ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Pungent fumes drifting over Antigua from Montserrat’s volcano sparked alarm yesterday, prompting disaster chiefs to issue a health alert. The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) told OBSERVER media that staff had received a number of calls from concerned members of the public complaining about a stench of sulphur. Director Philmore Mullin said a change in wind had blown gases from the Soufriere Hills volcano over to the island.
Montserrat
BRADES, Montserrat, CMC – Montserrat police say they have made “significant” progress in anti-smuggling drug operations and border security initiatives over the past few weeks. Deputy Commissioner Bradley Siddell said there have been a number of suspicious marine activities, which has resulted in the recovery of two foreign registered vessels and a large seizure of suspected narcotics. He said several people have been detained under the Immigration Act while four others have been charged with various drug offenses and remanded in custody pending further court appearances.
BRADES, Montserrat, CMC – Officials from the Britain’s Department for International Development (DFOD) will on Thursday begin a review of Montserrat’s national budget, according to an official statement issued here.
It said that the review “will look at the projections for expenditure and revenue for the government in the coming financial year which begins in April” adding “it is also expected that the teams will review the variations in revenue and spending for the 2012/2013 against the budget estimated and the impact of external developments”.
BRADES, Montserrat -- Daniel Joseph of Lavabits, a software development firm on Montserrat was one of the featured presenters at the Caribbean ICT Roadshow BVI, which began on Tortola on Sunday, 16 May.
Joseph is part of a trio of young nationals who began the company last December to develop software for the global market. Daniel and his brother Samuel, along with Manish Valechha launched the company to provide real world solutions to the marketplace and to show that it could be done from Montserrat.
Montserrat's Chief Minister Reuben Meade says he will champion the cause of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) on a regional level.
Speaking to Bernadette Lewis, Head of the CTU who visited the island last week to look at plans for hosting the ICT Roadshow in Montserrat, the chief minister said his government was committed to promoting the use of communications technology on all levels.
The meeting involving the Government of Montserrat, the Caribbean Community Secretariat and United Kingdom Government representatives ended in Montserrat today reaffirming their commitment to Montserrat's continued participation in CARICOM and its organs.
The two-day talks were undertaken in a spirit of friendship with all agreeing to move forward together in harmony to accomplish the objective of ensuring Montserrat's continued full membership in CARICOM.
The people of Montserrat will get an opportunity to see the CARICOM Torch of Unity from May 7-9, 2003. Confirmation of this has come from officials in the Office of the Chief Minister and the Sports Officer, Fitzroy Buffonge.
The Torch is scheduled to arrive in Montserrat on the morning of May 7 on the ferry from Antigua.
Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, the President of Guyana, is planning to lead a mission to Haiti, the Community's newest Member State, in early December.
The Mission will include representatives of both Government and Private Sector as a means of familiarising key Community stakeholders with Haiti. Heads of Government at their Meeting last July in Georgetown agreed that the Chairman should visit Haiti to mark its accession to the Community which was formalised during the July meeting.Â
His Excellency Jean Bertrand Aristide, President of the Republic of Haiti and Mrs. Aristide,
The Honorable Jean Marie Cherestal, Prime Minister,
The Honorable Yvon Neptune, President of the Senate,
The Honorable Pierre Paul Cottin, President of the Chamber of Deputies,
His Excellency Cesar Gaviria, Secretary General of the Organisation of American States,
Esteemed Members of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies,
Esteemed Members of the Cabinet,
Distinguished Secretaires D'Etat
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chairman, the Hon. Basdeo Panday, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago presented "a CARICOM gift of love" to the people of Montserrat on Wednesday 29 December 1999.