Madam Speaker, I would like to place on record that I have officially welcomed Her Excellency, Ms. Christina Scott, our new Governor, to our beautiful but politically troubled island.
Our Governor has come at a difficult time in our island’s political history. Anguilla is now experiencing an extensive period of bad governance. No Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in London, who has ultimate responsibility for Anguilla’s conduct to Parliament, can tell that August body that the Government of Anguilla is acting within the confines of the principles and practice of good governance.
I shall now look at two of several examples of bad governance in Anguilla. I quote from a statement made to the Executive Council on September 8th, 2011, by the then Governor of Anguilla, Mr. Alistair Harrison. This statement shows the contempt that the Chief Minister, Mr. Hubert Hughes, has for the Executive Council, an important institution that plays a critical role in the maintenance of good governance. I quote.
Last summer the Chief Minister and Parliamentary Secretary announced to the press that they had concluded an MoU with Starwood in respect of the latter’s purchase of the debt secured on the Viceroy resort. In fact this “MoU” had been concluded without authorization from EXCO, without the benefit of the advice of the Tourism Investment Committee and without having been seen or negotiated by the AG’s chambers. Only one senior public officer was consulted, who failed to inform her colleagues until after the event. End of quote.
Another glaring example of bad governance and the contempt shown for EXCO was displayed in a letter from the Chief Minister to the chairman of the Social Security Board, dated July 9th, 2010. To avoid any misunderstanding, I set out the body of the letter in full and I quote.
The Anguilla Social Security Board is authorized to enter into a loan agreement with United Investment Limited of 11700 Preston Forest Center, Suite 660-388, Dallas Texas, TX 5230, to borrow up to united states currency two hundred million dollars (US$200,000,000) at a rate of 1.5% per annum simple interest for a total period of 25 years. The same loan should be secured against the Anguilla Social Security Fund. End of quote.
It is also important to note that the Chief Minister’s decision to authorize the borrowing of US$200,000,000 was done without the knowledge and approval of the Executive Council. These examples show the contemptuous and reckless disregard the Chief Minister has for EXCO, an institution established by Chapter 5 Section 22 of the Anguilla Constitution.
The role of the Executive Council is to make decisions and agreements on behalf of the island. It also administers the island on a day to day basis, setting policy for its betterment. For a Chief Minister to ignore it and pour scorn on it is indicative that he regards himself as an old fashioned Haitian- style dictator.
I also want to talk about another disease that is afflicting our island. To eliminate it, as Governor, you will be required to administer a range of “antibiotics.” I speak about the disease of conflict of interest as…
Finally, I call upon you as Governor to ignore any advice, coming from high or low, to bar Anguillians from holding the position of Deputy Governor; the position of Attorney General; and the position of Commissioner of Police. In fact, no Anguillian should be barred from rising to the top in any given area of activity.
I call upon all members of the House of Assembly, especially those in Government, to work with you to restore good governance in Anguilla.
I trust that your stay here will be a productive one. May you be granted God’s blessings and guidance in the execution of your duties as Governor.
Thank you.
(The address was amended by The Anguillian newspaper.)
