Local News

Staff at the Anguilla branch of FirstCaribbean marked Phase 2 of their Adopt-A-Cause programme for 2011 with visits on earlier this month to the Tender Loving Care and Rosewood Centre senior citizens' homes.

Commissioner of Police, of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, Rudolph Proctor, told The Anguillian that he was delighted to see a top female officer, in the person of Inspector Marva Brooks, conducting the overall Anguilla Day Parade on Monday this week.

Officials from the Governor’s Office and the Anguilla Government were at the Anguilla Day Senior Citizens’ Luncheon at the Blue Ridge Convention Centre at South Hill, overlooking Road Bay, following the official parade at the Ronald Webster Park on Monday, May 30.

Anguillians, who are increasing becoming lovers of culture in all of its forms, including traditional foods, music, dance and other related activities, have what may be another frequent festive occasion on the island’s calendar of events.

A Cancer Awareness Campaign has been launched in Anguilla by a Steering Committee concerned with the increasing impact of the disease on the island. The launching ceremony, for the May 31 to December 31 initiative, was held at the Soroptimist Centre on Tuesday this week, chaired by AnnmarieLetang, one of the island’s cancer survivors.

Twelve West End boat racing pioneers, ten of whom have died, were honoured at a special award ceremony held at the Temenos Golf Course Clubhouse on Saturday evening, May 28.

The fourth training programme at the Regional Law Revision Centre in Anguilla has now been carried out with participants from the British Virgin Islands, Barbados and Dominica.

It was just like a carnival scene at Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre on Saturday night, May 28.

The 2011 Welches Festival will be held on the Whit Monday holiday, June 13.

The Government-sponsored round-the-island Anguilla Day Boat Race, in which there were some fifteen A-class entries, was won by Real Deal. The North Hill-based racer arrived at the finishing post in Road Bay Harbour approximately ten minutes ahead of his nearest contender, and about six hours after the start of the competition.

The people and business community of Anguilla will soon have an elaborate and sustainable supply of portable water to meet their varied needs. The extent may be so great that the Building Code requirement for expensive cisterns, to be a major part of construction plans for dwelling houses in particular, may be a thing of the past.

The 18-hole Greg Norman Golf Course in Anguilla, described as one of the best in the Caribbean, is being seen by Canadian and United States travel agents and local hotel and tourism personnel, as a delightful means of further promoting the island’s up-market hospitality industry.

Eleven crimes were committed in Anguilla during the period May 18-25. They included one burglary in Blowing Point, when a Toshiba laptop computer was stolen. There was also one robbery at George Hill.

Governor Alistair Harrison reported to members of the press on Tuesday May 24 that the situation at Her Majesty’s Prison is very overcrowded at this time. The prison was built for 38 inmates and currently there are 71 prisoners which is an unacceptably high level he noted. The Governor is working with the Superintendent of Prisons and the Ministry of Social Development to tackle the problem. The long-term solution is for a new prison to be built but there are several short-term options that will be announced soon.

Digicel Anguilla on Tuesday May 24 donated US$2,000.00 to the All Hazard Risk Reduction and Safety Fair, due to take place here on Friday May 27.

A fashion show of the art and craft creations of primary schools in Anguilla was staged at the Orealia Kelly Primary School’s Auditorium on Wednesday, May 18. The hostess for the evening was Countess Lisa Rey.

Rose Marie Spatafore, owner of E-Z Travel Meeting/Event Planning LLC in Ansonia, Connecticut, one of a group of travel agents to have visited Anguilla several days ago, has related what she described as a human interest story while on the island.

As part of the information process The Anguillian conducted several interviews with a number of leading persons. The interviews included the Stabilisation Levy and other matters in connection with finance and the economy. Here is the first with Mr. Clement Ruan, a Financial Services Specialist.

An exhibition, in observance of Local History Month, focused on the Arawaks, the early inhabitants of Anguilla. It ended late this week at both campuses of the comprehensive school.

Early in May, the AXA ITF TaeKwon-Do Association headed by Chief Instructor Gregory Permuy 4th Dan (4th Degree Black Belt) hosted the 3rd GATO TaeKown-Do Workshop at its facility in The Valley. The workshop was conducted by Mr. Gato 6th Dan from Puerto Rico.