The Editor
The Anguillian
Dear Sir,
I read with interest the letter to Dr. Niles from the Anguilla United Front as well as the press release by Josephine Gumbs-Connor. When I read the AUF letter, I got the impression that the Party was writing to explain why it was no longer going to be involved with the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Committee. I imagine that the news may well have been disappointing to the Reform Committee and members of Government. I was taken aback, however, by the aggression and tone of the press release from Mrs. Gumbs-Connor, who I imagine may well have political aspirations.
We, Anguillians, have never been known to be a racist or subservient people. We have also looked at others based on the content of their character and not the tone of their skin, and stood up for what we believe in. When the Honourable James Ronald Webster and many others stood up in 1967, it was with respect but determination. What I see happening in Anguilla today, however, is very disconcerting. The disrespect of persons, the antagonistic warmongering attitude, and the attempts to destroy other persons when they express a different view, are all creating a hostile and oppressive atmosphere in Anguilla.
When the Honourable James Ronald Webster spoke at his birthday celebration on the park on Friday, 2nd March 2012, I was heartened by what I heard, and it bears repeating. In my view, Mr. Webster spoke about what we need to accomplish in order to ready ourselves for independence: (1) political maturity, (2) educate our people and our leaders and (3) financial independence. Have we obtained political maturity in Anguilla? If we listen to the content of the presentations in our House of Assembly, I for one do not think that we have yet achieved political maturity, and our politicians need further development to get there. Have we educated our people and especially our leaders? If you go through the list of our political leaders, then the answer to that becomes obvious – no. Have we obtained financial independence? Our main industry is tourism, which we all know is fickle and subject to what happens in the wider world. Financial independence does not mean the ability to get money from Canada or Taiwan or the IMF, but to be able to stand on our own two feet based on our industries here in Anguilla. Again the answer, as regards financial independence, is obvious – no.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I am all for independence. BUT I, as an Anguillian, want politically mature politicians. I want our leaders to be educated and represent us properly in any situation around the world, and I want us to develop other industries in Anguilla before I can agree to independence. As for the AUF letter, that is that Party’s view and it is entitled to that view. If Mrs. Gumbs-Connor’s press release is any indication, then the AUF may well be correct in its interpretation as to where this Constitutional Reform Process is likely to take us. I for one, and many of my friends, however, are tired of the constant warring, especially when it ends up like the battle over relocating the permanent secretaries.
I note that Mrs. Gumbs-Connor talks about multi-tasking. While the Government engages in constitutional reform, I would like to see the Government take swift action and immediately create social programmes to deal with the many incidences of gun violence happening in Anguilla with our youth, the most recent on Thursday, 1st March 2012 where two young men were shot in Blowing Point. This needs to be done as a matter of urgency.
I have requested that my name not be printed, so that I am not attacked personally because of my opinion!
A Concerned Citizen
