Opposition Member, Hubert Hughes, has criticised the agreement signed in London this week by the Anguilla delegation with the Chinese Business Network (CBN), aimed at promoting Anguilla’s tourism in China as well as assisting in directing Chinese investment to the island.

Hon. Hubert Hughes

He made the criticisms at his weekly press conference on Wednesday, when he also criticised a number of provisions in the draft constitution. On the question of the CBN agreement, the former Chief Minister said in part: “There were High Commissioners coming from Trinidad offering us scholarships and I rejected them outright. I wanted no assistance from Southeast Asia because there are 2.5 billion people between India and China and we cannot satisfy the appetites of these people…Chinese coming to these islands are going to put Anguillian culture out of form when it comes to Anguilla owning the business sector…It has happened in St. Maarten. You can’t beat Asian business.”

Mr. Hughes was of the opinion that there were no particular investment opportunities for Chinese investors in Anguilla other than real estate in which there were already a number of American investors. “If you have a local Anguillian having ambitions of getting in business, he cannot do so as long as there are Chinese on the island,” he stated. He pointed out that because Anguilla was not an independent country it could not benefit from any official Chinese aid which must be passed through the UK Government. He charged that any investment from private sector Chinese companies would “swamp” Anguilla.

On the question of the draft constitution, Mr. Hughes had problems with the section dealing with a lack of confidence in the Government which would require a two-thirds majority vote to succeed, resulting in the dissolution of the House and the vacating of office of the Premier and all other Ministers. Hughes wants an original provision to be replaced in the constitution whereby if the Premier vacates his office that another Minister is appointed to the position without dissolving the House and a return to the polls. He also prefers a vote by a simple majority rather than a two-thirds vote when it comes to a lack of confidence in the Government. “This should be amended now I would have no problems with it,” he added.

Mr. Hughes did not see any reason for the seven elected members to be increased to thirteen, saying it was unnecessary for a small island like Anguilla, that it would cause “more confusion” in the House; more money in salaries and that there should be three Nominated Members instead.

Among other matters, he was also of the view that five years were too long a period for the life of the House of Assembly and that it should be four years instead. “I will be forming the next Government and four years will be enough,” he declared.

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