Minister of Home Affairs, Permanent Secretary,
Radio Anguilla Staff and Churchmen

As Radio Anguilla observed its Fiftieth Anniversary this week, no other Government Department on the island has the unique history and tale of survival than this official agency formally known as the Department of Information and Broadcasting.

Born out of “political expediency”, as British diplomats admitted in early April 1969, Radio Anguilla made its first broadcasts from HMS Minera, a British frigate off Road Bay. It was just a few weeks after the occupation of Anguilla by British troops on March 19 that year. The belief was that a radio station was the best means to communicate to the people of the island at that time and to stifle the propaganda being broadcast by ZIZ, the St. Kitts Government’s mouthpiece, following the May 1967 Anguilla Revolution.
Within days, Radio Anguilla, basically comprising a set of antiquated ship communication equipment, was moved to the old rat-infested agricultural barn house in The Valley from where it operated for 20 years. With frequent equipment breakdowns, and claims that the station had served its purpose, there was talk of closing down the station. But it was decide

Praise and Worship team

d that Anguilla needed its own radio station, like its neighbouring islands, and so the British Government turned it over to the local administration on April 1, 1976.
Radio Anguilla was then restyled the Department of Information and Broadcasting, making a unique entry for itself and its staff into the public service. In 1989 the station was transferred to the then just-built top floor of the Treasury and Customs Departments, opposite the Ministry of Finance. The rest is history.
“Radio Anguilla has come a long way,” Pastor John Gumbs, of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, remarked at the station’s 50th Anniversary Service on Sunday, April 7, this week. With some 43 years of the Sovereign Grace Broadcast on the station, and being the longest local religious broadcaster there, both his remark and the choice of his church for the service meshed very well.

Pastor John, who recounted much of Radio Anguilla’s difficult past, had high praise for both the early and present employees at Radio Anguilla. He thanked the latter, in particular, for faithfully carrying on the work of the station and for their hard work and dedication. Apart from their general information and entertainment work, he commended them for their exceptional service during the passage of Hurricane Irma and the risks they had taken. He observed that there were other times when the station operated under difficult circumstances, but that the staff had acquitted themselves very well. He encouraged them to continue to take pride in their contribution to the people of the island; to use every opportunity and means, such as technology and the internet, to further develop their knowledge and service, and to learn from others capable of assisting them.

Pastor John Gumbs

Using the analogy of the Biblical story, where Jesus advised his discouraged disciples to cast their net into deeper waters to catch an abundance of fish, which eluded them, he told the Radio Anguilla employees: “Look beyond your situation and the discouragement you may have, and launch out into the deep.” He added: “You are doing a tremendous job by your impact on the island – and your labour is not in vain.”
Among those in attendance were the Minister of Home Affairs with responsibility for Information and Broadcasting, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, and her Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Chanelle Petty Barrett.

Others in attendance were Pastor Cephas Webster, who has a 24-year-old programme on Radio Anguilla and who delivered one of the anniversary prayers. Mr. Quincy Gumbs, an Associate Pastor and an original sponsor of Radio Anguilla’s regional news for many years, was also in attendance.
Meanwhile, as Radio Anguilla observes 50 years of broadcasting, renovation work is in progress at its studios on the Secretariat compound and at the new transmitter site at Crocus Hill. The work is being funded under the Anguilla Programme financed by the UK Government.

Representatives of the Anguilla Government, Port Authority, ICA Group and Vinci Airports Group

The proposed expansion of the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport in Anguilla was the subject of discussion this week among top level representatives of two investment groups, the Government, and the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority.

Commenting on the talks, the Honourable Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Victor Banks, said the expansion of the airport would be a major game changer for the island’s economic growth and sustainable development.

He made the comment following the discussions which involved his Government, the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority and the representatives of the ICA Group and the Vinci Airports Group.

The representatives of the ICA Group were: Messrs. Ali Nawaz Shaikh, Chairman and CEO; Simon Strauss, Chief Financial Advisor; and John Kane, Operations Officer. The ICA Group are the developers of the Conch Bay Development Legacy Project. It is a multi-project which includes a hotel, cruise ship terminal, marina, golf course and other tourism amenities. Mr. George Lake is the family representative for the Conch Bay Development Legacy Project.
The representatives of the Vinci Airport Group were Messrs. Massimo Bruzzo, Project Director, Business Development; Joseph Bou Naadar, Project Manager, Business Development; and John Green, Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, TBI Airport Management Inc. The Vinci Airport Group is the largest private airport operator in the world. It develops finances, builds and operates 46 airports in 12 countries on three continents. The Group operates motorways, airports, bridges, tunnels, railways and stadiums in 20 countries. In December 2018, the Vinci Airports Group acquired the majority shareholding of Gatwick Airport in London.
A press release from the Chief Minister’s Office stated that the purpose of the discussions was for the Vinci Airports Group, in particular, to see at first hand the airport in Anguilla; and to discuss the process that the Government of Anguilla has to undertake to obtain the necessary approvals from the UK Government for the development of the airport.
The ICA Group outlined the importance of the development of the airport to the Conch Bay Development Legacy Project – and to all the other tourism sector projects in Anguilla.
Meanwhile, Anguilla’s Honourable Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Curtis Richardson, has underscored his commitment to seeing the expansion of the airport becoming a reality for the people of Anguilla. He is confident of its pivotal role for the overall development of Anguilla.
The Honourable Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism, Mr. Cardigan Connor, said he was excited about the discussions and the benefits an expanded airport would bring to Anguilla.

The Police reported Mr. Gavin Hapgood, a US citizen, who was arrested and charged with the manslaughter of Kenny Michel, was denied bail by the Magistrate court on Wednesday, morning April 17th, 2019.

The Police further reported that the accused was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison to return to court on Thursday, August 22nd, 2019.

Anguillian student, Malik Richard, known as Exemplary is just one of the many words one could use to describe him. Mr. Richard had a great impact on the Suffolk community during his time there. He was known as a steady, consistent, caring, courageous, student – a leader that makes an impression on everyone he meets.

He is a member and officer of multiple student organizations. He can lead from any role, and can provide support to his peers that can position them to succeed. Outside of his involvements, he stays busy as a leader in the classroom, as part of the Honors Program, and has earned a number of job offers and acceptances into Master’s programs. Mr. Richard, will be remembered by many for his work, and has left a legacy of service, commitment, and dedication that all should aspire to.

“Every progressive society has a thriving cultural and arts scene, and it is this vision that fuels our continued efforts in developing Anguilla’s performance arts to a level of international excellence.”
– Collette Jones-Chin, Founder, Senoj Creations/Stages Anguilla

Welcome to the AXM DRAMA FEST 2019. The inaugural events, organized by Senoj Creations/Stages Anguilla, shall take place in Anguilla from 25 to 27 April 2019 at La Vue Boutique Hotel, South Hill Backstreet.
As a writer, performer and teacher of performing arts for many decades, in Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Anguilla, hosting an event which brings together artistes from not only Anguilla, but from across the Caribbean region, has always been one of Collette Jones-Chin’s many goals. In a society which places increasing emphasis on socio-economic and political differences, the arts are a unifying factor which surmounts these divisions. And so, we are thrilled to have you immerse yourselves in the numerous workshops, symposia and plays which we have scheduled for your cultural enjoyment and enrichment.

Our Drama Fest officially opens with a bang on 25 April 2019 with the Opening Ceremony at 6 p.m., after which our play, “VIRTUE”, will be performed at 7 p.m. to the public. Workshops specially catered to CXC students, and other interested persons, commence earlier in the day with a Stage Craft/Stage Management workshop conducted by regional and international invitees. Exciting symposia covering thematically relevant topics such as “Theatre Arts/Drama in Education and Nation Building” and “Monetizing the Arts/Entrepreneurship” follow suit on 26 April, and guest panelists include Mr Ivan Berry of 360Artistry – internationally acclaimed entrepreneur and manager of Anguillian singing sensation Deanna, and Mr Lennox Vanterpool, first-class Anguillian musician and educator. Our workshops continue with a Film-Making session, and we round off the final day of the Drama Fest on 27 April with a Sound Engineering workshop by Ms. Tshari King. We therefore aim not only to quench your thirst for theatrical entertainment, but also to educate you on the numerous aspects of performance arts.

Placing Anguilla on the map as a hub of thriving arts and culture is one of our objectives, and we believe that educating our community on the importance and benefits of the arts in our daily lives, as a career and as a tradition, is fundamental in order for us to achieve this. It is our hope that through our continued efforts of bringing the arts into the forefront via the Drama Fest, and through our periodic performances by the youth members of Stages Anguilla (plays including “The Lion King”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “Ti-Jean and His Brothers”, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “From Revolution to Gold” which was performed in Carifesta x111 – are but a few of our growing list of repertoires), Anguilla will be lauded as a society of the arts. Our youth members have been Anguilla’s cultural ambassadors with their performances in Barbados, Antigua, Sint Maarten and Trinidad, and we continue to build strong international relations through the arts. May we pave the way for a new wave of “cultural diplomacy and tourism”!

We thank the Department of Youth and Culture, Anguilla Tourist Board, Anguilla Community Foundation, Sunset Homes, Pink Mako, Alloyd Enterprises, Anglec and Leviticus Lifestyle for their support, and for believing in our cause as we continue to forge ahead with our goals. We are excited to welcome you to AXM Drama Fest 2019! We thank you, our patrons of the arts.
***********
Tickets for our play, “Virtue”, can be purchased at Tackle Box.
For further information please contact coljonchin@gmail.com or call 582-6860.

– Press Release

The author of the article “Small Airport on the big Stage for GNSS IAP Implementation” that follows below, Mr. Phillip Church, of the aviation consulting firm Helios out of the United Kingdom, has given permission to the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority (AASPA) to release it for republishing via the local and regional radio, television, print and online press and media.

The article uses aviation specific abbreviations generally unfamiliar to the public. To assist readers without editing the article, the meanings of those abbreviations and acronyms whose meanings are not included in the article, are summarised here.
ATM: air traffic management
CNS: communication, navigation and surveillance
CTR: Controlled Traffic Region
GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite Systems
Jane’s Award: A prestigious annual global award by the Jane’s Airport Review magazine
RWY 10: Runway 10 – George Hill end of runway, landing and takeoff from west to east
Small Airport on the Big Stage for GNSS IAP Implementation

Last month, during World ATM Congress in Madrid, Anguilla’s airport, Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (CJLIA), stood shoulder to shoulder with the industry’s finest when it was shortlisted for a Jane’s Award. Implementation of a GNSS Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) is an unusual topic for an aviation award, but it clearly deserves recognition as something that can make a real difference to a small country and its people in times of crisis – and Anguilla’s GNSS IAP was delivered in under 12 months. This is their story.
In September 2017 Hurricane Irma struck Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. The eye of Hurricane Irma stretched over 23 miles and engulfed Anguilla in its entirety with gusts of wind exceeding 200 mph causing cataclysmic destruction. The winds lasted 37 hours, making Irma the longest-lived storm of such intensity anywhere around the globe for at least the past 50 years.
At CJLIA, among other damage, the Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) was destroyed. The NDB supported the airport’s only IAP, critical for operations during poor visibility and at night. It was critical to replace the IAP to allow the restoration of all-weather and night time operations, reduce operational costs and, importantly, improve resilience to future hurricanes.
After considering the available technology options, the airport team identified new GNSS IAPs as being the only route to replace the NDB IAP in the shortest time possible. The project would be complicated due to the need for liaison with Julianna CTR (Saint Martin) given the limited airspace under the control of CJLIA and also because neither the CJLIA air traffic control nor local pilots were familiar with GNSS based IAPs.

One of the key benefits of the GNSS IAP is that is requires virtually no physical infrastructure requirements but improves safety. There is rising terrain around the airport’s main runway (RWY 10) and combined with housing, electricity and telegraph poles provides an obstacle rich environment within the final approach segment. Unlike the previous NDB procedure which was susceptible to night and sea effects, the new GNSS procedures would provide a straight in approach in all weathers with the addition of vertical guidance to enhance approach safety.
Implementing any new IAP capability is a complex process requiring detailed operational and safety knowledge spanning air traffic control, airspace planning and flight operations. The urgent need to restore night time operations with a new IAP whilst simultaneously recovering from the damage to aeronautical infrastructure caused by the hurricane was a huge logistical challenge for an under-resourced team. So, the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority engaged Helios to help guide the airport team with the preparation of the exposition needed to get the approval for publication of the new GNSS IAPs.
Helios experts worked with CJLIA during March, April and May 2018 to help compile the data and prepare the analysis needed to be able to publish new GNSS IAPs. This included on-site facilitation with pilots familiar with the aerodrome, controllers, CNS specialists and safety specialists to enable the development of the safety case and associated exposition. These stakeholders reviewed the entire operational procedure, identified hazards by phase of flight and the causes of hazards both existing and new. This enabled the airport to present to the regulator a well-documented argument with proportionate mitigations addressing the hazards.
Twelve months later, on 17 September 2018 CJLIA received regulatory approval for operational use of the GNSS IAPs, thereby restoring the ability to conduct all-weather and night-time operations at the airport in time for the busy tourist season vital to the economic recovery of the island.
The GNSS IAP allows CJLIA to provide better service to their customers and reduce operational costs. Importantly, it also improves their resilience during natural disasters such as hurricanes since there are little physical infrastructure requirements.
Although CJLIA was pipped to the post for the Janes Award by ENAIRE, the Anguilla team received deserved recognition for their total commitment to restoring operations at the airport, assuring a major transport route and economic lifeline for the island and achieving a super-fast implementation of GNSS IAP that would be the envy of airports in Europe! We applaud them.

Written by Mr. Phillip Church, a Helios director and award-winning consultant, specialising in navigation, airspace optimisation and the introduction of new technologies and novel ATM concepts.
http://www.askhelios.com/blog/small-airport-on-the-big-stage-for-gnss-iap-implementation

– Press Release

Country Manager, Mr. Desron Bynoe

Mr. Desron Bynoe, Country Manager of Flow/C&W Business in Anguilla, says that the services of Flow, as the consumer brand, and Cable & Wireless, as the business brand, have seen much improvement since Hurricane Irma.

“We have actually recovered quite significantly in terms of the level of service,” he said in a brief interview with The Anguillian newspaper. “In fact, our services have actually improved since the hurricane. We are still constantly looking at ways and means of improving what we have, but we are pretty much recovered.”

The rest of the interview continued:

How is the fiber-optic service functioning?
We have fiber-optic cable in a significant section of the island – predominantly in the west – and we are working on what we have, and the installation of fiber as well. Our core network is underground as it relates to the length and breadth of Anguilla, from east to west.

What about Flow Television?
Flow TV is across all of Anguilla. It is one of the best services that we have in respect to television. We have what we call ‘catch-up TV’ where, if you missed a show over the last 24 hours, you can actually go back and look at any show on any of our channels.

If you are not going to be at home, you can record the programming. So it is a full service in respect to TV. It is something I like to say: that Flow is the only company that does TV right.

How are customers responding to Flow’s TV?
Customers love the TV service. They love the fact that it gives them the flexibility of looking at television on their own time – and that is one of the biggest attributes of our service.

And what are some of the more popular Flow TV programmes?
It varies. It is one of the reasons why our content base is so wide-stretched. We realize that what works for one customer, may not necessarily work for another. So we ensure that we have a wide variety of content tailored to everyone’s needs. My good friend in West End, who is 100 years, loves ATV. She looks at ATV on a Sunday and we make sure that there is ATV for her to look at.

I am a very ardent CNN person, and someone else may be interested in looking at sports so we ensure that there is sport content. We also have movies so there is literally everything for someone on our network. But I think some of the more popular channels would be like the BRAVO, CNN, CBS and ABC TV channels.

Mr. Bynoe was speaking to The Anguillian newspaper at Flow’s/C&W Business’ award presentation to IT professionals on April 12 at the Anguilla Great House.

Twenty-seven local IT professionals, working closely in the field with Flow/Cable & Wireless Business customers in Anguilla, have been awarded for their important services.
They were presented with rock plaques of the island, and company bags, at a ceremony held in their honour at the Anguilla Great House on Friday, April 12.
“We appreciate the bonds that we have created, the recommendations that have been made, and the dedication and support that you have provided to our team,” Mrs. Stephanie Robinson, Corporate and Government Account Manager at Flow/C&W Business, told the agents. “We sincerely hope that we will continue to work together as we aim for a higher level of service to our customers.”

Awards were also presented to internal IT professionals and the internal Customer Service Experience Team.

Country Manager, Mr. Desron Bynoe, delivered an address in which he outlined the work, achievements and mobility services of the companies’ operations in Anguilla. Among other matters, he listed some of the accomplishments as follows:
“I must touch on mobility because it speaks to our ability to provide you mobile access irrespective of where customers are. We were the first network to bring you 4G. We were the first network to bring you LTE; and we are the only network that has advanced LTE on Anguilla.”

Presentation of awards to external professionals

He went on: “We offer a comprehensive one-stop shop. We pride ourselves on delivering great experiences. We have a dedicated team, ready and willing to assist and support your business needs. We know what to expect and what to deliver – and it is all about creating better customer experiences and business operations.”

Speaking about the external IT professionals, after the presentation ceremony, Mr. Bynoe told The Anguillian newspaper: “They are the backbone of our operation. Essentially, we cannot do what they do because we don’t have the capacity: and we felt it was necessary that we should recognize their hard work and the yeoman service they do on a daily basis. It was important for us to do so.”

A high percentage of hospitality students at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School have a good chance of employment in Anguilla’s up-market tourism industry. Like other students at the Anguilla Community College, they are being trained to provide a high level of service in various positions at the island’s classy hotels.

The students, who are members of the school’s “We Love Hospitality Club”, are now preparing for three examinations in June which are intended to further qualify them for employment in the industry. In the meantime, they attended a tourism seminar at the Anguilla Community College where, among other matters, they were addressed by leading tourism personalities on the island.

Founder of the Club, Mrs. Kendisha Hall-Prentice, spoke to The Anguillian newspaper about the seminar which was held on Thursday, April 11, with the assistance of Mr. Karl Woodley, Head of the school’s Hospitality Department. She stated that the presenters were: Mrs. Shellya Rogers-Webster, Mrs. Janine Edwards, Mr. Jameel Rochester, Ms. Dorla Hodge, Ms. Tiffany Rogers, Ms. Samelia Connor and Mrs. Karimah Carty.

Mrs. Hall-Prentice continued: “The presenters spoke on the Role of the Anguilla Tourist Board; Villa Management; Rooms Division and Food & Beverage; Destination Management; Spa Services; and Certification & Degrees.

“The event was to heighten the students’ understanding of the hospitality industry in Anguilla. That is why we decided to have those persons who are so directly involved in the industry to speak to the students. The presenters were able to draw from their own experience because many of them were students at the school and some of them were taught by Mr. Woodley.”

Mrs. Hall-Prentice, who teaches Hotel Management, Hospitality and Culinary, described “We Love Hospitality Club” as a fully-functioning club at the school and in the community. She added: “One of our coming biggest trips will be to St. Kitts and Nevis. The trip is to compare their tourism product to ours seeing that St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla were one. Now that they have separated we want to see the different tourism dynamics of the islands.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Woodley, who, in addition to heading the school’s Hospitality Department, works closely with the club, commented: “The seminar is a very good opportunity for the students. They have been given an opportunity to gain as much knowledge as possible on all aspects of the hospitality industry in Anguilla. We have students from forms three to six which are covered by our programme, but we also have one student here from form two. I wish all the students and the club, itself, the very best. We had another club – “Tourism is We Thing” – but this one, “We Love Hospitality Club”, is fully functional as my colleague said. We assume that its members will one day be employees in the industry.”

Mrs. Kendisha Hall-Prentice and
Mr. Karl Woodley

Asked how the students were being prepared for the hospitality industry, Mr. Woodley explained: “In fifth form, we have a job training programme for students and many of them take up that opportunity. One of the speakers, from Four Seasons [Ms. Dorla Hodge], said at the seminar that, in terms of employment, there is a high job ratio for students doing the job training programme that starts in June and continues for six weeks.”

He added: “We have three programmes at the school: Hotel Management for which the examination is on June 13; Hospitality for which the examination is on June 14; and the local programme, also in June, when we give students basic information on all aspects of hospitality.”

Professors learning about digital Cadaver table

The Saint James Medical School in Anguilla has enhanced the training programme for its increasing number of students by procuring a new highly technical digital Anatomage Table which is in fact a virtual cadaver.

Professor Claude-Bernard Iliou, Dean of Basic Sciences at Saint James School of Medicine, spoke to The Anguillian newspaper about the digital Anatomage Table on Wednesday, April 17.

“This is a new service that is available for our students to help them understand anatomy much quicker and easier,” he explained. “It is also another resource for the professors, and faculty, to help in the teaching of pathology, neuro-science as well as anatomy.”

He said it made the medical school more competitive and would help students to visualize the body better.

A number of professors who teach various science courses at Saint James Medical School were being trained in the use of the equipment, on Wednesday, by Mr. Alex Layyous, an Application Engineer, who works for the manufacturing company in San Jose, California.

Anatomage Table

According to him, the digital image on the Anatomage Table was a real person who had died, but whose body was digitally created for study by medical students.

There are similar Anatomage Tables in such Caribbean islands as Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Childhood asthma, also referred to as paediatric asthma, is the most common serious chronic disease in infants and children. This is a serious condition and can have a heavy toll on children, parents and other family members and friends. Childhood asthma is a leading cause of emergency department visits, hospitalizations and missed school days. Although there is no cure for asthma, its symptoms can be successfully controlled. Children can die from asthma, but 80% of these deaths can be prevented.

What is asthma?
Asthma is an inflammatory process that occurs in the lungs – that causes the bronchioles to narrow and constrict air supply to the rest of the body.
Mucus is produced in the lungs triggering the airway to constrict – further inducing cough, wheezing, and chest tightness. Breathing becomes difficult and, in some instances, can cause an emergency.
The bronchi of children with asthma are more sensitive than those of children without the condition, and certain substances or triggers can irritate them.

Causes of asthma in children
Although there is no single known cause of asthma, there are several factors that may contribute to a child having asthma.
These include a genetic predisposition (having something in their genes that makes it more likely that they will develop asthma), diet, and the environment.

Who develops asthma?
Asthma is usually considered a childhood condition, but asthma can occur in adults. Children can develop asthma from an early age. It tends to be more common among boys than girls.
During the teenage years, the symptoms of asthma will disappear in approximately three-quarters of all children with the condition. However, asthma can return in adulthood. If the childhood symptoms of asthma are moderate to severe, it is more likely that the condition will return later in life.

Common triggers for asthma
The following are some common triggers for an asthma attack:
• Tobacco and cigarette smoke
• Dust mites
• Outdoor pollution
• Cockroach allergen
• Pets
• Mold
• Smoke from burning wood or gas
• Infection linked to cold, flu, sinus infection, acid reflux
• Exercise
• Strong emotions

Symptoms of asthma in children
The common symptoms of asthma include:
• feeling breathless,
• wheezing (there may be a whistling sound when your child breathes),
• coughing (particularly at night), and
• tight chest.
The severity and duration of the symptoms of asthma tend to be highly variable and unpredictable, and they are often worse during the night, or with exercise. You should be aware of any signs of worsening symptoms in your child. Parents, guardians and teachers should know the symptoms of asthma – and know when symptoms are getting worse and need urgent medical attention. If you notice that your child’s symptoms are getting worse, do not ignore them. Seek professional help.
Parents should recognize that many children with asthma only present with a persistent cough. This must not be ignored.
Diagnosis
Asthma can be difficult to diagnose in young children because there are many other conditions that can cause similar symptoms.
Most children develop the symptoms of asthma when they are of school age, along with other allergic conditions (atopic conditions) such as hay fever. The reasons for this are unknown.
If you suspect that you child has asthma, take him/her to the doctor for a complete clinical history and physical examination.
Your doctor might arrange for a number of tests, and investigations, to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment
Treatment involves both relieving symptoms and preventing them from recurring. Prevention can be achieved through the use of medicines, but exercise and diet also play an important role. There is no cure for asthma. Uncontrolled asthma in children can result in permanent lung damage but, for most children, asthma can be controlled with appropriate treatment and management. Children should know how to use their inhalers, and should be allowed to use their inhalers at school. Children should have their inhalers at all times.

Can a child die from asthma?
Yes. Children can die from this condition. Many of the deaths occur outside hospital. Very often parents do not recognize the symptoms and fail to seek emergency care. An acute asthma attack is a medical emergency. A few minutes can make the difference between life and death. Many asthma patients who die are either not seeking care, or are not being hospitalized with their worsening asthma. Fatal asthma can occur in anyone with mild intermittent to more severe asthma.

Conclusion
In childhood asthma, the lungs and airways become easily inflamed when exposed to certain triggers, such as inhaling pollen, or catching a cold or other respiratory infection. Childhood asthma can cause bothersome daily symptoms that interfere with play, sports, school and sleep. In some children, unmanaged asthma can cause dangerous asthma attacks. With proper management childhood asthma can be successfully controlled.

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).

Omari Banks and other performers

The Health Authority of Anguilla Foundation, also known as the Anguilla Health Foundation, held its first Annual Benefit Concert at Da Vida’s Bay Side Grill on Saturday 13th April, 2019. The event was designed to raise funds for an Oxygen Bank for the Princess Alexandra Hospital – primarily to facilitate the care of children suffering from Asthma. This was highlighted as a significant need in light of the number of children who regularly attend at the Accident and Emergency Unit with Asthma symptoms.

The Anguilla Health Foundation in keeping with its mandate to generate philanthropic support for the Health Authority of Anguilla and the delivery of healthcare in Anguilla, is seeking to raise some US$40,000.00 to purchase and install the Oxygen Bank. The event was a huge success as it served to raise approximately US$15,000.00 through ticket sales and donor contributions. A significant part of the success of the event is measured by the level of awareness raised in the community – and the general community response to the initiative. The event was successful, as a result of extensive community involvement, and a huge debt of gratitude is owed to the many persons who contributed their time and effort to ensuring its success.
The musical and vocal contributions of Omari Banks, Michael ‘Dumpa’ Martin, and Mrs. Kimba Southwell, and the students of the ALHCS Concert Choir and Concert Band, served to create the correct mood as the attendees partook of the wine tasting experience and tapas. Guests were treated to a professionally presented wine tasting exercise under the excellent guidance of Sommelier, Albert Lake, and were able to appreciate wines from International Wines and Spirits (IWAS), Tropical Distributors and Les Grands Vins de France Wine Shop. Da Vida’s proved to be an ideal setting for the event. The in kind contributions of Best Buy Supermarket, Hi-Tek Designs, Island Asset and Ashley’s Deli were very much appreciated.

Significant donor contributions were received, or pledged, from the following establishments/persons:
• Alex Richardson & Associates
• Apex Auto Supplies
• Cuisinart Resort
• D3 Enterprises
• Delta Petroleum
• East Caribbean Reinsurance Company Limited
• International Wines and Spirits (IWAS)
• Ken’s Barbeque
• Malliouhana Rental and Sales
• Malliouhana-Anico Insurance Company
• Mirabelle West’s Fundraising Efforts
• Sol Petroleum
• Tropical Distributors
The Anguilla Health Foundation is very grateful to these donors for their generous contributions.

Despite the fantastic response to our first fundraising initiative, we are still short of the sum, which is in the region of US$40,000.00, required to purchase and install the Oxygen Bank. Further donations are, therefore, very welcome and donors are invited to contact any of the Foundation members to make a contribution. The Foundation members are:-
Mr. Stanley E. Reid – President
Dr. Brett Hodge – Vice President
Mrs. Maeza Demis-Adams – Secretary
Mrs. Jacqueline Ruan – Treasurer
Mr. Fabian M. Fahie – Member
Mrs. Fiona Curtis – Member
Mrs. Maxine Herbert-Duggins – Member
The Anguilla Health Foundation looks forward to the continued support of Anguillians, residents, visitors and friends of Anguilla as it strives to fulfill its mandate which includes fostering initiatives for the infrastructural development of the Health Authority of Anguilla for better patient care.
– Press Release

L-R: Mr. Khalija Francis, Mr. Kevin Bernard, Mr. Franklin Rogers and Mr. Aaron Pierre

The owner and employees of JTR Advanced Security Company, in Anguilla, have made commendable strides in their training and delivery of services over the years.

The latest achievement is that JTR Advanced Security has become the only private company on the island to receive training under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. This puts the company in a position where it is well on its way to becoming Anguilla’s first Recognized Security Organization (RSO).

The April 3-7 training course was facilitated by Mr. Collin Cleare, owner of Interforce Maritime Services – a certified company in The Bahamas that facilitates training under the ISPS Code.
The course participants were three security officers: Khalija Francis, Kevin Bernard and Aaron Pierre – and the owner of JTR Advanced Security, Franklin Rogers. The successful trainees, in the five-day course, are now certified Port Facility Security Officers qualified under the Safety of Life at Sea Convention of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The training is seen as having provided JTR Advanced Security Company with an important role to play in safety at sea in Anguilla.

Mr. Rogers, owner and manager of the company, has expressed thanks and appreciation to Mr. Cleare for imparting his knowledge and advice to him and the other three trained personnel.

Mr. Jerry Mueller and creations

Mr. Jerry Mueller, a United States citizen, has been regularly holidaying in Anguilla, for many years, accompanied by his wife. One of his pastimes has been, and continues to be, the cleaning of Sandy Hill Bay, on the eastern coast of the island where he usually resides.
Sandy Hill Bay is one of the locations in Anguilla where the beach is often littered with quantities of flotsam and, especially in more recent times, seaweed or sargassum drifted onto the shores of regional islands from the Atlantic’s Sargasso Sea.
At present, there are piles of collected seaweed at Sandy Hill Bay, some of which Mr. Mueller, a native of Wisconsin, assisted in raking up from the beach. Now that he left Anguilla on Thursday, this week, he has also left behind various effigies of the Easter Season which he constructed to adorn the beach.

“This time it is an Easter religious display on the beach,” he told The Anguillian newspaper during his farewell visit – until he returns to the island again. “I did Santa Claus and the reindeer for Christmas and people thought that was fantastic. I also did a Valentine display and then I had one that represented flowers. I also did a display for St. Patrick’s Day but now I am doing a religious one. It is with Christ rising and things like that. There are also a couple of Easter bunnies and Easter eggs.”

Mr. Mueller continued: “I also put up some rock statues on the island and the people like them. I have some at Mimi Bay, Junks Hole, Savannah Bay, over by us, at Sandy Hill Bay, and at Altamer. But I have been raking Sandy Hill Beach for four months but the weeds just came back in.”

His effigies are an attractive work of art. Asked about his background of artistic skills, Mr. Mueller remarked: “none”. He just loves what he does for Anguilla hoping it would be appreciated.

Mrs Joann
Hodge

Social Security’s Public Relations Officer, Ms. Rosanna Browne, held a press conference on Wednesday, April 17th to announce the issuing of the first check of paternal benefit paid to a father following the birth of a newborn child.

Ms. Browne stated that the Anguilla Social Security Board was the first Social Security institution in the region to have introduced a paternity benefit. The recipient of this benefit was Mr. Carlos Simon of Welches, Executive Chef at Davida’s Restaurant. His baby, Caraina Arianna Simon was born on March 9th.
Attending the conference were the Commissioner of Labour, Ms. Joann Hodge; Deputy Director of Human Resource Management with the Government of Anguilla, Mrs. Charmaine Rogers; as well as Social Security’s Deputy Director, Dr. Maglan Lewis, and Ms. Paulita Bryson, Manager of Social Security’s Benefit Department. Also present was Ms. Marva Smith, Member of Social Security’s Public Relations Committee.

Acting Deputy Director, Dr. Lewis, remarked: “Today is a special day for us at Social Security. The Director, who is on vacation, would have liked to be here. This has been our dream for quite a while, and we must say thanks to the Government of Anguilla, and in particular, the Honourable Minister of Labour, Mrs Cora Richardson Hodge, who did all she could to make sure that this legislation came to fruition.
“A lot of work would have gone into formulating this law, and I want to commend all who have had a part to play in its realization. It has been a challenge for us to roll it out. Ms. Bryson, our Benefits Manager, would have encountered many questions from the public on the matter of paternal benefits. As a result, we have had to resort often to inquiring from Mrs. Hodge in the Labour Department on pertinent issues regarding this benefit. Eventually, we have been able to sort out the kinks, and here we are now paying our first father.”
Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Joann Hodge, commented: “In the new Labour Relations Act that was assented to this year, there are two types of leave that are

Mrs Charmaine Rogers

associated with the birth of a child, namely: maternity leave, and paternity leave. Paternity leave is a relatively new concept, but it is in keeping with best labour practices worldwide.
“In the Labour Relations Act, it stipulates that ‘a father of a child, or the mother’s husband, can receive up to four consecutive weeks of paternity leave.’ The first two weeks are leave taken with pay. That is compulsory. When the law specifies ‘with pay’, it means two weeks pay less any amounts that would be payablwe under the Social Security Act.
“After the first two weeks, the law stipulates that the second two weeks are with or without pay. This means that we have left it up to the discretion of the employer to provide pay for the second two-week period, but in any case, the additional two-week’s leave is mandatory, and must be taken after the mother’s confinement period, and not prior to the confinement date. Further, the full four-week’s leave must be taken within 16 weeks after the confinement date.”

In addition, Mrs. Hodge specifically noted that there has been a change in the Labour Relations Act at with regard to extended leave for a mother, She noted that while under the former law a mother was entitled to 13 weeks’ leave, the maternal leave has been now revised and extend to 14 weeks.
Social Security’s Benefit Manager, Ms. Paulitoa Bryson said: “The existence of Social Security is to improve the quality of life for all, and that is done through the provision of meaningful benefits. Therefore, we are indeed happy to be making our first payment of paternal benefit today.
“We did face certain challenges, along the way, which we have conquered. We received our first claim of March 18th, and since then we have had six more claims pending payment. This new law might be a challenge for employers, because it is a new provision, and so employers need to be sensitized to its existence and the process that it involves.”

Ms. Paulita
Bryson

Speaking on behalf of the Government of Anguilla, Deputy Human Resources Director, Mrs. Charmaine Rogers stated: “In 2012, the Anguilla Public Service saw the need to amend our regulations to include leave for male officers who would have become fathers of a newborns. It was then legislated that those who served for one year or more would be entitled to receive ten working days (two weeks) leave with full pay.”
Mrs. Rogers sought to clarify. “These fathers would be paid at the time when they embark on the leave. However, it is to be clear that for government male workers there would be no additional pay to them during the actual four-week’s leave provided by the new Labour Relations Act. They would have already gotten their two weeks with pay, and any additional leave, according to government regulations will be without pay.”
The media made certain comments and asked questions relating to the new provision of the law. These questions were well answered and the comments were cordially entertained by Social Security personnel.

– Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan

Dear Editor,

Gaming/Gambling
Gaming/Gambling is like certain farts…..silent, intangible but deadly.
However, the entrapments and effects linger for generations.

Other islands are gifted with resources that can be seen, manipulated, extracted, manufactured and exported. These are their tangible assets.
We, in AXA, we are gifted with an intangible one – ‘Tranquility’. It can’t be packaged and exported. It is real (ask anyone stepping off a ferry boat), but is invisible.

This invisibility makes it prone to being forgotten, taken for granted and even neglected (for this I ask God’s forgiveness).
Currently, there is need for us to consciously and intentionally cherish, protect and preserve this intangible asset. Our gift cannot be destroyed by a bulldozer but elements like gaming which are similar to some farts (silent but deadly), when allowed in, creep from underneath and seek to unravel the fine, one of a kind atmosphere of Tranquility bequeathed to us.

Will generations to come inherit it from us?

As opinions were sought last week on the gaming potential in Anguilla, I was at one such meeting and here is a comment and a question made in the meeting, and my reflective position:

“Gaming is a very fat (profitable) industry in comparison to other industries.”
Question is, are we into fat or lean meat?
Isn’t healthier eating, along with going green, proving to give quality and quantity of life to us and our planet? Even though it might require adjustments in the short-term?

“What is the church doing to help those negatively affected by gaming?”
In countries where oil is extracted, oil companies must set aside a certain amount of money to deal with potential oil spills and removal of oil rigs once extraction is depleted.
Now, governments know there will be children unfed, families broken up, jobs lost, businesses lost, houses, vehicles and other assets repossessed once gaming is allowed, but yet no contingencies are in put in place! However, the same ‘church’ which opposed legalizing of the lottery/gaming then posed the question, what are you doing about its ill effects on society?
And, even if contingencies are in place, should government be inviting in this snake of an industry that is proven to make people lose considerably more than they make – and one which causes havoc for many individuals and families?

Yes, government is applauded for making attempts to increase national revenue but it is not applauded for unknowingly, or knowingly, increasing vices in the land. In my opinion, any increase in revenue that will ultimately undermine and destroy our God-given gift of Tranquility should be rejected.

Our think tanks need to love Anguilla more than money and resist trying to be like everybody else. Can’t we designate our local or international think tanks to generate profitable but ‘Tranquility Proof’ revenue generating ideas? Asking them to display radical innovativeness, and creativity which speaks to a fresh idea that is unique to the region, and maybe the world, but aligned with cherishing and preserving Anguilla’s Tranquility?
I refuse to believe that there are no novel ideas left which AXA can embark upon. Case in point: three years ago a young female student from MIT created an algorithm which several days ago enabled a picture to be taken of a black hole. Many had said, “impossible”….but not now. Ideas are out there!

Our current creative and innovative laziness needs to change.
It is quite easy to piggy back on existing ideas and be incremental in innovating them. But however gambling is creatively packaged, whether from street level to 7 Star back room lounges, it’s bite is always highly venomous. Is there an antidote for our ‘Tranquility’ if it is permitted to be bitten into?

Loving Anguilla,
Avenella Griffith

The Honourable Victor Banks
Chief Minister’s Office
The Valley
Anguilla
17th April 2019

Dear Victor

Constitutional Reform – OPEN LETTER

Lord Ahmad, the Minister for the Overseas Territories, and the United Kingdom Government, have given Anguillians everywhere the assurance that cross-party consultation will occur now.
The need for widespread consultation has been recognized by the Foreign Affairs Committee in the report, Resetting the Relationship .
We appreciate that the House of Assembly’s Select Committee has been established, in part to satisfy the United Kingdom Government that there is full participation and engagement in the constitutional reform process. We are advancing. I note that Brexit developments and the recommendations of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United Kingdom Parliament have superseded our earlier consultations, advanced through the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Committee in 2017 and earlier. These developments mandate that we renew our efforts to broaden the consultation, without prejudicing the acceleration of the laws that will balance the changes and reforms already advanced and contained in the Order in Council dated 10th April 2019.
Although I accept that the previous committee has been declared functus, I require that in addition to including earlier members of that committee in our deliberations that we also invite fresh representation from the united opposition, the churches, the business sector, the Chamber of Commerce, fifth and sixth formers, unions, and as many public bodies as possible to ensure we secure wide opinion and buy in. We have an opportunity to correct the neglect of the past several years and to evidence good practice going forward. I believe if we follow this course we will secure a better constitution for our people. Major issues are at stake and we must resolve these not just in form and appearances, but through principled leadership. On that note, I believe that in addition to securing this widespread representation, I believe that the opposition should share the deliberations, in the circumstances in line with international convention. Alternatively, I propose that an independent authority be nominated to chair these proceedings and I nominate retired Justice of Appeal Don Mitchell, former chair of the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Committee, to be that person. I believe this is a national opportunity and if we get things right it will hold us all in good stead.
Thank you and kind regards.
Pam Webster
Leader of the Opposition

cc: His Excellency the Governor
Don Mitchell Esq., QC, Chairman, Anguilla Constitutional and Electoral Reform Committee
The Honourable Evans McNiel Rogers
The Honourable Cora Richardson-Hodge
The Honourable Evalie A Bradley
The Honourable Curtis Richardson
The Honourable Cardigan Connor
The Honourable Paul Harrigan
The Honourable Terry Harrigan
The Honourable Deputy Governor,
Mr Perin Bradley
The Honourable Attorney General
The Honourable Speaker

by Ms. Pam Webster

Who can we count on to keep us informed during these critical times in our history? Yet again we realise it cannot be our present Government.
In last week’s article, I shared my concern in relation to our status and what it means to refer to external authorities and legislation to prove our identity. The urgent need to understand who we are and to better safeguard our identity, while modernizing the rights that define us, is an effort for the vigilant and God-fearing.
Last week marked the beginning of our fight, as Anguillians, to reform our laws and modernise how we govern. On 10th April, 2019 the Anguilla Constitution (Amendment) Order 2019 was approved in the Privy Council by the Queen at Windsor Castle.

As if we needed a harsh reminder of our standing in history as a segregated people, and the relevance of the constitutional process in our lives; the “incident” at West End last Sunday took centre stage. The distressing entourage of inequities, inequalities and incompetence that followed glaringly exposed a lack of principled leadership at every level in Anguilla. From my perspective, at least, it was yet another indicator of our government’s customary unwillingness to take responsibility to protect Anguillians. Even more worrying, it demonstrated that, as citizens, we continue to place value upon one class of persons above another class – by committing the alleged perpetrator to custody in a luxury hotel rather than in prison – all this in denial of accepted rights and freedoms of our own nationals. I was heartened, though, that right minded people were prepared to make their views known and that there was oneness in requiring fairness in our law enforcement processes. This is the same strength that we must call on to reject this regime’s routine neglect of governance standards and our constitutional conventions.

During a House of Assembly meeting, in response to one of my questions, we were informed by the Chief Minister that the draft Order in Council would go before the Privy Council on 10th April. However, the constitutional reform process to date has been far from satisfactory and transparent. I have consistently raised questions in the House to better understand what stage of constitutional reform the Government had reached, and those questions were never fully answered. The questioning and the answering exercise became a kind of cat and mouse game. All this to uncover information that is expected to be public and available to the people of Anguilla. This unapologetic way of exemplifying poor governance is unacceptable and, as we have grown to appreciate, there are more questions than answers.
It is clear that the Government continues to make decisions that do not take into account the entire legislative body. All of the House of Assembly members should be privy to the information concerning our Constitution, when we are the institution that is fundamentally rooted in the writing and passing of laws and debating and voting on them. The separation of powers between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branch is so imbalanced that our people are suffering from our government’s inability to govern effectively and democratically. The Executive must be held accountable, as every other institution should be, and we must force our leaders to actually commit to their obligatory roles of protecting the democracy and the liberties of the people.
I have shared our grievances with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office many times, and complained regularly that the consultation process for constitutional reform was not being followed. I reminded the British that the Government did not use the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Committee’s Draft Report to make a one-time overhaul and modification of the Constitution, as intended by our people. Instead they created a cherry-picking reform agenda that would amend the Constitution in a piecemeal manner. Certain Committee recommendations that were much more pertinent were neglected, while other amendments that are less critical for the benefit of the people were chosen. The recognition by the United Kingdom that the reform process affects all the people of Anguilla, and that decisions must come from the people of Anguilla, underpins their direction to the Anguilla Government to go back to the drawing board. This may be a small accomplishment, but at what cost to our people? We need full reform now!
All of these external negotiations and behind closed doors decisions are hindering our progress as a nation. Thank God we have secured the attention of the United Kingdom Government and that they are taking the need for cross-party consultation and engagement seriously, but what is the point of having change if our people are not being lifted together? Transparency and access to information must take place as a national standard, not just as an option to be exercised based on political opportunity. It must concern us that while the Anguilla Constitution (Amendment) Order 2019 has been approved, yet there is still no Government media outlet, social media account, newspaper release or anything that is produced locally, to inform the Anguilla people as to its effective date or application. Furthermore, as a member of the House of Assembly, I was not officially notified of the Order’s approval and I have still not been notified. I had to visit the UK’s legislation website to confirm the changes. This is not good governance, good practice, or good execution, by any standard. It demonstrates that our government is continuing to show a lack of knowledge, competence and preparedness for the increased autonomy which our people desire and deserve. Indeed, the Government’s website boasts, under the heading “Recent News”, of “FATCA Financial Account Reporting System Training 12th- 23rd September, 2016” – yes 2016, I kid you not. Under the heading “Recent Documents” there is no mention of the Order in Council, and if the Order in Council is not a sufficiently important “Recent Document” to make the cut I don’t know what is. Where else is it publicised? I challenge the Chief Minister to tell us, or to apologise publicly for its inexcusable concealment.

We must remember the origins of our Constitution and why the laws even matter. As a small developing island state we have had six Constitutions dating back to the first one in 1967. Dr. Roger Fisher, a Harvard professor of law at the time, drafted our first Constitution that established an Anguilla Council with full legislative and executive powers. We later had two Constitutions in 1969, one in 1971, another in 1976, and then our current one in 1982. Each Constitution brought about different changes to the government structure; some to camouflage the political realities of the day but each addressing voting dynamics and fundamental rights and freedoms as a people.
This progression of our laws through history matters. This supreme law establishes that the Government has a duty to protect our rights and codify our laws in a way that ensures equal representation for all members of society. The Government must fulfil the needs of the people of Anguilla and enforce measures that will move us forward, while staying true to the cultural principles on which we were founded. This AUF administration has fallen short, and we must hold them accountable to address their neglect and failings in the coming weeks.
The consultation process for the second phase of reforms is commencing 18th April, the Speaker having established a Select Committee to review proposed reforms. The Select Committee proceedings will begin with all members of the House of Assembly meeting with the 2015 Constitutional and Electoral Reform Committee (previously considered functus by the government). We shall do what we can to ensure that the Chief Minister organizes the necessary discussions, consultations, and meetings that he promised the people and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in his 29th January 2019 letter to Lord Ahmad. We must push forward with the reform process and be vigilant. We must educate ourselves, because it is clear that we cannot rely on the Government for any updating us on their own initiative. they must be told what to do!

We must be the change and always require that our people, at every level of society, have their voices heard. We must require full citizen participation in our decision making in line with our constitutional rights. We will require effective and wide consultation and the immediate expediting of public integrity and campaign financing laws, to better assure a fair and just Anguilla. Together we are one – the One Anguilla force for change.

As the cultural anthropologist, Margaret Mead, once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

If it wasn’t so serious, it would have the makings of a murder mystery. One black man is dead. The suspect is a supposedly a rich white man vacationing in a tropical paradise. Unfortunately, this is not a movie set, but another death in Anguilla which may be ruled a homicide. The deceased is a Dominican national residing in Anguilla. While we have no credible information regarding the circumstances surrounding his death, people are calling for justice and are outraged that the lone suspect was not taken into custody immediately. Issues of race and wealth have immediately come to the fore while people watch keenly to see how the police will deal with the suspect. There are already claims that the suspect is not being accorded the same treatment as others in similar circumstances because of his race and socio-economic status. However, without all the information available, I would be hesitant to make any hasty judgements in this regard. While I am no legal expert, what I do know is this: every person is innocent until proven guilty; every person is entitled to a fair trial and to be treated equally before the law.

While the death of a young man is tragic, it is important that we temper our outrage with reason and logic. Police investigations into the matter must continue. They must gather the evidence required to arrest, charge and bring a matter to trial. We have every reason to believe that this is what they are doing and, as such, we should not rush to conclusions or tell them how to do their jobs. Though we are not immune from issues of race and wealth impacting the administration of justice, we ought not to be so quick to allow the issues of race and intolerance, plaguing other countries, to unreasonably colour our perception of things that are occurring in ours. At the same time, we must still be vigilant in ensuring that justice in Anguilla is dispensed fairly to all concerned. This should be our focus. However, I must wonder whether this will be achieved with the approach we seem to be taking to the matter.

Given that there are concerns with the way in which the police have handled the matter, surely we could be more targeted and strategic in our approach — and either address the Commissioner of Police directly or the person to whom he reports, ie. The Governor. What could have conceivably been achieved by marching or, worse yet, marching to a resort? As a five-star tourism destination, where guests pay a pretty penny to come and visit, how many do we think will return if they are faced with a protest at a property where they are supposed to be vacationing? The tourism industry is our bread and butter. It is a fragile industry and we must always be mindful of the impact of our actions on the industry. It is bad enough that the incident that led to the death of the young man occurred at one of our most luxurious properties. However, we ought not to exacerbate the situation by our ongoing tirades.

The administration of justice must take its course. The suspect was arrested and charged. This is an indication that the police have determined, based on their investigations, that they have sufficient evidence to do so. He was later denied bail in the Magistrate’s Court. He was eventually granted bail by The High Court Judge following an appeal to that Court by his Legal Counsel, Mr. Thomas Astaphan QC. Only time will tell how this will play out, but it is clear that the way in which the matter is dealt with has implications for the public perception of, and confidence in, the justice system. It should be our hope that concerns about lack of fairness and equity are allayed as the truth is eventually revealed – and justice dispensed accordingly.

Cutting of the ribbon

Tourists visiting Anguilla and living in the tourism belt, at West End, now have opportunities to purchase and take back home various items of arts and crafts with the tagline “Made in Anguilla.”

The exhibits are housed in a refurbished building, east of the Alwyn Allison Primary School. The refurbishing work was carried out by a number of community-minded persons with financial sponsorship by the Anguilla United Relief Fund mainly through Mr. Francis Greenburger, owner of Altamer Resort. He was one of the speakers at the soft launch of the exhibition project on Saturday, April 13.

The arts and craft work was produced by a number of artisans mainly from the West End – but also from Stoney Ground and other areas. The items include coconut carvings of cups, glasses and bowls; brooms using the leaves of the prolific thatched palms at West End; gleaming conch shell carvings of jewellery, animals, boats and other items; specially-designed bags; and a mixture of various beautiful and well-displayed exhibits.
The well-attended ceremony was chaired by Ms. Gina Brooks, a representative of the Ministry of Tourism. “It is a pleasure to see this project come to fruition with this soft launch,” she said. “It is expected that the full-fledged “Made in Anguilla” Arts and Crafts Centre will begin formal operations in May.
“This initiative is just part of the overall vision of the Government of Anguilla towards the enhancement of Anguilla’s tourism product offerings for visitors – but also to ensure that the Anguillian community, in particular our artisans and entrepreneurs, have access to, and are able to participate not just in arts and culture opportunities, but others that will be developed over time.”
Ms. Brooks added: “The Ministry’s main aim is to work in tangent with Anguilla’s artisans and other partners. This is to ensure the continued development of local cultural identities, practices and associated arts; and to ensure that the impact of what is culturally unique to Anguilla does not continue to be reduced by the effects of external influences.”
Mr. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary Tourism, Sports and Culture, recalled that the now renovated arts and crafts building dated back to the early 1960s. That was when it served, over the years, as a residence for the headmaster of the then West End School. “The beauty of what is going to happen here – is that some of our artisans will bring some of their arts and crafts here and chances are that they will be sold,” Mr. Connor, the Elected Representative for the district, said. “It gives our people of the area and, by extension, Anguilla, an opportunity to showcase what they can do and be appreciated for it.”

He thanked a number of persons who were involved in the renovation of the building, all the artisans whose work is being exhibited, and those persons who have indicated their involvement and support. Among those Mr. Connor thanked were Mr. Francis Greenburger, owner of Altamer Resort, and Ms. Natalie Diaz, for their financial support under the United Anguilla Relief Fund – as well as Mr. David Rosenberg, a visitor to Anguilla, for his assistance.
Mr. Greenburger said that his Chief of Staff, Natalie Diaz, had volunteered and partnered with him in creating and organizing the Anguilla United Relief Fund. He explained that the fund was founded, in the days after Hurricane Irma, to collect relief for the island. “Our approach has been to make the largest impact to the areas of most need, and to support the Health Authority of Anguilla’s electricity system right after the hurricane,” he stated.
The Altamer Resort owner further noted: “As the Anguilla United Relief Fund continues its commitment to Anguilla, we are pleased to have sponsored the creation of this arts and crafts centre. We aim to support local artisans, the entrepreneurial creative industry on Anguilla, and tourism at large, by providing space to promote, preserve and grow Anguillian culture.”
He added: “As a result of Secretary Connor’s leadership, the arts centre provides studio and showcase space for local artists in Anguilla, giving them and artisans a place to create, show and sell their work. It offers an opportunity to train and expose youth to do authentic Anguillian work. In our eyes, this commitment represents another seed investment into the vital elements of society and the future of the island: education, health and local entrepreneurship and culture.

“I would like to thank Chief Minister Banks, and the Government of Anguilla, for their commitment to this project – as well as Secretary Connor for his leadership and oversight of the creation of this centre. Thank you for this partnership as we work to support tourism and culture in the island.”
Chief Minister Banks made the point that the arts and crafts centre was something the Government wanted to develop as it moved forward united behind common purposes to elevate the lives of the people in the communities. He paid tribute to the late Elected Representatives of the West End/Long Bay district, Mr. John Hodge and Mr. Albert Hughes, who led the community over the years and gained the support of the people.
“This project could not have happened in a better place,” Mr. Banks continued. “West End has always been the centre of arts and crafts whether it was mat-making, broom-making, boat-making, carving and a whole range of other craft work associated with this area. I think it is significant that we have chosen this spot to highlight the talent in arts and crafts of this community in Anguilla. I think it is very coincidental, and very important, that we begin here with a “Made in Anguilla” arts and crafts centre…I think it accentuates what this community has given to Anguilla – the export of brooms and mats to all parts of the region.

“I think we have an opportunity to grow this project into a more comprehensive and all-encompassing project about being “Made in Anguilla”. We may not know it, but our tourism product is made in Anguilla and that is what has led this community and our economy for many, many years. We are thankful to the friends of Anguilla, and investors, who have been a part of this project – our development generally, and the contributions they continue to make to support us with projects as this.”

In that context, Mr. Banks expressed thanks to Mr. Greenburger, owner of Altamer Resort, for his intimate involvement in supporting the arts and crafts centre – and the Anguilla United Relief Fund “which lifted spirits after Hurricane Irma.”
The “Made in Anguilla” Arts Crafts and Centre is being managed by Ms. Malissa Carty, one of the island’s artists, who has a number of passionate friends and supporters in the arts and crafts business.
For the record, there is an arts and crafts centre in The Valley operated by a group of womenfolk. In West End, there are arts and carving galleries whose operators are Mr. Courtney Devonish and Mr. Cheddie Richardson.