Rep24 jul26 13 pages

Friday, July 26, 2013 g

Price $3.00Vol. XXVIII No. 24

Today’s Scripture

Week Ending Friday, July 26, 2013

I n C h r i s t G o d w a s reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. - 2 Corinthians 5:19

Well #2 drilling done

www.themontserratreporter.com

Bank of MontserratYour Bank. Your Future. www.bankofmontserrat.ms

24 HOUR ATM SERVICE

(664) 491-3843

MSS graduation story rerun...pg 8

£85m scam...pg 9

Regional banks & ECCB discuss future...pg 10

Montserrat not a tax haven...pg 3

Stand your ground...pg 5

HMS Lancaster visits Montserrat...pg 2More cont’d. on page 12

Headlines...

by Bennette RoachReports on drilling for

geothermal resource are that drilling at Well #2 for is complete. What is left is testing, and answers to the questions. ‘Is the resource really there, was the drilling adequate, was this a waste of money to date?”

Three weeks ago in the July 5, 2013 issue we head-lined, “Hopes, Doubts and questions shroud geother-mal resource exploration”, noting that Director of Pub-lic Works, Ron Beardsley who had been reporting on the progress of the drill-ing project for geothermal resource in the Cork Hill/Weekes area, citing, ‘very good news’ as he reports that the temperature at the geo-thermal site in the Cork Hill/Weekes area at Well #1has increased to 219.5°C.”

(see: http://www.the-montserratreporter.com/hopes-doubts-and-ques-tions-shroud-geothermal-

resource-exploration/)We reported also that

the project had been plagued resulting from equipment

and procurement problems. Members of the CRM group, who can be credited to have insisted that Government of

Montserrat (GoM) and the people, should own every-thing to do with the geo-thermal development. This,

resulted in the UK Govern-ment’s support. The group have long questioned the

Geothermal Tes ng to run un l October

Friday, July 26, 2013

HMS Lancaster’s working visit to Montserrat

When Commande r Steve Moorhouse the Royal Navy’s Frigate HMS Lan-caster left the Little Bay port on Saturday July 14, following a three-day visit, it was after they engaged with the island in several, if not only with some sporting de-feats, useful involvement in various areas. They worked with the youth and others, carrying out some upgrading of the elderly homes, along with training of the Police marine unit.

The ship hosted and even entertained several visitors to the ship, including the media who heard Com-mander Steve Moorhouse say, “…we competed poorly in Cricket, Volley Ball, we came second in both of those, so my fi ngers and toes are crossed for the football,” which he said they were coming off a winning streak having beaten the last three territories. “So we’re feeling quietly confi dent…” he said.

He confirmed: “we’re primarily here for humanitar-ian and disaster relief what-ever those are -particularly an island like this where you actually got both sort of ends of that spectrum from the hurricane to the volcano…” adding that narcotic patrols are also part of their detail, which would commence following the tour to Mont-serrat.

He reported, confi rming the activities that had been planned, expressing their reaction to the visit. “The experience of the last three days has been truly magnifi -cent Lancaster and my ship’s company have been made to feel extremely welcome by everybody on the island… I’ve got a really good under-

standing now of the unique-ness of Montserrat from the volcano, considerations for disaster relief and also the opportunity to put 50 to 60 of my people ashore work-ing in the community on a number of projects…”

He said working on the projects has also been invalu-able, “…and the sailors have come back with a real smile and a sense that actually they have made a little difference to the quality of people’s lives on the island.”

The Governor’s offi ce had informed that the Old Peoples Welfare association

identified four homes of people in need, elderly people in need, homes that are in need of repair h o m e s w i t h -out bathrooms, homes with leak-ing. “…So the project that we are going to do for the year is the Navy are going to send 60 men ashore and we found sixty vol-unteers to work with them from youth groups, Rotaract, Com-munity college, Cadet core and

the armed forces. From en-gineers, through navigators, through chefs, stewards.” He informed there are females around the world, doing those roles hand in hand with their male counterparts and that the sister ship HMS Portland, is commanded by a female.

He said he came to Montserrat in March 1992 on the HMS Fraser, “as an offi cer under training,” anchoring off Plymouth. “I went to shore in the ships sea boat, onto the new jetty to call on the governor.”

“The Lancaster has been

here previously doing this deployment and I believe our sister Frigate Ian Duke was here 2008,” he also informed.

He explained that ships like the Lancaster and the Wave Knight operate sepa-rately, “so we can spread out more within the Caribbean potentially though in the events of a natural disaster of whatever format,” he said, adding, “we can come together,” further explain-ing his ship, “provide most of the man power,” while most of the stores are on the Wave Knight. Those disaster

relief stores are all there but actually what

After welcoming some other visitors on board, dur-ing his brief, the Captain said that while the visit was routine, they were, “here to do is facilitate what you want us to do. It’s very much what the islands tell us what to do here,” to do whatever the Governor and Government wished them to do.

The ship’s men partici-pated in a training exercise with the Police Marine Unit, the Commander commenting that he recognized the limita-tions of the ‘MV Shamrock’

Commander Steve Moor-house of HMS Lancaster

Secondary school, Catholic youth organization, match-ing the number of sailors that are coming to shore,” Richard Aspin had reported.

The Commander re-sponded briefly about his ship, himself and the Roy-al Navy, advising “every branch, job opportunity in the Royal Navy that’s in the dark blue service, is open to females, with recruiting policy across the Common-wealth. “We have had sailors, from Fiji, Kenya, Caribbean, Commonwealth islands…there is a broad spectrum of Commonwealth nations in


Montserrat and other Overseas Territories not tax haven

Charity Kayakers stopped over in MontserratPremier Reuben T. Meade

For SaleVisit: http://www.greenhaven.ms/forsale/

Or contact us at: [email protected]

LEGAL NOTICEIN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE

PROBATE DIVISIONIn the Estate of MARY HENRIETTA J. PONTEEN, deceased

NOTICE is hereby given that after the expiration of fourteen (14) days from the date of this notice, an application will be made in the Registry of the High Court of Justice for an Order that Letters of Administration in the Estate of MARY HENRIETTA J. PONTEEN who died on the 11th day of June, 2013 be granted to JOYCELYN PONTEEN, one of the persons entitled to share in the estate of the deceased.

ALL persons claiming to be benefi cially interested in the estate are requested to send written particulars thereof to the undersigned within 14 days from the date of this Notice.

ANY person objecting to the issuance of a Grant to the Applicant should notify the Registrar of the High Court not later than 14 days from the date of this Notice.

Dated this 27th day of June, 2013

BRANDT & ASSOCIATESAttorneys-at-Law

OVERSEAS TERRITORY OF MONTSERRATIN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE

A. D. 2013

LEGAL NOTICEIn the estate of JOHN ALFRED KIRNON, also known as ARTHUR KIRNON, deceased

NOTICE is hereby given that after the expiration of fourteen (14) days from the date hereof, application will be made in the Registry of the High Court of Justice for an Order that Letters of Administration with Will attached in the Estate of JOHN ALFRED KIRNON also known as ARTHUR KIRNON late of St. Peter’s, Montserrat, who died on the 6th day of April, 2000 at the Margetson Memorial Home, Glendon Hospital, St. John’s, Montserrat be granted to CHIVONE GERALD of Allen Markham & Associates, Banks, Montserrat, the Lawful Attorney of MARY KATHLEEN KIRNON and SARAH ROSALIND KIRNON the Personal Representatives of the deceased and two of the persons entitled to share in the Estate.

ALL persons claiming to be benefi cially interested therein are requested forthwith to send particulars to me the undersigned.

FURTHER, any person objecting to the issuance of a Grant to the Applicants should notify the Registrar of the High Court of Justice no later than fourteen (14) days from the date of the notice.

DATED the 11th day of July 2013

Chivone GeraldALLEN MARKHAM & ASSOCIATES

Carolyne Coleby contrib-uted

Four English university students arrived in Montserrat last Saturday on their 800-mile charity kayaking trip round the Caribbean. They are hoping to raise £40,000 for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and the Lyla Nsouli Foundation, in the U.K.

They are Tom McAlpine, Michael Houston, Edmund Mag-nus and Woody Dewar, are well on the way to their target.

On Saturday, they left Gua-deloupe at 3 a.m. and kayaked to Montserrat, arriving at 7.30 at night.

They kayaked past Plym-outh at 3 p.m., but strong head-winds meant it took several hours to get to Little Bay. After clearing customs and getting something to eat, they made their way to the Mount Pleasant Campsite in Woodlands where

Upon his return from his response to the UK Prime Minister Cameron’s invitation to discuss global tax matters, Premier the Hon Reuben Meade told the media here that Montserrat and the other Overseas Territories (OTs) are not tax havens, and are in some cases way ahead of G8 countries as it relates to tax compliance.

He said this was clearly articulated to the UK P M Cam-eron by OT leaders during recent the talks in London following Cameron’s invitation in June to to discuss Tax transparency matters ahead of the G8 summit, where Cameron was to assume the chairman’s duties.

According to the British P M, the meeting was held in an effort to end what he called a scourge of tax evasion in the UK OT’s and Crowned dependences.

But the Premier had this to say on the matter. “As a matter of fact most of the jurisdictions in the Caribbean are even beyond what is being required by the G8 countries. We have operating the fi nancial action task force, and we are complying with the legislation as it relates to the fi nancial action task force.

“We do self-appraisal, where groups from within the region assess others - we make the modifi cations as are required.

“The tax information ex-change agreement; We have gone beyond the minimum levels, and we have even gone beyond in

terms of the registration of trust on the benefi cial owners of trust’.”

Meade said that they (OTs) asked the Prime Minister, “To con-vince and convey to his colleagues in G8 and elsewhere that, we are not only not tax havens, but in fact we are tax jurisdictions that benefi t from the legal framework established by those countries to facilitate the development of the fi nancial services sector within our jurisdictions.”

Montserrat and offshore banking business

As for Montserrat not ben-efiting from the offshore busi-ness like some other OTs, the Premier said, “Montserrat has gone through a process where

we were dirtied and the period of cleansing is very long,” adding “we got out of the fi nancial services business and other jurisdictions then leapfrogged ahead of us and were then became leaders in the markets.”

“When we went back to the market in about 92/93, the indication from the market was it takes a little longer than that for people to forget and therefore you are not yet cleansed,” Premier Meade continued, commenting that it was rather difficult to get into the market and by that time Cayman, Bermuda, BVI had already established themselves. He added that by that time the requirement offshore banks was that you must have a physical presence of the country for new offshore banks, “and therefore Montserrat really did not get too heavily in that business.”

Besides, with the advent of

the volcano during the late 90s, “we may have been able to get into the fi nancial services business a little more whole heartedly,” he said, “but by which time the fi ber optics coming into Montserrat had been taken out.”

Premier Meade calls out the US

The Premier was critical of the United States for making com-ments about Cayman Island and Bermuda, noting, “all one needs to do is to look within the US…there is one building that hosts I think

13,000 offshore companies, while claiming that the Cayman Islands and others are tax havens.”

Meanwhile, “in their own territory in the mainland United States, those facilities are made available for offshore financial services,” not targeting their own, “they target the smaller ones who they believe cannot fi ght back.”

A somewhat irritated pre-mier accused the US, “…and what we are saying to the British government we want you to stand with us in our corner and say

to the United States and other such jurisdictions the overseas territories are being very diligent; they are doing things right, they’re not the repositories of terrorist fi nancing.”

He reminded that all Ter-ritories have modifi ed legislations and ”have the Antiterrorist Act. We have modifi ed all of the legis-lations with in all of the overseas territories to ensure that it is rather diffi cult for you to be hiding money in these jurisdictions,” he concluded.

they stayed for their time in Montserrat. They only had one day of rest, which included a visit to the Calabash Festival and John Ponteen’s at Little Bay, before leaving fi rst thing Monday morning for Nevis.

The team reported that they started in Grenada, kayaked up through the Grenadines and went onto Dominica before ar-riving in Guadeloupe from where they came to Montserrat. They are heading up to Puerto Rico

over the next month before returning for their studies in the UK.

The kayakers website is http://thekxkayakers.co.uk/ which gives full information about the trip. Anyone can track their progress in real time online. Any donations will be gratefully received.

It should be noted that the kayakers are funding their trip themselves and all money goes to the designated charities.


cont’d. on page 10

Tell Them God Loves ThemIn Christ God was reconciling the

world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. - 2 Corinthians 5:19 (NRSV)

During the 1980s, a group of prominent nationalist Afrikaners met with Bishop Desmond Tutu. The meeting was to introduce young Afrikaner leaders to what was then called „the struggle.‰ The participants heard the life stories and viewpoints of their compatriots, and stayed with people from the townships. The group members saw the devastating effects of apartheid on the lives of ordinary black people. They also discovered · and for many this left the deepest impression · that despite the young AfrikanersÊ role in maintaining apartheid, the people they met did not bear personal

animosity toward them. On the contrary, they welcomed them with hospitality, generosity, and forgiveness. Bishop Tutu told them, „Please go and tell your people that God loves them, that they are extremely valuable and important in GodÊs eyes, and that they should never forget this . . . . If they can discover and embrace this, they will also have the faith and courage to view all other people in the same way.‰ Not only did the message leave a lasting impression, it changed lives, helping people to see their God-given worth and to appreciate it in others. The participants gained a new perspective on those they had viewed as dangerous enemies, whom they had labeled „communists‰ and „terrorists.‰Carel Anthonissen (Western Cape, South Africa)

Our Scripture Verse TodayOur Scripture Verse Today

Letters/Opinion

Published by: Montserrat Printing & Publishing, Inc. - Editor: Bennette Roach - Offi ce: Davy Hill, Mailing Address: P.O. Box 306, Davy Hill, Montserrat, W.I.Typeset and Printed by Montserrat Printing & Publishing, Inc. - [email protected]. (664) 491-4715 Fax: (664) 491-2430 E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] - Web Site: http://www.themontserratreporter.com

The Montserrat Reporter

E D I T O R I A LMal-practice is almost cultural,

no progress unless corrected Doubtful anyone would have diffi culty realising that the ICAI report that we

covered last week, though not comprehensively, might leave one wondering what may be achieved or come out of it.

We waited to hear reactions, maybe it is too early, but if either side were more happy than upset about it, something would have been in the air. What is in the air is deafening. But, we should still and will wait.

We were forced to fi ne-tune some issues or questions that cause concern and having to do with the suspension of the A1 road project especially when we learn the real reason for the actions by DFID, supported by sections of government.

From reports, there is a certain level of mediocrity and even dishonesty from all sides on the issues. That road project started wrong, as was con-fi rmed by DFID with less money than was approved prior to the June 1995. Minister Kirnon would have remembered, but in fairness, some work had been done in upgrading the road from Salem northwards (Fogarthy) since the volcanic crisis began. However, the least that could have been done was an insistence from Government (GoM) that the approved sum be what was approved earlier, rather than reducing even what was approved in the 2000s.

In addition to DFID not admitting or rather only admitting to quarterly re-ports, there were monthly reports on that project that exposed diffi culties in carrying out the project as expected from the beginning. The regular person on the street observed something was wrong and we reported the concerns. The problems were poor planning from the beginning and on the way (like the Hurricane Earl repairs and ducting), rather than management. Then on top of this ‘small mindedness, immaturity and other nameless attitudes’ set in.

The problem we see here is a lack of capacity in so many areas. We have asked about of GoM and the UK government (UKG) about this for over four years. If anything comes out of the ICAI report we expect to see action in this regards, recalling also DFID’s 2013 Budget Aide Memoire in February.

While the new or current UKG wanted to stamp its own policies on how they do business and look after their dependent territories (OTs) it appears they have some work to do, just like is required with our ‘public servants’ here in Montserrat, at all levels. The lack of or the problems we face, it is good for some but deadly for others, the result, an economy that sees no light.

We have to tell the truth to our own people. One way to do that, requires much the same as the UKG supports independent and other investigations even on themselves. They call that democracy, so what do they call it here? This applies no less to GoM who must really grow up and cut out that which leads to only more corruption.

A few other questions of concern, have to do with the ease with which GoM and by extension UKG question the people for resorting to the courts. They spend enormous sums to prosecute matters of no benefi t to our econo-my, and on the other end instead of accepting when the courts say they are wrong, they go to the appeal court even to the Privy Council. Is this because there pot is limitless, so frustrate the unfortunate away to suffer more? This is in the face of several outstanding judgments against them and a growing number of new matters. And, there are those, that the already broke can only think about. It is bad advice from the Premier to tell people when GoM screw-up, take the matter to court and then complain people are too litigious.

There is a serious culture of mal-practice in Montserrat and about Montser-rat. It is costing the country that which it doesn’t have as well as its future, at the same time building golden elephants. Yes, who benefi ts?

We remember too well Minister Duncan, following their promise to be different and to correct, was asked whether he could be specifi c about what would be done to change the current situation of Montserratians continuing to leave and those wanting to return not fi nding it possible because of the poor state of the local economy.

He offered hope to correct the situation TMR had expounded on many times prior. “We have enormous confi dence in Premier Meade and the partnership that is built up which is very frank, very straight forward, very honest and open on each side, to try and work out the best way forward…” he declared.

We wonder if this was mockery or sincerity, but we should hold them to that.

Should Protocol be followed or just stated to have been establishedIt’s that time of year again

when many have just attended a series of graduating ceremonies and/or similar functions. Over the past 5 years, I have made an interesting observation at these functions on Montserrat. At the beginning of addressing the audience, the various speakers would make one of the following statements:

“Protocol is established”;“Permit me to adopt the

protocol that has already been established”; or

“I adopt the protocol already established”

At the beginning of 2011, I resolved to refrain from using ex-pletives but by early July reneged on my promise every time I heard someone approach the podium and say “Good day! Protocol is estab-lished!” What exactly does that mean? I am on a quest to fi nd out.

The Oxford Dictionary de-fi nes “protocol” as a “system of rules governing formal occasions”. Such rules include how to address members of the audience and in what order. Protocol dictates that a keynote speaker should be aware of the important people that are attending and address them using their formal titles starting with the most important person. That

one rule of protocol results in the ceremony being an additional 30 minutes since there is a constant disagreement as to who on Mont-serrat is “important” (the one thing that seems to be the consensus is that the Governor tops the list). So the list could get awfully long with the Director of Education, the Permanent Secretary and Educa-tion Offi cers getting consolatory mention.

It appears as though the phrase “Protocol is established” is used to avoid addressing the plethora of “important” people that religiously attend these functions. How is the protocol established? The custom is that the person who chairs the ceremony fi rst estab-lishes the protocol by addressing in descending order the important people. For example “His Excel-lency the Governor - Mr. Adrian Davis, Honourable Premier – Mr. Reuben Meade, Honourable Minis-ter of Education – Mr. Collin Riley” etc. Having done this the keynote and other speakers are expected to address the audience in the exact same manner as established by the chairperson.

The practice of simply stating “Protocol is established” may lead one to ask the following questions:

If the protocol is estab-

lished why must I say so? The chairperson has already

expressed that he is establishing the protocol and never require each speaker to repeat such an an-nouncement. This practice makes no sense.

How does one adopt the protocol?

One would have thought that adopting the protocol was as sim-ple as addressing the audience in the exact manner the chairperson indicated. Is it suffi cient to simply mention “I adopt the protocol that has been established”? Shouldn’t protocol be followed and not stated that it is adopted?

In other words adopt it through your actions and not through your statements. You do not adopt something by saying you’re adopting it. You actually adopt it.

Maybe protocol also dictate that I should not be questioning the protocol. In Montserrat you are despised when you question a procedure, policy or practice. You are expected to slavishly and blindly follow the established pro-cedures, policies and practices. No wonder we’ve been doing several right things in the wrong manner…but then again…that’s Montser-rat’s protocol.

Sickout at CLICO By Curtis Rampersad Publications Editor

A number of employees and agents of insurance company CLICO yesterday failed to report for duty, forcing several branches around the country to close early.

The agents, many of whom called in sick, were said to be protesting what they feel is an uncertain future with the larg-

Employees protest ‘uncertain’ futureest insurance company in the Caribbean.

Their protest followed news earlier this week of a new frame-work agreement between Govern-ment and CL Financial, the parent company of CLICO.

The framework for the new agreement is currently before Cabinet and envisages that Gov-ernment will recover the more

than $20 billion it pumped into CLICO and CL Financial subsidiar-ies in 2009 after the insurance firm collapsed and its former chairman Lawrence Duprey ap-proached the then-PNM admin-istration for a fi nancial rescue.

On Wednesday, former fi-nance minister Gerald Yetming was re-elected CL Financial chair


On Standing Ground...by Edgar Nkosi White

Caribbean Youth encouraged to innovate

Stand Your Ground is the new expression for right to kill blacks with legislative approval. It has just received legal sanction in Florida with the Zimmerman case and his acquittal in the shooting of Trayvon Martin a seventeen year old unarmed black youth. The shooting was justified on the grounds that Zimmerman felt threatened and had no way of knowing that the youth was unarmed. The case was further complicated by the fact that it took authorities some forty-four days to even consider arresting the shooter.

Z immerman, who was a member of neighbourhood watch, pursued and confronted the youth despite being instruct-ed not to do so by police radio. The worrying thing about this case is that no matter what ac-tion Martin would have taken, he would—none the less—have ended shot. Had he run, had he been armed, the result would have been the same. We have no way of knowing exactly what words were exchanged. All we have is the sworn statement of

Zimmerman that he felt that his life was threatened after he confronted this youth, who was on foot while he, Zimmerman, (by car) had pursued the youth whom he felt was acting in a suspicious manner.

This case calls to account two fundamental principles of American justice. One is the right to bear arms and the second is the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Clearly, in the case of black youth that right of liberty is seriously curtailed.

Had young Martin been in the company of a white person, he would probably have reached home alive. Little has changed in that regard since emancipation. It is hypocrisy to pretend any different. Straying too far from the plantation without written permission will still result in corporal punishment and in, more often than not, death: the great-est corporal punishment of all. Still, the most frightening thing about the Zimmerman decision is that it gives carte blanche to any white vigilante to act on impulse and be assured that they can walk free from the most fl agrant act of gun violence as long as there are no witnesses present who could be classed as credible.

The incident took place in the racially charged state of Florida. There was a general reluctance to even bring the case to trial. The shooter, George Zimmerman, took it upon himself to leave his car and confront Martin who was returning home from a grocery store and had

nothing more lethal on his person than a bag of candy. What could he have done to defend himself from a handgun?

Although the solution to ev-ery problem by the NRA and the other gun lobbyists in America is yet more guns, I don’t think in this instance, even they would have advocated that young Mar-tin be armed. The question then is: should George Zimmerman have been less fanatical in his desire to be a policeman? What was it (other than the boy’s race) that made him feel that he was under threat even when advised to simply stay in his car unless he witnessed actual criminal activity?

There were two people present, (a third, a teenager, listening to her friend Trayvon on the phone describing everything up to Zimmerman’s contact with him) but only one, on location, survived to give their version of the tale. In actuality there were a host of other characters that took part in that tragedy. When you have a society which is privatized and prison oriented. A society ruled by scarcity and greed, and a general atmosphere of fear and violence with a talk show host stirring up the atmo-sphere of racial tension daily (in fact, instructed to do so by man-agers and sponsors). If you are being constantly encouraged to never travel anywhere unarmed even when taking your children to school or church, what other result could there be but a shoot-ing murder?

From young Trayvon Mar-tin’s standpoint, what must it be like to know that if you dare to venture beyond your home or neighbourhood, there is always the possibility that you’ll be gunned down with impunity. Florida is fi lled with Latinos and Haitians and blacks from the South. It is a toxic mix of anger and resentment over years of racial abuse and discrimination at the hands of police and the powers-that-be which control business and housing. It is ridiculous to even attempt to claim that race was not a factor in this trial.

It must be understood that it is money which determines politics in America. Florida has spent a great deal of money to ensure legislation and this stand your Ground is a result of power-ful Republican lobbyists.

It was the then Governor Jeb Bush (brother of George, and the one who was so very instrumental in getting him elected president) who in 2005, signed into law statute 776 which states: “A person has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground if they think deadly force necessary to prevent death, great bodily harm or commission of a forcible felony like robbery.” And so the law only requires law enforce-ment and the justice system to ask three questions:

Did the defendant have the right to be there? Yes.

Was he engaged in lawful activity at the time? Yes.

Could he reasonably have been in fear of his death or great bodily harm? Possibly.

And so, having very cleverly restricted the area of the trial to these three, George Zimmerman was able to leave court a free man. His attorney made certain that the issue of profi ling never entered the discussion. And even more cleverly, he never allowed his client to take the stand.

America is a place of para-dox and irony. One would think that having a black president would be clear evidence of a more liberal attitude in America regarding blacks and the justice system. Not only have things not improved, they have gotten significantly worse. Young blacks are now more at risk than ever. What is evident is a general feeling of resentment which has resulted in a backlash. The atmosphere is very much like post-Reconstruction when whatever small gains were put in place were quickly abolished and more and more draconian laws enacted. Now you get only as much justice as you can buy. Money determines justice if not right. Lobbyists determine legislation all the way to the Supreme Court because lobby-ists determine appointments. Corporations have achieved human status and the right to be regarded as people whereas the individual has lost any right to be heard. Talk about irony. The situation becomes so absurd that it is as if the victim, Trayvon

Martin, should be made to apolo-gise for forcing Zimmerman, the shooter, the inconvenience of having to kill him.

Once we take the stand your ground ruling as acceptable, we condone the lawful murder of unarmed black youth in any cir-cumstance where the defendant can claim intimidation or threat as a defence. What is really on trial, however, is history. And what we’re asking is that our youth pay the price for all the guilt and fear of America. If we simply accept this verdict, we may as well paint a bull’s eye on their chest and send them out to be slaughtered. We can never call this state of affairs acceptable.

We, all of us, have need of illusions. We pretend and allow things to happen. I, for example, need to believe that it is the state of Florida which is responsible for young Trayvon’s death, when I know in my heart of heart’s that it could happen with equal ease up North in cos-mopolitan New York or Boston. It could happen just as quickly at the hands of uniformed of-fi cers or plain clothed-men with an agenda and the case would vanish without trace or murmur. But I can’t accept that. I need my illusions.

The president has appealed for calm. But when does calm mean comatose?

Edgar Nksosi White is a novelist and playwright. His novel, The Rising is available on Amazon

T he region needs more youth getting involved in technology innovation and digital entrepreneurship. That is the message being de-livered to young people at-tending a special technology camp now underway in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

“The great thing about modern technology is that it gives everyone a real chance to improve their world,” said Kevin Khelawan, Chief Op-erating Officer at Teleios Systems, one of the largest in-dependent software develop-ment fi rms in the Caribbean.

Khelawan, the fi rst per-son in the English-speaking Caribbean to receive the Mi-

crosoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award, was speaking at the BrightPath Foundation Youth Tech Camp on the theme ‘Identity Power-ing Technology Innovation’

Teleios is a dominant player in software develop-

ment and mobile services in the Caribbean and is regarded as one of the region’s most innovative technology fi rms. Drawing from his experience of building a team of local de-velopers and writing award-winning software at Teleios,

Khelawan told the audience that Caribbean young people have the capacity to compete and innovate on the global stage.

“Our youth have a natu-ral affi nity for technology, but innovation is much more than simply having a good idea. True innovation involves moving from idea to sustain-able solution or product. This requires more than a creative spark,” he said.

He said, “The current education system can put a squeeze on creative expres-sion and innovative thinking. That’s why it is so important to provide opportunities and outlets for our youth to par-ticipate in innovation at an early age”.

Khelawan cited several examples of innovation in

areas such as fashion, music, software and the design of services started by young people. He also encouraged Caribbean youth to explore opportunities to innovate using technology in the civic domain by creating solutions to help citizens participate in community and nation building.

“To fulfi ll your potential to innovate, you first need to believe in yourself and believe that your ideas have value. The opportunities for innovation are endless,” he said.

Teleios’ Business De-velopment Manager Lorenzo Hodges, who led participants in an idea-creation exercise at the camp, underscored the importance of creating solu-tions that address local needs.

Hodges encouraged the participants to, “Pay attention to what’s around you--your community, your city, its needs, what can make it bet-ter--opportunities abound…The region can benefi t tre-mendously from innovation that improves people’s lives and develops their local com-munities.”

The Youth Tech Camp is being hosted by BrightPath Foundation, a Trinidad-based international not-profit or-ganization. The event tar-gets youth between 12 and 15 years old with an inter-est in business, information technology, graphic design, software programming, web development, mobile apps creation. The audience includ-ed youth from the Caribbean, United States and the UK.

Kevin Khelawan, Chief Operating Offi cer at Teleios Systems


Teacher and Student of the Year

Vernetta Williams and Nadia Browne, Teacher and Student of the year

“…become an excel-lent worker, and it all begins with the word, work, work, discipline, discipline, dis-cipline, preparation, prepa-ration, preparation,” the words of Premier Reuben Meade at the recently held Teacher and Student Award ceremony, as he gave greet-ings at the beginning.

The event was held on June 25, 2013 where Mrs. Vonetta Williams and Miss Nadia Browne were the winning teacher and student respectively of the awards.

Right after prayer by Director of Education Mr Glenn Francis and welcome by the Chairperson, MSS Vice-principal, Miss Ethlyn Weekes, she called for the observation of a one minute silence in honour of recently deceased Mr. CT John, past principal of MSS.

The theme of the Pre-

mier’s greeting was all about work and success while hinting at the late start of the event. “…When you say something is going to start at 6:30 it should start at 6:30,” adding, “when we look at the development of a country, a country will only develop rapidly and speed-ily if we are disciplined, if we are willing to work hard, and we are willing to make the commitments to succeed. Success does not come easy, success comes from hard work and dili-gence.”

“These are th ings which we need in our lives has we go through school,” he noted in the brief greet-ing, with a word for students and parents. “…you need to understand as students, and I look at the younger ones in front, that no matter how young you are, and this goes for the parents as well, each of you must learn some responsibility at home…”

Selection of the teacher and student of the year was based on some criteria.

The selected student must be an excellent role model and must:1. Wear the school uniform

with pride2. Show respect for self,

peers, staff and the en-vironment

3. Show helpfulness and empathy to all

4. Attend all classes and on time

5. Show willingness and an enthusiasm for and to learning

6. Have integrity7. Fully engage with school

life

Those for selecting the teacher included:1. Creates a climate for

learning in the class-room that is character-ized by enthusiasm for teaching and learning, high expectations and outstanding results

2. Engages oth-er in support-ing pupi ls’ learning and development including par-ents, teaching assistants and other profes-sionals.

3. A c t i v e l y monitors the expe r i ence and progress of each class and adjusts his or her ap-proach to take account of all


Teacher/Student Awards

1. the needs of the indi-vidual pupils and the class as a whole

2. Acts with a clear vision and sense of purpose, en-ergy and commitment to pupils’ learning achieve-ment and well being

3. Contributes beyond the classroom to the life of the school.Mrs. Vernetta Williams,

St. Augustine primary school teacher, was the winner from among the other teacher 2012/2013 Nominees: Mrs. Verna Johnson, Ingrid Tolan and Yvonne Julius. And MSS

student Nadia Browne emerged from among Nick-iesha Scotland, Kijahrie Barzey, Khyra West and Tiffany Weekes. Students were taken from all schools on island: Lookout Prima-ry, Montserrat Secondary, Brades, St. Augustine and Lighthouse Academy.

Several Ministry of Education offi cials includ-ing the Minister of Educa-tion Colin Riley and the Permanent Secretary, Philip Chambers, were involved in the introduction of judges and students, and reading of citations in the various

categories of awards. These included a Long Service Teacher’s Award that went to Mrs. Hyacinth Bramble-Browne.

Entertainment by Mu-sic Teacher, Mr. McCloyd White, solo dance by Den-nesha Jones (MSS), as well as a renditSion by the MSS Band, (coached by Miss Rebecca Chalmers, another music teacher), all punctu-ated the two hours plus event.

At the end a vote of thanks by MSS Principal Cherlyn Hogan brought the event to a close.


cont’d on page 11

MSS Graduates 70

The MSS Speech Day and Graduation Ceremony was the title shown on the program with the theme Purpose - Passion - Progress: Class of 2013, 3rd July, 2013, at the Montserrat Cultural Centre in Little Bay.

It was scheduled to begin at 4.30 p.m. on the outside, with a March Past of Mrs. Joy Darroux, one of the MSS teach-ers. With the audience standing, following the parade of the Cadets, came the procession of the graduates to the music of the MSS Orchestra which included the steel pans.

An opening prayer by Rev. Spencer Jeffers preceded the introduction of the chairperson for the ceremony by Dwanifi ya Joseph, a Form 4 student. Mr. Glenroy Foster delivered the chairperson’s remarks, who later introduced the principal Mrs. Cherlyn Hogan, jumping down the program as MSS dancers were not yet ready with their entertainment.

Principal ReportsThe principal delivered a

long report on the school’s 2012/2013 academic year. She reported on Student Enrolment and Attendance – 190 boys and 166 girls, assigned to eigh-teen classes, two less than the

Keynote Speaker for the ceremony, former deputy gover-nor Sarita Frances opened with a tribute to the late Charles T John who died and was buried on Friday, July 5.

She referred to him and counted him with, “These people, some of whom are in the audi-ence today epitomize the con-cepts which form the basis of my address to you this afternoon…”

She addressed and beck-oned. “It therefore means that we education experts, planners, developers, policymakers must constantly review, not only our development agenda, but also the basic education foundation that is required to equip and integrate young people to play a meaningful from role in the new Montserrat that is operating in a dynamic technological universe.”

previous year; by year end the population de- Amateur Athletic Association

(MAAA), was keenly contested. Mikila Gittens of form 1 was the Victrix Ladorum while 5th former Jamal Halley was the Victor Ladorum.

Mrs. Hogan reported on staffi ng mentioning the absence of a Guidance Counsellor and the LEAP1 teacher. Also the “Unfortunate” shock the school suffered at the untimely passing of Miss Anya Duncan the well-liked and respected Math and Science teacher.

The report was considered to be more than comprehensive as she reported on community support, the pupil support unit…ending with a message to the students. “…but life beyond Secondary school beckons. You cannot put this off…I implore each of you, that as you embark on the next stage of your life, remember that education is the key to unlocking your future and opening up to you a world of op-portunities and challenges to be managed…You must be prepared to work hard, efficiently and effectively. You must be willing to accept advice…Know that you have within you what you need to progress. You simply need to be mindful of that and act with purpose. Be passionate about excelling and achieving your goals,” she told them.

Entertainment came from the dancers, the MSS choir and later the Graduation choir.

Keynote Address – Sarita Frances

Then she addressed the students about the concepts she recommends for their adherence: “…the need to identify your purpose as a graduating class, the need for you to develop your passion which is the engine that propels you alone a path to achieve your goals in this life leading to progress which will ultimately result to the benefi ts of your generation…” remind-ing them, “the baton for the redevelopment of Montserrat is being passed to you the youth of Montserrat…”

The certificates, prizes and awards to the graduating 2013 class with special awards presented by the valedictorian’s parents (Catherine Browne offi -ciating). The students processed for their certifi cates and awards, then listed to their valedicto-

rian’s speech. Nadia.The 2013 Valedictorian

- A student who has remained on the Montserrat Secondary School MSS honor roll through-out her entire academic life.

She walked away with 10 awards for English, Mathemat-ics, French, Spanish, Chemistry, Geography, Accounts and Prin-ciples of Business; also, she was the recipient of the top humani-ties student award and the prize for exemplary leadership.

In her address, speaking to and on behalf of the Class of 2013, she hinted and joked about the several jaunty-type exploits of their secondary school days, with teachers other students…

She said in her speech speaking to the general student body: “”To the MSS of the future

Montserrat Secondary School (MSS) Principal led the schools 2013 graduation of 70 students as she gave an overview of the Student Performance and Achievement; and the School’s Programme, which she said in the year under review was challenging.

Rerun from July 05, 2013 edi-tion due to poor printing

clined by fi ve.Students’ Performance

and Achievements: (See full report in box on page 11 ) Other Accomplishments - Ex-tracurricular activities continued to be made available to the stu-dents of the school. This year these included athletics, cricket, netball, Cadets, and dance. There has been a spike in the interest in table tennis among students. This followed the donation of a table tennis board by His Excellency the Governor and the Rotary club.

Positives for the yearThe pr inc ipa l ’s report

boasted, “many positives this year.” These included: The fe-male team took top honours in Easter Monday Relay the race while the male team took sec-ond place; Tiffannie Skerritt, a 5th form student from last year placed fi rst for the essay she sub-mitted during term 3 of last year for the Regional ECCB OECS Essay Competition; The ECCU Business Plan Idea was won by Nadia Browne (graduating vale-dictorian), a 5th Form student of MSS. Special consolation prize was awarded to Sharese Allen, another student of our 5th form.

MSS Sports Day 2013, sponsored by the Montserrat


Jamaica eyes expatriates as source of investment

Anti gang legislation coming soon to St. Lucia

Conmen trio jailed for £85m scam

OVERSEAS TERRITORY OF MONTSERRATIN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE

A. D. 2013

LEGAL NOTICEIn the estate of RICHARD HENRY KIERNAN, deceased

NOTICE is hereby given that after the expiration of fourteen (14) days from the date hereof, application will be made in the Registry of the High Court of Justice for an Order that Letters of Administration in the Estate of RICHARD HENRY KIERNAN late of Baychester Avenue, Bronx, New York, United States of America formerly of Dyer Piece, Montserrat, who died on the 21st day of October 1985 at the Manhattan Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, United States of America be granted to CHIVONE GERALD of Allen Markham & Associates, Banks, Montserrat, the Lawful Attorney of KATHLEEN KIRNON and SARAH KIRNON the grand daughters and Personal Representatives of the deceased and two of the persons entitled to share in the Estate.

ALL persons claiming to be benefi cially interested therein are requested forthwith to send particulars to me the undersigned.

FURTHER, any person objecting to the issuance of a Grant to the Applicants should notify the Registrar of the High Court of Justice no later than fourteen (14) days from the date of the notice.

DATED the 11th day of July 2013

Chivone GeraldALLEN MARKHAM & ASSOCIATES

LEGAL NOTICEIN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE

PROBATE DIVISIONIn the estate of JOHN CHARLES THOMAS JOHN, deceased

NOTICE is hereby given that after the expiration of fourteen (14) days from the date of this notice, an application will be made in the Registry of the High Court of Justice for an Order that Letters of Administration with Will annexed in the Estate of JOHN CHARLES THOMAS JOHN who died on the 23rd day of June, 2013 be granted to DENZIL ALISTAIR JOHN WEST the sole Executor of his will and one of the persons entitled to share in the estate of the deceased.

ALL persons claiming to be benefi cially interested in the estate are requested to send written particulars thereof to the undersigned within 14 days from the date of this Notice.

ANY person objecting to the issuance of a Grant to the Applicant should notify the Registrar of the High Court not later than 14 days from the date of this Notice.

Dated this 18th day of July, 2013

BRANDT & ASSOCIATESAttorneys-at-Law

CASTRIES, St Lucia -- The government of Saint Lucia will soon enact anti gang legisla-tion in Parliament as part of a strategic “no nonsense” ap-proach to dismantling criminal gangs around the island. Many families continue to be plunged in mourning as a result of gang warfare, which has also eroded the social fabric of the state.

Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony said Saint Lucia can no longer ignore the rise in criminal gangs and the attendant gun related violence and homicides.

“In the past we silently ignored the mushrooming of gangs in our midst sometimes under the misguided notion of freedom of association but since when an association es-tablished for criminal enterprise to steal, murder and plunder at will is protected by our consti-tution? To date the police are

working assiduously to deal with gangs and the negative gang culture that spawns anti social behaviour and organise crime. We will support their efforts by enacting anti gang legislation as has been done in Trinidad and Tobago and about to be done in Jamaica,” Anthony said.

The prime minister also emphasized that communities have a key role in addressing the problems associated with gangs.

He said the police and citizens must work in tandem in order to effectively dismantle criminal gangs and their as-sociates.

“This is no longer only an urban or inner city phenomenon; it has spread to encompass sub-urban communities as well. The networks of drug traffi ck-ing, mayhem and malice must be defeated by a network of surveillance, intelligence and smart might,” he said.

The Saint Lucian leader also reaffi rmed government’s full support for the police to deal with gangs on the island. He says the safety and security of citizens and visitors alike remains paramount.

Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Dr. Kenny Anthony

Three conmen who left thou-sands of victims penniless as they frittered stolen money on a private jet, yachts and holiday homes in the Caribbean have been jailed.

Richard Pope, Paul Gunter and Simon Odoni lived life in the lap of luxury while defrauding at least 2,300 Britons, many of whom lost their entire life sav-ings and one of whom was driven to suicide.

They were jailed at a court in Florida, where Gunter, 64, was sentenced to 25 years and Odoni, 56, to 13 years and four months and Pope, 55, was sentenced to four years and nine months.

Detective Inspector Kerrie Gower said: “Pope, Gunter and Odoni are amongst the most ruth-less and destructive criminals the City of London Police have ever dealt with and deserve every day they will spend behind bars

B y DAVID McFADDEN As-sociated Press

Jamaica (AP)In a bid to kick start

Jamaica’s chronically stag-nant economy, the Caribbean country is wooing its citizens living abroad to invest in the island of their birth.

On Tuesday, hundreds of entrepreneurs and other Jamaican expatriates mingled with government officials and local business leaders, brainstorming ways to boost growth and development. The sessions were part of a four-day “Jamaica Diaspora” conference aimed at tapping into the wealth, education and know-how of the island’s

expatriates.“This can lead to a road-

map for Jamaica’s future. The people who have come here to this conference have substantial knowledge, con-nections and interests that can help take the country’s de-velopment into many, many directions,” said Lloyd Grey, a retired engineer from Read-ing, England, who was raised on Jamaica but moved to Britain decades ago.

Jamaica and other Ca-ribbean nations have long suffered from a “brain drain” that has seen professionals and skilled workers head off to jobs overseas. About 3.3 million Jamaicans are believed to live outside the country, mostly in the U.S.,

Britain and Canada. Roughly 2.7 million live on the island.

The Jamaican expa-triates already send home about $2 billion a year in remittances in what has be-come the island’s biggest foreign exchange earner. But Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Anthony Hylton hopes to increase that amount to help strengthen the economy.

“Achieving sustained economic growth, with jobs, remains the biggest chal-lenge and the most intractable problem facing Jamaica. This focus on growth and develop-ment is therefore very critical if we are to break the vicious cycle of stagnated growth and poverty,” Hylton said.

Over 55 companies and organizations are participat-ing in the conference in Mon-tego Bay, which is home to a flourishing call center industry.

Leaders of other Carib-bean islands like Grenada and St. Lucia have also been woo-ing nationals abroad and en-couraging them to assist with developing their homelands, but more populous Jamaica has long had the most focused effort to forge relationships with its overseas citizens.

The push to entice more

How is it that so many victims get sucked?in America.

“Unfortunately this sentenc-ing will not repair the huge damage they caused to the lives of thou-sands of people who were simply looking for a safe place to invest their money, but hopefully it will bring a measure of comfort and a sense of closure to those caught up in what was fraud committed on a truly massive scale.”

The 130 million dollar (£85 million) scam, a so-called boiler room fraud where unsuspecting investors hand over cash for worthless shares, was one of the biggest of its kind ever uncovered in the UK.

A total of seven defendants were charged in March 2009, and two years later Pope, originally from St Albans, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Gunter, from London, and

Odoni, also from St Albans, stood trial in March this year, forcing three British victims to fl y from the UK to Florida to face them in court. Another three were too ill to travel but gave evidence in the UK and the video footage was played as part of the trial. Gunter and Odoni were found guilty in May.

Ms Gower said that the trio milked as much money as they could to fund their lifestyle party-ing on yachts, driving sports cars including a Ferrari and travelling in a private jet.

“These were arrogant crimi-nals who were just ripping off UK investors,” she said. “Taking as much as they could from them and having criminal lifestyles, lavish lifestlyes, whereby they were purchasing boats, a plane and high value vehicles. We have 26 properties down in relation to Paul Gunter alone.”

expatriates in investing in their homeland comes as Jamaica’s debt is roughly

etary Fund and halt what the prime minister described as an economic crisis. In April, the IMF approved a four-year, $958 million loan package to stabilize the economy.

150 percent of gross domestic product. In Feb-ruary, Jamaica l a u n c h e d a debt-swap pro-gram to satisfy conditions to forge a new pact with the Inter-national Mon-

Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Anthony Hylton


CLICO sickout...cont’d. from page 3

Regional development banks, ECCB discuss future

Eastern Caribbean fueled by OECS Integration Process

CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY SECRETARIAT

STAFF VACANCIESApplications are invited from interested and suitably qualifi ed nationals of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States and Associate Members of the Caribbean Community to fi ll the following positions:

DUTY STATION – BARBADOS

(i) Senior Legal Offi cer, Drafting, Legal and Institutional Framework

DUTY STATION – GUYANA

(ii) Two (2) Senior Legal Offi cers, Legal and Institutional Framework

Full details of these positions may be obtained by accessing the following web sites-www.caricom.org; www.caribank.org; www.oecs.org; www.crnm.org and www.caribbeanjobsonline.com

Applications in English Language with full curriculum vitae details, including nationality, work experience, educational qualifi cations and/or expertise, language profi ciency, coordinates (including email addresses) of three referees (at least two of whom must be familiar with the applicant’s work), and other relevant information, should be addressed to the Executive Director, Human Resource Management, Caribbean Community Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana and sent by email to [email protected].

The deadline for the submission of applications is 11 August 2013.

ISLAND OF MONTSERRATIN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE

A. D. 2013[PROBATE]

In the Estate of CHARLOTTE HILLECHINA BUMBERA, deceasedLEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that after the expiration of fourteen (14) days from the date hereof, application will be made in the Registry of the High Court of Justice for an Order that Probate of the Last Will and Testament of CHARLOTTE HILLECHINA BUMBERA late of Old Towne, Montserrat who died on the 10th. July 2013 domiciled in the Dependent Territory of Montserrat be granted to CAROL OSBORNE of Old Towne, Montserrat the Executrix named in the Will of the said deceased.

ALL persons claiming to be benefi cially interested therein are requested forthwith to send particulars to us the undersigned.

FURTHER any person objecting to the issuance of a Grant of Probate to the Applicant should notify the Registrar of the High Court of Justice, whose address is: Offi ce of the Registrar General, Brades, Montserrat, not later than fourteen (14) days from the date of this notice.

Dated this 25th. day of July, 2013

……………………………………….ALLEN MARKHAM & ASSOCIATES

This notice is published by Allen Markham & Associates Barristers & Solicitors whose address for Service is Banks, Montserrat.

man when they group held its annual general meeting at the CLICO Box, Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain.

Shareholders and directors agreed to a 30-day extension of the agreement between Govern-ment and shareholders while Cabi-net decides on the new accord.

This is where employees of CLICO are seeing a problem.

Government announced re-cently that CLICO will be shut-

tered and a new company, Atrius, will take its place.

CL Financial chairman Yet-ming told the Express by phone yesterday that the “good busi-ness” of CLICO would be trans-ferred to Atrius and this seemed to have given agents some level of comfort with regard to job security.

But financial and Govern-ment sources have suggested with recent days that the State

may be re-considering form-ing Atrius because of the large amount of capital it may still require.

One option that has been suggested is to sell CLICO to another insurance group.

Yetming suggested yester-day that this may have “created considerable insecurity in staff who had calmed down after 2009”.

Staff members calling in

sick at CLICO branches would have been to show dissatisfac-tion over what agents feel is the uncertainty about the company’s future.

It could not be immediately determined yesterday how many agents and employees called in sick and how many of CLICO’s

eight branches (excluding its head offi ce in Port of Spain) were affected.

Contacted yesterday, com-pany offi cial Margaret Chow said CLICO preferred to not comment on the agents not showing up for work.

Banking, Insurance and Gen-

eral Workers Union president Vincent Cabrera referred enquiries to deputy vice president Mario Als who could not be immediately reached on his cell phone yester-day afternoon.

The union represents the interests of CLICO employees, Cabrera said.

CaribbeanNewsNow -St Kitts -- Offi cers from

the Eastern Caribbean Cen-tral Bank (ECCB) and repre-sentatives of the Association of Development Banks (AD-BEC) have furthered their discussions on the vision for the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union’s (ECCU) Investment and Develop-ment Financial Architecture (IDFA).

It is envisaged that the IDFA will feature a more ef-fi cient and modern fi nancial system which offers inves-tors more diverse investment opportunities; alternative mechanisms to the private sector for accessing fi nanc-ing; and ensure the exis-tence of an appropriate and well-functioning legal and regulatory system to protect investors and maintain fi nan-cial stability.

This will entail:• Building on the suc-

cesses achieved over the

Port of Spain, Jun 18 (Prensa Latina) The Organiza-tion of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) turned 32 years today with new challenges and immersed in a process of change to increase the links between its members.

A key moment of the group was the launch, two years ago, of a regional economic union, which allows greater trade with the signing of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre.

past two decades and would involve strengthening the roles of relevant financial institutions and money and capital markets;

• Establishing new insti-tutions and fi nancial instru-ments and products to fi ll the current gaps in the system;

• Establishing the sup-porting legal and regulatory infrastructure and a condu-cive environment to support the growth of investment and savings in the ECCU.

During the meeting, which was held on 5 July at the ECCB Headquarters in St Kitts, the role which the ADBEC could play in assist-ing with fi nancing growth and the transformation of the ECCU was also discussed.

In addition, the ECCB and the ADBEC examined the business models of the development banks in the ECCU and the role of the ADBEC in the Investment and Development Financial

Architecture.As providers of me-

dium to long-term develop-ment fi nance and given their mandate to assist with the economic development of their respective countries, the development banks were seen as a critical component of the architecture. It was agreed that the institutions’ approach to financing de-velopment projects should be policy based whereby they can play a key role in channeling funds to fi nance projects which are consis-tent with the development strategy for the member countries.

There was consensus that the ECCB and the AD-BEC would continue to engage in further discussions on the vision for the Invest-ment and Development Fi-nancial Architecture

right: ECCB Headquarters in St. Kitts

Good thoughts for OECS IntegrationThe agreement created a

single economic and fi nancial space for member states and gives the green light to move unhindered capital, people, goods and services.

Another important milestone in the history of the organization was the opening in August 2012 of the OECS Assembly, based in Antigua and Barbuda, one of the fi ve principal organs of the regional group.

The other important entities

are the OECS Authority, the Council of Ministers, the Commission and the Council of Economic Affairs.

Under the direction of the regional Central Bank, the EC dollar remains strong and allow to collabo-rate with the integration process.

The OECS comprises Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Granada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.


MSS graduation...cont’d. from page 8

Students’ Performance and AchievementsFifty four of the 2012 year fi ve cohort wrote overseas examinations with the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) in a number of subjects ranging from one to ten, with the majority writing seven or eight subjects.

The students were examined across 24 subject areas in a total of three hundred and sixty subject entries. Grades I, II and III passes were recorded in two hundred and seventy four (274) of these, yielding a pass rate of 76.1% down from the previous year’s average pass rate of 80.3%.

The fall off in the average performance of the students at the CXC CSEC exams occurred despite the 100% pass rate achieved in fourteen subject areas up from only seven in 2011, and there was an increase in the number of students obtaining 5 subject passes. A record number of 34 students obtained 5 passes at the CSEC level up from 25 in 2010 and 24 in 2011. Upon analysis, it appears that the performance of students in the top fi fty percentile remained high and trending upwards, while the larger number of entries created a drag on the average with poor performances in the areas of Mathematics and English. Only 50% and 37% of the students achieved grades 1, 2 and 3 in English and Math respectively.

The students indicated that these measures, particularly the peer teaching, proved very benefi cial to them and we anticipate improvements, particularly in these two key subject areas.

The Business subjects continued to perform well. For the 4th consecutive year, EDPM, Principles of Accounts and Principles of Business obtained 100% pass rates.

Agriculture and Physics, both of which were written at the CXC CSEC for the fi rst time, returned pass rates of 100%. An excellent performance was therefore recorded for the Sciences, with all of the science subjects recording pass rates of 100%.

The Technical and Vocational subjects continue to perform creditably. Food & Nutrition and Technical Drawing continue to maintain their excellent performance. While further improvement in performance was recorded for Electricity which recorded a 100% pass rate. Building Woods and Building Construction also recorded 100% pass rates.

Some outstanding performances were recorded and are highlighted as follows:

Two students recorded passes in 10 CXC subjects:

Tiffannie Skerritt who obtained all grade 1 passes; and Michalea Greer obtained 7 grade 1’s, 2 grade 2’s and 1 grade 3 pass.

Joseph Cassell and Amani Greaves both obtained passes in nine subjects while; Carlon Brathwaite, Ayana Cassell, Tazia Briscoe and Trichelle Spencer obtained passes in eight subjects.

In total 34 student obtained 5 or more passes at the CSEC level.

For the third consecutive year, students of the MSS wrote the CXC’s Caribbean Certifi cate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) examinations. 49 students were examined across four subject areas namely Mathematics, English, Integrated Science and Social Studies. An improvement in performance was seen in both English and Science over last year. English recorded 95% pass rate up from 91% while Integrated Science recorded 100% passes up from 81% last year. Six of the students who wrote the English exams gained the Mastery level. The performance in Math held steady at 90%.

Congratulations are extended to all students, their parents, and their teachers who went beyond the call of duty working into the night and on weekends to prepare and encourage our students to give their most effective effort.

The school’s end of year examinations have just been completed. The students who excelled in their classes received their prizes at the fi nal assembly held yesterday, Tuesday July 2nd. Mr Chairman of note was the number of boys who topped their respective classes in the end of year exams. 63% of the top students were boys.

What to expect for the 2013/14 Academic Year?

The Principal of the Montserrat Secondary School (MSS), yours truly, underwent a period of attachment to several schools across six Local Authorities in the London area over the period November 5 to 30, 2012. The visits to the schools were arranged and facilitated by Mrs. Miriam Kerr, a leading educator in London and trainer/ facilitator with the National College for School Leadership in the United Kingdom. Mrs Kerr’s programme and facilitation were excel-lent and I would also want to place on record the very warm and cordial reception and treatment that was accorded to me by all the school principals and staff I visited with in London.

It was rewarding to note that procedures and practices utilised at our school were also utilised by some of the top schools in the UK. These practices and procedures at the MSS are being strengthened as the school continues to improve. We will also incorporate, incrementally, emerging best practices from the world of education. A key element of our work will be the school’s endeavour to engage parents and to further encourage and promote their involve-ment in all aspects of our students’ school life. Research has shown and we have observed at the school, that the students who do best academically and behaviourally, have strong supportive parents who are very involved in all areas of their school life.

my alma mater needs you and is depending on you to fl y the fl ag high proudly… there is nothing you cannot achieve. Work with the teachers and reach for the stars,” adding that her class came into the school with a passion for learning, “and though our passion we worked and we progressed through the school, you can do it too, you will do it.”

She concluded to the students, “Use your energy to promote a healthy culture in Montserrat and the wider world,” resounding a theme from all who speak to the youths.

As though revealing the reasons of her success so far, she called on parents, guardians and well-wishers, encouraging, “with your support, MSS could be tops in the region.,Encourage your children to be tops in the region, encourage your children to do their best.”

Finally she told her classmates, “The journey to perfection continues, let’s make ourselves, our school, our parents and country proud. You have what it takes with your hands on the plough no turning back.”

Token presentations and a vote of thanks by head boy Darion Darroux preceded the fi nal act of the recession of the graduates, to end the three hour speech day exercises.


cont’d from page 1

JUS WONDERINJus wonderin if people a behave dem-

self now, dat awe no see no more maldow in dis column.

If you decide to stay at home during a storm, for safety, move to the room opposite to where the wind is coming.

What if a disaster strikes at your work? Do you know the emergency preparedness plan for your work place? Many employees do not know their workplace plan. If you don’t know yours, make a point of knowing today.

An Emergency Family Plan will only work if everyone in the family knows their role.

17. Always keep enough food and wa-ter supplies in your home to meet the needs of your family for at least three (3) days.

It makes good sense to organize with your community how you will work togeth-er if an emergency strikes. Sharing plans and strategies in advance can pay off

When TV and computer games no lon-

ger operate, board games or a deck of cards come in handy! Arts and crafts, crayons and downloadable colouring pages are always a great distractions for the kids - so make sure you’ve stored some of these supplies in your emergency packs.

Jus wonderin if you know a guy is gay when he goes to school, beach and shopping with different bags and different occasions, such as these.

Jus wonderin if he is also gay when he notices and only comments on the fashion a woman wears.

Jus wonderin if when one woman says, “I’m sorry,” she really saying, “You’ll be sorry,” or when she says, “Do wha you want,” she means, “You goin pay for it.”

Jus wonderin who agree with this saying by A.R. Bernard, Pastor, Christian Cultural Center “What is excellence at one level is mediocrity at the next.”

Jus wonderin all who just love medioc-rity and see excellence as taboo.

Jus wonderin column is compiled from contributions by readers and from de community. Send yours in.

Resource tests to run until Octoberdrilling capacity of the Ice-land Drilling rig, which has the capability of going down a depth of only 2,400 meters (approximately 7,872 ft.

Since that report we learnt that the drilling rig at well #2 had suffered another equipment breakdown, but this quickly remedied, and drilling had recommenced on July 10, the same day DFID’s Dr. Kato Kimbug-we was responding to the media on various matters surrounding the geothermal development.

One answer dealt with how DFID would proceed with the production devel-opment progress, follow-ing a successful resource exploration, which he said ‘there is confi dence that the resource is there in Well #1.

Kimbugwe said, “I think the way we’ve dealt with geothermal sets the tone for all the other SGP (Strategic growth plan), investments in that at every stage we will test the market to make sure that there is no private sector interest before any sort of UK funding is provided for geothermal.”

Earlier, Premier Meade had addressed that subject at a press briefi ng as follows: “…the understanding that the GoM is putting forward is, let us as a people own that resource , let’s develop it and own it. Let us not go to the private sector to seek funding for the development of the production side of things once we can get to the production phase…we have MUL as a power company which is wholly owned by

the government of Montser-rat, then let us deal with the development where MUL will take it forward…”

There was also the stated position of the Mont-serrat Geothermal Power Company (MGPC) group that said a month ago at a press briefi ng on June 28, “MGPC WILL on behalf of the people of Montserrat, provide a bid for the geo-thermal power complex in response to an Expression of Interest (EoI) or any other legally authorised tender.”

While all this happen-ing and with drilling con-tinuing at Well #2, and test-ing at #1, Dr. Kimbugwe told the media that testing will run through to Octo-ber. “The next phase really after the current drilling is the testing phase which is

expected to be completed sometime around October,” he said.

Drilling began on or about February 22, this year, with drilling and testing (of the resource) expected to last six months (four and two months respectively).

Beardsley had said at the beginning of this month, confi rming previous state-ments as to testing, “…we can start pulling it (water) out…and then we can do our long-term testing from that point,” he said.

Our information pro-vided, “reports about the geothermal exploration from the drilling had indicated that the geothermal resource was defi nite, but its power had to be ascertained and testings were being done for verifi cation.” That informa-tion was from the moment Well #1 had been capped back in xxxx. Further infor-mation had indicated testing would last for about two months.

In that earlier story we also reported that offi cials from the Government over-seers of the project had said: “There must be temperature, pressure and fl ow, tested for a minimum of two months to “prove” the resource.” Beardsley confirmed that later, but referred to it as, “our long-term testing.”

Well #2 - drilling completed

Meanwhile reliable Reports earlier in the week now say that drilling at Well #2 is complete, although today a Ministry of Com-munication & Works of-fi cial, would only say that a statement is forthcoming in the coming week. Also unof-fi cial is the news that while it was thought that Well #2

would have produced more positive existence of the resource, the only better news is that the temperature from the well is better than that of Well #1 when drilling had ceased.

Geothermal Unit and Steering Committee

That news is supposed to be good or better news, but although unofficial it did not change the doubts and fears that exist or sur-round the geothermal proj-ect. What keeps surfacing is that with a rig that can only reach straight down less than 2400 meters, the most encouraging information after Well #1 as we await the findings on Well #2, is, “they are confi dent the resource is there”. The fol-lowing further statement by Kimbugwe in his response when he said, “…So once that have been proven in terms of whether you have a resource or not and the size of that resource,” once again cast doubt and uncertainty on the other statement of ‘confi dence’.

Questions also surface on the management of the project, who speaks for it, who reports on it and to whom. According to project documents there was to be a “Geothermal Unit” which had to be in place prior to June 2012. The DFID rep was unable to name the entire Geothermal Unit, but said it was in place.

“Yes, you do have a geothermal unit. The geo-thermal unit is based in the Ministry of Communica-tions and Works,” he re-sponded, giving the names of two persons and two agencies, the other two he was unable to name, one of whom was to be an engineer.

That unit was, accord-ingly as the project dictated: “GoM will staff a new Geo-thermal Unit responsible for overall project management, procurement processes in-cluding evaluation of ten-ders and presentation to the GoM Central Tenders Board,. This Unit will report on all matters related to the drilling contract.

“The key positions in this unit will be:

1. Geothermal Project Manager – Contracted in for preparation, drilling and testing.

2. “Company Man” – Contracted in for the drilling operation which requires 24/7 cover (3 people on rotation.) 3. Civil Engineer (GoM local recruit) 4. Well Test Engineer (contracted)

5. Administrative and accountancy staff (GoM local recruit.) 6. Montserrat Volcano Observatory Staff – contracted for extra safety cover at unloading/loading.”

The dedicated Geother-mal Unit was to, “be estab-lished to lead and oversee a successful drilling operation leading to the proving of a geothermal resource, on time and within budget.

“…to keep an accu-rate track of progress and expenditure, and use this to keep amending the pro-gramme as required and rolling forecasts out on a monthly basis…”

Besides this, GoM was to establish a Steering Com-mittee for the geothermal exploratory drilling opera-tion, to monitor progress and hold the geothermal unit to account. “This will be made up of : Financial Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Minis-try of Finance and Economic Development MCWL/PWD and DFID.”

A quote on excellence“I believe if we place a critical eye on the details, on quality, on excellence, on being better than any other, then there is no doubt that we will see growth

Rep24 jul26 13 pages

Documents

Transcript of Rep24 jul26 13 pages