A French Consular Office has been established in Anguilla for the first time.

The office is located in the Anguilla Block and Sand business place on the Edwin Wallace Drive, George Hill. It was opened on Friday, August 24, when the Consul at the French Embassy in St. Lucia, Michel Lisbonis visited Anguilla for that purpose.

L-R: Nigel Roydon, Evans Rogers, M. Lisbonis, M. Faligont and Joe Legg

Lisbonis, who has responsibility for the member territories of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, was welcomed by Minister of Social Development, Evans Rogers, on behalf of Chief Minister and Minister of Immigration and Labour.

Mr. Rogers said Anguilla was the neighbour of a number of French islands which always had a close relationship with a number of relatives in St. Martin and Anguilla. He stated that it was a pleasure having a French flag raised in Anguilla signifying the presence of a French Consular Office on the island. “I would like to welcome you here on behalf of the Government and the people of Anguilla,” he added.

Anguillian and French flags at Consular Office

Replying, Mr. Lisbonis thanked the Minister for his welcome remarks and Applebaum Lake for providing office space for the French Consular Agency. He was grateful to the Governor and the Chief Minister for their cooperation in giving France the opportunity to open the agency office in Anguilla and Nigel Roydon who served for eleven years as the French Consular Official.

Mr. Lisbonis was also welcomed to Anguilla by Staff Officer to the Governor, Joe Legg, who said he looked forward to working with the newly-appointed Honorary French Consular on the island, Michel Faligant.

Mr. Faligant said it was a great honour for him to serve in the position. He was grateful to Mr. Roydon for giving him the opportunity to have been one of the candidates for appointment and for his guidance.

He stated that it was also an honour to have the French Embassy official in Anguilla and that they were pleased to have had meetings at the Chief Minister’s Office where a number of matters including security, visas and immigration were discussed. He thanked Lake for the office space and Cossilda O’Loughlin who will be linking him with persons needing his assistance when he is not present.

Both French officials then joined in raising the French Flag which flies beneath the Official Flag of Anguilla.

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