Local News

Sherille and Frankie Hughes were presented with the prestigious award of Hotelier of the Year at the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association (AHTA) Gala Dinner, held on Friday December 3 at Coba Restaurant, Viceroy Resorts. They were among several awardees who were honoured for their services to the tourism industry.

The seafaring community of Island Harbour has been fitted with L-120 Solar Powered Lights at the main channel. This has been an initiative by Mr. Samuel Webster coming out his 2009-2010 general elections campaign.

An Ireland-born restaurant owner and philanthropist, who has adopted Anguilla as his second home, has donated US$20,000 to St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church. Popularly-known Cyril Fitzsimons has been a resident on the island for many years, spending six months here and the other six abroad.

Cap Juluca’s Concierge Manager, Sheila Harrigan-Davis, and 2009 Employee of the Year, Bartender Patson Williams, are back on island after undergoing a ten-day internship exchange at the Curtain Bluff Resort in Antigua.

With the New Year fast approaching, the long-established Malliouhana Hotel & Spa in Anguilla, has won the honour of being included in the Seventh Annual January 2011 Gold List, a guide to the World’s Best Hotels, by Conde’ Nast Traveller, (UK).

LIME in Anguilla has announced the company’s special promotions for Christmas which members of the public are being invited to take advantage of. It is all part of what is called ‘Christmas Pon De Remix’ which General Manager, Mark Romney, described as a very creative and colourful production regarding the development of LIME’s entertainment goals with a number of Caribbean artistes and its product offerings.

Thanks to the generosity of Ron Myers of Anguilla Electric Protective, the Anguilla Tennis Academy (ATA) is now secure. Last week there was a break in at the Academy and a scanner, printer and computer were stolen. Myers has installed glass break censors and motion detectors. When an alarm sounds it is monitored at a Central Station 24/7 and then the police and the owners of the property are alerted. Myers says that he has 125 customers around the island including banks, villas, hotels and private homes.

On Friday December 3rd, with little fan-fare, the Hon. Othlyn Vanterpool donated a Toshiba laptop computer to the Vivien Vanterpool Primary School. In an exclusive interview with The Anguillian Mr. Vanterpool stated: “In today’s technological age it is quite difficult to survive without being up to date with the various bits of modern amenities.

The Eastern Caribbean Institute of Banking and Financial Services (ECIB), which represents all of the OECS territories in the Currency Union, has concluded a Chief Executives Forum at Paradise Cove Hotel in Anguilla. It was held under the theme “Leadership Competencies for the New Realities.”

Many persons, from throughout Anguilla, and across the political divide, had an opportunity to join Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Hubert Hughes, and technocrats in his Ministry, to discuss the 2011 budget and some of the concerns surrounding it.

Another, but now regional tourism awareness programme, aimed at school children, and the general public, has been launched in Anguilla, adding to the island’s several other and similar campaign initiatives.

Police: Thefts and Burglaries still a problem

During the period November 24th to December 1st, there were three thefts reported in The Valley, Blowing Point and Long Ground. Items stolen included a Blackberry cell phone, an iPod and a goat. There were three burglaries in South Hill, Pond Ground and George Hill. Items stolen included a passport and a sum of money.

The following is the text of a radio broadcast delivered on World Aids Day, by Anguilla’s Minister of Health, the Hon. Edison Baird:
Anguilla and the world over recognize December 1 as World AIDS Day: a time for reflection and assessment as to where we stand in the fight against AIDS; a time to examine our successes and to be critical of our failures; a time to celebrate our achievements and to strategize about how to overcome challenges.

Tourism Week commenced in Anguilla on Saturday, November 27, under the theme: “The Anguillian Experience: Re-defining The Pathways To Excellence.” The opening ceremony, on the grounds of the Tourist Board’s building, was chaired by Director of Tourism, Candis Niles.

Young people in the three Seventh-day Adventist congregations in Anguilla, holding membership in the Pathfinder organisation, have come in for praise from the Youth Director of the North Caribbean Conference (NCC).

The Fourth Annual Consultation Industry Meeting of the Anguilla Financial Services Commission was held at the old St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church building at Wallblake House Estate on Monday, November 29.

A large and appreciate number of invited guests, from the public and private sectors in Anguilla, joined the Governor and Mrs. Sarah Harrison at Government House on Tuesday evening, at a farewell reception for outgoing Attorney General Wilhelm Bourne and Mrs. Bourne.

Anguilla’s Governor, Alistair Harrison, is of the view that there is a key need for a pool of qualified and able young people to join the financial industry whether as accountants, lawyers, regulators or enforcers.

Anguilla’s Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Hubert Hughes, cancelled two planned press conferences on Thursday and Friday last week, and ended up making a 20-minute radio broadcast on the evening of the first of those two days, November 25, instead. The broadcast was largely about some 15 questions he asked the Minister for the Overseas Territories, Henry Bellingham, in London.

Anglec continues to show its support for cricket in Anguilla. At its Corporate Office boardroom, on November 25, it donated uniforms to the Anguilla national team. Anglec’s General Manager, Mr. Thomas Hodge, in comments at the presentation said: “Anglec recognizes that the development of sports in Anguilla is not a way of focusing the youth’s energies in a positive way, but is an instinctive way of instilling values like discipline, structure, teamwork, planning and training. These are the same values that will almost assure success in the workplace, in school and in life”.