T he Governor of Anguilla, His Excellency Alistair Harrison ,said that, in terms of defense, there were no strategic threats to Anguilla but the island engaged in the occasional defense cooperation with the United Kingdom.

His Excellency Governor Alistair Harrison

Governor Harrison, who has responsibility for the island’s external defense, stated that on one such occasion the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort George would be visiting Anguilla from July 26 to 29.
While here, the visiting Royal Naval Vessel is expected to participate in an exercise that will simulate a ferryboat disaster. Mr. Harrison stressed that it was important to remember that, although hurricanes were the most thought-about thing, it was always possible that something like a ferryboat disaster or an air disaster could happen in or near Anguilla. He said, in that event, the island would have to respond.

Harrison revealed that his main responsibility in connection with Anguilla’s defense related "to disaster preparedness and, in particular, the defense against hurricanes.” He noted that Anguilla was subject to other possible natural and man-made disasters. “Ensuring that we are ready for them is my responsibility and obviously I am working closely with the Department for Disaster Management,” he said.

Since his arrival to Anguilla, His Excellency has been involved in one tabletop exercise to test the way in which various disaster management organizations coordinate. He also attended the recent hurricane drill that was conducted in The Valley on the road between the Tourist Board Office and the Department of Agriculture.

The hurricane exercise and accompanying Safety Fair made it clear to the Governor that small-scale accidents, such as house fires, could be just as much disaster to the individuals or families involved. He remarked that all should be prepared, not just for the big disasters but also for the small ones. He believed that, at present, the island was at a very good state of readiness for the hurricane season. He admitted, however, that it was his first, making him “the least experienced.” While indicating that he was not looking forward to the hurricane season he admonished everyone to “be prepared for it.”

Harrison cited two areas of usual concern in relation to disasters. The first was what he described as “the unexpected twist to any particular disaster: the angle that nobody has thought of, and I think that part of the virtue of exercising is not just that you go through everything that you can think of but also that you develop a habit of coordination, a habit of professional response.”

The Governor revealed that he undertook a course on disaster management before he came to Anguilla. He said he was reminded of the famous military dictum that no plan survives the first contact with the enemy (including disasters).

The second issue that Harrison identified as being an area of concern was coordination: “Making sure that everybody individually and every institution is ready to play their part but also to work with everybody else. Nearly always…the key lesson that is learnt is the importance of coordination.”

In spite of his concerns, the Governor maintained that he was satisfied with the island’s preparation.
In addition to Fort George, a second British Naval ship will remain in the region for most of the hurricane season. They will adjust their patrols according to the paths of hurricanes.

Constitutional Talks in England

Governor Harrison confirmed that next week he would be part of Anguilla’s delegation at a meeting in London that he expected would involve exchanges of information relating to the constitution, among other things.

Harrison repeated the Chief Minister’s assertion that the constitutional talks would not include actual negotiations on the draft that was still up for public consultation here.
He said, although the agenda for the meeting was not finalized, he expected the local delegation would be meeting with Chris Bryant (the newly appointed Minister for the Overseas Territories) as well as a number of officials from the British Foreign Office and the Treasury.

Harrison considers his job to consist of three roles: Governor of Anguilla, the British ambassador in Anguilla and the Anguillian ambassador to the British Government. He said part of his role is “to help in the passing of messages between the two Governments,” but indicated that there was also much direct contact at ministerial and official level between the British and the local Government.
The Anguilla Governor hoped that his role in the upcoming talks would facilitate communication between the two governments bearing in mind his roles. He pointed out that financial issues was very much the responsibility of the elected members of the Executive Council and it was them who would speak about such issues to the British Government.

The talks are scheduled for Monday July 20 and Tuesday July 21. Mr. Harrison left Anguilla on Monday July 13 and will return on Wednesday July 22.

DG to Attend Next Press Conferences

Governor Harrison has promised the media he will ensure that Deputy Governor the Honorable Stanley Reid attends his next press briefing. “Perhaps next time we will both be here together, we will make a point of that.”

The Governor stated that his deputy had a role that was complimentary to, but different from his (the Governor) and there were probably questions that may be better directed to Reid.

He said his meetings with the press were very much his personal initiative and indicated that during his post in Zambia he always made himself “very available to the local representatives of the press and I believed that public diplomacy is a very important part of the work of the ambassador…high commissioner of a Commonwealth country. My job there was to represent Brittan…not just to the government but also more widely and one obvious way of doing it was to talk frequently to the press.”

“When I came here I decided that was also going to be an important part of my role as Governor because obviously I have at least weekly, exchanges with the government of Anguilla and EXCO. Very often more than once a week…but I felt I should also have contact with the whole people of Anguilla and the best way to do that is through regular contact with the press.”

The Governor said he also discussed his press meetings with his colleagues in England and they encouraged him because they believed it was very important for the Governor in an Overseas Territory to be visible and available.

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News