I wish to extend a prosperous and happy new year to everyone living within as well as without the boundaries of Anguilla. Firstly, I must express my gratitude to the Almighty for bringing us into a good land. I am delighted that even our critics are now applauding the dawning of this new day in Anguilla.

Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming

Indeed the light at the end of the tunnel is obvious for all and sundry to see. Wallblake’s Airport is responding to the question of the Pavement Classification Number (PCN) not with words but with the sound of jets making their arrivals and departures. Likewise investment, employment and opportunities are at an all time high. The economy is robust and we are on the move.

I would sincerely like to commend my ministerial colleagues, their respective permanent secretaries and staff for their diligence in the execution of their duties. This government is cognizant of the efforts of the civil service and takes every measure appropriate and financially feasible to ensure your efforts do not go unnoticed or un-rewarded. Government continues to be proactive towards remaining competitive for skill employees in as much as our budgetary constraints will allow.

When we assumed the leadership of government business in February 2005 many of the critics were not realistically assessing the progress and success in bloom. This unprecedented era of economic prosperity signals that you have leaders who not only are steering the right course but has exemplified what sound and prudent management of the economy is. The credit is yours as a nation. Your lives and the future of your children dictated that five more years in government was necessary for the continuation and manifestation of this upward mobility. As a nation we have gone from the brink of darkness into a marvelous light. Continue to be vigilant and committed to sound leadership.

The Honourable Minister of Finance Victor F. Banks entitled the 2005 Budget Address“Managing The Challenges of Success.” Mr. Banks was not speculating but rather was speaking an obvious truth that there is success in Anguilla. Anguilla has achieved a good standard of living, but without reasonable levels of sound administration economic vulnerabilities and economic instability will persist. We believe that there is good scope for sustainable development if good guidelines, principles and strategies are implemented and adhered to. While the smallness in size of Anguilla provides a continuing limitation on the extent to which the carrying capacity of Anguilla can be increase, sound economic planning could help substantially in reducing economic weaknesses, vulnerabilities and insecurities. High standards of administration and economic management are required to prevent or minimize such adverse consequences and to ensure that even when the economic benefits are large soft options do not impede more sturdy development, and distract attention and resources away from investment opportunities in the long term.

Development efforts must therefore be concerned not only with promoting growth but also with overcoming the constraints of growth itself and promoting self-reliance. The need to improve living standards and create job opportunities must not be the sole factor determining decision-making relative to development. We must be cautious and not let temporary individualistic benefits obscure permanent national realities. We must be restrictive about the amount and kind of activities we permit within dictated timeframes if the economy is to remain vibrant. Equally so we must continue to remind ourselves from whence we came and avoid the negativities, attitudes and actions that are backward bound. I charge our young people in particular to seize the opportunities to go forward in 2006 and do not be numbered amount the destructive elements within the nation.

This is important because we must work harder than ever to build a bold vision that meets Anguilla challenges at home and abroad. I call upon every person with a vested interest in Anguilla, living within, as well as without, to be active citizens, not spectators – to let us work together to further improve our communities and empower our lives. The time is now for us to focus all our energies on the real issues affecting us, I pray God’s continued blessings upon us and may He give us the wisdom to carry-on in 2006, as together we aspire to build our lives and our nation with vigour.

I thank you for taking the time to read this message as we steer the right course and implement sound and prudent management of the economy. Continue to walk in the light!

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