Local News

President of the Anguilla Red Cross, Doreen James, last week hosted two officials from the British Red Cross: Genevieve Okech is the Assistant Desk Officer in the British Red Cross in the UK Office responsible for overseas branches, and Jill St John is from the sub-regional branch office in Trinidad responsible for national societies and overseas branches in the Caribbean.

Roads Engineer in the Department of Infrastructure in Anguilla, Nigel Connor, left here on Tuesday, September 27, to pursue a Masters of Science degree in Construction Project Management at Lougborough University in the United Kingdom.

There has been another successful training programme conducted by Transient Business Service operated by Wilma Vanterpool in The Valley, Anguilla.

The Physical Planning Bill, 2005 and the Labour Code Bill, 2005 which were postponed in the House of Assembly on August 23 after the first readings, are attracting serious debate island-wide. Speaker of the Anguilla House of Assembly, David Carty, called for the postponement of the Bills on that date in the interest of transparent government and democracy to allow the Elected Members to discuss the provisions of the draft legislation with their constituents and to obtain the peoples’ “serious and wise input.” That input is regarded as being so serious and important that a number of Anguillian lawyers and other concerned persons have thrown themselves into the public debate as well.

Physicians, Nurses and Emergency Medical Technicians, serving with the Health Authority of Anguilla, have just undergone a short, but vigorous, course which can help them save the lives of persons suffering from cardiac arrest commonly referred to as heart attack.

An Amendment to the Firearms Act has been published in the September 13 edition of the Anguilla Official Gazette. It has doubled the penalties for gun offences on the island.

For the first time, there was a very large attendance by members of the Judiciary, the public and private Bars, Government officials and members of the general public at the opening of the Law Year at the Court House in Anguilla.

The Radiology Department of the Princess Alexandra Hospital celebrated the completion of the first phase of an upgrading programme for Diagnostic Imaging. Having had a condition assessment conducted on the existing x-ray equipment by a physicist, last year, it was clear from the recommendations that steps had to taken to replace the obsolete unit. Replacement parts for this machine were unavailable and the manufacture had discontinued supporting it.

The Youth and Culture Division in Anguilla says that plans for the National Youth Congress on Caribbean Youth Day on Friday, September 30 are progressing well. The Congress will be held at the Next Level upstairs the English Rose Restaurant in The Valley.

The following is part of a series of extracts from the Labour Code Bill, 2005, being published by the Anguillian as a public service and in view of the public discussions on the legislation now taking place in Anguilla. The extracts are being published in cooperation with the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Gratuities
58. (1) In any establishment in which the customer pays a gratuity which is a specified percentage of the customer’s bill, such gratuity shall be pooled and there shall be established in the establishment a Gratuities Committee for the periodic distribution of the amount so accumulated over every period of 4 weeks.

The following is part of a series of extracts from the Physical Planning Bill, 2005, being published by The Anguillian as a public service and in view of the public discussion on the legislation now taking place in Anguilla. The extracts are being published in cooperation with the Attorney Generals Chambers.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Plant preservation orders
43. (1) Where the Board, after consultation with the agency or department responsible for the environment, is of the opinion that it is desirable for amenity, environmental, landscape, scientific or similar reasons that any plant or group or species of plants ought to be preserved, it may make a plant preservation order with respect to such plant, group or species of plant.

Anguilla has had a considerable amount of exposure at the recently-concluded Grand Pavois in La Rochelle, France, and as a result forty yachtsmen are to visit the island in October.

Subway has joined the ranks of Anguillian Corporate Members to give back to the community.

One of the new pieces of draft legislation published in the Anguilla Official Gazette of September 13 is the Banking Bill, 2005.

Tr. Sarah Francis

A strong belief in its motto “Dedicated to Discipline, Development and Diligence” has certainly been the key to success for the members of the All-Ah-Wee Young Theatre Players.

“Kidney Awareness Week: Your kidneys can last you a lifetime. Take control today” was the theme of last week’s celebration and recognition.
Individuals with kidney failure rely on nephrology nurses to ensure continuing normality in their lives.

Cable and Wireless in Anguilla has made a commitment of US$100,000 to the Anguilla Tennis Academy (ATA) towards the construction of the main stadium at the world class sporting facility at Blowing Point.

Anguilla’s Clinical Psychologist and local and regional Workshop Facilitator, Dr. O. M. Linda Banks, says the island is fortunate that its Public Service is not corrupt unlike situations in other parts of the world where there are high percentages of corruption.

Senior Adviser to the Anguilla Government, Leith Errington Reid, and Justice Ian Donaldson Mitchell, QC, are the recipients of the awards of Officer and Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire respectively from Queen Elizabeth The Second.

As a follow-up to the August 10, 2005 meeting between the Government of Anguilla and officials from American Eagle, the airline has announced a number of enhancements to the service offered to both visitors and residents, using its San Juan hub.