Plans are at an advanced stage for the lighting of the Valley area for Christmas under the theme “Follow the Star.” The lights, from the roundabout to a point just beyond the Department of Infrastructure, will take in some fifty large road side trees as well as the fencing along the area.

The annual activity is again being undertaken by the Valley Community Club and the Agricultural and Social Sports Club. The event, now in its seventh year, started off again a week ago with the erection of a board listing the sponsoring businesses and the launching of the tree-top banner.
Lynrod Brooks, one of the club members who chaired the ceremony for the launching of the event, expressed the hope that other community groups would undertake similar activities in an effort to help beautify Anguilla for the Christmas season.
Police Officer Vincent Gumbs was appreciative of the Christmas Tree lighting activity, noting that it was a positive way of involving young people in community development. He hoped that their efforts would attract the support of all members of the public.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development, Ralph Hodge, commended both clubs for a splendid job during the 2001 Christmas season. “Very few people who witnessed the glamour of the lights will forget the spectacle of the beauty it portrayed,” he said. “It is not simply lighting the Valley area, but an act of beautifying all of Anguilla. If both clubs are capable of a project of this nature at Christmas time, they must be able to be involved in other projects on a more regular basis. I want to encourage the membership to seek more partnerships for other projects to improve the social wellbeing of the Valley community and our island in general.”
Mr. Hodge noted that while there were young people who had the island’s communities at heart, there were others who cared little, as evidenced by their involvement in gang violence, drugs and teenage pregnancy. “Your work is one way of combating these evils,” he told the club members. “The Government of Anguilla is now working on a youth policy and I encourage your membership to get involved. You have a significant role to play not only the beautification and uplifting of the Valley community, but Anguilla in general. Strive for greater knowledge so that you can address issues affecting your island from a greater position of strength.”
The Vote of Thanks was delivered by William Vanterpool, Director of Agriculture. He mentioned that last year there were up to 75 sponsors and hoped that the remaining openings for sponsorships this year would be quickly taken up. (A slot on the fence is available at US$100 and on a tree the cost is double.)

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