Local News

A case in which four armed and masked assailants opened fire on a young man at Rey Hill, injuring him and causing damage to property, has angered police in Anguilla and the who are aggressively investigating the incident.

Last week The Anguillian published an article about the ‘temporary cessation’ of work at the Flag/Temenos project on July 31, the consequent laying off of over 70 local and regional construction employees as well as the laying of Chinese and other nationality workers who, initially, were still on the job. The article further stated that while this category of the workforce was still not engaged on the site by Ashtrom (Anguilla) Ltd., (the construction company), the Anguilla Government had been given assurances by one of the developers that the project would be resumed shortly as they were actively working on obtaining money to re-finance its development.

Members of the public will have an opportunity during the observance of the upcoming Traffic Week in Anguilla to attend special written test classes in driving outside the normal times, Sergeant Marva Brooks, who is in charge of the Traffic Department of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, has announced.

The first ever historical and cultural film on Anguilla, climaxing with the much celebrated 1967 revolution, is to be the island’s highlight presentation at the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) which will be held in Guyana from August 22-31. A premiere of the short film entitled Our Anguilla was shown at the Soroptomist Club Centre late last week with a capacity crowd in attendance.

A number of children are benefiting from five years of secondary education at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, thanks to the Anguilla Social Security Board which is financing the scholarships. The programme, which has now been expanded, was launched on the first of this month, an event which should have taken place before as part of the 25th Anniversary celebrations in 2007.

Up to fifteen persons were added to the prison cells by the time carnival ended on Sunday, August 10, arising from disorderly conduct involving fighting and throwing missiles mainly during the Last Lap of the Summer Festival on Saturday, August 9.

On Tuesday, August 12, 2008, the Honourable Kenneth Harrigan, Minister of Infrastructure, Communications, Utilities, Housing, Agriculture and Fisheries, in the Government of Anguilla, pleaded guilty to two Summary Charges of being in possession of unlicensed firearms. The weapons were described in the Magistrate’s Court as being a Titan Tiger special .38 Revolver and a Remington Shotgun. Mr. Harrigan, who had been licensed previously to hold the firearms, had failed to renew the licences for a number of years.

J’ouvert Morning, a highlight of the Anguilla Summer Festival is usually a bustling event as hundreds of Anguillians and visitors make their way to Sandy Ground in a street jam session. As was the case this year, as in previous years, the musical and dancing trek mushroomed into a big fete on the beach as the milling throng awaited the start of a week of exciting boat races.

Police Commissioner in Anguilla, Keithly Benjamin, has delivered a post Summer Festival radio address in which he strongly condemned the gang violence during Last Lap on Saturday, August 9, which led to the stabbing death of Orlando Johnson and injury to other persons.

The situation in which a number of Anguillian and regional construction workers were laid off as of July 31 by Ashtrom Anguilla Ltd, the contracting firm at the Flag/Temenos project, due to a temporary cessation of work and lack of funding, is continuing with the employees still off the job.

Anguillian Police Officer, Detective Constable Glenn Webster, is having the distinct honour and privilege of serving at Heathrow International Airport in London, one of the busiest airports in the world.

One of Anguilla’s most successful and respected couples, the Reverend Dr. H. Clifton Niles and Mrs. Ruth Niles, celebrated 40 years of Marriage and 40 years of Ministry on August 8, 2008, with a well-attended Service of Thanksgiving at the Bethel Methodist Chapel, where they were married on August 8, 1968.

The National Bank of Anguilla has presented the trophies and medals to the winners of its Fourth Annual Peter Perkins Memorial Boat Race and Fun Day Village Games held recently at Sandy Ground.

More than one hundred young persons and adults from Anguilla benefitted from the holding of the 18th Annual Black Summit in Anguilla from August 1-3. They were joined by sixty persons from the USA, the Caribbean and Africa for the event that was organized by the Enlightenment Team from Anguilla that included Una Gumbs, Courtney Abel, Kenn Banks, Linda Banks, Ijahnya Christian, John Benjamin and Seymour Hodge.

Participants, facilitators and members of staff of the Department of Social Development were recognized at a closing ceremony held at The Anguilla Great House on Tuesday evening, August 12 at 7pm. His Excellency The Governor Mr. Andrew George and Mrs. George, The Honourable Deputy Governor Mr. Stanley Reid and Mrs. Reid and The Honourable Minister of Social Development Mr. McNeil Rogers attended and showed their full support for the eleven fathers and sons who participated in the retreat held at the Anguilla Great House.

The Methodist Youth Summer Fest is designed to bring together young people from ages 5-25 to participate in various learning activities and at the same time create a sense of community and partnership between participants. The first event was stage in 2007 when about 150 young people took part. There is no restriction on participation other than age, candidates from all denominations are welcome and have participated.

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank is again teaming up with financial and academic partners in Anguilla to host another Savings and Investment Course scheduled to commence on September 25. The sessions will be conducted at the Community College Development Unit in the John Rogers Building at the Water Swamp adjacent Caribbean Cable ommunications as previously.

The appearance in the Magistrate’s Court this week of the Minister of Infrastructure, and his punishment by the imposition of fines amounting to EC$154,000 for having two unlicensed firearms in his possession, although regrettable, struck a good chord in Anguilla. Not only is it proof that everyone of us is fallible irrespective of our station in life, but more importantly it demonstrated that no one is above the law by reason of the position that person occupies. It also showed that justice is alive in our small democracy and has sent a sharp message to other small island states and bigger territories alike that the rule of law is preeminent and each of us is equal before the law.

It will be ten days of frolic and merriment in Anguilla following the grand opening ceremony and fireworks display of the 2008 Summer Festival at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre in the Valley township on Thursday, July 31.

The carnival activities in Anguilla, which will be held mainly at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre, apart from the street performances, will be heavily policed from the opening ceremony on Thursday, July 31, for the duration of the Summer Festival ending on Sunday, August 10.