His Excellency The Governor Adrian Davis
Governor Adrian Davis at his recent joint press conference with Premier Meade (his first under the title Premier) was reminding residents and in particular fishermen that it is an offence to be fishing off the jetty in Plymouth which is in Zone V and therefore part of the most excluded zone.
The Governor noted the reduction in hazard warning level and opening up of Zone C for the first time since 2006. But he cautioned that although it is early days and people are excited about going into zone C, “but they should be aware that they are not allowed in, since it remains an unauthorized zone,” citing that there are instances of people fishing on Plymouth Jetty, of being in the Zone V and police have been telling people to leave while cautioning that it is a Civil offence.
The Governor threatened, ”we will look at in the future if this doesn’t settle down, to see other measures…,” he said.
Meanwhile in a similar vein and even more vehemently, the Premier warned that government will prosecute persons who have not paid up tax arrears.
The question put the Premier, “persons who still are in tax arrears, you mentioned that the government will be taking legal action against those persons; is the government going ahead with this course of action?” “Absolutely,” came the short response.
Premier Reuben Meade
He however continued to explain: ”that is a matter for the public service and the inland revenue department to process. We are in discussions with the financial secretary, who will in turn have the discussions with inland revenue as to the timing and commencing the preparation of cases…so a case file has to be developed.”
The Premier touted his seriousness on the matter and chided: “we are asking other governments to use their tax payers to support us, how can we then say to them it is ok for you to tax your people and give it to us, but it is not ok for us to do what is required to tax our people to sustain ourselves?”
He noted that regional politicians told him he would be committing political suicide, but he need not bother as he can live outside of politics. “I want that message to reverberate. Decisions I make in government are not about Ruben Meade and his survival, it is about Montserrat, the growth of Montserrat, development of Montserrat; I can survive outside of government.”
