News

The Anguilla Summer Festival is on, having commenced on Thursday, July 28, with a series of carnival activities at Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre, on the streets in the Valley, boat-racing and other events over the ensuing holiday week.

A press release announcing that His Excellency Governor Alan Huckle is to leave here to take up an appointment in the Falkland Islands has taken the people of Anguilla by surprise. He arrived on the island on May 27, 2004 and was expected to have remained for at least four years.

Anguilla’s Overseas Marketing Representatives have been updated on the new tourism initiatives now being embarked upon as the island continues to develop its hospitality industry at the upper end of the market.

As the hurricane season progresses, Anguilla is now taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of the island and a speedy restoration in the event of a serious storm.

The maritime boundary between Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands has now been formally established, ending a longstanding matter between the Governments of the two territories.

Professionals in the public and private sectors in Anguilla crowded the new b-mobile store at Cable and Wireless on Tuesday, July 12, for a presentation on an advanced technological system called BlackBerry designed “to make life easier.”

Over forty employees mainly in the tourism industry were presented with certificates following their completion of various human resource development courses held in Anguilla. The awards ceremony took place at the conference room of the Anguilla Tourist Board on Tuesday, July 5.

The Anguilla chefs who competed in the Taste of the Caribbean competition, at the Hyatt Regency in Miami on Tuesday, June 29th, did quite well. They won the award for the most “innovative Caribbean menu” to the applause of their cheerleaders. In the overall competition they received a Silver Award.

General Manager of Cap Juluca Resort in Anguilla, Eustace Guishard, is the recipient of the 2005 prestigious Caribbean Hotelier of the Year Award called the Golden Conch Award.

According to Mr. Darwin Hazell, Principal of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School, seventy-five percent of the sixth form students were qualified to graduate on Tuesday 28th June, 2005. The graduation ceremony took place at the Teachers’ Resource Centre.

One day, the Fountain Cavern, a ceremonial place of worship for the early inhabitants of Anguilla and their visiting Amerindian friends from neighbouring islands, may become one of the most preserved and developed tourist attractions in the region. It will also be remembered as a place when the more modern inhabitants braved the steep decline to fetch buckets of water from the fresh springs on the floor of the coral cave at Shoal Bay North.

More than 100 young people, fresh from completing their final exams at the Comprehensive School, attended the Second Annual School Leavers Seminar at the House of Chandeliers on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

The Anguilla Electricity Company (ANGLEC) has embarked on a number of projects aimed at ensuring that the utility keeps ahead of the high demand for electricity, which is being caused by several projects now under construction.

On Monday, June 13, Governor and Mrs. Alan Huckle took on the double task of hosting a mass reception and a flag ceremony on the grounds of Government House, the Queen Birthday Parade at the Ronald Webster Park having been put aside this year. The parade usually follows close on the heels of Anguilla Day when Anguillians celebrate the island’s May 30, 1967 Revolution.

A two-day Occupational Health and Safety Workshop has emphasised a call for a system whereby workers who sustain injuries on the job can receive certain compensatory benefits.

Acting Chief Minister, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Victor Banks, told a large gathering that Government has to stagger the implementation of various projects or risk a massive importation of labour. He was at the time delivering an address at the Anguilla Day celebrations at the Ronald Webster Park on Monday, May 30.

The High Court began sitting in Anguilla on Thursday, June 2, in its criminal jurisdiction.

A new school building is being proposed for Island Harbour. This was one of the matters discussed there between a team of Government Ministers, other officials and teachers this week.

As Anguilla observes the 38th Anniversary of its 1967 Revolution, which resulted in a considerable amount of economic growth and transformation, Government representatives and the people are discussing the biggest proposed development project so far which is now heading for approval. It is the Junks Hole Estate Tourism Project which, when completed, will double the present number of hotel rooms on the island.

The passage of a Bill for The Mutual Legal Assistance (Tax Matters) Act, 2005 was delayed in the Anguilla House of Assembly on Tuesday, May 24, following strong objections by two members. The draft legislation was however taken back to the House on Thursday afternoon, May 26, for further consideration.