Since yesterday, the entire community has been abuzz with talk about allowing the appeal to the opponents of the Dolphinarium at Blowing Point by the Anguilla Executive Council. True to form the Hon. Chief Minister left his own Executive Council and took to the streets and the airwaves in protest of this decision made by his own Executive Council. Needless to say this is a situation that must clearly indicate that he is not in control of his own Cabinet. He must be in a position to influence the outcome of such an important national issue. It is our understanding that this decision was made possible as a consequence of a Minister in his own AUM/APP Government opposing the Government’s position.
We all have been blind–sided by the sudden appearance of this matter in the public domain because no one seemed to be aware that an Appeal Process was underway. And we have not been able to ascertain the facts on what actually took place in Executive Council yesterday based on the conflicting reports we have been receiving. In our experience we have never been aware of any voting process that takes place in Executive Council. The practice has always been to arrive at decisions on the basis of consensus. That practice allows that if there is an issue of serious contention among the elected members they get together and thrash the matter out until they can arrive at an acceptable decision. This system has always worked within a proper functioning Government under the leadership of a Chief Minister in control. In that system the Governor has never exercised what is now being called a “casting vote”. What happened yesterday is a clear indication that a fractured Government cannot deliver representative leadership to the people of Anguilla.
Let us establish three important points at the outset. Firstly, the Anguilla United Front was the Government that facilitated the establishment of the Dolphinarium in Blowing Point in the first place so it is obvious that our position is clear on this issue. Secondly, support for the closure of the Dolphinarium was one of the main issues on which this AUM/APP Government campaigned in the last General Election, so we are not surprised that a member of that Government would still have second thoughts on this issue. Finally, based on previous practice since the decision was made in Executive Council it should be ratified at the next meeting at which time I would expect that the Chief Minister must still have an opportunity to question the validity of the decision if he truly believes that it was not made in keeping with proper procedure. In those circumstances we can move forward without causing any escalation in the level of public outrage that may have negative consequences.
One must conclude that the Chief Minister’s departure from the island to the UK on the very day and in the height of the public outcry is an indication that the matter does not rise to the level of a national crisis.
The information that now exists in the public domain raises many questions. For example: –
Why was the entire matter not discussed and agreed by the Government at Cabinet level before voting at the Appeal? If there was an issue at that time which showed disunity among the Ministers why was the matter not deferred for further discussion before taking it to the vote.
Who asked the Hon. Edison Baird to remain to vote at the Appeal despite the fact that as indicated by both the Chief Minister and Mr. Roberts, Mr. Baird had made it clear that he was not supporting the dolphin project and was removing himself from the process?
What is the truth and the circumstances surrounding Minister Evan Gumbs’s absence at the hearing on this very important national issue?
The Anguilla United Front is concerned about the on-going loss of Anguillian jobs and business opportunities at Malliouhana, Brown Hill, LIME, Cap Juluca and now the Dolphinarium. Just to name a few. We understand that there are a number of activists who oppose Dolphinariums any where in the world. However, the majority of Anguillians have no serious objections to a properly managed and operated facility in Anguilla. The project has thus far proven to be very beneficial to both Government and the private sector. In these difficult times we would advise the Chief Minister to bring a swift and robust resolution to this matter. We believe that it is entirely within the scope of his authority to do so.
Evans Mcniel Rogers
Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition
Deputy Party Leader, Anguilla United Front
(Published by The Anguillian newspaper without editing)
