The Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry is giving its support and promotion to a study called Anguilla 44 – A Vision of Prosperity and is to make recommendations to the Government for its adoption in part or in whole.
The author of the document, calling for a national re-commitment to earning external revenue, largely through the promotion of tourism, is Mrs Melinda Goddard, Principal of ClienTell LLC.
Carlton Pickering, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the presentation of the study – at the Anguilla Community College on October 24 – was a supportive undertaking by the Chamber.
“Anguilla 44 came out of an economic forum that we held last July in which we wanted to explore various matters,” he told the meeting. “One of the things resulting from that forum is Anguilla 44 – A vision of Prosperity. I think it is a document that we all can embrace. Instead of talking about taxation, and how much we can squeeze from people, I think if we all work with Anguilla 44 – A vision of Prosperity, it will be a win-win situation where all of us – both the private sector and the Government – can generate an amount of economic activity that we all can enjoy as we go forward.
“Mrs Melinda Goddard has done the bulk of the hard work. It was no easy task to research this and to bring out all the relevant information we need. On behalf of the President and the Board of Directors of the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce, I welcome you to this presentation.”
At the outset of her presentation, Mrs Goddard highlighted some aspects of the difficulties facing Anguilla. Among them was a situation where, due to the economic decline, more and more householders were unable to pay for electricity; some children were attending school without sufficient nourishment and there had been an increase in crime. “In turn, the Government had been struggling to meet its payroll and maintain the most fundamental aspects of infrastructure and governance,” she started. “In short, Anguilla appears to be at perilous economic crossroads.”
Mrs Goddard continued: “This presentation will explore the impact and risks of further taxation schemes. It will also challenge our nation to secure a vital and sustainable increase in tourism and occupancy as the single most immediate and viable option to achieve prosperity. This is something that we all can earn.”
The presentation was made more interesting and enlightening by a series of colourful graphics, other explanatory images and tables, liberally scattered throughout the document.
The two-hour presentation was followed by a question and answer period.
Mr Pickering informed the meeting that the Chamber would now undertake to discuss various matters contained in the document with the Government, in the hope that the suggestions could be of some assistance to the economic development of Anguilla.
