Local News

In the photographs, the new potential buyer of Cap Juluca Resort met with Ministers and officials of the Anguilla Government on Wednesday this week.

There is an initial sum in the 2008 budget of 28 million dollars which is a small amount for the huge public sector development programme which the Ministry of Infrastructure in Anguilla is embarking on from this year. That figure can in no way meet the cost of the planned work so the Government will be borrowing the extra money needed to finance the projects.

At their weekly press briefing on Wednesday, three senior officers of the Royal Anguilla Police Force reported on the crime situation affecting the island over the past week. Deputy Commissioner Illidge Richardson was pleased to announce that there had been a reduction of serious crimes in Anguilla between the Christmas Season up to the current period. He said the island was too small to be tarnished by criminal activity. He recalled that in earlier times Anguilla was known to have little or no crime and appealed to all persons concerned to respect law and order and the citizenry in an effort to preserve the good name of the homeland.

Cap Juluca’s owner, Dion Friedland, has circulated a New Year’s Message to employees confirming that the proposed sale of the high-end property to the Gencom Group has fallen through and that he has found a new buyer.

The reigning Mr. CCB Talented Teen, Miguel Franklin is a student of arts at the Chattanooga State Technical Community College.

The winners of the CCB Holiday Xpress Promos were Barney Gumbs and Kirsty Webster. Mr. Gumbs an officer at Her Majesty’s Custom Department won a round trip ticket to Puerto Rico.

In a moderate but stirring radio program last Sunday afternoon, Anguilla’s first locally owned gospel radio station, NBR (New Beginning Radio) observed seven years of inspirational broadcasting to the region. NBR Grace FM is located at 99.3 on the FM band.

Styler’s Tae Kwondo Club completed its 3rd promotion test for belt grading, on December 22nd, 2007, at the Soroptimist Center, The Valley, Anguilla. The exam was conducted by Oster Herbert, Head Master of Dragon Princess Tae Kwondo Club in St. Maarten.

In the last days of 2007, three Cable & Wireless customers went home smiling with various prizes after winning in the final days of the ‘Everyone’s a Winner at Christmas’ promotion.

Many farmers and householders in Anguilla, particularly in The Valley area and its immediate outskirts, are having a time of their life battling with the Giant African Snail.

Government agencies including the Department of Environment descended on the site being operated by Dolphin Discovery Caribbean Properties, Ltd. in West End, Anguilla last week to investigate the living conditions of the 8 dolphins currently being held in captivity there.

All around Anguilla there are tell-tale scenes of the Christmas Season. Cheerful decorations and dazzling lights, various social events for adults and children, gift-giving, bulk-shopping, partying, and family reunions are all part of this end-of-the-year-festive season.

Hundreds of island residents and tourists crowded Coronation Ave and the Christmas tree by the trough on Friday December 14 to witness the annual tree lighting ceremony. The event was headlined by other various performances from The All ah Wee Theatre Group, The Anguilla Pepper Steppers and the Energetic Superflies String Band.

Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, Illidge Richardson, made an impassionate plea on Tuesday, December 18, for an end to gang violence on the island. It is an untenable situation in which fighting frequently erupts at social functions between youngsters from different villages.

The sports team, Points United in Blowing Point, ought to be commended for taking the initiative to celebrate Separation Day, one of the national holidays in Anguilla, with a series of fun activities which began at the village’s playing field at mid-morning, Wednesday, December 19.

With Christmas almost here, and New Year 2008 soon after, this is a good time to reflect on how far Anguilla has come, and on where we are heading.
Anguilla is enjoying unprecedented prosperity, but also faces serious questions. These come down essentially to: how to reconcile economic growth and development with social cohesion, the protection of a fragile natural environment, and the fostering of national culture.

Fellow Anguillians and residents, the year 2007 has been one of mixed emotions in Anguilla.

My fellow Anguillians:

It is an honour and a distinct privilege for me to be given the rare opportunity to address the people at this most significant Christian season of the year.

Advent which reminds us vividly of the coming of Christ to make His abode among us is swiftly passing, and Christmas Day – the celebration of the birth of Christ is upon us.

Kingston, Jamaica, 6 December 2007: Caribbean scholar Dame Bernice Lake, QC, was again called on to contribute to an important regional conference on a topic close to the hearts of all Anguillians: Press freedom and the prevention of corruption.