At times we cannot but reflect on the old Anguilla and where it was especially over the past forty years and where it is today. Take for example the 1967 situation when the world heard about a rebel island which, quite illegally, tore itself away from a Federation and Associated State of three islands and appeared to be adrift in the Caribbean on an assumed course of self-determination.

Among the accusations Anguilla has had to bear were that there was a breakdown of law and order and that a judge had to flee from the High Court with his gown flying in the wind behind him. A fact was that having broken away from St. Kitts-Nevis the island eventually lost out on being served by the regional court and Britain was therefore obliged to make other judicial arrangements for Anguilla.

Today it is amazing to see that the once rebel island is the seat of a Law Revision Centre not only for itself, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands, but with the delightful prospect of providing services for other territories and independent states in the region. It is nothing short of a reason for much pride and possibly vindication. Yes, vindication because when peace-loving and law-abiding Anguilla rebelled, it was not that it merely wanted to be rebellious, but that its people desired to be free from an age-old millstone around their neck: their political domination and subjugation in an unpopular administrative union. They were only contending for their freedom and had to be drastic about it in order to succeed. They never really lost respect for law and order.

From its past legislative union, Anguilla has inherited a number of archaic laws some of which are still on the books and are completely unsuitable today. In addition, there are laws here that were crafted since Anguilla’s break with St. Kitts-Nevis and although there have been some revisions it is believed that there is still much work to be done including the drafting of new and innovative legislation for the advancement of the society.

There is certainly much pride in Anguilla having the Regional Law Revision Centre and now that it is off the ground, well-funded and equipped, no time should be wasted in having it fully at work. This facility having been accomplished, Anguilla, once called “a backwater in the Caribbean”, must now look for other new opportunities where it can continue to assert itself to the forefront and amaze all as a growing influence on the regional scene.

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