Letter To The Editor

The Editor
The Anguillian Newspaper
Anguilla

May 23, 2007

Dear Sir,

On May 2nd 2007, Anguilla National Tourism Investment Limited (ANTIL) an Anguillian corporation which defines one of its goals as ensuring that Anguillians maintain and expand their position of power and influence in the economic affairs of this country, wrote two letters to the Chief Minister requesting as follows:
a) That Government be more transparent and open with the people of Anguilla in the matter of the sale of Cap Juluca and to hold town hall meetings on the matter; and
b) That Government takes necessary steps at this time to inform and enlighten Anguillians on the matter of public acquisition.

The letter concerning educating the community about public acquisition extended an invitation to the Government to jointly host with ANTIL a public lecture on the subject, in a Town Hall meeting setting. The other letter raising concern about the need for more transparency and openness in relation to its conditions for sale of Cap Juluca, called on the Government to hold town hall meetings on the subject as an urgent matter. In such meetings Government would be able to report on its intentions and the terms and conditions it requires prospective buyers of the Resort to meet, in its negotiations with them. It would be able to report also on the progress of specific negotiations and the terms it proposes to accept prior to a decision by the Executive Council. The town hall meetings would enable the people to give feedback on its proposals and intenetions.

After three weeks ANTIL is still awaiting a response from Government. In the meantime we are aware that communication continues to be initiated by Government with GENCOM the US based corporation which is in negotiation with Government on the purchase of Cap Juluca.

Government’s actions in this latest interaction with ANTIL are embarrassingly consistent with its past actions toward ANTIL. ANTIL and some of its members have been snubbed, insulted, vilified and pulled down by some members of this Government in private and in public meetings to such an extent that many people have been given the impression that self-interest and the enrichment of its members rather than the economic empowerment of the people of Anguilla are the objectives of ANTIL.

It is blindingly obvious that some members of Government have never suggested that groups like ANTIL should be encouraged to be aggressive in seeking to be fully involved in the present and future economic progress of Anguilla. And this is despite the fact that Anguillians have proven themselves capable of so much including the success of Cap Juluca.

Unfortunately in the case of ANTIL’s efforts all that is heard from Government is that:
a) Freidland has a contract for sale with GENCOM which precludes his dealing with ANTIL (that contract expired several weeks ago).
b) ANTIL should do other things and cease meddling in the Cap Juluca matter and
c) ANTIL has no money.

Government has kept a tight lid on what is happening with Cap Juluca and therefore the public is completely uninformed on the current status of its negotiations with GENCOM. It is also tight lipped on public acquisition it received from a very highly respected Caribbean lawyer whom it hired to prepare that opinion.

ANTIL is greatly alarmed at what appears to be a dismissive, degrading and disrespectful attitude on the part of the Chief Minister towards ANTIL as well as towards other Anguillian institutions and individuals seeking actively to advance the economic and social development and empowerment of all Anguillians.

ANTIL is of the view that the Chief Minister should recognise his responsibility as an elected official to those who elected him and as the political leader of the country to the people as a whole and should demonstrate his respect for his Office by according matters of importance the attention they are due. In other words ANTIL’s deserves a response to the two letters addressed to the Chief Minister in good faith.

ANTIL sees it as necessary to inform the entire Anguillian community about the unsatisfactory way in which the Chief Minister is treating this matter and its great disappointment at the Chief Minister’s dismissive attitude to vocal Anguillians and Anguillian institutions that appear to hold position different from his own on major matters of national importance.

Aluta continua ! The Struggle Continues!

ANTIL