The COVID-19 situation in Anguilla took first place again on November 8, at the Government’s Press Conference, but with the Ministers updating the public on various projects and other events in their separate ministries.
Second COVID death, other statistics
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Aisha Andrewin, confirmed that a second Anguillian died from the COVID virus, while also announcing that over the past weekend there were 38 new cases and a number of recoveries.
“Unfortunately, we had a second COVID death on Saturday night [November 6]. It is a person of advanced age with several underlying risk factors for COVID disease,” she stated. “So we have a second death since the beginning of the pandemic [in March 2020].” She noted that since that period Anguilla had registered 1,077 cases, with 78 active up to Monday, November 8. She added that there were four discharges over the past weekend; and that three patients were currently in the isolated unit on the premises of the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
The CMO added: “We have observed, over the last two epidemiological weeks [October 31 to November 6] that, for the first time in several weeks, we saw a decrease in the test positive rate which peaked over 11 percent – and ideally we want to see that as low as under 5 percent if possible. The previous weeks we were at 7.1 percent and, for this last week, up until Saturday [November 6], we were at 5.97 or 6 percent.”
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry of Health, Mr. Foster Rogers, commented: “We are very happy with the reduced test positive rate – as 10 or 11 percent is too high, as I indicated at our press conference last week. We are looking for a reduction of 5 percent, and to get down even further. But we are getting there and we are hoping that, as we continue, we would go from strength to strength.
“We are now opening up for our tourist season, and certainly we will want people to stay vigilant – and those especially in certain high risk areas, to just be careful… Everything is going well so far with schoolchildren being vaccinated this week, and other persons taking boosters. We will be giving first doses in the next week or two, once we have our boosters done and our schoolchildren satisfied.”
Mr. Rogers added: “We have enough vaccine to give all of our schoolchildren, aged 11 -17. So we are encouraging parents to go on our website to register them. They can collect the registration cards from the Ministry and Department of Education and the classroom teachers.”
Premier Dr. Webster Takes Booster Jab
Meanwhile, Premier and Minister of Health, Dr. Lorenzo Webster, reported: “I got my booster [Pfizer vaccine] this morning [Monday, November 8] and my arm is still attached. I am doing well and will say to all that when the opportunity comes, get the booster. It has shown that persons who got the AztraZeneca vaccine that, if they get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, it will enhance their immunity significantly.”
Minister Kyle Hodge: The People’s Market
Following the COVID reports, Premier Dr. Webster invited his ministerial colleagues to report on the work of their ministries. The Minister of Natural Resources and Economic Development, Mr. Kyle Hodge, told the media representatives:
“I will begin with the People’s Market. The renovation of that building is scheduled to commence on the first week of December, according to plans. The St. Lucia Community Association was ready to commence work earlier in the year -but at that time the Government was not in a position to execute the plans. Right now we are looking forward to the next few weeks for that project to start. Mr. Joseph Williams, the President of the Association, and Gilda Gumbs-Samuels, the PRO, have committed to the first week of December for the People’s Market to be rebuilt.
“It is a welcome Christmas gift for farmers and the fisher-folk who have been out of a place to sell their produce and catch. We want to put on record that we appreciate the assistance being given to that project by the St. Lucia Association in Anguilla.”
A Greenhouse from LinkUS, Anguilla
Minister Hodge continued: “We have cleared a parcel of land, behind the [old] Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, Campus A. This land is just east of the Volleyball Court in The Valley. We will be constructing a high tunnel greenhouse. It was donated to the Government by a very generous individual who lives in Anguilla – and goes back and forth. On behalf of the Government, I want to place on record our thanks and appreciation to Tiawayne Anderson, from LinkUS Anguilla, who gifted the Agricultural Science Unit at the ALCHS with a greenhouse structure; a hydroponic Dutch-bucket system; and other implements for modern farming. I also thank Mr. Marvin Connor, from Stoney Ground, in advance, because he is the Project Manager – and will be the person responsible for assembling this greenhouse structure. It is 125 feet long by 26 feet wide and 10 feet high.
“This is another display of people in the community recognising a need and coming forward. The hydroponic greenhouse structure will assist the students, tremendously, in terms of modernising their work and getting them familiarised with the technology as it relates to agriculture. It also goes a long way in helping us to realise our goal of diversifying our economy in a way that agriculture can create jobs and entrepreneurs. This structure will also be a good showpiece in The Valley where visitors, even from Her Majesty’s Prison, can come by and see an alternative way of living and operating a business. Those involved in traditional farming will also be able to see how the project works.”
Agricultural Statistics: Imports Into Anguilla
In order to show how valuable farming in Anguilla can be, and how it could counter the cost of imports, the Minister gave the following statistics from the Customs Department:
“In 2019, roughly 3.5 million EC dollars left the Anguilla economy to purchase tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers and eggplants. This figure represents money that could have stayed in this local economy, but it went out of Anguilla to support another country’s economy. The question is: how do we fix it? One way is through technology and this is why we are grateful for the donation from LinkUs, Anguilla.
“It is our hope that, through the Agricultural Department, we can continue to offer good services – whether it is in education, research or in field services – showing farmers the potential that farming has in Anguilla.
“Just to show that we are taking food security very seriously, the Anguilla Development Board is an option where interested farmers and fisheries can apply for low-interest loans at 4.75 percent. This money is there, and I believe that for the next budget, we will be contributing more funds to that programme.”
Mr. Hodge also spoke about a project involving foreign direct investment. “There is an American University of Anguilla with a new Medical School,” he disclosed. “It is exciting to see that we have been speaking to that investor for only three to four months, and we have already seen where commitments have been made to have a Medical School set up in Anguilla by the second quarter of 2022. We should be taking that to Executive Council this coming week. And we are looking forward to adding to the transient student population in Anguilla with this new addition of a Medical School.
“Within the MOU there is a scholarship provision for five Anguillians to attend that Medical School annually; and there is a possibility for at least twelve Anguillians to be employed at the school.”
Meanwhile, Premier Webster commented that the owner of the Medical School, Dr. Naher Soudha, will be donating a computer lab to the Public Library; setting up a community centre to help students with tutoring and learning. “He already has a campus set up at a temporary site at West End, and his intention is to get land to build a campus. He is also making donations to the hospital; has adopted the Anguilla Action Community Network (ACAN), and has provided it with an office. I think it [the American University of Anguilla] is a good corporate citizen. I think Mr. Dick Schulze, from Aurora Resort, has set the right tone that investors should contribute to the society in which they set up their business – and others are following.
“Other hoteliers are also helping to develop the airport for the incoming American flights – and the other airlines. It is good to know that since we have insisted that every MOU, signed under this Administration, must have a social project – that it has stimulated other investors to make contributions to Anguilla.”
Following that interjection by Premier Dr. Webster, Minister Kyle Hodge went on: “The Departments of Agriculture and Fisheries have engaged with the Anguilla Community College to offer some training sessions to all farmers and fisher-folk on the island who are part of the various associations. The aim of the training is to assist them with pricing; marketing; and operating as viable community entities. We thank the Community College, and the hard-working teams at the Departments of Agriculture and Fisheries, Natural Resources and the Permanent Secretary.”
Minister Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers: Education
Ms. Kentish-Rogers, the Minister for Social Development and Education, told the media: “Today, I don’t have a substantive update for you. I gave you that update last week. However, we are intending to have a special press conference on education on Friday to give you the full breakdown of our plans. That will be a fully virtual press conference so if you wish to attend you will have to get a zoom link this time around.” She said that the reopening of schools was among the matters to be discussed.
The Minister observed that there had been the successful completion of the new Valley Primary School Block which was officially dedicated on Friday, November 5.
“I must put on record our thanks to all the construction companies; the Governor’s Office and the FCDO for providing the funds for the completion of the schools; and all the technical staff who have been working very hard to ensure that these projects were delivered.”
The Minister also expressed thanks to the OECS and CARICOM for their assistance to equip the Ministry, the Department of Education, and the schools with training in online digital learning. “They have offered a course for our teachers,” she acknowledged. “We currently have 70 Anguillian teachers registered to do the digital learning course. That will assist them to be able to teach content online in an engaging manner. Of course it is a new modality. It is very different from face to face learning, and so we are giving them specific training so that they would be better prepared to deliver instruction online.”
Minister Haydn Hughes: Infrastructure
The Minister of Infrastructure said work had been started on the road leading from east of the Anguilla Tourist Board and linking into the Queen Elizabeth Avenue. “We hope to have that started before the end of the year to alleviate the flow of traffic when the Carter Rey Boulevard starts later this month,” he explained. “As you can see there is some work going on there and this is related to the underground work that is being carried on by the utility companies.”.
Minister Hughes further stated: “As it relates to airlift, this is an exciting time for Anguilla. We have Aurora Airlines, Trade Winds, Cape Air – all coming to our airport in December. But, chief among them is American Airlines which recently announced that they will be increasing their flights from two per week to three per week –Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays…
“As it relates to the seafarers, we are working very hard, along with the Governor’s Office and the Prefect in St. Martin, to reinstate the trade between Anguilla and Marigot. Hopefully that will commence very soon including the night ferry which some of us are familiar with and was part of the regular scheduled ferry service prior to Hurricane Luis in 1995.”
The Minister also referred to the internal expansion work being done in the Terminal Building at the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport. “That work is being done to create desk space to facilitate large numbers of visitors coming to Anguilla in December,” he pointed out. “We truly expect a bumper tourism season. Based on the numbers we see, things are looking extremely well. There are a lot of visitors now on the island and they are expected to increase over the next few weeks into the festive season and the first quarter of next year. We can only be happy about that.”
Mr. Kenneth Hodge, Minister of Home Affairs
Mr. Hodge spoke at some length about labour statistics in Anguilla, with particular reference to persons given work permits to hold positions in the tourism industry.
He explained: “The Minister, under the law, is responsible for work permits. It is exclusively within the discretion of the Minister to grant a work permit with, or without conditions; refuse to grant a work permit; or to revoke a work permit with or without notice; or vary a new work permit or extend it.”
Mr. Hodge was at the time responding to a reporter’s question regarding the issuing of work permits and certain matters which had arisen among members of the public.
He continued: “In cases where work permits are revoked, they are sent to Executive Council for approval. There is some discussion in local circles about six-month contracts. The law provides for four categories of workers: permanent employees; fixed-term employees; seasonal employees; and casual employees. I know there has been much discussion that Aurora is offering seasonal employment to a number of new [persons] – not existing workers. When the hotel transitioned from CuisinArt to Aurora, there was a very large concern about the security of the workers who were there at the time. We have insured, as a Government, and a Minister of Labour, that those workers have not been touched…
“What is happening is that they [the Aurora Resort personnel] are excited about opening up, but don’t know how the season is going to play out. And so, they are hiring a number of new persons to get them through the season. Under the law, when these persons worked this season, and start to work in the second season, they will automatically become permanent.”
Mr. Hodge gave the breakdown of work permits as follows: “Between January 2021 and October 2021, 622 work permits were granted. They were in four categories: temporary work permits for persons less than a year, and usually granted to persons with special expertise skills or persons coming in to do specific jobs, including training staff, and then leave the island. Another category is change of employment. This is where a person is working with other employers and is going to work with a new employer or changing his or her position. Then we have new work permits which are given to entirely new persons coming in. Then we have the renewals which are work permits granted to persons to continue their employment.
We have 672 work permits granted – and out of that, in the temporary category, we have 99 which is 14.7 percent of that 672. In terms of change of employment, we have 50 persons or 7.4 percent of those 672. In the new category of work permits, we have 107 or 15.9 percent of the 672; and in terms of the renewals, we have 416 or 61.9 percent of the overall total. That is it in a nutshell.”
The Premier spoke about the resumption of the Anguilla House of Assembly arranged for Tuesday, November 9, following its proroguing a month ago by the Governor, and its re-establishment for the second session. Among other matters, he said he would be introducing the Government’s legislative agenda.
The Premier also said: “This weekend I will be leaving for London to attend the Joint Ministerial Council. I will meet the Honourable Parliamentary Secretary [Mrs. Quincia Gumbs-Marie] who attended the [COP26] Environmental Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.
“Some of the topics, at the Joint Ministerial Conference, will include economic resilience; post COVID response; border security; and I am sure that there will be discussions on environment and climate change; climate justice and equity. The Overseas Territories account for 90 percent of the UK’s bio-diversity and so that is an important consideration.”
