Letters

I read in The Anguillian some three weeks ago that the Anguilla Government had received the opinion from Mr. Anthony Astaphan with respect to the deferring of repayment of salary reductions to civil servants.

I received a number of calls about the response by Mr. Sutcliffe Hodge in The Anguillian, for February 3rd, 2012, to my article in the previous week’s issue. My article was entitled: “I am Chief Minister, if you don’t like it get out’a here!” Mr. Hodge’s response was “Setting the Record Straight”.

February 4, 2012-02-07
Letter to the Editor
The Anguillian Newspaper

With regard to the article Sutcliffe Hodge submitted to your newspaper for publication, after reading the array of personal attacks he levelled against Marcel Fahie, I could not ignore the hypocrisy he showed by stating at the end of his article that Anguillians should not use their time “to rip each other apart.”

I am truly amazed at the puerile and irresponsible behaviour that is often displayed by our so called radio personalities. They seem to know everything and are yet so ignorant of the issues they are discussing. What a pity that the suspension of the school buses to the eastern part of the island had to be turned into a party political issue!

The Editor
The Anguillian

Dear Editor:

On Saturday the 20th of January. I listened in awe to the most cowardly display of engagement by our esteemed Chief Minister as a caller to the Mayor Radio Show on Kool FM. It appears that the CM was peeved at the previous caller who had made reference to the fact that Anguilla was now part of the European Union, and to a certain document that the CM had in his possession. The CM identified himself and proceeded to rip into the co-host, Palmavon Webster. His rant continued until he got personal when he accused her and others of trying to undermine his administration. It was at this time she started to question him. Of course he refused to engage her in a civilized manner and chose to continue with his rant. At the conclusion of his rant, he hung up the phone and answered no questions.

Dear Sir,

A breath of fresh air

Do I correctly perceive a seemingly small thaw in the Chief Minister's and Governor's relationship, almost like a breath of fresh air on the island? I had speculated in an earlier letter about their reasons for the increasing disagreements and lack of trust in each other, but that may be a fading based on what I read in The Anguillian.

The following letter, written to the Chief Minister by the Governor came to the attention of The Anguillian and is published in the interest of the public.

Dear Friends:

Greetings for the New Year 2012, as we reflect on the past year and consider the many challenges we have had and consequently are committed to overcome this year.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Editor,
The Anguillian

Dear Sir:

REMEMBER YOUR OWN PEOPLE

It was quite a pleasure to hear Mr. Leandro Rizzutto say he will be paying the local creditors who are owed money by the past developers of Flag Luxury Properties. I believe that those who are owed this money will be pleased to receive the much-needed and much-delayed payments.

13 January 2012

Ms Ferguson
President of the Anguilla Teachers’ Union

Dear Ms. Ferguson,

We the Parents are also Hurting

I read with interest the article in The Anguillian captioned “Teachers are Hurting”, and could not help but be amused by the inconsistent message of those smiling and happy faces under the caption. Because I know you and your colleague personally, I am of the view that there is no deception intended. The article, however, did make me ponder on deeper issues that hit to the heart of deception and dishonesty within the teaching profession.

The Editor
The Anguillian
Dear Sir:

ORDER, MADAM SPEAKER!

During the House of Assembly this week it was quite disheartening to hear the Speaker giving her personal views on the amendment of the Vehicle and Road Traffic Act.

The Editor
The Anguillian

Dear Editor

HAVE SOME RESPECT

It did not sound good on the radio to hear the Chief Minister and the President of the Teachers Union scolding over not attending a meeting. I think both of them went too far.

The Editor
The Anguillian
Dear Sir:

ATU And CM UPROAR

The airwaves were filled with much talk, over the past several days, with what appeared to have been a row involving the Chief Minister and the Anguilla Teachers' Union. Mr. Hughes was quarreling saying he, or the Government, was insulted by the educators who refused to attend a joint meeting with members of the Civil Service Association, and that he would have nothing with them.

The Editor
The Anguillian

Dear Sir:

OSBOURNE FLEMING TO THE RESCUE?

Monday night’s radio and television address by the former Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, was both refreshing and necessary. He has been absent from the political arena for a long time, although he has been heard on quite a few occasions on one of the radio talk shows.

Althea and Bob Turner
P.O. Box 53
The Valley, Anguilla
Tel.# 461 6493

To: Kathleen Rogers, Permanent Secretary of Finance

Subject: Late fees on Interim Stabilization Levy

Before we left the island in April 14, 2011 we went into the Social Security Office where we paid forward the social security fees for our housekeeper, for the 7 months we were to be absent from Anguilla. Our housekeeper earns less than EC$2000 per month. We returned to Anguilla Nov. 18.

The Editor
The Anguillian
Dear Sir:

One of the disagreements between the Governor’s Office and the Government, going into 2012, is the matter regarding the transfer of four Permanent Secretaries whose names and responsibilities are well known and therefore need no repeating here.

Dear Sir,

OUR GOVERNOR AND OUR CHIEF MINISTER

The continuing spat between our Governor and our Chief Minister, with growing calls for the Governor's recall, cannot be good for Anguilla. Perhaps a somewhat simple analysis, probably not quite palatable to both, could offer a possible solution, albeit a temporary one.

To The Editor

“The Anguillian”

Anguilla

Sir,

(The following comments are personal in nature and do not necessarily represent any body of which I may be a member or officer.)

In view of the recent correspondence and comments regarding the penalty component of the Interim Stabilisation Levy (“ISL”), readers might be interested in the following item in “Private Eye” (issue 1295). I’ve snipped bits from the article because they relate to a specific tax case in the UK but readers are encouraged to substitute “Inland Revenue Department” for “HM Revenue & Customs (or HMRC)” and “Anguilla” for “the State” in what follows:

Rendezvous
P. O. Box 1264
The Valley
Anguilla

December 12, 2011

Caribbean Commercial Bank

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am one of the children who came to your Christmas giveaway. I mostly enjoyed the singing and dancing. The company of CCB is doing a great job.

HE the Governor promised during his Press Conference, on 6 November, to circulate the letter which shows that the Chief Minister volunteered the commitment to balance the budget by the end of 2012. This commitment was accepted by Mr Bellingham, the Minister for the Overseas Territories, as the basis for authorising interim borrowing in the summer of 2010.