser-

vices (CTCS) provided funding for the course.

She thanked CDB for the ongoing support and informed that they provided two very effective facilitators in Mrs. Rosemary Lucas-Reefer and Mr. Carl Rice, both well qualified in the areas they serviced.

Mrs. Chalmers after describing the qualifications and the achievements of the two facilitators, spoke to the participants and challenged them to practice what they have learnt. “They should not let what they learnt this past few weeks fall by the wayside…as it is important that we ready ourselves now and in the future, we must be aware that the discerning traveler expects

means that we will lose an election then so be it.

We cannot simply seek to pander to the electorate simply because they may give us a vote. We have to look at our children and our grandchildren and their future so that we manage the resources which we have and do so well.”

His comments were picked up quickly by the Union head Paul Lewis, who the next day told The Montserrat Reporter, that he is appalled at the Premier’s statement who in any case he finds disrespectful since he had written him only three days before and has not had a response from him.

In the letter Bro Paul Lewis as president, wrote Union President Paul Lewis a letter to the Premier asking for the reinstatement of increments and salary increases. He recalled, “Government decisions over the to develop the private sector,” he last four years resulted in Civil informed.

Servants making financial sacriIn his statement Lewis said fices. However, when sacrifices he finds the Premier disrespectful are being made the period should in not talking with the Union on be reasonable and at the end of it, any issue regarding their requests there should be benefits for those over the past three years, having who made these sacrifices.” allowed the government some Lewis his statement said time when it came to office before that it is seven years since public they continued to press for the servants have had any kind of increase. “He has never showed salary increase, while in fact any interest to coming to the table the Premier (Minister of Finance) to discuss increase or any other without any discussion with the form of benefit with civil servants Union, has in addition, reduced which I think is disrespectful. He pension benefits to public servants can continue to make whatever by half, while theirs remain set. statement he wishes, but I’m say“We have been put on the back ing to him he needs to come to burner for the last seven years, the table and stop making public four years of which is actually the announcements as he feels, and term of the present government as stop being disrespectful to Civil we give the government a chance servants and the Union representing the civil servants. It’s about time that the Honorable Premier ...cont.’d from page 6 show some respect to the Civil a certain standard of service servants who are working hard to that we must be ready to deliver help him and his government run this country.” that service,” she told them.

Lewis noted that the civil Both facilitators spoke servants should not be the only of the course and their time in Montserrat, addressing and encouraging the students to make the best of their training. (read the story online at The Montserrat Reporter’s website: www.themontserratreporter. com and listen to the addresses) After receiving their certificates, a vote of thanks followed, preceded by impressions of one the participants.

They invited their guests and supporters at the ceremony, to sample and taste some of the goodies they learnt to prepare during the course.

ones making sacrifices. He notes also that government ministers have reduced pensions benefits, but have left theirs in tact.

“We want to state also that if only are we making sacrifices like not getting salary increases - we also want to state clearly that government in 2011 made the decision without any collective bargain agreement with the union to reduce the pension accrual rates, annual accrual rates from 2% approximately to 1%. The government ministers themselves including the minister of finance they have not touched their pensions- going away with full pension.”

He called on the government, “…let them tell the public of Montserrat if that is fair, let them convince the public of Montserrat if that is fair for the Government ministers including minister of finance to go home with full pensions while they make a decision to civil servants to take 50% cut in the pensions, 50% cut in their pension annual accrual rate.”