Montserrat Today
For Monday/Tuesday March 02/03, 1998
Presented by the Information Unit of the
Government of Montserrat's Emergency Department
THE VOLCANIC EXPLANATION:
The activity at the Soufriere Hills Volcano has been at a low level for the last few days. Both earthquake and rockfall signals have reduced and dust levels are low at most monitoring stations.
MVO staff have re-established a continuous GPS station at Whites, this in a collaborative effort with the University of Puerto Rico.
Low cloud cover has prevented any visual sightings of the dome over the last few days.
NEW HEAD SCIENTIST AT MVO:
A new Head Scientist takes over at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) from today. Dr Keith Rowley from Trinidad takes over from Mr Richie Robertson who has just completed a two month stint at the MVO.
NEW VISITING POLICY AT MVO:
The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) have announced a new visiting policy to their site at Mongo Hill in Montserrat.
>From March 1st visitors to the Observatory will be accommodated in the afternoons only Monday to Friday from 1 pm to 3 pm. The new visiting schedule is to try to eliminate disruption to work caused by frequent unscheduled visits.
Group visits to the MVO can be accommodated but organisors should phone in advance at 664 491 5647 to make arrangements.
CDERA WORKSHOP NEXT WEEK:
The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) under its DERMS project is organising a workshop "Volcanic Contingency Planning" to be held in Antigua next week.
The workshop will use the Montserrat experience to illustrate the topic. Several members of the Emergency Departments staff will attend the workshop at varying times next week to make presentations to course participants being drawn from several Caribbean volcanic islands.
One of the days of the workshop will be spent in Montserrat examining on the ground several aspects of the Emergency Dept's response to the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano. The workshop is expected to draw about 20 participants.
WORKSHOP FOR FISHERMEN:
The Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture has announced a workshop in fishnet repairs for the island's fishermen.
A number of fishermen are still operating from Carr's Bay in the north of the island and the workshop will target these.
RED CROSS PROGRAMME IN ANTIGUA CONTINUES:
The Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross continue to assist Montserratians relocated there.
Later this week the Red Cross will distribute new beds to Montserratians who have registered from funds provided by CIDA. In addition any Montserratian relocated child currently receiving food vouchers in Antigua is eligible to receive assistance for school supplies in the form of a voucher to be redeemed at school supply shops in Antigua.
Registration for this project, also funded by CIDA, will be open at the Red Cross office on Old Parham Road, St John's, Antigua until March 30th 1998.
More information later in the week...........................