Government

Montserrat has secured another consecutive term on the CARICOM Advisory Group on Statistics (AGS). The announcement was made, following a recent series of CARICOM regional statistical meetings, including the 31st Meeting of the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) held in Anguilla. Representing Montserrat, Acting Chief Statistician, Miss Simmone Fenton, was re-elected to serve on the CARICOM Advisory Group on Statistics for the 2027 to 2029 term. She was also re-elected as Rapporteur of the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians for the same period. The CARICOM Advisory Group on Statistics plays an important role in contributing to regional statistical development projects and providing technical leadership on key statistical initiatives across CARICOM. Miss Fenton’s re-election provides an opportunity for Montserrat to maintain its active representation in regional statistical decision-making and contribute to the strengthening of statistical systems.

Parliamentary Secretary the Honourable Dwayne Hixon is encouraging more persons to invest in areas such as Cork Hill and Foxes Bay, which were abandoned during the volcanic crisis. Hixon had spearheaded the excavation of the Belham Valley Bridge and re-established Isles Bay Beach Road, which marked an important step in the island’s ongoing programme of infrastructure rehabilitation and resilience building. Speaking on the radio programme, the “People’s Business” on Wednesday evening, he said persons have bought homes in Foxes Bay and there are individuals currently living in Cork Hill. He is encouraging others to do the same.  “Because, of course, there are homeowners. Persons have purchased houses in Foxes Bay area, people are living in Cork Hill, and we are encouraging more persons to come home to rehabilitate their homes there. And it’s not only because I’m from that particular area, but I understand and I can see that there’s a shortage of houses. The way I see it, it’s easier to go and rehabilitate some of these houses instead of going and building new. Mr. Hixon believes it is easier to repair a home in the area because “whereas a ton of steel back then would have been like maybe $1,500, $1,600, now a ton of steel is heading towards $5,000. So building is very expensive. So, if you can go and renovate, and most of the homes in there, there’s a chance for that to happen.” The Parliamentary Secretary says some persons have already reached out for help. “There’s a stretch of road in the Weeks area that two homeowners approached me, and they actually, want help cleaning up the grounds because they actually want to start doing something. And with the Cork Hill grouping hoping to have a reunion in March, we’re hoping to really, support, give them the support that they need,” he explained.

The Labour Department is stepping up efforts to raise awareness of employment rights and responsibilities. This, following the recent hosting of an awareness programme aimed at helping employees better understand the laws governing their working conditions. The session focused on basic employment conditions, covering issues such as employment contracts, working hours, overtime pay, sick leave, maternity leave and entitlements, including gratuity and severance pay, when employment ends. The Acting Labour Commissioner Marcilla Frith-Mulcare says many disputes brought to the Labour Department stem from misunderstandings about these matters, which could often times be avoided. The programme focused on understanding “your legal rights and your responsibilities as an employee. We looked at one section of the law which is about your basic employment conditions and someone may ask why does this matter? It matters because most of the disputes that come to the Labor Commissioner or to the Labor Department begins with a simple misunderstanding. Most of the times it’s about my contract, about my hours, it’s about my overtime pay, should I get leave, should I get maternity, should I get sick leave, how many sick days am I allowed or you will find that when that employment comes to an end, persons are asking what is my gratuity and my due severance pay.” Mrs. Mulcare noted that “often what I find is if both the employer and the employee had known the law from the start then these problems would not occur. We had a good turnout of 76 percent that was 19 out of the 25 targeted employees.” She says it the Labour Department is on a drive and is planning more sessions for employers and employees, “so we are asking especially private sector persons please be on the lookout for our awareness programs because you usually hear that saying knowledge prevents conflicts. It actually builds trust between the employers and the employees and we if we have workplaces that understand their legal rights then workplaces will be more productive and employers and employees will be more respectful to each other.”

Improvements to Montserrat’s water infrastructure are already paying dividends. Minister of BUILT-E the Honourable Veronica Dorsette Hector says spring yields have increased since the program began which includes rehabilitation to water sources, storage, and distribution. The project comprises spring rehabilitation, reservoir improvement, and replacing aged pipelines. She reported that the water sources at Fogarty Spring Rehabilitation Works have been completed, and that the catchments are now sheltered and secured with fencing to protect from external intrusion through human or through animals. MUL has reported an increase in the yield of approximately 15,000 gallons per day following its completion. Mrs. Dorsette Hector aid there is also energy-saving benefits, because Fogarty is a gravity-fed source, therefore increased natural spring production reduces the level of pumping required from the Belham wells, reducing electricity demand and pressure on mechanical equipment. The Spring at Hope, has also been completed. The Minister noted that the together, the rehabilitation of Fogarty and Hope reduces the vulnerability of Montserrat’s water system and supports greater use of natural spring production. She said the rehabilitation is intended to capture and protect the available spring flow, more effectively improve water quality and strengthen the reliability of supply from the important natural sources.  Meanwhile, the island’s water storage and distribution capacity has been increased. Tanks at Dick Hill, Lawyers, Davy Hill and St. Peter’s total approximately 842,000 gallons. Mrs. Dorsette Hector explained that the island has moved from having less than approximately one day of stored water supply to around three to five days under the improved system, which represents a significant improvement in Montserrat’s resilience.