News

Malliouhana Hotel and Spa celebrated its 20th Anniversary of operations on September 2, with a lavish party for its more than 250 staff (spread across its various departments) and their families and friends.

The Adult and Continuing Education Unit in Anguilla has had its first graduation of students, calling attention to the usefulness of the courses to upgrade the skills of persons wishing to do so in various vocational, technical or academic pursuits.

The National Bank of Anguilla has announced a calendar of events spread over a year to celebrate its 20th Anniversary. The celebrations will officially commence on December 8, 2004 and continue until December 2005.

The Health Authority of Anguilla has just completed a review of its operations during the second quarter of the year, some 190 days since its establishment. The review was to receive feedback from Heads of Department on the level of implementation of objectives; identify constraints to the achievement of those objectives; and present plans and programmes for the third quarter.

Sixteen children in Anguilla will be hosted by the Department of Social Development during the period July 19 to 30 as part of its annual summer community outreach programme.

Class Six P of the Road Primary School has been named as the winner of the 2004 Hello Tourist Project of the Year Award. The awards were announced at a cocktail reception in honour of all Class six students held on Wednesday, July 14th, 2004 at the Anguilla Great House Beach Resort.

The Chief Minister’s Office, which has responsibility for Labour, initiated a Job Preparation Workshop for the 2004 graduates of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. The workshop, held at the House of Chandeliers, was organised by a Committee of representatives from the Chief Minister’s Office, the Labour Department, Tourist Board, Department of Education and the Guidance and Counselling Department of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.

The 2004 Sixth Form Graduates of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School have been told to dream big. The advice has come from Ms Merlyn Rogers, Marketing Research Officer with the Tourist Board, who delivered the feature address at the graduation ceremony at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on Tuesday.

The Health Authority of Anguilla is in the process of seeking accreditation for the provision of health services on the island. Chairperson of the autonomous body, Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, said such an achievement would not only be useful in terms of international recognition and fitting within the context of the national and regional development of the organisation, but its actual success in moving forward to some important targets.

Anguilla was at the heart of what was a very successful Caribbean Hotel and Industry Conference in Puerto Rico last week. While the news centred on the performance of the island’s national culinary team in the Taste of the Caribbean competition, in which Alex Ballin was named Caribbean Bartender of the Year, there were two other achievements. These were the appointment of Sherille Hughes as Regional Vice President of the Caribbean Hotel Association and the award of CHA Executive of the Year to Mimi Gratton.

“The link with Britain will remain for as long as you wish. It acts as a safeguard to your development and continued prosperity,” Governor Alan Huckle told the people of Anguilla. He was at the time delivering an address at the Ronald Webster Park on Monday this week during the parade marking the Official Birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Second.

The Health Authority of Anguilla will be launching its physiotherapy services at the Welches Polyclinic from Monday June 21 as part of the provision of a full range of services at the upgraded facility there.

The performance of three Anguillian students in the CARICOM 30th Anniversary Regional Quiz has been applauded. Denecia Niles, Tahirah Banks and Regine Niles, all Third Form students at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, were Anguilla’s representatives.

Four officials involved in the work of the Health Authority of Anguilla have been speaking about the continuing plans of the autonomous body to provide quality medical and health services to residents as well as visitors. They were Chairperson of the Board, Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, Chief Executive Officer, Dexter James, Human Resources Manager, Meridith Gumbs, and Physiotherapist, Khalidah Banks.

Governor and Mrs. Alan Huckle have begun a series of visits to the various districts of Anguilla on a meet the people and places tour in consultation and cooperation with the Elected Representatives.

Efforts to market Anguilla in Puerto Rico during the summer months in particular, are paying off, according to this island’s representative there, Guillermo Pino. His first major achievement since his appointment earlier this year, has been the visit of a group of travel writers from the top magazines and other publications in Puerto Rico to write about Anguilla. “It is a giant step,” he said at Paradise Cove Resort a few days ago as he introduced the writers during a welcome reception.

Six crew members, three men and three women, from South Carolina, escaped harm on Tuesday morning June 8 when the 46.3-foot yacht, CARO, on which they were travelling, struck 60 Yards Reef outside Island Harbour Bay at about 9.30.

By Colville L. Petty

“THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY REMAIN THE SAME.” HOW FAR IS THIS TRUE WITH RESPECT TO CONSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN ANGUILLA?

Let me say forthwith that I do not propose to get involved in the many definitions of what constitutes constitutional and political development, suffice it to say that I regard it as a state of organisation of political life in which the performance of political functions are in accordance with the highest principles and practices of democracy.

Anguilla Day was celebrated with much pomp and ceremony on Tuesday June 1 as uniformed bodies converged on the Ronald Webster Park for the official parade witnessed by many officials and members of the private and public sectors. The parade comprised contingents from the Police, Scouts and Guides, Cub Scouts, Guides, Brownies, Pathfinders, Boys and Girls Brigade and Cadets. The various organisations were inspected by Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, accompanied by Commissioner of Police Keithly Benjamin and Parade Commander, Allan Carty.

Newly-appointed Governor of Anguilla, Alan Huckle, has made the point that consultation and transparency, wherever possible, would be his watchwords.