Local News

The Flag/Temenos resort project is pushing ahead with its development while the developers are yet to announce who will be the new operator in succession to St. Regis. The project’s management team of Anguillian and expatriate personnel in the meantime held their second media tour arranged late last week to show the swift progress of the work since first tour.

The Department of Probation staff, Prison Officers, and members of the Education Department were in a workshop this week at Paradise Cove in which the theme of “Facilitation of Groups” was the predominant topic of discussion. It was explained that groups are a very effective way to rehabilitate offenders and it is the hope of the Probation Department to implement this type of tool to thwart recidivism.

Many invited guests from across Anguilla joined the congregation of the Christian Fellowship Church on Sunday, November 18, at a Thanksgiving Service in celebration of the 40th Pastoral Anniversary of Rev. Drs. Ambrose and Kathleen Richardson.
The service was moderated by Rev. Carl Richardson, the couple’s second son who pastors a Church in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, where he also serves as a legal practitioner.

Welches Village is the location of a three-week Good News Crusade which is being conducted by five lay persons some, if not all, holding leadership positions in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and with a special outreach to young people.

Anguilla’s Revolutionary Leader, James Ronald Webster, was given a standing ovation at the Christian Fellowship Church on Sunday, November 18.

Diamonds International, one of the newest stores in Anguilla and located at the Tomac Plaza at the Water Swamp, has donated US$1,000 to the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, as part of its support for the development of jazz music there.

The main and most memorable activity in Anguilla this week was the Third Biennial National Development Conference hosted by Social Security, from Monday to Wednesday, November 12-14, at the Teachers’ Resource Centre. The overall theme of the conference was Anguilla at 40, A Self-Evaluation: Conversations on a Blueprint for Tomorrow.

An Anguillian mother, whose beloved son died following a road accident in the United States, is taking comfort that through the gift of his organs, five other persons can now live.

The Temenos Golf Club is hosting a benefit tournament to raise well-needed funds to assist Desmond “Shine” Richardson of West End to purchase and fit a prosthetic leg.

On Monday this week, November 12, High Court Judge in Anguilla, Justice Michael Redhead, sentencedSylvan Brooks of Stoney Ground to 25 years imprisonment for attempted robbery and murder and 14 years for possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Tickets for the highly anticipated 2007 Tourism Gala (Headline Sponsor National Bank of Anguilla) went on sale this week. The organizers of Anguilla’s Annual Tourism Gala are promising an even more spectacular ‘red carpet event’ than last year. Due to overwhelming demand for tickets last year they have increased the numbers and will be issuing tickets on a first come first served basis.

The Anguilla National Youth Council is currently preparing to elect a new executive committee. The election is scheduled for 8th December, 2007 at the Teacher’s Resource Centre beginning at 6:30 p.m. The executive committee is composed of a President, Vice President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary Treasurer and Unattached Youth Representative. All members of the Anguilla National Youth Council are being asked to take note.

On Thursday November 8th Flag Luxury Properties (Anguilla) LLC and Temenos Anguilla Resort and Residences donated US $1000 to the Anguilla Animal Rescue Foundation (AARF) for their education program. Mr. Arnie Hodge, Flag’s Director of Public Relations explained that Flag was approached by AARF’s Education Chairman, Linda Gratton, for a donation to be used to reach out and enlighten the school-age children of Anguilla on proper pet ownership and care.

Eleven-year-old Johnessa Harrigan, a Campus B student at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, was a finalist in the 2007 “My Caribbean Essay Competition”.
She was among 28 primary school students in the member territories of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) who entered the competition, now in its 15th year and sponsored by Conde Nast Traveler in New York.

Sixth Form student at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, Alexander Orchard, was Anguilla’s representative at the recent Tourism Youth Congress held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

For the first time since the new ownership arrangement relating to Cap Juluca has been announced, official details have emerged about the benefits the Anguilla Government will derive from its involvement in the hotel on behalf of the people of the island.

David M. Hodge, who is in his 70s, has been one of the frequent local cyclists seen in competitions or simply cycling around the island. Of late he is off the roads nursing what was a badly injured hip which is now reportedly healing well, thanks to doctors at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados.

In an opening ceremony held at the teacher’s resource centre auditorium, Director of Social Security, Mr. Timothy Hodge, read for the audience the objective of the 3rd Biennial National Development Conference. “The objective of the conference is to stimulate national debate and decision-making, and to engage Anguillian people and policy-makers in strategic planning for the island’s future development.

The energy and enthusiasm was palpable at Une Amore Café as the young Optimists of the three Junior Optimist Octagon International (JOOI) clubs gathered for their joint induction and installation ceremony on Saturday 10 November 2007. The induction of new members and installation of the boards of the three clubs was immediately followed by a pizza party and lots of fun and bonding.

Flag Luxury Properties (Anguilla) LLC which has had St. Regis as its Managing Operator for its Temenos Anguilla Resort and Residences, is soon to announce a new company to handle its operations.