Montserrat Today
For Monday/Tuesday March 30/31, 1998
Presented by the Information Unit of the
Government of Montserrat's Emergency Department
THE VOLCANIC EXPLANATION:
The activity at the Soufriere Hills Volcano over the weekend has remained at a low level with just a few hybrid earthquakes and small rockfall signals..
On Sunday, a light ash plume was observed from the Geralds heliport and it reached a height of approx 12,000 feet. Dust levels for the weekend at all monitoring stations have been low.
This morning (Monday) the dome is covered by low cloud cover.
HIGH COURT STARTS TODAY:
The March Assizes start today in Olveston. There has been no sitting of the High Court since last year and this week, eleven cases including one of murder will be heard.
MEETINGS IN ANTIGUA AND ST KITTS/NEVIS:
Over the past week there have been meetings with the Montserrat Communities in Antigua and St Kitts/Nevis.
In Antigua, H.E. The Governor Mr Anthony Abbott and the Hon. Chief Minister Mr David S. Brandt addressed Montserratians living there and in St Kitts/Nevis, the Hon Minister of Communications & Works Mr Rupert Weekes carried out a similar exercise.
Some Montserratians are experiencing difficulties in finding work on these islands and are complaining of the high cost of living especially in the cost of rent.
PLAN TO RESCUE CATTLE IN LONG GROUND:
It has been reported from helicopter overflights of the Long Ground area that in the region of 60 to 70 cattle are still ranging the area.
The Ministry of Agriculture, local farmers, the MVO and police officials are meeting in an effort to plan an operation to rescue the cattle from the area whilst the current low actiity period is taking place at the volcano.
The plan would call for the cattle to be driven down to the coastline and then drive them up the beach to the Pelican Ghaut area. The pyroclastic flows in the Trants area are still hot and therefore an overland route is not possible.
Meantime plans are still being developed with Dominica to ship a substantial number of live head of cattle to that Windward Island.
AREAS 1 & 2 SURVEY:
The survey of areas 1 and 2 on the Montserrat risk map by Search & Rescue teams continued over the weekend.
On completion, every household and business place in areas 1 to 4 on the map (the areas still being occupied) will have been visited to check occupancy. Checks of Areas 3 and 4 have already been completed.
The reason for the survey is so that authorities will have the information as to occupency levels in the unlikely event that an off island evacuation is called.
More information later in the week...........................