Local News

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.

The late Shane Fraites (22) of Old Ta, whose body was found at the foot of a cliff at a beach area in West End on March 6, was laid to rest at Sandy Ground Cemetery on Monday, March 20.

The recent stabbing death of Kwahmi Brooks of The Valley, a young man who regularly walked the streets and affected by certain challenges, has been highlighted as one of the violent crimes plaguing the Anguillian society.

Four persons travelling in two vehicles have escaped serious hurt in a collision on the Blowing Point Road.

Some young men from Island Harbour are continuing to find much pleasure in competitive fishing in the deep waters of Anguilla. So far, charter boat captain and ace fisherman, Patrick Webster, is maintaining the lead he set last week.

A new Attorney General is to be recruited in Anguilla to replace the current holder of the post, Mr Ronald Scipio. A release from the Governor’s Office said Mr Scipio gave notice to the Government on March 16 that he would not be renewing his contract for another two years when it expired on March 31, 2006.

The appearance on stage of “Bankie Banx, and The Roots & Herbs” on Saturday night, March 18, at the Dune Preserve, was not only a main feature of Moonsplash 2006. It was in fact a celebration of thirty years since he was catapulted to the forefront of musical entertainment in the Caribbean and set on a course of international fame.

The Anguilla Tourist Board has presented its 2006 marketing programme especially for villas and ancillary services on the island. The recent presentation was made by Special Adviser on Tourism in the Ministry of Finance, Donna Banks, Marketing Director with the Tourist Board, Merlin Rogers and the Director of Anguilla’s Tourist Office in New York, Maria Walker.

Noted Grammy Award singer and Pastor, Wintley Phipps who, accompanied by his wife, has had a most enjoyable and relaxing stay in Anguilla, which he calls “a very, beautiful country,” has offered some helpful advice to the people of the island regarding family life and the raising of children.

A new theatre group called Oh Yeah has been launched in Anguilla boasting the motto: Adding vitality and zest to the world of Performing Arts.”

March heralds the arrival of a new executive chef at the CuisinArt Resort & Spa. Michael A. Goodman has traveled the world from New York to the Far East to Dubai and now brings his inimitable style of cooking to Anguilla.

At the Optimist Club 10th Anniversary Dinner on Saturday March 11, the Hon Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Victor Banks, spoke of the occasion as a milestone in the existence of the Optimist Club and its service to the Anguillian community.

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.

Charter boat captain and fishing ace, Patrick Webste, had a good day angling around Sombrero last week. The sea was calm and the competitive spirit afire among several Island Harbour fishermen on three different boats plying deep water and trolling for the big fish.

With the combined help of two Rotary Clubs -- the Rotary Club of Newark, Delaware, and the Rotary Club of Anguilla -- two school students from Anguilla will be attending the First Annual Caribbean World Affairs Seminar to be held in Puerto Rico, July 8 – 14, 2006.

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.

It is early yet, but Cable and Wireless in Anguilla is moving to further safeguard its services to the people of Anguilla against the threats posed by the hurricane season.
“We take this whole thing about disaster preparedness very seriously…in terms of being able to keep our customers communicating with their friends and loves ones… and our responsibility to Government to ensure that we have a network that is functioning and available,” said Chief Executive, Sutcliffe Hodge.