Letters

The Editor
The Anguillian Newspaper

Dear Sir:

I would like to propose a couple of suggestions which may help to reduce crime on our island.

A few years ago there was a break-in at one of our local offices. The staff was asked to wait outside until police investigators checked the crime scene, including ‘dusting for fingerprints.’

The Editor
The Anguillian

Dear Sir

Salvation

Two weeks ago I wrote about repentance. But the central issue is salvation. Repentance is important for the future of Anguilla but what is important to the future of us all is salvation. If I were to tell you that of the two chairs in front of you one would support your weight and one would collapse under you, you may well argue with me.You may contend that both would support you or that both may collapse or even that I had it wrong about which one would collapse.

August 26, 2007

The Editor
The Anguillian

Sir,

Access to Beaches

I applaud the letter from Violet Berry in The Anguillian last week.The points are all well made and I do hope that our government has taken note and proposes to take action and soon.We all have the right to enjoy our beaches but are progressively being prevented from doing so. What will our children have left?

The Editor
The Anguillian

Dear Sir:

It is amazing how expert negotiators are able to cloud issues in their own favour and when folks are off on an unimportant tangent somewhere in left field they are able to zero in and win what they aimed for in the first instance. It is too late now for persons to discuss the pros and cons of having dolphin pens in Anguilla. They are here and most of us have no objections to that. The real issue facing Anguillians is where to locate this new facility.

The Editor
The Anguillian

Dear Sir,

Day of Prayer and Repentance

On 16 August the ‘day’ got off to a bad start with worries over the logo used on the tee shirts for the parade.The logo is in fact that of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament that was started in London in 1958. People may be interested in the attached CND pictures.

Bill Grandfield
P O Box 1171
The Valley
Anguilla
British West Indies

August 10, 2007

Editor of Anguillian

Sir,

Letters in The Anguillian

I read the letter from Sheridan Smith in The Anguillian of 3 August with interest. It seems that Sheridan is well able to look after himself so I will not enter into that debate. One or two points spring to mind however. If we had proper legislation on the books Sheridan would have a legal forum in which to express his concerns and the Chief Minister would not be drawn into ad-hoc decisions. Surely it is becoming clear to our Government that they are damaging themselves by the way the government is run. On the radio we were promised by the Chief Minister that any decision in the Cap Juluca matter would be taken in the interests of Anguillian labour.

The Editor
The Anguillian

Dear Sir

I had the pleasure on Tuesday night of attending the very informative and well attended meeting concerning the relocation of the dolphin pool to Sandy Point.

On behalf of the Ministry of Social Development and the Shadow Board of the National Health Fund (NHF), I would like to take the opportunity to respond to the “Open Letter to the Minister of Health, Doctors Concerned about National Health Fund” which was published in The Anguillian on 27 July 2007.

Dear Sir:

On Thursday, June 28th, I met with the Vice President of GENCOM and the Chief Operating Officer of Cap Juluca. This meeting took place after their earlier meeting with the Government of Anguilla. The purpose of our meeting was for the GENCOM Vice President to express his company’s plan of action for constructing additional buildings along the Cove Bay dunes, in an effort to expand the existing Cap Juluca hotel.

Bill Grandfield
P O Box 1171
The Valley
Anguilla
British West Indies
July 28, 2007

Editor of Anguillan

Sir, I congratulate the Government of Anguilla (GoA) that they are inviting Anguillians to apply for scholarships to pursue various degree courses. It is good that on the radio it was announced that only people already accepted by a university for a particular course would be considered.This goes a long way to ensuring that only people of serious intent will be considered.

Bill Grandfield
P O Box 1171
The Valley,
Anguilla, B.W.I

July 22, 2007

Sir,



Constitutional Reform

I would introduce myself. My name and address, as you see, are given above. I have had a close relationship with Anguilla for 34 years.I am a belonger and my only home is Anguilla.This letter is directed to you because you are designated a member of the team to negotiate the new constitution with representatives of the British Government.

22 July 2007

The Editor
The Anguillian Newspaper
Cauls Bottom

Dear Sir

I would be grateful if you would kindly print the following:

Since September 2006, I have been experiencing difficulties with the television service provided by Caribbean Cable Communications. The problems include:

(1) Blurred vision on several channels;

(2) Radio Cool F M interruption on channel 15;
(3) Weekend malfunctioning of many channels; and
(4) Various channels having the same scrambled effect as channels 23 to 28.

The events of the past weeks will have long and negative impact on how Anguilla is perceived in the wider global context as well as the ability for either local or expatriate businesses to conduct business here. The closer one scrutinizes those events it becomes clear that there was and is a complete failure of responsible reporting and a misplaced notion of what is leadership. Let me say clearly and emphatically that I fully subscribe to the freedom of expression enshrined in our Constitution but as in the case of any right or freedom, the expression must be exercised responsibly. However, as these events play out, the actors are reminiscent of a Roman Mob. Everyone has their own issue, many do not know or understand why they are there and most importantly they act without regard for the consequences. This article will seek to illustrate the dangers associated with mob behaviour and to offer some sober reflections on the consequences and alternatives.

Five physicians in Anguila have expressed concern about the recent press release in the implementation plans for the proposed Heath Insurance Fund.

The Editor
The Anguillian

Dear Sir

During and after the demolition of buildings adjacent to our home, we have been constantly bombarded with hordes of dust. Had it not been for the intervention of officers from the environmental Health Department, several piles of dirt placed not far from our home would still pose serious health risks to my entire family.

Letter to:

H E Governor
Mr Andrew George
Government House
Old House
Old Ta
Anguilla

Dear Excellency,

Ref: Protest Action which took place on Tuesday 3rd July, 2007

Letter to :

The Chief Minister of Anguilla
The Minister of Labour
HE The Governor
The Anguillian

Gentlemen:

Open Letter re Viceroy Project – Employment Terms of Indian Workers

The events of last week [and this week] were a tragedy for Anguilla as it was alleged that the foreign workers employed by Carillion Construction on the Viceroy project were being exploited in a manner closely approximating to slavery. The other signatories and I of this letter believe that the people of Anguilla are owed an explanation by Government.

The Anguillian Newspaper,
The Valley,
Anguilla.

I wish to thank you all most sincerely for the honor bestowed upon me by the Anguilla Tourist Board in commemoration of the Anguilla 40 celebration. I very much enjoyed reading the displays about the revolution and the brave and significant role some of the women played forty years ago to gain your independence. I felt proud as a woman to be honoring them in my small way by being a part of this important anniversary.

Letter to The Editor
Mr. Nat Hodge
The Anguillian Newspaper
The Valley
Anguilla

Dear Sir,

When did the Dollar Sign replace the Dolphin as our National Emblem? This year we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution. It is so ironic that as we waved our flags celebrating our heroes and heroines of the Revolution and the economic progress of our proud nation, the Planning Board would allow the dolphins, our national symbol, to remain in captivity and furthermore, allow the owners of this dolphin facility to pollute our waters and obstruct our beaches. It is just a myth, a FANTASY, created by large foreign owned corporations that dolphins thrive in captivity and enjoy performing tricks for selfish humans with more money than morals.

The Editor
The Anguillian Newspaper
Anguilla

May 23, 2007

Dear Sir,

On May 2nd 2007, Anguilla National Tourism Investment Limited (ANTIL) an Anguillian corporation which defines one of its goals as ensuring that Anguillians maintain and expand their position of power and influence in the economic affairs of this country, wrote two letters to the Chief Minister requesting as follows:
a) That Government be more transparent and open with the people of Anguilla in the matter of the sale of Cap Juluca and to hold town hall meetings on the matter; and
b) That Government takes necessary steps at this time to inform and enlighten Anguillians on the matter of public acquisition.

The letter concerning educating the community about public acquisition extended an invitation to the Government to jointly host with ANTIL a public lecture on the subject, in a Town Hall meeting setting. The other letter raising concern about the need for more transparency and openness in relation to its conditions for sale of Cap Juluca, called on the Government to hold town hall meetings on the subject as an urgent matter. In such meetings Government would be able to report on its intentions and the terms and conditions it requires prospective buyers of the Resort to meet, in its negotiations with them. It would be able to report also on the progress of specific negotiations and the terms it proposes to accept prior to a decision by the Executive Council. The town hall meetings would enable the people to give feedback on its proposals and intenetions.

After three weeks ANTIL is still awaiting a response from Government. In the meantime we are aware that communication continues to be initiated by Government with GENCOM the US based corporation which is in negotiation with Government on the purchase of Cap Juluca.

Government’s actions in this latest interaction with ANTIL are embarrassingly consistent with its past actions toward ANTIL. ANTIL and some of its members have been snubbed, insulted, vilified and pulled down by some members of this Government in private and in public meetings to such an extent that many people have been given the impression that self-interest and the enrichment of its members rather than the economic empowerment of the people of Anguilla are the objectives of ANTIL.

It is blindingly obvious that some members of Government have never suggested that groups like ANTIL should be encouraged to be aggressive in seeking to be fully involved in the present and future economic progress of Anguilla. And this is despite the fact that Anguillians have proven themselves capable of so much including the success of Cap Juluca.

Unfortunately in the case of ANTIL’s efforts all that is heard from Government is that:
a) Freidland has a contract for sale with GENCOM which precludes his dealing with ANTIL (that contract expired several weeks ago).
b) ANTIL should do other things and cease meddling in the Cap Juluca matter and
c) ANTIL has no money.