Local News

Preservation of Anguilla’s culture and education form part of Cable and Wireless’ core guidelines when considering sponsorship. They have therefore decided to once again sponsor the Energetic Super Flies String Band as they are representative of Anguilla’s culture. This year’s summer festival is “Strictly Culture Driven,” therefore special attention to these culturally oriented activities has been given priority by the company. The money given to the String Band will go towards all the supplies necessary for when they march in the parade of troupes. Items such as clothing, instruments, truck rental and any other equipment can be costly.

As a further demonstration of commitment and dedication to the preservation of Anguilla’s culture, Cable and Wireless was excited to announce that they have also made a financial contribution to Stanley Carty and his Moco Jumbie Troupe. The management of Cable and Wireless was concerned that this integral part of Carnival Culture was fading away in Anguilla and therefore contacted Stanley to ask that he revive the troupe. Avon Carty, Corporate Communications Manager, said, “Cultural and traditional celebrations are important to C&W and this year’s celebration is about valuing everything old and new and we wanted to help with the resurgence and reenergizing of the Moco Jumbies.”

The contestants for the CCB Talented Teen Show were announced this past Tuesday, June 19, at the Next Level Night Club above English Rose. The cocktail reception was hosted by Mr. Shayne Thompson and there were various presentations made by distinguished guests such as Mrs. Starry Benjamin (Managing Director or CCB), Mr. John Benjamin, and Mr. Fitzroy Tomlinson (Festival Coordinator).

When the House of Assembly, at its meeting on Tuesday 22nd May refused to support a Motion by the Member for Road North, Edison Baird (Eddy), calling for a public holiday in honour of Revolutionary Leader James Ronald Webster it agreed, instead, to a National Holiday in honour of the heroes and heroines of the Revolution and to a School Holiday in honour of Webster.

On Monday, June 18, many people were in attendance at Government House to honour the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Although her actual birthday is on April 21, the celebration is actually held in the third week of June. This year Her Majesty turned 81 and the celebration at Government House was done in true royal fashion. The Royal Anguilla Police Force was in full ceremonial gear, the attendees were dressed elegantly, the ceremonial band was in full dress, and the Governor Mr. and Mrs. George were stunning. In attendance were ministers of government, ex chief ministers Sir Emile Gumbs and Hubert Hughes, and many other prominent members of the community.

On Monday, June 18, the Anguilla National Culinary Team began to show off their talents at the “Taste of the Caribbean” culinary competition in Miami. Anguilla is known worldwide for its incredible cuisine and this year’s team is nothing short of a “Dream Team.” Representatives from Cap Juluca, CuisinArt Resort and Spa, Ripples, Zurra and Veya will be taking part in an event that is unprecedented for many reasons. First, two teams travelled to the Hyatt in Miami: a senior and junior team comprised of 10 people in total. Of course, the senior members will be involved directly in the competition while the junior members observe and prepare to compete the following year. Also, this year’s team has famed Chef George Reid of Cap Juluca, a gold medallist, as a consultant, as well as the Executive Chef at CuisinArt Resort and Spa, Denise Carr, as the team manager. According to Mrs. Carr, this is the first time that the National Culinary Team will have a manager that is a chef as well.

A number of Anguillians, and other persons representing the public and private sectors of the tourism industry, may still be thinking about some of the concerns and challenges to Caribbean tourism they have been told about.

Executive Chef at CuisinArt Resort & Spa in Anguilla, Denise Carr, told an assembly of regional chefs and other persons that Anguilla’s signature dish was stewed fish and dumplings.

On Tuesday, June 19, 15 children from the Alwyn Allison Primary School went to CuisinArt Resort and Spa to attend a career day hosted by the General Manager and other managers and supervisors from its various departments. The children were excited to take part in such a professional and worthwhile opportunity. One of the children, Noah Gumbs, said, “I think it is a good opportunity for the children to find out which industry they want to work in. I am interested in the food and beverage aspect.”

The Forest Bay was the scene of a large gathering of Seventh-day Adventists on Saturday, June 16, when there was a mass baptism of new converts and other persons seeking spiritual renewal.

The National Bank of Anguilla Ltd. has announced the winners of its Children’s Club Fathers Day Brag on your Dad Contest.
Ms. Marisa Gumbs, Market Research & Business Development Officer at NBA stated, “After hosting the Mother’s Day Poetry Competition we received a number of calls from the public expressing their appreciation of such a contest and encouraging us to host a similar contest for Father’s Day. Like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day comes once a year but with little or no recognition publicly. Fathers always have a way of putting things together. They too, deserve a “thank you” and “I love you”. In keeping with this, the competition allowed children to show their appreciation to their dad by describing him with just three words. “We must realize and acknowledge the extent of a Father’s love, true commitment, valuable guidance and priceless encouragement.”

The Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Anguilla Police Force has charged Rolandito Richardson of Blowing Point for the robbery, burglary and rape committed against a female national of the United States in May 2007 at Shoal Bay. This followed weeks of intensive investigative work into the series of robberies reported over the last two months. Rolandito Richardson was intercepted during the early hours on the morning of May 17th 2007 in Little Harbour and had been remanded in custody for uttering forged documents.

Kerin Lake of South Hill was charged with driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner and causing the death of Peter Paul Plank on the Sandy Ground Road on June 7.

At their regular press briefing on Wednesday, June 13, the Anguilla Police reported three burglaries.

Senior personnel drawn from various departments of the health services sharpened their skills on Monday and Tuesday this week at separate workshops on Quality Management and Procurement and Inventory Management held at the Soroptimist Club Conference Room.

The Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) will be partnering with the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School (ALHCS) Music Department, as part of the educational component of the annual Tranquility Jazz Festival, to host the School’s Summer Music Camp. This year the annual ALHCS Summer Music Camp, through the ATB, will engage five music educators from the USA to conduct music lessons. The two-week camp will will present a great opportunity to provide positive alternatives for Anguilla’s youth, as well as provide a deterrent to youth deviance while fostering an appreciation for more diverse forms of music.

During the month of May a detailed feasibility study was carried out on Dog Island, investigating the possibility of eradicating invasive, non-native black rats from this internationally recognised haven for bird life. As the substantive part of an Anguilla National Trust (ANT) project funded by the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP) and administered by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the work was carried out by Karen Varnham, a UK consultant specialising in rat eradications in the tropics, and Rhon Connor, Sustainable Development Officer in the Department of Environment.

This past Saturday, June 9, 2007, almost 50 children from the Central Baptist Church set out to do work in the community. These young people formed part of the “Christians in Action” (CIA) youth group which is directed by Marlon Lake of The Forest. CIA meets every Friday at 7:30 p.m. and is engaged in doing many different activities that are centred on developing a strong Christian background for the youth. Recently, CIA has been venturing out into the community to help in anyway possible while giving God the Glory by doing such things in his name. Some of the activities they do are to raise funds and others are to just be of service.

For the past two years, the Department of Probation has been making positive strides in the Anguillan community by providing sound rehabilitation. The main goal of probation is to encourage the offender to become a more responsible person in the community and to live a law abiding life, without being placed in custody. In recent times, with the increase in criminal activity, it is important to note that this governmental department, along with the police, is trying to combat crime. It is a common known fact that people who commit crimes are likely to become once again engaged in criminal activity and it is extremely important to provide a positive program that has a goal of rehabilitation so that offenders can make changes that will benefit the community. Chief Probation Officer, Jocelyn Johnson-Carty, has a unique job as well as her colleagues.

Commissioner of Police, Keithly Benjamin, says the Investigation Unit of the Force is now in a position to arrest and charge a suspect in connection with the recent rape incident and spate of robberies on Anguilla.