News

A group of prison inmates in Anguilla posed with delight for a press photograph this week as they prepared for a Small Business Basic Skills workshop being delivered under the auspices of the Anguilla Development Board (ADB).

Digicel has become the new platinum sponsor of the Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant, which has been established by a group of organisers in Anguilla who formerly produced the Miss Leeward Islands Talented Teen Pageant.

In her Commonwealth Day Message, on March 13, Queen Elizabeth delivered a message on health and vitality, saying that good health was a precious gift although many people did not share in it.

Cleophus Gumbs of Little Dix is a well-known figure on the local political scene and an advocate for steering Anguilla in the right course. He is also making another name for himself by revolutionalising the stone-cutting business for the construction industry in a big way.

As Anguillians seek constitutional and electoral reform, they have been advised to put their case well and to place the tough issues at the forefront. The advice has come from Gerard Farara QC of Tortola, a noted legal luminary in the region. He was one of three highly-distinguished gentlemen who were invited to Anguilla to speak at the first public meeting of the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission held at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on Saturday night, March 4. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Chairman Claudel Romney in the absence of the Chairman, Justice Don Mitchell, CBE, QC.

Revolutionary Leader, Ronald Webster, says Anguilla is in a superior economic position when compared with other Caribbean territories, but notes that like the pattern of the world, the island is rapidly changing.

The Anguilla Police issued a release on Wednesday, expressing concern over the disappearance of Anguillian Louvan Rathburn Webster Jr. (Lu Lu) aged 22, of White Hill, Mount Fortune.

As a fitting tribute to the success of the National Bank of Anguilla over the past 21 years of its existence, a painting of the Group of Promoters was unveiled in the Bank’s Board Room on Wednesday, March 8.

The steady fleet of executive jets flying into Wallblake Airport from the United States and other parts of the world, following the extension of the runway just over a year ago, has been accentuated by the landing of a Boeing 737-200 jet on a direct chartered flight from La Guardia, New York.

Minister of Finance, Victor Banks, told the House of Assembly on Tuesday, February 21, that the Anguilla Government had worked extremely hard to ensure that in terms of national development, the administration could achieve its objective of creating a level of independence in financial matters.

The Anguilla Development Board (ADB) is to borrow five million Eastern Caribbean dollars from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for on-lending to Anguillians to finance various private-sector projects as well as educational opportunities. A Motion to this effect is to be introduced in the island’s House of Assembly for ratification by Minister of Finance, Victor Banks on Tuesday, February 21.

The people of Anguilla are once again caught up in a constitutional and electoral review following the Government’s decision to reinvigorate the process which was started by a previous committee under the chairmanship of David Carty.

The largest and most ambitious public sector infrastructure project to be undertaken by the Anguilla Government is to be a seaport development taking in Road Bay, Blowing Point and Corito, each area to have its own facilities and functions. While the bigger portions of the project will not start until the next few years, the groundwork is already being laid with the appointment of the Anguilla Port Development Project Board to advise on the way forward and later to oversee the implementation of the project.

Policy matters relating to security cooperation between Anguilla and St. Martin/St. Maarten were the main subjects discussed at a tripartite meeting involving top level officials from the islands on Tuesday this week. They met in the Executive Council Chambers at the Governor’s Office in Anguilla.

A number of young Anguillian athletes of school age, are expected to make their island proud when they participate, over the coming months, in a number of award-winning competitions on the regional and international scene. Not only are they being vigorously trained by a number of local persons, with excellent backgrounds in sports, but two highly experienced and recognised Cuban coaches and former athletes have been brought to Anguilla until February 12 to assist with the training of the youngsters at the Ronald Webster Park.

Farmers in Anguilla breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday, January 18, when two tractors and arrange of equipment were handed over by the Governor’s Office and the Anguilla Government.

Anyone visiting or passing through the Passenger Ferry Terminal at Blowing Point will like what they see: a security facility to protect the Anguillian homeland as well as to upgrade and beautify the port. There has been a 30-foot extension to the building providing two wide walkways for passengers approaching the attractive Immigration and Customs counters and there is also a walk through detection scanner and alarm system.

As more and more people continue to fly direct to Anguilla on private executive jets from the United States, Europe and even far away places like Russia, the parking space at Wallblake Airport has become a matter to think about.

I wish to extend a prosperous and happy new year to everyone living within as well as without the boundaries of Anguilla. Firstly, I must express my gratitude to the Almighty for bringing us into a good land. I am delighted that even our critics are now applauding the dawning of this new day in Anguilla.

The Christmas Season is here again and there is much activity throughout Anguilla. Of particular note is the special festive lighting and effigies of the Nativity.