On many fronts 2004, which is still only days old, is going to be a challenging year not just for Anguilla and its Caribbean neighbours but the world at large. The thing about this region is that whatever affects the international scene impacts squarely on the economies and peoples of this area and all of a sudden we realise how dependent we are on the outside countries and how vulnerable we are when they falter. The saying is true that when America sneezes, the rest of the world (and certainly the Caribbean region in particular) catches a cold.

We in Anguilla and the Caribbean, though regarded as safe zones, can hardly take comfort from that fact if there is fear of travel from the tourism markets, particularly the United States. This is a real concern to the small economies in this region where tourism is largely the main vehicle for economic growth and employment. It is hoped that the current state of alert affecting international aircraft operations with respect to fear of terrorism will abate and that everywhere protective measures will ensure that travel is safe for all – whatever it takes to guarantee this whether air marshals or more stringent ground-handling precautions.
In certain circumstances, we may not be able to do much about matters impacting us from outside, but we can certainly do something on our home front to help ourselves. One of the things we can do in Anguilla is to safeguard our reputation as an exclusive tourism destination where not only our facilities and services are par excellence, but where crime is negligible or non-existent and our people continue to be hospitable and kind. There are many matters still to be addressed in Anguilla. The question of the expansion of Wallblake Airport and the complications that have developed, have to be sorted out and perhaps some adjustments and work can commenced for the time being. There is the Constitution and Electoral Reform process to be completed; the virgin Health Authority of Anguilla to take root to address the varied issues of health care; and employment opportunities for our growing labour force. And just over a year from now, there will be a general election to face for the continued leadership and advancement of the island.
With the New Year just started, it is a good time to draw up a set of personal resolutions defining how each of us could in some small way contribute to the way forward for our island and people. We need to come together to grapple with the problems that beset and bedevil us and find solutions that will stand the test of time. To be too late tomorrow is to lose the opportunity that may be ours today.

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News