by Bennette Roach
Plymouth in better times (looking south from northwestern end)
Virgin land at Little Bay; long earmarked for development
July 16, 1997 – While scientists, officials of the volcanic management authorities and local politicians try to soothe residents’ fears, politicians in Britain with the information from their scientists here in Montserrat that the volcano will remain active, although without a drastic eruption, for between one and five years were strategising on the present and future of Montserrat’s inhabitants.
BLACK WEDNESDAY
Following the June 25 tragedy or ‘Black Wednesday’ as it is now being referred to, and which has left over 20 people dead, hundreds of people have fled Montserrat and more are leaving, causing serious concerns for the economy and viability of Montserrat, as an island deserving to be catered to for infra structure, utilities and services. But even the Britishers are conscious that only just over 2,000 people inhabit Britain’s Falkland Islands colony in the south Atlantic.
However one British report says that Minister George Foulkes said: “As long as there is a significant number of people wishing to remain, I am certain that there is a scheme that can be implemented for keeping the north viable.”
NO RESPONSIVENESS
It has been reported in Britain the ministers responsible, Clare Short, George Foulkes, Liz Symons and company were “drawing up a package of options which will be put to the people of Montserrat to enable them to choose the best future for themselves.”
It is said that the package of options would set out what it would be possible to do on the north of the island and “explore the detail of an assisted package.
capita? We have been hearing that for the last 20 years at least.
CM’s CALL-IN PROGRAM
During the Chief Minister’s ‘call-in’ program on Thursday night, he was aghast that callers suggested to him that he should let Britain run the country. Mr. Osborne must not be in touch with the people of this island, since there is general talk that his government should step aside and let some committee take over the running of the crisis. He inspired little confidence in his audience when just about everything he said, did not show definite knowledge of the affairs as he kept saying: “I understand that.,” over and over. Mr. Osborne did not show in that call-in that anything had changed since January, when in answer to the question as to government’s involvement in the management of the crisis, he said that they are ‘briefed and kept up to date from time to time.
These management meetings reportedly have as many as 40 people involved and one official says that the same complaints are repeated meeting after meeting. No wonder!
Reports from British newspapers suggested that decisions being made to the risk map are being influenced by the ‘relatives of the island’s ruling family’. The report refers to the Vue Pointe Hotel as being the main social focus on the island and just inside the new buffer zone. It says further that an official said “it remains a symbol of hope for Montserrat, which is why it wasn’t included in the danger zone.”
It is inconceivable to believe that a decision like that came out of a management meeting, but then there seems to be other situations which can be ascribed in that manner.
