Letters

10th August 2011


Mr. Hubert Hughes
Honourable Chief Minister and Minister
Of Finance
Chief Minister’s Office
The Valley.

Dear Mr. Hughes,

Re: Salaries Owed To Civil Servants.

The Anguilla Civil Service Association (ACSA) have learned via the media that the sale of the Viceroy Hotel is just about complete and indeed should be finalized, if there are no delays, on the 17th August 2011.

Dear Mr. Smith,

You strike a most appreciative chord with me when you essentially highlight the virtues of "small" over "big". You have most eloquently described the benefits to Anguilla of the some 750 private home owners, of which I am one, over the disadvantages of some of the larger projects pursued by an earlier government. However, the larger projects were permitted and encouraged during a period of global economic boom. Had they not been mismanaged, nor experienced the economic downturn, and turned out be successful as contemplated, your criticisms of them may have become invalid, and the earlier government's decisions to support them, vindicated.

The Editor
The Anguillian

THE AIRBUS 380 THAT NEVER TOOK OFF

Dear Sir,

While I admire Mr. Sheridan Smith's analogy of Anguilla being the "jumbo jet that was supposed to take us to unheard of financial altitudes" back in 2009 and 2010, he is perhaps unaware that a jet can only take off safely, and surely, weather conditions permitting, i.e. in good weather. Notwithstanding the good or bad choice of a captain and crew, if weather conditions started to deteriorate by the end of 2008 and progressively got worse in 2009 and 2010, there is not much that the people in the cockpit could do.

Yesterday News Media in Anguilla and elsewhere carried a News item wherein it was alleged that the Anguilla football Association failed to respond to FIFA’s request to be interviewed by the FIFA investigation team with respect to the Trinidad and Tobago conference.

Mr Raymond Guishard
President
Anguilla Football Association
Queen Elizabeth Avenue

Dear Mr Guishard

Recent developments in the global football arena specifically regarding the issue of alleged corruption resulting in charges against two very well placed FIFA personnel as well as a subsequent investigation provided an ideal platform to ask several questions of you as the person in charge of the Anguilla Football Association.

The Editor
The Anguillian

Dear Editor,

I am astonished and saddened that a crime in Anguilla, in the form of a physical assault, has been ignored.

The Editor
The Anguillian

Dear Sir:
FREE SPEECH

I am concerned about the protection of free speech by those in authority in Anguilla.

June 28, 2011

Dear Honourable Chief Minister Hughes:

As a born and very concerned Anguillian, I would like to contribute a few of my thoughts as to how we, as an intelligent people, can begin to repair our bleeding and broken economy. Mr. Chief Minister, I have done extensive research on the following and I do hope that both you and your highly respected technical team, such as Dr. Aiden Harrigan, “Doctor” Gecheal Richardson and “Doctor” Kathleen Rogers, would find it necessary to acknowledge the fact that we are faced with a dangerous economy that needs an infusion of A positive blood. I honestly believe that we have the answers to nurse this ailing economy back to vibrant health.

Dear Sir,

There continues to be some talk, speculation, criticism, praise, uncertainty, and a mix of other emotions amongst Anguillians about the recent development of the successful bid for Temenos by home-goods magnate Leandro Rizzuto of Cuisinart. The seemingly low price of $15 million paid for Temenos has, in the minds of some, "devalued" Anguillian real estate and hence is not good for the island. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Upon some analysis and reflection, I believe that it is a very positive development for Anguilla.

The Editor
The Anguillian Newspaper
Dear Sir:

“WORTHY, WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN”

I delight in reading the Bible because of its poetic and prose language, and the power with which a lot of it is spoken resonates in a particular way down to us through the corridors of time; and ever so often we are led to refer to some of its majestic phrases.

The Editor,
The Anguillian

WORK ON THE GOLF COURSE

One of our family members was fortunate to have worked on the Golf Course project from its inception, but has had to return home to St. Vincent when it ran out of money and had to be closed down.

The Editor
The AnguillianNewspaper

Dear Mr. Editor:

LITERACY PROGRAMME A GOOD STEP

As a former educator with a still abiding interest in literacy development, and having served in several regional islands before settling in Anguilla, I wish to commend the Ministry and Department of Education for launching the Literacy Programme and the various associated promotions.

The Editor
The Anguillian

WHITHER HEALTH?

Can anybody tell me who is responsible for health in Anguilla?

The Editor,
The Anguillian
Sir:

REPLACE THOSE FICUS TREES

Last week I saw workmen pruning the sprawling ficus trees at the Queen Elizabeth Avenue and a thought I long held came back to my mind.

The Editor
The Anguillian
Dear Mr. Editor:

THE QUESTION OF DEMOCRACY IN ANGUILLA

A friend emailed me a feature article published in The Anguillian in which Rev. Niles made a plea for “Real Democracy in Anguilla”. The article was both enlightening and skillfully written. Coming from a person of his calibre, I thought it was instructive and scholarly.

The Editor,
The Anguillian
Dear Sir:

GIVE THE GOVERNMENT A CHANCE

There has been a lot of excitement among both Government and supporters following the results of the general election in February 2010. Conversely, there has been a lot of disappointment among the defeated Opposition and their supporters.

Get Ready For Anguilla Day

On the 30th May 2011 we will be celebrating the 44th Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution.

The Anguillian

Dear Sir/Madam

I crave your indulgence for some space in your paper to publicly record the thanks of the UWI Open Campus to all who made the recently held First Anguilla Country Conference (April 28 to 29, 2011) possible. While I can only be brief in this letter, I would like the community to know that a more detailed acknowledgement will appear in the monthly Open Campus Newsletter which can be found on the UWI Open Campus web site: www.open.uwi.edu.

THE AIRBUS 380 THAT NEVER TOOK OFF

Back in 2009 and 2010, Anguilla was mesmerized by the promise of a new dawn. We were led to believe the promise that if we got on board this “jet”, that was moving towards a fresh era, all would be well and vibrant again on our 35-square mile paradise. We left our homes on chilly nights to attend the meetings and diligently sounded our car horns, or we sat comfortably in our homes with the radio turned up loudly, swallowing all of the fairy tale promises of a brighter tomorrow. No new taxes, no more crooked incumbents, new projects and industries, unemployment obliterated...We were lightheaded with joy.

The Editor,
The Anguillian

Dear Editor,

I wish to bring to your attention, and the attention of the Planning Department and the general public of Anguilla, the state of the Rendezvous Bay access road.