Anyone familiar with the wrangling at the public consultations, and at other forums in Anguilla,over the new partnership policy between the UK Government and the Overseas Territories, would have been taken aback after witnessing how quietly the document was eventually signed by Chief Minister Hughes. Indeed, given his stated position the day before, when he declared that Anguilla was at war with Britain over that issue, and the delay in approving the 2013 budget, one suspected that he might have found a way of not signing the document, just yet, in his demand for change in a number of the provisions in the policy.
But time was running out. In fact, while the burden of not agreeing to the Framework for Fiscal Sustainability and Development (FFSD) was skilfully shifted from the political directorate to the technocrats at the recent public consultation, the Chief Minister had already begun to back pedal on the issue. He drew attention to the fact that the British Government’s financial year was about to begin on the first of April, that the Anguilla budget needed to be approved, and that his Government was required “to give an answer soonest to Britain.” That answer came when the FFSD was signed without any fuss as reflected in the Chief Minister’s written statement in our page one article. The atmosphere in the Executive Chambers, where the signing took place, was one of relief with the Chief Minister, his Ministers and the Governor appearing to be in a high spirit of cooperation and delight.
It is not clear what points the Anguilla Government actually scored in its arguments to reach agreement on the final version of the very long FFSD document, apart from its name change, which has been rushed off to London for the signature of Minister Mark Simmonds. On hindsight, there is nothing wrong with contending for what is believed to be necessary and right and to compromise in order to reach consensus. Indeed, throughout Anguilla’s chequered history, there were instances where the people stood up for what they believed, butat times good reason and cooperation are also necessary in achieving certain desired goals.
The signing of the FFSD has cleared the way for the long-awaited approval of Anguilla’s 2013 budget, by the British Government, and it is hoped that it will take place soon. This will give the Anguilla Government the freedom of spending without having to be restricted by the requirement of a warrant to spend one twelfth of the 2012 budget.Most importantly, it will avoid what is likely to be the eventual shutting down of the Government if there is no 2013 budget. The approval of the budget will also provide some relief to the private sector which, in various ways, thrives on what is going on in the public sector. What is also important, at this time, is for the Anguilla Government, through the House of Assembly, to enact enabling legislation to implement the FFSD – another condition for the approval of the budget.
The public has been bored and disgusted with the constant bickering over the FFSD and the budget, and wants to see total closure to theseissues. The signing of the FFSD came at a significant time in the Easter Season when the strains of the well-known hymn – The strife Is O’er –are still in the air.It is not entirely clear which side involved in the negotiations of the FFSD has won the battle, but a draw would be face-saving for both. Obviously the United Kingdom will always have an influencing role in the governance of its territories to which they (the territories)must comply however strong the resistance may be.
The end of the above mentioned strife must now give away to addressing other thorny issues such as the Cap Juluca matter – with Government and the owners of the property coming to the table to solve this important national issue.
