To murder a people is to kill that people. A Montserrat proverb state that there is more than one way to kill…. Yet kill is kill, and to kill is to murder. Yes, murder is a very serious crime worthy of the most skilful investigation. I do not know who is responsible for MDC, but I shall assume that it is DFID; and so I will lump the two together in my scream to Interpol for help and protection.
MDC was created to bring life to the people of Montserrat. Their Articles of Incorporation lists twenty-two separate functions and objects that should enable MDC through its directors to rival the government of Montserrat in terms of enhancing economic activity. But what has happened in Montserrat since MDC incorporation? Is it Economic Life, is it Economic Death, or is it Economic Murder?
Let me examine one of the functions of the MDC, the function to manage the new town development at Little Bay and to manage the property portfolio.
How could one manage a property portfolio without knowing the boundaries of the property and it’s various plots? Little Bay is no longer a grazing platform for cattle and sheep. Little Bay has become billion-dollar piece of real estate, so we must ensure that a million dollar cadastral survey is carried out there. And a million dollar survey means the employing the most professional and experienced firm of surveyors that money can buy.
True, the Chief Minister went on radio and complained that the survey of the town centre was not done… but what is the rush? or will just any survey do? No! No, nothing but the best is good for 21st century Montserrat. To employ any but the best surveyors for Little Bay is to recklessly murder Montserrat’s Little Bay. A recklessly done survey will kill the future generations of property owners with boundary disputes and litigation. To foolishly contract an unlicensed surveyor would mean that a very serious crime would have been committed against the people of Montserrat; and if it is necessary to involve Interpol now, then let it be so. Believe me, MDC has become the herald of economic death and destruction for the people of Montserrat; and I wonder if DFID has ulterior motives for condoning their recklessness.
Another function of the MDC is “ to oversee the construction of industrial premises”.
The people of Montserrat do no accept replacing the weelee traders of Festival Village with a sand screening plant as a satisfactory method to oversee the construction of industrial premises. While it is true that sand mining and screening is an industrial activity, we are not satisfied when sand is screened and exported from Festival City, the heartland of the new town centre. It is as if MDC is a mere catalyst for the current economic times, they (MDC) have murdered a poor people for a few rich men.
Montserratians, to silently grin and bear ignorance or to condone badness done to others is not my character; I have to write, because… the fading ink is better than the best memory.
It appears as if the Directors at MDC are infuriated by one of my recent articles. In fact Friday afternoon one director accosted me and demanded that I get the facts before I write about MDC. But I am not a journalist I am a columnist, I write from inside out. I see, I hear, I touch, I smell, I taste and I breathe out in words my feelings and opinions.
Nevertheless, the director boldly demanded that I get the facts, so here I am now seeking the facts. But where were these facts? Who has been advertising these facts?
Yes, the facts please… I am now ready to write about the MDC.
Welcome, and please be seated, directors of MDC you may each offer a silent prayer to sustain you during this meeting.
The Articles of Incorporation speaks of shares and shareholding interest; tell us, who are the shareholders of MDC? MDC is a company registered under the Companies Act of Montserrat; tell us how it earns an income. What is the expected annual expenditure and how will the MDC finance those expenses? In other words tell us about the budget of the MDC. Give us some details too; for example, explain how you arrived at the salary budget and the rent expense budget. How much monthly fees are paid to each director? Give us an idea of the capital expenditure of MDC since 2007. Please tell Montserratians what to look for at Little Bay during the next six months.
You asked me to get the facts; but this is not a ‘just wonderin’ piece. You need not sweat though, just write down your answers and tell it to ZJB; and especially that no more than 250 people at a time can get that information online, make sure you tell The Montserrat Reporter where hundreds of thousands get it and read it online.
We never got some facts correctly, but it is better late than never. The former CEO Ms. Laurine was an extremely intelligent and internationally successful Montserratian; tell us the truth about her dismissal. And while you are at it, consider that nothing worthwhile has happened at MDC since you sent home the Vincentian Clarke; give us a reason, any reason why he too was dismissed. By the way what happened to the man from the Arctic Circle, the Canadian CEO, is it true that the board was so inept and unprofessional that he considered it a waste time to work with the directors?
Have you people at MDC ever taken a look at ‘henseyfenton’s brainchild’ BML and considered the type of ‘business enterprise ownership structure’ that is suitable for Montserrat? Who owns FLYMONTSERRAT? Is it a family run business? Why did you give that company the taxpayer’s money? Was there an opportunity for every Montserratian taxpayer to purchase shares in Fly Monstrat? Was there ever a prospectus for Fly Montserrat approved by the ECCB or any other authority? And when did they fire the local and MDC chairman form the FLY MONTSERRAT board? Was he an agent of confusion?
MDC needs inward investment. Where do you advertise? What is your advertising Budget? Do you believe that the ‘lollipop jingle’ on ZJB will attract investors? These are “noreplyto” questions, but you can send your response to The Montserrat Reporter. Again, that guarantees that the whole world will see the information via the internet.
Why would you directors of MDC believe that Montserratians are stupid? Didn’t you expect that Montserratians would question the screening and exportation of sand at Little Bay? Didn’t you foresee people would say that MDC moved the vendors from festival village just to bring de man to export he san? Is it true that you gave one of your employees the Million-dollar contract to survey Little Bay? And is it true that your employees don’t know a damn thing about surveying?
You told me to get the facts. Do not reply to my inquiries; send your answers to MNI alive, too.
MDC pays over twenty thousand dollars monthly to its CEO. Montserratians expect excellent and proactive leadership from its directors, not insecure reactions. As if to impress the Governor, you the directors are now busy planting grass and shrubs at the billion-dollar new town centre, but grass in a billion-dollar pasture will only feed wild animals. And those insipid stone works in the round about, the quality of the work scratches the blood, tear them down now; when it comes to stone works at the new town centre we want nothing below the standard of what is at the entrance to Look Out or at the A& F Service station.
Little Bay, Montserrat billion-dollar new town centre, must be the epitome of Pride and Taste. The five senses of every visitor to Little Bay must leap with excitement, like John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb.
One final word to you MDC directors, please review this article and seek to distinguish opinions from facts finding.
Thank you for your attention; this meeting is adjourned until the receipt of Interpol’s report on DFID involvement with MDC reckless management of the Little Bay property portfolio. In the interim I shall seek to have your financiers, the British Government, dismantle the MDC and declare the corporation a disgrace. Again, thank you!
