The newly-appointed Minister for the UK Overseas Territories (including Anguilla), Mark Simmonds,Anguilla’s Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes, and Leader of the Opposition, Evans Rogers, spelt out a number of priorities for cooperation and partnership between the respective Governments on Wednesday evening. The occasion was a reception at Government House, where Governor Alistair Harrison introduced Mr. Simmonds who had arrived on the island some hours earlier for a 24-hour visit.
“The British Government, I represent, is absolutely committed to supporting the Overseas Territories, including Anguilla, and we are opening a new chapter in Britain’s relationship with the Overseas Territories in partnership,” Mr. Simmonds stressed. “We want the territories to be flourishing communities, proudly retaining aspects of their British identity and creating new opportunities for young people and future generations. We want the natural environment to be protected and managed to the highest international standards. The strategy to achieve this is set out in the White Paper we published in June of this year. As the Foreign Office Minister responsible for the territories, I am determined to do all I can to implement the White Paper in partnership with the priorities here inAnguilla.”
Mr. Simmonds outlined a number of issues the UK believed were priorities as follows: “Firstly, creating jobs and economic growth; secondly, building even stronger links with the UK – for example, possibly assisting with the development of renewable energy to reduce energy costs and therefore drive economic growth; thirdly, working together on good governance, financial management and economic planning; and fourthly, giving the support the territories need which should be aligned with their priorities.”
The Minister went on: “Let me say a little bit of each of these four key areas. On the first of these, the UK Government is absolutely clear we need to respond to the huge economic challenges we are facing globally. An important element of this is, of course, making the tough decisions we have taken on public expenditure to reduce the deficit and bring debt under control. I note from my discussions with the Chief Minister that he, too, is focused on addressing the economic challenges Anguilla faces.
“Soon after his election, the Chief Minister set a clear direction to balance the overall budget, and we all know that sound and prudent financial management is a prerequisite for inward investment and economic growth and job creation. I am confident that the Government of Anguilla will do everything in its power to deliver that commitment; and I am pleased that the UK Government has been able to provide practical help in the form of technical assistance. I also think, and believe, it would send a strong signal to potential investors if Anguilla can set out its long-term commitment to sound finance and sound public financial management in an agreement with theUK. Many otherOverseasTerritorieshave already taken this step. Indeed, the BVI…has just enshrined such an agreement into law as regards the proposed Framework for Fiscal Responsibility, and I very much hope it can be agreedbetween the two respective Governments.
“The Governments of the UK and Anguilla should work together, where appropriate, on jobs and growth, and I have been struck, during my very short time here so far, by the opportunity for more investment in Anguilla; and I asked the Chief Minister how the UK could help with inward investment and I am very keen to further those discussions. At the same time, we want to support Anguillian businesses to enable them to be successful in a wider international arena. But it isn’t just about economics although economics is very important. I also want to see more engagement between the UK and Anguilla across the board. We want to see strong partnerships between the UK local Government and the territories; and a couple of territories have already established partnerships – BVI with Hertfordshire, the Turks and Caicos with Norfolk; and I very much hope that Anguilla will take up our offer to facilitate links with the UK Local Authority to develop deeper and stronger ties than already exist.”
Mr. Simmonds said the UK Government was in support of the constitutional devolution of responsibilities to elected governments to the greatest possible extent. “That’s why it is very important we work together on good governance, financial management and economic planning,” he continued. “We want to provide help and support where appropriate, when it is aligned to the views and priorities of the Government of Anguilla and the Anguillian people.”
Commenting on the appointment of the next Governor, Ms Christina Scott, the Overseas Territories’ Minister said: : “I am sure she will continue the excellent work that Alistair Harrison has been doing for the past three and a half years and will continue to do until he leaves the territory.”
Chief Minister Hughes told Mr. Simmonds that it was “incredibly encouraging” that he had visited Anguilla so soon after assuming his appointment and it was a privilege to welcome him to Anguilla. He complained, however, that the tight agenda drawn up by the Governor’s Office did not enable Mr. Simmonds “to mix and mingle with a wider cross-section of Anguillians” apart from those at the reception. The Chief Minister proceeded to give the OT Minister a historical background of the Anguillian people and their struggles, but whose resilience, determination and sense of purpose had enabled them to surmount their many challenges and to succeed. He expressed the hope that the UK Government would “work closely with us as a people in spurring us on to achieve our goals, our aspirations, to be a vibrant and flourishing nation.”
Chief Minister Hughes continued: “We are keen to strengthen investment; work with our peers in otherOverseasTerritories; and ensure good governance, strong public finances and effective long-term economic planning and stability. We have been disappointed that in recent years it has not been felt as if theUKhas joined us in these aspirations, and we hope that your presence, midstream in the term of your Government in theUK, will usher in…a breath of fresh air.”
Mr. Hughes complained that Anguilla had not received any financial assistance from the UK since 2005. He further complained about the UK Government’s demand for Anguilla to balance its budget despite the island’s small economy, resulting in taxation measures being constantly reviewed. “I will not allow the people to be further dipped in poverty for the sake of artificial deadlines set by the UK,” he stated, noting that “we have been able to lift our heads and together we have significantly reduced our debt and will continue to struggle to do so.”
The Chief Minister continued: “We are confident, with God’s grace, and the close partnership with theUnited Kingdom, that we will be able to chart our own course. It is borne out of our resolute nature, our resilience and our resourcefulness. With the cooperation of the UK, we are confident that we can weather this economic storm and get back into the economic sunshine and be the vibrant nation we all want Anguilla to be.
“Mr. Minister, we have a small island economy. We need jobs; we need to feed our people; we need to ensure that they can make use of the limited utilities. Many of our people cannot source electricity; get adequate drinking water [and] use our health services all because of increasing poverty. I preached from the day I entered Government that we must bring new investment capital to the island. We cannot continue to ask the people to give when we are not giving them anything. We have a moral responsibility to give before we can get, and I hope that message would be understood.”
Mr. Hughes stressed that Anguilla “cannot be micro-managed from London,” pointing out that in his office alone, “I have per capita probably more [human] resources than in the Chancellor’s Office in London. I have in that small office many graduates: Bachelors, Masters and Doctors…These are hard-working people.” His reference to the highly-trained and skilled Anguillian personnel, in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, was an indication to the Foreign Office Minister thatAnguilladid not need any assistance from British personnel in the areas of fiscal and economic administration, planning and budgeting.
Leader of the Opposition, Evans Rogers, joined the Chief Minister in telling the Foreign Office Minister that Anguillians were “a resilient and hard-working people.” He went on: “It is encouraging to know that the UK Government is indeed interested in the development of theOverseasTerritories. You are the second Minister responsible for theOverseasTerritoriesto have graced our island, and if this is any indication of the interest and importance that your Government affords to the territories, it is a good sign.”
Mr. Rogers urged Anguillians to carefully examine the White Paper about which Mr. Simmonds spoke. “It is a document in which we, as a resilient people, will have our own ideas,” he stated. “We need to study it and see what in it would be beneficial to us as Anguillians, and to have broad-based discussions, through our Government, with the British Government so that it would be a win-win situation for all of us.”
The Opposition Leader went on: “What I think we have to do, Mr. Minister, is to be able to move forward in a spirit of cooperation and partnership…You spoke about investment opportunities in Anguilla which would create jobs. We are interested in how the British Government may be able to assist us in that area. You spoke about the devolution of powers to the elected members and that is something also of interest to us as Anguillians. Amidst these difficult times, I believe that a spirit of cooperation and cordiality in moving forward would be in the best interest of Anguilla.”
Mr. Rogers appealed to Minister Simmons to use his influence to assist Anguilla. “You have to look at our tax base and a number of other things. These are difficult times and whatever assistance you all can afford us, without putting extra pressure on us, would be appreciated,” he pleaded.
