Editorial

One cannot but marvel about the fleeting time and sometimes how we are really unaware of it until a new year has dawned upon us.

Anguilla and the rest of the world are poised at the back door of a fleeting year and at the threshold of a fast approaching one. For us and everybody else it is a time for reflection and hope. Looking at our own situation, the outgoing year has been a challenging one. Recovery from the impacts on our economy and financial position by world events, and perhaps by our own failings has been slow. The result has been a lessening of employment opportunities and a reduction of our purchasing power.

The one hour and a half presentation of the national budget for 2003 in the Anguilla House of Assembly by the Minister of Finance on Tuesday December 10, appears to call on the people of the island to tighten their belts as was suggested last year.

We occasionally hear about certain unlawful acts in some parts of the world in reaction to incidents which have an emotional effect on persons for one reason or another. For instance, a soccer match lost by one team may erupt into an uncalled for demonstration, rampage or even worse scenarios orchestrated by disappointed or aggrieved supporters. While their disappointment may be understood, this does not give them a license to break the law and thus become liable to prosecution for committing an offence.