Anguilla News: October 1995
News reports from on the island, as they were posted to the Net:
Local HAM Honored
Dorothea Mann of Anguilla has received a HAM radio "Amateur of
the Year" award from the "DXers Unlimited"
program for public
service in the wake of the severe weather that has befallen
the Caribbean. If you are a Amateur Radio operator, her call sign is
VP2EE.
Schools Back to Normal
The Education department reports that things have
returned to relative normality in the schoolrooms in Anguilla,
although there are still some classrooms that need repairs.
Anguillans living in St. Martin and St. Thomas have applied for
their children to attend school in Anguilla and the Education
department is trying to be understanding.
Anguilla Needs Computers--You Can Help
Now there is an easy way
to donate your surplus PCs (386, 486, ???) to
Anguilla and get a tax deduction.
Anguilla's teachers and children are eager to learn about
computers and are very quick to learn. I know from watching
visitors experiment on the computers in my lab.
There was never a lot of money in the government's limited budget for
computers for the schools, but in the wake of Hurricane Luis
there will be even less.
Anguilla has been a spectacular success in tourism.
To avoid ruining tourism by over-developing it, Anguilla is trying
to diversify into offshore finance, software and other
areas. For these businesses,
Anguilla needs computer-literate workers. The schools have
only a few computers for the over 700 students who want to use
them. Last February I sponsored an instructor to teach
Introduction to the PC to the primary school teachers. They were
enthusiastic and immediately wanted to know when they could
get more computer time and when they could get a computer for
their pupils.
If you have any surplus PCs, read the
Anguilla Computes
page to see how easy it would be to donate them to the
children of Anguilla.
Fiber-Optic Cable Link Goes Live
Cable and Wireless has activated the Eastern Caribbean
Cable Link in Anguilla, which will give us much more reliable
service than the existing microwave link through Saba. And
much more transmission capability (perhaps for expanded use of the
Internet?). The cable was in testing at the time of Luis
and was put to use after the hurricane when the microwave link
was unavailable.
Anguilla Goes After Internet Business
A local company, AIBS,
has an advertisement
in the Sept 28th issue of the Wall Street Journal
(in the Internet section).
They offer full Web site and data management from a
zero-tax jurisdiction that is also
a confidential data haven, with private merchant banking affiliation,
order processing, corporate structures, and administration.
Anglec Nearing Half-Way Mark on Reconnects
Anglec announced that they are on track to complete reconnecting
the entire island by the end of October.
The arrival of a big shipment of transformers and connecting
cables has been a big boost to the effort.
Tether Your Goats Or Else!
The Agriculture Department reports that there were a lot of
crop and livestock losses on the island due to Luis (one farm
lost 3000 laying hens). Farmers are replanting there crops
but a lot of fencing is down. People are reminded to tether
their goats and not let them roam and damage crops.
Stray goats will be gathered up and impounded (?!?).
"Hurricane Luis" T-Shirts
Local Anguillian T-shirts reading "I survived Hurricane Luis"
began appearing for sale this week. Other signs of recovery:
Pizazz Restaurant in Sandy Ground has reopened and Fairplay
Food Center is advertising on the radio for St. Martin's shoppers
to come to Anguilla to buy those hard-to-find items (that is a
switch).
Cap Juluca and Johnno's are the "Best"
I just received my Sept/Oct issue of Caribbean Travel and Life
magazine. Their readers picked Cap Juluca as the Best
Luxury Hotel/Resort in the Caribbean and Johnno's as the
Best Bar/Nightclub. Anguilla tied with St. Barts for
Best Island Cuisine. I visited both Johnno's and Cap Juluca
this last weekend. Johnno's was completely back to normal.
Cap Juluca still has a lot of landscaping re-work to do, but
the buildings look fine. The beach is the oddest thing: the
level has dropped down due to the storm, leaving some villas
on the West end sitting on small cliffs. However, there are
piles of sand on the beach, as if they plan to reshape it back
into the original shape.
Cinammon Reef to Reopen November 1st
The Cinammon Reef resort on Little Harbour plans to re-open
on November 1st, so give them a call at 809-497-2727 if you
want a reservation.
Koal Keel Reopens
Koal Keel restaurant is advertising that is has
reopened for business in The Valley.
Sailors on the Beach
HMS Southampton and HMS Oakleaf, which were here just after
Luis to help with recovery efforts, returned to Anguilla this weekend
for a 48-hour rest and recreation visit for the crews.
Sandy Ground was covered in relaxing sailors and numerous
"thank you" events were hosted for them. During their
visit last month, the ships landed about 80 men a day to
help with relief tasks. Southampton's helicoptor ferried
essential supplies to lighthouse keepers on Sombrero Island.
In total, some 3700 man-hours of work were achieved ashore
by men from the two ships.
St. Martin Airport Opening to Anguilla Tourists Oct 15th
St. Maarten's airport is functioning, but it has not been
open to full commercial traffic. Although Dutch St. Maarten is
not planning to re-open for tourists until December 15th, they
are opening the airport on October 15th. This will allow tourists
to get to Anguilla, French St. Martin, Saba and Statia, all of which
are served by the Dutch airport.
Allamanda Beach Club Is Ready for Guests
The Allamanda Beach Club is on Upper Shoal Bay. We lived there
for 6 weeks last year and enjoyed it a lot. There is a nice
pool and the beach is only a few steps away across the sand.
Sam Mason, the Anguillian owner, has about 16 apartments, all
with kitchens. I called yesterday at 809-497-5217 and they answered their
phone: they are open.
Uncle Ernie's and Madeariman Reef Are Open
The beach joints have been rebuilt better than ever.
Uncle Ernie's famous beach bar is open again, as is
the Madeariman Reef restaurant need door.
Last weekend saw Shoal Bay beach looking like pre-Luis
for the first time: tourists and locals swimming and
socializing. However, a lot of the trees are gone, so there
is a lack of shade. If you have a beach umbrella, bring it
with you.
First Computer Donated
Steve and Suzan Donahue came to vacation in Anguilla
this week and brought a 386 computer with them to donate
to the Anguilla Computes
campaign.
The Donahues are staying
at Paradise Cove resort, which is next to Casablanca.
Anguillian children pick up computer skills
amazingly fast -- a 10-year old
got to levels in Commander Keen that I had never seen.
This was the first time he had ever touched a computer and
his only training was
15 minutes watching his slightly older
sister, who had only learned to use the computer the day before.
. . . continue virtual vacation
(previous month)
Home page of the reporter.