Members of the Bermuda Regiment could be in Montserrat this weekend to help aid workers and members of the local defence forces to restore some normalcy, it emerged yesterday.

Government has approved funding for the move which could see as many as 15 soldiers making the trip.

Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness confirmed Government had given its approval for the Regiment to go to Montserrat and they had made the money available.

"Right now the Colonel of the Regiment is liaising with his counterpart in the Montserrat Defence Force,'' Mr. Edness said.

"The Regiment is also working out arrangements for the soldiers to travel to Montserrat either in an Air Force plane or a commercial jet. They will probably be out of here by the weekend.'' Bermuda Regiment commanding officer Lt. Col. David Burch said he was awaiting a response from the Monserrat Defence Force.

"I intend to talk directly with them about what they want us to do. We will try to match skills to tasks,'' he said. "We could be ready to go this weekend but it all depends on whether we can be accommodated.

"Government House is trying to see if there is a Royal Air Force plane flying by us that can take us down. Failing that, it will be a commercial jet.'' Meanwhile frustrated Montserrat residents protested outside the Governor's office yesterday, demanding details of a plan to evacuate the volcano-stricken island.

The government announced that registration for the voluntary evacuation would begin today and the Royal Navy said it had completed preparations to take as many as 700 residents a day off the island by ferry.

As criticism mounted in the troubled British colony and neighboring islands, a handful of refugees reached Antigua, 25 miles to the northeast, where housing facilities are stretched to the breaking point.

The Soufriere Hills volcano was relatively quiet yesterday but occasionally belched ash clouds and seismic activity remained at a high level, scientists said. Full story: Page 7