Local News

Personnel from the three branches of the Customs Department in Anguilla – at the main office in The Valley and the outposts at Road Bay and Blowing Point Harbours – joined in observing World Customs Day on Wednesday this week. The theme of the event was “Knowledge: A Catalyst for Customs Excellence.”

Anguilla’s High Court Judge, Her Ladyship Justice Louise Blenman, has delivered a lecture to the Royal Anguilla Police Force on the occasion of its 39th Anniversary.

Over a hundred athletes participated in the season’s opening, One Mile Classic organised by the Anguilla Amateur Athletics Federation. The athletes ran around the Agriculture Block in the warm Anguilla sun.

A three-day Regional Risk Reduction Workshop got underway in Anguilla at CuisinArt Resort and Spa on Wednesday this week with funding from the European Union and the UNDP. It was organised to launch Aerial Mapping and Early Warning Systems Activities in Anguilla as well as in other territories in due course.

There is currently much talk in Anguilla for and against independence, and many of the proponents of this status have been giving the impression that it is something which the Government and people have to struggle to obtain.

Another in the series of workshops for Senior Officers of the Anguilla Public Service commenced at Masara Resort, Katouche Bay, on Wednesday this week, facilitated by Public Administration and sponsored by the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat. This time it is a Management and Leadership Skills Workshop.

Police Report

Thirteen crimes were recorded by the Anguilla Police during the period January 12-19. Of that a number, there was one burglary reported at Stoney Ground. A laptop computer, PSP console, digital camera and money were among the stolen items. Two attempted burglaries were reported at South Hill.

Anguilla’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communications, Evan Gumbs, is happy with recent talks in St. Maarten on port development and is of the view that they were useful to Anguilla’s future plans.

Fellow Axa – We have all had the opportunity to listen to two AUM/Gov’t recent rallies and I must say that they were just a continuation of the AUM campaign with an additional target being the British. How unfortunate and how embarrassing it has been for us as AXANS.

“Caribbean Marketplace” is the single largest showcase for tourism related businesses in the Caribbean. Between the 17th and 19th January, close to 2,000 delegates and invited guests met and networked on the serious business of tourism in the Caribbean at the newly opened Montego Bay Conference Centre, Jamaica. And, as should be expected, despite being billed as ‘all business’ – this conference is also a truly enjoyable Caribbean experience.

Pre-Event- Massage is an effective way to prepare athletes by warming and loosening the muscular system and also by sharpening the neuromuscular (nerve and muscle) communication. Whatever the activity, whether it may be jogging, playing the occasional game of soccer or any strenuous activity, it is recommended to warm and stretch the muscles to avoid injury.

Karvin Brooks, popularly known as “Zion”, has created one of the most attractive and productive vegetable pot gardens seen on the island.

On Friday, January 14th, 2011, Viceroy Anguilla Resort and Residences celebrated the success of their 2010 Festive Season and toasted 2011 at their quarterly Colleague Meeting. Mr. Jeff David kicked off the celebration by proclaiming that the Resort has established itself as one of the top resorts in the region, after only one year of operation. He trumpeted the record- breaking numbers to the applause of hundreds of colleagues.

An Anguillian Baptist Church delegation is in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, attending the 50th West Indies Baptist Fellowship Conference.

It was a pleasing and well-accomplished event on Tuesday evening this week, when fifteen students, called “clients” in the Job Education and Skill Development Initiative (JESDI), graduated at the Soroptimist Centre in The Valley.

Fellow Anguillians, over the past two weeks I have addressed you on the present state of affairs in Anguilla. I stressed that for us here in Anguilla with leadership responsibilities we will no doubt continue to have another very difficult and challenging year ahead under the existing financial and economic circumstances being experienced globally.

The world’s largest yacht, Eclipse, was in Anguillian waters this week, along with two other mega-yachts. All three vessels were anchored off Meads Bay, providing its crew and passengers with stunning views of the bay and tourism properties. The accommodation facilities included Viceroy, Frangipani Beach Resort, Carimar Beach Club and Malliouhana Hotel and Spa.

Anguilla has benefited from the donation of an outdoor volleyball court from the regional volleyball bodies of the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) and the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA), through the efforts of Mr. Glen Quinlan.

The roundabout in the area of the House of Assembly, the Courts, Police Headquarters and Inland Revenue Department, has already taken on much transformation and beauty, with the commencement of enhancement work there.

The Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service has carried out its biennial simulation exercise to maintain its licence for the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, a category five facility.