Remarks as delivered: Let me begin by thanking you Mr. Speaker, the Chief Minister and the Representative of the Opposition, for their warm words of welcome.

It is with a great sense of responsibility that I have just taken the oaths of allegiance to HM The Queen and been sworn in as the Governor of Anguilla. I also have a deep sense of the history of this island and of its successive governors. This year marks many important anniversaries for Anguilla. Not least it is exactly 400 years ago this year that the first British citizen, Captain Harcourt, landed on this island in 1609. So the links between Britain and Anguilla go back a very long way. I am conscious that I am part of a long tradition and that I therefore have a lot to live up to.

I am also conscious that I am arriving in Anguilla at a challenging time. Firstly, Anguilla, like the United Kingdom and most other countries in the world, is being affected by the global economic crisis. The crisis was certainly not of Anguilla's making, but the consequences are being felt here with a decline in the tourist industry this year. I am confident that the economy of Anguilla is in good long-term shape, since the world is spending more and more on bigger and better holidays (and there is nowhere better than Anguilla). The opening of the first hotel on the island fifty years ago this year - another important anniversary - was clearly a very far-sighted decision. But there is likely to be a short-term challenge for Anguilla, until the world economy gets out of the present recession. I am confident that, with prudence, Anguilla can weather the storm, and get through to more comfortable times using the reserves that have been built up over the good times.

Secondly, the recent events in another Caribbean Overseas Territory remind us - if we needed a reminder - of the importance of good governance and financial probity in the Overseas Territories, as in all countries. There is sadly no law of nature that decrees that what happened there could never happen here. But, provided that none of us is complacent, I am confident that Anguilla can continue as an example of the high standards of governance that are rightly expected in the Overseas Territories. In this context HMG welcomes Anguilla's assurance that it will meet OECD standards on tax information. The recent G20 Summit gives added urgency to the need for Anguilla to complete twelve Tax Information Exchange Agreements before September this year and be ready to respond to any other OECD requests for information on standards in the financial services industry.

Thirdly, ten years after the White Paper of 1999, the United Kingdom and the Overseas Territories are likely to look again at their relationship a decade on. The partnership envisaged in the White Paper has brought real benefits, but another review is probably due. Anguilla is looking to have a new Constitution as part of it. Anguilla has always been energetic in its pursuit of genuine self-determination - 2009 is of course the fortieth anniversary of the events of 1969. That was the first time that I, along with many members of my generation, heard about events in Anguilla and admired what Anguilla was doing. But long before that Anguilla was well ahead of many of its island neighbours in developing democracy. In the nineteenth century it extended the franchise beyond the narrow circle of white males before many other Caribbean Islands.

Of course, I will be paying particular attention to those areas where I have a special responsibility: the defence of the island, particularly against hurricanes; foreign relations; internal security; financial regulatory oversight and good governance.

I have been given a lot of advice as to how best to fulfill my responsibilities as governor. I have spoken to a number of former and serving governors, including some of my predecessors. I also read in the Anguillian that at my immediate predecessor's departure ceremony the Chief Minister ascribed much of his success to his realising early on that he was not the boss. I am sure this is right. I do not regard myself as the boss. Any more than the Chief Minister regards himself as the boss. Both of us are servants of the people of Anguilla, as are all officials, elected and appointed. We will serve the people of Anguilla best by working together in partnership, as the Chief Minister remarked when welcoming me at the airport two days ago; and I certainly promise to work in very close partnership with the Chief Minister and his colleagues, and with the Government Service more widely.

My wife, my family and I are absolutely delighted that I have been appointed to Anguilla, and we are looking forward to getting to know this island and its people. I want to meet as quickly as possible as many Anguillians as I can - or at least as many Anguillians as want to meet me.

I started by talking about history. The first Governor of Anguilla William Watts went down in the history books with the judgement that "he exercised no effective control of events in Anguilla". I obviously do not want that kind of legacy. So I pledge sincerely to devote myself throughout my posting here to the service of Anguilla and of its people.