Governor Adrian Davis and head of the Governor’s Office Mark Turner
Governor Adrian Davis in his quest to Montserratians aware of his ideas and his tour of duty in Montserrat this week conducted or hosted two town hall style meetings, firstly in Salem on Monday and then in Lookout on Thursday evening both beginning at 7.00 o’clock.
The Governor gave a brief introduction of himself, his wife SueJu and the head of the Governor’s Office, Mark Turner who sat with him at the head table recording the proceedings of the meeting.
At both venue the Governor was brief as he told the communities of his focus for his tour of duty. The attendance turn-out was appreciable although one person drew attention to the mix of the people representing the community, noting that something was wrong that a certain section of the community were not attending the meetings in any commendable numbers. At one point in Salem it was noted that there were 70 persons in attendance and in Lookout 45.
Generally the Governor talked to what he saw as his, “total focus during my time here, is trying to facilitate the conditions that will bring economic growth to the island.”
He stressed” “There has been lots of talk about it but like the chief minister I think the time for discussion is over and the time for delivery and how to make it happen as the chief minister said at the end of the 35 page budget speech. What is the growth package and what do I see as the priorities.”
Crowd at Salem
He said there are several priorities, “but they are all kind of interlinked,” he said in Salem.
He was brief as he told his audience of his priorities, which were all similar to those he outlined in previous addresses. “The exploration of geothermal power, a resolution of the sand mining issue, both the immediate access issues, and future access issues in Montserrat.”
He expanded his access priority and said in part, it was, “Trying to get a better, more reliable and more frequent service and perhaps finally enabling Montserrat to buy its own ferry.”
He then fielded questions on several of the issues and heard complaints on many varying issues. He expanded on those that he spoke to and in some cases promised that he would enquire into those he could not answer or address.
Crowd at Lookout
At both venues, he was welcomed and told how impressed the community was that he was doing something that no other Governor before him had done in coming to them to address them and inquire as to seek their thoughts and opinions. “This is unprecedented; you have chosen to come to here to Salem. All the other times the governors have come here it was because of something with the crisis. You have done something totally different, I must commend you for that,” more than one person remarked and repeated at both venues. The comments drew loud applause from the audience showing their concurrence.
On each occasion, Governor Davis, reminded the two communities that he has committed to monthly press conferences and that the next would be on June 1, as well as, “I am committed to these kinds of meetings, something every three to six months…I am generally committed to telling people what we (government) are trying to do…”
See more in this week’s Editorial – “Governor Davis may have a dual role and can be considered DFID head in Montserrat”
