News

The Annual Overseas Territories Consultative Conference involving Ministers and officials from the Overseas Territories and the British Government will be taking place in London next week. The Anguilla Government will be represented by Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming, whose delegation includes Minister of Finance, Victor Banks, Opposition Member Edison Baird, Foster Rogers, Permanent Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office, and Public Relations Adviser, Curtis Richardson.

The ramp for executive jets flying into Wallblake Airport in Anguilla from the North-eastern United States in particular has been crowded over the past several days. The special occasion was the US Thanksgiving holiday week during which a number of American’s “rich and famous,” including actors and former US Vice President, Al Gore, were guests at various hotels and villas on the island.

A cultural fair, which featured string band music, local foods and preserves, art work and various other items of craft, marked the official opening of Tourism Week in Anguilla on Saturday, November 24, under the theme: The Anguilla Experience: Managing Change. The impressive display was held on the grounds of the Caribbean Commercial Complex in The Valley.

Over 150 persons drawn mainly from the hospitality sector, and to some extent from other places of employment, are now equipped to perform better in their various jobs. The necessary training was provided through the initiatives of the Anguilla Community College Development Unit.

The main and most memorable activity in Anguilla this week was the Third Biennial National Development Conference hosted by Social Security, from Monday to Wednesday, November 12-14, at the Teachers’ Resource Centre. The overall theme of the conference was Anguilla at 40, A Self-Evaluation: Conversations on a Blueprint for Tomorrow.

An Anguillian mother, whose beloved son died following a road accident in the United States, is taking comfort that through the gift of his organs, five other persons can now live.

The Temenos Golf Club is hosting a benefit tournament to raise well-needed funds to assist Desmond “Shine” Richardson of West End to purchase and fit a prosthetic leg.

Flag Luxury Properties (Anguilla) LLC which has had St. Regis as its Managing Operator for its Temenos Anguilla Resort and Residences, is soon to announce a new company to handle its operations.

A small wooden house has been completely destroyed by fire in the Cauls Bottom area despite the valiant efforts of officers from the Wallblake-based Anguilla Fire Service.

Johnno’s Beach Bar & Restaurant at Road Bay, Sandy Ground, pumps out smooth jazz rhythms every Sunday with many fans in attendance for the fast-becoming popular music in Anguilla. Last Sunday, October 28, there appeared to have been a special feeling in the air as guests, Anguillians and visitors alike, contemplated on the coming Tranquility Jazz Festival to be held during the period November 8- 11. For many of them, it was a foretaste of the upcoming event.

The commencement of the tourist season is a time when we especially welcome visitors to the warmth, friendship and beauty of our island home, Anguilla. With the re-opening of our up-market hotels, guest houses, villas, restaurants and other places of accommodation and service, a number of our repeat as well as new visitors have already begun arriving on our shores.

Many positively-thinking young men across Anguilla have grouped themselves into what has the potential of becoming a strong force in harnessing youthful energies and encouraging discipline, while building interest in the national sport of boat-racing and other fun-filled activities.

Many senior citizens in Anguilla and neighbouring French St. Martin and Dutch St. Maarten, may long remember the time they spent together as they observed the Month of The Elderly (October) with a series of activities.

Their ears itching for information about their invested funds, a number of shareholders in the National Investment Company of Anguilla (NICA), attended a meeting called by the Board but were disappointed by its postponement although the reason was clear. They were told that the meeting, at the Stoney Ground School Auditorium on Monday afternoon, October 22, lacked a quorum and therefore under the company’s by-laws could not be held.

Some 67 Fifth Form students at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School have graduated after five years of secondary education in Anguilla and they are either entering the world of work or going on to further their studies.

With the Blowing Point Ferry Port accounting for over 60 percent of all visitor arrivals in Anguilla, efforts are now being concentrated on the construction of an ultra-modern Terminal Building as part of a development Master Plan for the land side of the harbour.

The thirteen new recruits to the Royal Anguilla Police Force were welcomed to the island on Tuesday this week when they visited the House of Assembly as part of their familiarisation introduction to Government departments and offices.

The Fifth Anguilla Tranquillity Jazz Festival in Anguilla is expected to be a grand occasion. It was launched on Monday this week on the grounds of the Tourist Board Building in The Valley. The festival, from November 8-13, is usually held around that tine to jump-start the tourism season and it has proven to be an effective occasion to woo many tourists to the island.

Relatives and friends in Anguilla and the United States Virgin Islands are mourning the death of Anguillian pilot Levette Ruan, 62, whose private aircraft crashed some three and a half miles off the northwest coast of St. Croix on Sunday evening, October 7.

The original Sports Office in Anguilla, created into a full department of Government at the beginning of the year, now has its extended complement of staff and large sums of money to finance its operations and to fund various capital projects approved by the Executive Council. What is more is that a name change is being contemplated for the department and the choice, to be taken to ExCo shortly, is “Sports, Recreation and Parks.”