Local News

Rotarians in Anguilla, St. Maarten and from the Rotary Club of Vero Beach Sunrise, Florida, joined in celebrating the 105th Anniversary of Rotary International at Government House, Old Ta, on Tuesday evening, February 23.

At 99, Mr. Charlie Gumbs, of The Quarter, was the oldest voter who turned up to vote in the February 15 General Election in Anguilla.

President of the Anguilla Football Association, Raymond Guishard, says the soccer playing field at the Webster Park Annex is hopefully being developed at a world class level. The aim is to attract regional and international professional players to play at the developed area and to groom local footballers for the fast-growing major sport on the island.

On Saturday, 20 February, Theron Lozios lead a contingent of 34 golfers with a gross score of 77 in a gross/net tournament using the Stabelford scoring system.

The Anguilla Amatuer Basketball Association (AABA) opened its annual tournament on Friday February 19th on the Valley Basketball Court to a good crowd.

A 3-year process involving Rotary International and two Rotary Clubs - Rotary Club of Anguilla and Rotary Club of Vero Beach Sunrise, Florida – has come to a successful completion with the arrival and setup of much-needed equipment for the W.I.S.E. School on Crocus Hill. W.I.S.E. stands for Workshop Initiative in Support of Education.

Florida Rotarians, Arthur Hodge, Charlie Sturgis, and Paul Dritenbas, from the Vero Beach Sunrise Rotary Club, arrived on the island on Sunday, February 21.

Mr. Derek Ramsamooj, a noted regional personality, was in Anguilla recently and undertook a critical observation of the remaining days of the election campaign. He is a professionally and highly experienced Political Analyst and Development Consultant with extensive knowledge of the Political Economy of the Caribbean and an effective thinker and researcher who prepares and presents position papers and documents for policy-makers. He is a respected political commentator in Caribbean circles.

After a protracted and gruelling General Election campaign, the people of Anguilla voted for a change of Government on February 15, 2010. The Anguilla United Front (AUF), which dominated the running of the island’s affairs for a decade, lost office to the main opposition party, the Anguilla United Movement (AUM), led by Hubert Hughes who previously headed the island’s Government from 1994 to 2000.

Police in Anguilla are investigating three robberies between February 11 and 16. The first was on Thursday, February 11 at a night club in the Farrington area. Police were told that two masked men, one carrying a firearm, and the other a knife, held up the owner and customers and robbed them of money and jewelry.

The following is a general statement made to The Anguillian by the Elected Representative for Road North, the Hon. Edison Baird, on Tuesday this week.
I feel very happy and I want to again congratulate the people of the Road North constituency in particular for reposing such a high level of confidence in me.

One of the most colourful and memorable funerals in recent times, attended by a capacity crowd from throughout the island, took place at St. Mary’s Anglican Church on February 13.

The former Chief Minister of Anguilla, Mr. Osbourne Fleming, was given much commendation for his service to the island during the 29 years of his political career. The ceremony, chaired by Permanent Secretary, Foster Rogers, was organised by members of his staff and was held on the grounds of the Secretariat on Thursday, February 11.

Ground-testing at buildings will now be done more efficiently by the Electrical Inspector at the Department of Physical Planning, thanks to a donation, by the Anguilla Electricity Company (ANGLEC), of the US$3,500 state-of-the-art equipment.

A late resident of Anguilla, who dedicated the proceeds of his estate for charitable causes, has left a trust fund of two million US dollars for the education of Anguillian children under the age of 18.

While still in office as Chief Minister of Anguilla on February 13, the Mount Fortune Seventh-day Adventist Church, of which he is a member, held a special service in recognition of the 70th birthday of now retired Anguillian leader, Osbourne Fleming.
He officially retired on Tuesday this week from active politics, undefeated for some 29 years, as Elected Representative of District 2. Mr. Fleming attended the church service along with many invited guests.

Many students at the Morris Vanterpool Primary School at East End are now aware of what it means to work towards a career during and after their schooling. This awareness was brought home to them by their Guidance Councillor, Vivienne Fleming, and members of the teaching staff who held a very successful Careers Day Fair at the school as a pilot project for other primary schools across the island.

Two LIME customers can now pack their suitcases and get ready to be entertained VIP-style at Beyonce’s Concert in Trinidad & Tobago. In Anguilla, Mr Charles Gumbs had the magic formula that won him, not only concert tickets, but two airline tickets, compliments LIAT, and all of the attending VIP treatment when he arrives in Trinidad and Tobago with his guest, for the Thursday 18th event at the Queen’s Park Savannah.

The names of three deserving Anguillians, two alive and the other deceased, have been given to three playing fields in Anguilla. The first honouree is Owen Mussington of East End, after whom the Pond Ground playing field has been named. The second honouree is Clarence Fleming Rogers, whose name has been given to the Island Harbour playing field. The third honouree is the late Frederick O. Harrigan, after whom the Welches playing field has been named. The joint ceremony, at Pond Ground, was held on Friday, February 12.

Members of staff of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) on Friday 12th February presented a cheque for BDS$6000.00 to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).