For some months there has been a quiet story that persons on Montserrat are conducting a lucrative business of exporting wire and scrap metals to include material from aluminum windows and electrical cabling, mostly from the exclusion zones.
On April 15, 2011, Montserrat Utilities Ltd. (MUL) acting on advice from the authorities, published only on radio, a notice shown here, advising the public that it had not authorized anyone to remove its property for scrap metal or any other purpose, reminding they will prosecute anyone found doing so.
MUL management reported that they had reacted to the advice following their report that they had information that their material had been removed from all over the island and especially from Plymouth and the exclusion zone. The management says it has not received any new information, but “it is a matter being followed up”.
The Montserrat Reporter (TMR) has recently obtained information that container shipments of wire and scrap metal have actually been shipped out from the island. This reached TMR because persons have complained that they received pittance for their connection to the shipment.
The police have been informed about the location
of rolls of wire and other metals as seen in the picture here, but to date have responded negatively and reported ignorance to the activity. Part of the message to the police, read: “Has whoever removed the aluminium windows and electrical cabling got a bill of sale from the owners? If not why have they been allowed to remove this equipment.”
According to our source the response came: “…you(r) questions are not clear and I am not sure what you are alleging,”!
The material shown in the photo has since been removed, reportedly to container storage for later possible shipment.
Unconfirmed information is that there are persons highly placed who are aware of the ring activity which has been going on and continue to take place.
A few months ago according to police reports some persons had been prosecuted for illegally removing similar materials from people’s property and selling the material.