Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/3959/-1/140/
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Government Funds Appreciation Dinner For Scipio
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The Anguilla Government has shown its gratitude for the work of outgoing Attorney General, Ronald Scipio, by funding an appreciation dinner for him at Altamer Resort Restaurant on Saturday, September 30.
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Scene at the Dinner
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Speaking during the ceremony, (chaired by Magistrate Bernie Stevenson-Brooks), Acting Chief Minister, Victor Banks, said the dinner was the brainchild of Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, who regretted not being able to attend the gala event.
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Scene at the Dinner
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“The Chief Minister has not worked with Mr. Scipio for as long as I have, but I know that when he decides to make a gesture of this kind to a public officer it is because of a deep respect for his contribution,” Banks said. He praised Scipio for his legal advice and work generally, for bringing “great respectability to the Chambers both locally and regionally” and for creating “somewhat of a centre of excellence in terms of the Law Reform Project.”
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Scene at the Dinner
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Banks, who described Scipio as being “a bit of a perfectionist” and “painstaking to a fault,” went on: “Even though I consider patience and tolerance to be one of my greatest strengths, I must admit that there have been times when he has gotten on my last nerve – especially when my colleagues and I have been anxious to move a matter forward which requires legal oversight. As a member of his staff said in her presentation, he will go through the greatest detail to make sure that all the “t’s are crossed and all the “i’s” are dotted.”
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Scene at the Dinner
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In addition to the Law Reform Project, Banks praised Scipio for his advice on transhipment issues during the Government’s negotiations with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He recalled that several millions of dollars in revenue for infrastructure development came as a result of the transhipment project.
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Scene at the Dinner
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Mr. Banks was confident that based on Mr. Scipio’s record in the public sector he would handle his new challenge in the private sector with as much fervour as he had over the years as Attorney General.
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Scene at the Dinner
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Evalie Bradley, Principal Assistant Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office, said the appreciation dinner was a well-deserved and fitting tribute to Mr. Scipio and hoped that other public officers would be recognised for their service even in a smaller way. She stated that Scipio’s service had been characterised by hard work, dignity and professionalism and commended him for his dauntless and indomitable spirit in the face of “the truths, half truths and no truths” that he had encountered occasionally during criticisms of his Chambers.
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Chanelle Petty makes presentation to Mr. Scipio
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Governor Andrew George, who previously held a reception at Government House in honour of Mr. Scipio, emphasised the importance of sound and reliable legal advice to him and to the Government with respect to decisions they were required to make. “In the person of Ronald Scipio, Anguilla has had an Attorney General of great ability and great integrity,” he remarked. He stated that in the short time he had been in Anguilla as Governor, he had always found Scipio’s “response precise and to the point.”
Deputy Governor, Stanley Reid, who worked for some years with Mr. Scipio in the Attorney General’s Chambers, said he had demonstrated significant strength of character in the exercise of his duties. He stated that there was always a harmonious relationship between Scipio and the staff, an exercise of mutual respect and professionalism. He added that if at times there were expressions of disagreement in house there were always expressions of solidarity in public. He said Scipio had gained much respect among his colleagues in Executive Council when he would sound notes of caution during particular courses of action, thus demonstrating his independence and commitment as a legal practitioner.
The appreciation dinner went very well and was enjoyed by all in attendance.