News

Five privately-owned buildings were demolished this week as preliminary work on the expansion of Wallblake Airport continued. Two of the buildings were owned by Leslie Brooks and Conrad Bradley in the Long Ground area. They will now be replaced elsewhere by Government.

Some 135 workers and 40 sub-contractors employed on the golf course project by Flag Luxury Properties, demonstrated outside the Government Secretariat on Wednesday.

When the profiles of Anguillians noted for their indomitable courage and dedicated service are written, the Honourable Eric Leith Reid will stand out among them. The long-serving and highly-respected Minister of Social Development has added a new chapter to his contribution to Anguilla, the people of the island and to his own life. Known for his resilience and steadfast faith, he has adjusted quickly to the difficulty of losing his vision and on Wednesday this week, April 14, resumed his ministerial duties after an absence of about four months.

Flags flew at half-mast in Anguilla this week as a mark of respect for the passing of Jeremiah Gumbs, one of the most influential and dedicated patriots to grace his native island; and on Thursday he was laid to rest at the Sandy Ground Cemetery but the memory of him will live on for many years to come.

The Judgment by High Court Judge Justice Davidson Kelvin Baptiste in the case brought by the Lakes against the Anguilla Government, regarding its move to acquire 26 acres of land for the extension of Wallblake Airport, was handed down on Monday, April 5. The 37-page ruling was read by the Anguilla-based Judge Justice Janice Creque.

Anguilla Drugstore Owner/Manager, Olive Hodge, MBE, has qualified for pension under the island’s Social Security system having reached the age of 65 on March 9 and having been a faithful contributor to the fund.

Twenty-five students from the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School in Anguilla and other young people from St. Lucia, St. Vincent and St. Kitts, began a three-day Healthy Lifestyles Workshop here on Tuesday.

Alan Huckle, the next Governor appointed for Anguilla will not be wearing the traditional uniform on ceremonial occasions. The gleaming white attire, complete with sword, helmet and plume of swan feathers among other regalia, is now a thing of the past. The British Government has no interest in the pomp and circumstance surrounding the colonial outfit and has not been paying the cost for the dress. That cost, probably in the region of three thousand pounds, has been left for the Governments of the Overseas Territories or the Governors themselves to pay.

A Major Disaster Tabletop Exercise took place at Police Headquarters in Anguilla on Wednesday, March 31st. The first of its kind on the island, the event involved the participation of personnel from the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Police Force, Customs, Immigration, Wallblake Airport, Fire and Security Departments.

Cable and Wireless in Anguilla has been the main sponsor of the Inter-House Athletic Competition of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School for the sixth consecutive year.

The European Commission is providing 8 million Euros under the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) to Anguilla for the development of the island’s air transport sector. The balance of previous unspent EDF funds of 0.29 million Euros will also be available for this project.

The Optimist Club of Anguilla has donated EC$5,000 to the Anguilla Aids Foundation to assist with its work on the island.

A marketing consultant who fell in love with Anguilla, its people and way of life when he first visited the island in 1997, is confident that he can attract large numbers of Puerto Rican visitors to the island. He is Guillermo Pino, Anguilla’s newly-appointed Tourism Representative there. “It’s a perfect market because it is so close yet so distant,” he said. “If you are from Puerto Rico, coming here would be perfect because you will get away from traffic, noise and work, yet you are so close to home.”

A press conference at Callaloo Villas and the Angulla Yacht Club at Cul de Sac linked up to artistes in the United States was told that the 14th annual Moonsplash Music Festival here April 1-4 will be a grand affair.

Cable and Wireless has donated US$2,150.00 in sponsorship funds on behalf of Malone Richardson, a participant in the Carifta Games in Bermuda.

Authorities in Anguilla have made a determined effort towards protecting the island and making it a safe place for all of its citizens, residents and visitors. It is a three-some commitment involving the cooperation of the Police, Customs and Immigration. The partnership agreement is considered to be a big leap forward in guaranteeing the island’s security. It is set out in a Memorandum of Understanding which was signed on Wednesday, March 10, by the heads of the agencies. The signatories were Commissioner of Police Keithly Benjamin, Acting Comptroller of Customs, Glen Hodge, and Chief Immigration Officer, Ensor Gumbs. The signing was witnessed at Police Headquarters by Governor Peter Johnstone and Minister of Finance, Victor Banks.
The Mission Statement of the Memorandum of Understanding is to combat drug trafficking, smuggling of illicit substances, contraband and illegal immigrants, money laundering and terrorism.

“I am very excited about it and jazz is growing tremendously in Anguilla because of other promoters being involved,” said Valentin Davis. He was commenting on the upcoming Anguilla Jazz Festival which he will be presenting along with his friend and world top-rated steel pan player, Neville York.

Lionel Hodge, 43, died at the Princess Alexandra Hospital on Monday March 8, after he was struck by a backhoe on the Blowing Point Road. The accident occurred between 3:50 and 4:00 pm.

The new road from Blowing Point to Little Harbour has been completed and the six sections of road that were damaged in Hurricane Lenny have now been rehabilitated.

With the recent announcement by Government that an interim solution to the expansion of Wallblake Airport had been arrived at, it is now anticipated that construction work will begin next month.