Local News

The Ministry and Department of Education, along with its partners and other leading persons in Anguilla, are working on the island’s Education Development Plan for 2010-2015. The latest retreat was held at the Teachers’ Resource Centre last weekend.

For the second time, in two years, the Welches Village Fest, a cultural fair of traditional food, cooking practices, toys, artifacts and string band music, will be presented on Whit Monday, May 24.

The Teacher Gloria Omololu Institute is the first recipient of a grant from the Windsong (Anguilla) Foundation. A cheque for US$450,000.00 was presented to Kenn Banks by Keithley Lake, one of the Trustees of the Foundation.

My recent articles/commentaries seem to have provoked some concern among supporters of the Government as to my motives. In fact one talk show, supportive of the Government, drew comments from one of its notorious callers that rather than writing articles and dividing the country Victor Banks should come in and work with the Government”. Another well-known pundit remarked: “Victor Banks was quiet for sixteen years, all of a sudden he is in every publication of The Anguillian”.

Thursday 13th May 2010 marked the last of the recent round of graduation ceremonies recognizing the achievements of grade six students during their Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) courses.

More and more persons in Anguilla, involved in some kind of small-scale gardening, are continuing to see much success and encouragement particularly in their vegetable crops.

After serving for some 30 years as the local representative for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in London, Mrs. Joycelynne Ashby has now retired.

Generally, adolescence is known to be a period of change, friction and turmoil for teenagers and, furthermore, in this case we are alluding to teenagers who have committed or allegedly committed an offence or various offences. Once these teenagers have gone through the legal system and are sentenced or, in many cases, remanded to Zenaida Haven, there are a variety of responses in regard to their behaviour.

Communications Minister Hon. Evans Gumbs and Technical Officer (Communications) Crefton Niles represented Anguilla at the just concluded 21st Executive Council Meeting and the 12th General Conference of Ministers held in Kingstown by the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines in collaboration with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU).

Domestic violence, according to a United Nation’s report, is both a cause and a consequence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. "It is impossible to talk about HIV/AIDS without talking about domestic and sexual violence (Peer educator for men, Men as Partners Program, South Africa)". Domestic violence adds another major risk factor for transmission. Rape, sexual violence and women's inability to refuse unwanted sex or to demand safe sex, are serious factors in the spread of the epidemic.

The Nurses of the Health Authority of Anguilla would like to give a heartfelt thank you to all who have contributed to making “Nurses Week” celebration a success. The celebrations began May 10 and ended May 16, 2010. The theme for the week was “Nursing: caring hands by a noble profession” which was created by our very own nurse, Elneth Connor.

Inviting Mediterranean architecture frames your first view of the ocean and the smiling faces of those lucky enough to call Anguilla home greet you, ready to make your visit one you will never forget. The Caribbean sea’s scent, gin-clear turquoise waters and soothing sounds wash over you as cool tiles lead your feet toward the powder-fine white sands of the most beautiful beach you have even seen.

The Hon. Haydn Hughes, Anguilla’s Parliamentary Secretary and 1st Nominated Member, traveled to Barbados to attend the prestigious Caribbean Tourism Organization Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development. Welcome remarks were given by the Hon. John Maginley, Chairman of the CTO, with brief remarks given by Senator Kerry-Ann Ifill (who happens to be blind) on the issue of accessibility for the disabled.

Communications Minister Hon. Evans Gumbs and Technical Officer (Communications) Crefton Niles represented Anguilla at the just concluded 21st Executive Council Meeting and the 12th General Conference of Ministers held in Kingstown by the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines in collaboration with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU).

On Thursday April 29th, Ministry and Department of Education officials and sponsors were treated to a display of Boardworks software in use in the classroom at ALHCS. The demonstration was part of a ceremony to officially express thanks and appreciation to the sponsors.

The Anguilla Social Security Board is a major contributor to the 2010 Leeward Islands Youth Championship competition to be held in Anguilla over this weekend, May 22 and 23, in which some 200 track and field athletes from this island and a number of neighbouring islands will be participating.

At 45, newly-appointed Commissioner of Police, Rudolph Proctor, is one of the youngest Anguillian to head the island’s law enforcement agency. Known to be a keen sportsman and to have come from a humble background in the Farrington Village, he has 27 years of policing and a high degree of training and experience. Though steeped in humility, the popular lawman told reporters that he could be tough when his job demanded it, but quite open and understanding when that posture was required. (He succeeds Mr. Keithly Benjamin who retired at the end of April and took up a new appointment as Junior Magistrate.)

Some 30 delegates from the United Kingdom, the UK Crown Dependencies and the UK Overseas Territories, which operate shipping registers, as well as various stakeholders in Anguilla, met at Paradise Cove from May 10-14 this week. It was the first conference of the Red Ensign Group (REG) to be hosted in Anguilla.

The Anguilla Government has expanded the island’s ship registry which, while strengthening its marine regulations, will increase financial activity in this sector, thus attracting more local revenue and providing linkages to other fiscal areas.

The Police Report, delivered by Inspector Emris Rogers on Wednesday this week, showed that twelve crimes were committed in Anguilla during the period May 5-12.

Of that number, seven were burglaries at Blowing Point, Rey Hill, Meads Bay, Bad Cox, The Valley and Island Harbour.