Mr. Ben Merrick, the Director of the British Overseas Territories arrived in Anguilla on Tuesday, March 26, for a brief official visit.
On Thursday, March 28, he toured various projects funded under the Anguilla UK Programme to see the progress of work.
He left the island later in the day after meeting with His Excellency The Governor, staff in the Governor’s Office, Chief Minister, Mr. Victor Banks, other Ministers and Officials of the Anguilla Government.

Mr. Merrick was previously in Anguilla in 2017 following Hurricane Irma.

Mr. Cardigan Connor

The possibility of direct flights to Anguilla from the US mainland, on airlines carrying up to 75 passengers, is still under consideration, according to the island’s Parliamentary Secretary responsible for tourism, the Hon. Cardigan A. Connor.

“We are looking at Miami first of all,” Mr. Connor told The Anguillian newspaper. “That matter is with Nick Wagner, the CEO of Forecast. In fact, we have signed a contract with him. He is the agent who has direct links with American Airlines as well as Delta and JetBlue. Over the coming months, he will work directly with them on our behalf – and we have employed him to do that.
“I must say thank you to the investors in the five star hotels in Anguilla who have come on board, and who have seen the need to have that direct flight,” Connor said. “From Government’s standpoint, it is first come, first served, so that Anguillians out there would not feel it is only for hotel guests. The investors working with us are from Belmond Cap Juluca, CuisinArt, Four Seasons, Malliouhana-Auberge and Zemi Beach.
“All of the properties are very busy this year. One of our challenges has been access to the island. If there is a flight out of Miami, it would also attract Europeans to fly direct to Miami and then to Anguilla. This would be cheaper as opposed to flying out of Britain or Europe directly to the Caribbean because of the tax system.
“We will have Miami as a base, and in the future with tourists from New York, Boston and other states on the west coast flying to Miami and then directly to Anguilla. This would be a huge plus for us.”
Mr. Connor added: “As we look towards the expansion of the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, this is one of those low-hanging pieces of fruit that we talk about and say it can happen now. It is important for us to take advantage of that.
“The other thing is that Governor Foy is very keen about making that happen. He has already reached out, saying that he will do all he can to help us with the airport regarding how to deal with a flight that comes in with seventy people; and how we can process them through as quickly as possible.
“These are some of the things that, over the next five to six months, we will have to put in place. It is something that is vitally import

View of the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport

ant for us. Anguilla is at great demand right now and we have been very successful. It shows our resilience after the hurricane – and still to be regarded as one of the top destinations in the Caribbean.

“The investors, whether in the five star hotels, the villas and even the charming escapes, suggest that people see Anguilla as a place they want to invest in because there is a demand out there to visit Anguilla.”

Mr. Colin Hicks, MBE & Governor Foy, OBE

Both by its name and nature of duties, it is implied that the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service should have responsibility for search and rescue at sea. As a consequence the department, located in the Combined Services Building at the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, is to have a special boat for that purpose; and the officers will also have the necessary training and expertise skills.

“The cue is almost in the name,” Governor Tim Foy, OBE, told The Anguillian newspaper on Monday, March 25, when disclosing the new thinking and role of the above department. He was accompanied at the interview by the newly-appointed Head of the Governor’s Office, Mr. Colin Hicks, MBE.
The Royal Anguilla Police Force, through its marine division, has been responsible for rescuing persons and boats in difficulty at sea for all its years of existence. But, with growing pressure of work, the Force will now be concerned with interdiction, working in collaboration with the Customs and Immigration Departments, to stamp out illegal activities and crime in Anguilla’s territorial waters. The Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources, which reportedly is to be merged with the Department of Agriculture later on, will apparently have its own specific role within that merger.
Asked to explain the new role of the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service, Governor Foy replied: “As we are an international maritime nation – strange to say but because we go to St. Martin/St. Maarten making us international – we have to sign up to international maritime organizations’ standard, rules and regulations. It is a little bit like how the airport is regulated. The regulations are done by the International Maritime Organization which is a United Nations body. This is one of the cases where the regulations are not being imposed by the UK but by the international body.
“One of the requirements is that there is an effective search and rescue function, and for a long time Anguilla has not really had that. It is not to say that if there was a problem nobody would go out [at sea] to help – far from it…There are different dimensions that one must do to meet the standard, and the first is that it has to be a recognized authority with responsibility for search and rescue.

“We thought long and hard about this. It has to really be a uniformed, organized organization and it comes down to either the Police or the Fire and Rescue Service. It struck us that the Police are very, very busy on a range of issues and the clue is almost in the name – Fire and Rescue Service. In many ways, what the Fire Service does – hopefully it is not very busy because if it was, we would have lots of problems – is that it maintains a response capability. We felt it makes more sense to put the Maritime Search and Rescue Service, between here and St. Martin/St. Maarten, in the hands of the Fire Service because they [the officers] are trained; they exercise, have a communications network and it frees up the Police from having to be involved.
“The second thing is that we need to have an established Search and Rescue Centre. We now have that for the very first time because, in the new Control Tower and the Combined Services Building, a maritime response capability is being put in. It will have all the necessary radios and all that is needed with them. So if anybody gets on the emergency channel, and makes a call, it will be picked up by the Fire Service whose officers are there, all the time, and will be in a position to respond to an emergency.

Combined Services Building at the Airport

“The third thing is the requirement for a boat. I know quite a few people are keen to sell boats, but we need to have a boat which is fit for that purpose. Hopefully, within the [UK] Anguilla Programme – just as we have been helping the fire-fighting capabilities – we will have a boat coming along.”
The Governor continued: “In the meantime, the operators of all the ferry and charter companies have agreed to act in a voluntary capacity. If something was to happen, the message would come through the Fire and Rescue Service which would request a particular company to provide cover for that day and the rescue would take place. But, clearly, that is not sustainable. What we need to have is a designated authority in terms of a reporting post at the Combined Services Building, a satellite post in the new Terminal at Blowing Point with a tower and a boat.

“For us, the decision was: Is it for the Police who have plenty to do on land, or is it to transfer the function [of search and rescue]? In the past the Police had a boat, but that was about interdiction and dealing with criminality – in the same way that Customs had a boat. For us, it makes sense to put the issue into the hand of the Fire and Rescue Service which would also be in a position to deal with any marine fires if one of the ferries [or other boat], unfortunately, caught fire.
“So that’s the reason and the rationale. We are making sure that Shondell Hodge [Chief Fire Officer] – whom we all have a great respect for, and is a bright and good guy – has access to the resources he needs. He is really working hard to raise standards and to have the best Fire Service there can be in the Eastern Caribbean. The key thing is that someone will be at the Combined Services Building 24/7, 365 days a year on the radio, able to take a call for rescue; and able at that point in time to organize a response. Hopefully, within the next six months, we will have the boat in place so that we don’t have to rely on the ferry and charter companies – but we know that they would assist anyway.”

The Governor added: “The new design for the Terminal at Blowing Point specifically includes a place to store the boat so that it will not be in the water all the time. That will protect it from the elements. The boat will be launched very quickly when it needs to be.”

Blood in the urine is a common symptom that brings individuals to visit the doctor. In many instances the cause is harmless, but blood in urine (haematuria) can indicate a serious disorder including cancer.

Blood in the urine
When large amounts of blood are in the urine it is called gross hematuria and causes the urine to look pink, red or cola-coloured due to the presence of red blood cells. In some instances, blood is only visible under a microscope (microscopic haematuria) and is found when your doctor performs a test on your urine. In both cases, this symptom should not be ignored. In many cases bloody urine often occurs without other signs or symptoms.

What causes blood in the urine?
If there is blood in your urine, it will likely have come from somewhere within the urinary tract – the kidneys, bladder or ureters/urethra the tubes that urine passes through.

Common causes of blood in urine include:
• a bladder infection (such as cystitis)
• a kidney infection
• kidney stones
• Urethritis – inflammation of the tube that carries urine out of the body (urethra)
• an enlarged prostate gland – this is a common condition in older men and nothing to do with prostate cancer. An enlarged prostate gland will press on the bladder and may also cause problems such as difficulty urinating and a frequent need to urinate
• bladder cancer – this usually affects adults aged over 50 (but not exclusively) and can also cause you to urinate more often and more urgently, as well as pain when urinating
• kidney cancer – this also usually affects adults aged over 50, (but not exclusively)
• prostate cancer – this is only seen in men, usually aged over 45 (but not exclusively)
• inherited disorders. Sickle cell anemia — a hereditary defect of haemoglobin in red blood cells — causes blood in urine, both visible and microscopic haematuria
• Kidney injury. A blow or other injury to your kidneys from an accident or contact sports can cause visible blood in your urine.
• Medications. The anti-cancer drug cyclophosphamide and penicillin can cause urinary bleeding. Visible urinary blood sometimes occurs if you take an anticoagulant such as aspirin and the blood thinner heparin, and you also have a condition that causes your bladder to bleed.

When to see your doctor?
You should always see your doctor if you notice bright red blood in your urine, or if your urine has turned red or brown. Women who are having their menstrual cycle might notice blood in the urine. If this does not disappear after the menstrual period ends, they should also see their doctor.

Making the diagnosis
A detailed medical history and examination is important. Your doctor will arrange a number of tests and investigations. Once a diagnosis is made treatment can begin. Sometimes, the cause of urinary bleeding cannot be found. In that case, your doctor might recommend regular follow-up tests, especially if you have risk factors for bladder cancer, such as smoking, exposure to environmental toxins or a history of radiation therapy.

Treatment
The type of treatment will depend on the condition causing the haematuria. In some cases, no treatment is necessary. It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions and also keep follow up appointments.

Conclusion
Blood in the urine in most cases is causesdby not too serious conditions, but in some cases it can be a sign of cancer. Blood in urine must be checked out by a doctor as soon as it is noticed, because it can be a sign of cancer such as cancer of the kidneys, bladder and prostate. The earlier the cancer is diagnosed and treated the better is the prognosis. Men in particular, if you notice blood in the urine do not ignore it – see a doctor.

Ask Your Dr is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.

Dr Brett Hodge MB BS DGO MRCOG is an obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor with over thirty-six years in clinical practice. Dr Brett Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 497 5928).

Anguillian student Mr. Sharmori Richardson, pursuing his studies as an Accountant, is now a past student of The International College of the Cayman Islands (ICCI) having graduated with Honors and as Valedictorian. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Business Administration.
Mr. Richardson received the Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Accountants award for Highest GPA in the Accounting Program, and the James Manoah Bodden Memorial Award for Volunteerism to the International College of the Cayman Islands. This award was given to Sharmori for:
• His creation of the Student Used Book Service (SUBS) at ICCI, a business that allows students to sell their used books to other students.
• Being a good role model throughout his term as Student Council President.
• Establishing a Tutoring Service (Step-By-Step Tutoring, Anguilla).
• His efforts in gathering school supplies for the students and school that were affected by Hurricane Irma in Anguilla.
Sharmori is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Professional Accountancy at the Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mr. Richardson gives of his time freely to the students of Anguilla during his break from school.
Best wishes to Mr. Richardson.
– Contributed

Anguilla like many Caribbean economies are single product economies mainly, dependent upon one source of income- which is today tourism- for their livelihoods and existence: GDP. This is a mono-economy, with a dependency on a single fragile industry and market. Homes for first time home buyers will be built by local indigenous contractors to create expanded opportunities for local Anguillans. Builders, plumbers, electricians, loan officers and new home owners will under benefit under this home building plan. Anguilla needs to diversify its tourism product to include cultural heritage tours.

It is proposed that locally operated tours that will owned, managed and marketed by local indigenous Anguillans. The heritage sites such as Gavannah Cave, Fountain Cave, Crocus Hill, Roaches Hill, Shoal Bay Beach, Big Spring, the mini Golf course, and sea salt processing plant, Sile Bay, the Old East End School are the suggested sites that can be developed for a Cultural Heritage-Historical tour. This branch of tours will work in conjunction with the Deep Sea Fishing and Sports Fishing development plan.

Economic empowerment of local indigenous Anguillans, workers’ rights, environmental conservation, along with enhanced social insurance including the State pension for all citizens, National Health Insurance, unemployment insurance, a “truly social” Social Security insurance program with a Cost of Living Adjustment, that ensures that 90% of the fund is spent on social insurance payouts. Enhanced disability, medical and pregnancy leave, sickness benefit. and the elimination of independent contractor status,a long with a starting minimum wage of $7.75 US per hour will form a core part of Social Democratic/Democratic Socialism philosophy. Guided by the principles of the Republic of Anguilla, and the philosophy of Black nationalism, the history of the Anguilla revolution and the Anguilla Indigenous culture including Herbal medicine where local fruits,foods, herbs (including Marijuana), and vegetables will be promoted, marketed and sold. Anguillan farmers and fishermen will have their products showcased, at the Gift Shops on the Cultural Heritage tours.

Anguilla has an estimated population of 13,534 (est. December 2011). It is a middle income island with a gross domestic product (GDP) of about US$ 319.75 million in 2015. It has the second smallest economy in the OECS, and is part of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. The economy depends heavily on tourism, offshore banking, fishing, construction and remittances from emigrants. Tourism, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector, is the main contributor to economic growth and is also the main source of employment. The fisheries sector is also an important contributor to livelihoods and the economy. It is valued at US$ 9.4 million, contributing about 2.26% of Anguilla’s GDP in 2014.

Traditionally local fishermen fish out to 40 miles, and with this proposal the waters that are greater than 40 miles from the shore will be used for Sports Fishing and other forms of Deep Sea Fishing, possibly including trawlers, long line, and other methods. The licensing regime and the operation of deep sea fishing boats will be conducted by Indigenous Anguillans who have parental heritage traced to 1967 and earlier. Conservation will form an integral part of the Anguilla Deep Sea Fishing and Sports Fishing Economic Zone proposal. The Deep Sea Fishing sector can be segregated out from Sports Fishing where catch and release programs involving large fish such as Maui Maui, Tuna, Blue Marlin will be encouraged. Safety will be of paramount importance with life vests, GPS, VMS, AIS, cell phones, life rafts, emergency telecoms, flare guns will all be mandatory for safe operating in both the Deep Sea and Sports Fishing sectors.

Offshore boat fishing, sometimes called deep sea or open water fishing, is fishing in deep water (more than 30 metres) and at some distance from land. It is dangerous compared to shallow water or lake fishing. More knowledge is needed about weather patterns, navigation and safety precautions, and this is not an activity for beginners. Anguilla has an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of over 92,000 km2 , which includes a common submarine shelf with St. Martin to the south. There are extensive reefs off the north coast and fringing reefs along most of the south coast. The 17 km long reef along the north east coast is considered to be one of the most important largely unbroken reefs in the Eastern Caribbean.

There are over 40 white sandy beaches around the island, which are comprised mainly of calcareous algal sands, coral and shell fragments, and small areas of mangroves. Offshore boats are generally much larger than inshore boats, and may need to be moored in a marina. Offshore boats are generally much larger than inshore boats, and may need to be moored in a marina. They are sturdily constructed so they can brave the weather and water conditions encountered in open waters. Boats will be procured by Anguillians to service the needs of Deep Sea Fishing/Sports Fishing. Most offshore recreational fishermen charter boats rather than own them. It is often a pastime of the affluent, and there is a demand for charter boats equipped and catered to luxurious excess. This will tie-in neatly with the marketing of Anguilla as a 5 star up market tourist destination.

– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)

Saturday, 23 March 2019 marked the 37th Anniversary of the Anguilla National Council of Women.
On behalf of the Executive of the Anguilla National Council of Women, I extend sincere congratulations to the past Presidents and their Executive, the affiliated organizations, the Caribbean Women’s Association (CARIWA) for their support in building on the foundation of the early stalwarts of this organization.
We reflect on the lives of our departed sisters and their families for their legacy. So by the grace of Almighty God, let us pledge to continue to advocate for the empowerment of women in the spiritual, social, economic and political framework of our island.
An open invitation is extended to women in our affiliated organizations and other individuals to join the Council.
With regards to our track record, the Council has contributed considerately to the standard of living for women, particularly, their spirituality, other improvements in family life and ownership of property in our community.
Therefore, we were always mindful of the gender perspective in our advocacy and decision making as necessary.
Special thanks to our clergymen, their congregations, media colleagues, and the general public at home and abroad for their support.

Ursil Webster Brooks
President – Anguilla National Council of Women (ANCW)
– Press Release

The Department of Environment (DOE), supported by the UK’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), has produced the first national Natural Capital Account (NCA) for Anguilla, measuring the benefit that the environment provides to Anguilla1. The recently completed NCA for 2018 found that the environment supports over EC$ 200 million2 annually to Anguilla through tourism, fishing, agriculture, hazard protection and recreational benefits to residents3. The initial account presents preliminary results and lays the foundation for improved management of Anguilla’s environment. A workshop was conducted on March 27th and 28th to build capacity for government practitioners to further develop and use NCA to inform policy and planning.

Natural Capital Accounting is a way of managing the environment, by combining ecological and economic data to better understand the value that our environment provides. This is done through the production of structured accounts which can be used to inform policy and planning decisions. By using the principles of environmental economics to understand the value of the environment, NCA is a leading-edge approach to monitoring the benefits of a nation’s environmental assets, in parallel to other national accounts, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which measures the value of a nation’s economy. Better environmental management, informed by these accounts, can create benefits such as enhanced coastal protection, greater tourism potential, increased fish populations, a reduction in erosion, sustainable material production, and better air and water quality. This will improve both the sustainability of a nation’s environment, and the prosperity of its people.

The objective of the workshop was to provide knowledge and skills to facilitate the introduction and utilisation of NCA in Anguilla and how it may be applied to create meaningful impact in policy and planning. As such, practitioners gain experience in collecting, processing and linking data collection activities to the decision-making processes. The workshop was designed for cross-department technical experts from within the Government of Anguilla to build capacity so that practitioners are equipped with the ability to take the NCA process forward in Anguilla. This work began with the development of the NCA for 2018, leading to a strategy to further improve and embed NCA to help support effective decision-making from 2019 and beyond. This is an important step leading towards the incremental handover of the NCA process to operate fully within the Government of Anguilla through future iterations.
____________________________________
1 For further details on the Natural Capital Accounting process, see the report “Natural Capital Accounting in the UK Overseas Territories: A Guide”, available from the Department of Environment, Anguilla.

2 This is a preliminary result and subject to change; however, the approach is thought to be conservative, and gaps remain, so the overall value is likely to be greater.

3 For further details on Anguilla’s 2018 NCA, see the upcoming report “Anguilla Natural Capital Accounting”, soon to be available from the Department of Environment, Anguilla.

President of the UWIAA Anguilla Chapter Ms. Yvette Wallace with Proprietor of Essentials, Ms. Heather Wallace

The UWI Alumni Association – Anguilla Chapter (UWIAA) is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Essentials Stationery & Gift Store to offer “Pelican Perks” to UWI Alumni and Students. Through this programme Essentials is providing an exclusive 5% discount on all full-price purchases to graduates and current students of The University of the West Indies.

The UWI Pelican Perks are special concessions and discounts for UWI Alumni and Students at participating businesses throughout the region. To benefit from the programme, students are required to present a valid UWI Student Identification Card, while Graduates/Alumni must present their UWI Alumni Association (UWIAA) membership card.

“Essentials Stationery & Gift Store is the first business on Anguilla to formally sign up for the Pelican Perks programme and we are thrilled to welcome their participation in this regional initiative,” says President of the Association, Ms. Yvette Wallace. “This is a truly exciting development for the Anguilla Association, as we strive to build these mutually rewarding partnerships. We thank Ms. Heather Wallace and her team for collaborating with us and we encourage the participation of other businesses on Anguilla.”
According to President Yvette Wallace, businesses enrolled in the UWI Pelican Perks programme are marketed to the more than 200,000 UWI Students and Graduates around the world, and receive free listing and exposure in UWI Alumni Online Community and publications, as well as discounted advertising in the UWI Alumni Connect Magazine.

Essentials Stationery & Gift Store is the largest office supply store on Anguilla, offering a wide range of brand name office products, office furniture and equipment. Essentials gift items include pen sets, journals, leather portfolios, watches, bags, purses, a variety of quotable mugs. Proprietor, Ms. Heather Wallace, says that she is delighted to be partnering with the UWI Alumni Association as part of the Pelican Perks programme. “We look forward to expanding our service to the UWI Students and Alumni both locally and regionally, through this initiative,” she said.

The UWI Alumni Association – Anguilla Chapter represents graduates from all four Campuses (Mona, St. Augustine, Cave Hill and the Open Campus) as well as graduates of the Distance Learning Programme or School of Continuing Studies who reside on Anguilla. The Association is encouraging all Alumni to register for their membership card and participate to take advantage of the Pelican Perks.

Businesses interested in participating in the Pelican Perks programme can find out more information online at https://www.uwi.edu/ALUMNIONLINE/membership/pelican-perks/offer, contact President, Ms. Yvette Wallace at (264) 582-5590 or the UWI Open Campus at anguilla@open.uwi.edu.

– Press Release

Leader of the Opposition Pam Webster, Mr. Maurice Connor and Chief Minister Victor Banks

Over the years, since the 1960s, Anguilla had given birth to numerous airplane pilots who served the traveling public both at home and abroad. Among them, of course, was the legendary Capt. Clayton J. Lloyd, after whom our airport is named, but serving close to him “back in the day” was Capt. Maurice Ellwood Connor, a brilliant and conscientious airman.
From 1968 to 1984, Maurice would have served the Anguillian community with his flying career for some 16 years, first as a pilot for Anguilla Airways then with Valley Air Service.
On Thursday, March 29th, Capt. Connor turned 77, and he was honourably treated in a semi-formal setting with a mild degree of pomp and ceremony on the grounds of the Blowing Point Port.
The event was by no means a “birthday bash party”, but rather the humble gathering of a few hand-picked folks who had come to show appreciation to Capt. Connor, while they reminisced about the fervent spirit of awe that accorded the trend of local aviation in the early years of our nation’s history.
Spearheading the occasion was the organizer Mr. Cardigan Gumbs, a former employee of Valley Air Service. Cardigan is an extremely passionate individual who took his job seriously while he worked as a grounds service attendant – doing everything from bag handling to refueling the small fleet of planes, to carrying out minor service checks at the small aircrafts. Cardigan lived and breathed aviation on his level back then and, over the years, he never lost his enthusiasm and passion for the thrill of flying.
Attending the event was Mr. Connor’s long-standing friend and comrade, the Hon. Victor Banks. In fact, it was Mr. Banks who persuaded Capt. Connor to “throw his hat” into the political ring in 1981, thus ending his active piloting stint by becoming the Road North’s representative in Ronald Webster’s APP Government until 1984.

L-R Moderator; Hulio Carty, Ms. Lelia Richardson, Captain Maurice Connor and Mr. Cardigan Gumbs

Mr. Banks bore testimony of Capt. Connor’s stalwart image as one of Anguilla’s most daring pilots: “I must say thanks to Cardigan for organizing this admirable event. Because we are an island and we had to reach out to the rest of the world, it was necessary for us to grow and develop pilots and captains. Due to that fact, we have led the region in being pioneers in aviation and shipping.
“Mr. Connor has been in the forefront of our aviation history. He was one of our first pilots, going back a generation. I recall his father, Eddy Connor, as one of Anguilla’s fist boat owners, who was legendary for his exploits. In that era, most of the time when a plane would be traveling overhead, it would be a plane hired by Eddie Connor coming up from Puerto Rico where he conducted his trade. And the basic reason why Maurice decided to take on aviation, as a daring career, was due to Eddie’s need for air transport.
“Maurice has contributed much to the history of Anguilla. He is the kind of leader and a visionary that has helped to shape us into what we are today. Certainly, Mr. Maurice Connor stands out. He is my good friend but, most of all, he is a great leader, an entrepreneur and a pioneer who has made Anguilla proud. So happy birthday, Maurice. We honour you today.”
The Leader of the Opposition, Ms. Pam Webster, was also on hand to share in the celebrations of the moment. She said: “I am happy to be here today to be a part of this great energy. I am humbled by the opportunity to be included in this event. The year 1977 was a very special year for me because of Valley Air Service where Maurice was a great captain. That year, Valley Air Service sponsored my participation in the National Queen Pageant and gave me the opportunity to be the representative for Miss Anguilla.
“This is the prime context in which I really got to know Maurice. Over the years, he has continued to be someone whom I have always looked up to. It is Valley Air Service and Maurice and Cardigan and the team at the airport that helped me to establish and develop my sense of pride in Anguilla. So, today, I am wishing you a happy birthday, Maurice. Congratulations and may the Lord bless you.”
The Hon. McNeil Rogers also gave his tribute for the work and service of Maurice in the aviation industry. He reminisced on his first flight with Capt. Connor, on August 1st 1970 when he was transported on Anguilla Airways to St. Thomas and then to St. Croix to spend his school’s summer vacation. He commended Mr. Connor for his noble years of stellar service, and he wished him God’s speed and good health for the future.
Music for the celebration was provided by the Roots Band led by Ras Bucket. A light reception followed on the nearby grounds of K & H Souvenir Shop. Capt. Connor gave high praise and thanks to Cardigan Gumbs for the great gesture in recognizing him for his services in aviation. He expressed his appreciation to all who came to make his day so special.

– Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan

The next general election is around the corner, so the rubber-stamping of recommendations, obligations, and requirements that are outstanding should not surprise us. This Government has approved projects and programmes without careful consideration and acknowledgement of our nation’s dire circumstances. The AUF has buried the people of Anguilla in debt and lies that hinder us from digging ourselves out of the hole we are in. The Honourable Chief Minister’s 2019 Budget Address highlighted how entrenched we are in debt and starkly evidenced a lack of solutions to the problems that confront us. We must continue to scrutinize and question this Government as to their competence.

Despite the nothingness of his budget address, the Chief Minister continued to push the false narrative of the AUF’s great “record of achievements” in his 29 March, 2019 interview with Billy D on SOS 95.9 FM Radio in St. Martin. During the interview, he suggested that his good relationship with the Foreign Commonwealth Office and the Governor, Tim Foy, was based on mutual respect. He boasted that in 2018 the British had required a new taxation measure and that he had disagreed with its implementation. Our Minister of Finance did not even take the time to explain alternatives he might put in place.

Is this really what respect looks like? Did the Chief Minister consider that he could lead a discussion with the British as to how to limit their contingent liability for Anguilla without imposing taxes? Clearly he did not resist the ideas put forward by the British and simply acquiesced in the decision to impose taxes. At most, he secured a mere deferral of the British requirement, nothing more. Towards the end of the interview Billy D expressed his concerns with the Government of Anguilla’s debt situation and the decision to increase the taxes in a phased approach. The Honourable Chief Minister then uttered, “the point is, if you are on the operating table and you need the blood transfusion, you can’t wait to make a decision.” Billy D quickly responded back stating, “But make sure you are getting the good blood. If you are A+ don’t get B.” We can speculate that Hurricane Irma indeed put a spoke in the wheel, but the assurance the Chief Minister would have provided to the British was certainly evidenced in the budget, and he has run out of excuses to bar the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax.

We should let these words resonate and put into perspective how in denial our Government is when it comes to admitting how they have failed the people of Anguilla.. When receiving a blood transfusion we all know that getting blood is not the goal. As Billy D said, it’s all about getting good blood. There is no point of starting the procedure if you will not receive blood that actually matches your blood type and will ultimately “save your life.” This analogy is put forth to demonstrate why our Government keeps compromising our opportunities by accepting handouts without taking into consideration the ramifications. This is a practice well accommodated by the AUF and related governments. We no longer have autonomy for our financial services industry, for that same reason. The British enjoys the decision making in that area, without regard to the impact on our local economy. We are already submerged in debt, and instead of implementing the necessary measures and procedures to stabilize the economy and ensure its longevity, that the British currently requires, we are taking a lifeline and just accepting funds from anywhere by any means.

Needless to say, the Chief Minister may believe that the £60 million UK grant is one of his greatest achievements according to his narrow record, but we cannot ignore the facts and reality. The British Government presumably operated under three assumptions when considering allocating these funds to Anguilla. First, the British must have been under the impression that Anguilla did not have any further resources to fix schools and critical infrastructure. They were set to believe that we were at our wits end and Irma depleted funds to a point of no return. However, how is it that the Turks and Caicos severely suffered from Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria as well, yet they were able to find internal solutions? Shortly after Irma the local power utility restored electrical services, resorts along Grace Beach patched up damage, Providenciales International Airport quickly reopened, distribution of home goods took place at churches, within a few days the local grocery store IGA was opened and by January of 2019 the Turks Government launched a new National Recovery Plan. These were initiatives that the Turks and Caicos Islands paid for from the government reserves.

Clearly they had a sustainable plan, including a Cash for Work Plan similar to the plans funded here, by Social Security. When will the AUF meet their societal and fiscal responsibility? Unlike the Turks and Caicos, I believe the second assumption the British made, was that Anguilla was not sustainable, as it’s currently organized. Lastly, the British must have relied on the Chief Minister’s representation that the Goods and Services Tax solution is one that had been accepted by the Anguillian people as part of the banking resolution; albeit this outcome was never disclosed to us.

The British had already required our Government to push sustainable measures and create a national plan that ensured the necessary economic benefits. These goals were not achieved in 2013 but it became pivotal and a requirement of the new Government formed in 2015. We had to create these measures and laws because of where the Banking Resolution, under this current AUF Government, left us. Obligations and requirements fell through, as expected, and Hurricane Irma distracted our people from the issue.

Let us go back and analyse the history and what legal documents were in place to require our Government to step up to the plate. The Honourable Chief Minister is not being truthful when he says that the British are not requiring anything of him, pushing him to tax our people, or desiring debt alleviation because of “mutual respect.”

On 12 August, 2013 we can all remember the start of our banking crisis, when the Eastern Caribbean Bank placed NBA and CCB in conservatorship. The ECCB assumed control of both banks properties, subsidiaries, and financial affairs. Let us not forget that the vast declines in Anguilla’s banking sector were in full effect months and months prior to the ECCB Intervention. Our banking crisis from 2013 extended till 2016 when we all saw the disastrous effects of the Resolution Plan, that was effected on 22 April, 2016, under this current AUF Government.

It is clearly evident that 2013 was a year of major economic downturn, leading the British to embark upon some sort of intervention as well. Hubert Hughes was the Chief Minister of Anguilla at this time, until 2015. On 25 October, 2013 his Government had an emergency, short notice, sitting of the House of Assembly where three Acts of Parliament were passed. The most important bill was the Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2013, which put into effect the Framework for Fiscal Sustainability and Development policy. This Bill, along with the other two that were passed, caused uproar, because there was not a quorum in the House of Assembly and the three opposition members were not present. The Fiscal Responsibility Act was set to ensure the longevity of Anguilla and was of immense importance, especially since it was passed four months after the British Government had urged for its implementation.

The British knew our banking sector was failing to a point where Anguilla had to take responsibility and the designated leaders of our nation were obliged to create a national development plan that ensured: sustainable development, medium and long term development and fiscal planning, decision making that put value for money considerations, risk management, and accountability. The three members of the House that were in Opposition at the time, Evans McNiel Rogers, Othlyn O. Vanterpool, and Edison A. Baird just happened to be absent when their voices were needed. It appears that all they could do was provide the former Governor, Christina Scott, with a letter urging her not to pass the laws. They were at liberty to propose alternative strategies as well, and failed to do so.

The one time the people of Anguilla truly needed the Honourable Minister, McNiel Rogers, to voice their interests and stand up for what is right, he was missing in action. The Rookie Leader of the Opposition, as Rogers was then, apparently could not contribute to a debate on governance. And he appears even now not to understand the fundamental theories and practices underpinning good governance and our constitutional status. The Framework for Fiscal Sustainability and Development policy needed to be debated, as it was an essential requirement from the British. The UK Government wanted us to drastically lessen our debt by taxing people and promising to only borrow to fund capital expenditure where our Government would yield sufficient revenues and receive a surplus to fund additional debt costs. The British expected our Government officials to demonstrate that they understood fundamental concepts relating to economic sustainability. They likely expected that we were capable of properly representing our people. They were wrong.

The current AUF Government came into power in 2015 and has not progressed one initiative during this present term that would provide continuous growth. Of course this Government has scurried away from accepting responsibility to progress Anguilla’s sustainability planning, while secretly making advances to satisfy the British that they are progressing the implementation of increased taxation measures. While no one perceives this administration as satisfactory nor impressive, it is time to consider alternatives and real programmes that will deliver economic sustainability. It is time to choose leaders who will truly represent our peoples’ interests at home and abroad. The time for action is now.

March marked the first annual Health and Safety month at The Anguilla Electricity Company Ltd. – ANGLEC – under the theme “Risk Takers are accident makers – Avoid the worst , put health and safety first”.
The 2019 Health and Safety Month focused on the overall well-being of staff at ANGLEC and the importance of community safety with activities geared towards the improvement of health, safety and welfare.
The program, led by Shenique Clare, ANGLEC’s Health and Safety Officer, invited several vendors and practitioners from the community to engage employees in sessions dealing with topics such as Healthy lifestyles, mental health awareness and dealing with loss. Other activities included health or safety themed challenges for staff:

Step competition – March 1st to 29th
– Winner: Ivor Ible
Weight Loss competition with fitness classes – March 4th to 29th
– Winner: Mariscia Roach-Grant
Safety Team Challenges – March 5th to 26th
– Winning Team: Valentino Muckett, Christia Lake and Mariscia Roach-Grant
Audiometry Testing (all Staff) – March 18th to 21st
Health and Safety Desk (all staff) – March 25th and 26th
ANGLEC School Open Day “What We Do” (public education) – March 22nd and 27th

Health Fair (all staff and family) – March 28th

“Health and Safety plays a vital role in ANGLEC’s operations and our goal, barring acts of God, is to reduce to as low as reasonably practicable, all the hazards that our workers are exposed to on a daily basis. We also took the opportunity to focus on preparing for and recovering from disasters,” Clare remarked.

She continued; “Our jobs can be stressful at times and it is important to periodically recollect our thoughts and recalibrate our bodies. The Health Fair held last week was geared at doing just this with medical checks, foot care, physical and mental wellness, healthy eating options as well as natural alternatives for healing. We included the Open Day events under the theme “What we do” in our continuous quest to engage the youth of the nation. We invited students from the High School and Primary Schools to ANGLEC’s Generation and T&D departments. Students were given the opportunity to view and participate in live Linesman training exercises and work scenarios as well as a tour of the Generation facilities.

ANGLEC’s Human Resource Manager, Erimel Franklin, further endorsed the importance of Health and Safety month. “As a utility we are very interested in health, safety and wellness programmes. They serve an important step to improving health, productivity and job satisfaction of our employees and by extension, reducing employer and employee health care costs,” she stated.

To quote Jemila Morson Hodge; ANGLEC’s PRO “We need our safety messages to reach as many persons as possible, and I think Shenique and the Health and Safety team did an outstanding job informing staff and the public this month. Seeing a child take on the challenge of climbing a pole or eagerly asking questions on electricity generation, are beautiful moments to be a part of. Not only did they enjoy the opportunity, but they learned first-hand the importance of our work as an essential utility. Now, they understand why we ask for caution on the road when crews are working, or why emergency outages occur. We also ensured that anyone interested could be a part of the Open Day via live streams on social media and radio. Sharing live experiences brings new life to the safety messages we share and we encourage those who missed out to visit our social media accounts for replays of what took place.” Want a glimpse into the 2019 Health and Safety month activities? Want to get the latest ANGLEC updates? Visit the ANGLEC Facebook page via www.Facebook.com/AnguillaElectricity.

L-R Timothy Hodge, Romero Kelsick, Kiel Connor and Vaughn Hazell

In a joint press conference of Wednesday, April 3rd, the Anguilla Social Security and the Internal Revenue Department shared their excitement concerning the acquisition of new and innovative software supplied by Bearing Point Caribbean, based in Curacao.
With the Anguilla Social Security Board now on the verge of its strategic transformational iniative, it is expected that the utilization of digital technology will provide the kind of cutting-edge systems and services soon to be available.
It is also hoped that the kind of changes that the new software will bring to the Internal Revenue Department will enhance its services to the public and create ease for those using it to serve to the customers’ needs.
Director of Social Security, Mr. Timothy Hodge, as well as Controller of Inland Revenue Department, Mr. Kiel Connor, spoke extensively an overview of their organizations’ new connection with Bearing Point and their embarkation on the innovative technology.
Mr. Hodge commented: “We are very excited that both the Social Security and the Internal Revenue Department have in quick succession selected Bearing Point for providing IT systems for our software. This change over will certainly take our operations progressively forward. We are pleased that this day has come. It has been a long procurement process.
“Both the Inland Revenue Department and the Social Security Board evaluated the bids that we had received, independently of one another, and both of us came up with Bearing Point as our software provider.”
Speaking for the Internal Revenue Department, Controller Mr. Connor noted: “The matter of new software has been our concern at Inland Revenue for the past two years. Our focus is revenue collection, customer service, and improving efficiency. Like Social Security, we too have recently implemented a new strategic plan. As part of that plan, revenue strengthening, customer service and compliance are the points of our focus. We at Inland Revenue have deemed it necessary to use a particular system of software in order to achieve these objectives.
“I would like to thank the FCO office and by extension the Anguilla program for funding our project. Working with Social Security is going to be very important for us. We administer similar ‘taxes’ and ‘contributions’, so we think it is necessary for us to find ways to work together.
“From the systems standpoint, we will be upgrading in phases, in terms of the implementation process. We are now finalizing the high level plan, and we intend to ‘go-live’ in January of 2020. Our next ‘go-live’ phase would be in January of 2021.

“With regards to Social Security’s role in joining with IRD, in time we intend to have the systems integrated where we will be able to share information where both entities can improve on compliance and efficiency.”
Mr. Connor thanked Mr. Vaughn Hazell, Director of DITES in the Government of Anguilla, as well as his team at the IT Department for the level of support that has been forthcoming in the past. He expressed his anticipation in working together in the future with DITES on the Bearing Point’s new software.
Managing Director of Bearing Point Caribbean, Mr. Avinash Grootens, made remarks on the new software initiative: “We have been working with small island developing states around the world for the past twenty-five years. We have a large local presence in the Caribbean with our headquarters being in Curacao, but we also have branches in Bonaire, and Aruba, as well as nearby St. Maarten.
“We are very pleased to be working at this time with Anguilla, both with the Inland Revenue Department and with the Social Security Board. There is a lot of synergy between these two organizations which has the potential for leading to greater efficiency, and much better service to the public.”
Both Social Security’s ICT Manager, Mr. Romero Kelsick and Mr. Vaughn Hazell, of the Government’s DITES Unit, were on hand to comment on their enthusiasm in anticipating the implementation of the new multi-faceted software.

Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan

Chief Minister Victor Banks at public meeting March 20th 2019

With four years already gone, and one more to go, before the general election in 2020, Chief Minister, Mr. Victor Banks, told the public why he thought he and his colleagues should be re-elected.

Appearing at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre, in his Valley South constituency, he and the Minister of Health and Social Development, Mr. Evans Rogers, the Elected Representative for Valley North, were the main speakers on Saturday night, March 30. Another speaker was Mr. Curtis Richardson, Minister of Infrastructure.

Noting that his Government was in office for the past four years, Mr. Banks said he was proud that the team of the Anguilla United Front (AUF) had represented itself well over that period. “I am grateful for the support that they have given me, and the confidence they have reposed in me as the leader of the party,” he said in part.

He stated that despite criticisms by certain persons that the Government had not done anything over the past four years it was amazing what, in fact, the Government had achieved “without the kind of noise and boastfulness that should come from a Government that has had this level of achievements.”

The Chief Minister continued: “I want to suggest, based on the presentation made by the Honourable Elected Member for Valley North, the Minister of Health, that if you were to visit the Princess Alexandra Hospital and the improvements made before and after Hurricane Irma, both in terms of the facilities and the equipment, you will have no choice but to recommend him for a further term.

“I am sure that, based on the work that the Honourable Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Curtis Richardson, has been doing over the past four years, as a young Minister – the fact that he has delivered on a number of his promises – that you would also want to recommend him for the Minister for Infrastructure and the Elected Representative for Road South in the next election.

“He is a man of great passion, a hard worker. He is a guy who doesn’t take no for an answer and he has the support of his Government. So don’t let them tell you that Curtis knocked down a building down here, he building up this and he is acquiring land here. He could not do that without the support of his colleagues. I am proud to have on board Ministers of the calibre of Mr. Curtis Richardson and Mr. Niel Rogers.

“You hear all kinds of criticisms of the Honourable Member for District 2, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge. [But] she has brought to Government the skill and expertise as the Elected Member for Sandy Hill; and a level of expertise in legal matters and constitutional affairs which has enabled her to carry through critical, controversial legislation. She has led teams on the constitution and the labour laws – and through her leadership in education, after Hurricane Irma, she got children back to school within three or four weeks.

“With her record of achievements having done what successive Governments have been unable to do – the implementation of the Labour Relatio

ns Act and a pathway to the implementation of other aspects of the Code – you have no choice but to recommend her to become the Elected Representative for District 2; and indeed the Minister of Home Affairs and Education in the next Government.

“I also appointed a young man by the name of Cardigan Connor, as Parliamentary Secretary, and de facto Minister of Tourism and Sports. Mr. Connor has dug in with both feet and hands in this job – with the support of the Anguilla Tourist Board and the great leadership that exists there, in the person of Mrs. Donna Banks…Together they have been able to deliver on their responsibilities to taking the tourism sector forward.

“Mr. Connor believes so passionately in the quality of our destination, cleanliness of the environment and so forth, that he, himself, is willing to get on his hands and knees and collect garbage and clean the area in which he lives. He speaks passionately about bringing legislation in place to make things happen, and has worked with a number of investors and officials from Government in ensuring that the tourism sector continues to move forward – and that the infrastructure is in place to ensure that people coming from overseas are able to transit into Anguilla in a smooth way. There are a number of initiatives that he is taking, along with investors and stakeholders in the sector, to make a difference.

“Based on the work that he has done in tourism, not to mention his continued effort in sports, you would have no choice but to once again recommend him as the Elected Member for District 7; and, with the change of the constitution, the Minister of Tourism and Sports.

“We also have Mrs. Evalie Bradley in District 5 who has worked as a Ministerial Assistant with Mrs. Cora Richardson Hodge especially because of her expertise in Labour and Home Affairs generally. At one time, she was the Principal Assistant Secretary in that Ministry as well. I consider her the soul of the Anguilla United Front Government because of the level of mentoring and spiritual support, and the guidance that she gives to us an organization.

“If you believe that in every organization it must have, at the heart of it, somebody who is a spiritual leader, I would say that it is important that you once again elect Mrs. Evalie Bradley as the Elected Member for Road North and an essential and critical part of the Government of Anguilla.”
Chief Minister Banks further stated: “We have other assistants, first Mr. Othlyn Vanterpool. We have Mr. Mark Romney and other persons who are very, very close to the Government organization – all persons who are part of Cabinet and people who have assisted us in making it possible.

“One of the things that I am confident that we are envied about – as a party over these last years – is the fact that whatever they say, whatever rumours they spread, they can’t break up the Anguilla United Front.”

Earlier, Mr. Banks congratulated the new and considerably young Chairman of the AUF, Mr. Lockart Hughes, whom he said would continue to groom young people to take leadership roles in the community; and Mr. Jose Vanterpool, the youngest member of the Anguilla House of Assembly since its inception under the Westminster parliamentary system in 1976. Mr. Vanterpool is the First Nominated Member in the House of Assembly.

Minister Evans Rogers at public meeting March 20th 2019

Anguilla’s Minister of Health, Mr. Evans Rogers, told listeners at the Government’s public meeting on March 30 that his Ministry and the Health Authority are working diligently to provide improved services for the people of the island.

Mr. Rogers, the driving force behind the upgrading of the island’s medical services and the acquisition of advanced technical equipment, outlined some of the improvements at the hospital which was severely damaged by Hurricane Irma. He noted that while all the new equipment was not a result of the hurricane, he was pleased that the Government was in office at the time to maximize the assistance received from a number of donors following Irma.

“In terms of the hospital, there are some rules that need to be changed, and some adjustments and developments in terms of the Accident and Emergency and Operating Room areas to be done,” he said. “I would like to get on with it to see a totally improved facility while we are at it.”

Minister Rogers continued: “When we talk about equipment, I have been on a prowl with respect to raising funds to purchase more state-of-the-art equipment for our healthcare facility. We have a brand new CT Scan which we will commission by mid-June this year. We have to make sure that the services we are providing for our people are paid for because there is a cost – and at the end of the day the services must be paid for. Right now, at Hughes Medical Centre, there is a C T Scan and patients who go there have to pay upfront for it. But, as all of us know, we cannot refuse patients at the hospital whether they have the ability to pay or not. As a result, there are large amounts of money owed to the Health Authority – and the CEO was on radio about it the other day. It is over 6 million EC dollars of services that was given, and has not been paid for, so national health is critical going forward if we are to maintain and provide the level of services we want.

“During the Budget Address, the Chief Minister mentioned that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be implemented, starting in June, and over a period of time. I want to say to the people of Anguilla that we are going to use this opportunity…to look very closely at the removal of whatever taxes are placed on drugs in Anguilla – whether at the private or [public] pharmacies on the island. But I must caution the people of Anguilla that what we are doing doesn’t give you the right to purchase all sorts of illegal drugs to bring in, because at the end of the day, the pharmacies that are here are complementary to the pharmacy at the hospital. The new polyclinic in The Valley will have the main pharmacy so that the bottle-necking at the hospital, as it exists, will not be there anymore.

“We have a lot of diabetics in Anguilla; a lot of folks who are on dialysis, and a lot who are hypertensive and who must take these drugs on a daily basis – two or three times a day – to stay alive. I think it is time we move ahead in removing whatever taxes or duties are placed on those drugs because they are for our people. If the drugs are not at the hospital’s pharmacy, but are down at Paramount or the French pharmacies, they are in Anguilla and we will be able to get them [without taxes].’’

On another matter, the Minister of Health stated: “The other thing that needs immediate attention – and I am going to work with the Ministry of Finance to deal with it – is medical insurance especially for civil servants. While we are working on the National Health Insurance, Government pays a significant amount of money to cover the civil servants – and that amount of money – and the civil servants can be an integral part in assisting with the overall National Health Insurance. Those of us, who are healthy, strong, working and contributing to the system, must be able to assist in terms of those who cannot afford [to pay]. We have to work on a plan like that because the insurance coverage that we have now leaves a lot to be desired.

“I will say this publicly, tonight, and I will continue to say that we are not getting value for our money with respect to our medical and health insurance here in Anguilla. I will get the figures from the Treasury because it is public knowledge and is nothing to be hidden. It is about time that we don’t need any brokers anymore. We need insurance.”

Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge at public meeting March 20th 2019

The Minister of Home Affairs and Education, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, has outlined some of the major accomplishments by the Anguilla United Front Government over the past four years.

She was at the time chairing the first of a series of public meetings held outside the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre, on Saturday night, March 30, as part of activities marking the Government’s fourth anniversary in office since the general election on April 22, 2015. She noted that other speakers before her had mentioned a number of accomplishments but she went into more detail saying “it doesn’t hurt to reinforce the point.”

The list she outlined, including her personal comments, was as follows:
• The very first issue, and the most difficult issue, we had to deal with as an administration, was the banking resolution; but today we have the evidence of the National Commercial Bank of Anguilla in existence and catering to the people of Anguilla.

• The 60 million pounds that was given as a grant to Anguilla, after Hurricane Irma, was obtained through negotiations by the members of this Government, under the leadership of the Honourable Chief Minister.
• This Government facilitated the resolution of Cap Juluca…After many years of conflict we now have a united property that has been able to be opened and successful since its re-launch.

• The three fire trucks that were mentioned by the Honourable Minister of Infrastructure. I want to take some time and emphasize this because I have heard, and have seen, criticisms about why the Government needs three fire trucks. But there is a safety and security issue for which the Government and the people of Anguilla required these fire trucks. In relation to the fire trucks, they have to be able to handle any emergency and make it to the end of the runway within two minutes. Previously, used fire trucks were unreliable and with no fire truck the airport would have to close down. Some jets require a certain amount of fire trucks and firemen. For instance, some jets require category 6 and a category 6 [airport] requires two fire trucks. The third fire truck is a domestic truck and that is on its way… A new engine is being installed in one of the older trucks which will be a back-up to the two new appliances…So it is two fire trucks at the airport and one domestic truck.

The money being used to import three new fire trucks is not wasted funds. They are necessary: (1) to keep the airport open and (2) to be able to allow Anguilla to receive these beautiful jets we love to see – because they feed into our hotel sector where the majority of Anguillians are working.

• The Combined Fire and Air Traffic Services Building is a new building, and the airport has a GPS approach where the pilot punches in a GPS device on the aircraft and pulls up Anguilla’s route, using satellite. This again is all new and started in September 2018.

• As for the accomplishments in my Ministry – the Ministry of Immigration, Labour, Education, Home Affairs: One of the first things that we did, coming out of Hurricane Irma, was the temporary Unemployment Benefit Programme. This was started when the Labour Department identified that we had a possible 2,000 people that were going to be unemployed directly as a result of the hurricane. The Labour Department and the Ministry of Labour consulted and collaborated with the Social Security Board to provide the Unemployment Benefit Programme for persons. So from December [2017] to April 2018 the people of Anguilla had something in their hand to tide them over until the hotel sector, and other businesses, were able to open again. This was a necessity and it was beneficial for the people of Anguilla.

• We also had the new Labour Relations Act which was put in place on January 23, 2019. Fellow Anguillians, we know that the previous Fair Labour Standards Act had worked for a time, but it was a 1980 piece of legislation, and it had outlived its usefulness. The labour market, which we are faced with today, is different from the labour market that we had in the 1980s, 1990s and even in the early 2000s. And so, we had to implement a new Labour Relations Act that would cater to the labour market in these times; and we know that the Labour Code is not something new that was discussed.

• We have had different administrations, over the years, having discussions about a new Labour Code and each time it was set aside. Why? Because it was a difficult issue. Sometimes you have to deal with a difficult issue and push on that issue irrespective of the outcome as long as it is right, good and proper for the people of Anguilla.

The new Labour Relations Act includes severance pay for the first time ever in Anguilla’s history where, if a person is made redundant, that person receives compensation for years of service given to a business. It also includes paternity leave for our men because we recognize that it is important for our men to be with their newborn children in addition to their mothers.
But, more importantly, it also recognizes the one-year contract that our people have been subjected to over the last couple of years. What the new Labour Relations Act says is that if you are on a one-year contract in a business, if you are a belonger of Anguilla, you completed that year and you are hired for the next year, at that point you become a permanent employee. That has direct implication for being able to go to the bank and get a loan; to get financing for our children to go off to school and to be able to leverage our assets because, at the end of the day, when you take a one-year contract to a financing institution, there is no guarantee that you will have that contract renewed at the end of the year because you are not a permanent employee. For the first time, our new Labour Relations Act recognizes the concept of permanent employees and it also does away effectively with one-year contracts, once you have surpassed that year. And that is good and right for the people of Anguilla.
• With regard to Constitutional and Electoral Reform, different administrations have talked about constitutional reform and, for whatever reason, it has always been put on the back burner…This Constitutional and Electoral Reform now puts in place, for the first phase, the Draft Order in Council which recognizes grandchildren, born outside of Anguilla, as belongers of Anguilla. It also allows for the title of the Chief Minister to be changed to Premier, simply to bring it in line with what pertains in other countries.

More importantly, it brings into effect at large voting. This had been talked about time and again. But finally we will be able to have island-wide representation. What that means, fellow Anguillians, is that you will have persons in the House of Assembly elected by the electorate as a whole and able to make representations on behalf of the people of Anguilla. It creates greater democracy in our process.

• I also want to mention that we, under my leadership, have made important changes to our immigration policy even before the constitutional changes were underway. One of those changes is that children born in Anguilla to non-belonger parents have had to pay for time. So children who have known no other country would have been born in Anguilla; gone to school in Anguilla; spent all their years in Anguilla; and the parents paid for time every year for the schooling of those children. But, in 2017, we made effective changes to the immigration policy to do away with the requirement of parents having to pay for time. The reason for that is that when those children reach the age of 9, they are able to obtain recognition as naturalized citizens and therefore would no longer pay for time…That policy also included the fact that grandchildren of Anguillians [born outside Anguilla] will not have to pay for time either…The immigration policy that we put into effect in 2017 was intended to balance the board in that respect as well.
The Minister said there were also many things in progress that would be delivered to the people of Anguilla over the next year or two. She explained that among them were the rebuilding of Government buildings such as the Ministry of Infrastructure and Communications, the House of Assembly; The Valley Health Clinic; the South Hill Clinic; the Primary Schools; and the re-located Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School on 17 acres of land with a 400-metre track. She noted that the Minister of Infrastructure was working to ensure that there was consistent supply of water throughout Anguilla; phases 2 and 3 of the Labour Code will come into effect by the end of 2019; the Draft Order in Council [for sections of the constitution] should be approved by mid-April 2019; and by the end of the year the larger constitutional reform will take place.

A few weeks back I gave an update on Brexit. At that time I noted that while we were living in uncertain, and for some unsettling times, we could be confident – irrespective of the outcome of Brexit – about four things which matter greatly to Anguilla. Today, while the final outcome of Brexit remains uncertain nothing has changed in terms of these four issues and we can be confident that nothing will change. I’d like to restate these “four confidences”.

First – and most important, the UK Government will continue to ensure that the interests of Anguilla, and all other Overseas Territories, are fully represented and reflected in negotiations with the European Union. Those talks have consistently reaffirmed the UK Government’s commitment to include the Territories’ priorities in Brexit negotiations. This commitment will not change.
Second – the right to hold a British passport will not change. Deal or no deal, Anguillians’ rights to a British Overseas Territories Passport and to hold a British Passport will in no way be affected by Brexit. This means that Anguillains’ rights to enter the UK and to work there free from any visa restrictions will remain unchanged. It also means Anguillians will be able to visit the US without a visa using the existing ESTA arrangements.
Third – the UK government will make good any loss of EU funding under the current round of the European Development Fund (EDF 11) should the EU decline, for whatever reason to meet this commitment. And this commitment will not come at the cost of any reduction to the UK’s current grant commitment to Anguilla – the £60 million.

Finally – the current arrangements for travel across to St Martin / Sint Maarten will not change. As I have said before both myself and the UK government see no reason why these arrangements – arrangements which sit outside of the UK’s membership of the European Union – should change because of Brexit and we have confirmed this position with the relevant authorities across the Anguilla Channel and in European capitals.

It’s about time! Those were my first thoughts on hearing the news that the possibility of direct flights from the US mainland to Anguilla is close to becoming a reality. It is a sad state of affairs that, in 2019, access to Anguilla is still an issue. It is paradoxical to say we have an economy that is tourism based and still have an access problem. Addressing that singular issue can be the game-changer for the tourism industry. In my view, either we are all the way in — doing what needs to be done for the industry to thrive — or we must be content with average visitor arrivals and low occupancy rates.
While I am an advocate for less dependence on the tourism industry, because in many ways it is reminiscent of the plantation culture, given Anguilla’s limited resources for development and the need to capitalize on the beauty of our natural environment for our own livelihood, it’s our best option for creating employment for a significant portion of our population and, as such, it must be preserved. But getting visitors here is one thing — what they experience when they arrive is another.

If we are to be honest with ourselves, we would admit that Anguilla’s beauty lies mainly on its coastline. When one drives around Anguilla, it is not generally a pretty island by Caribbean standards. One may even say it is a bit “scruffy”. We may want to call that “unique”, to use our favourite word to describe Anguilla but, frankly, it is unattractive and we should make more of an effort in the upkeep of our environment. This includes painting our homes, planting trees and flowers in our yards, creating green spaces throughout the island, cleaning up the roadside bush and, most importantly, disposing properly of our litter. These little things can make a big difference to the visitor experience — and even our own experience as everyday residents.

Tourism is not limited to what happens at airports, ferry terminals, hotels, restaurants and other businesses which cater mainly to tourists. It spans the gamut of experiences from the time visitors arrive on island until the time they leave. For years, the Anguilla Tourist Board has been trying to get people to embrace the concept that tourism is everybody’s business. However, it still seems to elude ordinary people that all of us are in the hospitality industry by virtue of the fact that we are hosts to the people who visit our shores. Like every good host, we must make the effort to ensure that they enjoy their stay.

Interestingly, this is where it starts to get tricky. There are some persons who are of the view that every decision made in Anguilla must ensure, first and foremost, that the tourism industry is not adversely affected. While there is much merit in this, we have to be careful that while we take their concerns into consideration, that we do not hand over control of our development to our guests. We have to decide for ourselves what we want for Anguilla, even if that means that we have to welcome a different type of guest.
To put this into context, I have read (as I am sure many of you have) — on various blogs and Facebook — of groups of visitors expressing opinions on Anguilla’s direction for development. You may have seen opposition to cruise tourism and marinas, for example. There is even concern about how many cars are on the road even though we “have nowhere to go”. There seems to be little regard by visitors, making comments of that nature, that people like you and me actually live here and need to earn sufficiently for our survival. In their view, Anguilla should remain undeveloped as this is what makes it attractive to them.

Those sentiments must be balanced with, but not overshadow, the bigger question which is, how do we make tourism work best for us? This will involve other questions such as, how much do we want to diversify our tourism product, and what type of visitor are we trying to attract? However, we must not lose sight of the fact that tourism is a means to an end — the end goal being creating more opportunities for Anguillians to make a decent living right here at home. Our choices in relation to tourism in Anguilla should therefore be based on what is best to assist us in realizing this goal.

Anguilla’s Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Victor Banks, says the island and its people were fortunate to have had a Governor like Mr. Tim Foy in office when Hurricane Irma came in September 2017 – and that the 60 million pounds in UK aid was not a drop in the bucket.
Speaking at the Government’s fourth anniversary public meeting on March 30, Mr. Banks said: “While we in Anguilla were trying to create an atmosphere of calm and demonstrate sound leadership, there were those on the airways criticizing the response of the British Government and other agencies.

“I believe that when it comes to situations like this you must have faith and you must show mutual respect…God blessed us to have, two weeks before the hurricane, …a Governor who understood and appreciated the challenges that we faced. And I believe that that was a part of the plan because there is no way that we would have been able to find the wherewithal to rebuild our schools; rebuild our terminal buildings; get electricity restored from our own resources.

“In the House of Assembly, two days ago [March 27], the Leader of the Opposition said very critically, ‘Oh, the 60 million pounds is a drop in the bucket’. I asked her to apologize to the British Government, and the people of the UK, because that ‘drop in the bucket’ was more than the revenue that we raised in a single year in Anguilla. And it was a drop in the bucket – not of Anguilla’s taxpayers’ money but the taxpayers of the United Kingdom – people who were prepared to be generous and kind to us. They did not have any obligation to be generous and kind.

“Don’t let anybody fool you. The fact that the UK Government is the administering power doesn’t mean that they should take their taxpayers’ money and spend it on Anguilla. We have to pull our own weight so we should be grateful.

“That [the 60 million pounds] came as a result of the leadership role that we all played. I sat in Executive Council and I said to the Governor: ‘I have five things to say to the British Government in connection with what I want for Anguilla in this recovery, and I am not going to change it. It is the tune that I am going to sing from now until I receive the British Government’s support.’ My colleagues are there to bear me out when I said in the Executive Council why it was important that the British Government had to contribute to the recovery of the people of Anguilla.

“I said, No. 1: Anguilla is a small island and when a hurricane hits Anguilla it hits Anguilla. When a hurricane hits the United States it may hit Florida or a part of Florida. But the other 49 states not hit are part of the Federal Government and have the wherewithal to come back, as one people, to assist the Floridians or that part of Florida that was hit. When Anguilla gets hit the only place it can turn to for assistance is outside of Anguilla.
“No. 2, I said as a British territory we cannot go internationally to other countries and seek aid, so all of our aid must come from the United Kingdom, however small it is, or we have to get their permission to get aid. So they have to be the intermediary if we have to get aid from elsewhere.

“No. 3, you just said to us that we are in breach of all our borrowing guidelines so if we are in breach of our borrowing guidelines, obviously, you cannot expect us to do any further borrowing to support ourselves. So therefore any assistance coming to the Government of Anguilla must be grant money.
“No. 4, I said Anguilla is in a serious state of devastation and we need a number of critical infrastructure projects …so we don’t want any small money. We want long term recovery assistance that can help us to be more resilient in the event of future hurricanes. I said that because of the destruction of the airport in St. Maarten we are faced with a situation where we can’t get flights coming to Anguilla to support our tourist industry even if we are able to build back. As a consequence you need to look very carefully and seriously at the expansion of our airport facilities in Anguilla.

“Finally, I said that the people of Anguilla will have to go through a transition period as a consequence even after that assistance comes to us. We also require budgetary support; and we will not be in a position to pay any increased taxes.”

Mr. Banks further stated: “I want to say to you, the people of Anguilla, that we never changed that tune. I am thankful to the entire region, and all the regional and international organizations, the Overseas Territories and the OECS which helped us; the UK Government and most of all our investors who had confidence and steered the course; the Anguilla Diaspora in the UK and the USA who have been so helpful to us. All of them stuck with us but that mantra [the reliance on the UK for help] is why we are where we are today.”

L-R: Sierra Richardson, Kefentsi Davis, Charlene Hodge,
Michelle Pradel and Darren Forbes-Batey

Anguilla is having its busiest period of spending and construction work, in recent times, and the people behind it are the Anguilla Programme Team/the Governor’s Office Team working on the island’s recovery projects following Hurricane Irma in September 2017.

The team is headed by Governor Tim Foy, OBE, Senior Responsible Officer for the Anguilla Programme, along with Mr. Darren Forbes-Batey, MBE, Manager of the Programme. The other team members are: Michelle Pradel, Finance Manager; Sierra Richardson, Accountant; Kefentsi Davis, Project Manager, Liaison – Finance and Document Management; and Charlene Hodge, Project Manager, Infrastructure, Government of Anguilla. Mr. Ben Merrick, the Director of the Overseas Territories, has oversight of the Anguilla Programme – the largest country programme across the territories. It was in this capacity that he undertook extensive visits to the sites of the Anguilla Programme projects with the Chief Minister, Ministers of
Government and other Government officials last week.

The Anguillian newspaper spoke to Mr. Forbes-Batey, and other members of the team several days ago, about where the Anguilla Programme is in terms of implementation and accomplishment so far.

“We just had a very busy year. We spent roughly 10 million pounds over the course of last year,” he revealed. “We had a bit of a slow start, because we had to stop and focus on preparations for last year’s hurricane season so the programme started in earnest about September. We moved forward on a number of projects. These include the temporary terminal at Blowing Point; the Combined Services Building at the Airport; the importation of the fire trucks and other fire service equipment; and we got all the paper work, designs and structures ready to go.”
He went on: “We are now working on 17 different projects. They include five primary schools, the secondary school [Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School], the Princess Alexandra Hospital and three clinics. We are also working on a health protection storage building and, outside of that, the Government’s infrastructure: Radio Anguilla, the roof of the Royal Anguilla Police Force Headquarters and the prison’s fence. We will be working on the House of Assembly as well as doing some work at the Post Office. We are also working on revenue strengthening with the Inland Revenue Department and with Lands and Planning. That project has moved very fast… A lot has happened and there is still a lot to do.”
Mr. Forbes-Batey stressed that, in looking forward to 2019/20, the Anguilla Programme must ensure collectively that every cent/penny is spent wisely and properly. He stated that the Anguilla Programme Board, comprising the Governor, Deputy Governor, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments, was charged with making important decisions on project prioritization – refining the list of funded projects – and phasing others to keep the programme budget on target.
Speaking from a prepared statement, the Anguilla Programme Manager continued:
“As public servants, and working with our private sector partners engaged in the programme, we have to wisely and prudently spend 32 million pounds (that’s US$42.7 million) between now and 31 March 2020 – on some major projects. They cover education, health, critical national infrastructure such as the Blowing Point Terminal (which will also be home to the new Anguilla Search and Rescue Facility – housing a new fit-for-purpose search and rescue boat that will hopefully be funded via the Anguilla Programme); the House of Assembly before the next elections; Post Office; five primary schools and the development of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School as well as major renovations at the Princess Alexandra Hospital; the total rebuild of the new Valley Health Complex and western (South Hill) Polyclinic and upgrades to the Welches Polyclinic.

“March 2020 will be soon here – so the Governor’s Office Team, and our Government of Anguilla partners, are now busy finalising designs and structural drawings and procurement planning. We are working to ensure that material supplies to all the construction projects offer the best value for money – and the supply chain is robust and constant. Project management is going to be key, if we are to be successful. But we are not starting from scratch. We have learnt from last year, and will apply that learning and continue to deliver the Anguilla Programme together for the people of Anguilla.”
Meanwhile, he disclosed that, apart from the 60 million pounds for the 2019/20 projects, via the Global Britain Fund (GBF), Anguilla was given an additional 1.4 million pounds (the equivalent of 1.82 million US dollars), by the UK Government. This was to prepare the island’s infrastructure and the Disaster Management Department for the 2018 hurricane season.

He stated that during this time Project Managers in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, Utilities and Housing (MICUH), and the Team in the Governor’s Office, were getting to grips with a new governance, procurement and payment system. The related paperwork required …each supplier to be registered on the system. Over 171 companies have been registered since September 2018 – mostly local businesses.
In his written statement provided to The Anguillian newspaper, Mr. Forbes–Batey added: “We also secured and spent an additional one million pounds (US$1.3 million) funding, this year, on the Government of Anguilla revenue strengthening projects managed by the Inland Revenue and Lands and Surveys Departments respectively.
“The UK Government also agreed a further 6.5 million pounds next year (2019/20) for the re-start of the Road Bay Port Development Project. The work is in cooperation with the consultants DLN (based in Barbados), the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority and MICUH to deliver the much-needed new port facilities at Anguilla’s one and only goods/freight port.”

The interview with Mr. Forbes–Batey and his team, concluded with The Anguillian newspaper being told, as mentioned earlier: “In the last UK financial year the total GBF/Anguilla Programme spend came to just under 10 million pounds (US$13 million) on many projects, large and small, across the Government of Anguilla estate, including hurricane resilience/disaster management preparations, work on public shelters, etc.”

With the many other projects being funded under the 60 million pounds Anguilla Programme, over the period 2019/20, the team at the Governor’s Office will continue to be exceptionally busy, excited and committed to its financial responsibilities, obligations and oversight.