Lately it seems that at every street corner there is talk of what happened to the Indians at Viceroy. Everyone has an opinion and some are blaming the Chief Minister and asking for his resignation. I applaud the Anguillians for recognizing that we have a crisis on our hands and for making an effort to do something about it. Seeing what has happened to the Indians and knowing Anguillians don’t want that for themselves, I think it’s high time we take a look at the issues that we as Anguillians need to be concerned with.

Firstly the government is a reflection of its people, fact is very few or our political figures are elected based on how they intend to handle current issues, or on a long term national plan which they will implement. Most are elected based on popularity, or on what they are willing to give for a vote. Many of these so-called “politicians” aren’t really “politicians”, they are just really good at talking about other politicians, which in the truest form of the word is at its best only propaganda. What are we asking for when we call for the government’s removal? What is their removal based upon? Is it based on issues or is it based on the new political fire that has been burning?

As afore mentioned, one of the major issues in Anguilla has been the lack of long term planning. In Anguilla we live in a reactive society, where we only get up and do something after the problem has arisen, instead of our leaders using a bit of foresight, and a bit of planning to realise what misfortunes can come tomorrow as a result of their actions today. Some will argue that is the problem with the Chief Minister but the truth is, we as a people, many times are guilty of this same type of mentality. Looking at what we can get now, but not realising what it will cost in the future.

Multiple times, I’ve heard about interjections on the Chief Minister, due to “misconduct”, as well as requests for his resignation from the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM). It also seems the CCM is expecting the governor to step in and do something. Wasn’t it members of the same members of the Concerned Citizens Movement who only a few years ago ensured that the Governor could not interfere in local politics? Maybe we should have the Chief Minister resign and then have someone else for his party step up to the plate? It would have to be someone from the CM’s party, as they do not have much of an opposition? Are we supposed to go back to the poles in a year or so and elect the same people? If that’s the case who is to say the government will be different after a re-election. I’ve noticed our government is always the same people, we just seem to have them switch seats like musical chairs. What is the plan, who do we wish to be chief minister? How is the new government supposed to deal with the large projects which are already ongoing? Where is the money going to come from for the nation without investors? Are we willing to accept an increase in the tax rate or pay income tax to support government business? The funding for the big projects here are not coming from one man’s pockets, but from companies or investment groups who in turn go to a bank or other lending institution; and they will be keenly watching what is happening to their money.

I’ve heard talks of the government of Anguilla, robbing Anguillians of their land, but I can’t quite fathom and any Anguillian being blackballed or black mailed into selling their properties and accepting these projects. That is more likely in a Hollywood script. Truthfully, I’m quite sure lots of people would have to rearrange their lives as they have come to know it, if these multi-million projects were to be abandoned. The money people have made by selling properties, the wages they are making presently affording luxuries never before afforded, and not to mention the inflow and circulation of the great U.S. Dollar around this island. With life as we know it, it would be very difficult to ask us to change our very livelihood by not working within some of these foreign/local projects, and to go back to days of yester-year. Honestly though, it is my belief that many of those same Anguillians would not be willing to sell their land to Anguillians for a meagre sum, when they could sell the land to foreigners for exorbitant sums and get rich quickly. Last time I checked there was no land in West End selling for ten or fifteen thousand dollars per quarter acre. Not just West End though, all over Anguilla.

I wonder if the citizens of Anguilla have considered the social ramifications of their acts. Family members have stopped willing land to their children and are now selling it to foreign investors (usually) at a price none of us young Anguillians could afford. We have already sold or leased most of the beach front, but if you doubt this take a drive around this petit isle. Anguillians will now have to live on the interior hoping that the hotels have left beach access so we could still enjoy weekends at the beach. However, all is not lost; young Anguillians still have options. We can get loans and spend the next 25 years paying them off, or we might be content to purchase at most a Ľ acre somewhere in the bush and hope that our children find some place of their own to buy when they arrive.

Speaking of real estate cost rates, has anyone stopped to realize what it cost to build a house in Anguilla these days. A two bedroom house will cost close to $250,000 much more if you want to build something bigger. The fact is, most of the materials will be imported but we can afford those prices, the labour is where we have a real problem. Ask any honest Anguilla if they really want to be indebt for the next 30 years paying a mortgage, working two jobs (one for the mortgage the other to eat) or would you rather have someone else do the work who you can afford to pay. What if they have children who might one day want to go to college? Rent is quite possibly another option but for young Anguillians to rent a nice house or apartment is barely an option. Dare I say if you would like to rent a house or apartment in Anguilla you may be better off starting a mortgage. Rent for a two bedroom house in the West End of the island can be any where between $1,500-$3,000 US, and in some cases higher. The rest of Anguilla is quickly catching up. On a young Anguillians salary that is not affordable option. The situation becomes even more complicated as many young people do have children. Who can afford to rent these buildings, not Anguillians? Maybe Anguillians should pay more attention to the things they do because looking at it seems as if Anguillians don’t want Anguillians to buy land, build nor rent a house/apartments. Humans are opportunistic creatures; right now, we are quicly providing this higher end housing for foreigners who work for big companies, but fail to provide for our own Anguillian citizens, and CARICOM neighbours alike.

We were outraged at the Viceroy situation, and how the Indians were treated, but how is it any different than how we, the Anguillians treated our Spanish speaking neighbours when they first came to Anguilla. We need to take a long hard look at what we do to others, as well as each other and try to honestly look out for our fellow Anguillians. We can preach a good sermon but unless we live the life it doesn’t make a difference what we say or how we try to portray ourselves. What happened to the values we learned in church what happened to do unto other as you would have them do unto you.

Church used to the corner stone of our very society, but as of recently, BET has been accused of being the major influence in the lives of the Anguillian youth? I suppose that is why it is no longer televised, but I am curious as to why the programming has ceased, but the violence and cases of mild and harsh inhumanity are still prevelant. I think we have been too busy to notice and have allowed the television to raise our children. While we were out working two jobs making ends meet, our children were being brought up by persons of the same age who could provide the guidance and discipline to lead them in the right way. They have learned from us that they are born here and Anguilla, it’s their’s so everyone else is obligated to them, no need for respect and certainly no need for education. Taking a closer look, we see that we have failed at education not that the teachers haven’t been trying or because the education department hasn’t been putting their hearts into it. The reason we failed is because we refused to provide outlets in education that meet the needs of all our youth. By this I mean everyone is not going to excel in academics but there are no other institutions for formal vocational training or higher learning. No technical school, no college, all things could have been provided through the government from the monies of the foreign companies who have invested here over the past few years but we were not clairvoyant. Now we have young people (some functionally illiterate) who work for more money than their parents but have very little understanding (or dare I say common sense) about what to do with their new found wealth. Since they were raised by their friends, their friends provide the guidance and now they are ganging out on the corners wasting away their lives and causing all kinds of social unrest.

It seems the whole idea of common sense seems to have died a long time ago. Teachers are no longer some of the most respected professionals in society. They used to be the most loved, feared, but most of all, respected, by students, and parents alike. These days, teachers have to consider who and if they should try to discipline, in our schools. Should they take away a cell phone for usage in the class, or ask the unruly student to leave, knowing that he/she may just find some other mischief to get into. The school bags are getting smaller each year. Not because the work load and book sizes are decreasing, but because cell phones, PS2’s and iPods just don’t take up much room. Now parents need to wonder why it is they spend money on school books each year, for them to remain at home on a shelf, or for them to be left carelessly strewn across the classrooms.

Community centers, which were to spark extra curricular activity participation are now the blocks and the library is a tourist attraction. As we have silently taught our children not to respect our teachers we have also slowly expected the teachers to be parents. In addition to not having respect for teachers they now have no respect for authority in general.
This year is barely half way, yet we have two people under twenty who were murdererd by their peers…young men under twenty years of age. Sadly there was no outcry, no march, no admittance, no blame, it just happened and we gladly looked the other way as if these were not our children.

Earlier I alluded to the cost of living in Anguilla. Its funny how everything has to be imported but the Chinese who pay rent have the cheapest goods. Our Civil servants have been underpaid for years but we have not marched with/for them. What about our hotel workers who still make less than four dollars an hour and have to depend on service charge to make their salaries somewhat acceptable. The ironic thing is those in the management position in the hotels are taking home healthy monthly pay cheques, but the average worker is taking home less than two thousands dollars and it is only a lucky few who might make that much. I never considered it until it was mentioned to me but in most hotels a beer cost at least $5 U.S. however the bartender and most everyone else makes less than $4 an hour. So it take two hours work to buy one drink.

What about the school teachers who work without supplies in hot buildings with unruly children. When was the last time we saw a buzz for CXC results? No one really notices as they return at about the time we are having carnival. Has anyone noticed the airport fire service is now Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service? Has anyone noted the age of the young people working there? The better question is does anyone know the pittance of a salary they receive for the training they go thru and for putting there life at risk? Has anyone noticed the fire truck comes out to even traffic accidents. It’s about thirty of them, most making less than $1000 us a month. Are we going to

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