Local News

Mrs. Watanalak George, wife of His Excellency The Governor, Andrew George, is settling down at Government House, their official residence at Old Ta, having arrived in Anguilla in the middle of last month to join her husband who came early in July.

The inmates of the Miriam Gumbs Senior Citizens Home in Anguilla and many other elderly folk from throughout the island have enjoyed a visit to St. Maarten.

Mr. Ronald Scipio has taken his seat at the Inner Bar of the Supreme Court in Anguilla where he will now be wearing the specially-designed silk gown. He has been accorded the honour and privilege after serving in Anguilla for nine years, first as Principal Crown Counsel and later as Attorney General. His installation took place at a ceremonial sitting of the High Court on Friday, September 29, presided over by Justice Janice George-Creque. The occasion followed his appointment as Queen’s Counsel in March this year which was announced by former Governor Alan Huckle.

The Anguilla Government has shown its gratitude for the work of outgoing Attorney General, Ronald Scipio, by funding an appreciation dinner for him at Altamer Resort Restaurant on Saturday, September 30.

The Anguilla Social Security Board (ASSB) this week presented its 2007-2011 Business Plan to the Honourable Victor Banks, Minister for Social Security at the Board’s conference room. Mr. Banks was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Economic Development Dr. Aidan Harrigan, who is also Chairman of the Social Security Board, Mr. Carl Harrigan, Permanent Secretary Finance, and Mr. Fabian Fahie, Advisor to the Minister of Finance. The presentation was made by Director of Social Security Mr. Timothy Hodge. Mr. Robert Wynter, principal of Growth Facilitators, the consulting firm from Jamaica engaged by the Board to facilitate the business plan development process, was also in attendance.

Anguillian psychologist Dr. Oluwakemi Linda Banks is to be the recipient of a Pinnacle Award from the National Coalition on Caribbean Affairs which comprises organisations and individuals extending from Massachusetts to Florida, New York to California and Michigan to Mississippi.

On 30 September, Mr Ronald Scipio QC will come to the end of 9 years distinguished service as Attorney General of Anguilla. Mr Scipio plans to continue living in Anguilla, and to return to private legal practice.

Sixteen of Anguilla’s Prison Officers are currently attending a two-week basic and refresher course at the Soroptimist Hall. The facilitator is Ruel Hixon, retired Deputy Superintendent of the Montserrat Prison. The training started on Monday September 25 with an opening ceremony chaired by Acting Assistant Superintendent of Her Majesty’s Prison, Hugh Providence.

The following reflections on Revelations 21: 1-7 were written by Mr. Gomez Hodge, brother of the late Johnson C. Hodge and reader of that passage of Scripture during the thanksgiving/funeral service:

President of Caribbean Juris Chambers, Mr. John Benjamin, may have been an Anglican Priest today alongside his first cousin, Bishop Errol Brooks, but fate decided otherwise. Instead, he is one of the leading lawyers in the Caribbean with 25 years of practice, 23 of which he has spent in Anguilla.

A one-week Health Seminar, providing useful insights into a number of diseases and other conditions affecting the body, is in progress in Anguilla and is being well-followed by a number of interested persons.

The brothers and sister of the late Johnson C. Hodge of Stoney Ground and other relatives have expressed their thanks and appreciation to everyone for the support and comfort they have given all members of the family in their bereavement.

With construction work around the main jetty at Road Bay, Sandy Ground, now well in hand, the Anguilla Port Development Project has moved to Blowing Point where an all inclusive passenger terminal is to be built.

For a little over two years the Financial Services Commission has been very active in taking steps to help Montserrat meet international standards for financial regulation. This has been the period for the first full time Commissioner whose extended contract comes to an end on October 6.

Anguilla is the third of a number of regional islands included in a Macro Economic Damages Assessment Training Workshop aimed at preparing key persons to effectively handle any given situation in the aftermath of a hurricane. A chilling thought is that, according to Acting Governor Stanley Reid, given the tremendous level of infrastructural development taking place on the island, it is unlikely that the responses to hurricanes Luis and Lenny in 1995 and 1999 will be adequate in Anguilla today.

Participants and presenters of a two-day workshop, a Response to the feminine dimensions of HIV/AIDS, held in Anguilla on Monday and Tuesday this week, have took a long, hard look at the ravages of the disease and its impact on society and family-life.

Andy Otto, who escaped from Her Majesty’s Prison in Anguilla in 2004, has been extradited from Guadeloupe and returned to jail here.

Anguilla’s Minister of Social Development, Evans Rogers, is the new Chairman of the Policy Board of the OECS/Pharmaceutical Procurement Service (OECS/PPS). He was installed in the position at the 20th meeting of the board and a special Health Ministers’ conference held at Paradise Cove Resort in Anguilla on September 8. Mr. Rogers succeeds the St. Kitts-Nevis Minister of Health, Rupert Herbert.

The Royal Anguilla Police Force has taken a step aimed at making its members more effective public speakers and has involved the participation of other department representatives to improve their communication skills as well.

The 3rd Regional Law Fair, Bi-annual General Meeting and associated social functions of the OECS Bar Association will be held in Anguilla over this weekend, culminating in the opening of Law Year on Monday, September 18, by the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal.