Murphy speaks with the Editor
The matter involving Alfred “Murphy” Edwards who had been told some years ago that he would eventually be asked to vacate his location at Carrs Bay by the end of the year languishes on.
According to Murphy he was told several years prior that he will have to vacate his residence and small business on the Carrs Bay corner. He told The Montserrat Reporter (TMR) that since he had been told this by someone working for the MDC at the time, he had been in discussions with the Minister of Works who told him that they had agreed to give him lands above the location, and that a road was cut to facilitate his new residence.
But nothing happened for quite a while and eventually the Chief Minister visited with him, walked him through the new property and even with some disagreements he expected that the new construction would begin, but nothing happened. Murphy produced evidence of correspondence between the Ministries on the matter.
Then in October he received a letter from the MDC chairman, which stated : “We are aware that the Ministry of Lands held several discussions with you on this matter. But as the new landlords of this property we would like to offer you a fixed sum of EC$300,000.00 to resettle yourself elsewhere.”
The letter noted that there is a plot available in the New Davy Hill subdivision on which a three bedroom house can be built, all within the EC$300,000.00 on offer.
Murphy was advised, “if you would wish to take up this offer,” he was to contact the PIU director…”but in any case not later than October 15th 2012” The letter was dated October 3, 2012.
Murphy said the offer was contrary to any prior agreements he had with government officials and did not include his business place and cultivation, which carried significant value. He contacted his attorney, David S Brandt who on 3rd December, 2012 wrote to the MDC advising his instructions regarding the letter and other matters concerning his (client) possession and ownership of the property he occupied.
Murphy pointed out that contrary to the popular belief that he is holding up the government, the attorney’s letter noted, “My client wishes to cooperate fully with the authorities in their efforts to develop Montserrat but like to point out that he is no lesser person than any-one else. The constitution and law protects the rights of every person no matter how poor he is.”
The letter further referred to complaint by Murphy that the chairman, “in the vicinity of his premises and the hearing of his grandchildren you demeaned him to the extent of using indecent, threatening and insulting language. This should not be the behavior of a public official.”
Finally the letter said that the client “rejects your offer…and invites you to discuss with him and his legal adviser to set a mutually convenient time a way forward…before 15 December 2012.”
Murphy said nothing had taken place and he is waiting anxiously for a solution on the way forward.
Vending at Little Bay – Festival City
Gerald mobile kitchen in operation at LBay
In the matter involving Alvin “Jim” Gerald and operating his mobile kitchen outside the fenced ‘festival city’, there has been some temporary resolution and Gerald has been operating throughout.
Gerald, had claimed that after receiving permission to operate was denied facility to operate where Montserrat Utilities Ltd. (MUL) connected and disconnected water and electricity, just before he showed up to operate the first night. A determined Gerald took his complaint to his attorney. He reported later that there was clearance and he began operating firstly with a generator after which electricity had been restored.
Reportedly, tensions over the situation had been eased following meetings between government and the MDC officials.
see additional photos of Murphy’s corner on our facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151239950220852.456179.203080105851&type=1
My View on “Murphy’s Corner”..
I have known Murphy for many years, he is a very knowledgeable man in the use of herbs; roots and farming, for various health related conditions, thereby his nick name “Roots” Man.. he saw an opportunity to build his small residence at Carr’s Bay corner, an area, which no one ever gave a second look, now about 35 plus years later, he is being ostracised because he built his home/business and farmed behind his house on the very steep hillside, growing various fruits and vegetables’, now I add, with the event of Hurricane Hugo, he had to take his young daughters to shelter in a cave behind/above his house up on the same steep hill, as the Storm Surge was reaching his house..
This Cave might have had some significance, during the Arawak and Carib periods, as a place to live shelter during stormy periods, Note: this was the first thing that the excavator purposely demolished, prior to starting to cut/dig down the corner just past Murphy, Note also, IF this Cave was found to have contain any Arawak or Carib Artifacts’, then the entire Murphy’s Corner area, would have been declared a National Heritage Spot !!, So therefore meaning No Development could have been done there !!..
Now Notice EVERYONE is focusing on Murphy’s Corner !! saying that HE IS keeping back the Development of Little Bay/Carrs Bay, Well they have the entire area to develop, so go ahead and develop the rest of Little Bay/Carrs Bay, until they can come to some amicable solution for Murphy and his Family !!..
By Focusing on Murphy, would take observing eyes off the MDC, I ask is NO ONE seeing that all the monies being spent at/on Little Bay/Carrs Bay, and to date NO ONE has Invested as YET??.
Also the Very Big/High Salaries that are being paid out, to MDC Staff..
I have some Questions they are:-
Beside cutting dirt roads up to the top of Potato Hill; cutting off Murphy’s Corner; demolishing the Fishermen’s Sheds (causing 26 plus fishermen to move into 10 sheds?, with stipulation that No Fishing Gears to be stored outside of their sheds, my first Question is where are the Fishermen to mend their nets; build fish traps; etc.. ) and the filling in of Piper’s Pond, (without any Environmental Consultations and Consideration of Global Warming, Sea Raise and the Flooding from Sea Surge due to Storms/Hurricanes), and also the fact that the drilling of Bore holes, done around Piper’s Pond revealed that anyone building there would HAVE TO put in 30 foot Piles, to support any structure that someone wants to build there !!..
Remember the building of the Public Market, they had to put in and compress many tons of rocks before they could built the market causing massive cost over runs !!..
Now All that those those VERY HIGHLY PAID MDC Staff have to show the public, is some very beautiful fancy pictures of Expensive shops; Marina’s and Condo-apartments, all of which would be entirely be out of the financial reach of the average local Montserratian, I say it’s just ” A Case of Smoke and Mirrors” showing US pretty pictures, all the while we wait and wait nothing!! No 5 Star Hotels; No New Port; NOT ONE INVESTOR TO DATE !!! and Not one Small Business as YET !!..
Yes.. We see/saw the building of the Museum; Top Offices on the Public Market; A New Social Security Building being built, and Cricket/Sports Grounds.. BUT NO MDC Investors !!..
A Local Business Person applied to the MDC to build an Office Building and was told that they could NOT get any Land just yet????? WHY??..
Our New Town..??? A New Town for WHOM, Definitely Not Montserratians, No Small Montserratian Business people, as the Calypso says “Dem No want Piper an Monkey Eric Dung Dey” …
They (MDC) are VERY glad to have the focus featured on Murphy, to take the focus off the MDC Developments..
In December MDC’s Up-date on the Carr’s Bay/Little Bay Development progress, held at the Cultural Center, the CEO of MDC stated that there were two prospective buyers/builders of the Hotel, that they would like to put down at Little Bay and that they would be making a submission to MDC before Christmas 2012, now If They Have or Have Not, We Have Not Been Informed as Yet!!..
The New Port, Designs just Keep On Changing and Changing!! Now they say it’s 60% finished !!, You will hear in Parliament Next week that it is almost finished the designing stage, yes.. it’s still 60% finished, the British Government is holding the MOU over Montserrat’s Government heads, so no New Port UNTIL !!!!!!???? they OUTSOURCE the entire Government..
So until they can positively settle Murphy’s situation, Please Leave Murphy and his family ALONE, STOP TORMENTING THE MAN.. !!
That’s My Take on “Murphy’s Corner”..
Capt. John
its sad that even social cleaning of an area is not only a big country thing but occurs in little monstrat …he has been there years..i remeber talk of him been forced out well over a dacade ago but he is still there…. he is an amiable no nonsense man from my recollection and a part of that are and hopefully any development will be sympathetic to his need
Recent comments on this matter by Mr. Marvier Griffith are very informative and even handed. As for some of the other comments I have read, I think of the words of my late grandmother, “Eh, eh, look on envy and grudge.”
I hear from a select few, “Why does he have that?”, “He doesn’t deserve that.” and “I should have that.”.
Resenting possible possession by Murphy’s heirs goes to a new low. As far as I know, Murphy’s daughter has also acquired much of Murphy’s holistic knowledge. If I’m not mistaken, daughter is even a doctor. Developing this spot as an holistic center of some sort would be a positive for all. If we don’t help and encourage other Montserratians, who should we be helping and/or encouraging?
I do not want to be too pejorative. I do understand there are those, who for whatever reason, speak of money, punishment and “not rewarding” what they consider “bad behavior”. I only ask that they remember, “Man does not live by bread alone.”. That was the also the response given by Bishop Desmond Tutu when he was questioned about the financial expenditure of South Africa for the World Cup games.
“Familiarity breeds contempt”, so for those that have lived around Murphy and have seen him in both god and bad times, he may not seem like such a “big deal”. Culture is sometimes a subtle thing and is often not recognized until it is lost. Culture is the very Soul of a Nation. We are not in a “very bad way” for acknowledging culture. Perhaps those without vision are “in a bad way” for not seeing what is right before their eyes.
Dana Manno,
Chaplain, MPSNY