The Anguillian
September 2, 2012
Dear Editor:
In his movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Screenwriter William Goldman opens with a guy walking past a bank. It is modern looking and ugly and heavily barred. He looks at the bank sourly and then talks with a guard. “What was the matter with the old bank this town used to have? It was beautiful.” The guard replies: “People kept robbing it.” Butch walking off says: “That’s a small price to pay for beauty.” Goldman sets the theme for the movie: Times are changing and you have to change with them – if you want to survive.
We would do ourselves a world of good to heed the advice of Mr. Goldman. Though Mr. Goldman deals in fantasy, his admonition is just what we need in our very realistic situation. In the past 36 years sinceAnguillatransitioned to a parliamentary system of government, all of the laws on the books have been written and enacted by approximately 25 lawmakers. That says that a country of some 16,000 souls have been governed by the same people for a very long time. Our politicians seem to think that once they’ve been elected the job is theirs for life, a fact that was eloquently pointed out by Colville Petty in an earlier edition of this paper. They seem to think what’s good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander. Once someone contests a seat and wins, he or she is in for life and there have been few exceptions to that rule. Death and resignation are the only two that come to mind. The current system favors the incumbent and, consequently, the same nonsense every election year.
The time has come to make sweeping changes to our electoral system. This is a form of gerrymandering in reverse. We are using a system designed for 6500 people to serve a population that has more than doubled. If ever there was time for a change, it is now. To the current crop of legislators, I say we thank you and we wish you the best in your new endeavors. Times are changing and that needs to be reflected in our government.
There’s no question that things inAnguillaare pretty rough right now. Folks are struggling to pay their Anglec bill. Gas is at six US dollars a gallon. People are being charged a fuel surcharge that in some cases is greater than the bill itself. Some folks are reverting to the way it was before. We seem to have taken several steps forward and now we’re being forced to go backward. Granted, things are expensive everyway you go, but that’s why we have a government – to look out for the less fortunate – to try and help out until such time when things improve. I know that we’re a proud people and we’re not looking for handouts, but there comes a time when it’s time to offer regardless of how one may think or feel. We are our brother’s keeper.
Our priorities seem to be out of whack. Things are not going particularly well and all we seem to be doing is blaming this one for this and that. We are saying that everyone should get behind the government and support it rather than trying to tear it down. That’s all well and good. The bible says that God helps those who help themselves. The question becomes then, do you see the government trying to help us? What have they done after almost three years in office except fight with the British, Osbourne and Victor? Can we name one great accomplishment that they’ve achieved? Does anyone remember their platform other than blaming Osborne and company? So tell me then, what was it that they were going to do for us? We can’t even accuse them of breaking promises. There’s nothing that you can pin them down on. This was pure genius.
We’ve always been a resilient people. We’ve been left for dead before and managed to survive in spite of what was done to us. We’ve always been able to make do with what we had. We may not have had a lot of money but, by God, we had what it took to get by. We have gone away from what got us to this point. We’ve become, in the words of one caller to the Mayor Show a while back, selfish, covetous and greedy. We politicize everything. If we’re not aligned with a specific party, then anything that it tries to do is bad. Until we get rid of that type of mentality we’re going to continue rowing against the current, and after a while it gets tiresome. Our country is being set adrift. It’s high time that we take corrective measures.
John F. Kennedy in his now famous inauguration speech said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” What are we doing for our country? Stop and think for a moment. Are we helping when we transfer our retirement funds into a non-Anguillian bank with zero return? Are we helping when we fail to collect the millions in accommodation tax that are owed by our hotels to the government? Are we cooperating with the police in their investigations of criminal activity? Are we bringing illegal firearms into the country? Are we mentoring that young adult in the neighborhood? Are we part of a citizens group that helps out and so on? Instead, we are standing idly by while the neighborhood is being shot up. We are seeing things and are saying nothing. If we remain silent we’re just as bad as the person or persons pulling the trigger. What are we really doing for our country? Can the powers that be honestly tell us what they’ve done? See what I mean when I say it’s time to change the guard? It’s time for a new and innovative breed of politicians – those who can lead and think outside of the box. Politicians who understand the complexities of governing and leadership.
And if all that is happening wasn’t enough, enters Mr. Bellingham with a pre-emptive strike across the bow ofAnguilla. What Mr. Bellingham has done, in no uncertain terms, puts Mr. Hughes and his administration on notice. He didn’t use subtlety as he’s been known to do. He pretty much spelled it out for the CM. I thought that Mr. Bellingham made his intentions very clear. I also think that it is very important that we understand exactly what it is that he’s saying. I agree with what Conrad Rogers of the Mayor Show had to say regarding the letter: “If the CM is on track to balance the budget then all he has to say to Mr. Bellingham is one word, ‘Noted.’ End of story. If, on the other hand, we’re struggling to balance the budget, we might be able to solve our problems by reverting to those austere measures thatBritainhas been trying to get us to implement for the longest while. That ship has already sailed. In the words of Bob Marley’s tune, “Everyday the bucket a-go a well, one day the bottom a-go fall out.” It is if, and when, we askBritainfor help, that they’re going to put the screws to us. Bellinghamwill take over our finances and impose austerity measures the likes of which we’ve never seen. Have us pay income tax and maybe even land tax for starters. I honestly believe that it galls them that we live in paradise – where we enjoy the benefits that we do without having to pay all those taxes. Now that we’re struggling,Bellinghamhas presented us with an ultimatum. We don’t have to accept it, but we better damn well have a back up plan.
The actions of the Chief Minister on the floor of the Assembly last Monday quickly put that theory to rest, when he showed up with a last minute motion to acquire Cap Juluca. His motion just about scared the crap out of everyone to the point where they were ready to tackle and take him out of the Chamber. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed, and the motion was withdrawn – at least for now. The implications of such a move are troubling. It sends out the wrong message to potential investors. If they think that the government is going to make rash moves like the one the CM proposed, then they’re not going to come here. Mr. Hughes needs to adopt the Hippocratic Oath that doctor’s take and that is: “do no harm.” If he’s content to do nothing for the next two and a half years, then do no harm. The gang of five that he’s insulated himself with need to do likewise.
InAnguilla, we always seem to be reacting to something that has been done to us. As part of the tri-state of St. Kitts, Nevis andAnguilla, we always had to fight to be recognized, many times after the fact. We have many situations that arise and we have no laws on the books to deal with them. We are still blaming the previous administration and in the meantime nothing is getting done. Rather than trying to help the people who can’t pay their light bill, and addressing the things that he should be more concerned about, the CM continues to go off on tangents to the point where he’s now become a joke. It’s sad to see and hear this about a once proud man who has now been reduced to being bitter and angry and in a sense desperate. It is embarrassing to see what has happened to our still lovely island. We have a government that can’t govern – one that is mired in a bog and can’t seem to figure a way out. Now not only has Mr. Bellingham fired a pre-emptive shot across your bow – you’ve got the Sword of Damocles hanging over your head. Not a pretty place to be in.
Let me finish. If I sound angry, it is because I am. We are experiencing a period that at first glance doesn’t seem to want to end, but the bible says that this too shall pass. We continue to succeed in spite of ourselves. I’m referring to our exemplary Comprehensive School Scholars and their outstanding marks. To those who have veered off the right track, and continue to make the wrong choices, you can still turn it around. We have always been a resilient people who made do with what we had. We can’t depend on the tourist dollar. If it comes so much the better. We have natural resources. If we can’t develop them, then let us hook up with someone who can show us how. I heard Dr. Adams say on the Mayor Show a while back that inSt. Martinthey were exploring for oil. Well just think – if they find oil in St. Martin, don’t you think thatAnguillawhich is just a few miles to the north might be on the same plate? We used to be self-sufficient. We used to export crops, and that is something that we can revert to. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. We have to think outside of the box. What are other countries doing? Reverse osmosis and so on.
We need people to lead. Someone has to step up to the plate to use a sport analogy. Many years ago, inBarbados, one could pinpoint the exact moment that Ronald Webster grabbed the golden ring, that was Anguilla, and started us on a path to secession fromSt. Kitts and Nevis. The time has come for a new Ronald Webster. We need someone to come forward and lead. We need new ideas. The old guard has served its purpose. It’s time for a change. We need to know what’s happening with the budget, what’s going to happen with Cap Juluca and the tabled motion before the Assembly. If ever there was a time that we need to know what’s going on, it is now. Mr. CM, please tell us what is going on. You would be surprised to find out that the people will back you if you have something constructive that you are doing.
We seem to have started out with an unholy alliance with the British. We were invaded and consequently became a reluctant partner in the governing ofAnguilla. We started out with a certain amount of animosity and distrust and therefore we did not get the full attention that, as a new nation starting out, wanted and needed. We started out under protest and to this day, some forty five years later, we’re still protesting. I know you are saying that if you don’t like something or someone, leave them – make a change. We can’t make a change for the same reason a parent stays in a bad marriage. It’s either for the sake of the children or it’s one of economics. We need to utilize our resources and, by that, I mean our elders who have taught us in school – those who possess the know-how and can impart it in one way or another. The young boys who today are out there thinking that they are Star Black – shooting up the place – someone had to have taught them. Utilize your skills for the better good.
Let’s close by wishing our CM the very best and hope that he makes the correct decision regarding Cap Juluca. Until then, may God bless us all and may God Bless Anguilla.
Concerned Anguillian.
