William Galloway
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Mr Editor,
One hates to flog a dead horse, but sometimes it works; at least it keeps buzzards and flies away. In reality, our leaders are asked many times to think on their feet, and we elect them because we think they are capable of performing such an act, at least in the the interest of us the voters.
One such situation occurred with the location of John Osborne Airport on Montserrat. I am not condemning the good gentlemen; not at all, for they fought for what we have and took what was deemed as the best value at the time. But hindsight is 20/20 and as the old folks say; "if I did know so always comes late".
There were two proposed sites and I can only assume that this one was the most feasible, but it lacks expansion capabilities and it is bookended by deep valleys. We are growing population wise and we do need the ability to expand for the future of the island.
Our politicians are selling themselves as strong intellectuals, but are they willing and capable of seeking of the help of the people that is required for the development of the island? Are they willing to stoop when needed, and beat their chest as they rise with the people on their shoulders carrying forward the charge of developing Montserrat? For that is what is going to be required to move our island forward not all this fast talk and irony.
We need a communicator with and for the people, not a dictator. We need visionaries. Now tell me are these men coming forward for elections equipped for the job, or are they just power hungry?
Montserrat was without an airport for almost 8 years. This is a major adjustment for a people who for over 60 plus years, since Diana back in 1928, did not face a natural disaster head on until Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Only to be greeted a few years later from 1995, with a volcanic disaster that destroyed two thirds of the island.
In 1998, the then British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, promised the then Chief Minister of Montserat, David Brandt an airport. The promise came to fruition under John Osborne's leadership in 2005. It was then named Gerald's airport. As a matter of fact, according to the Montserrat Reporter, in the planning stages, Gerald's airport was offered as temporary. The airport project manager was Mr. Claude Hogan. When building this airport, Mr. Hogan said, "We feel (we) will satisfy the medium and intermediate needs of Montserrat, which we see as some 10-15 years."
Under the Dr Lowell Lewis' leadership, the airport was renamed in his honour, as the John Osborne Airport.
The clock is ticking, The Honourable Premier, Rueben T Meade, is now at the helm and the next phase of leadership entitles the next premier of Montserrat to lay the ground work for real development. Are they ready to take Montserrat beyond the present status, a quantum leap that can get us into another progressive state?
Politics is about the future, our future, the people's future; not the past. The reality is not about what have you done for me lately, but what can you do for me. Tomorrow's children should never grow up to see our legacy is a road to no where. We can build a minuscule metropolis with proper planning and open minds
A proposal would've been to put the runway in Corkhill, build a bridge at a much higher safer point over the river linking Corkhill to Waterworks. After all a runway, and this is not simplifying the craft, is only a well built road. A decent bridge and the terminal could've been in Salem.
It's still not too late if Britain is willing to help. With a proper pitch we can peak a bit into the future, that too will be providing employment even for Montserratians who want to come home.
It is normal to be transported to and from terminals in many airports. A proper elevated bridge with a good span is not too much to ask. The contradictory likely story is, well if the volcano acts up, then what?
Well at present one sees the flow still goes down the river, thus there will be no interruption from what mainly are mudflows into the Belham region. In our present status, when the volcano acts up the plane cannot land anyway so that too will not change. The safety of the passengers and planes will not change. Corkhill is still a high point that needs investigating.
If we are blessed with a decent seaport and a fair to normal airport where we won't be penalized by limited landing and takeoff space, we can increase competition in airlines thereby decreasing strangulation and the monopoly on the Montserrat airline industry by Fly Montserrat.
This, I feel is a brilliant platform for the future. All that is needed to solidify that quantum leap is a decent hospital for the island so the people can live and not survive. This is not a tall order. We are just in need of some conscious politicians who have Montserrat at heart and not some selfish power hungry mindset. Someone with the vision to build the island. We have to manipulate our limitations to our advantage, throw out complacency and create a thriving economy.
Editor's Note: William Galloway is a freelance Editorial Contributor with MNI Alive: Global Caribbean Media
