News

John (Bob) Rogers, one of Anguilla’s most influential and long-serving taxi drivers, says he and his colleagues “suffered for 20-live long years” watching the American Eagle flying over the island to St. Maarten because the airstrip at Wallblake was wet and the aircraft could not land.

One of Anguilla’s tourism activities, Festival Del Mar (of the Sea), which started in February last year as part of a cultural education programme, will now be held from May 16-31 this year, according to Festivals Coordinator with the island’s Tourist Board, Fitzroy Tomlinson.

While there is so much in Anguilla to make us mind our own business, we do not live in isolation and must therefore sometimes look at events around us. It appears from information published elsewhere in this paper that St. Kitts-Nevis may now at last be jointly and cooperatively deciding to end their constitutional ties and going it alone. They are about to do so while preserving the cordial relationship between the peoples and governments of the two islands, under a possible Treaty of Friendship.

It has now been announced that Wallblake Airport in Anguilla will be extended to 5,606 feet and that the overall project will cost US $19 million. In making the statement, Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism, Osbourne Fleming, said that as time progressed it might be necessary to have a further lengthening of the airstrip, but for now the agreed length would serve the island’s needs.

Elected Representative for West End, Albert Hughes, is calling for more playgrounds around the developing primary school there in addition to the basketball court funded by the Social Security Board.

A group of highly skilled eye surgeons sponsored by the Anguilla Rotary Club, and in cooperation with the Anguilla Health Department, will be returning to Anguilla on Thursday March 6th.

February 27 is the day when Commissioner Mitchell Harrigan will officially retire from the Royal Anguilla Police Force. The occasion will be marked by a parade and handover ceremony. In the lead up to that event, Governor and Mrs. Peter Johnstone hosted a reception for Mr. Harrigan at Government House on February 13.

From Erasmus Williams—Press Secretary St. Kitts Government

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (FEBRUARY 18TH 2003) –
Representatives of Nevis’ two political parties, the ruling Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) and opposition Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) have advised of their preference not to participate in future Federal Elections and to expeditiously seek full Autonomy for the People of Nevis.

On Wednesday last Rebel Marine and Anguilla Techni Sales of North Hill exported a 41-foot Express Sport Fishing Boat to New Jersey USA. The boat, purchased by the proprietor of Haddon House Food Products of Medford New Jersey is designed and built for sport fishing tournaments and will be used along the New Jersey Gulf Stream coast and the Bahamas. Two seven hundred horsepower Johnson and Towers Engine are being installed by Cavalier Boat Works of Lower Bank, New Jersey and the boat is expected to reach top speed of around 41 knots.

As part of the New Year, the ECSE has embarked on a Marketing Education and Awareness Campaign for the entire OECS. The campaign is developed for a period of 12 months and includes print, television and oral presentations. Focus sessions are targeted at schools, business houses, financial institutions, community and service groups, government departments and others.

The Multi-Agency Committee on Domestic Violence is voicing its concern about the number of cases dealing with domestic and sexual abuse of women and children currently before the Magistrate and the High Courts here in Anguilla. In a meeting this week, the Committee expressed outrage over the outcomes of two of those Cases in the Courts last week. The agency is mortified that while there were convictions in both cases, both perpetrators received non-custodial sentences in the form of probation.

Word from London is that Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick, the consultants for the expansion of the Wallblake Airport, have been requested to proceed immediately with the detailed design work and to refine the cost estimates within the agreed funding amount. According to a press statement on the talks between the Anguilla delegation and UK officials, consensus was reached on a planning figure for the project but the amount was not disclosed.

Health sector officials in Anguilla remain concerned about the increasing number of cases of gastroenteritis in recent weeks.

Anguilla is getting further assistance with the development of its National Health Plan which includes the establishment of a Health Authority and a National Health Insurance. Two officials of the Pan American Health Orgnisation, Marilyn Entwistle and Shirley Augustin, began a short-term consultancy here this week funded by the Department For International Development.

The private sector in Anguilla may need to take steps to put security measures in place or to improve any system it may already have to protect itself from robberies. Times are changing and we must be prepared to deal effectively with this type of crime as it rears its ugly head. We must not wait until it occurs to act but should anticipate it and have in place structures that may help to prevent it and to catch the perpetrators. Some sections of the private sector are equipped with burglar alarm systems but there are circumstances where there is a need for security officers to be employed.

The 23rd Edition of the Borza Internationale del Turismo (BIT) is scheduled to take place in Milan, Italy, from February 15th to 18th, 2003. Attending from Anguilla will be Marketing and Research Officer, Ms. Ernie T. Hodge, who left the island to attend the four day event. Also attending from the private sector will be representatives from Cocoloba Resort, Cap Juluca Hotel and Carimar Beach Club.

The Anguilla Government was presented with eighty computers and 30 inkjet printers which were distributed to the six public primary schools where Information Technology is part of the curriculum. The equipment was provided by The Mount Sinai School District of New York.

The Bishop of the Diocese Northeastern Caribbean and Aruba, the Right Reverend Errol Brooks, and Mrs. Brooks were hosts this week at St. Mary’s Rectory to the Reverend John Schild, a Parish Priest in the Diocese of St. Albans in England. He is also serving with the World Office of the Church of England building companionship links with other parts of the Anglican community. “My responsibility has been to build up links with the Province of the West Indies and, in particular, with the Diocese of the Northeastern Caribbean and Aruba as well as with the Dioceses of Jamaica, the Windward Islands, Guyana and Belize,” he said.

A two-member team from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, visited Anguilla earlier this month as part of an initiative in the Eastern Caribbean.

Cable & Wireless would like to advise all its customers that from Monday 24 February 2003 they will be introducing a new service that will assist them in handling directory enquiries.