Local News

There have been a number of graduations in the public and private schools in Anguilla during late last week and this week but, from a human resources standpoint, The Anguillian was only in a position to cover some of them. The first graduations were at three of the church schools which continue to contribute greatly to early education in Anguilla.

The first ever School Attendance Fun Fair was held on the grounds Saturday June 27 on the Department of Agriculture Grounds. It brought together some 700 students from public primary schools across the island.

With all other political parties and candidates having virtually declared themselves for the upcoming general election, the governing United Front Party (UFP) is gearing up for the first of two conventions at the end of July. It will be at that first event that the party, to be officially led by the Hon. Victor Banks, in place of Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, who is retiring, will formally select and announce its candidates for the seven electoral districts.

Ernest Hemingway’s novella, The Old Man and the Sea, immediately came to mind upon hearing that young Patrick Webster, Island Harbour fisherman, had a Blue Marlin rope-lashed to the side of his twenty-seven-foot, open fishing boat named Opportunity, struggling slowly from the far north, back to Anguilla. After considerable time and effort, the mobile phone signal range allowed only a garbled call to be placed to his two brothers, Tim and Vernon.

Fifty new and continuing officers in the Anguilla Public Service benefited from a two-day induction training session aimed at equipping them with the relevant knowledge about the functions and operations of the service.

Police in Anguilla are continuing investigations into a fight last Saturday, which resulted in multiple injuries to at least two people.

There will be some new troupes for carnival this year in Anguilla to reflect some of the cultural and historical aspects of the island. This is according to Jason and Laura Fleming of Sandy Hill.

Situated on the private enclave of Maundays Bay Beach, and with more than a mile of white sand beach, Cap Juluca will welcome guests in September and October for the first time ever. The decision to remain open all year long was made by the resort’s new ownership after completing the first phase in its $80 million enhancement program.

The potato, which weighed nine and a half pounds, was the product of a small white vine, a popular choice by farmers on the island, due to its prolific production in good soil conditions.

Women with Heart,” a local group dedicated to working towards breast cancer awareness in Anguilla, and to assist persons needing mammograms, or who are victims of the disease, has embarked on a series of fund-raising efforts in order to provide some financial assistance for them.

This year’s Malliouhana Poetry Competition culminated in a prize giving ceremony on Friday June 19 at the Teachers’ Resource Centre. The competition, under the theme: “Standing at Crossroads Facing Choices,” showcased a number of categories including 5 to 8 years, 9 to 12 years, 13 to 17 years, adults, Nation Language, and Spoken Word.

Guyanese HIV/AIDS awareness activist Mr. Lindon Swayving believes one of the main tools used against HIV is education. He said “if that process is not sustained it is not going to help.” He added that education seeks to empower and if not consistently done it would fail. Host of a new radio program, The Review, Swayving said his program looks at what was accomplished in the field of HIV, as well as what has not been done. He anticipated that the program would meet the educational needs “in the hope of behavior change.”

The fifth Junior Optimist Club, called the Believers, was installed at the Alwyn Allison Primary School at West End on Tuesday this week.

The Bethel Methodist Church Pre-School is the recipient of US$400 from Scotiabank to finance the purchase of playground equipment.

Four staunch members of the Anguilla Methodist Circuit have been awarded diplomas certifying them as fully-accredited Local Preachers, qualified to preach in any district of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas. The occasion was a special service at Bethel Church on Sunday evening, June 21, at which they were recognised and commissioned.

Scotiabank, known for its commitment to supporting the community and children, is once again reaching out by sponsoring the Second Annual fundraising event of The Arijah Children’s Foundation – “A Beautiful Evening of Praise for A Beautiful Cause.” Scotiabank has provided US$2,500 in sponsorship money for the event.

Wallblake Airport was a scene of much jubilation on Tuesday this week when the top award-winning Anguillian chefs, in the Taste of the Caribbean Culinary Competition held in Puerto Rico last weekend, returned home to a resounding welcome. Wild cheers and dancing greeted them as they disembarked from the American Eagle aircraft, compared only to when the judges of the competition announced that they had won a Team Gold Medal and would go through the finals.

Anguilla has been showcased as the biggest award winner in the Americas and the Caribbean, winning almost concurrently, awards in Puerto Rico and New York.

Law Enforcement Officers in Anguilla arrested a man following last week’s report of a gun being discharged. Tyrone Dunkley of Blowing Point was picked up by Police and appeared before the Magistrate. Inspector Paul Sinclair said Dunkley was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison. He was charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm and ammunition, and discharging a firearm.

At approximately 10:45 am, an ANGLEC contractor sustained lethal injuries when a crane truck that he was operating came into contact with overhead high voltage lines.