At this moment in Anguilla’s history, we stand at a crossroads facing a major crisis and sinking deeper and deeper in this crisis because of the inability of our current political “leaders” to take us out of it. The crisis is seen and felt in every area of our national life: e.g., in our politics, constitutional status, economics, education, health services, infrastructure, tourist industry, etc., etc. The Anguillian newspaper for Friday 21st March 2014 just came to hand and I notice the complaints about the power cuts and lack of water, among other things. It is very clear that there are no signs of the crisis abating, and the story in The Anguillian about the desalination plant is very disturbing. Wherever you turn you can see the evidence of the crisis.
The roots of the crisis lie, in part, in the global economic downturn, but much more so in the reckless spending, bad decisions, short-sightedness and faulty policies of the last administration. I dare say, some of the mistakes made were driven by personal and selfish concerns rather than having the island’s best interest at heart. How else can one objectively interpret two big salary increases for the Ministers of Government, of 20% and 25% respectively, in two years – or the fact that from 1999 to 2009, a period of 10 years, the estimated cost of running the government jumped from $63.3 million to $243 million? By any stretch of the imagination that is an unsustainable position for a workforce as small as Anguilla’s. It is this overreaching, which was motivated by selfishness and lack of prudence, which both precipitated and exacerbated the present crisis we are in.
The present administration has been unable to do anything significant and meaningful to halt the downward slide for at least three reasons. Firstly, some of them were part of the original bad decision-making, and they too are beneficiaries of those selfishly made decisions. Secondly, the moral will, capacity and courage to do something that will significantly and positively impact the current situation are lacking among them. Thirdly, the present administration, with all the constraints it has been working under, has allowed itself to become derailed and more obsessed with “blaming” others than with finding real solutions to the crisis. Meanwhile, Anguillians are sinking deeper in the crisis and becoming more bewildered at the crossroads.
Some persons see being at the crossroads as a time of frustration, being overwhelmed by feelings of helplessness. For others, they experience a sense of panic and paralysis, unable to move backwards or forward, upwards or downwards. And for others, being at the crossroads is a time of despair and hopelessness. Yet, on deep reflection, being at the crossroads is a time of challenge, opportunity and hope. What it eventually turns out to be depends on the attitude you have and the choice you make. You see, the crossroads is not a place where you can stay; you have to move out and on. It is a place or time when you evaluate the past, seize the opportunity of the present and decide your future. The crossroads is a place where the most important decisions are made. It is a time when you realize that it can no longer be “business as usual” but rather “new business” and “business unusual”. Being at the crossroads is a defining moment.
Every individual, organization or nation periodically experience “crossroads crisis moments.” In 1967 Anguilla experienced such a moment when the Revolution was born and a transformation of the island began. Since then, there has not been such a large chorus of voices heard in unison crying out and calling for change as we hear today. In that cry, we hear the refrain repeated over and over: “We expected better; we deserve better; we demand better for all not just a few; we want better now, not promises for later but better now.” Herein lies another crossroads moment.
The introduction of party politics in Anguilla in 1972 was supposed to be the vehicle which would ensure that the rank and file of people in Anguilla experience the real benefits of economic progress, social cohesion and human development as the lasting fruits of political maturity where fairness, justice, equality, respect, discipline, empowerment, and the like, would be the cherished values of our island paradise.
Unfortunately, over the years, we have evolved and practiced a brand of politics, and created a political culture, which now threaten our personal, family and national wellbeing. Despite some financial benefits, the fact remains that real development, which must be people-centered, has not taken place. In the absence of any scientific research one can only go on perception and testimony, and the perception is that the average Anguillian is less self-confident and less enterprising today than was the case prior to the introduction of party politics.
What we are now experiencing is a politics of polarization (divide and rule) where the “cult of partyism” becomes the basis of job allocation or job performance, with the result that national cohesion has been severely diminished and partially destroyed. In addition, there is the “politics of violence” where verbal abuse, vilification, confrontation, personal attack, character assassination and threats are used as strategies of intimidation and manipulation. The result is a loss of basic respect for civility and a growing disregard for discipline, order and the Rule of Law. On the other hand, there is the virtual celebration of coarseness, crudity and incompetence.
We also hear rumours about corruption in our politics and charges of nepotism where appointments and jobs are allocated on the basis of family connection and of cronyism where special privileges are given to close friends and allies, however incompetent. In addition, there have been charges of bad governance, lack of accountability and transparency and a virtual loss of integrity, sensitivity to ethics, and a desire for excellence. Much more can be said but I believe the point is made. We are at a crossroads, deep in crisis and with our political leadership – in the center – inept and unable.
It is against this demeaning, dangerous and destroying brand and culture of our politics, which the vast majority of Anguillians now call “a dirty thing”, that the cry of the hurting people is made. As we stand at the crossroads, you the people must decide whether you want (a) more of the same “dirty thing” or (b) a change for the better, brighter, more fulfilling future that is possible, and that still lies ahead of us. The last two decades, especially, have seen the great failure of that old brand of politics and the failure of our political leaders who are both the promoters and the practitioners of that brand and culture. These failures have brought us to the crisis we are in and the crossroads at which we stand.
One thing we know for a fact, both from scripture and from history, is this: The politics and the politicians who brought us to this crisis and the crossroads will not be able to lead us out and forward. The new future that lies ahead calls for new leaders who are principle-centered, visionary and creative. The new challenges call for a new courage and enlightened leaders with flexible attitudes. The task of building the new Anguilla where family, unity, prosperity, justice, freedom, peace, education and skills are among our cherished values, requires new approaches, new alliances and linkages. In short, the modern future we wish to create, in which we all who call Anguilla “home” are welcomed, requires major paradigm shifts which are impossible for the old leadership to make.
This was so in the days when the children of Israel were enslaved in Egypt. The new leadership under Moses rose up to lead them out of slavery and into the wilderness. The time came when a new leadership was needed to take them into the Promised Land. As good as Moses was for the wilderness, he recognized his inadequacy for the new demands of life in the Promised Land and he graciously yielded to the new leadership under Joshua. The time came when the threat of the Philistines created a crisis which the old leaders, known as Judges, could not effectively deal with and the visionary Samuel caused a new leadership to be created in the establishment of the Monarchy under Saul then David and Solomon, and Israel rose to prosperity, prominence and power. The fact is that evolution is a built-in dynamic both in creation and in history. To try to work against it is folly and results in disaster. Evolution in our politics is upon us. We will do well to co-operate with it.
In 1967 Anguilla came both to the crossroads and the crisis under a brand of politics which was demeaning and destructive, headed by Mr. Bradshaw. New leadership had to rise up to deal with the crisis and lead us out of the crossroads, thus creating a new future and writing a new chapter in our history. In today’s crisis, new leadership so needed is coming to the forefront to lead in building the new Anguilla – an Anguilla for the 21st century. To expect the old leadership, which brought us to the crossroads and the crisis, to create the new culture and to write Anguilla’s new chapter in history is to expect the impossible. It has never happened in the past, and it will not happen now. No matter how many promises are made, or how friendly the old leadership may be, or how much they would want to be recycled and continue, the hard fact is this: If you want real change and real progress, the old leadership cannot deliver them. Please do not be fooled into thinking that they can bring about the change needed to take us out of the crisis at the crossroads.
A good friend of mine who is very burdened by the failure of our political leaders over the last two or so decades told me of an observation made by the political theorists on this very point. These theorists observed that democracy needs to have a crisis now and again. When it happens, it causes politicians and voters alike to become focused, and come together to find real solutions. Without exception, the meaningful solutions begin with the choice of new political leadership.
Our present crisis at the crossroads is far more the failure of our political leaders than it is the failure of the people. Why is it that after fifteen years neither the AUF nor the AUM Government has been able to give an upgraded Constitution that is relevant to 21st century realities? Why is it that up to now neither the AUF nor the AUM Government has been able to deal creatively and effectively with issues of minimum wage, price control, airlift, national health insurance, general pension, candidates at large, etc.? Why is it that it took so long for the AUF and AUM Governments to pass the Bill to enable TVET? Why is it that among all the Overseas Territories, Anguilla is at the bottom and receives the least amount of help of any kind from the UK? Why is it that with so many possibilities for enhancing our economy, so little that is really effective is accomplished? Why is it that at a time when the economy had busted, the political leaders of both the AUF and the AUM opposition (with the exception of one man) agreed to increase their salaries by 25%?
I can go on asking questions but I believe that enough has been said to make it clear that our crisis at the crossroads is the result of the failure of our political leaders to be prudent and selfless. Again, I repeat an established fact of history: Those who have created the problem cannot solve it. Someone else has to find the solution. The next General Election will therefore determine where we go. Please be wise. Listen first and then vote with your head, not just how you feel.
