Editorial

In some international communities, and probably right on our doorsteps, where governments are less mindful about the impact of their laws on the people, it might seem strange that in Anguilla the citizenry demand to have a say in the making of some of the legislation governing their territory.

We here in Anguilla can say with a great sense of pride that, despite complaints by some persons not altogether familiar with the system or its regulations, our electoral process is free and fair as it can possibly be under the present prevailing circumstances.

Just the other day it was stated that Anguilla had come of age with other territories and countries world-wide as a result of the introduction of new Customs Forms whereby all persons entering the island would be required to declare imported items in their possession.

In all of its writings, The Anguillian had never headlined any editorial comment or other article with a question mark but, in this case, the matter at hand appears to make it a necessary choice of expression.

The 18th Annual Conference of Attorneys General of the UK Overseas Territories in Anguilla, this week, could not have come at a more appropriate time. It is not that it holds out anything in particular for this island more than all the other territories which, like us, are under the watchful, and hopefully, caring eyes of the British Government.

The overall situation in Anguilla today is more demanding and troublesome than in any other period since the dark and uncertain days, just over 40 years ago, when the people of the island threw out the Bradshaw regime and took control of their own affairs.

Two steps have been taken which, if successful in their objectives, can be of much value in promoting discipline and social development in Anguilla.

Voters in societies where aspirants to political leadership are presenting themselves have become very wary and critical these days of low level electioneering, as it relates to maligning other candidates in an effort to score some cheap shots and probably get a few votes in the process.

The swift action by the Ministry of Health and Social Development advising the people of Anguilla about the Swine Flu, now spreading across the world, is not only timely, but responsible and commendable.

The appointment of His Excellency William Alistair Harrison, CVO, as Governor of Anguilla, opens a new chapter of governance of the island between Britain and the locally Elected Representatives.

In the early days when Anguilla was told by the British Government that it had been taken off the list of grant-aided territories, Franklin Connor, then Financial Secretary, told the House of Assembly that the people of the island must learn to live by their wits. Actually, it wasn’t anything new to them because, historically, being an enterprising and resilient people, in the face of hardship and economic deprivation, they had long been accustomed to eke out a living by doing just that.

It is a serious and dangerous problem when the territorial integrity of a country is disrespected and that is what is now happening in Anguilla with what appears to be an increasing number of illegal entries. Ever so often one hears of cases where persons are found on the island with no record of ever entering Anguilla though an official port of entry and the question is always the same: exactly how did they make their way onto our shores? Cove Bay, Forest Bay and Little Harbour, where boats of some kind or other can easily come in from St.Martin, are the principal areas where persons are either illegally dropped off by others or land themselves.

It was with a sense of insecurity and perhaps a measure of trepidation that the news was received in Anguilla last week of the decision of the British Government to suspend the Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands and take over the Ministerial responsibilities of the elected Government by Order-in-Council.

The legislated holiday for all schools in Anguilla as a tribute to the island’s Revolutionary Leader and Father of the Nation, James Ronald Webster, and observed on his birthday, is a noble honour to him, but something appears to be very wrong with how that significant holiday is celebrated.

It is a good feeling that, apart from a few related matters that came up in the Anguilla House of Assembly on Tuesday this week, Government and Opposition were united in passing the Community College Bill. Indeed, it ought to be a non-controversial issue when any country comes up with an innovative and workable plan to establish a higher and broader level of education for its citizenry as part of its social development objectives and the forward movement of its people.

It is difficult for Government, the people of Anguilla or anyone else concerned with the general economic wellbeing of the island, to adopt a wait-and see stance in the face of the continued closure of the Flag Project and not to really inquire into what the true situation is. The coming meeting on Monday, February 23, involving the Government, the financiers and developers of the project and representatives of the owners of the residences, is not only timely but absolutely necessary and should have taken place long ago.

The Government’s move this week to raise well-needed public finances from the sale of Treasury Bills and Development Bonds, is both new to Anguilla and its people and a bold and imaginative effort in these times of financial and economic difficulty across the world.

Think about how much the global financial and economic situation is already impacting Anguilla, causing so much stress and uncertainty to a myriad of businesses, workers, their families and the Government in terms of livelihood and revenue collections respectively. Add to that concern the crime situation which is threatening to further worsen the plight of this small island state as it struggles somehow to move forward.

Week after week the Chief Minister tells the people of Anguilla, through his Tuesday press conference, that if only the construction work on the Flag Project were to be re-commenced it would go a long way towards solving some of the island’s employment and financial woes.

The just-published book, God Bless Our Forebears, by local historian, Colville Petty, provides insightful glimpses into the struggles and resilience of the Anguillian people of whom he wrote about in the periods covered by the book. Our people then demonstrated a great deal of courage and strength and were prepared to die in the land they loved rather than to be moved to British Guiana by Britain in the days of the great economic depression.