News

After remaining closed, and the object of speculation by more than 70 investors, for several years, the Golf Course Project, owned by Flag Luxury Properties (Anguilla) LLC, was sold by public auction on Tuesday this week, June 7, for US$15 million. The event took place in the Golf Club House.

The newly-appointed Attorney General in Anguilla, James Wood, 45, told reporters he was extremely pleased and honoured to have been selected for the post which takes effect on July 11. He was speaking to reporters on Friday, June 3, shortly after Governor Alistair Harrison announced his appointment at a press conference.

Anguillians turned out in large numbers at the Ronald Webster Park on Anguilla Day, Monday, May 30, 2011, in celebration of their 1967 Revolution in which they wrested control of their island’s affairs from the Central Government of the late Premier Robert Bradshaw.

The people and business community of Anguilla will soon have an elaborate and sustainable supply of portable water to meet their varied needs. The extent may be so great that the Building Code requirement for expensive cisterns, to be a major part of construction plans for dwelling houses in particular, may be a thing of the past.

The 18-hole Greg Norman Golf Course in Anguilla, described as one of the best in the Caribbean, is being seen by Canadian and United States travel agents and local hotel and tourism personnel, as a delightful means of further promoting the island’s up-market hospitality industry.

Improving access to Anguilla through St. Maarten, with Juliana International Airport as the hub, with a section to facilitate Anguilla-bound travellers and other immigration issues, was among some of the matters discussed here between Government and tourism officials from both territories.

General Manager and Managing Director of Malliouhana Hotel and Spa, Nigel Roydon, announced in a press release on Monday, May 16, that the property would be closing for the summer for refurbishments and renovations on Sunday, May 22. Reopening of the resort is scheduled for the thanksgiving period in November.

The Anguilla Government’s Literacy Project, being undertaken through the Ministry of Education, got a further boost on Monday this week when the National Bank of Anguilla contributed EC$15,000 towards local training initiatives.

Government officials, the developer and other persons, braved an overcast sky and intermittent showers at a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday this week, for the Solaire tourism project at Lockrum. The site is on the south coast of Anguilla, east of Blowing Point, providing a picturesque view of the ocean, St. Martin and part of the Anguilla coastline.

The 2011 Population and Housing Census was launched in Anguilla on Wednesday morning this week, May 11, at a ceremony on the parking lot of the Ronald Webster Park, in the presence of scores of school children. A declaration, launching the event, was made by Chief Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Hubert Hughes. The actual enumeration work began on Thursday, May 12 and will continue until July 15.

A draft Domestic Violence Bill, aimed at adequately protecting women and children in Anguilla, was presented to the people of Anguilla at a public consultation at the Orealia Kelly Primary School Auditorium on Tuesday evening, May 3.

The Stabilisation Levy, which the Anguilla Government has imposed to balance the budget, but which is widely regarded as a burden to the people, is attracting growing criticism and calls for repeal.

The Ronald Webster Park in Anguilla was a colourful scene as various sporting teams and their young cheerleaders converged there on the Labour Day holiday.

Island Harbour Festival Del Mar, now in its fourth year, was a mammoth event and a resounding success. All day, Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24, hundreds of people from across the island, as well as visitors, converged on the coconut palm-fringed beachfor the varied activities.

Anguilla Air Express, an airline operated by Anguillians Kirby Hodge and his wife, Rose, can take over the service of the American Eagle which this month withdrew from the island as part of its termination of flights to various other Caribbean destinations from the San Juan, Puerto Rico hub.

Director for the British Overseas Territories, Colin Roberts, said it was sad to see some of the things written on the blogs about the United Kingdom Government’s attitude towards Anguilla and about Governor Harrison.

Twelve students, who have completed the basic sciences programme at St. James School of Medicine in Anguilla, graduated from their initial training at a White Coat Ceremony held at CuisinArt Resort and Spa on Monday, April 18.
The international students completed four semesters or sixteen months of study in the basic sciences.

The Literacy Development Project, of the Ministry and Department of Education in Anguilla, one of the most fitting national initiatives requiring substantial funding, has been presented with a donation of EC$300,000 for the joint work. The contribution was the biggest slice of a quarter million dollars donated by the Social Security Board from its development fund to seven recipients on Tuesday this week. The cheque presentations were made by Deputy Chairman of the Board, Alkins Rogers.

The first carefully-selected students from forms two and three at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School have graduated as Nursing Cadets following six months of basic training.
Their graduation ceremony, on April 9, with all the pomp and splendour attached to it, was held Aleta Restaurant at Viceroy Hotel, where some training sessions in fine dining were undertaken at Coba Restaurant recently as part of the programme.

The western area of Anguilla, in the tourism belt, is the first section of the island to have a sub-station linked to the Electricity Company’s main power plant at Corito. It was officially opened on Tuesday this week some distance behind the branch offices of the Caribbean Commercial Band and the National Bank of Anguilla.