In this second ‘Reflections’ we begin with the following assertion: “Since the 1982 Constitution came into effect Anguilla has been increasingly mismanaged, and this mismanagement gave an added dimension to the crisis Anguilla is in today.” The mismanagement of Anguilla has two main root causes: One is the outdated Constitution which our leaders have shown no real desire to change despite some lip service. The other is the limitations, inadequacies and self-centredness of the political leaders themselves. Let us look briefly at each.
1(a) The Constitution accepted by the Anguillian leadership in 1982 embodies the colonial perspective of that time. That perspective viewed the locals in largely negative terms, as somewhat semi-primitive and politically naive and backward, who needed to be strictly controlled and monitored by a British appointed overlord called “The Governor”. The system of governance created by this perspective is what is being managed in Anguilla at this time by everyone, including the governor and deputy governor, the political leaders, permanent secretaries, heads of departments, education officers, police officers, nurses, lawyers, etc. etc. Whether these persons are aware of it or not, they are all upholding and promoting the colonial perspective. At its best, this perspective places serious limits on the development and progress of the local population as a fundamental right if these are not being done on the terms and conditions decided by “the Mother Country” or administering power. At its worst, the people’s development and progress are often frustrated or impeded and even denied.
(b) This basic point, though very briefly made, must be clearly understood, because it is fundamental to the thesis that Anguilla is mismanaged. If the “colonial perspective” is wrong and bad for Anguilla, it follows that the constitutional system which embodies it must also be wrong and bad for Anguilla. It also follows that whoever and whatever promotes that system is consciously or unconsciously a contributor to this mismanagement of Anguilla.
It also follows that the mismanagement of Anguilla will continue, and will likely get worse, as long as the present Constitution is in operation. It must be changed and contextualized in critical areas in favour of Anguilla’s empowerment and development. It has been said that somebody benefits from every situation, however bad it maybe. One must therefore conclude that the AUM and the AUF parties have been benefitting in some way while Anguilla has been suffering.
2(a) The second root cause of the mismanagement of Anguilla and its resources is the limitations, inadequacies and self-centredness of the politicians themselves over the years. I am aware of the few shining exceptions, and I am also aware of the sensitive nature of this point, and so, I do not wish to be misunderstood. However, I wish us to be realistic and I strongly urge that we be guided more by this realism than by sentiment as we go forward. In the difficult, complex and challenging business of national leadership, sentiment is a very bad principle to be governed by. Sooner or later it leads to a crisis, as in now the case. The danger of sentiment as a principle of governance is that it condones favouritism, nepotism, indiscipline, lack of integrity, accountability and transparency. It also encourages mediocrity, inefficiency, mismanagement, manipulation, and a number of other practices, all of which are inhibitors to real national progress. We therefore plead for the uncommon exercise of objectivity rather than reaction as we reflect on this point.
(b) We use the words, “Limitations to Inadequacies” to highlight the failure of our past and present political leaders to perform at the levels and standards expected from those who hold the high and honourable office of politician and/or legislator. (We look forward to better standards and higher levels in the future.) The expression also highlights their failure to be truly accountable and mature enough to accept full responsibility for their decisions and actions, and to hold others to high standards of accountability. Pointing fingers, blaming others, attempting lame excuses or giving empty explanations for failed policies, poor judgement and bad decisions are signs of “smallness” and are not indicators of “smartness”. When a person attempts to evade responsibility for the outcome of a bad decision or policy, that person will make the same mistake again. The fact is that a person grows as that person learns to acknowledge mistakes and accepts responsibility for one’s decisions and choices, and levels with the stakeholders. Choosing to be evasive or deceptive is manipulative and unethical and should be avoided in the interest of integrity. We have had much more than our share in the past, and even today.
(c) We believe it to be a fact which cannot be denied or refuted, that, if our political leaders, past or present, were more knowledgeable about social and economic dynamics, better informed, better trained and skilled in certain key disciplines, more experienced regionally and internationally and generally less self-serving, Anguilla and its few resources would have been better managed in the interest of national progress, sustainability and the development of the people. Failure to appreciate this obvious fact will only result in prolonging the mismanagement of Anguilla and its scarce resources. Where a country’s resources are mismanaged, the people are the real losers, and progress is not achieved.
(d) The self-centredness of political leaders over the years reached its climax a few years ago when they voted to give themselves salary increases of 20% in 2008 and 25% in 2009 at a time when the worldwide ‘recession’ was at its peak. This was done in light of the fact that their pension benefits were tied to the highest salary received during their time of service as legislators. That utterly selfish and unethical decision plunged Anguilla into an unsustainable situation, and is one of the most glaring examples of self-centredness and mismanagement. It will take the island several years to recover. However, new, creative, visionary, principle-centred and prudent leadership must be put in place. The old leadership cannot do it. The next election is therefore very crucial, very important for Anguilla’s viability and progress. Self-centred leadership coupled with sentimental decision-making have done major damage to the spirit and viability of Anguilla. Rescuing Anguilla is now the major challenge, and for this a real change must be made. Recycling the traditional parties will mean more of the same.
Now, for some specifics:
3(a) A real source of conflict, tension and potential (some would say actual) mismanagement in Anguilla has to do with the way the Public Servants are led and administered. Let us take, for example, those public servants who are employed in the Ministry of Home Affairs. To whom are the ultimately responsible? If they have a concern at the office, to whom do they look for a final solution? The Minister, the Permanent Secretary, or the Deputy Governor? Who is responsible for hiring, transfers, and dismissals? Who should be? Is the Deputy Governor himself a Public Servant? If so, what is his/her relationship to the Public Service Commission and to the Ministry? How is a conflict between Minister and the Permanent Secretary settled? Who handles tension between the Minster and the Deputy Governor, or between the Deputy Governor and the Permanent Secretary? What happens when the line between management and leadership is crossed?
Now these are not hypothetical questions. They are real, and the handling of them has often led to mismanagement. When this occurs, or is perceived to have occurred, there is dissatisfaction, and everyone knows a dissatisfied worker does not produce at his or her maximum. The greater the level of dissatisfaction, the lower the level of production. The same is true with mismanagement. The more frequent the occurrences, the lower the overall level of productivity. Dissatisfaction, tension, low trust and low morale are major energy consumers, enthusiasm destroyers and demotivators.
(b) Mismanagement also takes place on a large scale at another level. Specific mention is made of the appointment of statutory and other Boards, with little or no regard given to ensuring that the person appointed have the necessary set of skills required to maximize the effectiveness of the Board and eliminate dysfunction and all the other negatives which go with that. Another issue of mismanagement relative to Boards is where subventions are made but no strict accountability as expected, made or demanded and evaluated.
The reader’s attention is called to a letter to the Editor which appears in The Anguillian newspaper (p.7. for Friday 27th June 2014, captioned, “Whither Statutory Boards and the ANGLEC Board”). The point is powerfully made that the statutory and other Boards currently at work in Anguilla are all malfunctioning and mismanaging. Perhaps the only exception is the Anguilla Community College Board. With so many inept and malfunctioning Boards, and with mismanagement so rampant and widespread, integrity, accountability and transparency are almost absent. Progress will therefore remain an unrealized dream. The fact is this: Anguilla is in deep trouble and stands in need of REAL CHANGE to ensure a New Leadership with a New vision, New paradigm and New strategies. If you care, be the change.
