News

Young people from various parts of the Caribbean and Anguilla, on Wednesday this week, climaxed the 7th Regional Youth Camp hosted by the local Red Cross with a march in the central and upper areas of The Valley.

Three members of the Canadian Teaching Federation (CTF) are assisting the Anguilla Teachers’ Union (ATU) in conducting a series of workshops for teachers at primary and secondary levels over a two-week period which began on Monday, July 12.

The 2010 Caribbean Commercial Bank-sponsored Female Football League has ended with a prize-giving ceremony at the Rodney McArthur Rey Auditorium.

The participating football clubs were the Lil’ Soldiers, Shining Stars, Gazelles, Super Stars and De Youngsters.

A crowded Bethel Methodist Church at South Hill, with persons in attendance from Anguilla and various regional islands, paid special tribute to Rev. Dr. Serchal Wilfred Hodge, and Mrs. Jean Hodge, who celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on Wednesday, July 14.

Pilots approaching the airstrip in Anguilla now have a new announcement to make to Air Traffic Controllers. It is: “Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, we are inbound.” The new name is also being used by Immigration Officers welcoming visitors arriving on the island by air. The change of name was officially made on Sunday, July 4, in place of “Wallbalke Airport” by which it was known over the many years of its commercial operations, merely because of its estate location.

Although there had been rumours about an impending switch from the Opposition side of the Anguilla House of Assembly by the lone Anguilla Progressive Party (APP) Elected Member, Jerome Roberts, to join the ruling Anguilla United Movement Government, he stunned the public when in fact he walked across the aisle on Monday, June 28.

The original unbalanced 2010 Budget to finance the public services of Anguilla, based on revenue amounting to 172.7 million dollars, and was approved in the House of Assembly in April, but rejected by the previous British Government, has been substantially revised. In its place, a new budget, but with a greater deficit, was presented on Monday, June 21, by Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, the Hon. Hubert Hughes.

Governor Alistair Harrison, speaking largely on Good Governance, an area of his constitutional responsibilities, has stressed the need for Anguilla to have government structures capable of taking the necessary policy decisions openly, efficiently and promptly; has stressed that Anguilla should be a functioning democracy, governed for the people and by the people; and that the public and private sectors should be free of corruption and dishonesty.

Many young and active blood donors in Anguilla, comprising members of the public and health workers, were awarded Certificates of Appreciation on Tuesday this week and were referred to as ‘quiet heroes/heroines’ for their voluntary service.
The award ceremony was held at the Princess Alexandra Hospital Laboratory in observance of World Blood Donor Day on June 14, under the theme “Celebrating the gift of blood.”

The Government and people of Anguilla are to receive a gift of a US$500,000 operational Fire Service vehicle from the Government of Bermuda, showing how there can be a spirit of cooperation and assistance between one Overseas Territory and another in times of need.

The Anguilla Community College, which has already turned out a number of graduates in the hospitality industry, has reached another milestone with the appointment of its first President, in the person of Professor Delroy Louden. His selection for the high-profile job was announced on Monday this week by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Social Development, the Hon. Edison Baird.

While all of its Caribbean neighbours followed their normal work and way of life routine on Monday, May 31, Anguilla celebrated in grand style the 43rd Anniversary of its 1967 revolution in which it broke its political and constitutional links with St. Kitts-Nevis and set out on a long journey to self-determination and separation.

A large crowd, representing all cross-sections of the Anguillian public, took up every available space at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on Tuesday evening, for a national consultation on a far-reaching Education Bill 2010 which is to go before the House of Assembly for passage in due course.

Anguilla’s Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Social Development, the Hon. Edison Baird, is awaiting a report from an Advisory Committee on how to dismantle the Health Authority and what mechanism can be used to effectively place it under the administration of the Government.

At 45, newly-appointed Commissioner of Police, Rudolph Proctor, is one of the youngest Anguillian to head the island’s law enforcement agency. Known to be a keen sportsman and to have come from a humble background in the Farrington Village, he has 27 years of policing and a high degree of training and experience. Though steeped in humility, the popular lawman told reporters that he could be tough when his job demanded it, but quite open and understanding when that posture was required. (He succeeds Mr. Keithly Benjamin who retired at the end of April and took up a new appointment as Junior Magistrate.)

Some 30 delegates from the United Kingdom, the UK Crown Dependencies and the UK Overseas Territories, which operate shipping registers, as well as various stakeholders in Anguilla, met at Paradise Cove from May 10-14 this week. It was the first conference of the Red Ensign Group (REG) to be hosted in Anguilla.

The Anguilla Government has expanded the island’s ship registry which, while strengthening its marine regulations, will increase financial activity in this sector, thus attracting more local revenue and providing linkages to other fiscal areas.

The Government of Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes, has signed an agreement with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for the preparation of a Sustainable Tourism Master Plan for Anguilla. The plan will be funded through a grant of US$150,000 from the bank’s Special Resources Fund.

Thanks to an amendment to the Financial Administration and Audit Act and the cooperation yeas of all seven Elected Government and Opposition Members, and the Parliamentary Secretary, a shutdown of the Anguilla Treasury on Friday, April 30, under the parent Act, was averted.

The 2010 Budget Address of the Anguilla United Movement in Anguilla, dubbed “Operation Recovery,” was presented in the House of Assembly on Friday, April 23, in the presence of a large number of invited guests and the Budget Debate began on Tuesday this week.