Local News

Young people throughout Anguilla have had another opportunity to express their views on various issues affecting them and the island on a whole. This has been provided by the Fifth National Conference on Youth and Development which opened at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on Thursday, September 29.

The Vector Awareness and Control programme in Anguilla, currently in progress by the Environment Health Unit, is being funded in the amount of EC$12,000 by the Caribbean Commercial Bank (CCB), one of two indigenous banks on the island.

The Fifth National Conference on Youth Development reached a high point on Wednesday withthe presentation of a series of recommendations to Government in the Anguilla House of Assembly Chambers.

On Friday 30 September, the Anguilla National Trust launched their Environment. Research. Action Programme (ERAP), an afterschool environmental education programme for young people between the ages of 12 and 18.

Members of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association (AHTA) have rejected outright a proposed 10% tax on restaurants and car rentals with effect from January 2012.

The British Minister for the Overseas Territories, Henry Bellingham MP, has written Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Hubert Hughes, expressing concern over the state of Anguilla’s public finances.

St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Anguilla was the venue for what was described as an evening of delightful singing and music featuring the Antigua and Barbuda Chorale. The event was dubbed …And So We Sing – a celebration of 13 years of heartfelt worship expressions.

Over the past year there has been a lot of loose chatter about environmental agencies hindering or slowing up the process of development in Anguilla.

British Minister for the Overseas Territories, Henry Bellingham, has just ended an official visit to Bermuda, where he spoke to some extent about the UK Government’s strategies for the islands including the White Paper and other matters.

Heritage Collection Museum at East End, Anguilla, whose Curator is Colville L. Petty OBE, was the recipient on Tuesday this week of the log of the retired British Royal Navy Ship, HMS Rothesay, one of two frigates which landed invasion troops on the island on March 19, 1969.

"There is not a place to stand or sit,” one discerning gentleman remarked, accurately describing the scene of the funeral for the late Anguillian pilot, Cardigan (Cardy) Hodge), as he elbowed his way through the massive crowd to find a vantage point.

This week is Pesticide Awareness Week and the Department of Environment has highlighted the importance of reading and understanding pesticide instructions and using environmentally friendly pesticides. The week is being held under the theme “Save Lives - Read and Understand Pesticide Labels.”

It seemed only a short time ago that the lionfish was detected in the waters around the Bahamas as it continued its invasive journey.

Over the past weekend, residents at Island Harbour, in particular, gazed out to sea as new and large clusters of sea moss approached the shoreline.

Some twenty – five Community Emergency Risk Reduction team members from the Island Harbour and East End communities have benefited from the Basic First Aid (CPR) Training this week at the Vivien Vanterpool Primary School.

A source of encouragement, money and satisfaction for farmers in Anguilla is when they can find a ready market for their produce. This was the experience of Hensley and Rosalind Hodge of Long Bay, when they showcased a harvest of large pumpkins at Syd& Pete Supermarket at George Hill on Tuesday this week.

After some ten years of building, using personal and other financing, Anguillian businessman, Managing Director of Fair Play Group of Companies, Quincy Gumbs, has signed a 65 million US dollar loan agreement which is expected to complete phase one of his dream project in the near future. That phase includes 80 rooms, an elaborate conference/conventioncentre facility and a spa. The money will also finance other areas for the expansion of the project.

Lawyers and Judicial Officials in Anguilla have been admonished to pay special attention to truth in the practice of their professions and in upholding the principles of law.

Governor Alistair Harrison told reporters at a press conference on Monday, this week, that the most important development recently had been the Written Ministerial Statement by the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, to the House of Commons on September 14.

There were 19 crimes classified as serious recorded by the Police in Anguilla during the period September 14-21, an increase over the figure of the previous week when there were 13.