There is no gainsaying that Anguilla is caught in the grip of a financial and economic crisis that defies the wits of our leaders and people to set ourselves free.

Right now an Anguillian delegation, led by the Chief Minister, is visiting Brussels and London to see what the European Union and the British Government can do to help us. The EU has in the recent past been of some financial assistance in terms of money due to us, but Britain, with its own fiscal difficulties, and now facing a general election, thus unsure of its own political future, may continue to deny us monetary assistance.

Notwithstanding his prediction came to pass that the British Government would have sent home the previous Anguilla Government delegation empty-handed, any denial of aid to him is a position that Mr. Hughes will not readily accept given his long-held view that Britain is responsible for the welfare of her territories. Recently, he has even argued that the UK Government, through the Governor’s Office, must accept responsibility for paying the salaries of the Anguilla public servants. He is likely to tell that to the British officials, as well, when he meets them face to face. Frustration can cause us to rant and rave and even surprise ourselves, but sometimes must be understood.
One of the worst fears that the delegation could face is that the British officials might just say to them “go home and raise taxes.” This is highly possible as a UK consultant, Mr. Alan Roe, has just completed a study of the island’s tax structure and made certain recommendations for implementation by the Executive Council. Mr. Hughes spoke about brushing him aside, saying: “You can’t tax a dead economy.” It is an argument that the previous Anguilla Government made as well. At face value, it is difficult to impose new taxes on a languishing people, but for how long can we protest if the counter-argument is that to do so is in fact a way of sprucing up the economic and financial situation of Anguilla?

The view expressed by Mr. Edison Baird, that there was a need to grow the economy and so grow our way out of our fiscal difficulty, may be our best option. It is how we do it and how we relate to investors that matters. There is obviously a need for quick and sustainable investment in project development not only in relation to the golf course property, but other sound and lucrative ventures as well. The Government does not like some of the current memorandums of agreement, but is there a way to get around them to avoid legal complications and unnecessary delay – especially in the case of the planned further development of Cap Juluca? The intent here is not to cause friction, but to see whether there is any room for maneuvering.

Be that as it may, Anguillians have always been a people of much hope and resilience. Our present dark clouds may somewhere have a silver lining around them, but for the time being this may be undetected. One day, sooner or later, our financial and economic woes may disappear either when the global economy rebounds, trickles down to us, or when we, as a smart and innovative people, with all our wits about us, do the magic ourselves. At present, things are difficult for all of us. We may have to tighten our belts even more, but let us hold strain, contrive and manage until better days come our way.

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