The current consultations with respect to two projects, the proposed expansion of Altamer Resort in the western end of the island and the Savannah Bay project in the east, have provided yet another opportunity for the people to have a say in the development of their island.

Such consultations started in May this year when the Government was then giving favourable consideration and approval in principle to the Junks Hole tourism project which, though extremely large, was welcomed by many persons who wanted to see some development in the bereft eastern end of the island at last. As it turned out, much to the disappointment of the landowners in particular, this project, though agreed to by Government, is being delayed under the provisions of a recently-announced moratorium on big foreign tourism investments requiring, among other matters, a large workforce unavailable in Anguilla.

The good thing about these and other consultations is that, despite the divergent views and comments they evoke, they preserve the democratic process and give the people of Anguilla a sense of involvement in the affairs of their island. Not to give them that opportunity can result in misunderstandings and other social difficulties. As seen by the embattled Physical Planning Bill, which has met with serious public opposition, there is much concern among the people when it comes to land issues and Government ought to be aware that it must tread cautiously.

Marcel Fahie put the matter in good perspective when he described the consultations as “democracy at work”. He further pointed out that major projects will have major impacts within the economy and society. Some of those impacts will be positive – jobs will be created, people will earn income and Government will collect revenue; but there will also be negative impacts on the physical environment which the environmental impact assessors will identify. Another matter, these projects may also have psychological and social impacts, one example being the alienation of land which, when sold today, can be regretted later on.

It is therefore a good idea to take the projects to the public before a final agreement is arrived at between the Government and the developer. The consultations give the developer an opportunity to outline his project, and Government can speak to its benefits, threats and other issues from an environmental, social and cultural impact standpoint. In turn, members of the public can voice their support for the project or identify areas of concern.

The feedback to Government can include such matters as the amount of land which should be made available to a developer, the conditions under which he may access the land such as by complete freehold sale, a combination of sale and leasing or an arrangement whereby the landowner and the developer may have a shared interest in the property.

The consultations can also provide useful feedback on a number of other related or unrelated matters which can be addressed by Government to further understanding and peaceful co-existence on the island between nationals and those developers living among us. Members of the public must not miss the opportunity to express themselves during the consultations while democracy, freedom of expression and the upholding of their rights are alive and well in Anguilla. Times are rapidly changing and, like everything else, democracy too can become a thing of the past. God forbid that this will ever happen in Anguilla.

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