It was just a week on Tuesday, July 3, after the first demonstrations on June 26 and 27 that the protests flared up again. This time the situation appeared more explosive. Much to the relief of all concerned, however, a new agreement to end the crisis was announced as twilight settled over the Government Secretariat compound where hundreds of Indian workers and sympathising Anguillians had converged.
Last week’s demonstrations in The Valley saw a number of Anguillians expressing support for the Indians who complained that they could not live on US$180 per month; that they had concerns about food and water and that many of them were sick and needed medical attention. The support of the Anguillians this week was likewise very strong.

Joyce Kentish-Egan, other lawyers addressing Indians

Having aired their complaints last week, the Indian workers eventually returned to work. This followed a full day of discussions among government officials, representatives of the workers, their employer, Carillion Construction (West Indies) Ltd (the contractor for the Viceroy project) and other persons.

Mass section of Indian Workers at Secretariat

A Government release stated that the negotiations resulted in an interim arrangement for a time table to resolve the workers’ grievances. Government expressed gratitude in particular to Dame Bernice Lake QC and Rev. Dr. H. Clifton Niles “for their wise counsel and advice” and Vijay Sharma for his translation assistance. Lolita Davis, a member of the Anguilla Human Rights Committee, agreed to monitor the progress of the agreements between the workers and Carillion Construction.

Indians walking in single file in the West End area towards The Valley

But whatever went wrong, the Indian workers were demonstrating again on Tuesday, July 3. The main cause was given in a broadcast by Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, on that day. He said that on Monday, July 2, the legal representatives of the workers informed the Government that their discussions with the employer had broken down. He stated that the lawyers “felt that Carillion was not prepared to accept or discuss their proposal that the cash element of the workers’ compensation in the lower grades be doubled.”

Indians walking in single file in the West End area towards The Valley

And so the Indians marched again this week Tuesday. They were stopped at West End by the police on the basis that they did not have permission to march. They were later permitted to do so in single file following an application on their behalf by Lawyer Josephine Gumbs-Connor. Thus the Indians overcame a police attempt to stop them on their way up to The Valley; took up sitting and standing positions just below the General Post Office, many of them sitting in the gruelling sun. They remained hungry all day, refusing to eat until their demands were met. Large groups of Anguillians stood around, giving their support and any possible assistance to the foreign workers.

The Indian march to The Valley continuing

By late evening the crowd had swollen considerably and had moved to the grounds of the Secretariat where a long meeting was in progress involving the Government, legal representatives from the private Bar and from the Attorney General’s Chambers, personnel from Carillion Construction, the Viceroy project and others.

Some time after a public address system was set up the officials and negotiators at the meeting emerged from the Chief Minister’s Conference Room onto the steps of the Secretariat Building to address the crowd in the grey light.

Barrister-at-Law Joyce Kentish-Egan, one of the three private legal representatives for the Indian workers, was the first to speak as follows:

“It has been a long day today for everybody involved but we are pleased to stand here this evening and announce that Carillion has agreed to meet the workers’ request in the categories which we were agitating for the 100 percent increase. Those working for $180 will now receive $360 per month. Those working for $250 will now receive $500 per month. Those working for $350 will now receive $700 per month. Those working for $400 will now receive $800 per month.
“Workers, please let us underscore that we were acting as the legal representatives of the Indian workers and acting under instructions. These were their instructions to us. They said they would be satisfied with this result. We have repeatedly sought to underscore what those instructions were and we feel that we have delivered them [the workers] exactly what their instructions were.

“If at the end of the day there is any problem, we do not expect there would be any issue coming from the Indian community. Let us say in the midst of this that we have to represent what transpired fairly. When we informed the Government and Ministers what the request was from yesterday, they were steadfast that the request was reasonable and had to be met.
“We were in intense negotiations all this afternoon and from the Chief Minister down in term of the Ministers, they were all steadfast that the request had to be met. It was not an easy situation in there for the Ministers and for the legal representatives because Carillion, Pampush and Viceroy saw things a bit differently. Very naturally they were concerned about their bottom line. We can say that insofar that this result has been achieved, it was because that in these circumstances your political representatives stood their ground steadfastly and we are asking for the Anguillian public to acknowledge their efforts on this occasion and we would ask that those efforts be firmly recognised and acknowledged.”

A crowd of supporting Anguillians, west of the Post Office

She then called on Vijay Sharma, to translate the agreement announcement for the benefit of the Indian workers. Shouts of acceptance went up from both the Indians and the Anguillian groups when they heard what had transpired.

Chief Minister Fleming told the gathering that from the time the Government was given a schedule of the proposed pay increases by the legal representatives, the Government took the position there and then to support those increases. “We have always been concerned, like everyone else, although people think otherwise (laughter and catcalls),” he said. “However, we are glad that we came to this conclusion and that peace prevails and the workers can go back to their jobs. We thank all the persons who were involved in this conclusion tonight and we hope that things will run smoothly from now on.”

A section of the Indian workers at Emmanuel Webster’s building west of the Post Office

Barrister-at-Law, Paulette Harrigan, the second private legal representative involved in the negotiations, then spoke. “I want to thank the Anguillian public for coming out and voicing their concerns and supporting their fellow workers in Anguilla,” she stated. “This has been a very good action because it has opened the eyes of our Government representatives that more Anguillians need to be on these projects and that we need to be trained and that we cannot be put to the side. It has also brought to light that we must maintain a clear wage for all workers in Anguilla.

“We have worked hard to resolve the situation and it could not have been resolved without the support of our Government’s representatives and that is in all fairness to them. We now wish that the Anguillian public remains vigilant on all matters relating to Anguillian life and that in this instance we all peacefully disperse and think proud to be Anguillians and to be unique and to always stand for our rights (cheers).”

Mrs Kentish-Egan returned to the microphone. “We would like to reinforce that our mandate as was given to us is now complete,” she said. “We feel together with the Ministers of Government, who have been steadfast in their position, that what the workers have requested, the workers must get.

“If it were not for the steadfastness of the Government, we may have come away with nothing and the workers may have been faced with repatriation and we do not believe that that is what they anticipated at all; better this circumstance than repatriation.

“So fellow Anguillians, applaud the result this evening as a victory for our guests in our midst. Cheer for them and on their behalf.”

The third private legal representative involved in the negotiations was Barrister-at-Law Josephine Gumbs-Connor.

“I stand here with you today as I have always stood,” she told the listening crowd. “I want to say very clearly that I appreciate the action of Anguillians (applause). It shows that we have compassion at heart and that we are not going to allow any person – whether you are of Indian or any other race – to suffer in any respect in our country.

“I think it is important to note that the Indians felt themselves disenfranchised and they came to Anguillians with a mandate. They were unhappy and they presented through their representatives what were the terms that would make them happy in our country. They gave us good terms and we ourselves as Anguillians thought that what they asked for was reasonable and it was on that basis that we all stood with them in making sure that their complaints were heard.

“It has been a week to the day and we are able to say that as a result of the Government (a) recognising that this was a serious issue (b) recognising that they had to stand up to foreign investors in this country, [that] those twin forces, coupled with the fact that you as Anguillians were prepared to take the long road on this one [that the agreement was reached]. I want you all to understand that in my view we have come away with 100 percent success.

“We are lawyers and our clients came to us and based on what they asked for, we are able to this evening deliver everything that they have asked for (applause). It must be clear that when we look at what they were asking for we must factor in account the other benefits, the other areas of their package. And whatever we feel in terms of the value of that package, we are now satisfied that the treatment that these workers are now getting as a result of this increased pay, put them in a better scale.

“I wish to thank you, the Anguillian public also, in the matter of how the events transpired this morning. I thank you for the restraint that you had in making sure that people were not hurt and I thank you for your commitment to ensure that that peaceful protest was going to continue.

“It was a result of those two things why today we really feel that this matter has been resolved insofar as the Indians are concerned. We all know as Anguillians we have our own ideas as to our country, where we are going etc; but I think that today was a defining moment for all foreign investors coming to our shores to show the power of the people (applause).

“I think, members of the public, that we are going to be making arrangements for our Indian workers to get back to their site; they need to have a meal and they have done better than most of us because they refused to eat until their matter was solved. I am pleased to note that we as Anguillians have delivered on our commitment on what they asked us to do. I think our Government has stood on this scenario and ensured that they are now in a category in which we consider them to be human beings in our country.”

She asked the Anguillians to assist in transporting the workers back to their site and in the meantime went on: “There are more matters in terms of paper work which we are going to continue to finish up tomorrow but we are today standing on signed commitment and we are working with that.”

The story of this incident is one that will be remembered for a long time in the employment history of Anguilla. As such, and to ensure that everyone is kept properly informed, The Anguillian has not only ensured that the story is well covered, but has undertaken to almost doubling its print run or circulation without counting the cost. The newspaper is therefore not expected to be sold out at the various outlets before many persons have copies.

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