Last week I decided not to write my usual column. Having used up two pages of The Anguillian the week before, with my “Two and a half years later” presentation, I yielded space to other speeches and articles from my colleagues. That decision was further encouraged by the fact that I spent an enjoyable day celebrating the marital bliss of Coye and Maressa Richardson and was too tired (to use a useful euphemism)to write. However, I was flattered when a number of readers called me up and inquired whether I had succumbed to the pressures of the AUM loudmouths who continue to make passionate calls to the various Talk Shows for a halt to my writings. No chance!
The main issue that week was the decision by the Chief Minister to call an emergency meeting of the Anguilla House of Assembly to move a motion for the compulsory acquisition of the lands leased by the Government of Anguilla to Leeward Isles Resorts Ltd(owned by Mr. Charles Hickox) for the operation of the Cap Juluca Hotel. In any case, had I written my column, chances are I would not have written about this new phase ofthe Cap Juluca saga. I needed to understand the issue of the urgency for compulsory acquisition more clearly. The Chief Minister in a surprising change of tactic had decided that he would not go ahead with the debate of the motion in the House of Assembly.Apparently, a visit earlier that morning from a citizen group comprising Bishop Errol Brooks, Rev Dr. Clifton Niles and Mr. Sutcliffe Hodgehad influenced that change. In his remarks in the House of Assembly the Chief Minister indicated that he was pleased to finally see civil society getting involved in what the political directorate was doing. He therefore declared that he would withdraw the motion for a period and give them the opportunity to bring the parties involved in the Cap Juluca dispute to the table. If they failed in this endeavour he would bring the motion back to the House.
I was struck by a number of realities when this announcement was made. Firstly, when the citizen group called upon the Chief Minister earlier that morning they were not asking him for a job —they were simply asking him to delay his decision to debate the motion for public acquisition so as to provide some time for island-wide public consultations on the issue. Secondly, how could the Chief Minister handover negotiations that involve so many legal and commercial issues to a citizens group without providing them with adequate technical and financial resources to carry them out? Thirdly, what would the Chief Minister be doing during the period of these negotiations —“twiddling his thumbs” while other persons take ownership of a job he was elected to perform?And finally, what would be the terms of reference for this group and the authorized stance on particular issues relevant to the negotiations.
It occurred to me that, perhaps, this change of tactic was another ruse by the Chief Minister to use civil society and the Christian Council to achieve his own ends. I reflected on the many times when the Chief Minister had run to the Christian Council to get legitimacy for his conduct or simply to bamboozle the electorate. In this context, I was concerned that once again civil society was being used as a pawn for his wily schemes. You may also have noted that he taunted them (the citizens group) in the House of Assembly, in his comments, by implying that this was the first time that they were getting involved in such matters — a statement that is patently false and suggests that the Chief Minister will stretch the truth even in the face of the very persons who he knows know otherwise.A character trait usually described as “bare-faced lying”.
But my purpose in this article is not to comment on the issues related to the latest Cap Juluca drama. I am very optimistic that the project will be reopened at the latest December 2012. My optimism is, however, based on the Government not proceeding with the option of compulsory acquisition. If Government decides to proceed along that course, I remain convinced that the outcome would be disastrous for the workers, the service providers, the property itself, and the investment climate onAnguillaas a whole. Cap Juluca has been a challenge for successive Governments for more than twenty years, but I am not convinced that this Government has thought the matter through thoroughly. And once again I believe that Government is again seeking a political solution for a very complex and technical issue. I would be happy to be wrong about this in the interest ofAnguilla.
The main purpose for this article is to comment on the behaviour of the talk show host, and several callers sympathetic to the Government, when the Civil Society Group announced in a press interview that it was not prepared to proceed with the negotiations on the Cap Juluca matter. As I intimated earlier, it is my view that the Chief Minister unilaterally thrust this assignment on the Group in an apparent attempt to shirk his responsibility. Yet these AUM supporters have sought to vilify the Group fortheir decision. It was disgusting to listen to the disrespectful and abusive comments made by the talk show host, and some callers, in reference to persons who – out of concern forAnguilla- were prepared to give freely of their time and skills to assist in anissue of national importance. It reinforces the point that I continue to make: that a number of AUM supporters believe that “freedom of expression” and other fundamental rights are to be enjoyed by them alone.
Mr. Sutcliffe Hodge tried to no avail to explain the reasons for the Group’s withdrawal from the process only to be interrogated as if he and the other members, namely,BishopErrolBrooksand Rev. Dr. Clifton Niles, had a selfish purpose for their actions. Other AUM callers also held that viewpoint. And I was in fact shocked by the remarks of a frequent caller of the legal persuasion.
Based on the manner in which Mr. Elkin Richardson and his supportive callers dealt with this matter, it appears that as far as they are concerned there is only one person in our community who is above reproach, namely, Mr. Hubert Hughes. They seem to believe that it is fair game to attack anyone who does not support their views or the views of the Chief Minister. In fact, the same Elkin Richardson was heard on his program the other night demanding apologies from various persons for what he described as being disrespectful of the Chief Minister. I would wish to point out to Mr. Richardson that respect must be earned. And while we respect the Office of the Chief Minister, as an individual he seldom demonstrates that he is deservingof our respect. His abusive and indecorous style has become well known throughout his political career. And his defamatory statements and deprecating remarks seem to have been passed on to his junior colleagues, including his son, as part of their governance style.
Bishop Errol Brooks is foremost among the three members of the Group for being non-partisan in his approach, and is always ready to provide neutrality to any conflict or dispute within the community. And while the other two members have shown their hand politically it is obvious that in this matter they all had a genuine desire to ensure that Cap Juluca does not become a national disaster. In this context, it was most unbecoming that Mr. Richardson should dismiss Mr. Hodge’s attempts to explain the Group’s position, by questioning whether his involvement was a means of launching his political career. The same Mr. Hodge who he openly supported in the last election and who has been a most amicable guest on his program on many occasions. It goes to show that many of these talk show hosts have become puppets of the Government’s positions and have adopted the abusive style of the Chief Minister in the face of criticism or opposing views.
I have also heard that in one of his usual preaching sessions on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, Ras Iwandai used this matter as a part of his text. Obviously, he also is of the view that the Citizens Group has no right to indicate a position that is contrary to the Chief Minister’s edict.An edict that is clearly another smokescreendesigned to cover up his inability to manage the very challenges that have been caused by his impotence. And I use the term “impotence” because he continues to imply that he is powerless to achieve anything because of the Governor, the British Government and the Anguilla United Front. Indeed, every turn of the way conspiracy theories abound — and it seems that no one is immune not even “the Lord’s anointed!”
