Reporters were given an insight into the working relationship between the Anguillian Deputy Governor, Stanley Reid, and the outgoing British Governor, Alistair Harrison, over the past four years. They both spoke about that relationship at the Governor’s last press conference on Wednesday, July 10.
Replying to a reporter’s question, Mr Reid had this to say: “In terms of the Governor’s service, I have worked with him as Deputy Governor throughout the entire term of his office in Anguilla. My relationship with him has been as it was with all persons I have reported to. It is one way I seek to offer counsel on matters which come to my attention, or brought to my attention, and I try to do that in a frank and candid manner.
“It was made easy in relation to working with this Governor because he was receptive to that. I find it much easier to work with persons who are receptive to open and frank comment which is what I generally tend to offer. So in that regard I have had no difficulties whatsoever. Persons speak of open door policies. This Governor had such a policy
which I made use of, frankly, in terms of accessing it. I don’t know what is to come. I know what we have had for the past four years and a bit. I don’t know what is to come because it is one thing to hear of a person.It is another to work with them so I look forward to that, as it were, because I am not adverse to change. I am one who seeks many times to introduce change…Obviously, as with all things, one has to wait and see what changes will come. I am not a stranger to working with persons who are non-Anguillian, who come from overseas as well, so in that respect that poses no difficulty for me. Throughout my entire career, since finishing university, I have reported to persons who are non-Anguillian, and who have been different in how they conduct themselves, so again that poses no difficulty for me.
“Yes, it will of course be a bit different working with someone else and, in that respect, I will have some adjusting to do, as it were, but I am sure I will be able to do that in quick time. What I have seen of Christina, in her short visit, when she was here earlier, she seems also not only to be receptive to, but to invite frank comment and so forth. In that regard, I will miss the Governor for the sessions of our meetings and so forth, and his interesting sense of humour in some respects, but I am sure I will come to appreciate Christina’s presence as well.”
Governor Harrison replied as follows:
“I would like to reciprocate those comments on Stanley’s part. I enjoyed a very good working relationship with him and, as he says, he has been Deputy Governor throughout my time. I have re-appointed him to a second termand I think his term as Deputy Governor will be viewed as historically important because he is the first Anguillian to hold the post – and in order to make that change secure, I think it was very important that it should work for the first Anguillian holder of that office, and it has certainly done so.”
