ANGUILLA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

Good morning, Members. I call upon the chaplain to open us with a word of prayer.

Good morning and blessed New Year to everyone. In the book of Romans 13:1 reads, Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there's no authority except that which God has established. Let us pray. Gracious God, we come before you with thanksgiving, prayers and intercessions. As your word has instructed us today. We lift before you all who serve in authority our leaders, elected officials and those who entrust with public responsibility. Grant them wisdom in their decisions, integrity in their actions, humility in their leadership. Give them, guide them to govern with justice, compassion and a genuine concern of the common good.

We pray for those who serve our nation your place of peace and stability. We pray, oh God, that our people will live a quiet and orderly lives marked by respect, dignity and hope. Strengthen those who carry the weight of leadership. Give them clarity in times of difficulty, courage in times of challenge, and a spirit of cooperation that seeks unity rather than division.

We entrust our government and our country into your care. We give thanks all who serve faithfully for the well being of this nation as we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Thank you chaplain for those words of wisdom. You may be seated.

As this is our first sitting for 2026. Permit me to wish everyone and their families a blessed, safe and happy 2026. It has already started off with challenges for many and we remember those and we pray for the safety of those who are not with us. I will call upon the Deputy Clerk to proceed with the order paper.

Thank you. Good morning, confirmation of minutes. Minutes of proceedings of the 13th meeting of the first session of the 13th Anguilla House of Assembly.

Members, you have before you the minutes dated 16th December 2025. These are the minutes of our 13th meeting. Are there any amendments, any changes, corrections that you wish to note on the record. Hearing no corrections. I invite a Member to move that the minutes be confirmed.

Madam Speaker, I rise to move that the minutes be accepted as circulated

Thank you Member.

Madam Speaker, I rise to second.

Thank you Member. It has been moved and seconded that the minutes dated 16th, December 2025, be confirmed. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed say no. The eyes had it. The minutes are confirmed.

Oath of allegiance to new Members. Honourable Attorney General.

At this stage I invite the Honourable Attorney General to come to take the Oath.

I, Rachel Spearing, KC do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his Majesty King Charles III, his heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.

Let me be the first, Honourable Attorney General, to welcome you to the jurisdiction. I know you've had your formal welcome yesterday. I apologize that I was absent. I was in flight back to Anguilla for this sitting and I want to commend you for taking on the challenge. And there will be challenges, but there will also be triumphs. This is a good working jurisdiction, a good working body. We've already started quite a bit of work with the Chambers, and we look forward to your influence, your impact. We've noted your impressive biography, and we think that you will bring quite a lot to bear to the jurisdiction.

I also have a bias in saying that I'm very pleased that I was able to serve in our first female Attorney General. I must make recognition for that. And I must say that you're joining a very strong body of females in the House, if I do say so.

But I also want to take the opportunity as well to bid farewell to our Mr. Green, because I hadn't had an opportunity to say that on the last occasion. We weren't sure if he would be here by this date. Mr. Green is in the gallery. We want to thank Mr. Green for his steadfast work. We thank him for his support.

And this is not farewell, of course, Mr. Green. As I've said in our introductory meeting this morning, with the Attorney General. That Mr. Green has been a profound help and support to all of us. And I know every Member is extremely grateful for his Yemen service, and he will continue to do so.

So, thank you, Mr. Green. If you wish to make a few comments, I would permit that at this time, Honourable A.G.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to say a few words. It's truly an honour to be here and to serve the people of Anguilla and this government. As your Attorney General, I've talked to many people in preparation for this role, and they all speak of their love for this island. I'm sure I'll be no different in that I'm aware of the challenges, Madam Speaker.

There has been a long period without a permanent Attorney General. And I offer a pledge that under my leadership, we will prioritise creating an office that invests in the development of our people to thrive and to serve in their respective functions. I want to see the Attorney General's Chambers as a place that young Anguillians aspire to work and become leaders themselves.

I look forward to playing my part as principal legal adviser to the government, ensuring that the drafting of legally sound legislation, policies, deliver the government's agenda and ensure the maintenance of an institutional framework of law, order and good governance. I intend to ensure this that I superintend criminal cases and advise on all civil litigation. I want to say now here that I'm committed to tackling organized and domestic crime with measures to repel, respond and effectively investigate.

Prosecuting fairly and expeditiously before our criminal justice system, I acknowledge Balancing power and the respective rights of individuals alongside our Constitution is a priority for me. In swearing my Oath today, I want to say again that first and foremostly I'm a lawyer whose ethos is, as I said yesterday, to serve with honest, candid and independent advice.

I expect to be accountable and I welcome robust discussion for those truly really are the traits of a healthy, democratic and transparent process. It's essential for fairness, equality and justice and it is that , that I stand now more than ever. Discourse of world events demonstrate how security and partnerships anchored in respect for the rule of law really can only truly provide us with the vital safety for our decision making process. I'm confident given the past issues Anguilla has faced and overcome, be they legal, operational or natural disaster, that we shall rise to these challenges to respond ahead.

Thank you, Madam speaker and God Bless Anguilla.

Thank you Attorney General. I now call on the Deputy Clerk.

Announcements by direction of the Speaker.

As it relates to announcements, we have apologies from the Honorable Premier who's attending the OECS meeting and is currently out of the jurisdiction. Are there any other excused absences? Our second announcement is in respect of the post election seminar to be conducted in Bermuda next week. I'm pleased to inform the House that Mr. Proctor has been invited as the one of the facilitators in respect of some of the topics. Ethics, Behavior, Standards in Parliament, cross party collaboration are some of the topics.

Mr. Proctor your topic along with myself we've been invited to present under the topic Session 8 Exploring the Use of AI in Parliaments the Hon. Lister from the Bermuda Parliament has been quite intrigued by the work that we have been doing with AI and he's invited both of us. So we intend to attend that seminar and make a presentation as it relates to our work that we've done so far.

Our topic will be delivered on the 27th. Mr. Proctor will be there for a lot longer than I will. I will go to Bermuda just to attend the session on the AI session and one of Mr. Proctor's, so we wish him the best. He is an outstanding and stellar representation of this House and as he has been so supportive of each one of you.

So, we send good luck to Mr. Proctor I'll be there taking notes, but also happy that I'll be there to support him as well in the second presentation. I don't believe there are any other announcements. Proceed.

Questions.

We have before us Members under E of our order paper a series of questions that were proposed by the Honourable Member for Road South. I believe not Road North as well just Road South? Road South. Road south only. And I. And I did say to Mr. Proctor that I am heartened that our rules are being put to good use. I was very happy that the questions were delivered in a timely manner. And I'll encourage Members, if you can submit even a little earlier than the Thursday that we could give time for us to go through and make sure that the format of the questions is correct in terms of the rules. But I'm very pleased because then we were able to get them over to the Member responsible for responses.

As it relates to the answers. Are the answer people's relative distribution. Okay. I'd suggest that we distribute. I think on the last occasion I indicated that we can distribute after and allow the responses to be made as you've done in the past will both sides be amiable to that format again? So that's not distracting and you listen to the answer.

If any supplementals arising, you go ahead and do so. That's fine. And then the other point of housekeeping is in relation to supplemental. If there are any supplementary questions arising from the answer, you'll just indicate that you have a supplemental and indicate that. As it relates to the answers, when I looked at the questions, there were some of the questions that may not necessarily have been intended for the particular Member that it was posed to.

Has that been resolved? Or is it that there might be other members that have been dedicated to answer certain questions because there was an overlap with some related to sports points and some related to lands points? So just as a matter of housekeeping, is that resolved and going to dealt with by one Member?.

Just so there's no disruption. One, two members. So just a point to the opposition to be informed if you haven't been informed already, some of the questions may have been directed to one Member. That Member has the ability to assign that question to a member more fit and more directly related to the matter to answer them. So, if that happens, that is perfectly within their rights to do, and they will indicate when they rise.

So, Member for Road South. You may proceed with your questions one by one.

Thank you very much. Madam Speaking. Good morning to this Honourable House and welcome to the new Attorney General. Questions. We'll be asking questions on at a time? Question number one. Will the minister state the current status of the technical assistance completed by the Department of Lands and Surveys and the Department of Physical Planning and whether those assessments remain the basis of our site selection the National Track and Field Facility in accordance with the parameters of the 2023 grant application?

Good morning, Madam Speaker. Happy New Year to all in the House and all those who are listening in or watching us on Facebook. To answer the question the first question, Madam speaker, the technical assessments completed by the Department of Lands and Surveys and the Department of Physical Planning remain in place and continue to form the basis for site selection for the National Track and Field Facility.

These assessments were conducted in accordance with the parameters set out in the 2023 grant application and remained a guiding reference for determining the most suitable site.

Good morning, Madam Speaker. Happy New Year to all in the House and all those who are listening in or watching us on Facebook. To answer the first question, the technical assessments completed by the Department of Lands and Surveys and the Department of Physical Planning remain in place and continue to form the basis for site selection for the National Track and Field Facility. These assessments were conducted in accordance with the parameters set out in the 2023 grant application and remain a guiding reference for determining the most suitable site.

Any supplementary question? You can proceed with question two.

Will the Minister state whether the official grant application or supporting government documentation make any provision for the acquisition of privately owned land for the Track and Field facility?

Madam Speaker, to answer the second question, the official grant application and supporting government documentation require that the land on which the Track and Field facility is to be constructed be owned by the Government of Anguilla. The documentation does not prescribe or make specific provision for the manner in which the land is to come into government ownership.

Any supplemental questions? You may proceed.

Question 3. Will the Minister state whether any privately owned lands including, but not limited to land opposite the campus Q, a new access road, land North of Best Buy East, land in the Farrington and land in the Tanglewood area are currently under consideration for the National Track and Field Facility?

To answer question three, yes. The government is working closely with the Anguilla Amateur Athletics Association to ensure that Anguilla receives the best possible National Track and Field facility for our students and athletes. As part of this process, a comprehensive review of the grant application is being undertaken. Once these internal considerations and assessments are complete, the public will be officially updated.

Thank you. Question 4. Will the Minister state what fiscal resources or assumptions are being applied to the current site assessments for the National Track and Field Facility and whether these differ from those reflected in the 2023 grant application?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. To answer question four, the fiscal resources being applied for the current site assessments for the National Track and Field Facility are being considered within the Government's capital funding program. This framework allows for the reprogramming of budgetary outlays subject to the appropriate processes and the relevant approvals of Executive Council. Any such reprogramming would also require the agreement and confirmation of the Ministry of Finance to ensure that the necessary fiscal provisions are in place. At this stage, no final determination has been made as to whether these arrangements would differ from those reflected in the 2023 grant application.

I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker, and that supplementary question is related to the fact that the 2026 budget appropriation does not have any funding related to the National Track and Field. Can you say why that is the case?

Do you have a separate question? You have a separate question on budget? Hang on. Member for Road South, I think you have a budget specific question. Is it there or is it a separate question? Mr. Richardson, I think you're familiar with it too. There's a question on if there was a budgetary provision number 17 and number 18.

So, let's leave your supplemental until then. Okay, proceed with your next question then.

Will the Minister state the parameters currently being applied to the site selection for the National Track and Field Facility and whether those parameters differ from those set out in the 2023 grant application?

Madam Speaker, to answer question five, the parameters currently being applied to the site selection for the National Track and Field Facility do not differ from those set out in the 2023 grant application. The key parameter remains that the land must be owned by the Government of Anguilla and be suitable for development of the facility within the approved funding framework. The site selection process continues to be guided by these established criteria in keeping with the requirements of the grant and the government's funding and planning obligations.

Thank you. Will the Minister state whether the government intends to pursue the acquisition of privately owned land for the development of the Track and Field Facility?

To answer question six, Madam Speaker, at present the government is examining all available options in the public interest, including both government owned and privately owned land for the development of the National Track and Field Facility. These considerations remain under review and may either remain the same or change as assessments progress. The government is working closely with the local athletics association to ensure that a selected site is fit for purpose and that the association is satisfied with the final site selection.

Thank you. Question 7. Will the Minister state whether the land ownership requirement in the 2023 grant application has been amended and if so, provide the date, the approving authority and documentary evidence of such amendment?

To answer question number seven, Madam Speaker, the land ownership requirement set out in the 2023 grant application has not been amended. No changes have been approved and therefore no amendments, approving authority, date or documentary evidence exists in relation to such a change.

Will the Minister identify the document or documents relied upon when making representations to Minister Doughty regarding the Track and Field Facility including the date each were prepared or approved?

To answer question eight, Madam Speaker, the representations made to Minister Doughty regarding the National Track and Field Facility are based on the existing business case documentation previously prepared for the project. The key documents relied upon include: a. Project 10 Anguilla application and b. Track and Field location options assessment prepared under the Ministry of Social Development and Education as part of the project development process. These documents form the basis of the information provided.

Question 9. Will the Minister state whether any documents relied upon in representations to the United Kingdom Government are connected to, derived from, or reference the 2023 application submitted to World Athletics and the Qatar Olympic Committee?

To answer question nine, Madam Speaker, yes, documentation relied upon in representation to the UK Government are connected to, derived from, and reference the 2023 application submitted to World Athletics and the Qatar Olympic Committee. Approximately 65% of the content of the outlining business case is derived from, consolidated or reframed from the two earlier documents identified in response to question eight.

I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. Has the Minister or the Ministry been in contact with World Athletics or Qatar relating to when the grant application will be fulfilled?

Could you repeat that question?

Has the Minister, Ministry or the Government of Anguilla been in direct contact with Qatar or World Athletics as it relates to development of the Track and Field Facility?

Communication, Madam Speaker, is done through the Anguilla Amateur Athletics Association.

Madam Speaker, can I have a supplementary question or no?

Relating to that answer. To that answer, relating that is done through, what's the question?

The question was whether or not the Minister or the Ministry have been in contact with World Athletics Association to know, because the Government of Anguilla has a financial obligation in terms of preparatory works.

Yeah, and his response is communication has been through the Anguilla Athletics Association. So, I assume that on your next occasion with questions that follow on will be for him to inquire of. The same way we had done with Anglec because that's a separate body. If he's not prepared to today, then the next round of questions should be can you make inquiries of it. But that was the nature of your supplemental?

The nature of the supplementals is whether or not the Minister or the Ministry have been in contact or in discussion with the Anguilla Athletic Association as it relates to the development of the track and when it's going to be granted because one of the permanent secretaries is actually president of the Anguilla Athletic Association. So, communication should be pretty easy.

So, to your response Mr. Connor to that part of it was, I wrote it. Communication has been through the Anguilla Amateur.

Yes, and that should not be confused with persons within the Ministry signed by the government. It's the Anguilla Amateur Athletics Association.

That doesn't answer supplemental... but it does not bar you from bringing a new set of questions in relation, so there are things that are going to arise from because you've asked a lot of questions and I'm sure that there will be a lot of information that you will now want to process and have a new set of questions so I can see where you're going with it.

But just that his responses does not really get you to where you want to go.

I will let it be. As I can derive from that what the answer is.

Not really. You can ask the direct question on another occasion.

Question 10. Madam Speaker, will the Minister state whether any written submission, request, or representation regarding the Track and Field Facility was made to the United Kingdom Government during the most recent Joint Ministerial Council engagement, and if so, provide the date and author?

Madam Speaker, to answer question 10, yes. During the most recent Joint Ministerial Council engagement, a draft outline business case regarding the National Track and Field Facility was prepared by the Ministry of Sports with support from the Anguilla Amateur Athletics Association. This draft was based on content derived from previous documents prepared in 2023. The submission was completed in November 2025.

Thank you. Will the Minister confirm whether any formal written representations were made to the United Kingdom Government concerning the Track and Field. Madam Speaker, I will forego that question because I will assume that the prior question answered that question. Number 11.

Is it that you are saying that number 11 is subsumed under the question about Joint Ministerial Council and that was answered? So, you withdraw 11 as asked? Answered.

Okay, move on.

Thank you, 12. Will the Minister state the current status of the site previously approved by Executive Council for the National Track and Field Facility?

To answer question 12, Madam Speaker, the current status of the site previously approved by Executive Council for the National Track and Field Facility is that the lands are being utilized for agricultural purposes until such time as the project is ready to move forward.

Yes, because the question itself is a little unusual too, so I can imagine. So the question is, will the Minister state the current status of the site? So, the first thing is, do we know what the site is referring to here? What is the site that we're referring to just so the public understand what we're talking about.

So, I don't know what we're talking about.

The Minister answered the question really, in terms of the site, the site is...

No, I'm doing this for my own help and the public's help because I think Mr. Richardson has a supplemental. So, before I hear the supplemental let me make sure, I understand the question. Will the Minister state the current status of the site previously approved by Executive Council for the National Track? And then the Minister said the current status of the site previously approved by Executive Council for the National Track Facility is that the lands are being utilized for agricultural purposes until such time as a project is ready to move forward. So, it's a bit of an ambiguous question.

A bit of ambiguous response so let's break it down. What is the site that we're talking about? Is it the same site the Minister referred to as the agricultural site that site referring to? Right. So, your question was the status of it and if I go to a part of this answer his answer that's being utilized for agricultural purposes until the project is ready to move forward.

So that's how I kind of extrapolated it. So, did I interpret that correctly? Because I know Mr. Richardson has a supplemental. So, just want me to understand what the question was and understand what the answer is.

No, I'm doing this for my own help and the public's help because I think Mr. Richardson has a supplemental. So, before I hear the supplemental let me make sure I understand the question. Will the Minister state the current status of the site previously approved by Executive Council for the National Track? And then the Minister said the current status of the site previously approved by Executive Council for the National Track Facility is that the lands are being utilized for agricultural purposes until such time as a project was ready to move forward. So, it's a bit of an ambiguous question.

A bit of ambiguous response so let's break it down. What is the site that we're talking about? Is it the same site the Minister referred to as the agricultural site? Right. So, your question was the status of it and if I go to a part of this answer, his answer is that it's being utilized for agricultural purposes until the project is ready to move forward.

So that's how I kind of extrapolated it. So, did I interpret that correctly? Because I know Mr. Richardson has a supplemental. I just want to understand what the question was and what the answer is.

You made reference to the site being an agricultural site, but the site was redesignated by Executive Council before.

Right, so that's why I want you and your question to be specific so that we're not talking about different things. You said, "Will the Minister state the current status of the site?" So, I'm just trying to understand what is it that you are referring to as the site because Mr. Connor can be referring to something completely different and we don't know what we're talking about.

The site is adjacent to Stud's Pub or adjacent to James Ronald Webster's Park. We are on the same page as it relates to that particular site. What I was saying is that the site was previously agricultural and it was redesignated under the former Elis Webster's Administration for the Track and Field and it seems as if it has been redesignated back to agriculture through Executive Council. Is that it?

So that's exactly the point. Let's ask the question that we want to ask. So, the question is what is the status? That could mean is the land grown up? Is it chopped down? Is somebody sleeping there? When you say what's the status, you really mean to say is the government continuing to proceed with that as the designated lands. That's what you mean?

That too. And if the land has been redesignated back to agriculture as approved by Executive Council.

So, in future when you're doing the questions ask the question that you want the answer to.

But this was a supplemental question.

Yeah, I know, I'm going to entertain supplemental but the point I'm making is that will the current status of the site and the supplemental coming from that doesn't help because we don't know what your question meant. You want to ask him is the government proceeding with that site for that purpose? Okay, so your supplemental that Mr. Richardson is what.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good morning. Actually, while sitting here and checking my supplemental as I wrote it, I was thinking that my supplemental actually would be for the Minister responsible for agriculture because my supplemental would be what arrangements have been made with the farmers overall if, or when, World Athletics say the track is ready, if no other lands were to be found. If there has been a written arrangement with the farmers at this point in time.

So, I'm going to invite you then to save that, make it an actual question and submit it to the House for the appropriate Minister. And that's helpful because now we know what we're talking about. So does the Minister's response answer your question, Member for Road South, number 12? It answers it based on how it's asked. But you can. The purpose of the exercise is that I don't want the Members to walk away with things to draw inferences and extrapolate from. You have an opportunity to ask a question in a public forum.

So, once the question is passed and you get the answer, everybody should understand. So that was really the point that I'm making. So, Mr. Richardson, you've identified a follow-on question, but it now isn't for this Minister and you'll have your appropriate forum to do so. So, I mean the government Ministers can take cues as to what they need to prepare themselves for because you will have subsequent questions at subsequent meetings arising from this, I presume.

Do you want to proceed to question 13?

Will the Minister state for each site currently under consideration whether it meets the technical ownership and location requirements for the 2023 grant application?

Thank you again, Madam Speaker. Question 13, the answer. The government is working closely with the Anguilla Amateurs Athletic Association to review all options thoroughly and we are prepared to support them in whichever direction they wish to go.

I have a supplemental question, Madam Speaker. This announcement had been made already and the supplementary question is this. If World Athletics say to Anguilla Athletic Association that in February of 2026 they would like to proceed with the development of the track and field Anguilla, what does the Government of Anguilla do?

What is the supplemental question?

The supplemental question is really, truly, Madam Speaker I will withdraw the supplemental question.

Yeah, it's a hypothetical and we aren't allowed to ask hypothetical questions.

That's why it's important that you get the answer and then you can drill down on an actual factual response. Question 14.

Will the Minister state the total public expenditure incurred for the agricultural project currently operating on land previously identified for the national track and field facility and identify the budget line from which it was funded?

Madam Speaker, to answer question 14, I'd like my colleague, Minister of Lands, to answer that question. The Honorable Kyle Hodge.

Thank you Acting Premier. To answer question 14. To date, the total expenditure incurred thus far on the agricultural lands project are as follows. $3,143.98 EC paid from account 33701 for rental of heavy equipment under Department of Natural Resources for excavation of the site. $3,705.95 EC paid from the ministry's capital account 410-99-06102 for excavation of the site.

Labour costs $23,000 EC from wages account number 31201.

Any supplemental questions?

Madam Speaker, a supplementary question to the Minister as it relates to the labour cost and the fact that it's $23,000 and it went above the threshold for public procurement. Did it go to public procurement?

Wages, wages for who? Hang on, let me make sure your supplemental question is to seek clarity on a figure that he stated.

Yes, that's correct. The figure is $23,000 and it's for labour and the question is whether or not, because it went above the threshold of the Public Procurement Act, whether it went through procurement for the procurement of these labour services. Well, yes, that's the question.

It seems to me as if you're introducing a new question in the question but does the Minister have information on that?

Madam Speaker, I can retrieve the information. I don't have that particular detail in this sitting.

Yeah, it's not something that's unclear that needs to clarify, it's a question of the fact that you want to now explore something else. It is not anything in his response that requires clarifying.

It's just related to Public Procurement Act. I know it's a separate question but it relates to the expenditure but if that's the point, I'm willing to.

No, no, I’m not telling you that you cannot ask it. It’s just that the point of the supplemental is to elucidate something that wasn’t clear in the response. So, for example, something that wouldn’t be clear in a response like this would be, “Well, what are wages for?” And I mean, I can’t tell you what to ask, but I’m saying that there’s nothing unclear that you’re seeking clarity on as it relates to the figure of $23,000 paid in wages.

The $23,000 that was paid he said was paid in labour. It could have been to a particular contractor and under Public Procurement Act, any expenditure that exceeds $4,000 EC dollars has to go to Public Procurement. So what I was asking is whether or not this went to procurement.

I understand, Minister.

Madam Speaker, I will retrieve the information and submit it to the House.

Yes, because what the Member has clarified is that even though it says it's from a wages account, it's actually labour cost. So, the Minister has undertaken to obtain the answer for you.

Will the Minister identify the crops planted on said site and the projected yields and the actual yields achieved?

Thank you for the question again, Madam Speaker. I refer to my colleague to answer that question.

Madam Speaker, the answer to question 15: What is currently planted includes tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, cabbage, corn, and celery. These are all short-yield cash crops with minimal to no long-term impact on the farmland. Projected yields and actual yields are unknown, as the exact rows of each crop are also not completed. This is still a work in progress.

Thank you very much, Minister. Will the Minister state whether any cost-benefit analysis was conducted prior to the commencement of the agricultural project on land designated by the Executive Council for the National Track and Field Facility, and if so, table that analysis?

Thank you again, Madam Speaker. I refer to my colleague.

That is question 16. The answer to that is that the cost-benefit analysis supports food production, particularly after observing some of the most productive farmland remain abandoned for more than two years with nothing but weeds. In the interim, the Government of Anguilla is utilizing the land for food production. The aim is to achieve a win-win outcome, where Anguilla preserves some of its best farmland while the youth of Anguilla benefit from a world-class athletic track and field facility.

I'm not sure that's a cost benefit analysis.

Supplemental question. Not debate. Supplemental question.

The supplementary question will be to have a cost-benefit analysis presented as it relates to that. I don’t think that's a cost-benefit analysis, but I will move on to question 17. Will the Minister state whether provision—sorry, let me rephrase. Will the Minister state what provision, if any, has been made in the 2026 budget to meet the Government’s counterpart funding obligations under the grant agreement for the National Track and Field Facility?

Madam Speaker, again to answer question 17, provision to meet the government's counterpart funding obligations under the grant agreement for the National Track and Field Facility will be addressed through adjustments to the capital outlay within the 2026 budget. This may include the reprogramming of capital expenditure and the pausing of certain project elements to ensure that the funding for this priority project is adequately provided for.

Thank you, acting Premier. Question 18. Will the Minister state whether supplementary is planned? Madam Speaker I'm not sure if I am going to ask this question because he said they won't be really a supplementary. That they would just reprioritize funding. You think I should still ask the question? Okay, Madam Speaker, I've been advised by my advisor that I should still proceed with this question.

Question 18.

Will the Minister state whether a supplementary budget is planned to provide the required counterpart funding, and if so, when will it be brought before this Honourable House? And if a supplementary budget is not planned, will the Minister state the mechanism through which government intends to meet its counterpart funding obligations under the grant agreement.

Thank you again, Madam Speaker. To answer question 18, provision to meet the government's counterpart funding obligations under the grant agreement for the National Track and Field Facility will be addressed through adjustments to the capital outlay within the 2026 budget. This may include the reprogramming of capital expenditure, and the pausing of certain project elements to ensure that funding for this priority project is adequately provided for.

Thank you again, Madam Speaker. To answer question 18, provision to meet the government's counterpart funding obligations under the grant agreement for the National Track and Field Facility will be addressed through adjustments to the capital outlay within the 2026 budget. This may include the reprogramming of capital expenditure, and the pausing of certain project elements to ensure that funding for this priority project is adequately provided for.

Madam Speaker, it was stated by the Minister that this project is a priority. Can the Minister advise why there was no funding made available to the capital budget during the 2026 budget allocations?

Supplemental questions are to clarify or elucidate something asked and answered. What he said is that they will be reprogramming, so it hasn't been done.

Yes, I want clarity to why it has not been done.

That's a new question. So you make a laundry list. It's a new question arising from it, not a supplemental to clarify something he said. And the point is, for this reason, Mr. Richardson, not to put anybody on ambush so that people don't speculate, so that the proper responses will come.

So it's just based on standing orders, which is, we ask the supplemental questions just to elucidate what has been said. But if something arises from that, that creates the platform for a new question. You have as much latitude to bring your newly formulated questions so that the Minister gets the proper factual responses.

So, let's move on.

Question 19: Will the Minister list the specific actions taken by the Government of Anguilla since assuming office to ensure compliance with, continuity of, and progress under the 2023 grant application?

Thank you for the question. To answer question 19, Madam Speaker, as a government committed to the completion of projects that support the development of our athletes, and while awaiting a final decision from World Athletics, the Government instructed its technical team to prepare cost estimates for site preparation for the National Track and Field Facility.

This exercise was undertaken to ensure readiness and to allow for informed comparison with other sites under consideration, while maintaining alignment with the objectives of the 2023 grant agreement.

Question 20: Will the Minister state whether the Government intends to proceed with construction on the land previously prepared for the National Track and Field Facility, and provide details of an alternative plan under consideration, including associated costs and compliance with the grant terms?

Thank you for the question. To answer question 20, Madam Speaker, the Government values its partnership with local, regional, and international stakeholders and continues to be guided by what was previously agreed under the 2023 grant framework. Should any alternative plans be considered, these will be carefully assessed for the cost implications and compliance with the terms of the grant agreement. The Government remains committed to transparency and will keep the public, and in particular, our athletes, fully informed of any developments as decisions are made.

Any supplemental questions? And that concludes the questions that are before us. Thank you for the questions, Members. Thank you for the responses. And just for the public to be aware that we progress the questions based on the rules. The questions are submitted by Thursday of any given week prior to the sitting. They can be submitted even earlier. So I urge the opposition Members to submit the questions in much more advance so that the responses will be factually based, supported, and then we proceed in this manner.

So thank you for the exercise. Let’s move on.

Private Members Bills, none. Private Bills? None. Other orders of the day.

Government Statements on Recent Developments: None. Papers: None. Reports from Committees: None. Petitions: None. Government Notices: None. Private Members’ Notices: None. Motions: None. Personal Explanations: None. Other Business: Government Business. A Bill for Port Nimara Marina Anguilla (Berth Slips) Act, 2025, second reading.

I call upon the mover of the Bill.

Madam Speaker, I move that the Bill shortly entitled Port Nimara Marina Anguilla (Berth Slips) Act, 2025 be read a second time.

Is there a seconder?

Madam Speaker, I rise to second.

It has been moved and seconded that the Bill be read a second time. I invite the mover to outline the objects and reasons.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'll read through slowly for the benefit of the listening public the objects and reasons of this Bill. The purpose of this Bill is to establish a comprehensive legislative framework for the registration, ownership, administration and regulations of Berth Slips at Port Nimara Marina, Anguilla. The Bill provides legal certainty by recognizing Berth Slips as immovable property for ownership, leasing, mortgaging and other registrable interests and by integrating their registration into the existing land registration system administered under the Registered Land Act. The Bill further provides for the filing, Port Nimara Marina plan, the creation and maintenance of a Berth Slips Register and the execution of a Berth Slips Master Declaration to regulate the rights, responsibilities and relationships of Berth Slip proprietors, tenants, licensees and the marina owner.

In addition, the Bill clarifies the supervisory and administrative roles of the Registrar of Lands and Superintendent of Ports, thereby ensuring orderly marina operations, effective regulatory oversight and alignment with national port and land administration policies. The enactment of this Bill is intended to support marina development, promote investment, enhance transparency in property transactions, and facilitate the efficient management and commercial use of marina facilities while safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders. Summary of clauses. Clause 1 provides for interpretation and defines key terms used in the Act, including Berth Slip, Port Nimara Marina registrar, common property and related expressions.

It also confirms that Berth slips constitute immovable practice for registration purposes. Clause 2 provides for the filing and registration of the Port Nimara Marina Plan and prohibits the sale, lease or rental of any Berth Slip unless it is part of a registered plan. Clause 3 establishes the Port Nimara Marina Berth Slips Register to be maintained by the Registrar of Lands for the registration of ownership and other interests in Berth Slips. Clause 4 provides for the execution and registration of a Berth Slips Master Declaration that sets out the rights, obligations and governance arrangements applicable to Berth Slip proprietors, tenants, licensees and the marina owner.

Clause 5 provides for the registration of Berth Slip proprietors and the recording of ownership and other registrable interests in accordance with the Registered Land Act. Clause 6 defines the role of the Superintendent of Ports in relation to the oversight, regulation and coordination of marina operations, including Berth Slips. Clause 7 empowers the Executive Council to make regulations to better implement provisions of the Act. Clause 8 provides for consequential amendments to existing legislation to give effect to the Act.

Clause 9 provides for the citation of the Act. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I now open the floor for debate in respect of any comments or debate in respect to the Bill that is before us. Does any Member wish to speak to the Bill that is on the floor? I recognize the Honorable Member for Road North.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'll be very brief. Good morning to everyone listening and Happy New Year to everyone. I did read the Bill and also read the Port Harbors and Piers Act because as a Member of Parliament you have to make sure that what's going out to the people makes sense. I just want to stand to say two things.

I listened to the consultation and I have to say that was a great job done by the technocrats in the ministries on their presentation because previously while reading the Bill I had a lot of unanswered questions. But after listening to the technocrats a lot of those questions were answered and they did a very good job of explaining that the seabed still belongs to Anguilla. These new Berth Slips are going to be treated as if you were to put up a building on land. There was nothing in our legislation previously that addressed that situation.

So we have to bring this specific piece of legislation now to the House to address that concern. This legislation is specific to this marina being constructed at this point in time. In other new marinas coming on stream, they would have to get their own precise legislation to deal with this matter. It would do us well as a community to go back and listen to the presentation made by the technocrats at the consultation because there was a lot of valuable information given. I stand in support of this Bill, Madam Speaker.

Thank you.

Thank you. Member. I recognise the Honorable Single Island Wide Member, Vanterpool.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good morning to yourself, to my colleagues across the isle and on this side of the bench, to House of Assembly staff and to all Anguillians listening. I'd like to start off by saying a happy and prosperous New Year to all. I too rise like my colleague across the isle in support of this Bill. In fact, out of fear of being repetitious, I think that he articulated quite well exactly how I too feel about this Bill.

I must say that Minister Kyle Hodge was fortunate to have what I would consider one of the better public consultations that I've seen on record. Not only was the information very rich and relevant, but there was also good turnout and participation by members of the community. So I, like my colleague, would encourage persons who might have missed the public consultation to go back and look at it.

There's a lot of good information shared, but I just want to commend my colleague to my right. Since we've been elected, this has been one of the projects that I've seen him work on very diligently week in and week out. So to see it brought to this point is a very good milestone and a testament of his hard work.

I rise in support of this Bill. Thank you.

Thank you. Member. Are there any other contributions to the Bill that is on the floor? I recognize the Honorable Member Rogers.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. A pleasant good morning to all. Wishing you all a healthy and prosperous 2026 and beyond. I too rise in full support of this particular Bill and congratulate the Minister responsible for his effort, his work, the consultation and the technical folks who presented and answered questions at the consultation. As a senior citizen in this Honourable House, marina development and the potential for marinas in Anguilla existed before my time and that's over two decades ago.

There's never been in-depth detail and legislation before that was brought to this House. Again I congratulate the Member for the hard work. I note that the Member for Road North was at the presentation. He mentioned that this legislation is specific for this particular marina project. We have to start somewhere. I believe that the foundation has been laid and as a result the Minister has a firm footing to move forward and to be able to bring further legislation if necessary, to amend what is there so that we will have it tailor made for whatever future marinas will come forward.

Not a one size fit all. So again, congratulations to the Minister and to the entire government for supporting him on this valuable project that could reap dividends going forward. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. A pleasant good morning to all. Wishing you all a healthy and prosperous 2026 and beyond. Madam Speaker, I rise in full support of this Bill and congratulate the Minister responsible for his effort, his work, the consultation and the technical team who presented and answered questions.

As a senior citizen in this Honourable House, I note that marina development and the potential for marinas in Anguilla have existed for over two decades, but there has never been such in-depth detail and legislation brought before this House. I congratulate the Member for the hard work. The Member for Road North mentioned that this legislation is specific for this particular marina project. We have to start somewhere.

I believe the foundation has been laid, giving the Minister a firm footing to move forward and bring further legislation if necessary, to amend what is there so we can tailor it for future marinas. Not a one size fits all. Congratulations again to the Minister and the entire government for supporting him on this valuable project that could reap dividends going forward. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. Are there any other contributions? I recognize the Honourable Member for West End.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As a representative for West End, I'm proud to say West End is the first again to have a marina on Anguilla. My colleague, the Honourable Evans McNiel Rogers, has mentioned that it's been a process over decades. I saw correspondence about possible jobs that would be available with the marina. Anguilla has a history with the sea and many seamen and seafarers.

It's a great opportunity for Anguillians, young and experienced, to be part of that. Many of our boat racers involved with the sailing school and as crew members could see themselves having a career at the marina. Certain skills like these can take you around the world. I am very much in support of this, Madam Speaker.

Thank you.

Thank you, Member. If there are no other contributions, I invite the mover to reply.

Madam Speaker, thank you for this opportunity. I thank the Members of this House, those who spoke in support and those who remained seated. I don't think there are any objections to this Bill from either side. I thank the House for unanimous support for the Port Nimara Marina Anguilla Berth Slips Act, 2025. In the early beginnings I met with Lands, the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Lands, and we started the process.

It was frustrating because the AG's Office was backed up with legislation. We were making promises to the investor and developer, giving timelines. This was supposed to come to the House since August 2025. We're here today, 13th January, to do a second reading. Despite setbacks, I am grateful we have arrived at this point. Thanks to Cabinet, the Premier, Shamika Hodge, Larry Franklin, Jason Hodge, Angela Hughes, and the Attorney General, the acting AG at the time, Mr Ivor Green, and Ms. Dawn Richardson CPC, who did a tremendous job creating this legislation from scratch. I take on board the comments of the Member from Road North regarding the consultation. That consultation answered many questions, which is its purpose.

Kudos to the technical team and Permanent Secretary for a good consultation. The investor was able to join via Zoom and address questions. This is bespoke legislation, crafted for a particular interest. Anguilla is unique, and so is this document. As the Island Wide Member, Hon. Evan McNeil Rogers said, it's tailor-made legislation, which helps with the marketability of the project. Investors can share this document with potential buyers of berths and submerged land, something new to Anguilla. During consultation, a question was asked about jobs and how Anguillians will benefit. The investor provided a list of potential jobs for Anguillians at home and abroad.

I invite Anguillians to come back home; this is diversification within the tourism sector. This is good for Anguilla and school leavers, fitting our boating and sailing culture. The jobs include yacht engineers, hull engineers, mechanical engineers, engine work, electronic and navigation specialists, deck and rigging, yacht interior, upholstery professionals, racing technology, yacht crew, captains, service crews, anchoring crews, divers, pontoon and dock engineering, electrical system engineers, marina management, clerics, operators, technical support, concierge services, yacht amenities, import/export, laundry, food provisioning, storage, onshore crew and management. Extended industries include transport, shipping, accessory equipment rental, system representatives, franchising, distribution, repairs, spare parts, import/export.

We as a government should publicize these opportunities. There will be training, whether through government or the investor, to skill up people for these jobs. The Act and objects and reasons provide a deeper understanding of the Bill. I thank the former administration and the former Premier, now Leader of Opposition, for their part in bringing the investor and marina folks together with the owner of Altamar.

That role was essential. The previous AUF administration understood the importance of diversifying tourism. This is apolitical; many administrations contributed. I am happy to be here with this government under Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge and acting Premier Cardigan Connor to debate and eventually pass this Bill into law. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. It has been moved and seconded that a Bill shortly entitled the Bill for Port Nimara Marina Anguilla Berth Slips Act, 2025 be read a second time. Those in favor say aye, those opposed say no. The ayes have it. I call upon the Clerk to read the Bill a second time.

Port Nimara Marina Anguilla Berth Slips Act, 2025, the purpose of this Act is to establish a legislative framework to provide for the registration of berth slips in Port Nimara Marina and to provide for related matters.

Bill read a second time. At this stage, Members and the public will be familiar with the process where the Bill progresses to the committee stage for consideration line by line. I have given sight to Standing Orders 82 and 84 to the mover. I issued a communication to the Member moving the Bill on January 9, 2026, setting out my decision that this Bill should progress as a private bill in accordance with these Standing Orders.

Standing Order 82 provides that where individual rights or interests or the property of any private person may be peculiarly affected by any public or private Bill, all parties interested may, upon petition and motion, be heard before the assembly or any committee thereof. It is my duty, notwithstanding that this Bill is supported by both sides, to reference how this will progress through committee stage. This Bill will be progressed as a private bill and published in respect of Standing Order 84, which requires publication in the Gazette and a newspaper, and a copy affixed to the nearest police station for not less than three weeks. Proof of compliance must be deposited with the Clerk.

I have determined this is a Private Bill referring to private rights of a private organization. The committee stage is very important for legislative scrutiny. This Bill makes reference to consequential amendments, including to the Ports, Harbors and Piers Act, the Stamp Act, the Alien Land Holding License Regulation Act, and the Registered Land Act. These matters must be scrutinized through committee stage.

The committee stage will commence at the end of this sitting today to set out timelines and logistics for public involvement, and will carry over to the next sitting, likely on 10th February at 10am, when the public part of the committee stage will be underway. I refer this to committee and move that it be adjourned to a full sitting of the committee commencing at the end of the sitting today and continuing on 10th February at 10am. May we proceed?

Bill read a second time. At this stage, Members and the public will be familiar with the process where the bill progresses to the committee stage for consideration line by line. Of my own initiative and volition, I have given sight to Standing Orders 82 and 84 to the mover of the Bill. For those not included in my communication to the mover, I issued a communication on January 9, 2026, setting out my decision that this Bill should progress as a private bill in accordance with these Standing Orders.

Standing Order 82 provides that where individual rights or interests or the property of any private person may be peculiarly affected by any public or private Bill, all parties interested may, upon petition and on motion made and seconded, be heard before the assembly or any committee thereof, either in person or by counsel. It is my duty, Honourable Members, notwithstanding that this Bill is supported by both sides of the aisle—and I commend both sides for supporting something that Anguilla will benefit from and is excited for—to make reference to how this will progress through to the committee stage. This Bill will be progressed as a private bill and its publication will be in respect of Standing Order 84, which states that every Bill intended to affect or benefit some particular person, association, or corporate body shall contain a section saving the rights of Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, all bodies politic and corporate, and all others except as are aforementioned in the Bill, and those claiming by, from, or under them.

No such Bill, not being a government measure, shall be introduced into the assembly until due notice has been given at the expense of the promoters, by not less than three successive publications of the bill in the Gazette and in a newspaper circulating in Anguilla, and where any particular premises are affected, until after a copy of the bill has been affixed to the nearest police station for not less than three weeks. Proof of compliance must be made by solemn declaration to the satisfaction of and deposited with the Clerk. I believe the mover has been given due notice by the Clerk that I have determined this is a Private Bill. It refers to private rights of a private organization.

For those reasons, so that our consultation is fruitful, transparent, and robust, I do not want this House to be persuaded that just because both sides support it, it is a foregone conclusion that it will be passed. The committee stage is a very important stage in the legislative scrutiny process. This Bill makes reference to certain consequential amendments that must be scrutinized by both sides before considering the third stage. The Honorable Member for Road North indicated he has read one of the consequential amendments the Bill refers to, the harbors Mr. Richardson referred to in Section 8. Section 8 amends the Ports, Harbors and Piers Act in Section 3A by adding a phrase at the end.

In review, there are other consequential amendments to follow, which must be scrutinized by both sides before proceeding to the third stage. Though it is unusual for a Bill to be unilaterally supported, this is the step we will take. Certain legislative instruments must be considered, such as the Stamp Act, the Alien Land Holding License Regulation Act, and the Registered Land Act, as alluded to by the Honorable Minister. These matters must be scrutinized through the committee stage.

The committee stage of our budget process was new, and I indicated that is how we will scrutinize legislation, especially legislation concerning land, water rights, berthing rights, and the jurisdiction's reputation regarding the sale of berths internationally. The public will be involved in the consultation process, which will be public. The first part of the committee stage will commence at the end of this sitting today. The purpose will be to set out timelines and logistics for consultation and public involvement in the scrutiny process.

Based on the required timelines, we should be in good standing for our next sitting, likely on February 10 at 10am, when the public part of the committee stage will be underway. I refer this to committee and move that it be adjourned to a full sitting of the committee commencing at the end of today's sitting and carrying over to February 10 at 10am. May we proceed?

Are there any other orders of the day? I recognise the Honourable Member from West End.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We haven't been here for a while, so I'd like to offer condolences to the family and friends of the late Shulda Thompson, originally of Guyana and a respected security guard across Anguilla. The Anglican Church and Reverend Menes Hodge. The Methodist Church lost Mr. Franklin A. Roberts and Reverend E. Dunstan Richardson.

Kenneth Brooks of Little Harbor, former Immigration Officer, Dennis Egbert Gumbs of North Hill. Romaine Carty of South Hill. Clashawn Brooks of Blowing Point. Joseph Nathan Hodge, father of the former Minister of Home Affairs, the Honourable Kenneth Hodge, and Ashley Mussington, who lived in Water Swamp and also in England.

He died in England. Madam Speaker, I would also like to publicly welcome the Attorney General to Anguilla and her husband, especially as she was a women's cricketer and lived in Hampshire. So, Madam Speaker, again to the Attorney General, thank you and your husband for choosing Anguilla. There's another issue, Madam Speaker.

Private bins throughout Anguilla on the roadside—please, I ask all persons with private or household bins to check when it is pickup time. It is usually overnight. Take your bins to the roadside and then, once emptied, please move them back. Household bins left out become public dumps, not necessarily by your neighbors but by anyone passing by.

It leaves a negative impression. There is a lot of work to be done in our ministry and the Department of Environmental Health, but much of it is the responsibility not just of staff but of the people of Anguilla. We are proud to have Anguilla rated as one of the best islands in the Caribbean, but we could do so much more if people—visitors and locals—stop tossing bottles and cans, and truck drivers transporting garbage, especially along Spring Path Road and the Jeremiah Gumbs Highway, refrain from littering.

How many times must we appeal to our people to do that, Madam Speaker?

So, Madam Speaker, I ask our people to please take pride in your area.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you for that.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and good morning. I wish a happy, healthy, and successful New Year to you, the Members of the House, those in the gallery, and the people of Anguilla. I look forward to a good year—hopefully with no hurricanes, natural disasters, or other shocks that can set us back. I wish condolences to those who have lost loved ones, especially our Foreign Minister Kenneth Hodge and his family, who have lost their father. I recently went through a similar loss with the passing of my mother and father.

Minez Hodge, Anglican Minister and one we knew well with Radio Anguilla, and also a good scout—his family, we wish heartfelt condolences, as well as to all who have lost loved ones. Madam Speaker, this brings me to the recent deaths we have had—the young man in Blowing Point and another gentleman.

The scourge of crime and violence is one we constantly deal with. We thank the Royal Anguilla Police Force and Commissioner Robert Clark for their work, but we know we must do better so we can continue to be the safest island in the Caribbean. We cannot proudly boast of that when senseless deaths are happening. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. Why aren't we doing more? We know that closed circuit TV has been budgeted for and discussed, but we still have not seen the island-wide CCTV, which would help. I joined the Premier on a trip to St. Kitts, where they have made progress with such technology.

We need to take a more active role—all hands on deck: government, opposition, community, churches, and organizations—to limit this. Every time we lose someone, we lose not only that person but their potential, especially our young men. Men in general are at risk, and we must ensure our society protects and nurtures our young men. This House is well represented by women, and in our leadership, we need to look out for young men, as they are in danger.

Thank you for this opportunity, Madam Speaker. I look forward to many good sessions where we debate the issues and bills that bring policy. I welcome the Honorable Attorney General to Anguilla and look forward to getting the help needed to move bills and policies forward for the people we represent. I thank the people of District 1 for allowing me to stand in this Honourable House. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and good morning. I wish a happy, healthy and successful New Year to you, Madam Speaker, to the members of the House, those in the gallery, and the people of Anguilla. I look forward to a good year, hopefully with no hurricanes, natural disasters or other shocks that can set us back. I would like to offer condolences to those who've lost loved ones, especially our Foreign Minister Kenneth Hodge and his family, who have lost their father.

I know the pain of such loss, having recently lost both my mother and father. Minez Hodge, Anglican Minister, was well known with Radio Anguilla and as a good scout. We wish heartfelt condolences to his family and to all who have lost loved ones. Madam Speaker, this brings me to the recent deaths we have experienced, including the young man in Blowing Point and another gentleman.

The scourge of crime and violence is one we constantly deal with. We thank the Royal Anguilla Police Force and Commissioner Robert Clark for their work, but we must do better to maintain our reputation as the safest island in the Caribbean. We cannot boast of this when senseless deaths occur. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims.

We must ask why we are not doing more. The closed circuit TV system has been budgeted for and discussed, yet we still have not seen the island-wide CCTV, which we know would help. I saw firsthand in St. Kitts how such technology and initiatives have made a difference. We need all hands on deck—not just government, but opposition, community, churches, and other organizations—to address this.

Every time we lose someone, we lose not only that person but also the potential they held, especially our young men. Madam Speaker, we must protect and nurture our young men, who are increasingly at risk. Our society must pay more attention to their well-being so that we have men who stand for good causes and purpose.

While this House is well represented by women, we must also look out for our young men. Again, thank you for this opportunity. I look forward to many good sessions where we debate issues and bills that bring policy forward. I welcome the Honourable Attorney General to Anguilla and look forward to the help needed to move bills along and enact necessary policies for our people.

I thank the people of District 1 for allowing me to stand in this Honourable House. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Speak.

Thank you. Member, I recognize the Honourable Member for Road North.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I too would like to welcome our Attorney General to Anguilla. I fear that with all the work ahead, you may not get to enjoy our beaches, and I apologize for that from the start. Welcome nonetheless. Madam Speaker, I want to offer condolences to families in my community of North Hill who have recently lost loved ones.

Mr. Dennis Gumbs passed away at the beginning of the year; condolences to his family. Also, condolences to the family of Mabel Richardson, who passed at the end of the year, and to her children and grandchildren. My community has been hit hard in recent weeks, including the passing of Zenith, a pillar in both the North Hill and Sandy Ground communities. She was deeply involved in the Zion Methodist Church and the Zion Adventurers, organizing many activities.

She was also a driving force among the Satellite Ladies, who prepared food and organized boating events. She will be missed by both communities, especially her family. I also offer condolences to the family of Mr. Kobi, who was brutally taken recently, and the family of Clashawn. I played basketball for years with Clashawn's father, Ross.

I was with a young man when he received the news of Clashawn's passing, and it was heartbreaking to see his reaction. It reminded me of when I lost my best friend tragically at 19. Such tragedies leave scars on families and communities that never fully heal. As a society, we must step up and ensure our young men know about God and the value of life.

Our country and our young men are too precious to lose. I know many of the young men affected, and it hurts deeply each time a life is lost. Condolences also to the family of our colleague, Mr. Ken Hodge. On a positive note, congratulations to all our UWI graduates, including our own in this House.

Their achievements are inspiring, especially considering the challenges they have overcome. Congratulations to all. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Member, I recognize the Honourable Member for West End.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I do not need to repeat all the condolences expressed by the Honourable Acting Premier and others, but I want to mention Zenith, who worked at the NCBA West branch. She was always pleasant and would often open the door for me at the bank. I told her she was the first lady to ever do so.

Her sudden passing was a real shock. I also worked with Zenith when she was a custodian at the Ministry of Tourism and Infrastructure. She was a wonderful person, and her loss, along with another colleague from the ministry last year, is deeply felt. I want to clarify that their passing was unrelated to the ministry, but it highlights the prevalence of cancer in Anguilla.

For a small island of 12,000 people, many have been afflicted with non-communicable diseases, especially various cancers. Some claim the rise in cancer began with the COVID vaccine in 2021, but my cousin, Dr. Lloyd Hughes, noted the high prevalence of cancers here years ago. He suggested possible reasons: changes in diet, high alcohol consumption, and the use of asbestos in many buildings. Many who worked at Radio Anguilla, for example, succumbed to cancer.

Cancer is widespread and can take lives quickly. The health department has programs to encourage healthy living and combat NCDs, but a holistic approach is needed. While personal responsibility is important, there are national measures we can take, such as taxes on unhealthy foods and banning certain additives. We have lost too many people to cancer.

Since 2003, we have also lost many to gun violence. In 2006, 10% of deaths were due to gun violence. Just yesterday, Donald Mary Tutor spoke about gun violence in Anguilla. In my class, we lost three people: Rael to cancer, Michelle Edwards to a vehicular accident, and others. Today, graduates from recent years have lost 5, 10, even 15 classmates to gun violence. The young man shot in Blowing Point on Saturday had family ties across the island, showing how interconnected we are. We are one people, one family across Anguilla.

And I meant it, you know. And she was a really pleasant lady. So you could imagine my shock when we were here in the House and I got a message last year that she had passed suddenly and it was really a shock to me. I also had the opportunity to work with Zenith. She was one of the custodians of administrative tourism and infrastructure. What a pleasant lady. I've known her for a very long time, but I got to know her even more as she worked at the ministry.

That is two of the ladies from the ministry that passed last year. It's not related to the ministry, just a natural occurrence of things. It also underscores the prevalence of cancer in this country. We are a small island of 12,000 people and so many have been afflicted with NCDs, particularly a range of cancers.

For those who claim the prevalence of cancer only started in 2021 with the COVID vaccine, I challenge that. Many years ago, my cousin Dr. Lloyd Hughes lamented the high prevalence of cancers, particularly breast, prostate, and colon cancer in Anguilla. He believed it may be due to several reasons: our diets have changed, we consume a lot of alcohol, which is carcinogenic, and many of our schools and buildings were built with asbestos. Many people who worked at Radio Anguilla succumbed to cancer.

There's a huge amount of cancer in Anguilla and it's rapid. One minute you feel fine, the next week you can be gone. The health department has different programs for NCDs, but there needs to be a holistic approach. Everyone needs to take personal responsibility for their health, but from a national standpoint, there are things we can do, like taxes on unhealthy foods.

We've lost too many people to cancer. Since 2003, we've also lost many to gun violence. In 2006, 10% lost their lives to gun violence. Just yesterday, Donald Mary Tutor was talking about gun violence in Anguilla. In our class, we've lost three people: Rael to cancer, Michelle Edwards to a vehicular accident. Today, children who graduated in recent years have lost 5, 10, 15 members of their classes to gun violence. A young man was shot in Going Point on Saturday. His father is from Point, his mother from Sundarong.

We are one people, one family across this island. I had a long conversation with Jimmy Marshman Lloyd on Saturday about athletics. He was the best at the...

Anguilla ever had.

And he was speaking about his time in high school. He lived in the Valley but he was from Boy Point. Brass Bucket. We had track and field teams. He lived in the Valley.

He headed on track field team rebellion.

Lycons of a track and field team in the Road area. But Brass Bucket is some point. We need to get away from this scourge of gun violence wherever we are. How is it that a young man can become employed tomorrow and the first thing he thinks to invest in is an illegal firearm? It's absolutely ridiculous.

My first investment on my first paycheck was a pile of blocks. We need to get back to that mindset. I don't know what it's going to take. There have been many suggestions, marches, national prayers, speaking to God, Allah, Jehovah, Haya Selassie, Buddha. We've done everything, yet young men still decide at 2am to go shoot up someone's house. We are sick and we need healing. I know where our healing is.

Going to come from.

So, Madam Speaker, I also want to offer condolences to my friend Reverend Menes Hodge. He was a bold, strong man and an excellent athlete in his youth. He was unafraid to challenge people and I appreciate all the advice he gave me over the years. We have entered 2026 and the old ways of violence continue. I hope these will be the last because they are harming the community.

We were recently deemed the safest country in the Caribbean, and we are, but safe for who? We can't be only safe for tourists. It must be from within. We have to be our brother's keeper, look out for each other, and stop killing each other. I only learned since coming to this House that Courageous is my cousin.

That is the nature of who we are. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for your time.

Thank you, Member. I recognize the Honorable Single Island Wide Member Bryan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and good morning to all the Members of this Honorable House. I want to extend healthy wishes for 2026. 2026 is looking very productive and we hope that continues. I'd also like to welcome our new Attorney General to our shores and I'm sure she will enjoy her time with us. I also extend condolences to families that have lost loved ones. It's very hard to start the year losing a loved one and I extend my sympathy to all of them. I also rise to congratulate the Anguilla Football Association for a milestone they will be celebrating on the 24th of January.

They will be changing from the Talent Development Team to the Talent Development Academy. It's a huge milestone for them and for our young footballers. They will be hosting a celebration with regional partners and coaches, and there will be a match with government officials and representatives. We invite the Opposition Members to be part of it and the public to come out and support.

The public will enjoy the presence of Single Island Wide Member Kyle Hodge as a striker, and the Member for Valley North Rogers-Webster, remembering her time as a footballer. I'll also be in the match, defending the interests of that team. We expect to see the Minister of Sports as goalkeeper or on the wing. We encourage the public to come out and enjoy this milestone and continue to encourage other associations to push for greatness.

Thank you very much.

I recognize the Honorable Member for Valley North.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I also wish to put on record my sincerest condolences to the families that have lost family members over the Christmas period and into January, particularly the young man Mr. Clashawn Gumbs. As the Member indicated, his mother is from my constituency and is a cousin. We all sympathise with this situation regarding our young men and ask that families continue to support each other in these difficult times. I also extend condolences to the family of Mr. Joseph Hodge, father of former member Mr. Kenneth Hodge, and to the family of Reverend Menes Hodge, who led a life of service to the Anguillian community as a public servant, Reverend, and core member of the Little Dix community.

I wish his family peace during this time. I also commend the members of UWI, particularly Ronequa, who recently graduated and continues to serve this House with excellence. Thank you very much.

Thank you Members. I recognize the honorable Single Island Wide Electoral District Member Rogers.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I too want to echo my condolences to the families who have lost loved ones: Mr. Hodge, Reverend Roberts, Reverend Dunson Richardson, and others mentioned by the acting Premier, especially to the family of former Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Kenneth Hodge, on the passing of his father. I single him out because he was a mentor to me at the old Cottage Hospital. We were both laboratory rats and he guided my pathway through medical technology and biomedical engineering. We had a long-lasting friendship over the years.

I extend my condolences and sympathies to his family and to all the departed and their families. That's the journey we all must take one day. We give our sympathies. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. I recognise Member Vanterpool.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish to join my colleagues in extending condolences to all who have passed as mentioned today. I particularly highlight the passing of Zenith, a treasured member of the MICUH team. Prior to becoming minister, I interacted with her at Malliouhana, where she was truly a warm person and developed a close relationship with her. She would always stop by my office for her daily hug. She will be missed, as will all others who have passed.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected families. I also congratulate the recent graduates from the University of the West Indies, especially Ronequa and others, and wish continued success to those still pursuing their studies. All the best in the year ahead. Thank you.

Thank you Members. I recognize Honourable Member Hodge.

Thank you. I too want to join colleagues in the House to extend condolences to families. The list is long, Madam Speaker, so I won't attempt to name everyone, but I extend condolences to all. Families usually bond together to keep each other strong. I want to particularly speak to the young people.

I'm still relatively young and understand how community is supposed to operate. In my time, I sat on my block and kept out of trouble because I had first-hand experience and learned the need to avoid bad decisions. My appeal is to every community in Anguilla to work toward rebuilding our communities. What exists today is not what we knew in years gone by.

When my mother went to work and four or five children were home without a guardian, the immediate neighbor got involved, even if not a relative. That is not the case today. Neighbors are not living neighborly, and communities are not as they should be. Each community in Anguilla has its challenges, but each can resolve these issues if we return to how communities lived in the past.

It is the responsibility of each of us to speak to our young people, meet them in their spaces, give them guidance, nurture, and care. It starts with us being good neighbors and building strong communities that look out for each other. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you Member. If there are no other contributions, I invite a Member to move that this House be adjourned. I am proposing the adjourn date to the 10th of February.

Madam Speaker, I move that the House be adjourned to February 10th at 10am.

Madam Speaker, I rise to second that motion.

It has been moved and seconded that this Honourable House stands adjourned until the 10th of February at 10am. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed say no. The ayes have it. This House stands adjourned.