Anguilla Jobs and Health Care

by John Albright
(New York, NY)

This Living in Anguilla section is interesting. I have never visited Anguilla but found your site by searching for "best Caribbean island."

I have been thinking of leaving the U.S. for a variety of reasons. Two big questions:

Are there jobs available?

What is healthcare like?

Ken's Answer

John, Anguilla is indeed "the best Caribbean island." No wonder you found it!

However, you'll have to bring your own job. Like any country, priority is given to its own citizens. If you have some unique skill, you could visit and try to find a company that would want to employ you, securing a work permit for you.

If you earn a living on your own computer, you may also be able to find a way here, although it's not easy right now. Contact Eustella Fontaine, our Anguilla attorney, for details.

And regarding Anguilla Health Care, basic health care is fine, with North American trained doctors on island. One trained at the same university and hospital that I did (McGill University in Montreal).

That said, you should be in decent health when you move here. The local doctors and hospital do a good job with regular medical problems. But for life-threatening emergencies such as accidents, strokes, etc., you will be med-evac'd to Miami or Puerto Rico.

For the same reason, if you are 70 years old and have a cardiac condition, you probably would prefer to live in a major city, near a top-tier teaching hospital.

So what to do? My suggestion if you are a "typical boomer in decent health"...

I'm 57 years old and in generally good condition. I bought private worldwide medical insurance so have access to top medical care for serious ailments. For emergencies, I realistically take a small chance that I may not survive (in transit to Miami, for example) an emergency that I might have, say, if I was living in a major European or American city.

But, then again, I may not have survived living in Canada much longer. That cold weather led to frequency illnesses and 7 months of winter was getting pretty darn depressing.

All in all, I'm healthier here. And happier. :-)

Job Listings in Anguilla

by Jeff and Alice
(UK)

We are UK citizens that are interested in relocating to Anguilla. Could you recommend any sites or newspapers that list job opportunities there?

Thanks a lot!

Jeff and Alice

Reply From Dad:

The Government of Anguilla does list its job openings. Aside from that, there are no sites that list jobs available in Anguilla.

The Labor Department, which is in The Valley, does have a bulletin board with job openings tacked to it. As in most countries, though, employment is generally "Anguillians-first," especially in the current economy.

If you have a unique skill for a job opening (one that no Anguillian can fill), you could get a job in Anguilla. Your potential employer would normally help you get the necessary work permit.

The Catch-22, of course, is how you can you know about these openings unless you are here? Right now, there is no site that pulls all openings into one spot on the Web.

You could do a search at Google for "job listings in anguilla" (Viceroy current shows come openings) or "jobs in Anguilla." You will find some sites with job listings in various Caribbean countries, including Anguilla.

Or do similar searches for "jobs in" any specific business in Anguilla that you may be thinking about (ex., hotels, restaurants, etc).

LinkedIn may also be of help.

Overall, though, your best approach is to have your own job, one that is mobile (i.e., you work through your laptop). Here is a page that discusses "mobile workers" in Anguilla. And, of course, you could always start your own business in Anguilla.

Hope this helps!

Jobs In Anguilla

by S. Smith
(US Virgin Island)

With the economy as such, what are job options like in Anguilla?

I'm currently employed at a public utility company making $37k.

Ken's ReplyYou must be ready to provide your own job here in Anguilla. If a job can be performed by an Anguillian, as in most countries around the world, you won't be given a work permit for that Anguillian job.

And, right now, given the global recession, there are not enough jobs to go around, I'm afraid. So... hold onto your job.

But do come by and say hello. Anguilla is a great place to play, not just to work! :-)

Anguilla Jobs - Opportunities?

by Jimena
(Bermuda)

How can I get a job in Anguilla?

I'm from Ecuador, originally. My sister just graduated as a chef in Argentina,

I would love to get a job in Anguilla for her.

Will you please provide me with some names of agencies or newspapers (classifieds), where I can search for a job.


Ken's Reply: Please see the home page of Living in Anguilla for general information on Anguilla jobs.

In general, if a job can be done by an Anguillian, you won't be given a work permit which means you can't get an Anguilla job. Also, there are not enough Anguilla jobs to go around, given the current recession.

So it's not the easiest challenge to overcome.

That said, Anguilla looks like it's heading for a strong 2010-2011 tourist season. And it sounds like your sister has a unique skill, an Argentinean chef.

You might want to take a classified ad in The Anguillian, Anguilla's newspaper. Or contact Anguilla restaurants directly.

You never know. If you find a restaurant that needs your sister's skill, they may apply for a work permit for her. Or an Anguillian might see the ad and want to start a restaurant with your sister -- hey, I'd love to see a great Argentinean steak house here. ;-)

I don't know of any job agencies in Anguilla, sorry.

Needs For Medical Services In Anguilla?

by Christiaan
(LLoydminster,Alberta,Canada)

Can you tell me if Anguilla needs doctors?

I am a medical doctor in Alberta, Canada and work in a well established Group practice.

I am doing quite well here, but am considering a warmer climate for some time in the winter. I have colleagues here, too, who might also be interested.

Is there a win-win scenario possible here?

Dad's Reply

Anguilla has an adequate supply of family doctors.

We do need specialists here, but the population of Anguilla is not large enough to support them. So they generally come to Anguilla on a periodic basis (ex., once per month), for a day or 2, during which time all patients for that specialist are booked.

For more information, contact my good friend (and our family doctor), Dr. Clyde Bryan. Dr. Bryan went to McGill Med School and trained at the Jewish General Hospital, one of Montreal's best hospitals.

Curiously, although I worked at the JGH for many years, I only met Dr. Bryan here in Anguilla! But that's another story.

He is located in the Atlantic Star Center (anguillamed.com). Their phone number: 264 497-0765

Anguilla is a wonder place to live, by the way. I woke up this morning (Jan 9) to a blue sky, waves, warm weather and a trade wind breezing over me. I'm doing a little computer work now, but will go shortly for an afternoon BBQ at one of our favorite restaurant/beach combinations for the afternoon.

It sure beats Canada's weather. As I told my wife Janice after watering my cactus collection (hasn't rained for a while now, so they needed it!), "I don't think we'll ever get used to this."

You are also more freehere. Much less regulated, near-zero taxes, and so on.

If we want a change of scenery, the "French Riviera in the Caribbean," St. Martin is a 20 minute ferry away. Great shopping and eating.

And non-stop flights from the Dutch side, St. Maarten, will take you to Paris, Panama City, San Juan, Miami and many American cities (if you ever need a dose of city living).

So your instincts are good. I do suggest you call Dr. Bryan (tell him I suggested it).

I hope it works out for you. :-)

Teaching in Anguilla

by Tammy P.
(Tennessee)

I am a middle school teacher with a Master's degree but certified to teach any grade K-8 in the United States.

Are teachers in demand in Anguilla and at what salary?

Also, how expensive are the private schools?

Janice's Answer Tammy, I volunteer at an after-school program (Blowing Point Youth Center) to provide Anguillian children with supplemental teaching. So Ken gave this one to me. :-)

I asked friend who is the Permanent Secretary for Education. She told that Anguilla does not currently have any teaching
vacancies. If some occur, they usually arise closer to the end of the school year.

She added that "Anguilla does need teachers in the technical and vocational areas here in Anguilla."

Sorry, but there does seem to be much need of teachers. If you have vocational and technical teaching abilities, you may have an opportunity. Contact the Ministry of Education.

Hope this helps. In general, most jobs that can be done by Anguillians, are done by Anguillians. Specialized work would be an exception, of course.

If you have mobile skills that enable you to earn income remotely while living here, that may be a good possibility.

Hope this helps, but I'm afraid this may not be what you wanted to hear.

Oh yes...

Just to make you feel a little better... You would not consider the salary to be very good, compared to US salaries. Omolulu and Christian Baptist are the only private schools. Contact them directly for up-to-date fee information.

Some children also go to private school in St. Martin, taking the boat each way, each day. Our younger daughter, Yuki, did that. It was expensive, but an excellent experience.

Plumber from England

by Mike K.
(Manchester, England)

Hello,

I am a plumber from England and I would love to live in Anguilla. How hard would it be for me to do so?

Thanking you in advance for any advice you may have,

Mike K.


Answer from Ken

Wouldn't you know it? This is the first question about living in Anguilla and I don't know the answer! I'll do my best to share my experience, though.

Like most countries, if your immigration is going to result in you taking the job of someone who can already provide that service, you'll have more trouble. So if you lived in any other country in the world, I would say that it's going to be tough for you to live in Anguilla.

However, Anguilla is an Overseas Territory of the U.K. And you are an English citizen, I assume. I don't know how mobile that makes you in terms of moving here.

Check with our attorney, Eustella (see above). Or, if anyone else reads this and knows the answer, please pitch in and give Mike a hand.