The Government of Anguilla has drafted a law to establish a corporate body that will oversee the development, promotion and management of festivals.
The bill for the Festivals Development Commission Act, 2025 was read a first time and tabled before the Anguilla House of Assembly on 11 November.
On 10 November, culture minister Shellya Rogers-Webster told a press conference that the Executive Council had approved the act a week prior.
We’re not owned by shareholders or wealthy investors. Members help fund our independent work. Click here to join Anguilla Focus from $3/month.
“This was a great achievement, certainly for me as minister. It is something that I have believed in for quite a number of years, long before I got into to active politics,” she said.
“So I’m very proud that this Festivals Development Commission Act is being passed under my tenure here as minister.”
She explained that following its first parliamentary reading, it will go out to consultations before returning to the Anguilla House of Assembly for debate on 25 November.
“We are hoping that it will be immediately passed on that date,” she said.
“We will appoint the board immediately after the passage of the legislation, and we will start the recruitment process of three operation members of staff immediately thereafter.”
She said her ministry will be “working aggressively” over the next few weeks to ensure that the new Festivals Development Commission is up and running for 2026.
The act establishes that the commission’s purpose is to develop festivals into economically viable, culturally significant and widely promoted events while preserving their heritage and creative products.
It also mandates that the commission nurtures local talent, supports cultural development programmes, and operates with sound corporate governance.
The law empowers the commission to manage, regulate, promote and fund festivals, including licensing, marketing, commercial activities and intellectual property management.
It also allows the body to conduct events, provide facilities, engage in national and international collaborations, and encourage private sector and tourism involvement.
Anguilla is renowned for its vibrant Anguilla Summer Festival, held annually in late July and early August, among other events which celebrate the island’s culture, music and heritage.
Read the bill for the Festivals Development Commission Act, 2025 in full here.
