Local News

The lightning growth of the Social Security System in Anguilla is one of the prides of the island as it prepares to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution, which has brought about immense prosperity for the people. It is of much interest that the Revolutionary Leader, James Ronald Webster, is the architect of Social Security the 25th Anniversary of which is now being celebrated.

The first batch of Chinese construction workers for the St. Regis/Temenos (Flag) project has arrived in Anguilla and further batches are expected shortly. The new set of foreign employers crowded the porch and reception areas of the Social Security Office late last week to receive their cards and numbers for the employee/employer contributions to the Social Security System.

There is to be a clean-up campaign taking in Anguilla’s 33 attractive beaches, a move to protect the island’s natural resources on which the tourism industry is heavily dependent. It is the second time that such a full-scale effort is taking place. The exercise has developed from what was originally the Johnno beach-cleaning at Sandy Ground to an island-wide undertaking with Digicel being the platinum sponsor.

Chief Minister, the Hon. Osbourne Fleming, is calling on qualified and skilled Anguillians in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and the US Virgin Islands in particular, to return home to serve in their island’s growing job market.

Ms. Talitha Webster of Island Harbour has been awarded a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Finance from Dallas Baptist University in Texas. Ms. Webster undertook her studies via a rigorous two-year distance-learning program, which she officially completed in December 2006. She skillfully balanced her academic and professional life, managing to produce excellent grades without compromising job performance.

Identical twin Krystal and Krystie Webster are next in the Morlens Music Studio Recital Series, on Sunday, January 28th, at 5:30 pm. The venue will again be the St. Augustine’s Anglican Church.

The Technical Department of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School is better equipped to serve the learning needs of students, thanks to a gift of various tools from the New York-based Anguilla Progressive Association.

Seventh-time repeat American visitor, David Small and family, have for the second consecutive year given donations to children, several non-profit, charitable and youth-oriented organisations in Anguilla.

Anguilla’s newest beachfront rental property, Meads Bay Villa Resort, opened last week at Meads Bay. Meads Bay Villa Resort is an intimate Caribbean resort community consisting of four casually luxurious villas. The villas, owned by Thomas McInerney of Newtown, Pennsylvania, come with all the comforts of home. Each villa has their own private pool, en-suite baths and full gourmet kitchens including all the amenities expected by Anguilla’s discerning visitors.

The 3rd annual Recognition and Awards Ceremony of the Anguilla Health Authority (AHA) was held at the Anguilla Great House, Rendezvous Bay recently.
Attracting a cross section of the island community, the event had as its theme ‘Harmony in Achieving Our Aims.’ Like in previous years, the event was very well attended.

The Valley, Anguilla (January 15, 2007) – Temarcus Hawley is the winner of Digicel’s $50,000 Key to Your Fortune promotion. Johnno’s Beach Stop last Sunday afternoon proved a fitting venue for the event, allowing a large crowd including family members, friends, tourists and on-lookers to witness this momentous occasion.

A week-long intensive workshop for Education Officers in Anguilla, along with two colleagues from Montserrat, has just been completed here.

The Junior Achievement Programme, now being pilot tested in Anguilla, has been given assistance by Scotiabank in the form of initial start up funds to cover the cost of material for two programmes chosen for evaluation by the Steering Committee.
Scotia’s Managing Director, Kerwin Jn Baptiste, said the bank was pleased to be associated with the pilot programme.

Anguilla and other OECS members which are supAAplied with petroleum from Trinidad and Tobago will be receiving a total sum of EC$84 million a year as from February coming.

Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School Fifth Form student, Yoann Romney, has won for himself a gift pack and a Dell Computer from Cable & Wireless.

JB Turbidy, a Principal of Amberge-Firesky, says his company, along with Anguilla Tourism Investment Ltd., which have a joint interest in purchasing Cap Juluca, were encouraged by a meeting this week with Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming.

The Royal Anguilla Police Service has been busy already early in the New Year, continuing the successes of last year.

Stakeholders in Anguilla representing the Anguilla Tennis Academy, Cable & Wireless, American Eagle, the Anguilla Tourist Board and the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association met in a press conference on Tuesday this week and lauded the upcoming Nashville, Tennesee, Country Music event on the island.

The six congregations of the Anguilla Circuit of the Leeward Islands District of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas are preparing for what will be a very eventful eleven days – the 201 Synod/ Conference of the 16-circuit territories which will be convened from January 15-26. The theme is Pursuing Our Stewardship Responsibility with Zeal.

It was thumbs up for Julius ‘Africa’ who ran into difficulties while on a fishing trip north-east of Scrub Island on Monday this week, January 8, but made it back safely and courageously. After a gruelling night he was found heading back to Island Harbour Bay the following morning having won the battle against the sea and drifting miles off course.