The prospect of war in Iraq in the near future with US and British troops leading the assault, is not comforting news to anyone. Apart from being aimed at disarming the Middle East country of alleged weapons of mass destruction, the war will have a catastrophic impact on human lives and welfare. Already international financial markets are jittery as the conflict looms closure and once again, like September 11, 2001, the world is being plunged into a state of tension and violence. It seems that we all must look to the prophetic words of the Bible for the answers to the times and events of our day.

But for the time being life must go on however difficult. Anguilla and the rest of the Caribbean in particular, are not isolated from the problems that overtake the international scene. To a great extent when it coughs out there, we sneeze in our region. The war is likely to increase terrorist activity and once again instill fear in the minds of travelers. Small island states like Anguilla, whose livelihood and economy is largely dependent on tourism, cannot afford to experience another hard blow to the industry at a time when recovery from September 2001 appeared to be somewhat promising. Despite all the ill-effects that the region will experience, it is interesting that there is silence among leaders on the pros and cons of the impending war although they are not in a position to really do anything about it apart from expressing an opinion.

Unfortunately for us here in Anguilla, all our eggs are in one basket as we have not yet been able to develop an industry as lucrative as tourism. The offshore financial business we are trying to develop as a second main industry appears still to be in its embryonic stage and prospects of light manufacturing industries, in a high-priced job market like Anguilla, will not easily come our way. But this is no excuse for not trying to attract other forms of employment opportunities from which our people might profit and improve their quality of life.

While Anguilla is somehow managing with its hard-hit economy, things will worsen as events in the world around us continue to impact our island on all fronts. Anguillians are a resilient people and it is hoped that individually or collectively we will be able to carve out our own niche in a fiercely competitive and difficult world and find survival and hope.

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