The Anguillian
October 14, 2012
Dear Editor:
INSANITY
Albert Einstein was quoted as saying that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I’m beginning to think that the people who run the government are just that, – insane. Why would they be consistently coming up with the same foolhardy idea that Anguilla is ready for independence? What universe do these folks live in? Have they not learned anything from history? Winston Churchill in one of his famous speeches said “those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
History has shown us that when we enter into something without weighing the pros and cons, that the consequences are dire. TakeGrenadafor example. We know what happened there. Do we really want to take that path? There are so many issues that are of vital importance to our people, such as jobs, holding on to their houses, the family land and a host of other things, but this government is moving forward towards independence.
It was a bit disheartening to read in a recent article in this paper, that the Hughes Administration was once again contemplating the question of independence. That’s ok because the Anguilla Act of 1980 provides the right of the Anguillian people to determine the government that’s best suited to their needs. So when I read that the Government had appointed a new commission to be headed by Reverend John Gumbs to write a new Constitution, I harkened back to Einstein’s quote regarding insanity. In basketball there is a backdoor play in which the point guard lobs the ball towards the basket. One of the team’s more agile players sneaks around the defense, catches the ball in mid-air and dunks it for an easy basket. The opposing team is caught napping and didn’t see it coming. That play is only supposed to work once, but time after time you see it on the same team. The analogy that I’m drawing here is that we’ve seen this play several times already and the hope is that we won’t be paying attention and like everything else, we won’t know what hit us until it’s too late. The Anguilla Act spells it all out, so why then is the Government trying to do an end run around the democratic process?
These people are so transfixed with independence – and so hell bent on getting it – that they’re willing to get it at all costs. Those very same words were spoken by Eric Gairy with regard toGrenada’s independence back in 1972. Gairy’s words had serious implications, almost threatening in nature. Bernard Hoard, writing in a West Indian Journal called The Meaning of Political Independence in the Commonwealth Caribbean said that when it came to the police in affairs of national security, and the administration of justice, they had the power to overlook and bypass the constitution. In other words, the police could do whatever they deemed necessary under the guise of national security. The implications here were scary. Given our present condition right now. Ask yourself this question. Is this where we want to go?
With Gairy’s electoral victory in 1972, he thought he’d been given a mandate to go independent. This claim was quickly refuted by the Grenada National Party and the Chamber of Commerce. They vehemently rejected Gairy’s so called mandate and his contention that independence was a “fait accompli” a done deal. They boycotted the discussions and in the process garnered 19,000 votes against independence which was about 46% of the votes cast in the last election. This didn’t deter Gairy from going forward and it was at this time that he made his now famous statement that he would achieve independence “at all costs.”
I brought upGrenadabecause I think we’re probably heading down a very dangerous path. Contrary to what Gairy thought, he did not have a mandate. Half of the electorate was against him, but he nonetheless ploughed forward. No plebiscite or referendum was held. He simply did an end–run around the democratic process. I don’t have to tell you what happened inGrenada’s case only that pretty soon all hell broke loose. All because of a megalomaniac of a leader who was full of himself. Was it pride or posterity? Time will tell.
Our Government continues to pursue independence as a means to an end. We’ve known since day one that the time would come when we could and should take that step. The Bible says in Corinthians 13:11 “when I was a child I talked like a child, though like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish things behind me.” We are still in our infant stages as a nation. When the day comes we can with a certain amount of certainty say, yes, we’re there, let’s put the wheels in motion. Grandmother used to always tell me that “hurry dogs eat raw corn.” I think after all these years I finally understood what she meant. Some things are best left to run their natural course, easy and unhurried. We have a long way to go and the Anguilla Act clearly spells out when and under what conditions we should proceed. That day isn’t even remotely close, so why the Chief Minister and his people continue to pursue this does not make any sense.
We have discussed this before. We’ve seen them try a two for one, in which they were working on the constitution and constitutional reform at the same time.That went no-where. Mr. Chief Minister, we know you are an astute politician and you know exactly what needs to be done. Call for a referendum or plebiscite and let the people decide once and for all what they are most concerned about. Holding on to their home or going independent. I suspect that the CM will not call for a referendum, simply because it will lose, the people will show their disdain for independence at this time which will in turn cast a dark cloud over the CM’s credibility. He then cannot go toGreat Britainand say my people overwhelmingly approve of independence and here’s the proof. Instead, he’s chosen the backdoor play that I referred to earlier. Is this a Government of the people, by the people for the people? Are there none among us who are willing to stand up and say this is wrong? Do we not have any shame about what’s being perpetrated on us? We are a bit more sophisticated than this. Sure we act a bit crazy at times, but when it comes down to our own best interests, let us not be our own worst enemy. You know the previous administration had similar issues with the British Government, but they were able to create economic opportunities inAnguillawithout talking about independence. The problem here is not the British – it is our current leadership. In essence, we have a bad workman quarrelling with his tools because he doesn’t know how to use them.
Let’s if you will, examine what independence entails. The first thing that comes to mind is a constitution that spells out how we are to be governed. Then there’s the matter of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). I checked the GDP of severalCaribbeannations when they went independent and, believe it or not, their GDPs were fairly decent, not great, but decent. Grenada’s GDP per capita in 1972 was $6,029 nd they ranked 69th. St. Kitts/ Nevis GDP per capita was $16,300 andBarbados’ was $23,600. Then there are those countries with much better GDPs who have chosen not to go independent. Countries like Bermuda, whose GDP is $69,000 per capita and the BVI with a GDP of $38,500, the Cayman Islands at $43,800 and the USVI at $14,500. Anguilla’s GDP per capita is estimated at $12,200. Those countries have a population that could sustain their GDP.Anguilla, on the other hand, has a population of about 13,999, with about 9,000 of those actually in the job market, nowhere near to where the other countries were when they chose to go independent. Those countries that chose to go independent actually had a plan, the first of which was a referendum which overwhelmingly supported independence. We,even withEnglandlooking over our shoulders, have not learned the art of good governance. What makes you think that it will be any better when we’re on our own? The thought of this actually happening is as scary as Romney actually becoming President of theUnited States. Back to what such a move entails.
1 If we choose to go independent and the issue is put to a referendum or plebiscite, who are eligible to vote in such an election and what should the question be?
2. Should a referendum or plebiscite be held before or after negotiations on independence?
3. Should we go independent while said negotiations are taking place?
4. What are the pertinent issues on the table that need to be negotiated? What’s the most pressing?
5. What would an independent Anguilla’s position be with regard toEnglandand the European Union? Will we still get aid from the E.U.?
6. What are the economics of an independentAnguilla. How will we survive?
7. What are the costs of the transition to independence and how will we pay for them?
These are just some of the questions that some of the other nations have had to ponder and I suspect that the Hughes Administration will have to do the same. In addition, there are costs associated with achieving independence. Costs for example, that a new nation incurs simply by stepping into that arena. Things like the acquisition of embassies, a tax collection system; we know how well that’s currently working collecting the stabilization levies. This is a daunting proposition that should not be taken lightly.
I agree with an article written by Conrad Rogers in last week’s edition of this paper in thatAnguilla’s independence is not a viable option at this time. As he so eloquently stated, we’re putting the cart before the horse. He delineated a painstaking plan of things that we as a nation need before contemplating such a move. Should we opt to go that route: It has to be unanimous. It has to be the will of the people. I’ve laid out a series of questions that need to be asked and answered. If we decide that independence is what we want, then we’d better be ready for what lies ahead. I recall sitting on a LIAT airplane back in 67 on my way toBarbados, reading an in-flight newspaper. In it was a cartoon showingJamaicachoosing one road to the left and independence andBarbadosstanding at the fork trying to decide whether or not to followJamaica. The caption read something to the effectJamaicamust know what “they doin, we ain’t ready for dat.” We know thatJamaicastruggled for quite sometime for their actions.
As a nation which is struggling with trying to balance a budget, record unemployment, an uptick in crime among our youth, a Government that appears to be lame duck with two years left in the term, the last thing we should be talking about is independence; and the thought that our Government would try to pull some underhanded trick to achieve that goal is ludicrous, an aversion to democracy.
It is true thatAnguillais experiencing extremely hard times right now. All of this talk of independence is really not something that should be bandied about like a throw away line. A lot of us fought for what we now have and I don’t think we ought to stand idly by and let a few people with ulterior motives determine our future. We’ve come a long way and if we are to succeed as a nation, one that we can be proud of, then let’s all start rowing in the same direction to a place where everyone can get a decent education, earn a sustainable wage, respect and help those less fortunate than us and last but not least, let us bring back the Anguilla that we know and love. Let’s put this independence thing on the back burner, call a referendum if we must, but let’s put it to rest once and for all. Let us look after our families and what they’re experiencing right now and let’s be transparent and no backroom deals. So until then, may God bless us all and may God blessAnguilla.
Tyrone Hodge
