ZJB News In Brief January 10, 2023

FORMER PREMIER CALLS FOR PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE ACCESS

A resolution is to be proposed in the Montserrat legislative Assembly, next Tuesday, to set up a Committee to investigate the recent air and sea access challenges here.

Former premier and now member of parliament, Honourable Donaldson Romeo, says he will propose the setting up of the committee with the aim of examining access issues.

In a media statement, Mr Romeo highlighted that efforts to provide a Ferry and Twin Otter-based air lift for the 2022 Christmas/Festival season broke down and led to chaos.

In both cases, it said regulatory issues were key to the challenges

POLICE CHANGES PUT TOUR INDUSTRY IN JEOPARDY

The Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition is concerned about operational changes by the Montserrat Police Service that could impact negatively on the tourism industry.

In a statement aired on ZJB, Mr. Lewis says a decision to discontinue the use of off duty police officers to accompany tourists into Plymouth puts the tours in jeopardy.

He says based on the correspondence sent out to operators, the police would not be able to guarantee the availability officers on these tours to the former capital.

Several tour operators have expressed their dissatisfaction reacted with this development.

Roselyn Cassell Sealy of Travel World, says they are hoping to have an audience with the government of Montserrat on Wednesday to discuss how it could be resolved.

CHIEF JUSTICE HAILS RESILIENCE OF JUSTICE SYSTEM

The Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) has hailed the resilience of the justice system in Montserrat and across the region during what she said was a difficult period.

While addressing the opening ceremony to signal the start of the new law year from Anguilla, Dame Janice Pereira said the past year, like others before, brought with it many trials as the small island states and territories continued to navigate through a sea of challenges.

Justice Pereira however, sounded her strong belief that out of the depths of adversity, there are positive and endearing lessons to be learnt.