The Honourable Chief Minister, Victor Banks, has this week delivered an address to the people of Anguilla that briefly outlined the state of the country as his Government met it when assuming office. Mr Banks, in his usual statesmanlike way, made it clear that Anguilla is in a state of disrepair but assured us that his Government is committed to working out solutions that will be beneficial to the people of Anguilla.
According to the Honourable Chief Minister, Anguilla’s economy has been stagnant for the last five years with virtually no growth. He also dispelled the myth that the country is in good standing by advising that the Government’s debt exceeds the purported surplus and reserves. This comes as a shock to many of us because we are well aware that the AUM administration proudly boasted of the Government’s reserves and their ability to balance the budget. However, based on the Chief Minister’s assessment of the information presented to him by senior officials in his Ministry, it appears that this was all only on paper and the reality is drastically different.
The Chief Minister also lamented the lack of public sector capital investment over the last five years in roads, schools and other infrastructural development – and the lack of basic amenities that many people no longer enjoy. According to him, the situation is dire.
Interestingly, despite the dire situation, the Chief Minister remains resolute in his administration’s decision to repeal the Interim Stabilisation Levy by the next budgetary cycle. In his view the levy is actually contributing to the stagnation of the economy because it is a deterrent to those activities which drive economic growth. Many people will be relieved with the repeal of this levy. However, I am certain many others are wondering whether Government can really afford to forego the revenue it generates.
The issue with the indigenous banks was also highlighted in the Chief Minister’s address. Obviously it is a highly sensitive issue, but one which he recognizes must be grappled with early on. What is comforting is that the Chief Minister acknowledged the need for more strategic communication with the public on the issue, and went on to give the assurance that the Government will look at solutions that protect the rights of depositors and maintain local ownership of the banks. The banking issue is probably the most important of the immediate issues – another being water – which the Government needs to address because of the obvious effects that the manner in which it is handled will have on the economy and any prospects for recovery. We are hopeful that when the dust settles, the Chief Minister can hold true to his assurances and
our interests are protected.
Not surprising, it also appears that the new Government will be reviewing the composition of all Boards, some with more urgency than others. We trust it is not overhauling for the sake of it. However, what is heartening is the realization that persons should be properly equipped to serve on Boards. The Honourable Chief Minister has therefore indicated that persons serving on Boards should undergo a period of training and actually be certified to carry out their functions. This is a step in the right direction. Over the years many have questioned the capacity of various persons to serve on Boards. This new approach focuses on properly preparing Board members to execute their functions and should lead to increased efficiency and better governance. Perhaps there will also be greater public confidence in board appointments and effectiveness.
I use this forum to encourage our new Chief Minister not to make this week’s address his first and last state of the nation address. Consideration should be given to making similar addresses at least twice per year. It demonstrates transparency and accountability in Government, and will keep the public abreast of the challenges faced and, hopefully, the successes achieved. For now, we expect the Chief Minister and his Ministerial colleagues to employ all the tools necessary to fix Anguilla.
