News

Protesters Call For Withdrawal Of Bills

A large number of persons representing all seven electoral districts in Anguilla marched to the Secretariat on Tuesday afternoon, October 4, in protest against the Physical Planning Bill and the Labour Code Bill which have been discussion matters of much controversy over the past weeks.

OUR CHILDREN STILL REPRESENT OUR FUTURE"


Superintendent Minister of the Anguilla Methodist Circuit, Reverend Lindsay Richardson, told teachers that some of the wayward students, whose deviant and violent behaviour today is cause for concern, may well be the leaders of tomorrow.

Following is the letter presented to Chief Minister, Mr. Osbourne Fleming, during the protest march at The Secretariat on Tuesday, October 4th.

Government Ministers
Chief Minister’s Office
The Secretariat
The Valley, Anguilla

Honourable Gentlemen:

On Wednesday last, September 28, 2005 a town hall meeting was called at West End providing the citizens of West End, as well as other concerned Anguillians, an opportunity to offer an opinion on the “Physical Planning Bill” which had received two readings in the House of Assembly.

The following is a broadcast by Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, which is printed in The Anguillian in its entirety as a public service to the people of the island.

Minister Calls For Responsible Behaviour

Anguilla’s Minister responsible for Youth Affairs, Evans Rogers, says that over the years there had been many positive achievements by the island’s talented young people.

Teachers at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School returned to their classrooms on Tuesday morning, September 27, but the chilling stories they told of scary acts of violence that forced them to temporarily withhold their services linger on in the minds of many persons.

There are reports that the developers of a proposed major golf course and residential project taking in Junks Hole, Captain’s Bay and Windward Point have been told by Government that their start-up date will have to be after 30-36 months. The project involves 500 acres of land and the provision of 2083 rooms. The developers are Urban Nicklaus Holdings and Property Markets Group.

The Physical Planning Bill, 2005 and the Labour Code Bill, 2005 which were postponed in the House of Assembly on August 23 after the first readings, are attracting serious debate island-wide. Speaker of the Anguilla House of Assembly, David Carty, called for the postponement of the Bills on that date in the interest of transparent government and democracy to allow the Elected Members to discuss the provisions of the draft legislation with their constituents and to obtain the peoples’ “serious and wise input.” That input is regarded as being so serious and important that a number of Anguillian lawyers and other concerned persons have thrown themselves into the public debate as well.

Physicians, Nurses and Emergency Medical Technicians, serving with the Health Authority of Anguilla, have just undergone a short, but vigorous, course which can help them save the lives of persons suffering from cardiac arrest commonly referred to as heart attack.

Anguilla’s Clinical Psychologist and local and regional Workshop Facilitator, Dr. O. M. Linda Banks, says the island is fortunate that its Public Service is not corrupt unlike situations in other parts of the world where there are high percentages of corruption.

Senior Adviser to the Anguilla Government, Leith Errington Reid, and Justice Ian Donaldson Mitchell, QC, are the recipients of the awards of Officer and Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire respectively from Queen Elizabeth The Second.

On Tuesday, September 6, the Government side of the Anguilla House of Assembly kept its promise made on August 23 to begin a series of public discussions on the Labour Code Bill, 2005 and the Physical Planning Bill, 2005 which have already received their first reading. Notably absent, however, were the Opposition Members who had indicated their willingness to participate in the town meetings. The aim is for the elected representatives to get the views and input of the people on the draft legislation which was previously discussed at policy level by administrative personnel with members of the public.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Bank of Anguilla Limited, E. Valentine Banks, was presented with the number one business award won by NBA in a survey conducted under the auspices of the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Anguillians and other persons residing in Anguilla are advised of the new French immigration requirements now in force in St.Martin.

The Anguilla Government has set out to establish a modern fire and rescue service as a priority. The move takes into account the rapid pace of economic development, the need to maintain the response requirement of a Category 5 Wallblake Airport and, generally, the need to have an overall professional and fully-functional fire service for the island.

Residents in the Stoney Ground area and other parts of the Valley North Constituency have shown how community participation can play a vital role in nation-building.

The Chief Minister’s Office in Anguilla, concerned over various social issues stemming from development, immigration and labour matters, initiated a panel discussion on the St. Maarten/Anguilla experience on Wednesday evening this week.

The Anguilla House of Assembly has stayed its hand on two pieces of legislation for the time being. The move is to give the electorate – and the general public for that matter – a chance to join their elected representatives in a study of the provisions and to guide them on how they should proceed in the national interest.

On Wednesday 24th August, Melinda Goddard, MBA, Principal of ClienTell Consulting LLC presented the results of the second annual Anguilla Business Survey. The presentation took place at English Rose’s ‘The Next Level’ at 5.30 pm.