Introduction

a. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, please permit me to adopt the protocol already established, and to say that I deem it an honour to have been asked to be one of the speakers on this occasion. Despite my many years of delivering speeches and sermons on numerous occasions and in diverse contexts, this is a first for me. Never before have I spoken at a political party convention. I am therefore treading in unfamiliar waters, and so I ask you to bear with me.

Rev. Dr. Clifton Niles

Indeed, never before have I attended a political party convention. Some people tend to shy away from and avoid new challenges. Unlike them, I embrace a challenge, and try to rise to the occasion, because in so doing growth takes place. Thank you Mr. Hughes for inviting me to speak, and thus giving me an opportunity to grow.

Now, a word of clarification: I am not a politician. I was almost tempted to say, “I am not a politician as yet,” but since it is not easy to teach old dogs new tricks, I will not say so. I am a Pastor and a Teacher-Preacher. My presence here must not therefore be construed or interpreted to mean that I am a member of the Anguilla United Movement. I am a citizen of Anguilla – born and bred, alive, thinking and not yet dead. I have had the privilege of a broad and good education, coupled with a variety of leadership experiences and involvement in institutional and human transformation and development. I believe that I have something to say about the Anguilla situation today and I believe I can help make a contribution to the development of Anguilla. I was invited to speak at this political party convention; that is why I am here. I am also a concerned and progressive citizen of Anguilla, who would wish to see this island take a new direction that will make “people development” the centrepiece and linch-pin of all other forms of development; that is why I am here, to share some of my concerns with you and all others who aspire to the political leadership of the island, in the hope that the necessary and needed changes will come before it is too late. We certainly need a change, both in the direction in which we are going, and in terms of our modus operandi. When our leadership can harness the collective wisdom and will of the people for the well being and good of the people real progress will be made.

b. Mr. Hughes suggested that I speak about Anguilla and Nationalism. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that he wanted me to be future oriented in my presentation. My address is therefore entitled: “Anguilla: The Challenge Of The Future”. I am therefore inviting you to think with me of an Anguilla that is desired but not yet realized, and so it has to be dreamt about, envisioned, talked about by the people, embraced by the people, and made a reality with and for the people.

I am inviting you to think with me of an Anguilla that has to be intentionally created, for it will not just happen. We know that anything that is worthwhile does not just drop from the sky. It has to be fashioned and nurtured despite the difficulties and obstacles encountered. Whatever vehicle is used to take us into the future, and whatever institutions are created to bring about the desired goals, the Anguilla of tomorrow must be an “Anguilla where people come first,” an Anguilla where people are valued above property and projects, and where people are given the opportunity to participate meaningfully in determining their future. It has long been recognized that a nation’s primary and greatest assets are its people and not its minerals. The beaches in Anguilla are not more valuable than the people in Anguilla. This ought to be clear to all, but unfortunately, it does not seem to be so.

1. Anguilla Today:

What does Anguilla look like today?
I am sure that everyone of you will appreciate the fact that I cannot be detailed or comprehensive, given the time constraint, and so we shall have to confine ourselves to a profile only. My comfort is that because most of you are quite familiar with the context and many of the day to day happenings, you can provide some of the specifics yourselves.

a. When I returned in 2006 to live in Anguilla, after a fairly long absence, I was immediately struck by some fundamental changes which had taken place, and I heard the often repeated lament that Anguilla today is not like Anguilla yesterday. Only someone severely lacking in intelligence would expect that Anguilla today will be the same as Anguilla yesterday. The lament, however, suggested that there were some fundamental losses, despite some gains. Indeed, one sensed behind the lament a sense of regret, that the gains could not, and did not adequately compensate for the losses. The net result was that Anguillians in general were not as robust in character, principles, morality and spirituality as they once were. Somehow, the spirit of nationalism, self-determination, excellence and courage had given way to a new spirit of acquiescence, mediocrity, timidity, avarice and selfishness. Patriotism gave way to exocentrism, spirituality became secondary to materialism, and principle gave way to expediency.

My questions are these:
1. Who were/are the architects and managers of this change?
2. What are the fundamental principles determining the change?
3. Who are the primary casualties and victims of this change?
4. Who are and who will be the ultimate beneficiaries of all that has taken place?

The sad fact is that change which is not well crafted and intentionally managed benefits few people but victimizes many and threatens all.

b. I venture to say that Anguillians, in the Anguilla today are endangered, and I call upon our political leaders first, and others, to be proactive in ensuring that the necessary action is taken to mitigate and remove the threat, and set the island on the course of real human development of Anguillians. Almost every time I hear someone speak about tourism, the beaches and so many other things, the emphasis is on the comfort and wellbeing of the visitors. Who really should be the real beneficiaries of tourism in Anguilla? Sadly, more and more of our beaches are no longer comfortably available to Anguillians, but they are to the foreigners. Please do not misunderstand my point. Do the best you can for the visitors, for we want them to come and to keep on coming, but the ultimate beneficiaries of tourism and everything else that we have must be the Anguillians. Thinking of outsiders first, and then doing things that will ultimately benefit them, is what I mean by exocentrism. In a real sense, exocentrism is the enemy of nationalism. We need to intentionally promote the latter rather than the former as a matter of priority.

c. Virtually, everyone today laments the declining moral standards in Anguilla. Values like honesty on the job, integrity of character, fairness, morality, faithfulness in marriage, respect, good character, etc., have given way to that which is expedient and convenient, and that which is gratifying rather than that which is true, right and noble. We experience this decline in a public indecency and vulgarity which have become acceptable, in an obscenity and coarseness of language, and in a crudity of behaviour, especially among younger members of the society, but it is also displayed by older persons, and some persons of standing in the community.

We also experience this decline in other ways.

d. Anguilla today is also a very materialistic society. I am not an ascetic, and so I am not down-playing the importance of the material. What I am highlighting and lamenting is an attitude which makes the acquisition of material things the primary goal in life. The result is that material things – the vehicle, the video, the television, the dress, the suit, the shoes, the jewellery, the land, the business, etc, are given a social and spiritual value they do not deserve. And so a mother will encourage her teenage daughter to have an affair with a man who is three times her age because he is going to give her a new television set, or a stereo, or something else. Then there is the young man who decides to become a male concubine to a frequent visitor, because he can drive his vehicle in his absence, and receive other compensation. The young man had reservations but since there is something in it for him he goes along. These are only two expressions of the debilitating materialism which is becoming endemic in our society, but there are many, many more ways that materialism expresses itself. eg.,
The mother who decides to spend the little money she has to go to a show, rather than buy the medicine or books her child needs for his well-being.

The girl who leaves home to attend school but does not go to class, but is picked up and spends the morning with a group of young men, who put the little they have together to give her a cellular phone.

This is the kind of materialism I am speaking about. The attitude where moral values, good principles and religious precepts become secondary to getting something material or tangible.

Moral decline and this sort of materialism are partners, for materialism feeds the spirit of greed, and this leads to the “get it anyhow” mentality - hence stealing, drugs, violence, prostitution etc, on the increase.

e. Another aspect of Anguilla today is its pluralism. There is ethnic pluralism, religious pluralism, educational pluralism, language pluralism and cultural pluralism. This is not necessarily bad. Indeed, this pluralism can be a good thing, but who is doing anything specific to ensure that the positive aspects of pluralism are promoted while the negatives are surpressed and controlled. Because pluralism is left to survive how it can, it is the negative aspects which become dominant, and that which should create possibilities becomes problematic.

Our undirected pluralism has led to a dangerous relativism and lowering of standards. People in high places do wrong and nobody cries out. Noise pollution and gambling are rife and are becoming more and more acceptable.

f. Another aspect of Anguilla today is the loss and virtual death of “the spirit of Anguilla”; the loss of the distinctive Anguillian Ethos. By ethos I mean the dominant moral tone and character of the society. Ethos points to the principles, values and ideals which the people hold dear and precious, and which should be promoted as inviolable, and when violated gives rise to a community outrage and cry. The ethos is the soul of the society which gives a sense of integrity, wholeness, stability and direction to every member of the society. Young and old alike buy into it, as well as resident and visitor, and find structure and grounding for their lives. The loss of ethos means the loss of structure and anchorage, and hence the sense of drift our youth are experiencing, and the loss of dignity, decorum and propriety displayed by some of our officials, even in the House of Assembly. It has also led to turning a blind eye to corruption, nepotism and trickery. Ethos is the genius of an institution, society, or nation. The recovery of the Anguillian ethos will lead to the recovery of the spirit of excellence, industry, fairness, neighbourliness and pride which we once knew and cherished.

g. The final aspect of Anguilla today, I wish to mention, is the relative material prosperity of the island. Many people today have much, much more than their parents had or than they themselves had earlier. Any perceptive person, or visitor, will be immediately impressed by an affluence which surpasses that of many larger territories. This affluence is real, and yet even in this there is an element of ambiguity. Has our affluence made us better people, more loving and compassionate, more understanding and tolerant, more morally conscious and spiritual?

The down side to this affluence has been the alienation of the choicest land, which is still taking place. I do believe that a partnership was, and is, possible whereby generations of Anguilians yet unborn will continue to be beneficiaries of continuing financial growth, and not potential or actual strangers in their own land.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is a very brief profile of Anguilla today. It is not a complete picture; it is only a snap shot and, as such, some important things have not been addressed. However, if what I have said is true, it leaves no room for comfort. It must be very clear by now that a new Anguilla is both a necessary and an urgent matter. We who live here are to live in peace and security. The picture of Anguilla today is not healthy, and building a new Anguilla requires vision, wisdom, courage, and commitment.

The task may appear daunting, but it can be done. Indeed, it has to be done because we cannot afford not to do it.

2. Who is Responsible for Building the New Anguilla.

No one party can do it. All stake-holders must be involved. These include:
The government and opposition
The Church and other religious groups,
Voluntary organizations
Regional and international bodies and agencies etc, etc.
In other words, building the New Anguilla is everybody’s business. This requires us to move beyond party politics and embrace nation building as a priority for all.

Social scientists have long advocated that the three primary indices of true development are:
I. The state of our Education and Schools
II. The state of our Health Services
III. The state of our Social Services – include Security

Major rebuilding is needed in all three of these areas here in Anguilla. Indeed, if you observe the present character of these fundamental areas of our national life you will see how dominant is the exocentric note when you realize the number of nationals involved.

a. The rebuilding process must therefore begin with the renewal of the spirit of nationalism. The term Nationalism is used to describe the attitude that the members of a nation have when they care about their national identity, as well as the actions that they take when seeking to achieve and sustain self-determination. This spirit of Nationalism needs to be renewed, and promoted.

b. Secondly, the New Anguilla must settle for nothing less than full internal self government, whereby the people of Anguilla will be vested with the right to exercise full executive authority over all their domestic affairs, while the matter of defence, security, and treaty – making will remain in the hands of the United Kingdom Government.

I understand full internal self government to mean internal social control by an elected representative system of government, exercised in a manner acceptable to the people of Anguilla, and which has the necessary built in checks and balances to ensure accountability, transparency and good governance. In the words of Dame Bernice V. Lake, Q.C: “Full internal self government simply means the right to govern ourselves in relation to all matters that are internal to our community; to shape policy and pass laws which are integral to our unique culture, identity, traditions and institutions, to secure respect for our spiritual relationship to our land and our resources.”

Dame Bernice has shown in the Walter G. Hodge Memorial Lecture, delivered in June 2008, that full internal self government does not only derive from the United Nations Resolution 1541(xv), but also from the inherent dignity of the human person attributable to the Anguillian people.

Whatever else may be constitutive of the New Anguilla, the central component must be full internal self government, as only this will give due respect to the aspirations of the Anguillian people. Whatever changes and adjustments are required must therefore be done in the spirit of nationalism, and must be done intentionally as a matter of justice and of urgency.

c. The third major component that must be constitutive of the New Anguilla must be the full and enthusiastic embrace of a genuine democratic form of governance. The notion that Anguilla is a democracy is an illusion. The sooner we realize this, and then make the necessary adjustments to ensure true democratic governance, the better for us. The longer we live under the illusion the more damage is done. I am a firm believer that the democratic form of governance is the best to be developed to-date. When practised as it should, it should guarantee the greatest good for the greatest number of citizens. True democracy has a built in corrective and renewal dimension. The benefits of true democracy over and against other forms of governance are enormous, but we cannot discuss these now.

Unfortunately, the form of governance in Anguilla today is not genuinely democratic. If at the heart of true democracy is the doctrine of majority rule, Anguilla has been falling short for many years, and will continue to fall short unless some major reforms are made. For many years the ruling government has not had the mandate or the blessing of the majority of the Anguillians. Reforms are needed to ensure that every elected government has won a clear majority of the votes cast. Other reforms are also needed, but again, we cannot deal with these now.
The illusion of democratic governance also relates to the role of the Governor, the use of the instrument of the Order in Council, and the absence of certain checks and balances which will ensure justice, accountability and transparency.
In conclusion, let me say that nothing, absolutely nothing, new will happen unless we change our way of thinking and acting. We must see politic as “the business of the people” and not as the promotion of the party. We must also change from the attitude of selfishness to service.

Experts have informed us that there are 3 basic ways of thinking:
First, there is negative thinking. For negative thinkers, “It can’t be done”. Negative thinkers see problems, obstacles, and mountains and are defeated.
Secondly, there is maintenance thinking. Maintenance thinkers are hooked on the status quo. What we have is not perfect but ok, so leave it alone. They think within the box.
Thirdly, there is possibility thinking. Possibility thinkers think outside the box. “Yes, it can be done.” It may be challenging but it can, and will be done.
• Possibility thinkers are Visionaries. They embrace the vision of the new Anguilla.
• Possibility thinkers are Creative. They will rise above the average and find the right solution.
• Possibility thinkers are Positive in mind and attitude. They see the prospects and embrace them.
• Possibility thinkers are Highly Motivated and Action Oriented. They do not procrastinate, but move with intention and purpose.
• Possibility thinkers see Opportunities in every situation.
• Possibility thinkers keep on going. Like the copper clad every ready batteries, they just keep on going and achieving.

The New Anguilla calls for a new type of leader; leaders who have integrity, and who are possibility thinkers. We can decide to build a new Anguilla or not to build. The choice is yours.

Thank you, and may God bless Anguilla.
Rev. Dr. H. Clifton Niles

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