The motto of the 2010 Anguilla United Movement (AUM) Government was and is “Roots of Integrity, trunk of stability, branches of prosperity”. It is also instructive to note that the very first item on the Agenda section of the 2010 manifesto of the AUM Government reads in part “Freedom of information, accountability, transparency and good governance”. These words are all very relevant to today’s workshop in Corporate Governance for Statutory Bodies.
Although the AUM Government was not in favour of the rapid divestment of various operations of the Government of Anguilla to statutory bodies, the reality of our relationship with various external entities like the European Union, Caribbean Development Bank, and the UK Government has made it difficult for the Government of Anguilla to reverse what had already happened. However, the Government of Anguilla is committed to ensuring that these statutory bodies and you who manage these entities function at the highest level of governance, integrity, accountability and transparency to the government and people of Anguilla. The mechanisms by which these entities operate and account to the people of Anguilla are outlined in various statutes like the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority Act, the Water Corporation of Anguilla Act, the Public Utilities Commission Act, and the Building Board Act. These entities are also governed by the Constitution of Anguilla, The Fair Labour Standards Act and other legislation on the statute books.
As Minister with portfolio responsibility for the statutory bodies represented here today, namely, the Air and Sea Ports Authority, the Water Corporation of Anguilla, and the Public Utilities Commission. I am required to play a critical role in the approval of your annual business plans and budgets, and in reporting to the Executive Council of Anguilla, the House of Assembly with respect to their annual reports and audits. These annual events are enshrined in legislation so as to ensure that these entities are by extension accountable to the people of Anguilla. The statutory bodies are also required to function within a wider remit of the Government of Anguilla’s transport, utilities, telecommunications, and construction policies and frameworks. More importantly the members of the Boards, senior managers and all employees of the statutory bodies are expected to undertake their duties and functions within the limits of the law.
As the elected official with portfolio responsibility for infrastructure, sometimes it is easy to focus only on the physical nuts and bolts. However, bad governance leads to corruption, cronyism, nepotism and lack of oversight, accountability and transparency. Therefore lack of good governance will eventually cost the people of Anguilla more to sustain these entities and there would be less money to spend on the physical nuts and bolts and on the level of service that the people of Anguilla need and deserve from these entities. We can truthfully say that with respect to good governance, good public policy is always equal to good politics.
Although, it is work in progress my ministry along with the statutory bodies under the Ministry has been trying to adhere to the legislative requirements for annual business plans, annual reports and audits. There is still a lot of work to be done in this area. Apart from the requirement to the conduct of your affairs within the limits of the law, there is also the absolute need for ethics in the conduct of your affairs and also integrity and adherence to the highest standards of governance. For instance in declaring your interest and avoiding situations that can be deemed as conflicts of interest.
In closing, I would like to thank those who were and are instrumental in organising and funding this workshop and to the presenters and participants who are taking part in the actual workshop today and I trust that the participant and presenters will both gain valuable insight and knowledge from each other.
