Anguillian University Students participate in the 2013 World University Games
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The 2013 edition of the World University Games will be held in Kazan Russia from July 6th to 17th July 2013 and Anguilla will be there. Dee-Ann “Dee” Rogers, Nzinga “Zing” Banks and Denvil “Skywalker” Ruan will participate in the heptathlon, singles tennis and triple jump respectively. Accompanying the team is Ms. Juline Hughes. Team Anguilla left on Sunday afternoon, via St. Marteen and should arrive in Kazan Russia on July 1st 2013.
• Ms. Rogers (AD. Bus) was the Silver medalist in the 2012 CAC Champions Guatemala. 400m 58.95 Shenzhen (CHN) 16.08.2011
800m 2:39.77 Devonshire (BER) 08.04.2012
100mH 15.76 -0.8 Devonshire (BER) 07.04.2012
High Jump 1.46m Devonshire (BER) 07.04.2012
Long Jump 5.15 0.0 Devonshire (BER) 08.04.2012
Shot Put 6.96m Devonshire (BER) 07.04.2012
• Ms. Nzinga Banks is currently a student at Washburn University and is ranked 3rd as a singles player and 2nd with her doubles partner at her school. As a freshman in Fall 2012 Finished 0-3 in tournament play in singles and went 1-3 in doubles play. Ms. Banks will be Anguilla’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony.
• Mr. Denvil Ruan (BA. Bus) 2013 Finished ninth place in a long jump of 6.14m 21'0.5" and fifth place in a triple jump of 14.45m 47'5" at MEAC Indoor Championships. Triple Jump 14.93 -0.2 Greensboro (USA) 04.05.2013.
2011 Outdoor Season: One of UMES's primary field competitors, earning five top-three finishes, including two gold medals ... season bests: long jump (6.96m - Morgan State Legacy), triple jump (14.64m - Morgan State Legacy) ... javelin throw (43.79m - MEAC Championships) ... won gold in the Donald Webster Memorial triple jump with a leap of 14.06 meters ... took first place in Towson Invitational triple jump with distance of 13.84 meters ... competed as anchor in 4x100-relay team t Donald Webster Memorial, helping team time of 42.10 for third place ... named to MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team.
The Anguilla University Sports Federation would like to thank the Anguilla Commonwealth games Association, Mrs. Dana Ruan, Mr. Ken Banks, D3 Enterprises, Mr. Valentine Banks, Mr. Preston Bryan, Dr. Kennedy Simmonds, Mr. Andre Hall, Mr. Shawn Romney, Mr. Glen Hodge, Mr. Lowell Hodge, Mrs. Blondelle Laurent, Mr. John Benjamin, the Anguilla Tennis Association, The Sports Department and F.I.S.U for providing the necessary financial assistance making Anguilla’s participation possible.
The Police reported that eleven serious crimes were committed in Anguilla during the period July 3-10.
The offences included six thefts at Shoal Bay, North Side, Roaches Hill, The Quarter, Brimigen and The Valley.
The stolen property included a ram goat, BBQ grill, a car battery, a Blackberry cellular phone, a starting motor and a car battery.
Three burglaries were reported at White Hill, Shoal Bay and Island Harbour. Two flat screen television sets were among the stolen items.
There were two reports of criminal damage at South Hill.
Eight persons were arrested during the period as follows: two males on default warrants; two males for criminal damage; one male on suspicion of theft; one male for handling stolen goods; one female for assault with a vehicle; and one male for criminal trespass.
On Sunday, July 7, the Drugs and Firearms Task Force discovered a total of 204 cannabis plants at various locations on the island. No arrest has been made. The Police are carrying out investigations.
The 2013 edition of the World University Games will be held in Kazan Russia from July 6th to 17th July 2013 and Anguilla will be there. Dee-Ann “Dee” Rogers, Nzinga “Zing” Banks and Denvil “Skywalker” Ruan will participate in the heptathlon, singles tennis and triple jump respectively. Accompanying the team is Ms. Juline Hughes. Team Anguilla left on Sunday afternoon, via St. Marteen and should arrive in Kazan Russia on July 1st 2013.
• Ms. Rogers (AD. Bus) was the Silver medalist in the 2012 CAC Champions Guatemala. 400m 58.95 Shenzhen (CHN) 16.08.2011
800m 2:39.77 Devonshire (BER) 08.04.2012
100mH 15.76 -0.8 Devonshire (BER) 07.04.2012
High Jump 1.46m Devonshire (BER) 07.04.2012
Long Jump 5.15 0.0 Devonshire (BER) 08.04.2012
Shot Put 6.96m Devonshire (BER) 07.04.2012
• Ms. Nzinga Banks is currently a student at Washburn University and is ranked 3rd as a singles player and 2nd with her doubles partner at her school. As a freshman in Fall 2012 Finished 0-3 in tournament play in singles and went 1-3 in doubles play. Ms. Banks will be Anguilla’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony.
• Mr. Denvil Ruan (BA. Bus) 2013 Finished ninth place in a long jump of 6.14m 21'0.5" and fifth place in a triple jump of 14.45m 47'5" at MEAC Indoor Championships. Triple Jump 14.93 -0.2 Greensboro (USA) 04.05.2013.
2011 Outdoor Season: One of UMES's primary field competitors, earning five top-three finishes, including two gold medals ... season bests: long jump (6.96m - Morgan State Legacy), triple jump (14.64m - Morgan State Legacy) ... javelin throw (43.79m - MEAC Championships) ... won gold in the Donald Webster Memorial triple jump with a leap of 14.06 meters ... took first place in Towson Invitational triple jump with distance of 13.84 meters ... competed as anchor in 4x100-relay team t Donald Webster Memorial, helping team time of 42.10 for third place ... named to MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team.
The Anguilla University Sports Federation would like to thank the Anguilla Commonwealth games Association, Mrs. Dana Ruan, Mr. Ken Banks, D3 Enterprises, Mr. Valentine Banks, Mr. Preston Bryan, Dr. Kennedy Simmonds, Mr. Andre Hall, Mr. Shawn Romney, Mr. Glen Hodge, Mr. Lowell Hodge, Mrs. Blondelle Laurent, Mr. John Benjamin, the Anguilla Tennis Association, The Sports Department and F.I.S.U for providing the necessary financial assistance making Anguilla’s participation possible.
• Ms. Rogers (AD. Bus) was the Silver medalist in the 2012 CAC Champions Guatemala. 400m 58.95 Shenzhen (CHN) 16.08.2011
800m 2:39.77 Devonshire (BER) 08.04.2012
100mH 15.76 -0.8 Devonshire (BER) 07.04.2012
High Jump 1.46m Devonshire (BER) 07.04.2012
Long Jump 5.15 0.0 Devonshire (BER) 08.04.2012
Shot Put 6.96m Devonshire (BER) 07.04.2012
• Ms. Nzinga Banks is currently a student at Washburn University and is ranked 3rd as a singles player and 2nd with her doubles partner at her school. As a freshman in Fall 2012 Finished 0-3 in tournament play in singles and went 1-3 in doubles play. Ms. Banks will be Anguilla’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony.
• Mr. Denvil Ruan (BA. Bus) 2013 Finished ninth place in a long jump of 6.14m 21'0.5" and fifth place in a triple jump of 14.45m 47'5" at MEAC Indoor Championships. Triple Jump 14.93 -0.2 Greensboro (USA) 04.05.2013.
2011 Outdoor Season: One of UMES's primary field competitors, earning five top-three finishes, including two gold medals ... season bests: long jump (6.96m - Morgan State Legacy), triple jump (14.64m - Morgan State Legacy) ... javelin throw (43.79m - MEAC Championships) ... won gold in the Donald Webster Memorial triple jump with a leap of 14.06 meters ... took first place in Towson Invitational triple jump with distance of 13.84 meters ... competed as anchor in 4x100-relay team t Donald Webster Memorial, helping team time of 42.10 for third place ... named to MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team.
The Anguilla University Sports Federation would like to thank the Anguilla Commonwealth games Association, Mrs. Dana Ruan, Mr. Ken Banks, D3 Enterprises, Mr. Valentine Banks, Mr. Preston Bryan, Dr. Kennedy Simmonds, Mr. Andre Hall, Mr. Shawn Romney, Mr. Glen Hodge, Mr. Lowell Hodge, Mrs. Blondelle Laurent, Mr. John Benjamin, the Anguilla Tennis Association, The Sports Department and F.I.S.U for providing the necessary financial assistance making Anguilla’s participation possible.
There were two reports of criminal damage at South Hill.
MALLIOUHANA HOTEL IS COMING BACK! Full Scale Renovation In Progress
Hillside View of Malliouhana Hotel and Spa at Meads Bay
General Manager Mr. John Vasatka
Anybody visiting Anguilla’s renowned Malliouhana Hotel and Spa would be surprised to see the vast amount of renovation workin progress there, as efforts continue to restore the once “small leading hotel of the world” to its former glory and popular rating.
Many of the old fixtures of the rooms have been dismantled and thrown out. Some restructing work is also taking place, and there are piles of discarded material and equipment everywhere as teams of busy workmen carry out their work. With the renovation in full swing, a shipment of containers,with new replacement supplies,has been ordered and the operators and owners of the property are hoping to have the resort functioning within the first few months of the coming tourism season. It is an accomplishment which all persons in Anguilla are looking forward to as well.
Malliouhana (the Arawak’s name for Anguilla), which closed its operations some two years ago, largely due to the downturn in the economy, was Anguilla’s first up-market hotel which was owned and operated by the Roydons – an English family – for over a quarter of a century. It employed well over 200 Anguillians during the peak of its operations.The hotel was the recipient of various raving reviews and awards for outstanding service, and had enjoyed top ratings in the regional and international marketplace. Among other features, it has long boasted the largest wine cellar in the Caribbean.
Renovation Workers at Malliouhana
The 55-room hotel, located on an elevated 20-acre beachfront, overlooking Meads Bay and Turtle Bay, was sold to Adventurous Journeys Capital Partners (A.J. Capital) – a group ofinvestors and developers in Chicago. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between them and the Anguilla Government on February 1, 2013. At the signing ceremony, the investors and developers pledged “to create something truly exceptional.” The Management Company is Auberge Resorts – a collection of award-winning hotels and world-class spas in Napa Valley, California. The company has been hired by the owners to assist with the renovation work and to market and manage Malliouhana.
Interestingly, the newly-appointed General Manager is a onetime guest at Malliouhana who came to Anguilla as a tourist and fell in love with the hotel and the island. He is Mr John Vasatka who is joined by his family. His two children are students at the Teacher Gloria Omolulu Institute.
“I had heard so much about Anguilla. I was working in the Caribbean and thought I had to come and see what the island was all about,” he told The Anguillian. “I stayed at Malliouhana and fell in love with the island and the property. Now, years later, I have had an interview with Auberge and was lucky enough to be chosen to run the hotel.”
Mr Vasatka has much experience in hotel management. Over the years he managed hotels in the Philippines, the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Anguillian asked him what it would take to get Malliouhana up and running again. “We have started a full-scale renovation just in the last few days,” he told the newspaper. “We are taking all the furniture out, taking ceilings out and replacing floors at all of the guest rooms at the main house, the terrace and most of the villas. We are looking to reopen in winter in 2014, this coming season, and we are hoping to do so as early as February. We want to see how, in another month or so, the construction workis going, before we come out and announce a hard and fast re-opening date – but we hope to do that very soon.”
Questioned about the expected extent of the operations of the hotel by that date Mr Vasatka stated: “It doesn’t look like we are going to be able to open all 55 rooms. We are looking to open 46 because we just don’t have the time to work on the remaining rooms. Again, we are concentrating on the rooms in the main house – with the main restaurant, the terrace rooms and four of the seven villas.”
Replying to a question on marketing, the General Manager said: “We are so lucky that Malliouhana has such a fantastic name in the business with travel agents, magazine and newspaper editors. Everyonewho has travelled to the Caribbean knows about Malliouhana. In that way, the name is out there, but we need to certainly go out and re-introduce the property. We will go out shortly and talk to travel agents, the media and repeat guests, and let them know that we are coming back and that we hope to be open by this season. I have been on the island for eight weeks and every person I have spoken to has nothing but great support for Malliouhana’s re-opening. That support is from Immigration, Customs at Blowing Point, at the Airport, folks in town and in the shops. Everyone is fantastically supportive of what Auberge is doing in getting the resort back open.”
Speaking further about marketing Malliouhana, Mr Vasatka said: “Auberge Resorts has a corporate marketing team in California and we have a New York Office. We do a lot of the sales out of New York and we have begun some preliminary marketing and, of course, we have years and years of data on our repeat guests here. We have thousands of guests who have stayed at Malliouhana and many have been contacted in the last few weeks. They have been asking about the renovation and when they can book.”
He was quizzed on what clientele the hotel would be looking to attract. “The market continues to change, but romancing couples – whether [celebrating] honeymoons or wedding anniversaries – have always been good for Malliouhana. What are also growing in the market are multi-generational families so that is going to play a big part of our marketing as well. The staff, still with us, who have been with Malliouhana for years, have always been wonderful in bringing families to Anguilla during the holidays and school breaks in the summer. We are going to continue with what Malliouhana has been so successful in doing. We will be also growing new markets. South America and Canada are quite popular in the Caribbean. European numbers are down a little, but the East Coast of the US and the UK will still be a big focus.”
Mr Vastaka was asked what new supplies had been ordered for the hotel. “It is a lot of material for the renovation. Later on, it will be new furniture…and construction material that we won’t be able to find locally. I think the container traffic will pick up in Anguilla because of Malliouhana,” he stated. He was not in a position to disclose the cost ofthe renovation, saying: “I can say, however, that it is a sizeable amount – certainly in the millions but, as to the final cost of the refurbishment, I am not able todo so.” The renovation work also includes new pools and a re-doing of the landscape. “It is quite a bit of work to get done before the season, but the quality of work I have seen on the island is fantastic and I know that we will get it all finished,” he pointed out.
Asked about the number of workmen, he responded: “That is also a very good question. We are just ramping up now so I think we will probably be getting ready to have over 200 people on the site.” He said about the construction company: “Tandem is the group assisting us with the renovation. They have done some good work for a number of the resorts on the island.”
Mr Vasatka was requested to comment on the employment ofstaff. He replied: “Malliouhana has had a great legacy of customer service, and we are lucky that we have some wonderful staff members who were able to stay with us through the transition from the ownership of the Roydons to A J Capital. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to keep more than 15 or 20 but, certainly, I am in a great hurry, as soon as we start our recruiting process, to speak to all those people who have worked atMalliouhana. We value so much the guest service they have provided – that anyone who has been associated with Malliouhana, I would be overjoyed to speak with.”
The General Manager was asked whether Malliouhana would retain its original name. He answered: “Absolutely. Malliouhana is such a key name, and has played such a key role, not only in Anguilla, but in the Caribbean luxury resorts, that we are going to keep its name, but we are going to have just a small addition. It is going to be Malliouhana – an Auberge Resort. We want people to still remember Malliouhana. We don’t want to change the name at all.
Mr Vasatka added: “Auberge manages wonderful resorts all over the United States. There is one resort in Mexico, and now this in Anguilla is the company’s first resort in the Caribbean and we couldn’t be more pleased that it is Malliouhana.”
Hillside View of Malliouhana Hotel and Spa at Meads Bay
General Manager Mr. John Vasatka
Anybody visiting Anguilla’s renowned Malliouhana Hotel and Spa would be surprised to see the vast amount of renovation workin progress there, as efforts continue to restore the once “small leading hotel of the world” to its former glory and popular rating.
Many of the old fixtures of the rooms have been dismantled and thrown out. Some restructing work is also taking place, and there are piles of discarded material and equipment everywhere as teams of busy workmen carry out their work. With the renovation in full swing, a shipment of containers,with new replacement supplies,has been ordered and the operators and owners of the property are hoping to have the resort functioning within the first few months of the coming tourism season. It is an accomplishment which all persons in Anguilla are looking forward to as well.
Malliouhana (the Arawak’s name for Anguilla), which closed its operations some two years ago, largely due to the downturn in the economy, was Anguilla’s first up-market hotel which was owned and operated by the Roydons – an English family – for over a quarter of a century. It employed well over 200 Anguillians during the peak of its operations.The hotel was the recipient of various raving reviews and awards for outstanding service, and had enjoyed top ratings in the regional and international marketplace. Among other features, it has long boasted the largest wine cellar in the Caribbean.
Malliouhana (the Arawak’s name for Anguilla), which closed its operations some two years ago, largely due to the downturn in the economy, was Anguilla’s first up-market hotel which was owned and operated by the Roydons – an English family – for over a quarter of a century. It employed well over 200 Anguillians during the peak of its operations.The hotel was the recipient of various raving reviews and awards for outstanding service, and had enjoyed top ratings in the regional and international marketplace. Among other features, it has long boasted the largest wine cellar in the Caribbean.
Renovation Workers at Malliouhana
The 55-room hotel, located on an elevated 20-acre beachfront, overlooking Meads Bay and Turtle Bay, was sold to Adventurous Journeys Capital Partners (A.J. Capital) – a group ofinvestors and developers in Chicago. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between them and the Anguilla Government on February 1, 2013. At the signing ceremony, the investors and developers pledged “to create something truly exceptional.” The Management Company is Auberge Resorts – a collection of award-winning hotels and world-class spas in Napa Valley, California. The company has been hired by the owners to assist with the renovation work and to market and manage Malliouhana.
Interestingly, the newly-appointed General Manager is a onetime guest at Malliouhana who came to Anguilla as a tourist and fell in love with the hotel and the island. He is Mr John Vasatka who is joined by his family. His two children are students at the Teacher Gloria Omolulu Institute.
“I had heard so much about Anguilla. I was working in the Caribbean and thought I had to come and see what the island was all about,” he told The Anguillian. “I stayed at Malliouhana and fell in love with the island and the property. Now, years later, I have had an interview with Auberge and was lucky enough to be chosen to run the hotel.”
Mr Vasatka has much experience in hotel management. Over the years he managed hotels in the Philippines, the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Anguillian asked him what it would take to get Malliouhana up and running again. “We have started a full-scale renovation just in the last few days,” he told the newspaper. “We are taking all the furniture out, taking ceilings out and replacing floors at all of the guest rooms at the main house, the terrace and most of the villas. We are looking to reopen in winter in 2014, this coming season, and we are hoping to do so as early as February. We want to see how, in another month or so, the construction workis going, before we come out and announce a hard and fast re-opening date – but we hope to do that very soon.”
Questioned about the expected extent of the operations of the hotel by that date Mr Vasatka stated: “It doesn’t look like we are going to be able to open all 55 rooms. We are looking to open 46 because we just don’t have the time to work on the remaining rooms. Again, we are concentrating on the rooms in the main house – with the main restaurant, the terrace rooms and four of the seven villas.”
Questioned about the expected extent of the operations of the hotel by that date Mr Vasatka stated: “It doesn’t look like we are going to be able to open all 55 rooms. We are looking to open 46 because we just don’t have the time to work on the remaining rooms. Again, we are concentrating on the rooms in the main house – with the main restaurant, the terrace rooms and four of the seven villas.”
Replying to a question on marketing, the General Manager said: “We are so lucky that Malliouhana has such a fantastic name in the business with travel agents, magazine and newspaper editors. Everyonewho has travelled to the Caribbean knows about Malliouhana. In that way, the name is out there, but we need to certainly go out and re-introduce the property. We will go out shortly and talk to travel agents, the media and repeat guests, and let them know that we are coming back and that we hope to be open by this season. I have been on the island for eight weeks and every person I have spoken to has nothing but great support for Malliouhana’s re-opening. That support is from Immigration, Customs at Blowing Point, at the Airport, folks in town and in the shops. Everyone is fantastically supportive of what Auberge is doing in getting the resort back open.”
Speaking further about marketing Malliouhana, Mr Vasatka said: “Auberge Resorts has a corporate marketing team in California and we have a New York Office. We do a lot of the sales out of New York and we have begun some preliminary marketing and, of course, we have years and years of data on our repeat guests here. We have thousands of guests who have stayed at Malliouhana and many have been contacted in the last few weeks. They have been asking about the renovation and when they can book.”
He was quizzed on what clientele the hotel would be looking to attract. “The market continues to change, but romancing couples – whether [celebrating] honeymoons or wedding anniversaries – have always been good for Malliouhana. What are also growing in the market are multi-generational families so that is going to play a big part of our marketing as well. The staff, still with us, who have been with Malliouhana for years, have always been wonderful in bringing families to Anguilla during the holidays and school breaks in the summer. We are going to continue with what Malliouhana has been so successful in doing. We will be also growing new markets. South America and Canada are quite popular in the Caribbean. European numbers are down a little, but the East Coast of the US and the UK will still be a big focus.”
Mr Vastaka was asked what new supplies had been ordered for the hotel. “It is a lot of material for the renovation. Later on, it will be new furniture…and construction material that we won’t be able to find locally. I think the container traffic will pick up in Anguilla because of Malliouhana,” he stated. He was not in a position to disclose the cost ofthe renovation, saying: “I can say, however, that it is a sizeable amount – certainly in the millions but, as to the final cost of the refurbishment, I am not able todo so.” The renovation work also includes new pools and a re-doing of the landscape. “It is quite a bit of work to get done before the season, but the quality of work I have seen on the island is fantastic and I know that we will get it all finished,” he pointed out.
Asked about the number of workmen, he responded: “That is also a very good question. We are just ramping up now so I think we will probably be getting ready to have over 200 people on the site.” He said about the construction company: “Tandem is the group assisting us with the renovation. They have done some good work for a number of the resorts on the island.”
Mr Vasatka was requested to comment on the employment ofstaff. He replied: “Malliouhana has had a great legacy of customer service, and we are lucky that we have some wonderful staff members who were able to stay with us through the transition from the ownership of the Roydons to A J Capital. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to keep more than 15 or 20 but, certainly, I am in a great hurry, as soon as we start our recruiting process, to speak to all those people who have worked atMalliouhana. We value so much the guest service they have provided – that anyone who has been associated with Malliouhana, I would be overjoyed to speak with.”
The General Manager was asked whether Malliouhana would retain its original name. He answered: “Absolutely. Malliouhana is such a key name, and has played such a key role, not only in Anguilla, but in the Caribbean luxury resorts, that we are going to keep its name, but we are going to have just a small addition. It is going to be Malliouhana – an Auberge Resort. We want people to still remember Malliouhana. We don’t want to change the name at all.
Mr Vasatka added: “Auberge manages wonderful resorts all over the United States. There is one resort in Mexico, and now this in Anguilla is the company’s first resort in the Caribbean and we couldn’t be more pleased that it is Malliouhana.”
ELECTIONS SUPERVISOR PRAISED FOR EXCELLENT JOB Governor: “A Flawless Demonstration Of Public Service” Petty: “Farewell, After 26 Years, 6 Free and Fair Elections”
Invited Guests including Mr. Petty’s family members
Invited Guests
Invited Guests and Election Team
Invited Guests and Election Team
Invited Guests
Governor Harrison
Mr. Colville Petty OBE
(Outgoing Supervisor)
(Outgoing Supervisor)
Ms. Aurjul Wilson
(Incoming Supervisor)
(Incoming Supervisor)
Outgoing Governor of Anguilla, Mr Alistair Harrison, has showered a great deal of praise on Mr Colville Petty, OBE, who has relinquished his appointment as Supervisor of Elections which he held for twenty-six years, and thereby supervised six free and fair General Elections on the island.
Speaking at the historic event at Government House on Tuesday evening, July 9, Governor Harrison told a large number of invited guests that it was a bitter-sweet occasion because it was the last reception he was having as Governor of Anguilla before leaving the island next week Thursday. He said Mr Petty, who held the post of Supervisor of Elections from 1987, supervised his first election in 1989 and that from then he had very much been a fixture in Anguilla’s history in two senses. The first was his position as Supervisor of Elections, and the second was him being one of the preeminent historians of Anguilla, running the wonderful Heritage Collection Museum – the living embodiment of Anguilla’s history.
“Colville has had an extremely distinguished career as a public servant in many different positions, and his time as Elections Supervisor has been a flawless demonstration of the commitment of the publicservice,” the Governor stated. “I am sure that Colville will wish me to say that he has never been a one-man team. He has been supported by Returning Officers in every district, Presiding Officers and Polling Clerks, in each of the 18 polling stations, and so I would like to pay tribute not just to him, but also to the team who have run the elections with such competence and integrity. That was the first thing that struck me about the elections back in 2010 – the only elections during my time as Governor – and the great skill and professionalism with whichthey were run by the entire team under Colville.”
Speaking at the historic event at Government House on Tuesday evening, July 9, Governor Harrison told a large number of invited guests that it was a bitter-sweet occasion because it was the last reception he was having as Governor of Anguilla before leaving the island next week Thursday. He said Mr Petty, who held the post of Supervisor of Elections from 1987, supervised his first election in 1989 and that from then he had very much been a fixture in Anguilla’s history in two senses. The first was his position as Supervisor of Elections, and the second was him being one of the preeminent historians of Anguilla, running the wonderful Heritage Collection Museum – the living embodiment of Anguilla’s history.
“Colville has had an extremely distinguished career as a public servant in many different positions, and his time as Elections Supervisor has been a flawless demonstration of the commitment of the publicservice,” the Governor stated. “I am sure that Colville will wish me to say that he has never been a one-man team. He has been supported by Returning Officers in every district, Presiding Officers and Polling Clerks, in each of the 18 polling stations, and so I would like to pay tribute not just to him, but also to the team who have run the elections with such competence and integrity. That was the first thing that struck me about the elections back in 2010 – the only elections during my time as Governor – and the great skill and professionalism with whichthey were run by the entire team under Colville.”
Governor Harrison continued: “He is one of those people who seem to be irreplaceable, or almost irreplaceable, but he is being replaced by the excellent Aurjul Wilson [Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs] who I firstly congratulate and also wish her well…We are really here in particular to pay tribute to Colville. Firstly, thank you very much for your selfless public service, Colville, which was delivered with such professional results in six elections over the years. Secondly, let us wish you well in the future.”
Mr Petty delivered some well-scripted farewell remarks in which, among other matters, heemphasised the importance of free and fair elections in a democracy, and his objective and accomplishment over his 26 years of service to be non-partisan and fair to all. His remarks were as follows:
“After twenty six years, I say farewell to the business of supervising elections in Anguilla. During that time I supervised six general elections, and I am thankful to the several Governors who had sufficient confidence in me, to have allowed me to serve my country in that capacity over so many years. I am also thankful to our Chief Ministers who trusted my ability to manage and supervise the holding of free and fair elections. I am certain that if they had no faith – no trust – in me, they would have recommended to the Governors, long ago, that I be fired.
Having said that, I am pleased to say there was never an occasion when any Governor or Chief Minister, or any politician for that matter, tried to interfere with, or attempted to influence, the way I conducted elections; and that speaks well of their respect for the independence of the administration of the electoral process and, perhaps, of their confidence that I would do a good job – that I would be non-partisan and fair to all.
I am indeed glad to have contributed in some way to the peaceful transfer of political power in Anguilla. The peaceful transfer of political power is central to the stability and survival of all democracies and, in that regard, Anguilla, as a fledgling democracy, could take much comfort. Its people should feel proud of the way their elections are conducted and of the respect they have always shown for the results.
Our electoral system is not perfect. Actually, no system is. But a major improvement in ours was the introduction in 2009 of a system of continuous registration of voters thereby replacing the once a year registration timeframe. That aside, I was hoping that during my tenure other deficiencies would have been remedied by the Constitutional and Electoral Reform exercise which started way back in 2002. I am not here this evening to go into those deficiencies, but one matter which I had hoped the Reform exercise would have addressed is the redrawing of the electoral boundaries which have not been changed since they were first drawn in 1972 some 41 years ago. There are serious disparities in the distribution of voters among the seven electoral districts. This situation is not good for our democracy and therefore the redrawing of the boundaries needs serious and urgent attention. I would also have liked to see, during my tenure, the introduction of voter identification cards and legislation to regulate party campaign finance but I am hopeful that these will be dealt with in the not too distant future.
Despite the foregoing issues, we in Anguilla have a lot to be thankful for. For example, in Anguilla no one can say that ballot boxes go missing – or that the boxes are corruptly stuffed with ballots for a particular candidate. No one can say that our polling stations run out of ballot papers or that some polling stations open late, and therefore voters had to go back home without casting their ballots. Such things don’t happen in Anguilla. And no one dare say that our returning officers count the ballots wrongly. That cannot happen because the whole of Anguilla counts the ballots, one by one, at the same time.
I must admit that I like the way we count our ballots: right before the eyes of the voters themselves – viewed on television and heard over our radio stations live – and most people, in their homes, with pencil and paper doing their own tallying. That is transparency at its highest. Some people say that the system is antiquated – but I don’t mind that, as long as it ensures legitimacy and transparency and builds people’s confidence in the electoral process. Having said that, there will come a time when we will have to change the system. It works fine now because of the smallness of our electorate. Indeed, small is beautiful but we will not always be small.
All things considered, I am satisfied that the management and conduct of elections in Anguilla ensure that our elections are free, fair and transparent. And this is possible only because we have a cadre of well-trained, well-disciplined, honest and hardworking electoral officials who take their duties seriously. When election time comes around they know what they have do, and carry out their work without fear or favour. If my tenure as Supervisor of Elections is ever regarded as being a successful one, it would be due largely to the support that I received from that cadre of workers. We worked as a team and I say, to all of them, thanks a million for your unwavering and always willing support, and for contributing – through the proper conduct of the electoral process – to Anguilla’s development as a stable and peaceful democracy.
I say to my team, I am confident that you would give my successor, Ms Arjul Wilson, the same quality of professionalism which you gave me. Ms Wilson, you have my best wishes, and please be assured that I am willing to offer you any support and advice you may need as you embark on this new endeavour.
I say to my team, I am confident that you would give my successor, Ms Arjul Wilson, the same quality of professionalism which you gave me. Ms Wilson, you have my best wishes, and please be assured that I am willing to offer you any support and advice you may need as you embark on this new endeavour.
Finally, I say a hearty thank you to Governor Harrison for hosting this evening’s event in my honour. And I also use this opportunity to thank you, Governor, for your four years of service to the people of Anguilla. I wish you and your family every success in the years ahead.
Thank you.”
Thank you.”
Mr Wycliffe Richardson, a former Returning Officer, expressed thanks and appreciation to Mr Petty, on behalf of the team, for his loyal years as Supervisor of Elections in Anguilla. He joined Mr Petty in stressing the importance of free and fair elections and took the opportunity to offer hisbest wishes to Ms Wilson, the new Supervisor of Elections.
Speaking privately to The Anguillian, Ms Wilson made the following statement: “I am really humbled by the fact that I have been chosen to serve Anguilla and its people in this position. I am also assured that Mr Petty has told me that if I ever need assistance he is there and always willing. I can only hope that I can bring the same degree of integrity to the office and fairness and openness as he has.”
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