Short blames Montserrat government

London - Delays in handling the crisis on the volcanostricken Caribbean island of Montserrat were due to mistakes by its own …

London - Delays in handling the crisis on the volcanostricken Caribbean island of Montserrat were due to mistakes by its own government, the UK International Development Secretary, Ms Clare Short, said yesterday.

She said the island's leaders failed to respond with details of projects once she had approved financial aid for them.

And she said islanders insisted on big projects such as an airport and a prison, even though people were living in poor conditions.