Sometime ago Hans Christen Andersen wrote the tale of the naked Emperor. That was about storybook people. Now in 21st century Anguilla, when the tale is properly read and understood, we notice that if the Emperor were replaced with the Chief Minister — then the operational reality of the present regime unfolds with striking similarities. The irrational and whimsical fancies, not based on fact, common sense or reality comes to light, and when further taken its the logical conclusion — stupidity. Stupidity in government anywhere is disastrous. It affects the economy and the entire society. It is happening here right now. It is time for us to use our good sense and begin to shape change rather than not rely on “happenstance.”
Essentially the tale depicts the Emperor as vain, foolish, selfish with a big ego and, in fact, so out of touch with reality that he did not know whether he was naked or clothed. That is similar to the situation that now confronts us. We are now in the position where we do not know whether “we are coming or going.” We are either drifting or the Captain is stone drunk. When the style, approach and attitude of the present regime are considered these undeniable images fit into Andersen’s fictional portrayal. Eventually it took a child to tell the truth and change the belief of the adult community. That may have been in storybook land but we are in the real world of Anguilla politics. We must likewise be true to ourselves and more alert to the conditions around us.
The Emperor was able to fool the people and indeed even himself for a while — but that too came to an end. Like in every situation a lie can only survive “but so long”. There are limitations to everything. Perhaps now is the time for us to say to the CM: we are not fooled anymore. We see you for what you are.
It is our turn now to demonstrate the truth and pull the curtain on this “theatre of the absurd”. It would be preposterous for us to think that now, after so many years of saying the things and doing what he has been doing, that somehow, by the time of the next election he could change? Any such thoughts would be to succumb to the irrational. The reality is that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” neither “can a leopard change its spots”. The CM has had several chances to serve Anguilla better, over a long period, and he has failed miserably. The CM had three swings at it and he missed every time! This time, as we say in boxing parlance, to “throw in the towel.” We now need to put a better man in the ring. In baseball parlance: “Three strikes you’re out!” Just like him we all love Anguilla but we also believe that continuing to “shadow box” will not bring the champion’s prize we seek. We, unlike the storybook people, cannot go on pretending that all is well when we know it is not. And knowing that something ought to be done we must speak up like the child did, and tell the truth.
Now on the eve of the next election, the truth of our political and economic advancement lies in our ability to view independence with indifference and to consider Anguilla’s development as a work in progress that needs good workers to do it and take it forward. The key workers required in our political system are our elected representatives. As a consequence the situation dictates that the best people must be hired as our elected representatives.
The upcoming election could be a watershed. It could be the beginning of the nation we promised to build when we separated from the hostile relationship with the central government of St. Kitts-Nevis & Anguilla in 1967. We still have not started. We could start with the House of Assembly and make it bigger thereby injecting a measure of free spiritedness and expansion of thought. After all, the House is the crucible for turning ideas into norms and not only to rubber stamp duty-free concessions. Members are not there to fill the seats. They are there to put forward worthwhile discussion and thought. Therefore our purpose for voting can no longer be a family affair. It is in fact a fundamental function of finding a government. We must be mindful of the fact that “what you get out is what you put in”. We want the best!
Representatives, and the people who send them to The Valley, must understand the work of the House and why they are there. In practical terms, the House is Anguilla’s clearing house for the presentation and sorting of ideas and issues that touch the nation. It is not an immunity station for Members to say things that they would not say outside the walls of the Assembly. The opportunity to vote should not be looked upon as a chance for vengeance. It should instead be acted upon judiciously and in the best interest of the country. Election time is the right time to close the door on the unable and the unready and to let in the capable and prepared.
The low frequency of sittings of the House of Assembly and the scarcity of modern social legislation are a drawback. Sometimes it leads to unnecessary interference by Ministers — as evidenced in the Teachers’ Union confrontation. That was a labor dispute that did not warrant a personal visit by the Minister. Because there is no clearly defined procedure for such issues he took it upon himself to act outside of the accepted protocol. When he catapulted himself into that situation, his approach demonstrated features of a system of personal and primitive politics. It could have been the time to introduce legislation that would raise the bar in that area as well as create a framework for handling future disputes. It would at the same time acknowledge the rudiments of the idea that the country should function under the rule of law as opposed to “the whims of men: primarily because some men are novices and incapable.”
But the Minister did not see it that way! He did not function at that level. He proceeded to create a “carnival” out of the matter, failing to realize that such repetitive nonsense will not solve a problem or build a nation. Apparently, this is the only way they are capable of running things. Very often when substantive issues arise, instead of going to the House to shape things — their approach is to cuss and carry it in the “broad pa” where nothing really gets resolved. This is not good enough. Fellow Anguillians, that is the nucleus of the problem! They do not know what to do, therefore they behave like the foolish, vainglorious emperor — so out of touch that he did not know right from wrong. He could not tell whether he was clothed or naked. It needed an innocent child to tell him!
Since we do not want to get caught in that bind, we need to ask ourselves: What has happened to us politically since the Revolution? Have we become more politically astute or less sophisticated? What is the reasoning behind the way we vote? Is it that we like the rut that we are in? Do we consider the House of Assembly a place where you go in order to get paid?
Whatever the conclusion about the last fifty years, the immediate question to ask is: “What has this regime done in the last four years to enhance Anguilla’s image? Then let us be like the child in the storybook: tell the truth. And get a new political team that is properly clothed, politically. We know who they are!
