There has been a series of articles and journalism in the paper that has been nothing more than banter about politics, economics, island plans, social security, airport plans, misguided ideas and the rest. Very little has been designed to encourage or plan a way into the future. What has happened cannot be changed. It's the new plans that will move us forward. We cannot think as we did before.

We are simply a small island with great potential and we don't seem to see how to get launched again. We thought some years ago we were on a road to stardom. Wealthy visitors took the reins and unfortunately some plans do go bad. And not our fault or the fault of our Government.

Well we must wake up and return to what we do best. We are a tourist destination. All efforts should be directed to that end.

Many suggestions have been put forward by the public and Government. The problem is that little has been implemented. In some cases progress has been stifled by poor decisions or political banter and posturing.

We must concentrate on the visitors. Island business and politics should be kept out of the public eye. I believe there are too many negative conversations taking place in the media.

We need to have the powers that be, plan a media note that resonates in the news as positive as we did some years ago. Anguilla was THE place to go. We were in magazines, talk shows, and even live TV. Let's have a publicity committee put together, with talent from Anguilla, the means to tap the American and European talent abroad. There is no reason we can't put together a plan with a positive spin that will attract the tourists we so badly need.

I have to say that visitors have always been drawn to Anguilla for all the obvious reasons but they also need the encouragement to make Anguilla more than just their vacation spot. Many have dreams that include homes, retirement, or even business ventures. Why does Government think they must curtail these activities? Why do they think progress will be made by internal expansion and leave the rest of the world out? It doesn't work that way. It will never irk that way.

It is the next step that is so important.

The visitor needs to be encouraged to plan a future here. Government does not seem to understand this. We must find a way to set policy that will allow expansion, development, home building, retirement and investment. Without a master plan that is in place, and made known to all, we will never see the progress we need so badly.
Please review the ideas that will encourage new visitors and investors to come here and plan their own future and dreams. Please come up with those positive plans that will attract a planned expansion that will put us out on the front line again.

We can only be the #1 tourist destination if we offer what we offered a few years back. We were pleasant, friendly, even loving hosts to all that came ashore. We made each and every visitor feel special and welcome. We treated them with respect and kindness. We were always helpful and honest. We gave them a sanctuary of safety and a place that was so desirable that most returned again and again.

Why do we now dwell on the problems?
Why do we continue to put faith in fixing the disasters?
Why build things we don't need?
Why dream programs that have no potential in a community of only 15000 people?
Why argue about what investments we should make or not make?
Why are the plans so out of scale?

Why have we forgotten what we do best?

We are hosts and need to get back to showing the world we are the best hosts anywhere and that Anguilla is a place you might want to consider as your home someday.

Anguilla host

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