Protesters Call For Withdrawal Of Bills

A large number of persons representing all seven electoral districts in Anguilla marched to the Secretariat on Tuesday afternoon, October 4, in protest against the Physical Planning Bill and the Labour Code Bill which have been discussion matters of much controversy over the past weeks.

The long line of placard-bearing demonstrators left the Ronald Webster Park at about 3 o’clock singing Get Up, Stand Up For Your Rights and travelled under a banner bearing the words Save Our Nation, United We Stand. After a brisk walk they took up a position just outside the Chief Minister’s Office where their crescendo of voices filled the afternoon air.

The protest march was led by local Lawyers Josephine Gumbs-Connor and Paulette Harrigan and concerned citizen, Mitchelle Lake, who were speakers at a number of public meetings during which they sensitized the people of the island about the provisions of the Bills. The marchers were told by Mrs. Gumbs-Connor to fall in line and to proceed peacefully to the Secretariat where the Chief Minister, the other Ministers and the Attorney-General were asked by letter to be present to receive them.

Some of the placards they carried read: “Anguilla at the Crossroads”, “Save Our Land, United We Stand”, Anguillians Take A Stand Before They Take Our Land”, “Burn The Bills”, “Anguilla Keep Your Steel Up”, “We Reject The Physical Planning Bill”, “Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely”, “This Land Is Our Land, Nobody Can Run We” and “Anguillians Taking A Stand Before It Is Too Late”.

After waiting for a few minutes, Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming joined Public Relations Officer, Curtis Richardson, on the steps of his office and was followed later by the Minister of Infrastructure, Kenneth Harrigan. There was no appearance of the other Ministers or the Attorney General. When asked about their absence and told by Mrs. Gumbs-Connor that a formal letter to meet the demonstrators had been delivered to his office, Mr. Fleming said it did not come to his attention, but he had heard about the march while listening to the radio and thought it fit to be present even though the invitation had not reached him.
“I wish that your entire Cabinet would have executed such diligence because I think, like you, they also heard the information on the radio,” Mrs. Gumbs-Connor stated.

“I cannot guarantee that,” Mr. Fleming replied.

The lawyer continued: “That, notwithstanding, Chief Minister, does not take away from the concerns you have been hearing for the past couple of weeks about the Physical Planning Bill and the Labour Code. I have asked Mr. Mitchelle Lake, who has been one of the persons who have come to the people along with some lawyers, to read to you some communication which we think reflects the [views of the] entire body that you see here in front of you.”

Mr. Lake proceeded to read the 7-page double-spaced letter which, among other matters, called for the withdrawal of the draft legislation and expressed views on some of the economic development issues on the island. The full text of that letter is printed elsewhere in this edition of The Anguillian. Mr. Lake presented a copy of the letter, as well as a petition signed by 1,190 persons, to the Chief Minister.

Replying, Chief Minister Fleming, his voice occasionally drowned by shouts from the crowd, said: “My concept about democracy has always been that the people of Anguilla should have the right to express themselves and you have done that. I just want to say though that what I have said on the radio has not been received or heard by you…I said that I respect the concerns of the people of Anguilla. I also said that we will re-look at these Bills and invite suggestions from the Bar Association and concerned Anguillians. Today I will tell you something more. I will write a letter to the four lawyers who led these concerns of the people and ask them to put in writing what the Bill [Physical Planning] should have in it…” His voice was drowned out by the people and he commented “I can’t believe I am in Anguilla!”

When the den of voices abated, Mr. Fleming said: “The Planning Bill and the Labour Code Bill will not go to the House of Assembly until the people of Anguilla are satisfied. Thank you all for coming. God bless you all.” He then returned to his office.

Lawyer Gumbs-Connor observed that while the Chief Minister’s undertaking to satisfy the people had served part of the purpose of the protest march, she was disappointed that he could not “exercise a little more patience.” She said the people having marched to the Secrtetariat “was a clear indication of their frustration with more than just the Planning Legislation and the Labour Code. There were other issues that were raised. He has not addressed any of those.”

She went on: “People of Anguilla, what I would like is for us to stand here and await our Chief Minister. Be very quiet and let us await our Chief Minister…until he delivers exactly what he wishes to say…”
Shortly afterwards, however, a police officer spoke to Mitchelle Lake who then advised the crowd to return to the Parking Lot at the Webster Park. They eventually moved a short distance away, but remained at the Secretariat’s compound for some time after they were reportedly told by the police that they could not play the music with which they had entered the Secretariat compound.
Earlier, before addressing the protesters, Mr. Fleming spoke to members of the media. “I am exceptionally surprised because the objective of going to the people was to get their input,” he stated. “I said here is the Bill. Tell me what you like about it and where it should be amended… So what I am seeing is surprising because I am still waiting for their objections and to modify and amend the Bill to meet the satisfaction of the people.”

He told the reporters that the Physical Planning Bill was drafted to meet modern standards. “If the people of Anguilla believe that it has gone outside their culture, they have an obligation to express that and I am willing to see that happen,” he added…“The Bill will one day go to the House, but it will not go as it is.”

Protesters marching to the Secretariat		CM Fleming (right) speaking with lawyer Josephine Gumbs-Connor		Protest marchers
		Mitchell Lake reading letter to CM Fleming		Protest marchers

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