An outspoken lawyer and legislator, Mr David Brandt, was sworn in as Montserrat's new Chief Minister yesterday on the eve of the expected evacuation of half the remaining residents of the volcano-troubled island. Mr Brandt, who was elected to the British colony's eight-member legislature last November, took the oath of office from Governor Frank Savage during a brief ceremony at the governor's office, an official said. He replaced Mr Bertrand Osborne, who resigned abruptly on Thursday amid criticism of his handling of the volcano crisis.
Authorities said the evacuation programme, which was expected to take up to half of the remaining 4,000 to 5,000 residents off the island, would begin today.
Criticism has continued to mount over the British government's response to the volcanic eruptions on the Caribbean island.
The Labour MP, Mr Bernie Grant, yesterday called for a parliamentary inquiry into the "shabby" treatement of the islanders. "I think that this is a real shabby end of the British colonial empire and I believe they have been treated disgustingly," said Mr Grant, head of the parliamentary group on the Caribbean islands. Earlier yesterday, Mr Savage, said that additional aid was needed for residents who have decided to leave the island. "There is more to be done as needs become apparent," Mr Savage told the BBC.
He said most islanders would face the expense of relocating and that this had not yet been included in the British government's offer of aid.
Mr Savage also admitted that help had been slow in coming.
On Thursday, the British government presented an aid package, including a pledge to pay the equivalent of six months' average salary to Montserrat residents who leave for another Caribbean island.
However, the offer has only added to the anger of residents exasperated at what they see as official inaction and lack of preparation for the series of eruptions that have occurred since June 25th, killing 19 people and forcing people to leave the main town, Plymouth, for their safety.
Britain's International Development Secretary, Ms Clare Short, vigorously defended the aid package yesterday, saying that "money does grow on trees".
Meanwhile, Britain has agreed to give Antigua immediate help to cope with refugees fleeing Montserrat, according to the Antiguan High Commissioner in London, Mr Ronald Sanders.
He said Ms Short had responded favourably to his request for assistance. But he added that the need for help with the longer-term problems with housing and health care remained urgent, as the small country struggles to cater for more than 4,000 Montserratians who have arrived since 1995.
Britain is to send a senior official to Antigua next week to assess the need for further practical assistance.