MITCHELL LAKE
WALLBLAKE
ANGUILLA

4th October 2005

The Honourable Chief Minister

Mr Osbourne B Fleming

And Elected Member of Government

The Valley
Anguilla

Gentlemen,

We the Anguillians who are here marching today do so in protest at the Government’s attempts to pass into law the Physical Planning Bill 2005 and the Anguilla Labour Code.

With respect to the Anguilla Labour Code we take the point that the definition of discrimination is such as to deprive Anguillians of protection in the marketplace in Anguilla. Further, there is insufficient recognition of the right of workers as equitable shareholders in the workplace. There is also concern that the impact of the Labour Code on the economy of Anguilla as a whole, particularly in relation to small businesses, has not been considered and that what seems to be protection for workers at the outset could ultimately result in loss of jobs and closure or takeover of local businesses. For these reasons we would request that further consideration by way of town meetings be given for consideration of this Bill.

So far as the Physical Planning Bill is concerned, the spirit, text and tenor of the Bill is an anathema to Anguilla’s way of life, culture, spirit and identity.

The text is so at odds with who we are that no amount of redrafting could rescue it to make it amenable to the Anguillian spirit. We reject the suggestion that through the auspices of the Anguilla Bar Association the Physical Planning Bill could be reviewed and amended so as to meet our objections and concerns. The composition of the Anguilla Bar Association prevents it from being in sync with our instinctive responses, values and concerns about the sanctity of our land, and, in any case, the Anguilla Bar Association does not speak for the Anguillian community at large.

We are shocked that our elected members of Government could even contemplate passage of such a Bill that is so foreign to Anguilla’s way of life, needs and circumstances. Further, we are horrified that our elected members of Government demonstrate such callous disregard for the Constitution of Anguilla in seeking to pass such a Bill that so clearly violates our constitutional rights.

The people are also dissatisfied with the legal advice given by the Attorney-General to our elected Government which has caused them to pass legislation which is not in the interest of the Anguillian people and has caused Government to embark on courses of practice that are injurious to the well being of our people. That dissatisfaction extends to the current position of the Attorney General in refusing to share with the people of Anguilla his legal opinion on the Physical Planning Bill and the Labour Code so that their concerns could have been assuaged and their fears resolved.

We regard that as an abdication of his responsibility to the Government and people of Anguilla as the principal legal advisor.

Further, we can only assume that the Government acted on his advice in this disastrous situation with Flag Luxury Properties and the Junks Hole Project which reflects upon the credibility of the Government and could possible expose Anguilla tax payers to further financial burdens in addition to those burdens which he has already caused by virtue of litigation already existing. In the circumstances we the people of Anguilla and the marchers call for his removal from office.

We the marchers and the signatories to the Petition presented this afternoon demand an unequivocal undertaking from the Government that this Physical Planning Bill be withdrawn altogether.

We are herewith submitting a request that a group comprising 3 or 4 delegates from each constituency be established to consider the extent of a need for developmental regulations and the minimal structure of such regulation as found to be necessary.

We request an undertaking from Government that unless and until a land use policy meets the approval of the people of Anguilla any draft land use policy not so approved will not be used by the Planning Department to guide the policies of land development in Anguilla.

In view of the Government’s stumbling over the adoption of legislation directed by the United Kingdom Government, we demand an undertaking from the Government that henceforth they will not introduce and pass any legislation which substantively changes our way of life and core values, unless the proposed legislation is first brought to the people for scrutiny and the expression of their approval or concerns or objections.

We wish strongly to register our distaste for our Government’s succumbing to the blackmailing dictates of a foreign stakeholder be it in the area of land or economic development or any other area of our lives. This is a dangerous precedent and a clear message must be sent to this stakeholder that the people of Anguilla find it unacceptable that further development of land in Anguilla is to be subject to his sanction and approval.

We demand that from here on in, our elected representatives will honour their obligations to the electorate by putting the interests of the Anguilla people at the top of their order of priorities.

We request that a meeting between our delegates and the elected members of the House of Assembly be held within 14 days to iron out the undertakings which we have hereby requested.

Yours faithfully
Mitchell Lake

For Concerned Citizens and Petitioners

Cc: Opposition Elected Members
His Excellency The Acting Governor

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