It has taken many years for an Anguillian to be formally appointed to the post of Deputy Governor, and it has come long after the neighbouring Overseas Territories of BVI and Montserrat have had their own Deputy Governors in office, much to the envy of Anguilla.

The appointment this week of Stanley Reid, a very capable and qualified young Anguillian, has dismissed the myth held in some quarters that the Constitution needed to be amended to localise the post. It was simply for the Anguilla Government to earnestly contend for the appointment and for the British Government to accede to the wishes of the Anguillian leaders and people. Chief Minster Osbourne Fleming now says that he made that demand last year and the appointment this week is a fulfilment of that request.

Now that an Anguillian has been appointed, it calls for both commitment to the task by Mr. Reid, the holder of the post, and the strong support of the people of the island who were clamouring for the localising of the post. First must come the burden of the job in which Mr. Reid must work tirelessly for Anguilla and its people in the exercise of his functions. While he has his own trail to chart, he can take some of the fine leadership qualities and determination of his father that will help him in his developing career.

After he takes on and faithfully carries out the burden and earns the respect and support of the populace, then will come the glory of the post.

We join in wishing Mr. Reid every success in his new appointment and thank a number of former public servants who served admirable in the acting post of Deputy Governor over the years. Their temporary appointments were an indication that some day the job would be fully localised. That day has now arrived.

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