Local News

Tickets for the highly anticipated 2007 Tourism Gala (Headline Sponsor National Bank of Anguilla) went on sale this week. The organizers of Anguilla’s Annual Tourism Gala are promising an even more spectacular ‘red carpet event’ than last year. Due to overwhelming demand for tickets last year they have increased the numbers and will be issuing tickets on a first come first served basis.

The Anguilla National Youth Council is currently preparing to elect a new executive committee. The election is scheduled for 8th December, 2007 at the Teacher’s Resource Centre beginning at 6:30 p.m. The executive committee is composed of a President, Vice President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary Treasurer and Unattached Youth Representative. All members of the Anguilla National Youth Council are being asked to take note.

On Thursday November 8th Flag Luxury Properties (Anguilla) LLC and Temenos Anguilla Resort and Residences donated US $1000 to the Anguilla Animal Rescue Foundation (AARF) for their education program. Mr. Arnie Hodge, Flag’s Director of Public Relations explained that Flag was approached by AARF’s Education Chairman, Linda Gratton, for a donation to be used to reach out and enlighten the school-age children of Anguilla on proper pet ownership and care.

Eleven-year-old Johnessa Harrigan, a Campus B student at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, was a finalist in the 2007 “My Caribbean Essay Competition”.
She was among 28 primary school students in the member territories of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) who entered the competition, now in its 15th year and sponsored by Conde Nast Traveler in New York.

Sixth Form student at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, Alexander Orchard, was Anguilla’s representative at the recent Tourism Youth Congress held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

For the first time since the new ownership arrangement relating to Cap Juluca has been announced, official details have emerged about the benefits the Anguilla Government will derive from its involvement in the hotel on behalf of the people of the island.

David M. Hodge, who is in his 70s, has been one of the frequent local cyclists seen in competitions or simply cycling around the island. Of late he is off the roads nursing what was a badly injured hip which is now reportedly healing well, thanks to doctors at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados.

In an opening ceremony held at the teacher’s resource centre auditorium, Director of Social Security, Mr. Timothy Hodge, read for the audience the objective of the 3rd Biennial National Development Conference. “The objective of the conference is to stimulate national debate and decision-making, and to engage Anguillian people and policy-makers in strategic planning for the island’s future development.

The energy and enthusiasm was palpable at Une Amore Café as the young Optimists of the three Junior Optimist Octagon International (JOOI) clubs gathered for their joint induction and installation ceremony on Saturday 10 November 2007. The induction of new members and installation of the boards of the three clubs was immediately followed by a pizza party and lots of fun and bonding.

Flag Luxury Properties (Anguilla) LLC which has had St. Regis as its Managing Operator for its Temenos Anguilla Resort and Residences, is soon to announce a new company to handle its operations.

A small wooden house has been completely destroyed by fire in the Cauls Bottom area despite the valiant efforts of officers from the Wallblake-based Anguilla Fire Service.

In their regular press briefing on Wednesday, the Anguilla Police stated that during the past week there were three burglary reports. They occurred in Sandy Ground, Island Harbour and East End.

“The investment climate in Anguilla has never been better for entrepreneurs,” says Carl Harrigan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Member of the Board of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).

A number of persons in Anguilla have been expressing pleasure at seeing Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming back on the island and at work, after spending several weeks in the United States on holiday and for his annual medical check-up.

Rotary Club of Anguilla, a very active community based organization, met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, November 1 at 6:30 pm. The Upper Level Night Club was elegantly prepped for the ceremony with programmes neatly laid out among the cutlery provided for the dinner that would take place shortly after the meeting was called to order. Mr. Seymour Hodge, President of the Rotary Club, along with Dr. Louis Bardfield, Sergeant-at-Arms, greeted the invitees and other Rotary members.

Anguilla’s growth and development before and since its revolution was made possible by the many pioneers that dedicated their lives to the betterment of the island and its people. Even today, this island nation has current heroes and pioneers trying to make a positive impact. Louis Price is one of these people deserving of some recognition for the strides he has been making for the past seven years with his dream to build Anguilla’s first recreational facility.

Chairman of the Anguilla Tourist Board, John Benjamin, says one of the things the island should be proud about is that all the players in the tourism industry are working as a unit to promote Anguilla as an upmarket destination, something he wanted from the outset of his appointment.

Between 2010 and 2015, the current 1,200 hotel rooms in Anguilla may increase to about 3,000 requiring some 9, 000 additional workers, given the speed at which the island is developing. Two problems are emerging: where these employees will come from, and where they will be accommodated.

Johnno’s Beach Bar & Restaurant at Road Bay, Sandy Ground, pumps out smooth jazz rhythms every Sunday with many fans in attendance for the fast-becoming popular music in Anguilla. Last Sunday, October 28, there appeared to have been a special feeling in the air as guests, Anguillians and visitors alike, contemplated on the coming Tranquility Jazz Festival to be held during the period November 8- 11. For many of them, it was a foretaste of the upcoming event.

The commencement of the tourist season is a time when we especially welcome visitors to the warmth, friendship and beauty of our island home, Anguilla. With the re-opening of our up-market hotels, guest houses, villas, restaurants and other places of accommodation and service, a number of our repeat as well as new visitors have already begun arriving on our shores.