Effective July 1st 2019, Mr. Calvin A. Samuel appointed Director of Disaster Management. Mr. Samuel has been transferred from the Department of Environment where he has served as Director since October 2016. Mr. Samuel takes over from out-going Director Ms. Melissa Meade.
In his new role as Director of Disaster Management, Mr. Samuel will have overall responsibility for the planning, co-ordination and implementation of the disaster management programme established by the Governor in Council and the National Disaster Management Committee relating to the mitigation of, preparedness for, response to and recovery from all-natural and man-made disasters in Anguilla.
Mr. Samuel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, an Associates in Applied Science in Crop Production and Soil from SUNY Cobleskill’s College of Agriculture and Technology, and a Master’s in Conservation Biology from the University of Exeter. His various roles in the Anguilla Public Service has seen him work with a wide range of agencies including MICUH, MSD, MFEDICT, ANGLEC, DDM, Radio Anguilla, Department of Agriculture, Customs Department and Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources as well as a wide range of projects, initiatives and working groups. His ability to develop cross cutting and innovative project ideas has assisted his Department and other agencies to collaborate effectively, acquire project funding and implement various projects.
Effective July 1st 2019, Ms. Melissa Meade appointed Director of the Environment. She is expected to eventually transition to the post of Chief Director of Natural Resources. Ms. Meade has been transferred from the Department of Disaster Management where she has served as Director since 2011. She replaces out-going Director Mr. Calvin Samuel.
Substantial progress has been made in the merger of the Departments of Environment, Fisheries, and Agriculture into the Department of Natural Resources, and Ms. Meade is well poised to lead this new entity when it goes live in January 2020. In her eventual role as Chief Director of Natural Resources, Ms. Meade will be responsible to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of natural resources management and requisite services to the people of Anguilla, in accordance with Acts and Regulations and other established policies, plans and programmes of the Department of Natural Resources and other relevant legislation.
Ms. Meade studied in the United Kingdom where she earned a BSc degree in Environmental Hazards and Disaster Management and a MSc degree in Environmental Strategy. She is also Anguilla’s first and only qualified Senior-Level Technician (Forecaster) in Meteorology, being trained at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology.
Her tenure at Disaster Management has seen her being a thought leader, contributing greatly to the modernization of a comprehensive disaster management structure on the island that conforms to international standards especially in the areas of early warning and mitigation. During her time in office she has partnered with a wide range of international and regional institutions in order to advance and strengthen Anguilla’s disaster management programme.
Locally, Ms Meade has worked with varied national organisations and community groups such as the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) and the Anguilla Red Cross to implement and promote community safety initiatives and business continuity planning. Ms. Meade, through her hard work and dedication has left an undeniable mark on Anguilla’s disaster management programme and a solid foundation on which her successor can build.
Effective July 8th, 2019 Mr. Bren Romney appointed Chief Education Officer. He replaces Mrs. Rhonda Connor who has since retired from the Anguilla Public Service.
In his new role as Chief Education Officer, Mr. Romney will provide leadership and support in the development and operation of the education system within Anguilla from kindergarten to 6th Form as well as adult education programmes to prepare the people of Anguilla for full and meaningful participation in society.
Mr. Romney is a graduate of Midwestern State University (MSU), Wichita Falls, Texas USA with a double baccalaureate degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Economics and Business Computer Information Systems respectively and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science with concentrations in public law, the politics of development and public policy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation [in developing states].
He headed the Department of Youth and Culture for the past five years. He taught in the education sector for some twenty seven years, six of which were at the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School and eight at the tertiary level in Texas, United States and the UK. Under his leadership, the Department of Youth and Culture, and by extension the Government of Anguilla, became an active member in several regional and international agencies, such as the CARICOM Youth Programme, CARICOM Culture Programme and the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) thus ensuring that Anguilla is meeting regional and internationally-set standards for Youth and Culture Development.
Effective July 8th, 2019 Ms. Avon Carty appointed Director, Department of Youth and Culture. She replaces Mr. Bren Romney.
In her role as Director, Ms. Carty will have overall responsibility for facilitating the participation of youths in their own development, empowering them to play an assertive and constructive role. She will also be responsible for coordinating the management of Anguilla’s culture and arts resources and to develop and market cultural and artistic expression as a viable economic sector and as a means of advancing social cohesion and a national identity.
Ms. Carty joined the team at Department of Youth and Culture on 1 October 2015 as the Programme Officer, Culture and was promoted to Senior Programme Officer, Culture, on 6 December 2017. Immediately prior, she was employed with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as the Residence and Estate Manager at the Governor’s Office and a Proof Reader at the Law Revision Centre. Avon served in several capacities in Cable and Wireless (now FLOW) Anguilla and Montserrat, namely; Market Research Analyst, Marketing Manager and Corporate Communications Manager, for over 17 years. Her tenure with that organisation ended in September 2012.
Ms. Carty has a passion for youth, cultural and environmental conservation work. She was a founding member and continues to be an active member of the Anguilla National Trust, the Optimist Club of Anguilla and the Anguilla Beautification Club. She has a passion for the outdoors, is an avid reader and loves travelling. She holds a Master of Science in Development Management from the Open University, London and a BSc (Hons) in Management Studies from The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. She is a 3rd Degree Blackbelt in ITF Tae Kwon-Do and continues to train with AXA ITF Tae Kwon Do School.
Effective August 2nd 2019, Ms. Lauraine Gumbs appointed Acting Commissioner of Social Development and effective August 20th, 2019 Commissioner of Social Development. Ms. Gumbs takes over from out-going Commissioner Mr. Sanford Richardson who proceeds on pre-retirement leave on August 2nd, 2019 and officially retires from the Anguilla Public Service on September 19th, 2019.
In her new role as Commissioner of Social Development Ms. Gumbs will have overall responsibility for coordinating the development and implementation of comprehensive national social policy, and help ensure its translation into the delivery of effective social service programmes and project development.
Ms. Gumbs has more than twelve years experience in the field of Social Work and up until her new appointment was Senior Social Worker Child Maintenance in the Department of Social Development. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Sociology from the University of Maryland and a Masters degree in Social Work from Rutgers University.
She has facilitated workshops for adults on Self-Motivation, the Eden Perspective, Inter- agency child abuse protocols and has received training in various critical areas such as mediation, psycho-social support, child abuse protocols and child sexual exploitation.
Ms. Gumbs has presented various reports locally and regionally on Child Maintenance in Anguilla and has successfully completed the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) programme which is the most commonly-used and widely-researched instrument for violence risk assessment in adolescents.
H.E. The Governor and the Hon. Deputy Governor along with the Hon. Minister and his team at the Ministry of Environment and the Hon. Minister and his team at the Ministry of Education and Social Development congratulate the officers on their new appointments and urge that all colleagues, agencies, and other stakeholders continue to provide their assistance and support to these officers and their respective departments.
The Governor and Deputy Governor have also commended Mrs. Rhonda Connor and Mr. Sanford Richardson for their sterling contribution to the Anguilla Public Service over the past forty one plus years respectively and wish them well in their retirement years.
Regards,
Perin A. Bradley (Mr.)
Deputy Governor
