The creation of a Social Security system in Anguilla thirty years ago is a milestone for the island. That was stated by Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Hubert Hughes, in an address on Monday, November 5, as part of activities marking Social Security Week.
Mr. Hughes paid tribute to Revolutionary Leader, Ronald Webster, whose vision he said,in part, was to introduce a financial system to look after the interests of Anguillians. He also stated that there was a need for a dependable institution which would be able to meet certain social and fiscal needs when they arose.
The Chief Minister continued: “One of the key contributions that Social Security has made to the people of Anguilla, is that it has made us all aware that we can contribute to nation-building because when we contribute individually we all benefit collectively. The people of Anguilla have developed the discipline over the years so that today social security contributions are part of who we are and what we do. It has helped us to develop the thinking that we must be in control of our own destiny and have mitigating measures in place that lessen the financial impact in many situations…
“Social Security is very personal because it deals with sickness benefits, maternity benefits, invalidity benefits, old age pension, survivor’s benefits, and non-contributory old age pension. These benefits apply to both the employed and self-employed and are an indication that the policy that drives social security does not discriminate.
“The social aspect of Social Security cannot be underestimated. The non-contributory old age pension sends a strong message to the people of Anguilla that although Social Security is relatively young, non-contributors are part of our society and we are each other’s keeper. The non-contributors are a result of the timing of Social Security rather than an unwillingness to contribute.
“Social Security must be commended for this because in any new system that comes on stream, there are always those who do not fall into a neat well-defined category and very often, for lack of a better term, are discarded. Social Security has not allowed the economics and finance which dictate contributions and benefits to limit its ability to be a shoulder to lean on for the aged and needy among us.
“Further, there is a Social Development Fund which invests in socially-desirable projects which benefit the community. Social development is often hindered in Anguilla because there is a school of thought that promotes the idea that the projects that should be implemented first, are those that can essentially pay for themselves. As a result, many socially-desirable projects are not just the first priority especially in challenging economic and financial times like we now face. Social Security on the other hand has made social projects a top priority and budgets in a way to accommodate the financing of these projects.”
The Chief Minister congratulated the employees and the various Security Boards over the years for a job well done.
