Local News

Police in Anguilla are investigating a number of cases involving fighting and wounding which occurred on December 12 at the Sandy Ground and on December 13 at the Princess Hospital.

It was a hot issue in Anguilla as well as in Antigua from late last week when the Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, said his Government had made loans to the two islands in the amounts of 12 million and 24 million dollars respectively. He was reported to have made the statement at a political rally in the run-up to the general election taking place there on Friday, this week. He was reportedly heard saying that he was able “to give’ the money due to his prudent management of Dominica’s finances.

His Excellency William A. Harrison
Governor of Anguilla
Government House
Old Ta
Anguilla


Dear Sir,

Response of the private sector representatives of Anguilla’s financial services industry to the ‘Foot Report’

1. The leading private sector representatives of the financial services industry in the form of the officers of the Anguilla Branch of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the leading worldwide professional body for practitioners in the fields of trusts, estates and related issues, and the Anguilla Financial Services Association (AFSA), having long recognized their mutual interests were to an extent interwoven, recently convened a joint meeting to discuss the Report of the Independent Review of the British Offshore Financial Service Centres, also known as the “Foot Report.”

Occasionally, a number of Indians working and residing at the Viceroy project have drifted into the nearby Immanuel Methodist Church at West End. One of them, Sajay Thomas, a Christian Catholic, became chief among them as a regular brother and worshipper until his departure from Anguilla on Tuesday this week.

Festival D’Noel, at the basketball court on the grounds of the old East End School added much to the festive season in Anguilla this week.

The independent candidate for Valley North,(District 3), Sutcliffe Hodge, told constituents that he had been reliably informed that there would be no budget speech this year. Secondly, he was further informed by at least two sources that there was a draft budget for 2010 but that it had a significant increase in taxes for the people of Anguilla.

Just recently, while waiting in line at one of the commercial banks I overheard a conversation (between two gentlemen) directly related to my work, but I decided to ignore the conversation and not be ‘fass’. However, as the conversation continued I decided that as the Director of Fisheries and Marine Resources I had to interject and say something, as it is my duty to educate persons about fishing and the marine environment.

Digicel would like to congratulate Miss Deanna Mussington for a well deserved victory in the first annual Digicel Presents Anguilla’s Got Talent Show.

Last Sunday 13th December the fishermen of District One attended the first every Fishing Forum in their community, organised by Pam Webster, APP Candidate for District One. This well attended initiative was designed to begin a community consultation with the all stakeholders of the fishing industry in District One.

The Valley Community and Social Club, in conjunction with the Agricultural Department, staged the opening of its annual Festival of Lights and associated cultural activities on Saturday night, December 12, at the old Trough at Coronation Avenue. The switch for the lighting of the area was turned on by Mrs. Mary Martin, a well-known personality involved in arts, crafts and culture in Anguilla, who in earlier years has had a close association with the area.

The residents at the Miriam Gumbs Senior Citizens Home were selected to benefit from “a Random Act of Kindness” performed by LIME on Tuesday this week, as part of that telecommunications company’s outreach in the community. The occasion was a luncheon sponsored by the organisation.

Coronation Park, in The Valley, covered by a carpet of lush grass, thanks to recent rain, was the ideal venue for the gleaming model vehicles which were brought to Anguilla for the annual Omega Car Show held there on Sunday evening, December 13.

The Ministry of Tourism and The Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) in their quest to deliver to visitors a pleasant and memorable Anguilla Experience on every level have embarked on a series of Customer Service Training Programmes. The workshops began on November 18th, 2009 with the training of 23 port employees from Customs, Immigration, Port Security and Taxi Dispatch.

In a media teleconference from London on Wednesday, Anguilla’s Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, told reporters that unlike in July this year, the meeting between the Anguilla delegation and others with the UK Minister, Chris Bryant, was more cordial this week at the Overseas Territories Consultative Council conference.

He gave as one example the talks on the borrowing guidelines with the Anguilla delegation when Mr. Bryant was unmovable about their relaxation in order for the Anguilla Government and other territories to borrow money to help meet their financial and economic problems.

The students of the International Cuisine class at the Anguilla Community College proudly showcased their talent at a dinner under the theme “A Taste of Around the World” on Thursday, December 3.
The class commenced on September 3 under the tutelage of Mrs. Karimah Carty, Chef de Partie/Trainer at the College. The students’ backgrounds varied from cooks to public servants and others interested in the culinary field. They are Larry Brooks, Catherine Carbon, Antoine Carty, Godfrey John, Marva Phillip, Josian Rahael and Erlene White who will be taking their final examination shortly.

The LIAT staff at Wallblake Airport in Anguilla has been awarded not only for winning the airline’s on-time performance in September 2009 in Zone A, but for having won it more times in the calendar year than any other destination. The monthly competition was suspended for two months due to industrial problems affecting the regional carrier, but in the ten months during which it was held, Anguilla won nine times in that period.

Superintendent of Police, Rudolph Proctor, whose promotion as Deputy Commissioner is soon to be officially announced, and Inspector Paul Sinclair, Head of the Drugs and Firearms Task Force, were pleased to tell reporters on Wednesday that it was a relatively quiet week.

The following is a press release from Mr. Damien Hughes, Director of Franchise Operations with Caribbean Cable Communications.

On Monday 7th December, 2009 through an Ordinance of the Nevis Island Legislature, legislation was passed to compulsorily acquire, virtually expropriate, Caribbean Cable Communications (Nevis) Ltd operations in Nevis. The Bill was read a 1st, 2nd and 3rd time in a single sitting. But no notice of its existence was given to CCC or even to the Opposition which only became aware of the Bill at the start of the Sitting. .

Commissioner of Police in Anguilla, Mr. Keithly Benjamin, has clarified a rumour that persons are required to obtain a permit to serenade for Christmas.

“This is false and misleading,” Commissioner Benjamin stated in a press release. “No one is required to obtain a permit to serenade consistent with the traditional form of serenading. The customary showing up in one’s yard and singing Christmas carols is not restricted by criminal law.”
Mr. Benjamin however pointed out:

Introduction

a. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, please permit me to adopt the protocol already established, and to say that I deem it an honour to have been asked to be one of the speakers on this occasion. Despite my many years of delivering speeches and sermons on numerous occasions and in diverse contexts, this is a first for me. Never before have I spoken at a political party convention. I am therefore treading in unfamiliar waters, and so I ask you to bear with me.