Local News

Minister of Social Development, Evans McNeil Rogers, described the new Youth Centre at Blowing Point as a rebirth of community- spirit and community government partnership for national development. He sees it as a model that can be developed throughout the island “so that our young people can use their time productively while building their character, self-esteem, self respect and respect for others.”

An 18-year-old resident at South Hill, Michael Luefung, has been charged and arrested for murder, bringing the number to four of such cases in Anguilla for the year.

Anguilla’s Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, told local reporters on Tuesday that his delegation’s request to Britain for a fifth Minister of Government was not immediately forthcoming as the Minister for the Overseas Territories, Meg Munn, said it was something for the United Kingdom to think about.

The Honourable Osbourne B. Fleming and his delegation attended several functions while in the UK. On Tuesday, 4th December, they attended a Reception at Lancaster House, St. James’ in London which was hosted on the occasion of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council (OTCC). Meg Munn Mp Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office presided.

As a result of the fund established at the Anguilla Community Foundation for the Tae-Kwon-Do Youth Initiative, the first specially sponsored children were “graduated” from their white to yellow belts as part of the 2007 exams on Sunday, December 9, 2007. The sponsorship fund was established with the goal of engaging young people who could benefit most from joining the club.

On Saturday, December 8, the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce held its third annual Christmas Fair at the parking lot near its offices. Twenty-nine businesses and organizations had tents in which they showcased their various products.

Meg Munn, Overseas Territories Minister at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK, hosted the ninth meeting of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council in London on 4-5 December. Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming led the Anguilla delegation to the meeting. Premiers, Chief Ministers, Councillors and representatives from other Overseas Territories also attended the meeting.

The Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACOCI), is to receive technical assistance from the OpX (Operational Xcellence) Group in Pensacola, Florida. With 20 years experience in strategic planning, it is one of the leading organisations in the United States assisting Chambers with a fresh, new and innovative approach for developing membership and business.

Chief Minister and Minister of Home Affairs in Anguilla, Osbourne Fleming, led his colleagues in the Anguilla House of Assembly on Monday in expressing disgust with crime on the island and in calling on the population to be vigilant of the situation and to help do something about it. He was referring to the latest criminal incident in which an Anguillian youth was stabbed to death in South Hill by another young man who is originally from Jamaica.

The Anguilla National Youth Council has elected an executive committee for the upcoming year, 2008. This new executive committee replaces the committee which was elected in March 2007 for a six (6) month term. The previous executive committee was tasked with beginning the rebuilding process. Ms. Sherri-Anne Roberts in delivering the president’s report listed a number of activities which the council was involved in during the six month period.

Friday 30th November 2007 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.
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Anguilla’s Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, and other officials from the British Overseas Territories, have been told that both Houses of Parliament in London were closely monitoring the affairs of the islands and were very knowledgeable about them.

A disagreement between employees and the Anguilla Electricity Company (ANGLEC) Board, over a demand for five percent of profits as a bonus, which resulted in a strike by some workers, is still unresolved although the employees have returned to work.
The strike occurred on Thursday, November 29, when workers, bearing placards, converged outside the company’s Administrative Building in The Quarter and remained there throughout the day, attracting much attention from the public.

The Tourism Gala and Awards Ceremony held at Zurra Restaurant at the Temenos Golf Clubhouse on Friday, November 30, was a memorable occasion in Anguilla which saw a number of persons awarded for their outstanding service to the industry. Among them was Stephane Zaharia, General Manager of CuisinArt Resort & Spa, the 2007 winner of the coveted “Hotelier of the Year Award.”

Police in Anguilla are investigating an incident in which two boats collided off Road Bay on Sunday evening, December 2, seriously injuring three persons, who are still at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, and badly damaging the bow of one of the vessels.

Police arrested three persons in Anguilla over the past week, according to Inspector Alice Proctor. One of them was a juvenile female, whose arrest was charged with possession of an offensive weapon, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. Another person was arrested for possession of a small amount of cannabis. The other arrest was for suspicion of theft.

Speaker of the Anguilla House of Assembly, the Hon. David Carty, is to make a presentation in the Atlin Harrigan OBE Parliamentary Building in the New Year in connection with the climate change seminar he attended in London last week.

The Chief Minister and his delegation began their official part of their visit to the United Kingdom on yesterday by providing testimony to the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee on the working of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and its relationship with the Overseas Territories.

Well-respected and influential President of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), Barbadian tourism investor, Peter Odle, has taken the pleasure of visiting Anguilla which he knows very well and to meet with the membership of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association (AHTA).

The Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources (DFMR) and the Anguilla National Trust (ANT) have now completed underwater rapid ecological assessments within all five of Anguilla’s Marine Parks.