Local News

The younger generation in Anguilla will be given an opportunity to learn more about the traditional sea-faring life of the island when a new definitive issue of postage stamps is released on June 10.

Anguilla’s Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming has appealed to nationals to form community action groups to provide voluntary service to the island in an effort to contribute to nation-building. He made the appeal during the official parade at the Ronald Webster Park on May 30 in observance of the 36th Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution.

A senior official of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Simon Featherstone, was in Anguilla for discussions with elected members of the House of Assembly and other persons.

Four nationals, Mclean Webster, Hope Webster, Cardigan Hodge and the late Walter Hodge, who were among those in the vanguard of the island’s Revolution, were honoured on Anguilla Day at the Ronald Webster Park.

An Anguillian Professor has found it interesting to draw comparisons and contrasts between Anguilla’s Revolution of 1967-1969 and the American Revolution of 1775-1783. The occasion was the Third Annual Walter G. Hodge Memorial Anguilla Day Lecture on June 2 at the House of Chandeliers; and the lecturer was Dr. Lincoln Lewis, Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia and nephew of the late Mr. Hodge.
The audience included Governor Peter Johnstone, Acting Chief Minister and Minister of Finance Victor Banks, former Chief Minister Sir Emile Gumbs (who delivered introductory remarks about the life and work of Walter Hodge), family members of the late outstanding Anguillian and a cross-section of the public.

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in conjunction with KPMG Chartered Accountants, Anguilla, hosted a one-day accounting workshop at Paradise Cove on Tuesday, June 3, 2003. In attendance were accounting professionals from various companies and firms in Anguilla.

All Island Cable TV has announced that it will offer four new channels to its customers. Tier subscribers will now be able to enjoy FOX NEWS (CH. 50), COMEDY CENTRAL (CH. 56) AND BBC AMERICA (CH. 57). In addition, SHOWTIME (Ch. 27) will be offered as an additional premium channel option along with HBO, Cinemax, The Disney Channel and The Movie Channel. The new channels will be added during the month of June and Showtime will be shown free of charge through June 30th.

Three faculty members and twelve students from the University of Vermont arrived on the island last week to continue research on Anguilla’s Amerindian past. This is the fourth visit by an archaeological field school from the University. These visits began in 1997. As part of their course of study and training, students will participate in a number of archeological digs and will wash and process artifacts found in 2001.

All Island Cable TV has announced that it will offer high-speed Internet services to all its customers by the end of the year. In response to the Government’s liberalization of the Telecommunications market in Anguilla, Cable TV has informed the Government that it intends to position itself as a player in the Telecom field by utilizing the existing capabilities of its network.

The Anguillian was present when a group of boat racing fans was discussing the aftermath of the Anguilla Day races. The persons involved agreed to share their views with us:

Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, will be a guest of honour at the Anguilla Progressive Association of New York (APANY) 7th annual dinner dance to commemorate the 36th anniversary of Anguilla Revolution. The event will be held on Saturday, June 7 at Antons in New York. Distinguished guests will include Hon Yvette Clarke, Council Member of the 40th District of Brooklyn and Dr Karl Rodney, Publisher of New York Carib News.

Every May 30 is a time of reflection for the people of Anguilla as they celebrate the Anguilla Revolution. It is now the 36th Anniversary of that event which saw an unprecedented time of unity among the rank and file of the population, as the Anguillians broke ties with St.Kitts-Nevis to pursue a path of self-determination.

The Anguilla House of Assembly took offence with the casual attire of Leader of the Opposition Hubert Hughes on Tuesday May 27 and asked him to quit his seat and to take up a place in the public gallery instead. Mr. Hughes appeared in formal dress during the morning session of the House when he contributed to the debate on the Telecommunications Act 2003, but returned in the afternoon attired in a short-sleeved shirt outside his trousers.

The Governor’s Office says it has received reports of a public meeting held on Wednesday, May 21 which suggest that there is still some confusion about the holding of British and British Overseas Territory passports.

The clean-up of the island, involving the removal of derelict vehicles and other bulky waste, an initiative of Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming, has been supported by Scotiabank (Anguilla) Limited with a donation of US$500.

A few persons were asked to speak on issues that were on their mind at the time The Anguillian conducted the interview, and here is what they had to say:

Women at the Mount Fortune Seventh-day Adventist Church organised a three-part discussion programme on various matters affecting the family when they took over the regular service on May 24.

Anguillian Lawyer, Miss Bernice Lake, QC, speaking recently in Jamaica, has set out seven points which should be the hallmarks of a knowledge society. She was at the time addressing the opening of a two-day international conference on press freedom organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The title of her presentation was Legal, Economic and Policy Challenges to creating knowledge societies in the Caribbean.

A Service of Thanksgiving was held at St. Mary’s Anglican Church on Sunday May 25 in observance of the 36th Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution. It was attended by members of various churches and a number of pastors who were available, participated in the service.

Just so you know it is not your imagination, the cost of living in Anguilla has in fact increased significantly over the past months. Everywhere you turn, from utilities to groceries the cost of services and products is continuously increasing. The explanation for this increase led to the revelation that the Government in an effort to raise revenue and create a balanced budget imposed various taxes on businesses and as a consequence the establishments were forced to pass the cost on to the customer by increasing the charge for services and commodities.