Local News

Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank since 1989, Sir K Dwight Venner, gave a review of the economy of the ECCU on Tuesday, January 22 at 8 pm. The discussion was intended to inform ECCU residents about important economic and financial issues which affect their everyday lives and the future of their countries.

The National Bank of Anguilla Ltd has announced the winners of its first annual customer satisfaction survey.

The Optimist Club of Anguilla, as part of their mandate from the international optimist organization, embarks on a quarterly community project each year. Since the inception of the Morris Vanterpool Primary School in East End, the Optimist Club has officially adopted it. Therefore, much of its philanthropic efforts go towards helping the school in any way possible. In the beginning of the adoption, the members of the OCA did some painting and tiling and have consistently helped to maintain the building.

A lunch and learn session was held at Straw Hat Restaurant in The Forest on Wednesday, January 16 at 12:00 p.m. concerning Fairmount Anguilla which will be located in the Forest Bay area and is set to open in 2010. Brokers, members of the real estate community, other dignitaries and media were present to listen to presentations from the sales team for over a period of two hours.

Six of the top junior tennis players in Anguilla travelled to Sint Maarten this past Saturday, January 19. to compete in the St. Maarten Junior Regional Tennis Tournament. The event was held at the Tropical Spa and Tennis Courts at Port de Plaisance Hotel and was conducted by the Sint Maarten Tennis Federation.

Start pampering your plants and flowers now so they’re ready for the Anguilla Beautification Clubs’ Flower and Garden Show. The Club is encouraging members as well as the general public to participate in this year’s competition. Some new and exciting events are sure to inspire even the novice gardener. Again this year, there will be an island-wide “Best Garden Competition”.

The Government met on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008, with the Teachers’ Union at the Stoney Ground Primary School Auditorium. The meeting lasted well over two hours. The Honourable Chief Minister Fleming and the Honourable Minister of Education Evans Mcniel Rogers made some brief remarks before questions were asked.

The Ministry of Social Development, Department of Youth and Culture has secured technical assistance for the Anguilla National Youth Council. This assistance has been obtained from the Commonwealth Youth Programme, Caribbean Centre (CYPCC) and the Tobago Youth Council (TYC). The assistance will be in the form of a two day strategic planning session, proceeded by short follow-up sessions geared towards reviewing the council’s constitution and developing a two year strategic plan for 2008-2010.

Dr. Lindel Brookes, Prosthodontist and Senior Dental Surgeon with the Anguilla Health Authority, spoke to the Rotary Club of Anguilla at the regular Rotary Club meeting on January 17. Dr. Brookes led a very interesting and animated discussion about the proper and effective methods of cleaning one’s teeth.

Tuesday: Fisherman Patrick had a good day fishing and landed 38 Dolphinfish, a beautiful 35-pound Wahoo, and several small striped tuna fish. The total catch weight nearly 300 pounds and forced an early return to the dock and Island Harbour. He simply maximized his ultra-cold storage containers and ice supply and was obliged to head home shortly after lunch time.

In the photographs, the new potential buyer of Cap Juluca Resort met with Ministers and officials of the Anguilla Government on Wednesday this week.

There is an initial sum in the 2008 budget of 28 million dollars which is a small amount for the huge public sector development programme which the Ministry of Infrastructure in Anguilla is embarking on from this year. That figure can in no way meet the cost of the planned work so the Government will be borrowing the extra money needed to finance the projects.

At their weekly press briefing on Wednesday, three senior officers of the Royal Anguilla Police Force reported on the crime situation affecting the island over the past week. Deputy Commissioner Illidge Richardson was pleased to announce that there had been a reduction of serious crimes in Anguilla between the Christmas Season up to the current period. He said the island was too small to be tarnished by criminal activity. He recalled that in earlier times Anguilla was known to have little or no crime and appealed to all persons concerned to respect law and order and the citizenry in an effort to preserve the good name of the homeland.

Cap Juluca’s owner, Dion Friedland, has circulated a New Year’s Message to employees confirming that the proposed sale of the high-end property to the Gencom Group has fallen through and that he has found a new buyer.

The reigning Mr. CCB Talented Teen, Miguel Franklin is a student of arts at the Chattanooga State Technical Community College.

The winners of the CCB Holiday Xpress Promos were Barney Gumbs and Kirsty Webster. Mr. Gumbs an officer at Her Majesty’s Custom Department won a round trip ticket to Puerto Rico.

In a moderate but stirring radio program last Sunday afternoon, Anguilla’s first locally owned gospel radio station, NBR (New Beginning Radio) observed seven years of inspirational broadcasting to the region. NBR Grace FM is located at 99.3 on the FM band.

Styler’s Tae Kwondo Club completed its 3rd promotion test for belt grading, on December 22nd, 2007, at the Soroptimist Center, The Valley, Anguilla. The exam was conducted by Oster Herbert, Head Master of Dragon Princess Tae Kwondo Club in St. Maarten.

In the last days of 2007, three Cable & Wireless customers went home smiling with various prizes after winning in the final days of the ‘Everyone’s a Winner at Christmas’ promotion.

Many farmers and householders in Anguilla, particularly in The Valley area and its immediate outskirts, are having a time of their life battling with the Giant African Snail.