Accompanied by an array of speakers, two of whom were Anguillians – Pastor Kennedy Vanterpool and Mr Tyrone Hodge – residing in the United States, Ms Pam Webster, Independent Candidate, held a public meeting at Island Harbour on Sunday, February 15.
Similar to previous meetings, she took the opportunity to reveal a number of plans she has in mind should she be elected. “The mission of our campaign is ‘To Build a Better Life for All Our People,'”she told her listeners. “Our slogan is ‘A New Anguilla Now’. When I say A new Anguilla…I’m talking about new ideas. A new philosophy… New ways to doing things. A new Anguilla where our people are at the forefront, at the centre – and not behind.”
Ms Webster continued: “Friends, my plan involves work on legislation if we are to help secure soft loans for training young fishermen in new technologies, and to provide access to capital so they can be their own bosses and have their own thriving businesses; and my plan is for those Anguillians who want to invest in the industry…The legislation I shall propose will also allow government to secure and expand markets for our fish and lobster. We have a phenomenal resource here in Anguilla, with our 200 miles territorial waters. Why give it away?”.
Ms Webster promised to do everything in her power to get the people of Anguilla working with well-paying jobs. “In order to do this”, she stated in her speaking notes, “I will work hard to enhance our tourism product with our people and our culture in mind. Our people must always come first. This present government makes the excuse, when asked, why there are foreigners in so many positions in Anguilla? They say it is ‘because there are no qualified Anguillians to fill the positions.’ What about their promise to ensure we had an Anguillian Attorney General? Did professional jealousy rear its ugly head to change their mind?”
The Independent Candidate continued: “I will work vigorously with the stakeholders, our people, to develop our tourism product – along the lines that have proved so successful in the past – to where we are second to none in the region once again. We must have our marketing done by reputable marketing firms that are knowledgeable in the business. We should not be doling out millions to insider agencies capable of providing impartial or unwise counsel. These agencies are not subjected to scrutiny that provides accountability. Is the Anguillian taxpayer funding politicians’ campaigns through these agencies? I would like to know. It is concerns like these that worry me. That is why we need campaign finance laws in Anguilla.
“We must do our part here locally, as well, by recognising our repeat clients who stay at our local Anguillian properties with their families every year. We must show them we appreciate their business and solicit their input too.
“I will work to make Anguillians an integral part of our tourism industry; not only as ground and floor staff but, throughout the spectrum, as owners of small businesses fully aligned with our strategic development strategy.
“Our people must be trained in all of these areas so that we don’t have to bring in people from outside to fill the best of this country’s jobs, as is the case today.”
Ms Webster hesitated to speak about constitutional advancement, “for fear of sounding like so many old politicians.” She noted, however, that “with educational development, which is a strong plank in my campaign, will come constitutional reform and advancement.”
She wrapped up the main parts of her speaking notes as follows:
“For over twenty years, now, every politician on the campaign trail talked about electoral reform, but once they have been elected their promises go out the window. We must hold our politicians accountable. Please hold me accountable. We cannot expect change to just happen. We as a people must demand change.
“I shall work urgently for changes so that we have fixed date elections; the people have the power to recall a representative they are dissatisfied with; representatives are only entitled to two elected terms. These are changes I advocate and these are changes I intend to deliver.”
