Local News

(This article by Colville L. Petty was first published in The Anguillian on 14th December 2007. The issues it raised then remain pertinent thus the reason for republishing it.)

The bright and sunny afternoon of Thursday 29th November 2007 will remain etched in the memories of most Anguillians. They were going about merrily, doing their daily chores, when suddenly all hell broke loose. The island rocked like a cradle.

The Ex- Police Officers Association in Anguilla has donated US$1,000 to Campus C, the Pupil Referral Unit of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School, to enable the teachers and students to achieve some of their short-term goals.

On Monday March 28 staff and students of WISE (Workshop Initiative for Support in Education) showed appreciation for the volunteers at the school by presenting them with a certificate and a WISE lapel. Gabriele Klaren, who made the presentations, said that the event also celebrated the successful completion of the Reading Intervention pilot programme that was developed by Teacher Rado and Volunteer Margaret Mitchell in September. The programme is based on one-on-one sessions of assisted reading comprehension of 30 -50 minutes.

The Interim Stabilisation Levy, an income tax measure, with sweeping provisions to raise Government revenue from contributions from the salaries and wages of workers, including self-employed persons, is now law in Anguilla. It was passed in the House of Assembly on Thursday, March 24, with amendments.

The arguments went back and forth between residents and landowners, having property immediately west of the Corito landfill, and members of the Anguilla Drag Racing Association. Playing the role as referee were officials of the Land Development Control Committee. They all met at the Central Baptist Church on Thursday evening, March 24.

The Rotary Club of Anguilla, joined by a delegation of Rotarians from St. Martin, held its Annual Foundation Dinner at Aleta Restaurant at Viceroy Hotel on Saturday, March 26.

The St Gerard Roman Catholic Church in The Valley was the host of a Revival Mission which was organized for the Season of Lent. It began on March 20th and ended on Friday March 25th. The Revival, which was organized by the St. Gerard Prayer Group together with the church community, was conducted by a visiting priest Reverend Fr Jude Nkem Anyaegbu from Dominica and a praise and worship team also from Dominica.

There is growing concern in the Environmental Health Unit, of the Department of Health Protection, over a number of illegal dump sites in the vicinity of Blowing Point, just east of the Anguilla Tennis Academy.

The Health Authority in Anguilla commissioned a modern and fully-equipped modular dialysis unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital on March 24. It is capable of serving eight patients simultaneously, compared with the maximum of five provided by the previous unit.

Everyone who works with children needs to be aware of what is required of them as far as reporting in concerned. Everyone needs to follow an agreed protocol for safeguarding our children.

Police in Anguilla are investing separate cases involving the deaths of two persons on the island.

GET FIT at the Ronald Webster Park and a HIKE along the coast of Anguilla, are fun outdoor activates that the participants of the International Award for Young People (IAYP) have enjoyed so far.

Travel advisors at the leading luxury-travel network, Virtuoso, recently gave Virtuoso Life, the organization’s magazine for its top clients, the inside scoop on where they send their customers for the best beach getaways. Praising Cap Juluca for its “Sand at Your Door” allure, Virtuoso’s elite travel team named the resort #3 on its list of recommendations.

Ms. Kafi Gumbs, the Deputy Director of Scientific Research at the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources, recently returned to Anguilla, after a five -day intense course on ‘International Aquaponics and Tilapia Aquaculture’ in St. Croix United States Virgin Islands (USVI). The course which ran from March 14-18, 2011, was facilitated by the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Agriculture Experimental Station, Aquaculture Program.

A considerable amount of excitement was generated on Wednesday morning, March 23, when Anguilla joined in participating in an International Tsunami Exercise code-named Caribe Wave 11/Lantex.

The Interim Stabilisation Levy Bill, a first-time measure, requiring persons at all levels in the public and private sectors to pay what amounts to income tax, was schedule to pass in the Anguilla House of Assembly on Thursday, March 24.

His Excellency, Governor Alistair Harrison, called a short press conference on Tuesday this week to announce that he had re-appointed Anguillian national, Stanley Everton Reid, as Deputy Governor for another five years.

Representatives of Starwood Capital together with Lawyer Keithley Lake, on Thursday March 17, held a press conference to give details of the file for bankruptcy and the present and future situation.

POLICE REPORT

There was a notable increase of 23 crimes reported in Anguilla during the period March 16-23.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) now has a new President in the person of Sir Dennis Byron, son of the late Vincent Byron who, at the time of the 1967 Anguilla Revolution, was serving as Warden.