News

Anguilla’s Director of Social Security Mr. Timothy Hodge has called for the country’s Social Security System to be proactive in the challenging times which confront us as the global economic crisis begins to impact Anguilla. He issued this call as he presented the Social Security Board’s 2009 Programme of Activities and Budget last Thursday at the Teachers’ Resource Centre Auditorium. Noting that this was the second such public presentation, the Director stated “as fiduciaries we owe a duty of care and loyalty to our contributors whose funds we hold in trust. Our values driver ACTIVE starts with Accountability, and so in this environment where corporate governance must be more than a catchy phrase or buzz word, we are doing our part to be accountable - open and transparent.”

The Anguilla Electricity Company (ANGLEC) is installing a brand new and costly 5.2 megawatt diesel generator at its Corito Power Station.
ANGLEC’s recently-appointed General Manager, Tommy Hodge, told The Anguillian that the engine, ordered a year and a half ago from Wartsila, Finland, was purchased at a cost of US$5.8 million. Its installation should be completed by mid-April and will give the company the capability of meeting the growing demand for electricity until at least 2013.

Mrs. Donna Banks, Special Assistant in the Ministry of Tourism reported on Wednesday this week that in spite of the challenges over the past eighteen months to improve access out of the San Juan hub, Anguilla Air Express operated by Rainbow International Airlines will commence serving the Anguilla San Juan route beginning February 14, 2009.

Cap Juluca, now perhaps the most rejuvenated and attractive resort in the Caribbean, has launched its 21st year of operations and, in a presentation ceremony on Tuesday this week, long service and other awards were distributed to its deserving and proud employees.

CuisinArt Resort & Spa, a high-end property on Anguilla’s southwest coast, has now officially opened its state-of-the-art expanded Venus Spa, a facility which will ultimately increase the rave reviews the hotel currently enjoys around the world.

The relaxing Le Bistro area at Malliouhana Hotel and Spa was the scene of a well-planned and formal celebration on Tuesday night, January 20, as the Anguilla Community Foundation joined global celebrations in observance of the historic Inauguration of President Barak Obama, the first African- American to grace the White House in such a lofty position.

Some 100 people from across Anguilla filled the Teachers’ Resource Centre on Monday evening, January 12, by attending a public consultation on the 2008 revised draft Labour & Immigration Policy which is to be introduced later, following a number of important amendments.

Easily, there could have been around 300 people from all walks of life, among them being a number of schoolchildren, who jammed the Teachers’ Resource Centre for the launching of the new book, Bless Our Forebears, by historian, author, and columnist, Colville L. Petty, OBE.

If all goes well, as planned, there will be a solution in the near future to the difficulty of full airlift from Puerto Rico into Wallblake Airport, Anguilla. At present, American Eagle, having cut back its operations, is providing only one flight at night to the island. This is hampering travel to Anguilla from key tourism markets on the United States mainland, the Puerto Rican market and is also affecting Anguillian travellers.

The people of Anguilla will get a new insight into their history with the imminent publication of the book Bless Our Forebears written by Colville L. Petty, an authority on Anguilla’s history. The launching will take place at the Teachers’ Resource Centre in The Valley at 7:00 pm on Tuesday 13th January 2009. It is an occasion to which all members of the general public are invited to attend.

More than 500 people crowded St. Augustine’s Anglican Church to capacity on January 3 for one of two Memorial Services bidding farewell to Anguillian Pilot and Aircraft Mechanic, Ken A. Webster. He died along with two passengers when his plane, traveling from Beef Island, Tortola, crashed in a rainforest in Puerto Rico on December 3, 2008.

Former Science Teacher at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, the late Yvonne Francois Harrigan-Thomas, originally of East End, was accorded much commendation for her fortitude, dedication and quality of life at a Thanksgiving Service held at the Central Baptist Church at Rey Hill on January 3.

The Ebenezer Methodist Church Hall was filled to capacity as people from across the island journeyed there on December 20 to witness a re-enactment of an “An Ole Tyme Wedding.”

Many years ago, in the schools and communities in Anguilla, and across the rest of the Christian world, the Christmas carol There’s A Song In the Air was one of the popular tunes heralding in the joyous season. Today, despite the variations in music and tunes, that beautiful song still has its popular place in the Yuletide. In fact, it is the central theme of all other carols, songs, messages and symbols of Christmas, speaking about the birth of the Christ Child and Redeemer of Mankind, in a manager in ancient Bethlehem. (See text of song elsewhere in The Anguillian).

Adult and youth groups from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Anguilla were the organisers and presenters of one of the religiously-inspiring programmes on the island in run-up to Christmas.

The Christmas Season is depicted at North Side, just outside The Valley, in a most beautiful way that is attracting many people there at night after passing through the lighted and decorated Coronation Avenue.

There appears to be a flurry of social, cultural and religious initiatives these days springing from the imaginative ability of groups and individuals to preserve and revive various traditions, practices and beliefs that have helped to shape the lives of the people of Anguilla in the past and even at present.

Members of the Anguilla House of Assembly have been advised that while they are in a privileged position to say what they wish in parliament, they have to be careful not to repeat certain statements outside the House in public to avoid the possibility of being sued in court for libel or defamation.

The Ministry of Finance of the Government of Anguilla has crafted a budget of 339 million Eastern Caribbean dollars to meet the growing cost of the island’s public services and capital programme for 2009. It is the largest estimated expenditure so far from the island’s Treasury and a far cry from the days of a grossly under-developed public sector when the budget was “a mere drop in the bucket.”

The time is here again when The Valley town centre in Anguilla has brilliantly come alive by what is being called A Christmas Festival of Lights. Not only has he even heralded the season of peace, goodwill and merriment, but has provided a place to go at night from now until the end of the year to enjoy a varied programme of cultural events featuring, in the words of the brochure, An Ole Tyme Christmas. It has come just one week earlier than Festival D’ Noel, another cultural series of events at East End, commencing this Saturday, December 12.