THE PAN-AFRIKAN LIBERATOR

The three opposition members in the Montserrat Legislative Council, Bertrand Osborne, NDP, Ruby Wade-Bramble, Independent, and Noel Tuitt, former PLM party member, walked out on the annual budget debate.

The opposition members requested a postponement of the debate to give them time to prepare a response to the Common External Tariff (CET) but lost when the issue was voted on.

Failing to get the time, the members of the opposition walked out of the house.

As the budget debate was not the only item on the agenda, the Council proceeded as usual and passed a number of bills through the house.

While a british frigate sat in Port Plymouth for 3 days, the members of the opposition then organised a public meeting to discuss the issue.

The turnout for the public meeting was fair. The speakers, however, did not have the dynamics necessary to excite the listeners.

Mr Osborne maintained his "gentleman's" image; Mrs Ruby Wade-Bramble read a prepared speech; and Mr Noel Tuitt suggested revolution as a possible solution.

The chief minister and the minister of trade were on ZJB's radio program, Government and People, to discuss the Common External Tariff (CET> and any other issue that the public choose to query.

What became apparent as questions and answers flowed was that the administration used the CET as an a means of manipulating the import taxes and duties to raise revenue.

As one caller stated, the administration should have told the public that the move was necessary to raise funds to allow the civil service to maintain its current size.

Instead, Mr Meade stated consistently that the CET would not affect the cost of living because it had in fact allowed them to reduce customs duties in some instances.

What he failed to mention was that consumption tax on many items increased significantly along with the service charge.

Just before the implementation of the CET, Mr Meade left for Canada.

On 15th February, despite protests from all sectors of the society, the CET became effective and customs began to collect customs duty, consumption tax and service charge based on the new tariff.

The most glaring example of the effects of the CET was the overnight jump in the cost of imported chicken.

With the huge cost increase of the island's staple source of relish as the conversation piece, the island quickly united to request that government repeal the CET.

While all this was going on, Mr. Meade was still off island.

Many merchants and customs brokers were surprised to find out that customs entries filed days before February 15th were not processed until the CET came into effect. This further outraged the public.

Former chief minister of Montserrat, P. Austin Bramble, says he is considering reentering politics, in a statement issued to Radio Antilles on February 9th.

Bramble, who was head of government from 1970 to 1978 says his experience would be an asset to the island during these hard economic times.

He says the present government's policies are leading the island downhill and this must be redressed.

Bramble is critical of government's decision to implement the Common External Tariff.

Mr Bramble and Mr Dublin also made a television appearance on Local Access Channel 5, to explain the CET to cable tv viewers.

Mr. Bramble then called a solo public meeting in Plymouth to explain the history of the CET and his role in its formulation. The turnout was good and the crowd was attentive.

Mr. John Osborne, the most recent former chief minister also held a public meeting in Plymouth to explain his views on the CET and the state of the nation.

Text of the CM'S address to the Nation on implementation of the Common External Tariff, (CET), Sunday, Feb. 27, 1994

Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, I returned to the island from a two-week visit to North America on Saturday and was immediately informed by a number of persons that there was an unsatisfactory outcome to the implementation of the Common External Tariff, CET, as proposed.

In speaking with the Minister with responsibility for Trade, the Honourable Charles Kirnon, he indicated that he had already put in place, a team of technicians to review the impact of the implementation.

We promised, in our budget presentation, that the introduction of the CET would not place a greater burden on our people and we hold firm to that promise.

It seems however, that we may have been inadequately briefed on the detailed figures and the specific impact on the wider range of prices.

As a consequence, therefore, the Ministers will meet on Monday, February 28th, with a view to suspending the introduction of the CET at this point.

Much more detailed work must be done in order to ensure that the CET achieves its objective of ensuring a greater potential for improved trade among the Caribbean countries through a system of preferential arrangements.

We must all think and plan ahead and we are confident that this island can produce and sell products to the rest of the region competitively. The opportunity is there and we must use it.

We have realized that we were not appropriately advised on the full impact of the CET and have thus taken the decision to make the necessary arrangements for a suspension of its introduction.

More details will be made available to the public through the media during the course of the week as to the total extent of the changes and the process.

It is not possible to deal with the administrative arrangements during this broadcast.

This government has always been willing to listen to the concerns of the people.

I am grateful to those persons who sought to ensure that their views on the changes with respect to the tariff arrangements have been brought directly to our attention.

David S. Brandt's long expected move to break ties with the NPP government took place on Monday, February 28th 1994.

In a letter addressed to chief minister, Reuben Meade, Mr Brandt gave numerous reasons for his resignation. Mr Brandt's letter is reproduced below:

February 28, 1994

The Honourable Reuben Meade

Chief Minister

Montserrat

Dear Reuben:

After two years and four months of trying to influence you and my colleagues to provide the responsible, responsive Government that we promised the people in the last election, I have come to the conclusion that good government is impossible under your leadership and so I must resign from a Government that has been pulling the country down and shows no indication of being willing or able to change course.

As you know, whatever my private position might have been on issues, as a member of the Government I had to vote with the Government.

Many people unfamiliar with the system believe that every vote I cast represents my own convictions.

In fact if I disagree with the majority stand after the cabinet has discussed a matter then I must either vote against my conviction for it, or resign from Government.

That is the way our system works.

Everyone will make mistakes, and I would never have resigned because of our Government's mistakes alone.

But to paraphrase Edmund Burke, one cannot persist with actions against the will of the people especially when those actions do not lead to any positive consequences for those people.

One must be willing to learn from mistakes, to hear the voices of the people and respect them.

Politicians cannot properly serve if they are arrogant, pig-headed, and contemptuous of those who elected them.

My specific reasons for resigning at this time are:

( 1) While you were away on vacation and I was acting Chief Minister you told the Financial Secretary to ignore instructions given by me to him in writing.

This action was underhanded and undermined my authority. It showed disrespect for the office and distrust of my judgement. These were the circumstances:

At the time the CET was introduced you as Chief Minister assured the House that as Minister of Finance you had studied the impact of the CET and you had taken all necessary steps to ensure that it would not be disruptive of the Economy.

You had yourself given me personal assurance that my fears about the possible devastating consequences of the introduction of the CET were groundless and that you would take every precaution to ensure a smooth implementation of CET.

The House approved the introduction of the CET and shortly thereafter you left the country. As acting Chief Minister I discovered that in the implementing of the CET unforeseen hardship was being created for members of the public and members of the business community.

I acted promptly to relieve some of the most blatant incidents of unfair pressure resulting from the Government's CET decision and directed the Financial Secretary to take certain steps for that purpose.

He consulted with you while you were in Canada on vacation and without ever consulting with me, you advised him to disregard my directions.

Governor Savage had to step in [and] instruct the Financial Secretary to obey my order.

Your action in this case was not alone to disassociate myself from your Government but it was only the last straw. There was:

(2) The failure of the Government to provide the country with a plan of action telling us where we were going and how we expected to get there.

I made it abundantly clear that I did not wish to be a part of any Government that did not have a plan and I have given my colleagues every opportunity and every encouragement to come up with a plan so that the country would know where we were heading.

You as the leader have stubbornly resisted providing such a plan.

(3) You have taken action on very serious matters without consulting with your colleagues-- sometimes even failing to inform us of what you had done until we heard about it on the street. For example:

(a) You bought a house in Spanish Pointe although you had told us that funds were scarce. You did not inform the Executive Council about the purchase before you made it or after you made it until I asked you about it.

Such a purchase should only have been made with the full approval of the Executive Council.

( b) You dismissed the tourism representatives in New York, Toronto and London with twenty- four hours notice without consulting with the Executive Council, although the representatives were appointed by Government.

The interim Tourist Board was so incensed by your conduct that the entire board resigned.

(c) You negotiated a CDB loan for roads for 13 million dollars contrary to my advice as the Minister responsible for Roads.

You misrepresented the discussions that you were having with CDB and I heard on Radio Montserrat that CDB had approved a loan for Montserrat. You subsequently had to cancel the loan.

(d) You concluded your own negotiations for building a jetty at OLD roads Bay without adequately involving the Experts at Public Works which is against custom and against common sense.

(4) You have shown contempt for advice given to you by Montserratians. You put together a committee to advise you on the 1993 budget then ignored the advice they gave you.

You appointed an interim tourist board then ignored their recommendations.

You refused to respond to telephone messages, a fax, a hand-delivered letter, from the Chamber of Commerce prior to the adoption of the CET, asking for a meeting to discuss the CET.

You have been always willing to employ outsiders without giving Montserratians a fair chance. In this you did not follow the example of previous Governments.

(5) You have failed to honour commitments to people. You have made promises that you have not tried to keep. You have destroyed the Government's credibility with Montserratians here and living abroad.

(5) In a radio and TV address on Sunday, February 27, you proposed a conditional suspension of the CET.

Effectively this is a withdrawal of your budget for the second consecutive year.

In your address, you admit that you were not appropriately advised on the full impact of the CET and that you may have been "inadequately briefed."

A budget is too important a document for such sloppiness to be present in its preparation.

You will remember that I warned you that I believed that the CET would cause great hardship.

Even at that time you should have reviewed the advice you were receiving from your "technicians." This is a serious reflection on your competence as an economist and as Minister of Finance.

It is always an honour to serve one's country and for that opportunity I am grateful. But the growth and development of our country has been hampered because of the failure of your leadership and of your Government.

I can no longer be a part of that Government.

I resign from the NPP party and from the Government.

Yours truly,

David Brandt.

cc: Hon. Charles Kirnon : Hon. Lazelle Howes

This morning, Monday 28 February 1994, the Chief Minister delivered by hand a letter to the Governor to the effect that he had revoked Mr David Brandt's appointment as a Minister of Government.

In accordance with the Constitution, the Governor has acted on advice from the Chief Minister and has subsequently revoked Mr. David Brandt's appointment as the Minister for Communications, Works and Sports.

Later in the morning, the Governor received a letter from Mr David Brandt tendering his resignation as a Minister.

In an interview on Radio Antilles, Mr Brandt stated that the sequence of events presented by the governor's office and the government has been distorted to make it appear that he was fired instead of resigning.

Radio Montserrat, in its February 28th evening news broadcast stated that the "Chief minister, the honourable Reuben Meade fired his Communications, Works & Sports Minister, David Brandt this morning.

The Chief Minister's letter revoking Mr Brandt's appointment was delivered by hand to the Governor.

A letter to Mr Brandt from the Chief Minister informed him that his appointment as a Government Minister was revoked with immediate effect as of Monday February 28 1994.

The Chief Minister noted in his letter to Mr. Brandt that the other Ministers of Government and himself lost all confidence in his integrity and loyalty.

Mr Brandt's action in both public and private have been summized as being calculated to undermine public confidence in the Government and hinder the effective implementation of Government's projects and programmes."

Below is a copy of the Chief Minister's letter to Mr. Brandt.

Mr David Brandt

Minister of Communication and Works

Ministry of Works

Lovers Lane

Montserrat.

Dear Mr Brandt,

I write to inform you that I have informed His Excellency the Governor that your appointment as Minister of Government must be revoked with immediate effect from today Monday 28 February 1994.

The Ministers of Government and myself have lost all confidence in your integrity and your loyalty. Your actions in both public and private have been calculated to undermine public confidence in the Government and hinder the effective implementation of Government's projects and programmes.

His Excellency the Governor will advise you further with respect to this decision.

Sincerely,

Reuben T Meade

Chief Minister.

The text of the governor's letter to Mr Brandt follows:--

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

FRANCIS JOSEPH SAVAGE LVO, OBE

GOVERNOR OF THE COLONY OF MONTSERRAT

To: Mr David S Brandt

WHEREAS Section 12(3)(b) of the Constitution of Montserrat as set out in Schedule 2 to the Montserrat Constitution Order 1989 (S I 1988 No. 2401) provides that a Minister (other than the Chief Minister) and the member without portfolio shall also vacate his office if his appoin tment is revoked by the Governor in accordance with the advice of the Chief Minister by instrument under the public seal.

AND WHEREAS the Chief Minister Reuben T Meade has advised me that the appointment of David S Brandt Minister of Communications and Works be revoked.

I FRANCIS JOSEPH SAVAGE LVO OBE GOVERNOR of Montserrat do hereby order and it is hereby ordered by this instrument under the public seal that the appointment of David S. Brandt as Minister of Communications and Works is revoked with immediate effect.

Given under my hand at Government House under the public seal this 28th day of February 1994

GOVERNOR

On February 28, 1994, the governor announced the appointment of Mr Noel Tuitt, member for Eastern, as Minister for Communications and Works effective March 1, 1994.

From the time it became public knowledge that Mr Tuitt had crossed the floor, it was rumoured that he had 6 conditions that the government satisfy before he committed to them. These conditions were that:-

(1). Mr Tuitt be appointed deputy CM

(2). the CET be repealed

(3). the tax be taken off the Montserrat Building Society

(4). at least one beach be opened for sand mining

(5). the Montserrat Chamber of Commerce & Industry be consulted on all matters pertaining to finance

(6). an area of land in Tuitts be subdivided and developed.

At a press conference held at Radio Montserrat on March 1st, Mr Meade stated that there were no conditions attached to Mr Tuitt's crossing the floor.

When questioned on the matter, Mr Tuitt verified that there were no conditions for his appointment as a government minister.

"As ah walking in me sleep in the Desert of Truth, I stop to see what's happening. `Stop' and look around and see what we are doing to our Land!"

In Hawaii, there are nice green hills throughout the island. What happens when the clouds come in and meet those nice green hills, it "rains."

Those green hills soak up the water, resulting in a profusion of plant growth, so that if even a thrush drops a seed, it will grow and multiply.

"Paradise," is such a place, beautiful and bountiful.

However, they are building so many houses and roads all over those green hills, that it has resulted in too much heat, which drives away the clouds.

This results in less rain, making it become hot and dry. With the addition of swimming pools being built to cool off their now hot owners, more water is being drawn away from the water table, finally resulting in insufficient water to water their lawns.

Whenever it does rain, the water runs off fast, cutting up the land, causing immense soil erosion. The rivers become filled with silt and the coral and plankton in the sea are killed by all this brown mud. The natural cycle is broken and the dying starts.

First it is the coral, plankton and the fish. The island people who are accustomed to plenty, can't afford the land to build their homes and to grow their food, for land prices are so exorbitant, that the native population have ended up with nowhere to go.

Hungry families now have to live on the beaches in tents and makeshift houses.

What about Montserrat, which is similar geographically? Let us make the right choice now.

An example before us is "Paradise Estate." These green hills, with their dampness and rain make it ideal for agriculture for its beauty and bounty.

Once zoned or allocated for agriculture, and to be sold only to Montserratians, it is now being divided up by foreign interests and monies.

Why is this so? How did this come about? What funny stuff is going on here? This is a serious concern when a land which is aiming for independence, cannot now even grow its own food.

All of the good agricultural land is being sold for residential development and then what?

When the children of the future ask, "What happened to our island? Why is there no fish in the sea, no place to find food, no green hills, just a desert of houses?" What are we to reply?

After the money makers are long gone, will we hang our heads and say, we loved the almighty dollar more than this land the Almighty gave us to take care of?

The choice is ours to make now! We know what we must do and now is the time to do something about conserving the land for future generations.

We must call, write and petition our Ministers, Members of Parliament, our leaders and newspapers, to let our concerns be known.

It just takes one voice to be heard and it is as a hundred. You have the power to stop this!

Let us be completely independent in all our needs. This will take a great deal of thought and co-operative planning.

By putting The Almighty God Jehovah first, we will be successful in planning for the future children of Montserrat.