28.08.1997

Short shrift for Montserratians

As we approach the new millennium, the spirit of the British empire limps on, and the inhabitants of the Caribbean island of Montserrat are not happy about it. For good reason.

It is wonderfully ironic that Clare Short, who many have insisted is a ‘good leftwinger’, has become the focus of anti-British anger. In the space of a few days she has upset almost the entire remaining population of Montserrat, one of 12 surviving British dependencies, with her insulting and patronising remarks. Even The Times, hardly renowned for its anti-imperialist sympathies, has been shocked by Short’s high-handed, imperial approach: “Ms Short has shown all the sympathy to those in difficulty of the flintiest Victorian treasury mandarin towards the victims of the Irish Famine” - and when she announced that she could not visit Monsterrat because of prior engagements in Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Africa, it accused her of behaving like an “overpressed duchess” (August 22).

It is hardly surprising that the islanders are in revolt. Short’s attitude contrasts sharply with George Faulkes’, her deputy minister. On Monday last week he warned about the possibility of a “massive, cataclysmic-intensive eruption” of the Soufriere Hills volcano. This is something to worry about. The last time there was a “massive, cataclysmic-intensive eruption”, it completely obliterated the neighbouring island of Martinique. Only two of its 28,000 inhabitants survived. Since the Soufriere volcano started smouldering two years ago, half the population has fled.

But the response of its colonial ‘protector’ has been a joke. The 5,000 residents penned in the northern corner are living in miserable conditions - many have been forced to sleep in their cars, with no sanitary or medical facilities. The much promised resettlement programme of £41 millions appears to have disappeared into the bureaucratic ether. Indeed, the Treasury seems to be playing for time - and Short’s comments about being “prudent” and “responsible” with regards to her departmental budget only back up this suspicion.

To add insult to injury, the British government has offered the paltry sum of £2,500 to cover six months average wages to individuals who have lost everything, and have had to flee to the UK. Some residents, so dire is their situation, have had to pay for their own flight costs - which can amount to almost £1,700. If and when they manage to get to the UK their residency status is unsure, even though they are technically UK citizens. After all that, more often than not they end up in sub-standard temporary accommodation, never sure that their benefits will not suddenly dry up as part of Gordon Brown’s commitment to stay within Tory public spending levels. And if they did return to Montserrat, which is the overwhelming wish of the islanders, what is there to return to? A large chunk of the island has been obliterated, their homes have been destroyed, the infrastructure wrecked - and who is going to pay for the massive rebuilding programme?

Amidst all this turmoil and suffering, Short had the cheek to praise the “calm and stoical” islanders while they were being beaten up by riot police - the first time such an event had occurred on the island. She then changed her mind and like any good imperialist blamed “troublemakers” and “hot heads” for instigating the riot, claiming that she recognised the “same old faces” at every demonstration and protest. Next she accused David Brandt, the new chief minister of Montserrat, of “misleading islanders” about compensation. The icing on the cake came with remarks about the destitute and impoverished islanders expecting “golden elephants” - ie, somewhere to live and some money to live on. 

Communists demand a full resettlement programme for the islanders, and real compensation, not the derisory amount offered by Short and her colonial minions. The inhabitants of Montserrat should not have to pay for the failures and incompetence of British colonialism/imperialism.

Paul Greenaway