The appointment of His Excellency William Alistair Harrison, CVO, as Governor of Anguilla, opens a new chapter of governance of the island between Britain and the locally Elected Representatives.

It is certainly a most challenging time with Anguilla caught up on the horns of the economic and financial dilemma that has pervaded the world; the unfinished task of constitutional and electoral reform with Anguilla demanding full internal self-government as the way forward; the coming general election next year; the high standards of governance to which the island is required to subscribe in today’s international context; the myriad of social development problems still to be sorted out and addressed, and the incidences of crime which sometimes flare up uncomfortably requiring greater law enforcement and public cooperation.
The problems to be ironed out, and the goals that are to be reached, are not insurmountable or unattainable. What is good is that both Governor and Government recognise that the key to many of the solutions which sometimes seem to elude us is partnership and, if we must add more, respect for each other’s responsibilities. One of our Opposition Parliamentarians once remarked that when Governor and Government are getting on well it is not a good sign of leadership. On the contrary, we beg to differ. Bullying one’s way in governance is not the way to go. Much can be achieved in a spirit of peaceful co-existence and everything stands to be gained through a harmonious relationship.
The Governor’s role is an important one with certain reserved powers, both in the local and foreign domain, but it may be possible for some elements of those responsibilities to be passed on to Elected Representatives in the future, though a thorny issue. In terms of governing Anguilla and carrying out his commission with the British Government, his work must be a balancing act but he must also be seen by Anguillians as someone who will at all times look out for their best interests and welfare. It must also be recognised that as the democratically Elected Representatives of the people, the Chief Minister and his Cabinet have a certain commitment and accountability to the populace which must be respected. Here again comes in partnership and cooperation. We need not labour the point because Governor Harrison said it all in his inaugural address. “I do not regard myself as the boss anymore that the Chief Minister regards himself as the boss. Both of us are servants of the people of Anguilla, as are all officials, elected and appointed. We will serve the people of Anguilla best by working together in partnership.”
In his inaugural address the Governor covered much ground about past and present matters in Anguilla, his hopes for the island’s economic recovery and his wish not to leave a legacy like the island’s first Governor, William Watts, of whom the history books said “he exercised no effective control of events in Anguilla.” Indeed, Opposition Member, Hubert Hughes, was careful to point out some of the problems he saw on the island which he hoped it would be possible for Mr. Harrison to consider during his tenure of office. The Governor himself took the opportunity to refer to the recent events in the Turks and Caicos Islands which he stressed were a reminder of the importance of good governance in the Overseas Territories. Among the obvious matters which the current Government and any future Government of Anguilla must therefore seek to avoid, are the pitfalls which they are likely to encounter and fall into, if they are not careful, along the path of governance.
There is one particular feature about the appointment of Governor Harrison to Anguilla to which the Chief Minister alluded in his welcome address. It has to do with the fact that he is the first Governor to have his children live and attend school in Anguilla. This should be one of his endearing experiences on the island and should help him in developing a greater interest in the educational, cultural and social life of Anguilla and its people, whom he said he was anxious to meet.
All that is now left to be said is to welcome Governor Harrison, his wife and their three young children to Anguilla and wish them an enjoyable and productive sojourn among us, as a new chapter of governance opens on the island.

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