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CHIEF
MINISTER’S ADDRESS TO THE NATION IN THE WAKE OF CALL FOR HIS
RESIGNATION |
WEDNESDAY, JULY 11TH, 2007 _ Press Release by GOA.
 Fellow
Anguillians, you would recall that after 9/11 in 2001,
Anguilla was facing a serious recession. At the beginning of
2002, we were at least twenty million dollars in deficit and
had no reserves. At the time we feared that salaries for the
public service could not be met, and Anguilla was slipping
deeper and deeper into debt with no hope of recovery if we
did not see a significant turnaround in our economy. After
much hard work and planning we were able to devise a plan
for economic recovery. As of today we have a recurrent
surplus of forty million dollars and in this fortieth
anniversary of our revolution we have forty million dollars
in reserve and effective July 2007 a 20% salary increase
will be rewarded to our hard working civil servants,
pensioners and non-established workers.
By the end of 2002 our plan was beginning to work and in
that year we promised you that there was light at the end of
the tunnel. As Anguillians we can all agree that we have
experienced the positive benefits of this light. Not only
Anguillians but non-Anguillians as well. Anguillians have
seen their standard of living improved.
You have invested in new vehicles, new homes, home
improvements as well as other personal assets because of the
increased economic activity on the island. Not only have we
invested on a personal level but we have also invested in
various forms of business activities – retail stores,
villas, apartments and other real estate, heavy equipment,
construction companies, taxis, law firms and other
professional services. You have done this because you felt
confident of Anguilla’s future.
Our tourism industry has been growing steadily and
bountifully. Visitor arrivals have been increasing on an
annual basis. Both local and foreign investment in the
tourism industry have increased over the past five years –
car rentals, restaurants, water-sports, villas, hotels, etc.
Anguilla as a tourism destination has a very positive image
in the market place. When a Caribbean vacation is being
planned, Anguilla is top of the mind for travelers.
Our image in the marketplace both from a tourism and
investment standpoint has been outstanding. We have appeared
on all the major networks in the United States including
NBC, CBS, BET and ABC. There is full employment on Anguilla
and those who are not working are those who have decided not
to look for or accept a job. From an economic standpoint
Anguilla is experiencing unprecedented economic growth.
Amidst this economic progress however, Anguilla, like our
Caribbean neighbours and the world at large, has been
experiencing serious social challenges. There are no quick
fixes to these social issues. We all know that global
influences have impacted us. Deviant behaviour, lack of
spirituality, absence of discipline and the like, stem from
a variety of factors. As a government we recognize that we
must continue to work overtime and with all our partners in
the church, community and civil society to address these
problems and fix them.
The increased economic activity on the island has resulted
in us having to import labour to meet the construction boom
in the economy. We once were considered good for nothing as
a country, and many of our people traveled abroad in search
of work to help their families back on Anguilla. Those were
very dark days. They were days of dependency and sometimes
despair but our love for this country Anguilla remained
strong. We are eternally grateful to places like Santo
Domingo, St. Maarten, Curacao, Aruba, England, the USVI and
the mainland USA for the opportunities granted to our
people. We helped to build those countries as they helped us
to sustain the lives of our families here on Anguilla.
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Today, the tables are turned. We have our country to build
and we need the assistance of others to build it. We welcome
migrant workers from various parts of the Caribbean and the
rest of the world and we are committed to ensuring that they
live comfortably and harmoniously while they are in our
midst. Just as we did for the first large group of outside
labour other than the Caribbean that came from Mexico to
work on one of our locally owned projects.
Under this government much good has come to Anguilla. We all
recognize that there have been some challenges as well. Is
this not the reality of life? A little bitter with the
sweet? Do we not expect the rough with the smooth or the
rain with the sunshine?
Fellow Anguillians, over the past two weeks if you were
listening to any of the talk shows on the major local
stations you would have heard the same select group of
individuals sounding a clarion call for the resignation of
the duly elected Government of Anguilla. They are well aware
that their objective will not be achieved. Therefore they
are seeking to destabilize the country and stir up social
unrest. Our real concern is and it should be yours as well,
is the damage this destabilization and social unrest will
have on our nation.
The attempts and efforts to unseat elected governments by
this means are undemocratic and patently dangerous. As a
democracy we believe in free and fair elections. What we
should all be opposed to are actions that seek to circumvent
and interrupt our democratic process. You the people of
Anguilla in February 2005 gave us a clear mandate to lead
you for another five years to 2010 and we intend to fulfill
the mandate you have given us with God’s help barring
illness. We encourage all incumbents and aspiring
politicians to prepare even now for 2010.
Since the last elections, this select group has not accepted
the fact that the United Front Government was returned to
office. And they have sought to use every possible
opportunity --- not just to call for the resignation of a
Minister or the entire government, but also to destabilize
the country and to destroy the gains Anguilla has made over
the last few years.
What then is the basis for this select group to be seeking
to destabilize the country and create social unrest? Is a
Labour Bill to regulate labour on Anguilla a reason for
this? Is a physical planning bill to help in bringing about
the orderly development of Anguilla a reason for this? Does
the fact that the Government of Anguilla having worked
tirelessly and successfully with the legal representatives
of Indian workers to ensure that the improvements in living
conditions and the wages they specifically requested were
achieved constitute a reason to destabilize this small
community and create social unrest?
I have confidence in you my fellow Anguillians that you will
see the issues for what they are. I have the confidence that
you will ask the proponents of this move to identify for you
those they believe could better lead the country. They must
give you options; alternatives; their vision for the
leadership of Anguilla other than their own personal
grievances and agendas.
I have the confidence that you will recognize that the
efforts of this group is not in the interest of the people
of Anguilla but in their self-interest. This cannot be
sufficient and justifiable grounds for destabilizing the
country and creating social unrest.
Government is not a circus. It is not a place of
entertainment, drama and theatrics. It is an institution
whose purpose is to create a climate and environment in
which people can live peaceable, orderly and prosperous
lives.
How can anyone say they care for you and have your interest
at heart when their very actions would lead to your
destruction? Is this select group so blinded by their rage
and self-interest that they do not realize that their
preaching of violence and their efforts at destabilization
will set our country back for years? Which investor, local
or foreign, will want to have their money tied up in an
unstable economy? Projects would close. Investments would
freeze. Funds would dry up and all of us, who have invested
in Anguilla whether on a personal or business level, would
feel the squeeze. We would have mortgages and loans we could
not repay. Our children would have to leave college as we
would not be able to pay their fees. Businesses would have
to close. Who then would purchase if and when the banks were
to foreclose?
Which tourist will want to come to Anguilla if there is
instability and insecurity in the country? Hotels would have
to layoff workers; banks repossess vehicles and other
consumer goods. At the end of all the chaos would this
select group then wave a magic wand to restore economic
prosperity and social stability to the island? You be the
judge. Weigh the facts. Roll back the curtains of memory.
See where you were and where you are today. Which do you
honestly prefer? Look into the future. Compare your today
with a future plagued by instability and social unrest.
Have we as a government gotten it all right? Of course not!
As a Christian and as Chief Minister, I believe that I am
humble enough to accept responsibility for whatever happens
in this government. The people of Anguilla should recognize
that we have done so many good things for this island. I do
not believe that we as the government should be crucified.
This reminds me of the old saying that people would forget
the ninety-nine good deeds but will destroy you for one
variance.
Our nation faces many challenges. Our young people
especially are facing numerous challenges and they need our
help. Instability may create further opportunities for
delinquent behaviour and the growth of gang rivalry which we
as a responsible government cannot condone. We have a
responsibility to help them and not hurt them anymore. By
our own example we have to encourage them to respect the
rule of law and to be law abiding citizens. There must be
mutual respect between our law enforcement agencies and our
people.
You my people must demand from all of us who present ideas
and opinions to you, the highest levels of responsibility
and decency. We all have our parts to play. You have your
part and we your duly elected representatives have our part
to play.
Hindsight now reveals that there are some things that we
could have done better and we will make the necessary
amends. I am now encouraging this select group to continue
to be watchdogs and where necessary agitate with moral and
professional decency.
We are currently enjoying a good life, even with its
challenges. Let us not fly in the face of our God with a
spirit of ingratitude, lies and deception. Let us cleanse
ourselves of all malice and allow Anguilla to continue to
enjoy the peace and prosperity with which we have all been
blessed.
I would like to clarify a statement giving over radio
regarding funds from the OECS earmarked for the development
of schools.
After the rise of fuel prices throughout the region and the
world the government of Trinidad and Tobago established a
Petroleum Stabilization Fund. This Fund was earmarked for
the members of Caricom. The Funds are all directed to
Caricom in Guyana. In the last meeting that I attended in
Antigua it was agreed that the member states of the OECS
would be given some of these funds for the OECS countries.
In my presentation at that meeting I put forth Anguilla’s
position regarding the need for the OECS Ministers to agree
for some of these funds coming to Anguilla. I made the point
that we have a shortage of classrooms in Anguilla and
children of OECS countries have contributed to this
shortage. I further made the point that Anguilla should be
considered to receive some of the funds for building schools
in Anguilla which would not only facilitate the children of
Anguilla but those as well from the OECS countries.
The request is in and today as far as I am aware, no country
in the OECS has received any money from the Fund as yet.
Fellow Anguillians the Government of Anguilla with the
participation of citizens in this country along with all
elected members will be meeting next week to start the
process of putting in place a minimum wage.
We are hoping that this exercise will be completed for
implementation of the minimum wage for the next tourism
season.
Finally, I like to advise that I will address the nation
every month.
God Bless you all and God Bless Anguilla.
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