Articles from April 2011



You Should Try Anguilla!!

If you are looking for a peaceful vacation, home, or just to enjoy a really laid back period in your life, Anguilla is the place to relax in serene tranquility.

The island is small – 35 square miles and offers 1 beach for each square mile.  There is no other Caribbean island offering a ratio of 1:1 when it comes to the island’s size and number of beautiful beaches – this is what makes Anguilla the No. 1 destination in the Caribbean.

The island is shaped like an eel flat and long – no mountains.  Yes, bikers, joggers appreciate Anguilla’s shape as they can walk and ride for hours and not get really tired because there are no hills to climb.  And more people are loving it in Anguilla because the beaches are sparsely populated – making one feel as if he is on his own beach (or island) all day long with so much sun and sand – it’s awesome.

When you think about going down town in most Caribbean Islands, visitors and natives alike think about shopping from store to store all in the same area.  Anguillians build their businesses where they have access to family land therefore business places are found almost anywhere in Anguilla.  And, with no public transportation, this makes it necessary to have a car and perhaps that’s why there is a ratio of 3:1 in relation to cars per household.

Car Rental Companies on Anguilla can definitely survive as there is so much to see and explore on this beautiful island and everything is scattered -   The Heritage Collection Museum is in East End, the Big Spring is in Island Harbour, The Fountain is in Brimigin, and the gift shops too are scattered all over the island.

The Anguilla National Trust offers a wealth of knowledge to visitors with regard to wildlife on the island and conservation and environmental strategies all which help to mold our ecotourism into the product Anguilla has to present to the world at large.  Names of plants on the island can be identified and their uses, the types of bird species known to Anguilla, wet lands visitors from other Caribbean islands and as far afield as Canada – this type of information and data is available at the Anguilla National Trust,

Recently two small shopping complex buildings housing a variety of stores have been built in an effort to centralize access to fashion shoes, clothing, jewellery, and services – just to name a few.  With St. Maarten within such close proximity to Anguilla, some people prefer to hop on the Ferry for a 18 – 20 minute boat ride to shop in St. Maarten as a wider variety of these type of items are available.

Agriculture is like non-existent on Anguilla as the soil does not lend itself to food production.  With help from the Agriculture Department with new strategies and workshops by personnel from neighbouring countries, the urge to plant something in the backyard is multiplying.

There are no factories or distillers on the island resulting in the possibility to breathe in fresh air throughout the island.  There is the occasional burning of a coal keel now and again but visitor’s enjoy the art as it provides local charcoal which makes a tastier barbecue rib, chicken or kebab.

As this limited food production can never meet the satisfaction of the needs of the island, Anguilla depends heavily on imported goods.  At most hotels and restaurants, almost everything needed for food preparation is imported from St. Maarten or other countries.

Anguilla separated from the Federation of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla in December 1987.  It was then when Anguilla voted to return to British Dependency and remained in that category until this day.

No man is an island and that speaks volume for Anguilla.  Together, the people of Anguilla send out an irresistible aroma of warmth, caring and loving people.  This smiles as they are approached – whether it is for directions, business or pleasure the mannerism is always the same – welcoming.  They are never moody – so easily approachable and willing to help.