This week I had every intention of making some initial responses to the Budget Address which is a landmine of contradictions as a result of the Chief Minister’s efforts to squeeze his Independence agenda into the exercise. That undertaking resulted in eight full pages of disjointed diatribe about the British, the Governor and the past Minister of Finance, apparently to convince Anguillians that we have no other choice but to pursue independence by November 1, 2014. But I was most pleased to read an article (in The Anguillian) by a former Chairman of the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Committee, Rev, Dr. H. Clifton Niles, in which he summarized the folly of this rush to Independence when he wrote: “Anyone who is sane and realistic will have to admit that true Independence is not an attainable goal in the next one or two years.” Obviously, there are quite a few “insane and unrealistic” running around the Chief Minister.
But on Monday night, while I contemplated the focus of my article, I was distracted by a call from a frantic supporter asking me whether I was listening to Minister Evan Gumbs on the “Get to the Point” Talk Show on Klass FM Radio. I responded that we tape all the talk shows so I will listen to it tomorrow. Eventually, what I heard changed my day and provoked my decision to write him the following letter: –
Sachasses Estate
Anguilla
December 5, 2012
Hon. Evan Gumbs
Minister of Infrastructure
Long Ground
Anguilla
Dear Minister,
Your interview on the talk show, “Get to the Point” on the evening of Monday December 3, 2012 refers.
As my Elected Representative and a Minister of the Government of Anguilla, I was appalled by your reckless statements on that program that maligned both my character as an Elected Representative for some three decades and my contribution as a Minister of Government for almost nineteen years.
I can clearly be identified as the subject of your remarks by your reference to me as the “former Minister of Finance”, a label that is also cross-referenced throughout the interview with that of “the Journalist”. You and your colleagues have also used both these labels to refer to me both in the House of Assembly and on other forums. In fact, since the Hon. Jerome Roberts christened me “the Journalist” the label/name has “gone viral”.
The subject you were discussing in the interview, Mr. Minister, was the Contract for the Landfill and Garbage Disposal Site at Corito – and you began by stating: “I read in The Anguillian maybe a week or two back where the former Minister of Finance said I took a contractor of my choice to EXCO to explain the situation”. It is clear that you were referring to my article in The Anguillian of November 16th entitled: “This is not a Game” in which I wrote in part: –
“For as Mr. Baird seemed to suggest the problem with the “fly infestation” at the landfill site came as a result of Government intervention into the tendering process. To the extent that one of the Ministers tried to bring the contractor of his choice into Executive Council to make his case.”
Mr. Minister, in this extract from my column in The Anguillian I was in fact relating to my readers what your colleague Hon. Edison Baird said in the House of Assembly while speaking on the motion about the “flies infestation” from the Corito Landfill. Your statements on the program have therefore clarified two issues, namely, that you are the Minister to whom Mr. Baird was referring and that I am the former Minister of Finance and the Journalist to whom you were referring.
But Mr. Minister I am not concerned about the fact that you made reference to my statement from The Anguillian. Even though it is not verbatim — it is a harmless paraphrasing of what I wrote. What I do take serious issue with are the following statements that I will quote from the transcript of your interview verbatim as follows: –
1. “The Former Minister of Finance said I took a contractor of my choice to EXCO to explain the situation — but I would just like to say that I am not like him — he figure that Oh! — If you have the money you just spend it crazy.”
2. “But you know there are allegations also that the same journalist who said that I took my preferred contractor to EXCO there are allegations that he is a part of CLM so I can only say that it was designed for CLM”.
3. “And there is also alleged that when the previous contractor received an additional $60,000 that the journalist also received $20,000 out of that. These were all allegations. [Host:Lets not go there!] “I just like to — the people need to know these things! How they are designed. Because people believe that he {the journalist} was the best thing that ever happened to Anguilla. But he is the worst thing that ever happened to Anguilla! He destroyed this country!”
Mr. Minister, all these statements are patently untrue and defamatory. It is my view that they were intended to disparage me among my friends, family, constituents and the general public at home and abroad. They have defamed me in a most serious and malicious way. I have noted that the Host of the Show made several attempts to admonish you not to “cross the line” in this way — but as the transcript clearly shows you rebuffed him. This would suggest that your attacks were deliberate.
I have, however, taken into account the fact that you are a newly appointed Minister and seemingly rather uncomfortable in such interviews. I have further considered that in the heat of the moment you may have responded thoughtlessly and impetuously to the questions posed. In the circumstances, I have decided to give you an opportunity to retract these extremely damaging statements in the form of an apology on the following Radio Stations: Klass FM; Radio Anguilla, Kool FM; Upbeat Radio; and Rainbow FM as well as in The Anguillian and The Herald. Within seven days of your receipt of this letter I expect a copy of the contents of your letter of apology and retraction, to be forwarded to me for my approval. If that letter is not published within seven days of my approval I will immediately commence legal proceedings against you. I am copying this letter to my lawyer and to the public media.
Let me say that I am extremely proud of my record as an Elected Representative and of my contribution to Anguilla’s development as a Minister. I remain grateful to the people of Anguilla who have given me that opportunity and I feel satisfied that I have served them faithfully; honestly and to the best of my ability. Over the years I have exhibited a ridiculous level of tolerance for the malicious lies and false accusations that have been directed at me by persons bent on destroying my character and reputation. I intend to be more responsive to such attacks moving forward. I would strongly advise you as a young politician not to adopt this vile and vicious form of politics. It does not become you as a proponent of very high principles!
Again, I look forward to receiving your letter of “apology and retraction”, promptly.
With best wishes.
Yours truly,
Victor F. Banks
Cc. The Media
Lake & Kentish
But before I settled down to write this letter, I went to Ashley’s & Sons Supermarket to pick up a few items. Standing outside the store chatting with a friend of mine I saw well-known DJ Mello Cello of Upbeat Radio approaching us. In keeping with my proper upbringing, as he came abreast, I said: “Good Evening Cello! Good Evening Mr. Brooks!” I noticed that I received no cordial response so I said to my friend: “Did you see that he completely ignored me — I wonder what that is all about?” Before I could recover from the shock he was out of the store and into my face, and my personal space, shouting and brandishing a threatening and accusatory finger. I remain unmoved; but perplexed by the entire episode. And calmly responded by letting him know what I thought of his behaviour — until he was eventually restrained by one of the bystanders and escorted back to his vehicle.
Wow! Two AUM attacks in the space of 24 hours! Can it be that my very existence is a threat to the AUM plans for Anguilla? Am I an obstacle to their Independence agenda? Should I just roll over and play dead?
