Local News

His Excellency Alistair Harrison, Governor of Anguilla, announced on Tuesday, March 9 that, on the unanimous recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission he has approved the appointment of Ms Ivenia Benjamin as Senior Magistrate. Ms Benjamin is a citizen of the Commonwealth of Dominica. She has experience there of working as magistrate, in the Attorney-General’s Chambers and in private practice. She will be taking up her position in early April.

The National Bank of Anguilla, now celebrating its 25th Anniversary, and the Organisation of Early Childhood Education, observing a month of activities, were largely represented by their banking staff and teachers respectively, at the worship service at the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Saturday, March 6.

Two persons, Rickey Gumbs of George Hill, Anguilla, and Roberto Desouza, a Jamaican national residing at Blowing Point, were arrested on Tuesday, March 9, when the Customs Department held them for possession and importation of cannabis.

In his much-delayed press conference, occasioned by the recent long election campaign, Governor Alistair told reporters on Tuesday this week that good governance was an important area of his responsibilities in Anguilla, but was far less defined than any of his other responsibilities. He made the point, however, that good governance required the commitment of all branches of government and the wider society.

Today’s societies are constantly seeking ways to improve their quality of life, and science and technology play a vital part in that search.

Renewable Energy, Alternative Energy, Wind Energy, Solar Energy, Green, we hear these terms being used liberally every day on television, in the newspapers, from politicians, and enthusiasts. Almost all political candidates cite "Renewable Energy" as a campaign initiative. For many, they are just the latest buzzwords, used frequently, but how many really understand those terms? Green is the new "Cool" it seems. You, the reader may be confused or amused by the abundance use of such terms with few obvious and tangible projects.

The Arijah Foundation (which caters for children with special needs), and Kerry-Ann Julius (a Campus B student, unable to go to school as a result of walking difficulties) are the beneficiaries of a shared donation amounting to a total of over EC$20, 600 from the Royal Anguilla Police Force. The two cases were adopted this year by the Police as part of activities commemorating the 38th Anniversary of the Force.

During the electioneering campaign the Anguilla United Movement was constantly campaigning for Mr Roberts as the Movement did not field a candidate in Constituency Number Two – East End District. My question is, why is the Movement, now that the results of the Elections of 15th February 2010 are known with the AUM having a clear majority, imposing the stipulation that Hon. Roberts forthwith abandon his party unequivocally and align himself with the Anguilla United Movement?

Commonwealth Day 2010, the Pan-Commonwealth Youth Caucus calls on decision makers in all Commonwealth countries to celebrate and involve young people, especially in building opportunities brought about through science and technology. On this Commonwealth Day, the Caucus also wishes to welcome the young people of Rwanda into the Commonwealth family of nations.

The following is the full text of an address delivered to the press on Wednesday this week by Commissioner of Police, Keithly Benjamin, announcing his retirement from the Royal Anguilla Police Force.

Women from across Anguilla assembled at the Soroptimist Club Hall on Monday, March 8, for a rally and luncheon to observe International Women’s Day during which a number of persons delivered addresses.

On March 3, 2010, the Executive of the Anguilla Bar Association presented a cheque of $8,0064.60, to Mr. Ricky Rophine, President of the Anguilla Red Cross. The cheque represents contributions from individual lawyers and firms to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Effort which was launched by the Red Cross.

Anguilla’s contribution to the relief effort in Haiti, following the massive earthquake damage there, has been further strengthened by a donation of US$6,026 raised mainly by the combined work of a number of young women called the Rainbows for Haiti Committee.

The first of six signs calling attention to the need to resist violence against women was erected near the road, and in full view of the public, just west of the gazebo on the grounds of the Scouts and Guides Ruthwill Auditorium on Monday, March 8. Its erection climaxed a rally and luncheon in observance of International Women’s Day held at the Soroptimist Club Hall by the Soroptimists and the National Council of Women.

A donation of a 4-in-one printer has been made to the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School to be used in the business section and in the school generally.

Almost 43 years after he led the 1967 Anguilla Revolution, which culminated in the island’s formal separation from St. Kitts-Nevis in 1980, James Ronald Webster was honoured with a public holiday filled with a spectacular series of social and cultural events on his 84th birthday on Tuesday this week. The morning and afternoon celebration, in recognition of his revolutionary and fearless leadership of Anguilla, will be an annual event. Mr. Webster, who was not in attendance, was reported by Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes, to have been at an “undisclosed location.” Reports stated however that he had left the island for his customary visit to St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.

This Friday, March 5, is exactly one week since the commencement of a new House of Assembly in Anguilla, occasioned by the swearing in of the island’s first female Speaker, the Elected Members, the First Nominated Member and the two Ex-Officio Members, the Deputy Governor and the Attorney General. The Second Nominated Member is yet to be announced and sworn in.

It may possibly be the sternest warning, on Wednesday, ever issued by the Royal Anguilla Police to young men in Anguilla involved in fighting with the use of guns and knives, as well as committing a series of armed robbery offences.

The new Anguilla House of Assembly convened on February 26, at which the Speaker and Members were sworn in. At a reception that evening, at Government House to mark the occasion, His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Alistair Harrison, delivered an address to the Speaker, Chief Minister and members of Government, the Leader of the Opposition, other members of the House of Assembly and all invited guests.

We can all agree that the 2010 election campaign was the ugliest in Anguilla’s political history. The mud that flew was more than was produced by Hurricane Lenny and could easily have filled the Coritot dump site. The charges and counter charges hurled between candidates where some were alleged to have been diseased with aids, to those who did not really know who their father's were, were enough to make the poll historic.