In last week’s column I was forced to address two situations that ruined both my day and my evening on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. For that reason I did not go into any detail on the budget or the budget address. This week, after listening to the first day of the Budget debates and the presentations made by the Hon. Othlyn Vanterpool; the Hon. Edison Baird; and part of that by the Hon. Evans McNiel Rogers, I believe that the Government side of the House is bound to have a tough job in their rebuttals. The Members of the Opposition made some very strong criticisms of the Chief Minister’s Budget Address and about the manner in which the Government as a whole is conducting the affairs of state. The Hon. Edison Baird used the opportunity to explain the importance of having agreement on the “Framework for Fiscal Responsibility” document as a precondition for the FCO signing off on the Budget. He also highlighted the lack of support from his own colleagues in Government for passing the long awaited Education Bill — a situation that could cause Anguilla to lose present and future sources of EU Funding for Education.
I am fully aware of the fact that the Budget exercise will continue over the next few days — so there is still much time to deal with the specifics as they unfold. But very important among all the issues raised today in the House of Assembly is Mr. Baird’s contention that all the energy that is being expended on the budget exercise will come to naught unless the Government of Anguilla signs off on the “Framework for Fiscal Responsibility” (FFR) agreement. Like many other issues raised in Anguilla, I am certain that the majority of Anguillians are not aware of what this agreement is all about. However, you are bound to hear persons, on the basis of hearsay alone,on the various talk shows, expounding on the dangers of that document without having read it thoroughly or understood its context and contents. For persons listening to the House of Assembly today (Tuesday) many may derive a rather ominous picture of the FFR and what it portends for Anguilla. While I agree that there are several issues to be resolved — it needs not be regarded as a document cast in stone.
But a team of Senior Officials led by the Chief Minister traveled to London to deal with a number of important issues at the first Joint Ministerial Council, which succeeds the Overseas Territories Consultative Council. One would have assumed that a part of those deliberations would have centred on agreement on the FFR — that being the document which (on the basis of the latest White Paper for the Overseas Territories: “Security, Success and Sustainability”)would ensure a more open, transparent and accountable system of Governance. The FFR document in its opening sentence declares: “The Government of Anguilla is committed to delivering a prosperous and stable future for the people of Anguilla firmly based on the implementation of sound economic and financial principles.” There is absolutely nothing in this statement that is inconsistent with what the Government has been touting as its goal for the last thirty-four months.
The policy principles of the FFR are: –
1. Effective medium term economic planning, to ensure that the full impact of the fiscal decisions are understood.
2. Putting” value for money” considerations at the heart of the decision making process.
3. Effective management of risk; and
4. Delivery improved accountability in all public sector operations.
Again these key policy principles are preciselywhat any sensible Government would want to adhere to as it seeks to develop its plan for sustainability. From whence therefore comes this reluctance on the part of the Chief Minister and his colleagues to sign this agreement? Since to date there has been no official report on the outcome of the visit to London, save the Joint Ministerial Communique, we must assume that there is no good news on this matter. People are anxious to know whether or not there will be any delays in the FCO approval process this year, like last year. Such delays have formed the basis for the justification of pursuing Independence. Apparently, it is time for a new Revolution!
But once again the British Government reemphasized its position regarding the pursuit of Independence through theJoint Ministerial Council Communique. It is again crystal clear and requires no further explanation. It states: “We are committed to a modern relationship based on partnership and shared values. We share a commitment to the principle and right of self-determination. The people of each Territory have the right to choose whether or not their Territory should remain a British Overseas Territory. Any decision to sever the constitutional link between the UK and a Territory should be on the basis of the clear and constitutionally expressed wish of the people of the Territory. We believe that the UN decolonisation committee should delist Territories where this is their wish.”
The FFR is therefore a desirable document that is a part of a culture change pervading the Overseas Territories encouraging them to adopt more transparent and accountable methods in their dealings. Obviously, this is intended to prevent the reoccurrence of the TCI fiasco, by making good governance a part of the administrative processes by law.We are still left to wonder what is the outcome of the discussions in London on this very important agreement. It would appear that this public sector mission did not “bring back the bacon”.
There was also a private sector mission that was in London at the same time with the Chief Minister and his team. However, they delivered on their mission and brought more acclaim to the island and its people than the public sector mission could ever imagine. I am referring to Mr. Ian “Sugar George” Edwards and his dear wife Janine. Most of us know Ian “Sugar George” Edwards as a very ambitious young man who came to Anguilla over seventeen years ago and established his own business, Sunset Homes Construction. Later he married Janine and with her able assistance started a family and grew his business into an Architectural Design and Property DevelopmentCompany under the Sunset Homes Anguilla label. Seventeen years later he has designed and built a number of luxury villas and homes for clients with very discriminating tastes all over the island. His reputation for quality design and finish has allowed him to extend his services regionally to the neighbouring islands as well as to clients in the United States and Europe.
Ian and Janine are a very community-minded couple. And over the years, through the good times and the bad, they have given back through their own special events as well as through established Sports, Church, School and Service Organizations. Their philanthropy is infectious to the extent that they have drawn together many other similar-minded persons who respond to various causes all over the island.
But their almost clandestine trip to London last week was for another purpose. They were invited by International Property Awards to present a portfolio of their work to compete for the prestigious International Awards for Architecture and Property Development. The event was at the exclusive Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London, on December 7, 2012. Over 2,000 entries from 89 countries worldwide were submitted and judged by a “panel of 77 highly esteemed international judges in over ten rounds of judging sessions around the world.”
When “the dust settled” Sunset Homes Anguilla/Ian “Sugar George” Edwards, as the Architectural Designer & Builder of “The Beach House” on Meads Bay, had captured five awards for: Best Single Property Unit – Anguilla; Best Architecture Single Unit –Anguilla; Best Property Single Unit – Caribbean; Best Architecture Single Unit – Caribbean; and the most coveted prize, the sole “World’s Best of the Best” award for the Best International Architecture – Single Residence for 2012-2013.
I believe this story is important to establish the point of what can be achieved through simply pursuing excellence and one’s dreams — not only for oneself but for the entire community from which he/she is sprung. We have seen this in Sports with Shara Proctor; in Music with Bankie Banx; in Hospitality with our Culinary Teams; and so on. Now this latest exposure by Ian “Sugar George” Edwards promises “to attract significant media attention for the destination of Anguilla, positioning the island as an attractive investment destination, offering first class services in Architecture, Construction and Property Development.”
So at the end of the day it is about representation. Whether you are going to Whitehall; the Olympic Stadium or Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, what you do — your performance — will take you and your country forward. So whatever your field of endeavour you must be prepared and equipped to perform on that stage if you are to do your country proud. Anguilla and Anguillians do not deserve to become the laughing stock of the arena “when the bell is rung”.
