While there is so much in Anguilla to make us mind our own business, we do not live in isolation and must therefore sometimes look at events around us. It appears from information published elsewhere in this paper that St. Kitts-Nevis may now at last be jointly and cooperatively deciding to end their constitutional ties and going it alone. They are about to do so while preserving the cordial relationship between the peoples and governments of the two islands, under a possible Treaty of Friendship.

However white-washed the arrangement may appear, it cannot be denied that there had been some deep divisions between the two islands probably for almost as long as Anguilla had endured an uneasy relationship with St. Kitts before adult suffrage and eventually under old Labour. Both Anguilla and Nevis had a common grievance of neglect against St. Kitts. Things came to a head in 1967 at the onset of Associated Statehood when the Central Government was reluctant to the establishment of Local Councils in the islands. Anguilla, 70 miles to the northwest, rebelled and took over its own affairs, and Nevis, 12 miles to the south, too close and perhaps too tied by family blood to revolt, stayed on grudgingly. There have been attempts by past and present Nevisian leaders to find a way out through constitutional reform. Not too long ago the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) attempted separation by a referendum which fell short of the required percentage vote. This time both the ruling CCM and the opposition Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) now seem to have cast aside their differences and are united in a bid to achieve full autonomy for an independent state of Nevis.

There seems to be a mutual understanding between the St. Kitts and Nevis parliamentarians on this question. Unlike in previous times, there is no need for the proponents of Caribbean unity to involve themselves in the domestic affairs of these islands however worthwhile integration may be seen. It does not appear that CARICOM or the OECS will be invited to cast their verdict on the matter although they may be consulted only for the sake of common courtesy. Both islands have their own elected representatives and parliaments; but given the past and present circumstances it may be an awkward arrangement to operate in a Federal Government in which Nevis is still not altogether free to conduct all of its affairs without St. Kitts having some say and/or over-ruling power in some cases.

Like Anguilla, Nevis has not been an interested partner in voting Labour so the decision by the Nevisian leaders not to participate in federal elections is nothing new. The people of Nevis have always shown a collective preference to elect their own political party or independent candidates. Politically and constitutionally, the two islands seem to have very little, if anything, to gain, by remaining in a federation and economically they appear to be well poised to go it alone as well. If anybody has anything to say to the peoples and governments of the two islands, it should be bon voyage. Anguilla set sail 36 years ago when the going was tough and dismal and with opposition on every hand. With Nevis now about to leave, three islands will be standing alone. Each however has an opportunity to see about itself better and to navigate its course in a direction of its own choosing. Three from three will leave each one standing tall and free, yet one people.

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