No Basis for UK Takeover
In reviewing how the UK has presented its plan to takeover the financial affairs of the local government, similar to what it did in Turks and Caicos, it seems clear that the prior administration here had earlier had ongoing discussions with the Foreign Office regarding such a possibility.
The discussions seem to have started after Hubert Hughes in 2012 sent a letter to the Foreign Office in which he talked about the “serious risk” that “public finances will continue to deteriorate.” In effect he was inviting the Foreign Office to consider budgetary assistance.
Having in mind that Mr. Hughes, by the statements he had made over a period of years, abhorred the Brits and sought independence from the UK, I wonder why it appeared that he was suggesting the need for the UK to intervene in the financial affairs of Anguilla. Did he foresee that such a result, as is occurring now, would cause the people to seek independence?
As the Mnisters of our Government have pointed out, the situation in T and C is far different than what is h2ere. Its economy was in bad shape and there was rampart corruption there. Anguilla has the best standard of living in the Caribbean and what corruption there may be is minor in nature. There is no basis for the UK to takeover the control of the public finances here.
The Concerned Citizen
