Between 2010 and 2015, the current 1,200 hotel rooms in Anguilla may increase to about 3,000 requiring some 9, 000 additional workers, given the speed at which the island is developing. Two problems are emerging: where these employees will come from, and where they will be accommodated.

Mr. John Benjamin

These and other concerns have been voiced by the Chairman of the Anguilla Tourist Board, John Benjamin. However, while these matters may be seen as fearful, he said they also presented opportunities for Anguillians to benefit from the local tourist industry by building houses to accommodate the workers who must largely come from outside the island. He recalled a statement made by Queen Elizabeth who said, during her 1994 visit to Anguilla, that the island’s immigration policy would have to be liberalised to meet the need for foreign workers. Similarly, the United Nations had made the point that no small island economy can sustain itself.

He pointed out that Bermuda, the Atlantic tourist resort island, which has a population of 60, 000 and is one square-mile larger than Anguilla, had successfully put mechanisms in place to deal with the matter and the British Virgin Islands had also done so to some extent.

He observed that a number of rental accommodation facilities had been, and were being built, but were not enough to meet the growing demand. He suggested that just as hoteliers were being given customs and other concessions to build their properties, Anguillians should also receive Government incentives to construct dwelling houses for the labour market. “If there are to be spin-offs from the hotels, they should go to the people of Anguilla,” he stated.

“Government should let Anguillians know how many rooms will be available, what are the potential numbers of people who will need housing and assess how many houses are being built by Anguillians,” he went on. “What will be hurtful is if Anguillians seized the opportunity and then Government, not recognising that they have done so, allow the hotels to build accommodation for workers, leaving the people with empty shells.”
He hoped that the call by Government for Anguillians to build rental accommodation was not “double talk”. He noted: “We are hearing that permission is being given to projects to build houses for their workers. We have to clarify that. Is it the truth or not the truth? It will cause people to put on the breaks if Government is doing that. It is an opportunity for Anguillians to benefit from an influx of labour rather than the hotels or big investors to benefit.”
Told about the exorbitant rental rates, despite the Rent Restriction Act and the Board of Assessment intended as controlling measures, Mr. Benjamin said they were both out of date and there was an urgent need for an amendment bill or new legislation. He thought this was not only necessary but should be done along the lines of an Act in England that ensures the rights and privileges of both the landlord and the tenant.

While he agreed that there was a need to look into the matter, he said caution should be exercised. He referred to a scenario where an Anguillian may have a three-bedroom house on half an acre of land and rented for US$2,000 per month but an assessor decided that it is too much money. At the same time a big investor may be getting US$1,000 per night for one room. There must be a balance to avoid an upheaval, he stated.
“There must be a balance that is fair and just to everybody,” he continued. “Developers have to make a profit within a reasonable time, but Anguillians have to benefit from the tourist industry by going into apartments for the labour market. They also have to be fair in terms of charging a reasonable rent because the tenant has to make a living and be able to sustain his family, as well as the landlord has to pay his mortgage.”

At the same time, however, Mr. Benjamin condemned a growing practice where some landlords for no apparent reason, other than to get more rental money from other persons, are removing tenants from properties and these unfortunate persons have difficulty in finding alternative accommodation.

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