Sorry for not posting something sooner but have been pretty busy and not had much time to spare.
Today is the day of the protest march. The islanders are protesting about the rise in import duty and the hike in electricity and water prices. It started at around 11am at the top of the town and is due to reach the castle and courthouse around 12pm when a number of speeches and a petition will be handed to the governor of the island.
Out of the 12 councillors, only 1 voted against the duty increases and I am sure will be at the front of the march.
I predict around 500 people could march if not more. The duty increases effect everyone on the island and so a lot of islanders are upset.
I think it's the first major event like this to happen in this peaceful island.
Time is now running very short for me on the island, only 8 days of work left, 2 of which are report writing training on monday and tuesday. The available days are effected by a number of bank holidays.
The project is still running smoothly though which is a good sign and more or less on track.
Next week (Thursday - Queens Birthday - Bank Holiday) I have an invite to plantation house (where the governor lives) for a garden party. Should be nice if the weather behaves itself.
This weekend has so far involved the usual Friday night at donnys, dinner at the pink flamingo and a few drinks with my colleagues from the finance department here. Very pleasant evening indeed.
Then this morning at 5.30 I had to get up to watch the Chinese grand prix qualifying, and try to retrieve my laptop from the castle as left it there overnight running a routine, but the castle is all locked up due to the march.
Tomorrow is the main chinese grand prix race at 6am, then sailing with Ann on her yacht and dinner out at a place called farm lodge with all the guys I have been working with at the government. So quite a full day tomorrow.
On a sad note, a 10 year old islander died on the RMS on his way to south Africa for treatment this week. When the island hospital cannot offer any more in terms of treatment or specialist doctors and equipment, patients are sent over to cape town by boat for special medical care. He was the nephew of someone I have been working with. Very sad indeed :-(
Giles
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