News

Surgeon at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Anguilla, Dr. Marjorie Yee-Sing, has warned persons on the island to watch the fatty and greasy foods they are eating. “One of the major concerns here in Anguilla is the number of patients that I have seen with gall bladder disease, and that has a direct impact on the amount of operations we are doing for that particular disease as patients are referred to me when they have that disease and I have to do an operation on them,” she stated. The highly-respected Jamaican-born surgeon made the comments in an interview with The Anguillian.

Thirty-two middle management public servants drawn from throughout the public service, and divided into groups of 16 over two separate days this week, had a most enjoyable learning experience. The interactive sessions, held at Paradise Cove, involved lectures and group discussions which were described as inspiring and most effective.

Police Commissioner Keithly Benjamin says despite difficulties in dealing with certain matters, officers of the Force are still relatively upbeat in carrying out their duties and are determined to crack the criminal cases at hand.

As the Anglican Church observes the traditional Lenten Season, commemorating the passion of Jesus, 14 paintings of the journey to Calvary have been dedicated at St. Andrew’s, Island Harbour.

The Anguilla Red Cross Committee appears to be on a path of rejuvenation to make its presence and service greater felt on the island.

In a brief but impressive ceremony at Government House, Miss Irma Elizabeth Richardson of Long Bay was presented with the Insignia of the Most Excellent Order of Member of the British Empire (MBE).

The Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which at last appears to be making its voice heard, may soon achieve some substantial inroads into the island’s economic development. Motivated by an active Board of Directors and a hard-working Executive Director, chamber body, through its new Business Development Centre, is taking a hard look ahead. It is examining ways and means in which it may help in the continuing effort in moving the island forward and training its entrepreneurs and other people to meet the coming challenges.

Iris Hughes and Kent Webster, parents of Jamida Webster, whose murder still remains unsolved after eleven months, on Wednesday February 18 handed a petition to Governor Peter Johnstone requesting him to invite Scotland Yard to Anguilla to investigate the case. The petition was signed by 4,703 Anguillians.

Chairman of the Anguilla Tourist Board, John Benjamin, has added his voice to a new effort to further market and develop the island’s tourism industry. The plan was outlined last week following top level meetings with officials of Government, the business community, Tourist Board, Hotel and Tourism Association and the newly-appointed Public Relations and Marketing representative, Marie Walker, as Regional Director for Anguilla in the United States working in conjunction with a team of promotional specialists from the firm Irwin/Slater.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communication, Utilities and Housing, is now Acting Deputy Governor in Anguilla in the absence of Mr. Mark Capes on leave in the UK.

The Valley community was in shock on Wednesday morning February 10 occasioned by the drowning of 42-year-old Sonia Rosalind Brooks, who fell in her cistern.

Middle and Senior personnel throughout the Anguilla Public Service are learning new management skills in a two-week workshop being conducted on the island by two trainers from the British Civil Service. The course is being delivered by Roy Howells and Charlotte Revely at the conference room of Paradise Cove Resort.

With the Anguilla Health Authority just about three weeks into its work, its Chief Executive Officer, Dexter James, is assuring the public of a high level of medical and health services far beyond what was provided under the old system ran by the Government. All that he, his management team, the Board and other health-care providers are asking for is the cooperation and support of everyone as the new processes are put into action for the enhanced delivery of the services.

On Wednesday 21st January 2004, the Honourable Justice Davidson Baptiste began hearing of the substantive arguments in the matter Bernice V. Lake and Others v Attorney General of Anguilla and Others at the High Court, The Valley, Anguilla.

Chief Minister, the Honourable Osbourne Fleming and members of his cabinet met with Permanent Secretaries and Special Assistants on Monday January 5, 2004 to discuss a number of matters relevant to the successful functioning of his government in 2004.

“If the Government were to change, would the new politicians allow motorists to put back the tint on their vehicles?” a young man asked in disgust as he scraped the black film from the windshield and windows of his car. That is the depth of the feeling of some persons who think the task is painstaking and that politics will offer a way out later. The majority of vehicle owners, however, seem content to remove the tint which is now a violation of the Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Ordinance 2003 which came into effect on January 1, 2004. In fact, they are blaming some persons for over-doing the tinting, thus not only blackening out the inside of their vehicles but obscuring their own clear vision outside as well. In most cases, motorists applied the film to reduce the rays and heat of the sun, but even vehicles coming from the manufacturer with built-in tinted glass are up for scrutiny if allowance is not made for 65% of light to pass through.

The Minister of Social Development and Lands, the Honourable Eric Reid, who has been ill since the middle of December 2003, is currently receiving medical care in the USA. Mr. Reid is suffering from a severe eye infection which has deprived him of his vision, a condition which will hopefully be temporary.

The world-renowned resort operator St. Regis, is to run the hotel component of the golf course project in Anguilla.

The Tranquility Jazz Festival closed on Sunday, November 16, at Road Bay with a mammoth crowd in attendance. The visitors and residents filled Johnno’s Beach Restaurant to capacity as they dined and enjoyed the arresting music played by Johnno’s and the Anguilla Jazz Ensemble. The crowd then converged on the beach where they listened to Anastacia Larmonie Ensemble of St. Maarten and the Anguilla Community Jazz Band.

The Anguilla Government’s decision to promote tourism as the engine of the island’s economic growth is paying dividends. This is according to Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism, Osbourne Fleming. He made the assertion on Monday this week while delivering the feature address at the opening ceremony for Tourism Week and the presentation of awards. This year is a special one in that it marks 25 years since Anguilla embarked on up-market tourism as a means of sustaining national development.