According to a release from the Governor’s Office, at a recent NDPRAC meeting it was decided that there will be changes to access to Zone C. Currently visitors must report on entry and on exit to Special Constables stationed at the entry gate.

As of June 1, “residents and visitors to the island will be required to report to either Brades or Salem police stations to register and receive an Entry Permit to Zone C. There is no fee for the permit, but applicants are required to acknowledge the safety terms and conditions. The entry gates will be opened from 8 am to 4 pm every day. Permit holders are permitted to enter and exit at their own risk unsupervised. A brochure giving information on the safety procedures to Zone C is now available at both police stations.

“No persons are allowed in Zone C without a permit or after hours. Vehicles that do not exit prior to 4 pm will be locked inside and the occupants will have to leave on foot. Zone C is still a controlled hazard area and access to Zone V is not permitted under any circumstances. Therefore, any persons found in contravention of the new registration, permit, access procedures and safety regulations will be expelled.

“Additional sirens are being installed inside Zone C.  The sirens will sound every day at 1530, 30 minutes before closing time to remind visitors to leave the area before the gates are closed for the night. If the sirens sound at any other time, the area must be evacuated immediately.

“Everyone is urged to listen to ZJB and check the police website (www.police.gov.ms<http://www.police.gov.ms>) for a series of tips on the new conditions of entry and to ensure that the new procedures are followed,” the notice stated.

Zone C comprises Cork Hill, Weekes, Foxes Bay, Richmond Hill, Delvins and extending out 500 metres to sea, is part of the Exclusion Zone.

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Over the coming weeks, the school will relocate from the existing premises and move temporarily into the completed wing. “While there work will commence on the reconfiguration and rehabilitation of the existing buildings, which is expected to be completed in time for the start of the new academic year. At that time the school will occupy both sets of buildings while the new sports/assembly hall and associated site works is being constructed,” Francis explained.

“New furniture and equipment are expected to be ordered and shipped to Montserrat in time for September. All of the construction work is expected to be completed during the first half of 2014. The school is expected to be set up as a modern primary school with up to date equipment which hopefully should lead to improved student outcomes.”

The EC$9.9 million expansion project is being funded by the Department for International Development (DFID).
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The settlement will enable continued provision of essential services, including assistance across health, education services and improving sea access and safety at the airport for the 2013/14 financial year.

The increased financial injections come as a result of GoM’s submission of significant budget pressures arising from capital replacement costs, rising pension costs and on-going financial liabilities. DFID has increased funding across these areas to address these pressures.

In summary the budget settlement includes the following;

i.            EC$57.3m for the recurrent budget – increased from EC$52m in 2012/13
ii.            EC$2m to meet critical gaps in public services
iii.            EC$3m to settle GoM outstanding financial liabilities
iv.            Pension costs increased to EC$1.3m
v.            Improvements to sea and air access increased by EC$1.5m. Further funding to improve sea and air access should provide an enabling environment for business activity.
vi.            New funding of EC$1.8m  to set up a new capital replacement budget
vii.            New funding of EC$1m to strengthen the Audit function
viii.            Improve governance by providing an office for the Opposition.

DFID said its “continued commitment to Montserrat is reflected in the budgetary increase. This budget settlement provides

According to a statement from the Department for International Development (DFID), the government “sustained its commitment to the reforms process since the mid-term review reported in October. Good progress has been made in meeting February 2013 targets in most areas. The team recognises that some elements of the MoU reform process will need time to be embedded in GoM Departmental work plans.”

The report highlighted work in the areas of Investment policy, Tourism, and access as successful.

“Good progress can be reported on outsourcing but GoM should ensure that implementation plans are consistent. The review team asked GoM to set out an action plan to secure a postal code system for Montserrat by August 2013,” the report noted.
DFID said that performance has been below expectations in the following areas: Tax reforms, Review of regulatory functions; and Institutions.

“Faster progress on regulatory planning and on tax reforms is an urgent priority. The review team requested an action plan to be set out by end June for regulatory enhancements, drawing on regional institutions and work already in train at the regional level. We underlined the importance of clear plans in this area given upcoming investments in geothermal, fibre-optic and access. In the area of tax, we asked for ToR for an action plan to be delivered by 24 May. This plan needs to be delivered by August 2013. Appropriate social policy assessments need to be factored into this work.

The review team said they “were pleased at how GoM has stepped up its efforts on communicating the purpose of the MoU reforms since October. This was recognised by representatives from the private sector with whom the review team consulted. They also noted that the Montserrat Development Corporation (MDC) was developing economic and financial models that will provide a clear picture of the benefits to GoM from prospective investments in Little Bay and Carr’s Bay investments. Further technical support will be needed to underpin this work.”

They also found evidence that the MDC was working hard to engage with prospective investors for a new port and landside developments.  Investment proposals need to be considered carefully, including how any concessions compare to investment schemes offered in the UK.

The review was conducted from May 15 to 21, with the DFID team comprising of Tom Kelly, Kato Kimbugwe, Alan Clarkin. The met with government and department heads to discuss a range of issues related to investment and immigration policy, environmental management, access and communications. Meetings were also held with members of the private sector and the Opposition.

The SGP came about as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed between Montserrat and the UK in May 2013. In order for Montserrat to receive considerable financial support for development projects such as the new town, port and geothermal the government needed to make reforms in several key areas to make the island more attractive for investors and also to offer better value for money in its delivery of services.

To learn more about the SGP and the reforms, visit www.gov.ms/movingforward.

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The workshop, which began on Tuesday, is being held as part of the Caribbean Development Bank’s 43rd Annual Board of Governors meeting.

Sessions focus on Applied Management and Modelling Techniques for female-owned micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and is designed to prepare a cadre of 39 female trainers across the region. The workshop’s aim is to allow business owners and managers to make informed technical, financial and market competitive decisions in a timely manner, without deferring to a professional.

Rogers is the owner of The Pastry Barn and also designs jewellery and clothing. She will be required to train other female small business owners to use the same techniques learned in St. Lucia.

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Premier Reuben Meade

Premier the honourable Rueben Meade has called for a regional approach to deal with an increasing number of international regulations regarding financial services and international taxation.

He made the remarks at the 43rd meeting of the Board of Governors’ of the Caribbean Development Bank in St. Lucia this morning.

Premier Meade told the finance ministers that the Caribbean is struggling to keep up to date with changing international standards such as FATCA and have spent millions on these regulations.

He says the expertise and resources have placed tremendous pressure on already stretched budgets and is confident that more can be achieved collectively.

Further, he said the region will be better able to participate, respond and influence these matters internationally especially where they offend or do not take into account the region’s peculiarities.

Mr. Meade stated that the Overseas Territories because of their size and resource base are reliant on two sectors – tourism and financial services.

He noted that over the past ten years, these areas have been threatened by actions taken globally to combat crime and corruption.

He believes tourism, in particular has been affected by the falling levels of disposable income.

The Montserrat leader said these actions have serious implications for the territories because their economies are not sufficiently diversified to absorb the fallout from major reductions in income from tourism and financial services.

According to him, the reality is that their entire economy can become unsustainable from failure or major disruption in these markets.

Premier Meade concluded his address by calling on the CDB  and the region to think about these broader strategic issues and to how they can strengthen policy coordination.

The event took place at the offices of Montserrat Utilities Limited in Sweeney’s.

A total of six companies submitted bids for the project to be funded by the Department for International Development, (DFID) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

The companies are Angelique International Limited from New Delhi, India, that put in a bid of 5.5 million US dollars, Hospitality Management Goods and Services, ESI from the USA – 16.9 million US dollars, Broadcrown Limited from the United Kingdom – 10.4 million US dollars, and William Industries Incorporated  from Barbados – 11.6 million US dollars.

The other companies are Surrey Paving and Aggregate Limited out of Jamaica which submitted a bid for 9.7 million US dollars and the Philadelphia Electrical Equipment Company from the USA – 8.6

Also in attendance were DFID Representatives, senior Government officials, various stakeholders, members of the public and the local media.

DFID is providing 22.4 million EC dollars for the project while the Caribbean Development (CDB) giving 6.7 million EC dollars through a soft loan plus an additional one million dollars in grants.

The MUL Power station project includes the installation and commissioning of one medium-speed diesel generator, the associated ancillary equipment, switchgear and control, instrumentation and communication system, as well as other Electrical and Mechanical Works.

It also involves the construction of a power station building with provision for future expansion including control, switchgear and battery rooms among other works.

Governor Adrian Davis

His Excellency, the Governor Adrian Davis has called for the implementation of a national hurricane plan.

He was speaking at the opening at the National Hurricane conference organized by the Disaster Management Coordination Agency, DMCA in St John’s this morning.

Governor Davis said such a plan should be agreed by stakeholders before the start of the Atlantic hurricane season.

He also urged department leaders to meet with the DMCA shortly to discuss preparations for the season, which begins on June 1.

Listen to Governor Davis

Meanwhile, Logistics Officer Kelvin White says the DMCA is about 85 per cent ready for the hurricane season

Listen to Kelvin White

Experts predict the 2013 hurricane season will be above average with nine hurricanes.

Charles Kirnon

Montserrat’s Deputy Premier believes information communication technologies will improve governance and boost economic development on the island.

The Honourable Charles Kirnon was addressing senior public servants at an ICT Capacity building workshop at the cultural centre this morning.

He told the participants that ICT’s have the potential to develop more efficient and productive governance, business systems as well as define new types of jobs  and industries…

Listen to Charles Kirnon