News

The people of Anguilla and other islands served by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court are to see a re-structuring of the Magistrates’ Courts, according to Acting Chief Justice, Adrian Saunders.

Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming and Minister of Finance Victor Banks attended the Sixth Overseas Territories Consultative Council (OTCC) held in London on September 21 and 22. The meeting was hosted by Bill Rammel the Overseas Territories Minister and attended by Chief Ministers and senior politicians from the British Overseas Territories, including the Premier of Bermuda and Councillors from St Helena and the Falkland Islands. The only territory not represented was the Cayman Islands, due to the recent hurricane disaster.

Shanghai, China – The Anguilla financial services industry was in the spotlight at the Asia Offshore 2004 Conference held September 14 - 17 in Shanghai and hosted by the Asia Pacific Offshore Institute (APOI). The theme for this year’s conference was “A Brave New World – Investing Into and Keeping Abreast with the Offshore Financial World”.

Psoriasis (pronounced sore-i-ah-sis) is a common and chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide. This disorder can cause severe emotion and physical impact on individuals with it. Although there is no cure, many of the symptoms can be controlled with treatment.

Cable & Wireless’ Business Unit in Anguilla has donated EC$5,000 and 500 exercise books to the Education Department for the schools on the island. The donation was made as part of the company’s philanthropic objectives under its new Foundation recently announced in St. Lucia.

In a historic signing ceremony at the Ministry of Infrastructure Communications and Public Utilities, the Public Utilities Commissiontoday issued Weblinks Limited the first telecommunications license inAnguilla’s recently liberalized telecommunications market. Weblinks, alocally owned telecommunications company since 1999, won the competitive bid for the license in December 2003, beating out DigiCel. A second license was won by Wireless Ventures (Anguilla) Ltd. in April 2004.

The Anguilla Government and the private sector have joined the rest of the region in contributing to the relief and recovery efforts being made to assist the people of Grenada following the devastation by Hurricane Ivan. The Spice Island took a severe pounding from the hurricane which left a trail of destruction and death in its wake.

The recently-implemented security system at Blowing Point Port, where hundreds of people pass through daily between Anguilla and St. Martin, is going relatively smoothly with the cooperation of all persons. The only exception is that some times a shortage of staff has made it difficult to man all the areas of work.

Cap Juluca Hotel in Anguilla has won the special destination wedding competition hosted by NBC, one of America’s leading television networks. The local resort emerged winner after one week of voting, via the internet, for four finalists selected from among some 100 competing properties in the United States and Canada. The three other finalists were Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City, Canada; Lake Placid in New York State and Biltmore Estate in Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina.

Members of the flight crew and local staff of the American Eagle stood outside the last of the ATR-42 aircraft to fly into Wallblake Airport in Anguilla on Tuesday, September 7, in a gesture of farewell, as tourists and other passengers boarded the plane for San Juan, Puerto Rico. While it taxied down the shoulder of the runway for take-off two fire trucks, positioned on either side, showered an arc of water overhead in salute to the airline for its service to Anguilla which began in November 1986.

On its popular Today Show, NBC, one of America’s leading television networks, is hosting a special destination wedding in which Anguilla and Cap Juluca Hotel are among the four finalists selected from some 100 competitors. The other destinations that won selection are Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City, Canada; Lake Placid in New York State; and Biltmore Estate in Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina.

The Anguilla Government is joining in a regional effort to fight cervical cancer, more vigorously, to save the lives of the older women-folk who are increasingly coming down with, and dying of, the disease.

Malliouhana Hotel and Spa celebrated its 20th Anniversary of operations on September 2, with a lavish party for its more than 250 staff (spread across its various departments) and their families and friends.

The Adult and Continuing Education Unit in Anguilla has had its first graduation of students, calling attention to the usefulness of the courses to upgrade the skills of persons wishing to do so in various vocational, technical or academic pursuits.

The National Bank of Anguilla has announced a calendar of events spread over a year to celebrate its 20th Anniversary. The celebrations will officially commence on December 8, 2004 and continue until December 2005.

The Health Authority of Anguilla has just completed a review of its operations during the second quarter of the year, some 190 days since its establishment. The review was to receive feedback from Heads of Department on the level of implementation of objectives; identify constraints to the achievement of those objectives; and present plans and programmes for the third quarter.

Sixteen children in Anguilla will be hosted by the Department of Social Development during the period July 19 to 30 as part of its annual summer community outreach programme.

Class Six P of the Road Primary School has been named as the winner of the 2004 Hello Tourist Project of the Year Award. The awards were announced at a cocktail reception in honour of all Class six students held on Wednesday, July 14th, 2004 at the Anguilla Great House Beach Resort.

The Chief Minister’s Office, which has responsibility for Labour, initiated a Job Preparation Workshop for the 2004 graduates of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. The workshop, held at the House of Chandeliers, was organised by a Committee of representatives from the Chief Minister’s Office, the Labour Department, Tourist Board, Department of Education and the Guidance and Counselling Department of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.