Although there has not been much hurricane activity in the area, Anguilla’s Governor, Alistair Harrison, has advised the people of the island to remain vigilant. “I know that the National Disaster Management Committee is very well prepared and I am visiting one of the hurricane shelters this afternoon. We all have to remember not to be complacent between the period now and October that is the worst peak of the season,” he advised.

BVI Governor McClency, Anguilla's Governor Harrison, Deputy Governor Stanley Reid and Peter Roberts

As the Governor had no particular other matter to make a statement on, the question and answer period commenced immediately. On the question of the much-delayed appointment of the Second Nominated Member, he gave this response:

“I am continuing consultations with the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. I hope to arrange a joint meeting which should have been arranged by now but, as you all may have noticed, we all have been slightly busy. I am certainly hoping to make progress on that as soon as I can.”

Pressed further, he commented: “I am looking for a Second Nominated Member, ideally somebody who commands respect on all sides of the political spectrum and who could both bring something to politics and to the National Assembly. I think it also has to be somebody who has got the energy and the time to devote to the job.”

Asked to comment on the Cap Juluca agreement, the Governor said in part: “I said at the signing ceremony that I was happy. I am delighted that there was an agreement because I think it is a good one for the people of Anguilla and the Government; it is a good agreement for the employees of Cap Juluca, as well as being a good agreement for the Cap Juluca management otherwise they wouldn’t have signed it. It was a long and difficult process and I think the conclusion was a very satisfactory one from all sides.”

He added: “If you looked at the document, you can see where the changes are between both the previous and the present agreement, and make your own judgment…”

Asked about the sale of Viceroy, as announced in a recent press conference held by the Chief Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, the Governor replied: “It hasn’t been discussed in Executive Council so I can’t shed any light on it. I read the press reports that you did.”

On a question related to the Police action against Lawyer Cora Richardson-Hodge of the Anguilla United Front, the Governor stated in part, noting that the matter was sub judice: “I think that the Police must do their job, and the important thing is that they must do their job without fear or favour, regardless whether the person concerned is a politician, what profession they are pursuing or whatever. Everybody is equally entitled to the same degree of protection from the Police, but equally everybody is responsible for their own conduct and for observing the law. That is what the Police and the Attorney General’s Chambers are doing…”

Governor Harrison was asked about the stalled constitutional and electoral reform process in Anguilla. He replied partly: “It is very much for the Government and people of Anguilla to take the initiative. Whenever the present Government is ready to start discussions, we are ready to do so. Our legal advisers are ready to engage.” He added: “I think it is a fair possibility that the new Minister for the Overseas Territories will be doing some travelling to some for the Overseas Territories. We have no fixed plans at the moment. I would be personally delighted if he would be able to visit Anguilla, but as soon as we get further word, we will issue an announcement.”

The Governor was questioned about allegations by Chief Minister Hubert Hughes that Permanent Secretaries were not cooperating with his Government. He was asked whether he had investigated those allegations and what action he had taken.

“I received no formal complaints from any Minister or anybody else about any Permanent Secretary,” Mr. Harrison reported. “If I did receive them I would of course have investigated them. I have heard also about public attacks being made on public servants which I deplore. I think if the Chief Minister or anybody else has any problem with a public servant they should put it in writing to me.

“I have to say, I think Anguilla has an outstanding public service and in the 16 months that I have been Governor, no one has ever put in any formal complaint about any Permanent Secretary…..”

Deputy Governor, Stanley Reid, who has direct responsibility for the public service, said he too had not received any formal complaints about any of its members, in particular the senior members. “I am very conscious of the work they do and I have no issues with respect to their work,” he commented. “I actually hold senior members of the public service in high regard, and I too would look into any complaints that are made, particularly if they can be substantiated…”

The Governor stated that if a Permanent Secretary or any other civil servant was found blocking a Minister’s policy, that would be a very serious matter and the Minister should naturally bring it to the attention of the Governor, who would want to investigate it.

He said to the particular reporter: “You are talking about attacks on the civil service and the Chief Minister saying he is unhappy, but no such allegations/complaints have been made to us. Of course we would take it extremely serious if there were.”

The reporter: “As the person responsible for the civil service, is it in your position to say ‘Chief, either come up, or shut up?’”

The Governor: “I have made my position clear. Thank you very much.”

In addition to Mr. Reid, Mr. Harrison was accompanied at the press conference by his colleague, the newly-appointed Governor of the British Virgin Islands, Mr. Boyd McClency, who is observing procedural matters in Anguilla.Mr. Peter Roberts, Staff Officer to the Governor, was also in attendance

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