Columns

Since Sylvia and I were both attracted to beaches and warm sunshine, we began looking to the Caribbean for our winter vacations. We had tried Florida in the winter, the Sanibel Island area, but found it to be crowded and the weather often “iffy”.

The article entitled, “We Can Shape Anguilla’s Political Future”, written by Hayden Hughes and featured in the February 28th issue of The Anguillan, is worthy of commendation. Apart from making his readers aware of the prospects of national independence, Mr. Hughes referred to the spate of criticisms that have been leveled against the Anguilla Independence Movement (AIM) since its inception. Besides, he has been careful to outline the circumstances surrounding past efforts which noteworthy patriots of Anguilla have made in attempting to chart our course towards prospective self-determination.

The plan to raise a section of the main road bordering the East End Pond, by some two feet, was recently the cause of much concern to the residents of the area. They felt that raising the road would interrupt the natural flow of water, from the surrounding hills and slopes, into the pond and that the backup water would flood the nearby homes.

The immaculate white, epaulet-adorned shirt, crisp black trousers, highly shined shoes and completely shaved head of Anguilla’s newest Police Commissioner, Keithly Benjamin, contrasts starkly with the three-quarter length jeans, rude boy shirt and dreadlocks hat ensemble of Shatta Ranks, the character portrayed by Commissioner Benjamin in the play staged by the Royal Anguilla Police Force during Police Week 2003. If you know him well, you know that amateur theatre is the new Commissioner’s passion. However, the cup awarded to him for Most Outstanding Domino Player, the guitar, the newly acquired golf club that are present in his office and the earphones ready to check the cricket score are to some of his other interests. Adorning his office walls and right where he can reflect on them on a daily basis are the framed mission, motto, objectives and vision statements of the Force that he now heads.

Menorrhagia or heavy menstrual bleeding is one of the commonest causes of concern for health in women. This disorder is a common reason for women seeing their gynaecologist and is a source of tremendous discomfort and inconvenience.

One does not have to be qualified as a conscientious rocket scientist, nor exercise the solemn duties of a priest in a long white robe, to understand that this world is facing some really pitiful times. And for those who are so relaxed and naïve enough not to be shaken or alert about these troubling, awful perils, they themselves may deserve to be the object of our discriminating pity for being so oblivious to the significance of increasing global dilemmas. Evidences of tragic events inundate the media: CNN, CBS, ABC, BBC,The Times and The Herald all serve as agents which provide us with discomforting reports of gruesome real-life tales.

The Anguillian Independence Movement has endured more criticism than any of
the political leaders and political parties on the island. This we endure, though we are not seeking political office. For those who forgot why we came into existence, we would like to reiterate the reasons. As you all know, we are a non-partisan movement geared towards the social, political and economic advancement of Anguilla.

The one-day information seminar for Caribbean media professionals held by the European Commission in Barbados on Tuesday 19th can be aptly described as a crash course on the European Union and its operations in the Eastern Caribbean.

In my story “Becoming A Belonger In Anguilla,” published in this newspaper last June, I explained that since islanders relied upon their cisterns for water, it was very important that rains come along periodically so that they have enough water for personal use.

Health sector officials in Anguilla remain concerned about the increasing number of cases of gastroenteritis in recent weeks.

At the 29th January opening of the first meeting of the House of Assembly for 2003, the Honourable Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, pledged to set the moral tone for its debates. He refused to be drawn into any dog fight with the Honourable Leader of the Opposition, Hubert Hughes, who now seems bent on picking fight with the Honourable Eric Reid. When the Speaker (Roy Rogers) asked him why he was annoying Eric he replied: “Mr Speaker, I do not like to see his face!” Hubert then went on to remind Eric about August 1986 when he (Eric) floored him, with a left, in the House. Eric shot back: “This time you will get a kick right in your mouth!”

The largest number of black people I have ever seen in one place was during the carnival parade on Eastern Parkway on Labour Day in Brooklyn several years ago. The crowd that year was estimated at over two million and it was the first time that I thought seriously about the impact that Caribbean people in diaspora can have on their adopted countries. The Labour Day carnival was dominated by the Trinidadians and the Guyanese but everybody was there. That year, North Sound Brass was part of the parade and since Anguilla did not have its own booth on the Parkway, there we were hanging around the St. Kitts booth, seeming oblivious of the historical relations between our islands. That made laugh.

The number of people diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus in Anguilla has alarmingly increased in the last twenty years. Diabetic foot problems are common complications in uncontrolled diabetes. Diabetic foot problems are the cause of considerable sickness and even death here in Anguilla.

In a small society like ours when anybody dies, everybody feels the loss. This is especially so when one of our young people is suddenly snatched from us. I refer in this instance to the sad passing of Loraine Brooks on 13th January while in the service of her country. She was a truly remarkable and wonderful young lady who was always radiant and happy and in so doing made everyone who came into contact with her happy. May she rest in peace. To the members of the bereaved family, including my friend Kimi, I extend heartfelt sympathy.

These days I have been giving thanks and Ises to JAH more than ever for those years of poverty in Jamaica. They have prepared me very well for these days in Anguilla and those to come when more and more of us will be living han’ to mout, buying food as we get a little money and having bills mount as they’ve never mounted before. In a meeting held on Tuesday to discuss youth policy, when I learned that inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison receive free medical attention, I immediately asked the other participants to tell the police where to meet me burning a spliff that afternoon.

Ishaemic heart disease is a major cause of death in many countries including Anguilla. The most common clinical manifestations of ishaemic heart disease are myocardial infarction, sudden death and angina pectoris.

When I became a member of staff at the Anguilla National Trust in January 1996, it struck me immediately that public relations would be an important part of my job even though that was not explicitly stated in my job description. Therefore when Mary Walker and her husband Eugene stepped through the door for what was to be our first of many productive meetings, I heard their American accents and immediately began my PR spiel, which the Walkers politely tolerated. I was totally embarrassed when the then Director of the Trust introduced them as friends of Anguilla who had been visiting the island on an annual basis for some time and more so when I found out that in some regards they knew more about Anguilla than I did. It was from Mary’s Anguilla Flora Project that we learned so much about the plants growing on our island and from this project, the Anguilla National Trust has been able to share categorised plant lists with students, developers, consultants, government agencies and others.

This eating disorder is also referred to as Bulimia affects mainly young females, and can take a heavy toll on patients and their families. Bulimia is a very serious disorder and can result in death.

Clocks chimed; watches beeped; and church bells pealed to give special significance to the adage, “out with the old, in with the new”. Before we knew it, we were traversing the threshold of time and entering the doorway of a new era, 2003. Like the passing of a familiar friend, 2002 is forever gone.

The hallmark of our celebration of the Christmas season was a heightened spirit of community. This was evident by the many community Christmas trees which lit up the different villages. And there was merriment everywhere as people partied in their homes and night clubs. Some danced as if nobody was looking. Others danced liked they never danced before. And there was one pastor who really threw himself away as he wined to the popular song Wine Up On Mi Curry. It was his way of expressing the joy of Christmas.