News

Anguilla, a thriving up-market tourism destination, this week welcomed to its shores His Serene Highness, Prince Albert of Monaco, a tiny but wealthy island on the French Reviera. The Royal visitor, who was on a tour of the United States and the Dutch Caribbean, came to Anguilla at the invitation of Chief Minister the Hon. Osbourne Fleming. His visit here was part of a developing relationship between the two islands.

It is something special about Anguilla when an American couple, making a lot of money at home, fall in love with the island, sell their investments and come to live, invest and work here. So is the case with Jason Howe and his wife, Robin.

The title of Dame has now been bestowed on Anguillian lawyer, Miss Bernice Lake, QC. She was given the honour by the Antigua and Barbuda Government in the national honours as that state observed its 23rd Anniversary of independence on Monday this week.

Storyteller Motivates Workers

The re-opening of Cap Juluca Resort and Spa for the 2004/2005 tourism season was marked by an appreciation awards presentation ceremony for workers in its various departments and a motivational address by storyteller, Paul Keens-Douglas.

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank has ended its observance of Financial Literacy Month in October.

Cable & Wireless celebrated a double anniversary of service both to the people of Anguilla and Cable & Wireless customers throughout the region, on October 29, 2004.

The Supervisor of Elections, Mr Colville Petty, has issued a press release advising all political parties, prospective candidates and other interested persons, that the Executive Council has approved a revised schedule of electoral symbols for elections in Anguilla.

The Anguilla Philatelic Bureau at the General Post Office continues to focus on both international and domestic stamp themes which have influenced and helped to shape the development of our country. Presented are four of the more recent issues released to date on the bureau’s 2004 stamp agenda.

Coccoloba Resort, at Barnes Bay in the western area of Anguilla, which changed ownership at various times since its inception in the mid-1980s, is to be demolished following its purchase from the Montreaux Group. In its place, and on additional land to the west and east of the existing property, will be erected a new project whose developers are the KOR Hotel Group of Los Angeles, California. The project is estimated at a minimum cost of 120 million US dollars including the price of the extra land.

As the Governor’s Office, through the Deputy Governor, continues to reform and modernise the Anguilla Public Service, a three-member Integrity Board has been appointed to examine issues of conflict of interest where reported and to advise on how to resolve them.

Anguilla is the only Caribbean island chosen as part of an Atlantic Rim Festival tour by Ensemble Moscow XX1, the first professional and international orchestra to be established in Russia. Its conductor, Irish-born Lygia O’Riordan, who has fallen in love with Anguilla, has been on the island this week making arrangements for the December 18 and 19 tour.

“It is good to get out and about. I don’t want to sit in the Governor’s Office as it were in my ivory tower. I really want to get a real understanding of how people think, what their problems are and whether I can help or not.” Those comments were made by His Excellency Governor Alan Huckle in an interview with Nat Hodge, Editor of The Anguillian on Monday, October 11. He was at the time visiting the office of the newspaper as part of his continuing tour of the island and meeting its people.

The National Bank of Anguilla Limited has entered into a partnership with the Anguilla Tourist Board as the Official Bank of the Tranquillity Jazz Festival over a three-year period and has made an initial donation of US$50,000.

Wednesday, October 13, was graduation day for 117 Fifth Form students at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School in Anguilla. The theme of the graduation ceremony was Flying Higher, Reaching Further.

Some dates have been changed, like the time when Dash-8 aircraft should resume operations at Wallblake Airport in Anguilla (from October 16 to November 1), but December 17 is still the target date for the completion of the runway. “There are some challenges ahead, but we can get pass them,” Kenn Banks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, Utilities and Housing, told a press briefing on Tuesday, October 5.

Teachers in Anguilla were told at the beginning of a week of activities that their task was a heavy burden, but they should not give up.

Police in Anguilla announced on Tuesday, October 5, that a man was charged in connection with the murder of Jamida Webster of Island Harbour on or about March 13, 2003.

McGill University trained Anguillian Physician, Dr. Clyde Laurian Bryan, is now serving the people of the island at his Alantic Star Center of Medical Excellence at South Hill. The Internist opened his private practice on October 1, after completing a one-year contract with the Health Authority of Anguilla.

The Health Authority of Anguilla sees the Welches Polyclinic as a showpiece of its efforts to provide a reliable system of non-emergency health care services to patients at the district level and outside the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Mr. Peter Kennett, the British-born detective leading the investigations into three murders and one disappearance in Anguilla, has assured the people of the island that he will do his very best to resolve the tragic cases.