Local News

Newcomer to the political scene in Anguilla, Sam Webster, is making his voice heard when it comes to the national interest and the welfare of the people of the island.

The young and upcoming candidate of the Anguilla United Movement is contesting the 2010 general election for District 1 (Island Harbour) where there are six candidates in all, the largest number ever.

In the above composite photograph, taken by Rickiell Hodge, this sweeping rainbow, just hovering over the land, and the other, faintly seen, caught the attention of many persons in Anguilla. In the light drizzle on Friday afternoon, December 4, some people rushed to vantage points clicking tiny standard cameras and cellular phones to catch this most arresting scene of such a close-up and distinct colourful pattern in the sky.

As an archaeologist living on Anguilla, people often approach me to ask if I’ve found any treasure. Popular portrayals of Indiana Jones mean many people mistake archaeology for treasure hunting. While there are many basic similarities- both professions “dig” for history and research the past using archives, they are fundamentally different. While archaeologists excavate the past in order to understand past lives and answer specific questions, treasure hunters are concerned primarily with finding artefacts they can easily sell to recover their costs.

Gary Thulander, Manager of Cap Juluca Resort, has been chosen as Hotelier of the Year. He was presented with his award at the Tourism Gala Dinner on Friday December 4 held at the beautiful new Coba Restaurant at Viceroy Anguilla, Residences and Spa. Tourism officials and representatives from all aspects of the tourism industry were present at the gala event that was chaired by Delroy Lake, Vice President of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association (AHTA).

The Ministry of Education is pleased to introduce the Advisory Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council to the general public. The Advisory Council will become the actual Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council when the Education Bill is passed.

The Ministry of Social Development announces the availability of its Volunteer Register. This register has been established as a mechanism by which persons interested in volunteering their services to assist in any Department under the Ministry’s portfolio can indicate their interest. The relevant Departments are Education, Social Development, Health Protection, Library Services, Probation, Sports, HM Prison and Youth and Culture.

Speaking on behalf of the Anguilla Government, Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, and the Minister of Tourism, Victor Banks, have expressed much delight over the coming reopening of the Temenos Golf Course on December 19, under the management of Cap Juluca.
Mr. Fleming, speaking to reporters in a teleconference from London, where he and Mr. Banks have been attending the Overseas Territories Consultative Council Conference, said the Government was happy about the reopening of the golf course for two reasons.

Is Christmas significant? What does it means to you? Have you ever thought about the true reasons why we celebrate it and why it is significant to us? These are all important questions if we are to fully embrace the season. For the secular world, Christmas takes on numerous meanings. It is a money-making, merry-making event. It is about a fat guy dressed in a red suit distributing gifts. For others it is about dressing up, new everything - toys, clothes, curtains, furniture, painting of homes etc. But is that what Christmas is truly about? Have we lost its true significance?

Some forty persons representing various churches and non-government organisations in Anguilla participated in a recent forum on the Rights of Older Persons. The November 26 meeting was organised by the Ministry and Department of Social Development and was held at the Soroptimist Day Care Centre Annex.

Cap Juluca will be re-opening and managing the Temenos Golf Course, as of December 19, it was announced this week. Cap Juluca Properties Ltd Chairman and CEO Adam Aron issued the following statement:

For the first time, some of the wild flowers of Anguilla, so often disregarded by even the most discerning naturalist and floral lover, have been depicted on a set of six postage stamps released on Tuesday, December 1, by the General Post Office in The Valley.

Tourists and Anguillians alike are flocking to Crocus Bay at the foot of The Valley. The area has become a place of much attraction, fine dining, and relaxation. This is not only due to the opening of the lovely, top-notch and formal locally-owned DaVida Restaurant, but now the addition of its informal exquisite Bayside Bar and Grill and related services.

A recently-qualified Anguillian medical professional, Dr. Ayanna Twanna Gumbs, has taken up a one-year appointment in St. Lucia.

She is the daughter of Anne Edwards, retired Deputy Principal at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, and Tracey Gumbs.

The spate of burglaries, though sporadic at times, is continuing to be a nuisance to victims and the police in Anguilla. Out of the 17 criminal activities reported for the above period, five of them were burglaries: three in West End and one each at North Side and Blowing Point.

The Honorable David Carty, Speaker of the House of Assembly, will be wearing one of his other hats next week as he represents Anguilla at the historic COP15 Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Rotary Club of Anguilla held its Foundation Dinner for 2009-2010 at the top floor, formal events section, of DaVida Restaurant at Crocus Bay on Saturday, November 28, at which six persons who have contributed to Anguilla in various capacities over the years.

After two years and ten months, in the post of Director of the Financial Services Commission, Mr. Niguel Streete is to leave Anguilla on December 22 at the end of his contract which was originally for two years. He will be joining his family who preceded him in August to Grenada, his homeland, to seek early registration in school for his two children.

Inspector Andy Arsenault, Head of the Financial Investigation Unit of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, was part of a two-man delegation at a Grand Corruption Practitioners Conference at New Scotland Yard on November 24 and 25. He was accompanied by Inspector Emris Rogers of the Criminal Investigation Department.

In a statement to The Anguillian, Mr. Calvin Bartlett announced that he was not fired or retired from the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce but had resigned from his position as Executive Director with effect from December 7th, 2009.

Mr. Bartlett, who is now moving on, feels that he had contributed greatly to the development and recognition of the Chamber during the seven years in which he served with much sacrifice and hard work but with an absolute sense of pride and accomplishment.

Anguilla’s Revolutionary Leader, James Ronald Webster, who keeps a low profile, appeared on a public rostrum on Sunday, November 29 at the parking area of the park that bears his name and delivered a short address to the gathering there. The event was a ‘Concerned Anguillians Rally” to which he was invited and prayed about.