There was a time in this country when we were taught, in Junior Guild Sunday School as well as in church, that we are our brother’s keeper and that we should reach out, when we can, to a brother or a sister in need. Some may be too proud to say it but today there are many people in Anguilla — self respecting people — who, from time to time, may need a little help and do not want to be abused or condemned for accepting it when offered. They at least do not want to be shamed and chastised in the House of Assembly by a man named Hubert Hughes, the Chief Minister, who, because of his job and wealth, can afford to live “high on the hog”.
We know that there has been a down turn in the economy and people are genuinely hurting. But Hubert Hughes should not be allowed to add insult to injury by standing in the House of Assembly bad-mouthing them in an effort to shame them and shift the focus from himself. This is the act of someone who is a failure and a political pariah. But that is what people with limited abilities do! Their defence is offence, and for all these years that has been the hallmark of his political style and he uses his position as a member of the House to assist him.
He was punched by another member of the House who was disgusted with what he said about him. He says things in the House that he would not say outside relying on “parliamentary privilege”, an important part of the Bill of Rights, promulgated in the seventeenth century to block the King from interfering with utterances in Parliament. It was not meant to give Members the right to behave like “washerwomen” and allow them to be abusive to the public.
A case in point is the Member for Road South’s willingness to politicize the generosity of some Anguillians and residents of Anguilla. It is blatantly immoral that he would he go to the House and denigrate such people for being kind. Is it because he is unkind and could not care less about us? Let us examine some of his actions. Civil servants are owed thousands of dollars. Yet, despite this fact, the Chief Minister rushes to collect money for phone bills that the Treasury did not substantiate for over twelve years. That is not fair and the public should know more about it! And just like he stood in the House and scolded people for doing good he should tell the truth about the “phone call money”. The last person to trample on efforts to help the “hard pressed” should be Hubert Hughes, the so-called champion of the poor. It must be noted that on occasions when Hughes had an opportunity to do something positive for Anguilla he did not. But whenever the slightest opportunity “pops up” for him to use Anguilla he never hesitates.
When Hughes signed documents saying that there was a medical school functioning in Anguilla — he was prostituting the island’s good name. We do not know what benefits he got out of it. But we know that the island got nothing but a bad image that we do not deserve. But imagine! If a Minister of the AUF was doing this we would never hear the end of it. Because “St. Hubert”, the “Patron Saint of Character Assassination” would haunt the House everyday. Remember when Sir Emile had the capable David Carty in government? “St. Hubert” severely chastised him saying that it was a family Government and a corrupt Government. So what has changed? If there is a correlation of corruption based on the nearness of the relationships then “St. Hubert” is three times as corrupt — because, as far as we know, Sir Emile is the first cousin of David Carty — but “St. Hubert” is the father of Haydn Hughes and the first cousin of Walcott Richardson. When we look at what he has said and done one concludes that he thinks we are a bunch of “Bobo Johnnies” and cannot tell right from wrong. But this is glaring and “in your face!”
Hubert Hughes has not governed with respect or responsibility; has taken Anguillians for granted; is now trying to fool them with the eighteenth century concept of the nation state; and is using Independence as a panacea to cure all our problems when in fact he is the problem. Anguillians cannot afford to be suckered in like a “fly in a spider’s web” by believing the tricky schemes of Mr. Hughes. Soon Anguillians will see the harsh reality of the situation as less and less money circulates and fewer investors come here because of the poisoned atmosphere that exists. The situation will be further impacted by the idea of Independence espoused by some people who, because of their comfortable life style, seem unable to understand that it is not Independence that is urgent but, rather, it is Development that will provide jobs for the people and put food on their tables. This is the immediate and burning issue!
To stand in the House “cussing and fussing” while hiding behind “parliamentary immunity” is the lowest form of political behavior. And after all these years this is all that “St. Hubert” has learnt. This behavior is that of a slow learner and borders on the retarded. It comes with low-level intelligence. It may bring a laugh to those who are only looking for a laugh. But to some one listening to “St. Hubert’s” derision and diatribe — it is disgusting. And in the eyes of the outside world, the fact that we could accept such buffoonery in this day and age — we seem a very primitive crowd indeed. After the scorn and derision nothing will happen to help the situation. “St. Hubert” will continue to draw his salary, expand his bank account and eat, while a lot of us will still have little to eat and be made into laughing stock.
Fellow Anguillians, I submit to you that if we use our heads and vote, when the time comes, in the best interests of the country we will together build a “kinder, gentler society”. All we need to do is to select from among us people dedicated to achievable, and clearly defined goals. And reject the spurious arguments that may come from some people who have no real love or feeling for the many who are facing dire hardships in Anguilla today. We in Anguilla must seek to prioritize our needs. Our immediate need is to create a viable plan for structuring the economy. WE WILL NEED MORE THAN ST. HUBERT’S DIATRIBE ON INDEPENDENCE! As the song goes: “You can’t make love on empty belly!”
