Global Voices Online » Anguilla

Anguilla: Legislation Needed

Janine Mendes-Franco — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:17:22 +0000

Corruption-free Anguilla says: “Just passing a law does not achieve much. We need integrity legislation in Anguilla.”

Anguilla, Jamaica: Student Safety

Janine Mendes-Franco — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:37:37 +0000

“Will draconian measures actually increase security and comfort, or will they destroy our sense of community and undermine security?”: Corruption-free Anguilla wonders if increased security at one particular school will help students learn better, while Long Bench is appalled at the negligence involved in the schoolyard death of a child in Jamaica.

Anguilla: What Rubbish!

Janine Mendes-Franco — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:47:12 +0000

Corruption-free Anguilla takes a scenic drive around the island and is appalled by what he sees.

Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Anguilla: New Constitution

Janine Mendes-Franco — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:05:56 +0000

Vexed Bermoothes [Bermuda] and Corruption-free Anguilla blog about the Cayman Islands' new draft Constitution and Bill of Rights that is scheduled to go before a public referendum on May 20.

Anguilla, Bermuda, Turks & Caicos: Good Governance

Janine Mendes-Franco — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:01:10 +0000

A couple of regional bloggers have been keeping track of the inquiry into official misconduct and corruption in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Vexed Bermoothes says: “I don’t want to draw the parallels too deeply, but TCI is demonstrating the challenges that many small islands face…this is why Bermuda needs to be serious about improving the calibre of the governance of our Government.”

Anguilla, St. Kitts: Financial Confidentiality

Janine Mendes-Franco — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:32:53 +0000

“I always thought my correspondence with my bank was supposed to be private”: Corruption-free Anguilla discovers that not every bank is necessarily meeting its confidentiality obligations.

Anguilla: Destroying Heritage

Janine Mendes-Franco — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:47:17 +0000

“So what if the Cotton Gin was one of the last pieces of Anguilla’s built heritage that was in relatively good working condition…after all, it was done so that the otherwise wasted space could be used as a Chinese Restaurant”: Corruption-free Anguilla presents the island's first nominee for “the gold medal for cultural vandalism for 2009.”

Anguilla: Discussing Dengue

Janine Mendes-Franco — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:38:13 +0000

“Dengue is now in Anguilla? Shusssh! That is a national secret.”: Corruption-free Anguilla asks: “How widespread in Anguilla will dengue have to become before it becomes a dengue epidemic?”

Turks & Caicos, Bermuda, Anguilla: No Confidence

Janine Mendes-Franco — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:18:03 +0000

The current administration of the Turks & Caicos Islands has been faced with corruption allegations, sparking an independent inquiry by the United Kingdom. Bermudian blogger Vexed Bermoothes has been following the situation closely and posts an interesting update, while Corruption-free Anguilla adds: “The breaking news is that it may be curtains for Premier Michael Misick. His parliamentary colleagues are abandoning him en masse.”

Anguilla, The Cayman Islands: Children's Rights

Janine Mendes-Franco — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:54:34 +0000

“Child abuse and neglect is no less a serious and widespread problem in Anguilla than it is in the Cayman Islands”: Corruption-free Anguilla praises the efforts of a Caymanian woman who is asking that the government implement the recommendations of a report linked to the UN's Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Anguilla, Trinidad & Tobago: Memories of The Abbey

Janine Mendes-Franco — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:02:40 +0000

Anguillian Don Mitchell takes a trip to his Alma Mater at Mount St. Benedict in Trinidad.

Caribbean: Region Scores Big in Stanford 20/20 Cricket

Janine Mendes-Franco — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:15:19 +0000

A section of the crowd at the “Stanford 20/20 for 20 Super Series” - Photo courtesy Stanford 20/20 for use by media. Photography credit: Mediaimran - visit his flickr photostream.

U.S. billionaire Allen Stanford is trying to remake the face of cricket in hopes of turning it into the number one spectator sport in the world, perhaps one day even surpassing the popularity of football and baseball in his home country.

To this end, he has opened a cricket-themed restaurant (The Sticky Wicket) in Antigua, made a point of honouring West Indian cricket greats via The Sticky Wicket Hall of Fame and built the Stanford Cricket Ground - the location for his latest “big idea” - a 20/20 contest in which the winning team walks away with US$20 million (that's US$1 million per man) and the loser gets…well, nothing.

The “Stanford Superstars” celebrate the taking of another English wicket - Photo courtesy Stanford 20/20 for use by media. Photography credit: Mediaimran - visit his flickr photostream.

It all happened this past weekend. The Stanford Superstars roundly embarrassed the England team, winning the match by an astounding ten wickets and becoming overnight millionaires in the process. West Indian bloggers put in their two cents' worth…

From Trinidad and Tobago, This Beach Called Life says:

Whether people agree or not, 20/20 is the future of Cricket. I say this because in the real world of sports money talks louder than the traditionalist. 20/20 Cricket promoted by billionaire Sir Allen Stanford, has taken the gentleman’s game of cricket to a new commercial level very few sports enjoy. 20/20 may hardly resemble traditional test cricket and the limited 50 over game but it is intensely entertaining and may just be what the Americans will order if it is on the menu.

The 20 million dollar men - Photo courtesy Stanford 20/20 for use by media. Photography credit: Mediaimran - visit his flickr photostream.

Caribbean Beat Blog was thrilled at the victory and thought it went a long way to firing up regional cricket fans who have had more than their fair share of disappointment over the last few years:

A few minutes ago, the West Indies' Stanford Superstars seized a US$20 million victory in the Stanford 20/20 Super Series from tournament favourites England – without losing a wicket!

And it was a thrashing.

The future of the nascent Stanford 20/20 form of cricket, often maligned for being an American abbreviation of the game and for several peculiarities and controversies over the last week, seems to be secure. According to its creator, Sir Allen Stanford, ‘Caribbean cricket is back! This programme is working!'

And whether playing for regional pride or the US$1 million-a-player purse, the team gave often-disappointed West Indies fans plenty to celebrate, and much to feel hopeful about.

Abeni, who was “not actively following the game” from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was “still very happy the team won”:

Given their performances as the West Indies team, I didn't really give them much of a chance but they sure rose to the occasion. My only wish is that the young men use it wisely. Too often we hear of persons who have made millions becoming destitute all because of poor financial decisions. So fellas, enjoy your windfall but live smart.

Champagne Celebration - Photo courtesy Stanford 20/20 for use by media. Photography credit: Mediaimran - visit his flickr photostream.

In the words of Caribbean Beat:

Congrats to our million dollar men!

Anguilla, Bermuda: Parental Liability

Janine Mendes-Franco — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:40:35 +0000

Bermuda considers passing legislation that would make parents liable for the criminal behaviour of their children. Corruption-free Anguilla thinks the idea has merit: “It is what happens or does not happen in the home that decides whether or not a child grows up to be a pillar of society or a cancer on the body civic.”

Grenada, Anguilla: Integrity Legislation

Janine Mendes-Franco — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:06:22 +0000

The new Grenadian Prime Minister announces his intent to “set up an Integrity Commission to ensure integrity in public life”. Corruption-free Anguilla comments: “If he is really serious, then one of the most corrupt, failed states in the West Indies may yet be turned around. If it is just empty promises…then we shall have been betrayed by our leaders once again.”

Anguilla: Carnival Stabbing

Janine Mendes-Franco — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:49:55 +0000

Corruption-free Anguilla reports on a fatal stabbing that has marred Anguilla's Carnival celebrations, while blogger Penny Legg says that the island “must clean up its act. Anguilla only has tourism…(it) needs to look critically at the problem it has with its youth.”