By: Montague Kobbe

Just over one year ago, US $80.000 – short, but not too short, of a quarter of a million EC dollars - seemed a figure disproportionate enough to entice a number of Anguillians (with the auspice of Government) to trade for it an acre of their (largely bush) land.

Montague Kobbe

Such was roughly the initial sketch of a project which would finally make a reality of the long awaited dream of a professional golf course on the island, together with the appropriate gadgets that go with it (multi-million dollar homes, five-star hotels, and so on). No sooner was the agreement sealed –not yet signed for- than the voices of dissent raised in clamour: Government being too lenient with foreign investors; the price being too low; the conditions unfavourable. Soon enough, it became evident that the size –the nature- of the Temenos/St. Regis project would fundamentally alter not only the internal landscape of the island but, perhaps most importantly, the status of Anguilla in the esteem of foreign eyes, turning it into a valuable piece in the active puzzle of speculative opportunities.

A couple of years later, the suspicion of a few has turned into the reality of many. The involvement of a corporation such as the KOR group in the Viceroy project has faced Anguillians with a kind of negotiation that was heretofore unknown in the island: unlike Mr. Sillerman, the KOR group had never before set foot on the island, their concern being solely focused –that is unequivocal- on their balance sheet. Good will –the quasi-romantic sense of adventure, foresight, which might have fed Mr. Leon Royden’s dream over 20 years ago- has vanished from the Anguillian business chart. That is not necessarily a bad thing: the increased interest to invest in Anguilla brings -together with the aforementioned disregard for the wellbeing of the island- an amount of possibilities, of competition previously unimagined. Since the realisation of the Temenos/St. Regis project, real estate prices have doubled and redoubled; the golf course on West End has found a rival in the rumoured Jack Nicklaus East End project (mind you, that won’t happen –if at all- until the five year exclusivity deal from Temenos/St. Regis expires); the (temporarily?) defunct idea of a marina in Sandy Ground seemingly has been revived in the form of another East End development plan, in Sile Bay.

Simultaneously, Government has tacked the issue of infrastructure with similar enthusiasm: the long-standing illusion of a jet-airport is now part of ordinary Anguillian reality; the national road grid has been –continues to be- improved not only with the resurfacing of some –noticeably western- roads, but also with the construction of brand new routes (such as the Jeremiah Gumbs Highway); the desalinisation plant provides a service reliable enough to make the occasions when fresh water fails to run from the tap the unpleasant exception rather than the rule.

Thus, we find ourselves in Anguilla with a combination of elements (the natural beauty of its beaches, the relative peacefulness of its society, the developing infrastructure, the presence of established foreign investment) that have turned the island into as attractive an economic target as any other. One palpable danger of such situation is the effect on the layman’s attitude given the sudden wealth of opportunities. As an example I quote the general sentiment of disappointment regarding Government’s performance in the Temenos/St. Regis deal. Avarice is a dangerous feeling; hindsight a treacherous tool. Government had the guts to take an important step (in the right direction) towards the only possible future in which Anguilla might not end ruined in the sense that St. Martin is; Mr. Sillerman had the courage –trust- to invest in the development of what might one day become –is not yet (to appraise the risk, consider –only briefly, for fear of it- the possibility of another Luis during this hurricane season)- a gold mine. If yesterday’s river looks today like a dwindling brook, that is the nature of successful mercantile business. And it has not been unilateral either: in the equation of Anguilla’s appeal, the presence of a major foreign investor plays no minor role. If you don’t believe me, try to explain the sudden explosion in the price of land on the island otherwise.

The anxiety to make the absolute most of this opportunity, the fear to miss out on the chance to do well, mustn’t blind our reason. Even Midas found his gold intrusive, and Anguillians already have something worth a lot more than riches, something money can’t buy. That is not to say Anguillians shouldn’t have a piece of the cake; in fact, they should have most of it. But in cutting and sharing their land and benefits, Anguillians should be aware of the repercussion of their actions upon the future –not only of their children, but of the small society, large family, that is the island as such. Yet, prudence has guided Anguillian decision making into the twenty-first century practically undaunted, and it is my conviction that such prudence will not –ultimately- be dazzled by the cunning trickery of “progress”.

There is, however, a different danger in the present predicament; one which is ever so much more pressing, because its solution involves not avoiding action but, rather, acting promptly and properly. Weeks before his death, Jeremiah Gumbs voiced to me his latest, most urgent concern: with all the public taps/wells –such as the one in The Valley- sealed, and the increasingly high costs of fresh water on the island, a poor person could die of thirst in Anguilla for lack of resources. Well, yes, Jerry; in theory. Except no-one here would actually let anyone die of thirst, or hunger, for that matter. Jeremiah’s old, tired train of thought could never conceive of that as a sound reasoning. His concern remained; his eyes squinted shut; his head in hand: ‘You tell them, boy. You let them know’ (and, God! Who am I to tell anyone anything!). Jeremiah’s preoccupation went a lot further than his expostulation and I here echo his worries: this is me in the telling role. Among the myriad opportunities that populate the horizon of Anguilla, the most exciting is the possibility of furnishing an integral, healthy, comfortable society. Anguilla is a very young, very innocent country. The reduced population contrasted with the current environment of investment provides the means to develop the necessary facilities to ensure the equitable wellbeing of all Anguillians. The example of Omari Banks in cricket; the involvement of the Tennis Academy; the (somewhat muted) plans to build a soccer stadium all count as efforts to provide the youth with sport as an alternative to violent and/or sexual vice. In the light of the painfully embarrassing -as well as atrocious- events that shaded Carnival week, the immediate irruption of the Sting Ray Music Programme incorporates an important feature of Anguillian culture –music- to the institutionalised struggle against insidious behaviour. Similarly, Mr. Petty’s suggestion to promote calypso workshops with international calypsonians could be expanded to include youth programmes that either collaborate or complement the efforts of the Sting Ray initiative.

However, worthy and viable as these alternatives might be, the focus of the strategy should lie on the educational aspect. A proposal to establish an International School would provide local children with a valuable opportunity to have equivalent formation to that of the United States. Nevertheless, regardless of the chosen format –British or American- Government should make a concerted effort to rejuvenate the system, boost the curriculum, reinvigorate the teaching and prompt the enthusiastic participation of the youth in the learning experience. Integration in Anguilla, as well as anywhere else in the world, is as much a process of understanding as it is a matter of differences. The distance between Island Harbour and Blowing Point is no larger than the capacity of reasoning of their villagers. There will always be rivalries between separate communities, but so long as the groups concerned understand why it is preferable to settle discrepancies in the cricket ground, on the tennis court, on stage, so long as the young people of Anguilla understand that a gun is not a symbol of virility but a sterile prosthesis, a blaring acknowledgement of impotence, then the problem of competition and identification –the foetus of what might become a gang problem- is half solved. That is the role of education, and that is what Government should concentrate on achieving through reforms to the educational system.
Of course, education is only the most urgent of current issues. Further education should also in due course be addressed. The guild format of craftsmanship in Anguilla should be elevated to an institutionalised formation. There should be carpentry, construction and mechanical institutes. Government should push forward and finish what it started, upgrading the road system in the east as well as in the west. The tourist industry should embark on spreading east, contributing to the integration of the Anguillian society. A net of public transport should be established to facilitate the transit between east and west, north and south. The health system should be completely revamped and restructured. Above all, the concern of the people in charge should be the benefit of the local community rather than simply the comfort of the swarming tourists. Preserving the cordiality of the Anguillian community is as important in the process of economic growth as is the conservation of the exclusivity of the island’s character for the sake of the targeted tourists. In short, there is a lot to do in future years to maintain and improve the standard of living of Anguillians; however, at this rate, there will also be a lot of 17% tax inflating the yearly budget of Government. We just have to make sure it is invested in the right sort of projects.

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