(TMR file photo) CM Osborne purchasing fresh vegetables at new market

The family of former Chief Minister John Osborne has issued a formal statement in respect of his recent illness and hospitalisaton in the United States.

“In response to the many inquiries about the health of former Chief Minister John A. Osborne, his family wishes first of all, to thank everyone for their concern, their expressions of empathy, their prayers, and their wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

“Mr. Osborne has been hospitalized in the United States for the past six weeks undergoing testing and treatment for an illness for which he had received preliminary care in the hospital at home (in Montserrat). Over the past weeks, he has undergone surgeries of varying levels of seriousness, and has baffled and astounded his physicians on several occasions with his ability to rebound and recover. One surgeon noted that, “He is a remarkable man.”

“It has been a difficult and painful time for him, and a challenge for his doctors as they continue to attempt to arrive at a firm diagnosis and, following that, to deliver a prognosis for his recovery. Currently, Mr. Osborne is in critical, but stable condition, and the people of Montserrat will be kept informed as this improves.

“He is being attended to by a team of some of the most meticulous and capable physicians, and by his family, and the expectation and hope is that he will make a good recovery.”

The former Chief Minister served Montserrat for over 40 years as an elected member of parliament, having served as Chief Minister from 1978 – 1991, and again from 2001- 2005. He retired in 2009 and did not contest the elections last September.

Many well wishers are hoping that the veteran gentleman will make a full recovery.

Adapted for Montserrat:

Montserrat gets lashed by rain

Nantes River - Salem main road, blocked by boulders from flood waters

Hurricane Earl lashed the northeastern Caribbean on Monday especially northwards as a still-growing Category 3 storm on a course that could threaten the eastern United States later this week.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Earl, which formed on Sunday, was already a major hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph (193 kph), and it was likely to keep gaining force.

The storm’s forecast track would run north of the Caribbean, then bend to the north, roughly parallel to the U.S. East Coast. The hurricane center said it is early to say what effect Earl would have on the U.S.

Flooding was the result as it thundered, lightening and rained all night from about 5.00 p.m. yesterday. Roads from the north to the south suffered damage as bridges and ghauts were blocked from the flood waters and boulders that came crashing down.

Clearing the mouth of the bridge to allow water flow -

Nantes River was blocked and the flood water flowed over on the road and found its way like the river and down into Rams Enterprises basement storage. Heavy equipment were still working on that bridge at 2.00 p.m., clearing it to ready it for the continuing threats of rain.

Runaway Ghaut was blocked from mudslides, which made the road impassable from both sides. Casava Ghaut suffered most damag, ed as he bridge barrier was broken after it became blocked and the result was boulders and other debris also blocked that passage.

Runway Ghaut - mudslides blocked the road

By mid-day tosayall these were cleared and traffic was passing free while the clean-up and temporary repairs were carried out.

Cassava Ghaut bridge broken from the overrun water

Far in the north the port suffered much damage, not from the sea waters but from waters rushing off the hills.

At Carr’s Bay Romeo Wayside hardware store suffered damage from being flooded. This was the result as Manager Julian Romeo explained, “from the blockage in the nearby ghauts.” This was not the first time this has happened, but no one heeds the complaints that this should be corrected to prevent the flooding that results.

For Montserrat and other islands of the Lesser Antilles Fiona is looming as this time it is about 1000 miles to the east. The hurricane centre reports say that there is a 90% chance this system becoming a tropical cyclone within the next 48 hours as it moves generally westward at about 20 m.p.h.

The eye of the powerful storm was passing close to the tiny British territory of Anguilla, where police said the wind blew the roofs off buildings and damaged utility poles.

“The winds are whistling outside,” said Martin Gussie, a police officer involved in coordinating the emergency response. “When the gusts of wind come, each time it sounds stronger.”

In Antigua, powerful wind and rain destroyed at least one home and at least eight people had to be evacuated, though there were no reports of critical injuries. Emergency response officials said about 350 people were in shelters. Local weather authorities reported at least 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain and 10-foot (3-meter) waves.

In St. Maarten, the storm toppled trees and knocked out electricity to much of the island but there were no reports of serious damage. Heavy gusts of wind swirled debris across streets that were empty due to a government-imposed curfew.

Alisha Daya, a 24-year-old tourist from Milwaukee, said she wore earplugs Sunday night but still had trouble sleeping because of the noise from the wind and crashing waves at the Oyster Bay Beach Resort in St. Maarten.

Cruise lines diverted ships to other ports in the Caribbean and Mexico as a customary precaution for tropical weather. Antigua’s V.C. Bird International Airport closed, and regional airlines LIAT and WINAIR suspended flights.

Hurricane warnings were in effect for Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Puerto Rican islands of Culebra and Vieques.

By late Monday morning, Earl was about 165 miles (265 kilometers) east of San Juan and headed west-northwest at 15 mph (24 kph), according to the center in Miami. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 60 miles (95 kilometers) from its center.

Earl has grown rapidly in strength, fueled by warm ocean temperatures of 86 F (30 C).

Earl could bring battering waves and storm surges of up to four feet (1.2 meters) above normal on some islands, as well as downpours that threaten to unleash flash floods and mudslides.

Forecasters say there is a chance the hurricane could brush the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region toward the end of the week, with its closest approach to North Carolina on Thursday or Friday. In any case, the U.S. East Coast is likely to see pounding surf.

Meanwhile, the Category 1 Hurricane Danielle was weakening far out over the north Atlantic.

See some more pictures if you have Facebook acct: here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=193121&id=530273301&l=910abf29c8

Earl's location Sunday a.m.

NOAA UPDATE: AT 1100 AM AST…1500 UTC…THE CENTER OF HURRICANE EARL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 17.2 NORTH…LONGITUDE 58.4 WEST. EARL IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 17 MPH…28 KM/HR. A TURN TOWARD THE
WEST-NORTHWEST WITH A GRADUAL DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS
EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO. ON THE FORECAST TRACK…THE
CENTER OF EARL WILL PASS NEAR OR OVER THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS
TONIGHT AND MONDAY.

Tropical Storm Earl is barreling toward several islands in the eastern Caribbean and likely will become a hurricane later in the day.

Meanwhile, the Category 1 Hurricane Danielle was bringing dangerous rip currents to the U.S. East Coast.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Earl could make landfall over the Northern Leeward Islands as soon as Sunday night. It likely will strengthen into a hurricane later in the day.

Forecasters warn the storm could bring battering waves and storm surge reaching up to 3 feet above normal tide levels in some areas. Hurricane warnings and watches had been issued for several islands.

Earl was 370 miles (595 km) east of the Northern Leeward Islands and had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph).

It took a while to find where we erred in ‘fact’ in the above headlined story in the August 13 issue of The Montserrat Reporter (TMR) as we were so advised by a spokesman for the CRM (Committee for the Redevelopment of Montserrat). The error was in the last paragraph of the article, and we must apologise to the Committee therefor.

It however offers an easy opportunity, not only to correct the error but also to expand, on a matter that is considered to be a most important development in the economic and everyday life of Montserrat.

The article stated: “…MGC could source a complete generating plant for Eighty thousand pounds, approximately EC$350,000.” The figure of £80,000 was in connection with the availability of a ‘reconditioned diesel generator’ similar to those still in Plymouth.

Sam Rhys Williams, whose expertise among others is in Electrical Engineering, is one of the CRM members and director in Montserrat Geothermal Co. (MGC). He explains that CRM carried out extensive research and advised government of the availability a complete new generating plant at a cost of EC$12 million approximately £2.86 million at today’s exchange rate.

He said that also available out of the U.K. at a price of $8 million are four reconditioned one (1) mgw generators, which in his opinion would be a better choice, since two of these can carry Montserrat with two available as standbys. Also available are two – two (2) mgw generators (also reconditioned) at a price of $6 million. These three options have been submitted to government as alternatives to meet any compulsive immediate need that may be necessary.

Of course all of this CRM argues must be taken on board with the consideration that Geothermal energy could be available in a reasonably short space of time.

There is a document circulating in the public domain, which purports to be the best version of a suitable Constitution of Montserrat that some people have been able to come up with. But, is it really just the easiest, least bothersome, cheapest, most convenient, or least difficult?

And, yes! Do, please, note that I did not write “being circulated.” And for the very good reason that it seems to me, and to some other people, that those who are actually and officially responsible for making sure this proposed Constitution does get circulated so it could be discussed and thought through and changed and improved where necessary, are not doing a good job, at all, of having it circulated so that it might be properly and thoroughly discussed and thought through and changed and improved where necessary. So, the thing is circulating just because it is in the air, so to speak. That does not speak well for The Responsibles. Nor does it bode well for those for whom they are responsible.
Point Number One.

Point Number Two.
This proposed Constitution of Montserrat is an astonishingly slim document.

In an era when every other conscientious, trustworthy, and dare I say, loving, set of governors, (or rulers, or owners) is theoretically, publicly, and in practice, acknowledging the expediency of respecting basic human rights;

In an era when every other smart, sensible set of governors (or rulers or owners) is paying attention to the rights of human beings, even if not actually appreciating the fundamental wisdom and basic goodness of doing so;

In a era when every intelligent, educated set of governors (or rulers or owners) is theoretically, publicly, and in practice, acknowledging that there are more rights that belong to human beings than the few noted in the Magna Carta, and to a greater number of classes of human beings than noted in that anachronistic document;

And in an era when every intelligent, educated set of governors (or rulers or owners) is theoretically, publicly, and in practice, acknowledging that Thomas Paine had some of the right ideas, and that the basic, fundamental, and inalienable human Rights are not only of Man, but also of Women and Children;

At a time when the people of the Cayman Islands, for example, have been careful to include protections against slavery and forced labour, and against torture and inhuman treatment in their (new, British-brokered) Constitution;

At this time when Anguilla, for instance, was careful to include, in their (new) Constitution, provision for the establishment of a Human Rights Commission, and specific protections for women;

Even now, when the (new) Constitution of the BVI includes a clause ensuring the protection of children, as well as its natural environment, and recognises the people’s right to education;

Even as India, for example, is considering including the right of access to food in its Constitution;

Even now, I say, we in Montserrat, are having this incomplete, unfinished, sketchy, first-draft, few pages of a thing fobbed off onto us, and with the full and enlightened complicity of The Government of Montserrat, no less.

Oh and I say enlightened, because was it not a most enlightened member of our government who summarily, and very uncouthly, from what I hear, rejected the suggestion that there might be someone somewhere who might know something that he doesn’t about drafting and negotiating new constitutions?

So, I wonder whether our elected members of government are unwilling to do with our Constitution what it is generally agreed among good people that it is good practice to do with such documents, what democracy requires, and that which many Montserratians want done with ours solely because they are aware that they don’t know how? Well! Socrates did say that the wisest person is the one who knows that he does not know.

Could it be, then, that their hostility toward suggestions that they “do the right thing” is really an indication that, being incapable and conscious of this incompetence, they are also therefore, tetchy and sensitive about it? Isn’t there an expression for this in clinical psychology?

I ask – did the other countries succeed in negotiating a more acceptable Constitution for themselves because their government people are highly-educated, well-cultured, and widely-read, informed and committed, well-travelled and aware of what the world is really like? Is it that they have the best interests of their country at heart? That they want the best, and only the very best, for their country and people? And are willing to put themselves on the line to achieve it?

Do our government people not know what is best? Do ours not have a sensible concept of what “best” is? Or are they, quite simply, not interested, not invested, and really couldn’t care less about ensuring that Montserratians have the absolute best possible? Do they not care about the good of us?

Do they not know that the enslavement and forced labour of children, women, and men is of real and increasing concern worldwide? Are they not aware of the extreme prevalence of domestic violence and relationship abuse in Montserrat and the lasting damage that it does, and that no-one has the right to abuse another? Are they not aware that repressive governments, evil political entities, and abusive civil service operatives, actually do torture and treat human beings inhumanly everywhere in the world? Are they not aware that that foul and offensive dump over in Blake’s is not merely an eyesore, but constitutes real degradation of the environment and a health hazard for Montserratians and that Montserratians have a right to a safe and pleasant environment?

Or, is it that they do know of Thomas Paine, but that they choose to ignore the part about the sole responsibility of Government being the safeguarding of the individual and the individual’s inherent and inalienable rights?

Or, shall we just assume that they know that Thomas Paine was sentenced to hanging for seditious libel, by the same Crown with which they should, now, be negotiating to ensure the protection of the rights of all the People of Montserrat?

Or, maybe we should just accept that our government people are short-sighted and self-interested and neither knowledgeable nor wise.

Are not capable or courageous.

Editor’s Note: Montserrat in recent weeks have seen an unusual amount of thunder storms which have left the ground very saturated, so that the lightest shower of rain brings the ground to near flood levels at times.

The impending Tropical storm Earl seems from forecasts, that Montserrat will be spared strong winds even as the storm grows to a hurricane; but rain and plenty of it might deluge the island.

The following is written for Florida, USA, but we may just find it more than relevant for some areas of our tiny and mountainous  island.

When people think of hurricane impacts, they often think of wind. But, of course, water is the biggest killer, and often is the biggest cause of damage, since it doesn’t take much.

Here are some tips from the folks at Stanley Steemer of South Florida, who say only two inches of water can cost up to $7,800 in repairs. We’ve covered much of this in the past, especially in our annual hurricane preparation guides, but it bears repeating, especially now that we’re in the height of the season.

1. Know where your house is vulnerable, find the cracks, and use a fresh layer of sealant to fill them.

2. Be especially focused on cracks around your windows and doors. It takes only a little water to get into your house to cause a big problem.

3. Use sandbags. Even if you are not in a flood zone, it is always a good idea to sandbag the area under your doors, both front and back.

4. Lift up any loose items on the floor (rugs, furniture, etc.). Keep them high and dry in case water does come in.

5. Lay blocks under your furniture so they are lifted off the ground. A few inches above the water can lead to several thousands of dollars in savings.

6. Cover what you can. Buy tarp or plastic to cover your furniture. It takes only a little roof leak to cause expensive damage.

7. Immediately following a storm, if you do suffer water damage, don’t waste any time. Call an expert to help you. The longer water sits in your home, the more damage to property and danger to your family (bacteria and pollutants) it will have.

8. Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Talk to your insurance provider about your policy and consider if you need additional coverage.

9. Have your roof carefully inspected at least once a year by a licensed roof contractor or a capable handyman who should check the roof thoroughly for missing shingles, degraded roof components, separation of the roof from chimneys and exhaust pipes, and other roof problems.

10. Make sure that your outdoor lot grading takes water away from your home or business and not toward your home.

Marijuana plants of all sizes removed from upper Waterworks mountain

On August 16, Inspector William Thompson of the Royal Montserrat Police force invited the media to show a sack of what they said was full of cannabis sativa (marijuana) plants that they had removed from an area “up and beyond the reaches Waterworks,” on the way to Kilicranke.

The Inspector said they had carried out surveillance from intelligence information, which led them to the area where they removed some 403 plants that measured from a few centimeters to three feet tall.

Sack containing the uprooted marijuana plants in heights up to 3 feet

Thompson also informed that they had carried out a similar exercise the previous week, that time in the Centre Hills area where they destroyed and removed 153 plants that were more mature than the current batch. That area, he said, was closer to the main road from Runaway Ghaut in that they were able to walk to the area in approximately one and a half hours.

The police said they did not know who cultivated the plants, which in both locations were laid out in nice rows in nicely cleared forest areas. The plants according to the police, were always cultivated close to a water source.

The Inspector said he was unable to give any idea as to the value of the ganja plants they were about to destroy as this is usually determined when the plants are processed and ready for sale.

Illegal Gaming and Liquor licences

Reporting on other criminal activities, Inspector Thompson revealed that they were continuing to make their police presence felt in the communities in an effort to reduce the incidence of crime. He said that on the weekend just concluded they had apprehended five persons (all male) allegedly for illegal gaming at a “business enterprise.”

He said that the matter had been causing some concern and involved the question of persons abusing their liquor licence privileges, by keeping their business places open after closing hours. Not only was the illegal gaming practice becoming a concern, but there was also the issue of noise pollution caused by some persons at their business places after they should have closed.

The police reported that no charges were laid against the apprehended persons and later reports said that monies taken from these persons for the alleged illegal gaming had been returned. One such person who considered himself a victim reported that he did not receive all the money that was taken from him as it was done in two instances, but as he was uncertain of the exact amounts he decided not to pursue any further action.

(l-r) William Bramble, P S Eugene Skerritt. Minister Roselyn Cassell Sealy, Govt. MP Eastern Farrell, FS John Skerritt, C M Dr. Lowell Lewis, Govt. MP John Osborne, standing: Ross Honey

The matter became a serious potential loss, from one that was supposed to bring much benefit and revenue to Montserrat. The latter was the belief of Ministers in the Dr. Lowel Lewis government two years ago, and it is also believed that it might have caused at least one person their seat when general elections were held last September.

It all had to do with a matter which landed the Government of Montserrat in court when International Pairs Ltd. (IPL) followed-up on what they believed was an accepted proposal that they could successfully market and promote Montserrat Internationally and bring some much needed revenue to the economy of the ravaged Volcanic Island.

International Pairs Ltd. is a UK company based in Hampshire. It takes claim that it runs one of the largest Amateur Golf competitions in the World with yearly Tournaments on five continents.  In early August, 2008 Mr. Ross Honey, CEO of IPL, Mr. William Bramble, technical consultant to IPL, and Mr. Owen Roach, Lawyer to IPL visited Montserrat, with their proposal.

They held several meetings including one where present at the meeting were the Hon. Chief Minister Lowell Lewis, Minister Roselyn Cassell Sealy,  The Hon.Eastern Farrell, the Hon. John Osborne, The Hon. Financial Secretary John Skerritt and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Eugene Skerritt. (See photo)

In a few short months later, following the involvement of H E Governor Waterworth and DFID. IPL would slap a suit against Montserrat joining the Hon. Attorney General, Minister Roselyn Cassell-Sealy and Chief Minister Lowell Lewis. The claim for over £200,000 was for loss of profit, and incurred liabilities and expenses, after government had failed to carry through with its commitment to fund the proposal.

According to information from one side, “at the last case management conference the Master (in the High Court) told both sides that the matter should be settled.”

Between June 11 and August 9, this year there two offers by the Attorney General James Wood to IPL to settle the outstanding claim. According to IPL they referred to the first offer as, “derisory”. The second offer was made following the visit of Ross Honey, William Bramble, Owen Roach, along with their attorney David Brandt, “hoping to reach an amicable settlement,” They held meetings with the Attorney General. IPL, while they considered the first offer insulting, referred to the second offer as “wrong”, it being about twice the original offer but far below the claim amount.

While there has been no serious or official charge of wrong doing, in the months following the disappointing halt of the proposal, there were finger pointing, investigations and calls for the resignation of Minister Sealy, unsupported by Government Ministers, except later when Chief Minister Lewis called on her, “to do the right thing.” Questions were asked in the Legislative Council whether it was true that UK Government had called on the chief minister to dismiss the minister.

The matter has been outstanding since and had been ‘played around’, via statements publicly and in the Legislature. It featured prominently when DFID’s Sue Wardell visited Montserrat for the first time in February 2009, calling on the Government to put its house in order on several counts.

The matter also featured in several different ways in the 2009 general election campaign, and it is generally believed it was the reason that MCAP’s leadership was handed over to the present Chief Minister Reuben T. Meade just prior to the elections.

CEO Ross Honey had lamented on different occasions as they awaited settlement of the matter, that he would be still willing to involve Montserrat in a way it can benefit from participating in the promotion package.

Quite early in the dispute IPL said in a release: “The most frustrating thing is that by now the effects of the activation of the marketing plan would have been seen and the people of Montserrat would have already been enjoying the benefits…What a wasted opportunity for Montserrat!”

During their recent visit to the island, discussions with the IPL team revealed, “everything  IP  said that we were going to do for Montserrat, we have since done in other countries…..for example one of the investors who we had to come to Montserrat has since built a 5- star hotel in the South of France, 100 homes, [ an entire Eco village in Malaysia] and is now building 100 more houses in Brazil…..”

The team claimed that they are now official partners with Virgin Atlantic Airline, and Hertz Car Rental and that they do business with the Jamaican, Mauritius  and the St. Lucian Tourist Board. “By now the people of Montserrat would have been reaping huge benefits…,” they concluded.

Even so, that is only possible if you need help once; but if you have to do that project every year, no one will give or lend to you $55.00 each year. You would be wise to abandon that project. To seek to do otherwise or think that all is well with you, will be a blatant pretense; it will be such a travesty, that even your mother will laugh at you and call you a failure.

The foregoing is all common sense. But some will find a reason to call it nonsense just because it is written in The Montserrat Reporter. Any way, please read on.

The foregoing is the true financial situation of Montserrat. We are living a blatant charade. Montserrat expects to collect this year through its system of tax laws collects only $45million, yet each year it pays $60 million to politicians, pensioners and public servants. Another scenario is that each year Montserrat collects $45 million in revenue but each year it pays out $100 million in recurrent expenses. So in order to survive each fiscal year, Montserrat begs or gets $55 million from British taxpayers money. We beg Britain to pay for our health care, our education, our road maintenance, our social welfare programs and other luxury payments to civil servants and politicians, because one hundred from forty-five result in begging.

Let us be very honest and sincere; the situation here is so full of pretense that it is ridiculous. No one will ever be able to take one hundred from forty-five; neither will the British continue to give $55 million each year to subsidize our lifestyles. The lie of a good life we live on Montserrat is a mere charade. What a travesty! But life, good life and good living, are all about taxation.

Yes taxation! I use word taxation with no ill will or to make mockery of Montserrat politicians. But the reality is that our politicians must be very bold about this subject, because Montserrat needs a very novel way to deal with the burden of taxation and tax arrears if we are to maintain and enjoy social equilibrium in the space called home.  Believe me, dangerous and uncertain days are ahead. In fact Montserrat may not survive this decade, socially if we bury our heads in the golden volcanic ash.

Earlier this year I listened to the budget debate and except for the Chief Minister; no other politician mentioned the word taxation. No other legislator concerned himself with the word revenue. Instead I heard grandiose phrases and praises. One of them even beat his chest and demanded his rights from Britain. He intimated that his son has a British passport and therefore his son has as much right as any Englishman to British taxpayers money.

None of them seemed to understood that taxation is way up there on the high echelon of Godly duties expected from earthling men.   Imagine our Legislature is jam packed with clergymen, yet none seem to remember that Jesus discussed taxation.  Certainly politicians of the cloth must know that Taxation is next to Godliness! Taxation is a Godly duty, and they must speak about taxes much more with the people.

Please do not get me wrong; we have other issues on Montserrat besides taxation and tax arrears. In fact things are not what they seem. We are on the brink of a social collapse.

The ordinary and the needy Montserratians are hurting.

They complain to me; but I am no watchdog!  I tell them that I can only write about it for posterity. Still they insist, you must write, they say.

They complain that politicians, some civil servants and some pensioners are doing very well, while the ordinary and the needy are catching hell right here on Montserrat.

They lament over the ‘select few’ aligned beneficially to RUBENOMICS who will always do well while the foolish party stalwarts are falling rapidly off the edge.

They complain that Montserrat is a civil servant’s paradise but a nightmarish hell for the ordinary and the needy.

The private sector complains that members are unable to compete with the civil servants in the few business opportunities offered on the rock. They say the civil servants have no overhead, because they do their private jobs from the government offices, and they pay no rent or utility bills.

Bee the horn blower beep complained that the PS civil servants have taken over the car rental business. He said that the only people who visit Montserrat come on government business, so the ‘Perm nent seck rie tree’ have an advantage to get their vehicles rented.

The electricians complain that the inspector will undercut their contract prices and some have become afraid of him.
.
The plumbers complain that MUL has a private plumbing crew plying for work on residential and commercial construction sites.

The needy and the ordinary Montserratian have lost hope. They know that forty-five million dollars in revenue cannot sustain an expense of one hundred million dollars. Yet they want to hold on.

The ordinary and the needy want to hold on even though they know that our politicians and senior public officials exist only to ‘ bus-up’ and share among themselves the taxpayers money. They complain that these officials grant themselves luxury salary payments in the name of Professional and Duty allowances and unnecessary travel and entertainment allowances.

Yet we want to hold on even though we can hear The Swordsman’s warning to all Montserratians…that the Superior Mystical forces of the universe have detailed that Montserrat will not last another decade. Even in the Astral realm it has been heralded that Montserrat will self-destruct socially in the near future, possible within seven years, because the political, social and financial management of Montserrat is a mere charade.

But can we stop the charade? Yes we can! But we must make some serious management adjustments politically, socially and financially.  Our revenue collections must accommodate our expenditure and adequate savings. It is stupidity to think that we can extract sixty from forty-five, or that Montserrat can spend one hundred when we collect only forty-five.

US Basketball coaches at work in the Emerald Isle - Courtesy GIU

GIU – Two basketball coaches from Ohio are on island this week as part of the Reach One Teach One basketball camp for junior and senior players. Lead Coach, David Shoemaker said they will be looking out for outstanding players who could possibly be recruited to play basketball at colleges in his state.

Shoemaker said at the opening ceremony on Sunday evening that he has invited the local organizers to coordinate a visit of a team of the top players to Ohio for the month of October. “I can’t guarantee you that you will be selected by a school but I can assure you, they will get to come and see you. It will be up to each of you to work hard and give it your best,” the coach told the athletes.

The camp is being hosted by MC Media Inc and the Warren Cassell Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and began on Monday at the Brades basketball court. Presently there are 50 junior players who are being coached in all aspects of the game from 9am to noon each day until Friday. The senior players number 30 and meet each evening starting at 6pm.

Beresford Mack of MC Media Inc, said his organization and the Warren Cassell Foundation have already begun to make the plans to get the top players to Ohio later this year. He encouraged the athletes to consider how much they wanted a future in the game and to be prepared to work hard during the week of training to gain as much skills as possible from the coaches and to maintain this once the camp was over.

Montserrat youths at work with Basketball coaches from the US = Courtesy GIU

Assisting Coach Shoemaker is Coach Joshua Anderson, who is on island for the first time. Coach Shoemaker visited Montserrat 15 years ago to work with the players prior to their travelling abroad for international tournaments.

Coach Shoemaker and Beresford Mack agreed the goal was to get Montserrat back on the international scope by improving the standard of the athletes playing the game here.