The Montserrat Reporter

TMR’s attention was drawn to this which reportedly appeared on Social Media with the request to ensure that our print readers do not miss it… 

As a visitor of Montserrat residing in the United States of America, it is with great disappointment and shame that I have opted to address the governance situation on the Emerald Isle of Montserrat. Since adopting Montserrat as my homeaway from home several years ago I have been following the happenings there on a frequent basis.

I read an article published by MNI Live which spoke to the termination of Dr. Fletcher (CHRO) a national of St. Lucia by the DG who I am reliably informed is from Montserrat but what I found interesting was the speed in which it was dissemminated by an independent media outlet.

Upon carrying out an investigation into the matter, quite a bit of collusion was uncovered which seemingly points to attempts to undermine the performance of Premier Donaldson Romeo’s governance. A high-ranking Officer targeted the distinguished Doctor to create mayhem against natives of the Emerald Isle to further create a discord regarding the Governance of Premier Romeo. It is believed that after the learned Doctor failed to carry out the wish and tug the line of the propagandists who are hell-bent on undermining the Government of Premier Romeo.

It is evident that Premier Romeo has taken a very different approach to that of his predecessor former MCAP leader Rueben Meade, in the process he has been able to impress upon the British Authorities to get renewed support which seemingly is to the dislike of some political opportunists.

My investigations also revealed that Dr. Fletcher wasn’t the first TC to be terminated in a rush but what is interesting to note is that on every occasion when the terminations were carried out by the Governor and the Deputy, Premier Romeo had travelled overseas on Government Business. He was never consulted or informed which must be deemed unacceptable.

Leader of the Opposition Hon. Easton Farrell Taylor claimed in his presentation on A Live Talk Show Program Aired Via ZJB that the Donaldson Romeo’s Goverment was prepared to terminate Montserratians from the Civil Service in preference to TC’S who are paid three and four times the amount in monthly salaries which could only be regarded as propaganda. Hon. Farrell Taylor is fully aware that the Salary for Dr. Lewis and the other TCs is negotiated by the DG and HR which the DG oversees. MP Farrell Taylor must be aware that the DG negotiated a salary superior to that of TC’S, as he is Chair of the Public Accounts committee so he can inform the public as to the salary the DG negotiated on her behalf.

It’s indeed appalling to see how some supposedly Black Conscious so called Politicians and Administrators are colluding with the British Agenda to stifle economic growth and progress for personal gain being fully aware of the treatment meted out to our Black Brothers and Sisters who journeyed to England in the WINDSONG ERA as well as the legislation that was recently passed in the British Parliament to further control its colonies.

Montserratians the world over, take stock of the British Parliamentarians attitude to you as a people, strong representation is the key, I urge you to support those who are prepared to represent your interest and rebuke those who are prepared to spread propaganda in an attempt to hoodwink the electorate for power and personal gain.

by Juliet Ceesay

I was invited to the Legislative Assembly for the first time to witness my friend Shirley sworn in as Speaker. I became the observer observing the display of HUGE EGO/MINDS competing with one another with campaign rhetoric.

As a Diaspora spending time in Montserrat, I wonder if the egos of these men/women will be put aside in order to rebuild the nation and move forward. Will these leaders come together for the common good of Montserrat? Is election over, or are we going to continue listening to leaders of this country continue to insult one another over ZJB radio and the rest of the world? People are listening.

Transparency — Reuben used it, Claude used it, but the words that followed the word “transparency” leaves a lot to be desired. Election is over ladies and gentlemen. It is time for the healing of the people on the island to take place and stop the intellectual talking and competition with one another. It starts at the top with you the leaders.

People are waiting to see how this new party is going to move the country forward, and the insults and rude behavior need to stop on both sides. Reuben and Romeo, can you two find a way to come together, put aside your differences, and help make the transition from one government to another. Just the two of you! It makes no sense to cancel everything that Reuben has built in 20 years and start all over again because you don’t like the way he ran the country. Use his experience to build upon what is already in place and then make any adjust you deem necessary along the way. Why replace everything? From an old woman’s perspective and wisdom, that makes absolutely no sense to me.

I am not choosing sides, but to be fair, Reuben thank you for your 20 years of service given to the island. I might not like your leadership style, but you helped to rebuild the nation. I would have loved to hear that in the Assembly yesterday. Thank you Reuben. It is better to praise than to criticize.

Namaste!

Nort Edwards

On the blocking of VOIP by Digicel and LIME – C & W tried to do that with the “call back process in the mid to late 90’s. That was where a number in the USA was called which triggered a call back and the Caribbean could dial a number at a hugely reduced rate.

In Anguilla the government stood up to C&W when they tried to block the ‘callback “dodge”. C & W backed down.

For a couple of reasons. I do not think they can block the VOIP because it is internet service which they must provide. Also most also provide SMS which is not voice and if they block that then they can block the e-mail services.

Also what do they do about the cable tv companies that provide internet service and have been for years?

Before the Islands were scared to death of C & W but they could not take a fight and that is why they have essentially collapsed worldwide.

E-mail : hydrorescue@yahoo.com
Comment:
I am a former ship’s engineer who routinely produced electric power as one aspect of the job using both steam turbines and diesel units.   Presently I am sitting in a 500KW hydroelectric plant that I built in Vermont.   When I sell my home and business here I shall retire and live on Montserrat. So you might say, I have some expertise and an interest in Montserrat and her people.

First, I’d like to say Chris Lynt’s recommendation of solar and small wind is very viable and can be a personal solution to the power problem.  Solar panels have come way down in price from just a few years ago.   Wholesale I recently bought over 6KW of panels for 5200 US dollars.  That is 30 panels at 215 watt each. Larger quantities can be bought even cheaper.

Secondly I’d like to say there are always expensive options and cheaper options.  When people are allowed freedom to choose, cheaper and better options are usually found.   Inhibiting freedom to choose, or putting high taxes in place always makes for higher costs.

Thirdly there are many surplus diesel units available which could be bought for a small fraction of the price of this new 1.5MW unit being purchased.

Fourthly if asked I will assist in finding low cost solutions as long as long as the freedom to chose all options isn’t inhibited.

Chris Kruger
hydrorescue@yahoo.com

Follow-up: “New Generating Power plant – how will the ailing present last till mid 2015?”
by Christopher Lynt
E-mail : chlpatent@aol.com

Comment:

I was glad to read that, “…the new power station [will be] designed so that future potential of green energy can be easily integrated into the generated plant…” but I wonder if this means that so-called “net metering” will be available.

Net metering is where a consumer’s on-site generated electric energy, e.g., from roof solar photovoltaic  panels or from one or more small wind turbines, is connected to the electrical power grid at the consumer’s meter and used to offset electric energy provided by the utility to the consumer.  If everyone on Montserrat had electricity generating solar panels and/or small wind turbines on their properties connected to the grid, besides reducing the cost of electricity to the consumer, it would help with meeting peak demand for electricity.

It is a rare day on Montserrat when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. I calculated that I could generate all the electricity I normally use when visiting Montserrat, on average about 10 kWh per day, to power my refrigerator mostly, by installing about twelve 200 watt solar panels covering a roof area of about 182 sq. ft. (16.9 sq. meters).  The problem is without net metering, I’d also have to install enough storage batteries to store the energy for after dark usage.

If anyone is interested in my calculations, here they are:  solar insolation of  5 kWhm-2 per day is a typical value for tropical regions, like Montserrat.  For each Wp (peak watt) of rated power a solar panel will provide 0.85 watt hours of energy per kWhm-2 per day of “insolation” (available/useable energy from the sun).  So a 200 Watts peak solar panel should produce 200 x 0.85 x 5 = 850 Watt hours per day.  Twelve panels will provide 12 x 850 = 10.2 kilowatt hours of energy per day.

A typical 185Wp solar panel measures about 1.3 sq. meters.  Using 185Wp panels I’d need 13 to have 10.2 kWhr, so 13 x 1.3 = 16.9 sq. meters (181.9 sq. ft.) or a roof area facing south of about 13.5 x 13.5 feet.  (“kWhm-2” in the insolation value in the calculations is kilowatt hour per square meter.)

Solar energy is a mostly untapped resource on Montserrat, as are wind and tidal energy. If solar panels and small wind turbines could be given duty-free status, the payback time for the capital investment would make solar/wind competitive with other means of energy generation.

In some cases, the economics might make more sense for MUL to own and maintain the panels while leasing the space on a resident’s roof through a reduced electric rate.  This leasing is being done currently in the US in some areas as the cost per watt of solar energy has plummeted in recent years.  [I am an electrical engineer (MSCEE) and work as a patent attorney in the US and my family has owned property on Montserrat since the 1960’s.]

I should also mention that solar panels are designed to withstand hurricane force winds and a certain level of impact from flying debris, for example.  How they would hold up against volcanic ash is an open question.  However, I assume some of the remote monitoring the MVO does is powered by small solar panels and storage batteries so perhaps the MVO’s experience would be informative!  One can assume that any ash fall would require cleaning of solar panels or else their output would fall dramatically.

Let me mention also, for the interested,  this recent Op-Ed in The Caribbean Journal of Feb. 9, 2013 which discusses many of the issues Montserrat is facing regarding energy generation:  http://www.caribjournal.com/2013/02/09/op-ed-solar-energy-and-the-caribbeans-economic-future/

A Study of Isle’s Bay Beach – relating to Sand mining

Mr. Galloie
E-mail : mgallomont@yahoo.com

It’s ubsurd. I can’t believe there is sand mining at Isles Bay. Who are the idiots that have no clue?

What Montserrat needs attract tourisum, not the opposite. You have Jumby beach, the whole stretch of beach from Plymouth to Bransby Point to ream sand…don’t you!?

What the hell are you thinking of. Instead of repairing and beautifying the island, you’re just xxxx it up!

Nice work! Montserrat has a huge potential of becoming the jewel it once was. For this, you need bright ideas, ideas that attract interest. You need attractions, activities, order.

The other fact is you duty fees on everything including a Q-tip!

Why? What is it that the Gov. doesn’t understand? Make your money with tourisum, not by ripping people off with duty fees on top of fees and red tape.

Get A Clue, get real!

Long live Murphy’s, I say

Comment:
I vehemently agree with Ms. Osborne’s article re: Murphy’s. As an individual who has also traveled to the four corners of the earth, I too relish the “off the beaten path” locales that any country has to offer. I also relish the new and upbeat thing of it all; however there is a certain je’ne se quois to be found in the former. I haven’t been to MNI post Soufrierre eruption but look forward to some semblance of home as I once knew at such time when I return. The familiar and nostalgic that gives so many that sense of comfort and security. Peace, Love and Blessings to all and a sincere hope that a decision (decisions) will be made for the greater good. Long live Murphy”s I say!

philapoet@hotmail.com

“Only a holistic plan and approach will work”
E-mail : siandthediggi@msn.com

Comment:
Seems to me that Capt. John has nailed the whole thing, the Carrs Bay / Little Bay development is not meant for Montserrations, locals will, in the main be excluded.