Local News

The Health Authority of Anguilla held a quarterly meeting of its heads of department and managers on January 27 at Paradise Cove under the leadership of the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer, Dexter James.

The Royal Anguilla Police Force observed its 34th Anniversary last week under the theme Police and the Community the Right Mix for Police Week 2006. For the first time, the organising committee came up with the idea of an activity “for children only” as part of its week of activities.

Another milestone in the history of the Social Security System was observed this week: the 25th Anniversary of the opening of the Social Security Office on February 1st 1981 with the employment of its first member of staff, Mr. Timothy Hodge. The opening of the Office followed the passage of the Social Security Act No. 13 of 1980 on November 3rd 1980, and the appointment of the first Social Security Board on January 22nd 1981.

Anguilla’s Acting Chief Minister, Victor Banks, says the mission of the Government and people of the island must now be “forward and upward, growing from strength to strength.”

There was a presentation of prizes on the ground of Police Headquarters on Wednesday, February 1, following the drawing of raffles at the end of Police Week on Saturday, January 28.

The largest and most ambitious public sector infrastructure project to be undertaken by the Anguilla Government is to be a seaport development taking in Road Bay, Blowing Point and Corito, each area to have its own facilities and functions. While the bigger portions of the project will not start until the next few years, the groundwork is already being laid with the appointment of the Anguilla Port Development Project Board to advise on the way forward and later to oversee the implementation of the project.

Policy matters relating to security cooperation between Anguilla and St. Martin/St. Maarten were the main subjects discussed at a tripartite meeting involving top level officials from the islands on Tuesday this week. They met in the Executive Council Chambers at the Governor’s Office in Anguilla.

The following is the text of a broadcast by His Excellency The Governor, Mr. Alan Huckle, on January 22.

Opposition Member in the Anguilla House of Assembly, Hubert Hughes, has called for the banning of all firearms on the island as a means of having a gun-free society.

He made the call against the backdrop of a number of recent violent acts among young people using illegal firearms.

Anguilla’s Police Commissioner, Keithly Benjamin, has expressed gratitude to the Governor and the Government of Anguilla for supporting the establishment of a task force and its strengthening by deciding to recruit three recently-retired UK Police Officers. The task force will address the increase in the number of illegal firearms on the island among other criminal matters, but Mr. Benjamin has emphasised the need for public support to enable the body to function successfully.

At Christmas time, Martin Welch of Harney’s and a group of friends having a pint at Ripples started singing a few carols that ended up as a true sing-along.

By: Montague Kobbe

Dinner parties can be dire social obligations; they can also be the source of inspirational initiatives. Blend together an accomplished craftsman, an intriguing suggestion and a pinch of time and you get the recipe that on a given evening planted the seed of what might be Anguilla’s most original commercial enterprise and what might soon become the island’s most popular hobby: professional miniature golf. Play A Round is a family-oriented entertainment venue located behind Rendezvous Bay which borrows the American concept of miniature golfing and implements it with a comprehensive yet consciously local approach.

Farmers in Anguilla are delighted that there are now two new Ford tractors and implements on the island to plough their lands at last, thus fulfilling a long wait for some assistance in mechanised farming. Their relief is all the more compounded with the encouraging and well-distributed early rain. They are further encouraged by the words of Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Albert Hughes, who said at the presentation ceremony on Tuesday, January 17: “We are going to fork up de land.”

If there is any grim reminder or warning to young people in Anguilla of the consequences of violence, it is the untimely death of 23-old Dwyane Marlon Connor (Nasi), 23, of Rey Hill, who was gunned down at North Valley on January 7.

Police Week 2005 commenced with all ranks of the Force attending a service at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church on Sunday, January 22, conducted by Assistant Priest, Reverend Menes Hodge.

By: Brenda Carty

Since its inception in 1992 the Anguilla Beautification Club (ABC) has had a tremendous impact on the island and its gardens and continues to beautify the island through its members.

An investigating team comprising officers of the Royal Anguilla Police Force and two detectives from Bermuda, is making progress in the investigations into the murder of a young Anguillian, the injuring of another and the shooting and wounding of two visitors between January 7 and 10.

Former Labour Commissioner, Evalie Bradley, took up an appointment of Principal Assistant Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office on Monday January 16.

The Anguilla Tennis Academy (ATA) has announced that it will establish a Founding Members Club for a limited number of individuals and villa rental properties. Founding Members will be provided not only with a wide range of usage benefits within the ATA, but also with a chance to participate in and be recognised as part of the initial sponsorship group to establish the Academy.

With the beginning of the New Year, there have been some staff movements in the top positions in the Anguilla Public Service.