A new company has been created in Anguilla to enable the people of the island to own, develop and operate leading hotels and other tourism facilities. The company, Anguilla National Tourism Investment Limited (ANTIL), was launched at a press conference held in the Board Room of the National Bank of Anguilla on Wednesday this week, October 4.

Members of the Steering Committe, Interim Directors and others

The press meeting was chaired by Marcel Fahie, one of a number of persons intimately involved in the establishment of the company. He said that working with ANTIL is J. B. Turbidy, a principal of Auberge-Firesky LLC, developers and operators of unique luxury five-star boutique hotels. The US-based company is currently involved in a major project in St. Kitts.

A press statement was delivered by Kenneth Rogers, a member of the Steering Committee and an interim Director of ANTIL. He explained that the objective of the Anguillian company was “to ensure that a major portion of the luxury tourism sector is Anguillian owned and controlled over the long run; and that Anguillians are able to become partners with foreign investors in the tourism sector.”

NBA’s Chairman, J. N. Payne presents cheque to Kenneth Rogers

The press statement read by Mr. Rogers continued: “ANTIL has been created as a result of the sustained, committed and tireless efforts of patriotic Anguillians, who believe in the principle of economic empowerment of all Anguilliians. They are committed to contributing their varied knowledge, professional know how and practical skills and experience to ensure that the further advancement of the economic empowerment of Anguillians becomes a reality. The establishment of ANTIL…is positive proof of their efforts and commitment. ANTIL is extremely grateful to them. They constituted themselves as a steering committee supported by technical advisers to achieve the formation of ANTIL.

“Today is a significant first milestone for ANTIL. As a result of the positive and visionary decision of two Anguillian-owned business corporations, ANTIL has been provided with an initial infusion of capital in the amount of US$130,000 to enable it to be fully organised as an operating company. These companies are the National Bank of Anguilla (NBA) and the Anguilla National Development Company, better known as ANDCO. NBA has agreed to provide US$100,000 and ANDCO US $30,000.”

L-R: Claudel Romney, Kenneth Rogers, Joseph N. Payne and Val Banks

A symbolic cheque for US$85,000, the initial contribution by NBA, was presented by its Chairman, Joseph Norris Payne, to Kenneth Rogers of ANTIL; and another for US$30,000 was presented to Jed Hunte by Harris Richardson of ANDCO.

The press statement went on as follows: “ANTIL, it must be stressed, is a company established as a vehicle to enable broad participation by the people of Anguilla in the ownership, development and control of leading five star hotels and other top of the line tourism facilities on Anguilla. In this regard, ANTIL is currently in negotiation with a foreign partner, Auberge-Firesky LLC, developers and operators of unique luxury five star boutique hotels, to sign a joint venture agreement to create a joint venture company, to seek to acquire Cap Juluca. The joint venture company would physically restore Cap Juluca to its glory, maintain the Cap Juluca brand and sustain its position as the leading hotel in the Caribbean…

Harris presents cheque to Jed Hunte

“ANTIL wishes to emphasize that the company is not a special purpose company created to pursue the take over of Cap Juluca with its joint venture partner. ANTIL is a general development company which will focus on organising ventures and investing in ventures in the tourism sector in particular. [This will contribute] to the fulfilment of the Government’s and the people of Anguilla’s vision of major participation by Anguillians in the leading segments of the tourism industry.”

Those at the press conference included Valentine Banks, CEO of the National Bank. who like Marcel Fahie, was involved in the establishment of ANTIL; Joseph Norris Payne, NBA’s Chairman; Kenneth Rogers of ANTIL; Claudel Romney who is assisting in an advisory capacity; Marcel Fahie; J. B. Turbidy of Auberge-Firesky; Harris Richardson of ANDCO and Jed Hunte of ANTIL. Other ANTIL personnel who were not at the press meeting are Denise Romney, Calvin Richardson, an Anguillian from West End residing in St. Thomas, and Sherwin Richardson.

More information will be given with respect to the new Anguillian company and its operations later.

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