2006 Christmas speech by Hon. Minister of Education, Health, Community Services and Labour

2006 Christmas message
by the Hon. Hon. Minister of Education, Health, Community Services and Labour

Hon. Minister of Education, Health, Community Services and Labour, John Osborne

Welcome to all our visitors and friends from near and far who are here to join in the 2006 Christmas celebrations. Please take some time to join in our cultural activities, enjoy our foods, bask in our hospitality and admire our sites. For all returning Montserratians, no doubt you have noticed the various infrastructural advancements i.e. home improvement, New EU Look-out Housing Project, development of the Cassava industry, Establishment of New Environmental Unit and start of the New Public Market.

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Visitors will also see the operation of the new Geographical Information system Centre at the Physical Planning Unit. The mission of the PPU is to plan, guide, facilitate and regulate the orderly development of land and buildings in Montserrat, taking into account all relevant social, economic, environmental, physical and ecological factors; and, to ensure that the most efficient, equitable and environmentally sustainable use is made of land and that the quality of life and the natural and built environment is both enhanced and protected. The Unit will also carry out its responsibilities in a way that is focused on efficiency, effectiveness, consistency and transparency.

The Lands and Survey Department have been kept busy throughout the year under review and have carried out work in Little Bay, Look-out Housing development, Davy Hill and Shinn Land among other areas. One hundred and eighty–two (182) Land Transfers were processed, 18 Land Holding Licenses, 226 Land Certificates were issued and forty-two mutations were completed.

Housing remains the no 1 challenge for the government and people of Montserrat. However, 62 new houses are now been constructed under the 9th EDF project. This will significantly improve government housing stock when completed. The houses are expected to be sold and the funds used to construct additional homes for persons awaiting housing solutions. It is envisaged that 3 eight unit single apartment complex will be constructed under the DIFID Funded project. Additionally, houses will be constructed for the mentally challenged and vulnerable on the housing list.

A key component of the agricultural thrust for 2007 will be a young farmers training program for young people actively engaged in agriculture and agro-business. The introduction of new technology in the form of greenhouses and the related technical advice for farming under controlled conditions is expected to improve vegetable production on the island.

Training for fishermen was carried out this year under the Basic Needs Trust Fund. A further 25 fishers will be trained in 2007. Steps have been taken to procure an ice flake machine under the Overseas Territories Project by the Fishermen’s Cooperative and this should be operational early next year.

The services of a vet will be secured early next year. This would help to improve vet nary services on the island and enable export of mutton and beef to neighboring islands. Much work has gone into controlling the adverse effect of loose livestock especially cattle. Cattle raids have been carried out in conjunction with the police. 236 animals have been impounded including goats, sheep, cattle and pig for the year under review.

The Director of the Environment is now in post and the National Environment Strategy would be implemented by this unit. It is envisaged that at the end of the Centre Hills Project, management of this national asset will fall under the purview of the Environment Unit.
The revised Little Bay Development Plan has been submitted and it is expected that the infrastructural work on the new town centre will commence by April 2007. The Montserrat Development Corporation would also be established early next year.

The new government under the leadership of Dr. the Hon. Lowell Lewis continues negotiating and implementing the relevant policies to ensure that our island is well positioned to take advantage of the various regional and international opportunities.

I would like to thank the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture Land Housing & Environment for assisting in preparing this Christmas message. Further I would like to take this opportunity to wish the entire staff and their families a Blessed Christmas and a healthy and prosperous 2007.

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