Dear Reluctant Non-Belonger:

I too am inspired to follow-up on your letter that recently appeared in this publication. Here are some of my own personal feelings and I will amplify on some of them. For reasons that will soon become clear, I am choosing to do so publically. I am happy that you “very much love and care for this island and its people,” and that you and your wife “have chosen Anguilla as the location for your home away from home.” I want to assure you that your feelings are reciprocated.

Don’t feel badly because, for me, it starts with the term “belonger.” I was told by a former Attorney General that there is no such person as an “Anguillian” according to the Constitution. I don’t know where on earth there is a country/island called “Belong” that I who am an Anguillian, as we like to say, “born and bred here,” should be referred to as a “belonger.” Let me hasten to add, some, if not all, of my best friends are belongers and I love that because that tells me that they, like you, love and care for Anguilla and have chosen to locate and live here. But if you’re from the US, you are American, if you’re from St. Lucia, a Lucian, Barbados, a Bajan, UK a Brit, if you get my drift so why am I a belonger?

The mere fact that you “invested literally millions of dollars in the home my wife and I constructed here” speaks to the reason why you would be “liable for more in annual property taxes than the vast majority of local residents.”

When it comes to Immigration and Customs at Blowing Point, don’t feel like the lone ranger. The same "snail’s pace line” and the “unsmiling immigration officer” greets us all. I usually come through with my daughter who lives in New York and it’s like they never believe her. One officer told her she had to leave her purchases at the office and come and pick them up on her departure. We all believe that some of the officers could benefit from some serious customer service training.

As regards the same disrespectful attitude exhibited at numerous other governmental agencies on the island, I beg to disagree. It is our culture as Anguillians to greet or speak to each other when seeing each other for the first time. I have witnessed too many “expats”, as we call them, who would walk into an office and not even acknowledge the person sitting at the desk but simply ask to see Mr. or Mrs. So and So. We consider this to be rude. Therefore, the “non-belonger” does not get the treatment he/she is expecting. To be treated as an equal the courtesy should be reciprocal.

This brings me to an important issue in my response: the “huge stake in the health and welfare of Anguilla” that you “non-belongers” have. I don’t know which “numerous local officials” you have made suggestions to, or to whom you may have written, but please allow me to suggest ways that you and your wife can give back to the community. I am surprised that you have been living here all these years and never heard of the Anguilla Community Foundation (maybe we are not doing a good public relations job) which serves as a vehicle for charitable interests. Let me cordially invite you and the many non-belongers to come and discuss with us your charitable interests. You are exactly who the ACF is looking for in the “second home” community, people who are used to donating thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars to community causes. Fund raising is a major component of our organization of which I am a board member. I am certain the board would agree with your heading a committee of your peers. I am excited just imagining the possibility of other “prominent home owners” raising “at a minimum hundreds of thousands of new dollars” that could be injected into the island to improve the quality of life for us all.” The ACF also has 501C3 status which means that your charitable donations are tax deductible in the US.

Finally, let me address another coveted asset. The Ministry of Social Development/Education has just established the Anguilla Community College. We are looking for retired persons like yourself who are “looking for productive things to do with our time.” Please contact us at the college about putting together a “volunteer bank” of professional services that some of you might be willing to provide free of charge. The Government would welcome skilled former executives and consultants who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get involved, especially in these times of economic challenges. No one has asked? I am asking. I am asking that your valuable resources can help us in a variety of ways. I am happy that you want our island to remain viable and vibrant and we look forward to “partnering” with all of you in the near future.

God bless you and God Bless Anguilla.

Sincerely, Rhona Richardson

PS: You can contact me through the Anguilla Community Foundation or the Anguilla Community College.

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