Editorial

In a high day incident in the middle of last week, in Anguilla, masked and armed intruders, forced their way into a home and mercilessly beat up a young woman. They inflicted serious wounds to her head. Apparently knocked out, she was left in her bathroom probably for dead. Needless to say this hair-raising occurrence spread fear and anger among the citizenry.

It is really something to think about regarding the sudden, brief, but considerably heavy jolt that rocked Anguilla at midday on Monday, this week, when an earthquake of a 4.5 magnitude frightened a number of our people. Thankfully, no damage, minor or serious, was reported. Just imagine what the situation was like in Indonesia when an awful trail of death and destruction was left there in the wake of the recent earthquake.

One of the drawbacks in small, but developing societies, like Anguilla, is what has been in recent years a lack of a wide knowledge about financial matters. In two words, in these important times of public awareness, the much-used expression is Financial Literacy.

The acute financial situation in Anguilla today, and the solution we are pursuing, is like the age-old prayer we have often recited over the years both as a traditional religious custom and in fact as a destitute plea in lean times. The truth is that despite the prosperity which we enjoyed in recent years, and the hope of recovery we are still having, both Government and people, including churches, are in prayerful modes for the day when lucrative economic and financial opportunities can again come our way.

Commenting on the difficult financial situation recently, Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, pointed to the fact that St. Kitts-Nevis, an independent Caribbean state, and once sister islands of Anguilla, can borrow money at will. In contrast, Anguilla, now an Overseas Territory, is unable to do so because of the British-imposed borrowing guidelines it must follow. Mr. Fleming was not actually wringing his hands in anguish while saying that.

The reason for the overwhelming success of the 1967 Anguilla Revolution can be summed up in one word – unity. The Anguillians, then referred to as “6,000 souls”, were united in commitment, purpose and sheer determination. Sadly, the present-day situation is a far cry from the spirit of togetherness proudly exhibited during those dark and uncertain days.

The recent suspension by the British Government of the Constitution and Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) has, over the past few weeks, come in for much condemnation from several Caribbean governments. Among those condemning the British takeover of the TCI Government were Anguilla’s Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, and Minister of Finance, Victor Banks.

There is every sign that elections are around the corner. Already the prospective candidates are not missing a funeral. That is a feature of politics in Anguilla. If you want votes do not miss a funeral whether you know the deceased or not. What is important is that the family sees you there – sees you shedding a tear or two.

It seemed a bitter pill to swallow when the news broke that the British Government had fulfilled its plan to take direct control of the Turks and Caicos Islands, one of the five British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean (not counting Bermuda). It is almost inconceivable to think, and certainly embarrassing, that an elected Government could so easily be disbanded and sent home, the Constitution suspended and a British Governor given full responsibility for the governance of the territory like in the old colonial days.

It is not a happy matter when one has to think about the high cost of security and the extra amount of policing that have to be brought to bear on the Summer Festival, particularly the carnival events, to ensure the safety of patrons and the success of the various shows. As a cultural and tourism undertaking, the Festival is a generally expensive matter, but it has its accompanying fun and frolic, publicity and monetary dividends, if all goes well.

The present visit of the team from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force has come in the wake of the passage of the Proceeds of Crime Bill and other associated legislation, last week, in the Anguilla House of Assembly. The team, which is most welcome, is here to conduct what has been dubbed as “a mutual evaluation process” both of the island’s financial laws and the operating practices of a number of businesses.

With the Anguilla Government now on a quest for assistance for the island, smitten by the economic crisis, there seems to be no better time, like now, for the Biblical admonition of “ask and ye shall receive” to be tested. The plea is being made to Mother England by one of its far-flung and tiny Overseas Territories which, up to the recent past, was no burden to her as it managed its own finances, whether lavishly or carefully, in times of plenty and comfort.

With the Anguilla Government now on a quest for assistance for the island, smitten by the economic crisis, there seems to be no better time, like now, for the Biblical admonition of “ask and ye shall receive” to be tested. The plea is being made to Mother England by one of its far-flung and tiny Overseas Territories which, up to the recent past, was no burden to her as it managed its own finances, whether lavishly or carefully, in times of plenty and comfort.

Earlier this year, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, through its Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, appeared to have made a greater effort to reach out to some Caribbean islands with its economic union initiative.

In some international communities, and probably right on our doorsteps, where governments are less mindful about the impact of their laws on the people, it might seem strange that in Anguilla the citizenry demand to have a say in the making of some of the legislation governing their territory.

We here in Anguilla can say with a great sense of pride that, despite complaints by some persons not altogether familiar with the system or its regulations, our electoral process is free and fair as it can possibly be under the present prevailing circumstances.

Just the other day it was stated that Anguilla had come of age with other territories and countries world-wide as a result of the introduction of new Customs Forms whereby all persons entering the island would be required to declare imported items in their possession.

In all of its writings, The Anguillian had never headlined any editorial comment or other article with a question mark but, in this case, the matter at hand appears to make it a necessary choice of expression.

The 18th Annual Conference of Attorneys General of the UK Overseas Territories in Anguilla, this week, could not have come at a more appropriate time. It is not that it holds out anything in particular for this island more than all the other territories which, like us, are under the watchful, and hopefully, caring eyes of the British Government.

The overall situation in Anguilla today is more demanding and troublesome than in any other period since the dark and uncertain days, just over 40 years ago, when the people of the island threw out the Bradshaw regime and took control of their own affairs.