By Ben Meade
THE VALLEY, Anguilla, CMC – Leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) are meeting here this week while being reminded of the gains made over the past three decades and tasked with finding ways to survive in an increasingly challenging global economic environment.

During the 50th meeting of the OECS Authority that closes on Friday, leaders will focus on working towards signing a new treaty to create a single economic space within the nine-country grouping and finding ways to lessen the impact of the global downturn on their economies and the spin-off impact on their citizens.

Director General of the St Lucia-based OECS Secretariat, Dr. Len Ishmael noted the battering the island nations have faced over the past 20 months due to the “financial upheaval both inside and outside of this region” that have tested “the very mettle of the social, economic and political fabric of this region.”

In addition to what has transpired on the global front, OECS states have been hit by the financial woes at CLICO and British American Insurance Company – two subsidiaries of the beleaguered Trinidad-based CL Financial Group – and by the collapse of the Stanford baking empire in Antigua and Barbuda.

“If ever confirmation was required of the need for Small Island Developing States, such as these, to put in place mechanisms to deploy regional responses to tough situations when they arise, the travails of the recent past certainly have provided much by way of witness,” Ishmael said, adding that the sub-region was ahead of the curve relating to its responses to such difficulties.

“The OECS arrangements simply shone in comparison to other members of the [wider Caribbean Community] CARICOM family unable to deploy such regional institutional mechanisms…were demonstrably slow by comparison as a group to responding to the rigour of these times.”

OECS Chairman and St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas said while the sub-region has much to be proud about in the way its member countries have worked together to confront such issues, “we should not allow ourselves to be lulled into complacency”.

“This we can ill-afford in a word that has been altered so dramatically in the last few years and which is constantly experiencing transformation…that is why we have found it necessary in recent years to embark upon a process of strategic repositioning of the OECS in order that it may continue to maintain relevance and the capacity to deliver on the goal of the dreams and aspirations of our own OECS citizens well into the future,” he said.

Among the OECS responses to a changing world, is the agreement on the need to press ahead with plans to create an economic union that is scheduled to begin taking effect in a phased in manner from the middle of next year after being signed by government leaders this December.

However, Montserrat Chief Minister Reuben Meade said while the 50th meeting of the OECS Authority is a significant milestone, there remain a significant number of unnecessary impediments which keep the citizens of the OECS asking what is the true essence of the integration efforts being undertaken in the sub-region, particularly the development of an economic union.

“Mr Chairman, my call today is that we balance the high level integration activities in banking, securities exchange and automatic payment systems with the ease of travel and doing business that we continue to promise the people of the OECS.

“I recognise that we are small, but since it is quite clear that we have some very gifted people, it is just to my mind a matter of prioritising to enable and motivate our people,” Meade said.

Those sentiments were echoed by Anguilla’s Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, who warned that “collectively as a sub-region, we must stand together or perish apart” as the countries of the OECS, in seeking to protect the gains they have made over the past three decades face “a fight that we must win”.

“Small islands like ours will have to do more with less. We also have to bind ourselves together to weather this storm through our regional integration process,” he said.

Dr said it was evident that the OECS has been on the right track with the initiatives undertaken over the greater part of the past three decades and urged leaders not to let their guard down while charting the course ahead.

“Armed with this reassurance, there is every reason for us to look ahead, therefore, with confidence and it is with this renewed confidence that I say to you, as Chairman of the OECS Authority, come now, let us proceed with the task of building on this great legacy which has been bequeathed to us by the founding fathers of the OECS,” said the Kittitian leader.

Other leaders attending the talks here include Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and Prime Minister Tillman Thomas of Grenada. St Lucia’s Stephenson King, was scheduled to arrive on Thursday after travel delays. Premier of the British Virgin Islands, Ralph O’Neal was also expected to join his colleagues on Thursday.
Absent are Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and his St Vincent and the Grenadines counterpart, Ralph Gonsalves, both of whom opted to stay at home to deal with domestic political issues and were each represented by their respective OECS Ambassadors, Charles Maynard and Elsworth John.

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Nov 12 – Anguilla government officials say they are keen to see some movement on the stalled Flag Luxury Property development project. Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming told the local media corps here that he has seen some correspondence from the Salamander Hospitality Group who have expressed an interest in taking over the project.

According to Fleming the Salamander group representatives have assured him that they are in serious discussion with the lead person in the Flag Project Robert Sillerman.

Fleming declined to go into detail but he said prices and arrangements were being discussed. He also revealed that the 18-hole Greg Norman designed golf course was being watered, but there appears to be some uncertainty as to how long that would continue.

Finance Minister Victor Banks said there seem to be deliberate attempts to sabotage the project.

” We are laboring with these issues. We have gotten a lot of correspondence from various sources which only point to malicious intent on the part of forces within our community who do no want things to happen. Those are real concerns which we are facing. We certain look forward to getting ahead of these issues going forward,” Banks said.

The Minister said that the government is in discussion with ” a number of companies” who have an interest in the project. ” We have not taken anything off the table; and so we look forward to seeing something positive happen, it means well for Anguilla,” Banks said.

Meanwhile, opposition member of parliament Hubert Hughes said that the government has a strong case for acquisition and finish once and for all with Sillerman.

Hughes said there is precedent for such a move.

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Nov 12 -

Photo caption: Hon. Hubert Hughes

Hubert Hughes, Anguilla’s most senior parliamentarian plans to move a motion during the next sitting of parliament in which he will call on the Osborne Fleming led  government to take urgent steps to end all discussions with investor Robert Sillerman of the Flag Luxury project.

The sprawling multi-million dollar development on the island’s west coast has been stalled for almost two years after reportedly experiencing serious cost overruns totaling millions of dollars.  Sillerman is said to be looking for new financial partners to jump start the luxury villa and 18-hole championship golf course project.

Hughes, the leader of the Anguilla United Movement (AUM) and a former chief minister, told reporters here that government should sever ties with Sillerman and allow the Flag Luxury project to be taken over by an investment group favored by the government.

Fleming and his cabinet recently held talks with the Salamander Hospitality Group from the United States after the company expressed an interest in the stalled project.

” I think the opposition needs to take the higher ground and lead the way on this,” Hughes said.

The elected representative for Road South in the Anguilla House of Assembly has also accused Chief Minister Fleming of not telling the whole truth as it relates to the Flag Luxury project.

Hughes said he met with the representatives of the Salamander Group in a two hour session at Sheriva conference room. He said that the officials made it abundantly clear to him that they will not advise the Salamander Investment Group to invest any money in the Flag project unless there was a clean break with Sillerman by gpvernment.

Hughes said on a recent radio talk show programme that he obtained a leaked draft memorandum of understanding submitted by the Salamander group in which the company outlined a number of key areas with specific actions and timelines.

Government officials expressed concern that the info ended up in the hands of the opposition MP even before they had a chance to study the contents of the draft document.

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Nov 11 – Two senior government officials here say they sense an improvement in Anguilla’s economic and financial position. Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming and Finance Minister Victor Banks made the observation during the weekly government media briefing at the office of the Chief Minister.

Fleming said he has observed increase movement of people shopping at supermarkets and encouraging tourist arrivals to the island this month. According to the government leader, as recently as the past weekend, there were several visitors checking into the leading hotels Cap Juluca, CuisinArt and ViceRoy.    ViceRoy recently employed scores of Anguillians to work in the hotel sector of the multi-million dollar resort on the island’s west coast.

Without providing full details, Fleming said the tourist numbers relative to Anguilla are encouraging and the bargain rates which obtained the sector during the economic downturn and slow season will end on December 14 as the peak winter tourist season officially begins on December 15.

” I want the Anguillian population to understand the importance of tourism to Anguilla and I want to ask you to do all your power to ensure that we keep crime down, that is the key. I want to commend the police department for the job that they are doing as it relates to crime; recently we have seen a drop in criminal activities in Anguilla,” Fleming told reporters.

Echoing the comments of the Chief Minister that there are signs of an improvement in the economic and financial position in Anguilla, Banks said that reports have indicated an increase in travel from the United Kingdom and other European destinations which augurs well for the island.

The Finance Minister said that  good reports have also been coming in from the hotel sector in relation to the early bookings.

The Rotary Club of Anguilla will be hosting its Annual Foundation Dinner at Da Vida’s Restaurant on November 28th.

The dinner will be used to help raise five thousand US dollars which will go towards the Rotary Foundation. The money will help the Foundation match the Bill and Melinda Gates challenge of 355 million dollars.

Rotary, however must raise an additional 100 million dollars in matching funds by June 30th 2012 in order to raise the combined Rotary-Gates Foundation commitment to a total 555 million dollars.

The Rotary Club of Anguilla is supporting the goals of Rotary International to eradicate polio and promote literacy.

A number of Anguillians who have contributed greatly to the local community are expected to be honoured during the dinner.

Anguilla’s human resource development is coming under the microscope.  It follows the shortage periodically of professional practitioners including nurses and teachers.

But some officials here have indicated that nationals may be lapsing by not grasping crucial opportunities. Stanely Reid, Anguilla’s Deputy Governor whose portfolio includes the public administration,   says there is a system in place to deal with the issue.

Reid however notes that all systems depend on the response of those operating them and those being sought to respond to it.

“We afford departments the opportunity to indicate what their training needs are and this should not be training needs for the next year but you should anticipate if you have persons in a system who are likely to be approaching retirement age who are likely to respond to more competitive environment in the private sector, so that you look to see what areas you should be training people in,” Reid said.

According to the senior government official over the last five to six years a number of scholarships have been offered in areas and education has had a significant amount of scholarships.

Reid explained that regrettably a number of the scholarships are not taken up. ” It is not for the want of advertising them. We advertise  them in the print media, websites and via radio and the teachers do their part as well as the education department but persons invariably do not take up the scholarships for one reason or the other so we end up having to recruit non-Anguillians and then we are facing the situation of ensuring that we still maintain scope for hiring Anguillians when they become available,” the Deputy Governor said.

At a forum held on Tuesday 3 November 2009, attorney at law Dame Dr Bernice V Lake QC, and Legal Aid Clinic legal adviser Don Mitchell CBE QC, made presentations on land issues in Anguilla to a small but appreciative audience.  The occasion was the commemoration of the third anniversary of the Anguilla Legal Aid Clinic.

Anguilla and one of the region’s top legal scholars, Dame Dr Bernice  V Lake QC says the principal problems in the registered land system in Anguilla arise when there is a devolution of title.

Dame Bernice made the observation this week during a presentation on land issues in Anguilla in commemoration of the third anniversary of the  Anguilla Legal Aid Clinic.

According to Dame Bernice, there are difficulties when assertions are made as to ownership of rights in people’s lands.  These mainly spring from claims to rights of way.  The principles that govern such claims are rooted in the common law, or customary law, and exist outside of the registered land system.  Too many people believe that because they have been permitted to pass over somebody else’s land for a period, that vests in them a right to claim ownership of a right of way.

She also commented on the practice in the Planning Department of requiring persons who apply for planning permission to subdivide their land to put in a public road to be owned by government as a condition of the subdivision.

The noted Caribbean lawyer said they do this without informing the owner what they are doing, and without any offer of compensation.  She insists  Planning has a right to insist on access, but a private right of access is not the same thing as a public road.

Dame Bernice said the  problem that has arisen is that when government finds a track over your land, they now claim an established public road that they can expand into a 32 foot highway without payment of compensation.  It took a case brought by Rev John Gumbs that went all the way to the Privy Council to correct that error.

She also commented on the mistaken belief held in some quarters that all Anguillians have a right of access over private land to any beach.  She explained that the public has the right to use the public beach, but if there is no registered right of way over private land to get to the beach, then access must be by boat.  The public beach is that strip of sand between the sea bed and the high water mark, it does not extend any further back into private land.

Legal Adviser to the Legal Aid Clinic Don Mitchell  CBE, QC explained that one of the most common complaints in the Legal Aid Clinic had already been mentioned by Dame Bernice.  That was the practice of the Planning Department, with the compliance of the surveyors, to insert provision for a public road into every subdivision.  This was done without informing the landowner of his rights, or the implications of what was being done.  The public road reserve was often inserted into the survey without the road connecting to an existing road at either end.  The road provision was stuck in with no justification or rationale, merely in the hope that one day it might be extended over the adjoining parcels.  No compensation was offered or even discussed.  This amounted to a fraud, in his opinion, on families that were subdividing inherited land.

Mitchell said that a second problem that arose in the Legal Aid Clinic also involved surveys.

He explained that in most West Indian islands, there were rules that required surveyors to notify neighbours whenever a new boundary was going to be put down.  Surveyors should be required to get the consent of all affected landowners before the Chief Surveyor permitted any survey to be registered.

According to Mitchell, a retired judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, it appeared that the contrary was done in Anguilla.  Surveyors were encouraged not to speak to neighbouring landowners, but to present a fait accomplis in the hope that any dissatisfaction would be mute and helpless.

Mitchell said there had also been complaints that the Planning Department sometimes required a road provision to be made alongside a boundary without any discussion with the neighbouring landowner who might have been willing to contribute one half of the road provision.  The result was that persons who were desperate to have their land sub-divided were being compelled to provide a road for all the neighbours without the neighbours contributing.

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Nov 4 – The Ministry of Labor here has been informed that 130 new workers  have been selected for the Viceroy Project, the newest multi-million dollar hospitality facility on Anguilla.

Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming, who is also responsible for Labor, said 92 vacancies of the first batch of 350 workers are yet to be filled.

He is calling on interested opportunities to pursue the job openings at Viceroy, located on the island’s west coast.

Viceroy is planning a grand opening in December.

However, it has already begun to accept guests although there is still some work to be completed.

The company recently made a substantial tax payment to the government of Anguilla.

The move was applauded by the Chief Minister.  The payment came at a time when the local government is calling on persons who the government to pay up.

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Nov 4 – Government ministers here are still trying to find out how a draft memorandum of understanding  between a group of American investors who have expressed an interest in the stalled Flag project  ended up in the hands of a senior opposition parliamentarian.

Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming told reporters that he was very surprised that last Saturday a draft copy of a memorandum of understanding that came from the Sallamanda Investment Group addressing the Flag project and not yet studied by government was had by MP Hubert Hughes on a local radio station.

Finance Minister Victor Banks says there is concern as to whether there is any leaks within the government system which would allow such to occur.

” I contacted the principals of Sallamanda Hospitalities and assured them that it was not a matter of the public domain. We had not released any documents to the wider community. We are not aware of how this happened. They don’t want to get involved in politics. They wanted to present a document from a national standpoint,” Banks said.

Meanwhile, opposition MP Hubert Hughes concedes a draft copy of the memorandum of understanding from Sallamanda Hospitalities has been leaked to him.

Hughes contends that in a democracy nothing should be leaked to elected parliamentarians. Government ministers are upset that the document got into the hands of the Hughes at such an early stage of deliberations.

” In a democracy nothing should be leaked to the elected members of the House (parliament). Elected members of the House should be supplied with any information related to the development of Anguilla,” Hughes said.

Hughes said the people speak through their elected representatives ” and before Flag Luxury ever came into being the opposition should have been consulted on so significant a project because the project involved giving away a lot of taxpayers money.”

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Nov 3 – The first ever Sir Arthur Lewis Memorial Book award will be made the Anguilla Community College.

According to a media release from the St Kitts-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank the award, which is valued at EC$2,700 will be presented annually  in alphabetical order to a selected college in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) member country.

Citizens of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) will be exposed to a new perspective on globalisation when Dr Danny Leipziger, Vice President for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management at the World Bank presents the ECCB sponsored 14th Sir Arthur Lewis Memorial Lecture on November 4.

Dr Leipziger will speak on the topic “The New Face of Globalisation: a Post–Crisis Assessment”.

The lecture will be held at the Sir Cecil Jacobs Auditorium, ECCB Headquarters, Basseterre, St Kitts and will be transmitted via video conference to the ECCB’s Agency Offices in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Dr Leipziger holds a PhD in economics from Brown University. He has written extensively on development economics and finance and has lectured widely on industrial policy, financial crisis management and development experience. He is also the author of several books including Lessons from East Asia and Preventing Banking Crises, and has published more than 30 articles in economic journals.

Before taking up his appointment at the World Bank, Dr Leipziger worked in the Economic Bureau of the U.S. Department of State where he served as economic advisor to the Secretary of State.

The Sir Arthur Lewis Memorial Lecture and Awards Ceremony are part of the 20th Annual Conference with Commercial Banks which will convene on 5 – 6 November.  The theme of this year’s conference is “The Global Financial Crisis And The Impact on Small Countries: What We Have Learnt Thus Far”.

Dr Leipziger will present the inaugural book  award to the Anguilla Community College.

The ECCB will also make presentations to the winners of the 2009 ECCU Best Corporate Citizen Awards among Commercial Banks.

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Nov 3 – has expressed his concern about the recent acts of vandalism on the vehicles of taxi drivers. Fleming says these acts of violence should be stopped immediately as it will significantly damage the island’s reputation.

According to the government leader such acts will negatively impact the island because Anguilla cannot afford to lose tourists during these diffcult times.

Last Saturday, a taxi van driven by Accelyn Connor was damaged by a rock thrown by an unknown person at the vehicle resulting in the side glass being broken.

Local media reports say at the time Connor was transporting guests from Cap Juluca resort  when the incident occurred near the Methodist Church in Long Bay on the western side of the island.

The broken glass fragments reportedly fell on the tourists who had to return to their hotel.

Describing his ordeal to Fleming, the taxi driver said he was very frightened and felt sorry  for the tourists.

Connor also recommended the Chief Minister meet with the visitors.

He said this was the second time that his vehicle had been attacked.

There have also been published reports here that eggs have been thrown at some of the taxi cabs driving through various villages at night.

Executive Committee members of the Anguilla Diabetes Association have been updating colleagues here on the recent International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Congress in Montreal, Canada.

Association president Lynette Rogers, vice president Dana Ruan and secretary Karen Richardson represented Anguilla at the event from October 18-22.

Members were told about some of the new scientific developments relating to diabetes.

Throughout the conference, according to the local officials, medical experts were available to answer questions.

Some of the areas covered by the experts included a revision of the diagnostic criteria for diabetes, exercise and insulin sensitivity, intensive glucose control in the critically ill, HIV therapy  and diabetes risk, developing innovative  educational materials and programmes for parents and young people with type 1 diabetes.

The symposium sessions included topics such as pre-diabetes: which organ is the culprit, the diabetic foot update, stress: the critical factor in type 2 diabetes, diabetes and the brain and diabetes and disaster: natural and man-made.

Ruan presented a paper on diabetes in Anguilla.

The IDF Congress will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Anguilla is preparing for a week of activities leading up to World Diabetes Day on November 14.

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Nov 3 – Officials of the Anguilla Rotary Club will visit Haiti next year to help in the renovation of the Lycee Phillippe Guerrier school.  The local club will be assisting in painting the school.

It is also hoping to provide computers and bicycles for the students.

The Anguilla Rotary Club has so far raised US$1,500.00  to contribute to the Hurricane Disaster Fund for the renovation of the Haitian school building.

Club members plan to visit Haiti in April 2010.

The Anguilla Rotary Club recently received US$3,000.00  from the Barrington Rotary Club in Illinois, USA.

The money was initially listed to assist in the purchase of an ambulance, however the funds will now be used for another project on the island.

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Nov 2 – The Anguilla Legal Aid Clinic  which  has functioned out of an office in the Department of Social Development, is celebrating its third anniversary.

Started in November 2007, the Legal Aid Clinic provides free advice  to any person who cannot afford an attorney or who does not have an attorney.  There is an administration charge of EC$10.00 per visit.  The clinic advises approximately two to three persons per day.

To commemorate its third anniversary, the Legal Aid Clinic has organised a series of activities dealing with some of the general areas that the Clinic has dealt with over the past three years.

On Monday 2 November, Legal Adviser at the Legal Aid Clinic, Mr Don Mitchell, and Commissioner of Social Development Sanford Richardson, will be guests on Elkin Richardson’s To the Point radio call-in programme, discussing the work of the Clinic.

On Tuesday 3 November at 7:30 pm at the Soroptomist Day Care Centre, attorney at law Dame Bernice V Lake QC, and the Registrar of Lands, Ms Lynne Danglar, will discuss Current Land Law Issues in Anguilla.

On Tuesday 10 November at 7:30 pm at the Teachers Resource Centre, Attorney at law Ms Jean Dyer of the law firm of Keithley Lake and Associates, and Registrar of the Supreme Court, Ms Patricia Harding, will discuss Probate and Administration Issues in Anguilla.

On Tuesday 17 November at 7:30 pm at the Teachers Resource Centre, Attorney at law Ms Navine Kissob of Libran Chambers, and the Social Development Planner, Ms Kiesha Gumbs, will discuss Proposals to Reform Family Law in Anguilla.

Permanent Secretary Dr Bonnie Richardson-Lake, and Psychiatric Nurse Ms Monique Rey, will discuss Mental Health and Dependency Reforms in Anguilla on November 24 at 7.30 pm at the Teachers Resource Center.

These are four of the areas that come up in the day to day work of the Clinic and which it is believed will be of interest to the general public.  Panelists will be answering questions on general problems and recent and anticipated reforms in these areas.  All members of the public are invited to make a note and to attend and participate in these forums.

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Oct 31 – A senior government official here says the proposed new Labor Code Bill is very important to the island.  Foster Rogers, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Chief Minister, says national standards must be applicable to all levels of society protecting workers most at riskl and also those not at risk.

Rogers , speaking at a public forum organised by the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says the   bill must protect the rights of employers and employees while creating a suitable avenue for government to regulate all industries in the sector objectively.

The permanent secretary emphasized that this is what the new labbor bill must do and must be able to stand the test of time.

Rogers says the legislation must protect families, ensure productivity, protect workers at all levels and must also maintain the rights of employers while at the same time providing a platform for regulators to function without fear or favour.

Labor Commissioner Russel Reid says the new labor bill includes some new provisions previously non existent in any of the labor laws in Anguilla.

Reid says among other things provisions are made in the new Labor bill for for severance payment, compassionate leave, safety and health, maternity leave and sexual harassment.

The Labor chief says the new labor bill is an important piece of legislation for Anguilla

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Oct 31 – Anguilla’s British Governor Alistair Harrison has been commenting on the review by the British Government of the offshore financial services in its Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories including those in the Caribbean.

The review which was commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance Minister in the UK) was conducted by Michael Foot, a top British financial expert.

According to Harrison the review sets the context clearly- a worldwide economic downturn which has heightened interest in the offshore financial jurisdictions.

The Governor says many of the recommendations in the report on areas such as financial regulation, tax policy and financial crime apply to Anguilla and the other Caribbean Overseas Territories.

Harrison says some of the measures are for him to consider with his constitutional responsibility for the regulation of international financial activity, some for the government of Anguilla and some for the British government.

The Queen’s representative on the island says many of the recommendations as set out by Michael Foot in his lengthy report will affect the Financial Services Commission, the Royal Anguilla Police Force and the financial sector more generally.

Harrison is hoping persons connected with the financial sector in Anguilla will read the review carefully and reflect on it.

The UK Governor says he is currently reviewing the document and hopes to set out his thoughts on the way forward in his speech to the Financial Services Commission annual meeting with the financial services industry on November 20.