Dear Sir,
A breath of fresh air
Do I correctly perceive a seemingly small thaw in the Chief Minister’s and Governor’s relationship, almost like a breath of fresh air on the island? I had speculated in an earlier letter about their reasons for the increasing disagreements and lack of trust in each other, but that may be a fading based on what I read in The Anguillian.
In the Governor’s comments to the media, his announcement of his “assent to the budget” on January 12th, with credible explanations for the slight delay that caused some earlier angst in the Government, must be welcomed by the Chief Minister. The Governor’s assent to the CM’s commitment to balance the budget by the end of 2012, reflected in his “shared responsibility to make that commitment a fact,” is a very encouraging sign. Also, the budget’s monitoring required as a condition of its assent, is desirable and quite acceptable to the CM.
The mutual recognition of common “challenges” on the economic front reflects a desire to work together in addressing them. The Governor complimenting the CM on signing an MOU with Mr. Rizzuto, lays to rest the CM’s earlier suspicions of the Governor trying to undermine the Government’s efforts to develop the Temenos property into a complimentary CuisineArt Resort. In outlining the future challenges at Cap Juluca and Malliouhana, the Governor’s tone of understanding and expectations must appear encouraging to the CM.
On crime and internal security, the Governor in fulfilling his responsibilities, comments on how “the Chief Minister and all Ministers have been very supportive over the last two years” – small praise and a good sign. The British Government’s commitment to finance the building of a new prison wing is a welcome drop in the relationship between Anguilla andBritain. I also note a sense of fair and conciliatory tone on the plans for constitutional and electoral reform, something that the CM could hope to build on in the months to come.
Finally, the Governor’s desire to bury the hatchet on the Walcott Richardson’s visa waiver affair, is a definite sign of wanting to move on and perhaps make it an example for avoiding similar confrontations in the future between the Governor’s and Government’s responsibilities.
I would like to believe that a lot of less desirable water has flowed under the bridge over the past two years between the Governor and the Chief Minister, and wish that 2012 may be the year of cooperation, greater trust, and reconciliation between the two. In the Chinese calendar, it is the year of the Dragon that is “expected to bring prosperity and transformational change”!
Sincerely,
An Anguillian Resident.
