But suspects there was a shortcoming in Montserrat’s case
In our last issue TMR reported on the Hon. Premier’s had made an impassioned intervention warning the UK government against on-due delays in supporting hurricane relief efforts in the Caribbean region. We highlighted in our Editorial on the matter: “…but have been left somewhat feeling that the Montserrat case has not been adequately taken care of, while seemingly more attention and focus was on the other territories. At the time that may have been the prudent thing to do, but also important, we feel that an opportunity was missed to seriously highlight the predicament Montserrat faces that at this point Montserrat must lead the discussion to remind HMG of its international and other obligations to those who especially must receive AID to build itself. That last might have brought stronger arguments on the pitfalls to be avoided…”
This week hear the Anguilla Chief Minister Victor Banks hinting a concern we’ve had when he said, about our own failure to garner our OTs support in the past: “…and I also add that perhaps the Montserrat governments have also failed in that because we had an opportunity to rally support for them to make sure that something better happens for Montserrat.”
Speaking to the media in the Anguilla’s capital the Chief Minister acknowledged the support of Premier Donaldson Romeo in pushing the case for Britain to support Anguilla’s redevelopment thrust, while he recalled, the untenable situation that has assailed Montserrat over the past 22 years.
The Chief Minister said: “…We continue to comment on we got the support of the Montserrat Premier on this,” but added, “…to spend twenty-two years after a disaster and remain 60% in grant-in-aid, it is not an ideal situation and this is something that the British government must seek to avoid. It means that they have failed to me, in their response and I also add that perhaps the Montserrat governments have also failed in that because we had an opportunity to rally support for them to make sure that something better happens for Montserrat.”
The Chief Minister was however optimistic that at this point in time, HMG through DFID, will take the necessary action to make good their commitments. “Certainly I think this government has taken that on board with the response, I believe that based on the presentations made by the Minister of State DFID Lord Bates…”Hon Banks said he got the impression that HMG, “…they’re beginning to understand or seem to understand our plight – the kind of response that is appropriate for the situation in which we find ourselves.”
