Montserrat: the waiting continues

Evacuation Delay Sparks Anger in Montserrat

Those who remain on the island -- a British Dependent Territory -- want full details of Government plans to compensate them for the loss of their homes and livelihoods. Experts are predicting yet another eruption from the Soufriere Hills volcano which will make conditions for those who remain even worse.

The Government has promised more help with transport, temporary housing and passage to Britain for Montserratians. But feelings are running high among the remaining residents because full details of financial aid have not been given.

Frank Savage:

"The people are waiting for details from London"

The Government says a decision will be made on additional assistance after talks with other countries in the region who may be prepared to accept people for longer-term resettlement. This option is favoured by a great many Montserratians, and the Island's Governor, Frank Savage, told the BBC that people should be given a choice.

The International Development Secretary, Clare Short, had announced that the Government would start the voluntary evacuation of Montserrat on Wednesday.

"People will be housed temporarily on Antigua and then we will provide assistance to either come to Britain or to settle on a neighbouring island or elsewhere," Ms Short said.

The Minister paid tribute to the people of Montserrat who had been "remarkably stoical and calm" throughout the crisis. But she warned: "The scientific evidence is now that much more of the island is at risk than they first thought."

Clare Short: There will be no forced evacuation
Dur: 2'32"

Most of Montserrat's 11,000 inhabitants have already fled, but about 4,000 remain. Government officials say that they do not intend to force anybody to leave the island, but plans have now been worked out to evacuate those who wish to leave.

A paradise goes up in smoke

The Royal Navy's H.M.S. Liverpool is on stand-by off the Montserrat coast ready to help with the evacuation. The volcano became active in July 1995 and killed at least 10 people in a violent eruption on June 25 this year.

Over the weekend, the island's administration had ordered the evacuation of several towns in the centre of Montserrat. Only the northern tip of the island is considered to be relatively safe. Scientists however warn that a "cataclysmic-intensive eruption" of the island's volcano could be imminent.

A town no more

The Montserrat Red Cross reported a mood of "restlessness" among those still on the island. "People are uncertain about what to do," said Lystra Osborne, director of the Red Cross on the island.

Emergency living accommodation has been condemned as inadequate, while raw sewage has been dumped in the sea and health care is described as scanty.