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Friday, October 19, 2012

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A poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. - Mark 12:42 (NIV)

FlyMontserrat plane Vol. XXVII No. 24

Week Ending Friday, October 19, 2012

Price $2.00

crashes at VC Bird, kills three, grounded People still talk about the first plane crash top of the 1960s when a pilot crashed at Waterworks, and PanAm crash in 1965, followed much later by one of the Payne brothers and later, Len Kocen who owned the Shamrock cinema. All that was in the long past until Sunday, October 7, 2012 shortly after 4.00 p.m. the news and reports out of Antigua inform that the pilot and a female passenger had died on a FlyMontserrat aircraft that crashed. Another female passenger after being reported as critically injured later died, with one male survivor, who since suffering from a broken leg, had soon returned to

the UK. The nine-seater plane crashed shortly after takeoff at VC Bird International Airport in Antigua around 4:16 p.m. The VC Bird International was initially closed to the public, while residents were being urged to stay away from the area so that emergency personnel could carry out their work, but the airport reopened not long after The news reaching Montserrat almost immediately said that the Fly-

Top left: Annya Duncan, MSS Teacher -Top right: Jason Forbes, pilot - Rescue personnel inspect Fly Montserrat plane after crashing immediately following take-off at VC Bird International Airport - Right: Sandrama Poligadu, 57 of Guyana, who was flying for the first time crash (see: http://www.themontserratreporter.com/preliminary- aircraft, the failed engine’s propeller should be feathered, to reduce the drag report-on-flymontserrat-crash/) which stated: “Examination of produced. Following successful feathering, continued flight should be posthe wreckage indicates that the number two (right-hand) engine sible. Examination of the right-hand propeller showed that it was not in the was not producing power at the time of impact, and investiga- feathered position.” tion of the fuel system feeding that engine found significant Much of the detailed information of the dead soon became available quantities of water. from the Antigua Observer on the following Tuesday. (See: http://www. Following failure of one of the two engines on the Islander antiguaobserver.com/heartbreak-of-crash-victims-loved-ones/) Annya Duncan’s friends were eagerly awaiting her arrival at John Osborne Airport in Montserrat to treat her to a surprise 29th birthday party – but the Jamaica-born Tiffannie Skerritt Wins OECS Essay Competition...pg 2 teacher never made it. The dead woman’s family said she and fiancé of two years, Feedback: Fly Montserrat crash...pg 3 Ricardo Mars, had planned to tie the knot next year. Kids’ Korner...pg 4 Annya according to her sister Sobrina said her younger sibling had been expeChallenge yourself to excel...pg 7

More Headlines...

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Montserrat plane lost altitude and plunged into the end of the runway. According to the Antigua Observer an eyewitness told that he had heard the engine of the aircraft rev before cutting out and knew "something had to be wrong." Fly Montserrat is owned by Montserrat Airways Ltd and its Managing Director issued a report the following day confirming the crash and giving the name only of the pilot Jason Forbes, stating that two of the three passengers had died. “Our thoughts and condolences are with the families and friends of those on board,” the release had stated. With much sadness and as residents and friends who were expecting their loved ones gathered at the John Osborne airport, the names of those who had died were soon circulated with photos of a Jamaican MSS school teacher Anya Duncan and the pilot. On October 12, a preliminary report was issued on the

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Friday, October 19, 2012

Fly Montserrat crash kills three ... cont’d. from page 1 riencing serious headaches in recent weeks and decided to visit a doctor in Antigua over the weekend. “The last thing she told me was that she was checking in and would let me know when she reached Montserrat,” cried Sobrina. Annya was pinned inside the aircraft when it crashed and died on the scene.

Sandrama Poligadu, 57, got on a plane for the first time ever Sunday morning from her native Guyana to Antigua – before boarding flight 107 from Antigua to Montserrat to meet her daughter who is hospitalised with a complicated pregnancy. But she too never made it. She was anxiously headed to the emerald isle to meet her daughter Rajama

Poligadu, her daughter’s partner Tristan Khan and their five-year-old daughter. British visitor Michael Hudson, the lone survivor of the crash, remained in critical condition at Mount St John Medical Centre at press time. As a mark of respect and in mourning, the Montserrat

MSS holds vigil for beloved teacher and other victims Secondary school (MSS) closed at 10 a.m. Monday to resume on schedule Tuesday. That evening teachers and students at the School, where Duncan taught integrated science and mathematics, held a candlelight vigil beginning at 6.00 p.m. at the institution, where the staff and children turned out in great numbers. On the day before in the evening a well vigil was held at the Basketball courts at Brades. On Monday morning the Minister of Education Colin Riley and education officials along with members of the Christian Council, including Father George Agger and Pastor Carl Hastings, spent the morning with teachers and students at the school, many visibly shaken and emotional over the tragedy. Her sister Sobrina told the Antigua Observer what everyone say about Annya. “Annya was really

sweet and everyone who knew her praised her for her humanitarianism.” “She helped everyone; loved animals, plants and people. Her students in Montserrat adored her and when her contract expired earlier this year she accepted the offer to renew it even though we tried hard to persuade her to stay in Jamaica. She said she had to see the class through to CXCs next year,” Sobrina had said, confirmed by students and teachers at MSS alike. The parents Coswell and Grace Duncan were “very hurt” and wanted people to remember Annya for her “selflessness.” They visited Antigua and Montserrat and have expressed the wish to have the full details of the crash investigated. Forbes, who was piloting the

cont’d. on page 5

Festival at Fifty by Sir Howard Fergus now available via Kindle NG – The latest book by Sir Howard Fergus is now available on Kindle. On August 29 Sir Howard launched Festival at Fifty: 1962 to 2012 at the Montserrat National Trust. This week the book was made available on the ebook platform for Kindles.

Sir Howard Fergus chronicles the fifty years of Montserrat’s most popular festival in 145-page-book and highlights the many icons and creative personalities who come together every December to celebration the island’s culture. Festival at Fifty includes a foreword by the Honourable Premier Reuben T. Meade, and an in depth look at the mas-

querade, calypsonians and queen contestans and the other traditional art forms which come alive each year. Also released on Kindle this week is Sir Howard’s new collection of poetry called ‘Obama and Other Poems’, highlighted with other books on his new Facebook page at Facebook.com/SirHowardFergus.

Tiffannie Skerritt wins 2012 OECS Essay Competition Tiffany Skerritt who just graduated the Montserrat Secondary School (MSS) with ten out of ten grade one passes, is the winner of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Bank (ECCB) 2012 OECS essay competition. Tiffany emerged the winner of the age 14-16 category. The top high school graduate for 2012 added another accolade to her list of accomplishments. Her essay was on the topic, what viable steps OECS countries should take to stimulate their economies and significantly reduce national debts. Tiffany is of the view that the OECS countries can achieve this goal by diversifying their economies to non-traditional industries and advancing agricultural industries, she suggest that member government must set and achieve clear financial

12th OECS Essay Competition, hosted by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB). The ECCB announced Tuesday that Tiffannie Skerritt formerly of the Montserrat Secondary School and Al Flemming of the Charlestown Secondary School in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis are the winners in the respective categories of the Essay Competition. Tiffannie’s essay topic was “What Viable Steps

her view that OECS countries can achieve this goal by diversifying their economies to non-traditional industries and advancing agricultural industries. She suggests that member governments must set and

Tiffannie Skerritt wins 2012 OECS Essay Competition targets , cut the public sector wage bill and develop a privatization strategy in order to reduce their national debt. Tiffannie took first place in the 14-16 age category for the

Should OECS Countries Take to Stimulate Their Economies and Significantly Reduce National Debts?” (see story at www. themontserratreporter.com for the full essay. In the piece, she shared

achieve clear financial targets, cut the public sector wage bill and develop a privatisation strategy in order to reduce their national debt. Al Flemming, who wrote

cont’d. on page 5

LEGAL NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE PROBATE DIVISION In the Estate ofLEWIS WESLEY BROWNE, deceased NOTICE is hereby given that after the expiration of fourteen (14) days from the date of this notice, an application will be made in the Registry of the High Court of Justice for an Order that Letters of Administration in the Estate of LEWIS WESLEY BROWNE who died on the 15th day of September, 2011 be granted to MARY JANE DELORES BROWNE his wife and personal representative of the deceased and one of the persons entitled to share in the estate of the deceased. ALL persons claiming to be beneficially interested in the estate are requested to send written particulars thereof to the undersigned within 14 days from the date of this Notice. ANY person objecting to the issuance of a Grant to the Applicant should notify the Registrar of the High Court not later than 14 days from the date of this Notice. Dated this 28th day of September, 2012 BRANDT & ASSOCIATES Attorneys-at-Law

Friday, October 19, 2012

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Letters/Opinion

EDITORIAL Progress comes only with responsibility For some time now, months, even years there have been some events, occurrences, publications, debates, reports and inactions, which have rolled by seemingly unnoticed by most, but not by everyone. Not by everyone we say, but there is a problem. For the few who notice, a good many of them will say or do nothing, others will give a view point, while still others will say to us, will suggest that we write about this or that! The response often is, we do not have the resources to do justice, why don’t you write and we publicise? This is not about us, but everyone. However, what is the general complaint? “There is little or no leadership!” they would say. Leadership among whom or by whom, we would enquire? You have seen that mentioned in one way or the other. It may well be difficult to pin that comment down, but generally when it is made reference is to government. Just like the government and leaders around government have been quick to say these days, the time is here to stop expecting government to do everything. Generally, though, that statement is about something specific, since when it comes down to the discussion, Montserrat is at a place where such statements can be confounded in many instances. The Commissioner of Police during his last press conference agreed concern that while crime figures have been decreasing, there is an escalation in a certain kind of crime, which is not common to Montserrat. He was not just referring to very violent homicides that have taken place recently. In considering this we will remember our numbers are very small. The recent events, utterances, and even the silence of our leadership do leave a gaping hole and if nothing is done or no corrective action taken, things will only get worse. The tendency to attach importance and seek to assist institutions and sectors that are relevant only to some is a serious mistake, in that it is not usually to the benefit of many but rather to the few. When the complaint was made that the merchants were hiking the prices of their goods well before those goods attract new tariff, up or down, the Premier advised the people should boycott and go to Antigua to shop,, or get themselves in shopping cooperatives. Big problem. The price control department had been shut down and there is no protective legislation in sight for consumers. When the Premier was questioned about what could be done to curb the increased air fares, he responded that this is a free enterprise market. And, so it has been for everything. Outsourcing is supposed to be of benefit to an economy, but we cannot get it started. The Memorandum of Understanding signed on May 1, 2012 to bring about public reform about how we do business was not, um, really directed at the ‘local’ private sector. Of course not, when there are certain projects or contracts to be meted out, little attention is paid to how they are advertised locally, because, could it be that it is already known who will win the bid? The blind eye, or the attitude that is not our business, or we have no control, or it is the media that should lead, when the blind eye is being turned in the opposite direction, directly and indirectly, will bite this island, as it has been. When no attention or understanding exists the progress becomes invisible. The British Government, DFID and FCO joined with local Government when it is convenient every time to determine who is in control of what and when. The government says it runs its own affairs, but what Montserrat needs is money and it cannot generate that without ‘begging’ which the Premier says is an abomination. DFID says, oh no, that is the government’s responsibility for this or that, but government cannot lift a finger, because they (DFID) have to ‘justify’ or approve the spending. FCO says we do not know about these conventions that we have signed and committed you to, but your government has to conduct itself according to its laws in seeking development. But, they admit, development for Montserrat must be a ‘partnership’, between HMG and GoM.

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

Feedback: Fly Montser-

rat plane crashes at VC Bird, Antigua Airport, by Chris Lynt E-mail: chlpatent@aol. com My last trip out this summer, Jason was the pilot. VC Bird airport is often subject to very strong winds, even when the weather is clear. In stormy conditions, a microburst could occur. The revving of the engines would be consistent with the pilot trying to compensate for an apparent loss of airspeed due to the lateral effects of a microburst near the ground during takeoff. From wiki (http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi-

croburst): "A microburst often causes aircraft to crash when they are attempting to land (the above-mentioned BOAC and Pan Am flights are notable exceptions). The microburst is an extremely powerful gust of air that, once hitting the ground, spreads in all directions. As the aircraft is coming in to land, the pilots try to slow the plane to an appropriate speed. When the microburst hits, the pilots will see a large spike in their airspeed, caused by the force of the headwind created by the

microburst. A pilot inexperienced with microbursts would try to decrease the speed. The plane would then travel through the microburst, and fly into the tailwind, causing a sudden decrease in the amount of air flowing across the wings. The decrease in airflow over the wings of the aircraft causes a drop in the amount of lift produced. This decrease in lift combined with a strong downward flow of air can cause the thrust required to remain at altitude to exceed what is available."

FEEDBACK: Tobacco, Sodas and Alcohol

“Restrict use of sodas for healthy living, but manufacture tobacco for export” by Jo-anna E-mail : comesfirst@ hotmail.com The man must nuts! He won't condemn alcohol because that is he has his own problems with alcohol, so he cannot condemn what he loves. How can he speak about non-communicable diseases and not recognize cancer as a result of tobacco con-

sumption? How dare he use the word hypocritical? Is it not hypocritical in itself to supposedly care only about the health of Montserratians and not care about the lives of those who will get the tobacco after it is produced in Montserrat? How does he know no Montserratian will get it? Blood is on his hands. TELL HIM I SAID SO!

I hope the next government or God himself shuts down that production facility. May God's will be done. Is that the only project he could think of, great economist that he is? Shame! The soda decision was a good move, the tobacco decision sounds like it was made by someone in a stupor.

Our Scripture Verse Today So Little?

A poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. - Mark 12:42 (NIV) A cell. An atom. An idea. A word. A small donation. One talent. Five loaves and two fish. Dorcas’s needle. David’s five stones. A quick touch of the hem of Jesus’ garment. A smile. A kind word. God has the power to take something that you and I would call little and turn it into something that becomes so much more. God has a way of multiplying our small gift, our small talent, and our small efforts and turning them into things that accomplish a great deal. Our reading for today tells of the boy in a large crowd with a small lunch that fed thousands.

The boy offered what he could; Jesus prayed over it and then used it to feed a multitude. This boy’s simple lunch is something we’re still talking about today. What if we offered to God our small gifts, talents, and work, prayed about them, and asked God to use them? If we truly believe God’s power is at work in us and through us, our little could do much. In fact, if we just step back and look, we may see what God has already been doing. Looking at what God has done in our past can strengthen our resolve to make ourselves available in our future. Andy Baker (Tennessee, USA) Dear God of miracles, help us always to realize that little is much when you are involved. Amen.

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Friday, October 19, 2012

Kids time - In your own korner Hello everyone – It is kid’s time with Auntie Lyka “In Your Korner”. We are now at half term. I hope you take your week of holiday and revise the work you have done for the term so far. Go to the library and borrow books of interest and read. Do enjoy half term break. Once upon a time there was a funny guy named Lenny. Lenny was an inventor. He invented all kinds of contraptions. His house looked like a mess, but he had some really cool things. One day Lenny decided he wanted to fly. “I am going to invent some wings and fly,” Lenny told his friend Rudy. “Now I really know you’re crazy. You won’t even get off the ground,” said Rudy. “You’ll see,” said Lenny. So he went down to his workshop and began working. Day and night, he worked. No one saw Lenny for weeks. Then one day he came out of his workshop with a great big grin on his face. He called Rudy on the phone. “Rudy, tomorrow I will fly, but I need your help,” said Lenny. “Did you really build some wings?” asked Rudy. “Yeah and they are really beautiful,” said Lenny. “They’re a little heavy though. I need you to help me drag them up to the top of Kill Devil Hill.” “What did you make them out of?” asked Rudy. “I made them out of some scrap metal I had laying around from when I built my helicopter last year,” said Lenny. “Metal! Don’t you think that will be too heavy to use for wings?” asked Rudy. “No, I calculated all of the angles. I will be like a human airplane,” said Lenny. Rudy just rolled his eyes. “Ok, I will be over first thing in the morning and we’ll try them out,” said Rudy. “See you then,” said Lenny. The next morning they dragged the wings up to the top of Kill Devil Hill and Lenny strapped them on. “Are you sure those are not too heavy? asked Rudy again. “No, the faster I run, the lighter they will get. The wind will lift me up and I will be flying,” said Lenny, quite

Pre-School Corner

Lenny the Flying Inventor Written by Jeff Smith

confidently. “All right, I am going to get a running start and take off,” said Lenny. So, Lenny backed up about fifty feet and started running. As he ran, the weight of the wings started to wear out his legs and he got lower and lower to the ground. Just as he got to the crest of the hill, his legs gave out and he skidded across the ground on his face. After Rudy rolled around on the ground laughing for about a minute, he got up and asked Lenny if he was Ok. “Yeah, Yeah, real funny,” said Lenny. “I guess you may be right they are a little heavy, but I know the shape is just right. I will just go back to the workshop and make them out of another material. Something lighter” A couple of weeks later Lenny called up Rudy. “I’ve done it,” said Lenny. “You’ve done what?” asked Rudy. “I reworked the wings. I made them out of wood and tissue paper. These things are so light I may get going by simply jumping off the roof. Come on over, I need a witness,” said Lenny. “I’m on the way,” said Rudy. When Rudy arrived, Lenny was already up on the roof with these hilarious looking pink wings. “Pink wings!” laughed Rudy. “Yeah, this is the stuff I had left over from when I invented that giant Pig robot we used on Halloween last year,” said Lenny. “So you think you’re just going to jump off and fly?” asked Rudy. “Yeah. Here goes,” said Lenny. He backed up a little and took a quick dash and a jump. Aaaaaaaaaaagh, SMACK! The wings broke right off and Lenny landed on his head in the middle of some bushes next to the house. After Rudy rolled around on the ground laughing for about a minute, he got up and asked Lenny if he was Ok. “Yeah, Yeah, real funny,” said Lenny. “I guess they may have been a little weak, but I know the shape is just right. I will just go back to the workshop and make them out of another material. Something not as heavy as the scrap metal and not as light as the tissue paper.”

“Sounds like a good idea to me,” said Rudy as he rolled his eyes. A couple of weeks later Lenny called up Rudy. “I’ve really done it this time,” said Lenny. “You’ve done what?” asked Rudy. “I reworked the wings. I made them out of wax and balsa wood. These things look just like bird’s wings. Meet me at Kill Devil Hill, I need a witness,” said Lenny. “I’m on the way,” said Rudy. When Rudy arrived, he saw the wings. They did look good! “I need you to help me strap them on,” said Lenny. Rudy helped him strap on the wings. They fit real snug. There was a handle under each wing out near the tip for Lenny to use to move the wings up and down and a belt that went around his waist so that they would not fall off. “Here we go,” yelled Lenny as he backed up and began running towards the crest of the hill. He didn’t slow down and just as he got to the edge of the hill, he started to lift up into the air. He was flying! YAHOOO! Yelled Lenny. He flew and flew just laughing and hooting. He flew higher and higher. He was really getting high now, and he started to worry. “How do I land these things?” he asked himself. That question was about to be answered. All of a sudden, he noticed that his wings were starting to melt. He had risen so high, that the sun was starting to melt the wax he used to make the wings. Pretty soon he had little tiny wings and he was flying about a hundred miles an hour down towards the woods. “Boy this is going hurt again,” said Lenny to himself. He crashed into the trees. Rudy ran up, “Are you all right?” he asked. “Yeah, I think so, but I am definitely going to quit trying to fly. This is too rough on the body,” said Lenny. To this day, no one believes Rudy when he tells the story of how Lenny flew like a bird. It may be good that they do not believe him, because others would probably get hurt, as did Lenny. Lenny also made a commitment not to invent anything that cannot be used while standing firmly on the ground. He often tells people, ”If people were meant to fly, they would have wings!” The end.

Star Search

Hello to you my preschool friends. This week we will look at COLOURING ALPHBET PICTURES. I hope you enjoy Letter N

Brain Teasers

See you next week right here

1. You are a cyclist in a cross-country race. Just before the

In Your Own Korner.

crossing finish line you overtake the person in second place! 2. In a year there are 12 months. 7 months have 31 days. How many months have 28 days? Answers

second place, and they become third. 1. Second Place. If you pass the person in second, you take

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

What place did you finish in?

2. They all do.

Where we will have fun

Friday, October 19, 2012

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Vigil held for plane crash victims

cont’d. from page 2 plane when it crashed, was pinned in front of Annya. He died on the spot. His death came a few hours after he and relatives ate and cheered together as they watched West Indies walk away with the Twenty/20 championships on Sunday.

Students and faculty of MSS join the community at large for candlelight vigil

Preliminary crash report The preliminary report from the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) into the fatal plane crash on October 7 was issued one week later. It was released by the Governor’s Office who said: “The substantive investigation into the crash is ongoing. The Governor’s Office will immediately release further details to the public as they become available.” The preliminary report - ECCAA No.7AC/1/99 shows that the pilot had Commander’s Flying Ex-

perience. He had flown 710 hours out of which 510 were on the type of aircraft. He had flown in the last 28 days - 25 hours. Roughly, each segment of a flight ANU-MNI would be approximately 20 minutes (flying time). The investigation revealed that, “Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft was observed to yaw to the right, and to cease climbing. The aircraft then descended rapidly, apparently out of control. The aircraft impacted the ground within the airport

perimeter, right wingtip first and steeply banked to the right, at low forward speed. Ground marks and damage to the wing tips and nose indicate that the aircraft cart-wheeled before coming to rest erect. The fuselage forward of the wings was destroyed; there was comparatively less damage to the rear part of the aircraft.” The report further stated: “The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority began an investigation under the Antigua and Barbuda Civil Aviation Regulations

2004. In accordance with established international arrangements, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) of the United Kingdom, representing the State of Design and Manufacture of the aircraft, and (through its registration in a British Overseas Territory) the State of Operator, appointed an Accredited Representative to participate in the investigation. The AAIB Accredited Representative is supported by an AAIB Advisor. Britten-Norman, the air-

craft manufacturer, has been informed of the accident and has offered assistance. Air Safety Support International (ASSI)1, which performs regulatory oversight of the aircraft operator, has been informed of the accident and is cooperating with the investigation. Montserrat Airways Limited, the operator, is also cooperating with the investigation.” As if Montserrat Airways Ltd. had not experienced enough aircraft problems since March 2011, one

week following the fatal crash, the airline endured a further setback that caused its airline FlyMontserrat services to be halted. (see: http:// www.themontserratreporter. com/another-flymontserrataircraft-faulty-landing-incident-in-montserrat/) Shortly after this incident where the airline reported: “Flight 5M 2109 from Antigua with seven passengers, landed normally and decelerated along the runway…The pilot thought

cont’d. on page 6

Tiffannie Skerritt wins essay contest...cont’d. from page 2 on the topic: “Discuss the Role of Young People in Shaping the Future of the OECS”, won the age 17 – 19 category. According to Al, “the single most important tool for optimal youth participation in the development process is quality education.” Hence, young people should take advantage of every educational opportunity. He adds that young people need to be more entrepreneurial, embrace the OECS Economic Union and engage in advocacy and volunteerism. The OECS Essay Competition is aimed at encouraging critical thinking and raising the

awareness of secondary school students of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) on issues of economic development. The competition, which is part of the ECCB’s community outreach programme, is open to secondary school students in the eight member countries of the ECCU. Three hundred and twentyone (321) students from schools across the ECCU submitted entries. The essays were assessed for content, soundness of points, logical development knowledge of the subject, command of language and presentation.

Andy Scott of the Grenada Seventh Day Adventist Comprehensive School and Candace Greene of the Washington Archibald High School in St Kitts and Nevis were adjudged second and third place respectively in the age 14 – 16 category. While Tashaun Williams of the Washington Archibald High School and Theon Tross of the Charlestown Secondary School won second and third places respectively in the age 17 – 19 category. The first place winners in each of the categories will each be awarded a $2,500 cash prize and a grant of $1,500 will

be awarded to their respective schools. The students who placed second will receive $1,500 and their schools will be presented with a grant of $1,000; while the third place winners will each receive $1,000 and their schools a grant of $500. The Antigua Girls High School will be awarded a grant of $500 for submitting the most entries. Certificates of recognition will also be awarded to students in each category for the essays which did not place among the top three but were adjudged the best in the respective countries.

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Friday, October 19, 2012

Fly Montserrat grounded following landing of its Tuesday morning flight from Antigua cont’d. from page 5 that he felt a minor vibration and as a precaution, he let the aircraft roll gently onto the grass, where the passengers disembarked,” a letter was sent to FlyMontserrat (Montserrat Airways Ltd.) to cease operations. The letter from the ECCAA stated: “Your company's recent safety record particularly the two previous incidents and one accident coupled with the accident which occurred on 7th October 2012 and today's incident are cause for concern by the ECCAA. “Under the circumstances the ECCAA has directed the relevant authorities in all OECS Member States that fall under its jurisdiction to suspend the operations by your company (Montserrat Airlines Ltd./ Fly Montserrat) in their respective States until further notice.” That effectively grounded FlyMontserrat’s aircrafts and Harris by Wednesday

evening sent in this statement. “FlyMontserrat understands that its passengers are concerned and stresses that safety is its priority and is cooperating with the investiga-

J ohn A. Osborne Airport was the sc e n e o f th e la te s t F ly M o n ts e r r a t in c id e n t tion teams to help find the cause of last week’s accident. “In the meantime the airline is chartering aircraft from SVG and others to carry its passengers in as close to a normal schedule as possible. But due to a shortage of suitable back-up aircraft in the region some passengers’ flight times

are having to be altered.” Meanwhile information provided from access sources, arrangements are in place for SVG, the other Islander operators out of Montserrat, to meet the requirements to passengers who already had bookings with FlyMontserrat.

Geothermal Contract signed with Iceland Drilling Company Ltd. The Iceland Drilling Company Ltd. through its head Vilhjalmur Gudmundsson, Head of Marketing and Business Development for Jardboranir, signed a contract while Philip Chambers, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Communications & Works represented the Government of Montserrat. IDC was the only company to submit a bid to drill for geothermal on island. The company was granted a conditional letter of award on September 27, 2012. Since then the contract works were completed in early October with the official signing taking place on October 16, 2012. Gudmundsson said they are hopeful that they will be able to find geothermal energy. IDC who possesses a fleet of new hydraulic rigs and modern drilling equipment that can be transferred swiftly from one part of the world to another, recently completed the drilling of two test wells on Dominica and will be moving their operations here shortly to begin drilling in January 2013. According a GIU release, IDC is a leading high technical company in the field of high temperature deep geothermal drilling and has many decades of experience in both high and low temperature drilling The company submitted a bid of just over six million dollars (US $ 6.3) to drill for geothermal energy in and around Cork Hill/Delvins. The drilling is estimated to take three to four months, says Ron Beardsley, Director of the Public Works Department. “…it will take proximately three to four months to complete the two wells which are 5000ft deep each,” he announced, explaining that this is to take place in Zone C, which is part of the island’s Exclusion Zone. The company has well-grounded expertise in international deep drilling projects, with a record of 7,000 wells around the world, of which 260 high temperature wells were found in the last 15 years. IDC´s field of operations has been in the Azores (Portugal), UK, Denmark, Ireland, Hungary, Germany, Caribbean, Switzerland and in New Zealand. Currently the company is working in Iceland, Caribbean, and New Zealand. Montserrat pays 1.7 million pounds annually for fuel imports and is 100% dependent on fossil fuel. Beardsley said he is pleased to be a part of this latest phase of geothermal exploration a vision that the island’s leaders first explored in 1976 and again in the early 1990s.

The geothermal wells will be drilled between Weekes Village and Garibaldi Hill. A 2012 Geothermal Exploration Report done by EGS of California said there was an 80% likelihood of geothermal energy on Montserrat. Environmental Impact Assessment Meanwhile on Wednesday, October 10, a forum which had been postponed was held at Lyme complex in Brades, where a discussion over an Evironmental Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was conducted by Athom Solutions Inc. (ASI), a global energy and technology services provider registered in Barbados who won the contract for the project, valued at EC$ 105,000.

Erwin Edwards and Cathal Healy-Singh of ASI along with PWD Ron Beardsley led the discussion aimed at according to the PWD head, “the outcomes from the ESIA will determine if restrictions or mitigation measures are required to minimise the impact on any endangered fauna/flora, wildlife habitats or water sources. It also looks at potential impacts on the public and residents nearby.” Earlier he had said that, “Given the location we are not anticipating too many issues. The impact of ash and acid rain has taken its toll on the area and there are no habitable dwellings nearby.”

CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY SECRETARIAT STAFF VACANCIES Applications are invited from interested and suitably qualified nationals of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States and Associate Members of the Caribbean Community to fill the following positions with assigned duty station in Guyana: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

Programme Manager, Agriculture and Industry Deputy Programme Manager, Customs and Trade Policy Deputy Programme Manager, Administrative Services Unit Administrative Officer, Administrative Services Unit

Full details of these positions may be obtained by accessing the following web sites-www.caricom.org; www.caribank.org; www.oecs.org; www.crnm.org and www.caribbeanjobsonline.com Applications in English Language with full curriculum vitae details, including nationality, work experience, educational qualifications and/or expertise, language proficiency, coordinates (including email addresses) of three referees (at least two of whom must be familiar with the applicant’s work), and other relevant information, should be addressed to the Executive Director, Human Resource Management, Caribbean Community Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana and sent by email to applnhrm@caricom.org. The deadline for the submission of applications is 19 October 2012.

Friday, October 19, 2012

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Article for Financial Information Month - October 2012 Challenge Yourself to Excel Most people do not challenge themselves to excel. Most of us are just contented to remain where we are in life. Some people even say it is their fate to be in their situation, whether it be dire poverty, an abusive relationship, a dead-end job, etc. The truth is every one of us was born with the potential to achieve greatness. The problem is most of us do not develop our potential to the fullest. Some of us are constrained by our upbring-

ing, our circumstances in life, our negative experiences; but the potential is always there - it is innate; we were born with it; no one can take it away from us. Like latent kinetic energy stored in an object, we all have what it takes to excel. Our Creator himself said of us “...nothing that they plan to do will be impossible for them...” Gen. 11:6 If we were born with the potential to achieve anything we wanted to in life, why do most of us fail to excel? Some possible reasons are: a. We do not challenge ourselves to succeed. b. We do not believe in ourselves. c. We are fearful; a debilitating factor.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST MONTSERRAT: ACCESS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (TWIN-OTTER AIRCRAFT):

Private Sector Investor Interest in Developing a Strategic Alliance/ Joint Venture Arrangement For the Operation of a DH6-6-300/200 Twin-Otter Aircraft (or comparable aircraft) to Service Montserrat The Government of Montserrat (GOM) has completed a series of strategic studies identifying the strategic importance and economic viability of expanding Montserrat’s air access capacity by operating a Twin-Otter aircraft between Montserrat and Antigua and to service other regional destinations. The redevelopment of Montserrat’s tourism sector is vitally dependent on improved air (and sea) access. GOM has established that improvements can be made to the existing quality of service that will be required to attract tourists to Montserrat. In June 2011, GOM approved an Access Strategy for Montserrat. It recommended improvements in air service levels with the re-introduction of a Twin-Otter aircraft as part of the network of an existing airline. GOM considers that there is a business opportunity for the private sector in the lease (or purchase) of a Twin-Otter (or comparable) aircraft to be operated into Montserrat. GOM is committed to improving the tourism infrastructure in Montserrat. GOM is examining the technical requirements for the introduction of night landing at the John A. Osborne Airport for Montserrat to further develop interline operations for regional and international airlines operating to/ from the Antigua airport. The GOM has prepared a Prospectus which sets out the results of the earlier studies and indings. It also provides guidance for interested parties to respond in relation to (a) the lease (or purchase) of a Twin-Otter (or comparable aircraft) and (b) the operation of the aircraft to/from Montserrat. Interested irms/parties may associate with other irms in the form of a joint venture. Successful irms/parties will be selected in accordance with the criteria set out in the Prospectus. Interested parties may obtain / download copies of the Investment Prospectus from the GoM Website address www.gov.ms. For detailed information and clari ication of the Prospectus and EOI please contact Mr. Oral Martin, Access Coordinator, Ministry of Communications, Works and Labour, Mahogany Drive, Woodlands, Montserrat, Tel. No.: 664-491-2521 Cell: 664-495-6700, Monday to Friday: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm or by e-mail at martino@gov.ms

Atychiphobia is the term used to refer to “Fear of failure”. This type of fear has prevented many from achieving their dreams. Human beings are born with only two (2) fears The fear of falling and the fear of a loud noise. All other fears

we cultivate. When we cultivate a fear of failure, we limit our creativity and our potential to excel. Many people are stuck in dead-end relationships or dead-end jobs. Fear of not finding someone else to love them (fear of failure) or not finding another job (fear of failure) keeps them from growing out of these shackles. Some people will not undertake a self-development program to improve themselves because they are afraid of failing.. Sometimes we give up too easily on our dreams. The creators of the Inspirational book series “Chicken Soup for the Soul” were rejected some 140 times, by various publishers, before the series became a hit. Today, there are 65 different titles in the series and over 85 million copies have been sold worldwide. So, what is your goal in life? What is your dream? You must believe that nothing you plan to do will be impossible for you to achieve. Challenge yourself to succeed. By Bank Staffer - Montserrat

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST MONTSERRAT: ACCESS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (FERRY):

Private Sector Investor Interest in Developing a Strategic Alliance/ Joint Venture Arrangement For the Investment in and/or Management of a New Ferry for Montserrat The Government of Montserrat (GOM) has completed a series of strategic studies identifying the strategic importance and economic viability of investing in a new ferry to operate between Montserrat and Antigua, and to service other regional destinations. The redevelopment of Montserrat’s tourism sector is vitally dependent on improved sea and air access. GOM has established that improvements can be made to the existing quality of service that will be required to attract tourists to Montserrat. In June 2011, GOM approved an Access Strategy for Montserrat. It recommended investment in a new purpose-designed and built ferry. GOM considers that there is a business opportunity for the private sector in a new purpose-designed ferry and for the operation of the ferry. GOM is committed to improving the landside and seaside infrastructure in Montserrat. A new berth facility has been constructed in Antigua and terminal works are on-going. The GOM has prepared a Prospectus which sets out the results of the earlier studies and indings. It also provides guidance for interested parties to respond, in relation to (a) the supply of new ferry capacity, and (b) the operation of the ferry. Interested irms/parties may associate with other irms in the form of a joint venture. Successful irms/parties will be selected in accordance with the criteria set out in the Prospectus. Interested parties may obtain / download copies of the Investment Prospectus from the GoM Website address www.gov.ms. For detailed information and clari ication of the Prospectus and EOI please contact Mr. Oral Martin, Access Co-ordinator, Ministry of Communications, Works and Labour, Mahogany Drive, Woodlands, Montserrat, Telephone 664-491-2521 or 664-495-6700 (cell), Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or by e-mail at martino@gov.ms.

Return of EOI proposals Expressions of Interest, together with other documents, should be addressed in written form to the following address and should reach Montserrat no later than 16:00 on the 19th October 2012:

The Chairman Public Procurement Board Ministry of Finance Brades Montserrat Tel: +1 664 491 2777

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Friday, October 19, 2012

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