AN EDITORIAL MUST BE AN EDITORIAL
Dear Editor:
Thank you for the opportunity to make this short reply to your “Editorial” in The Anguillian of Friday, 20th November, 2015. Usually, I appreciate the Editorial for its perspective, balance and thoughtfulness. Occasionally one or two of these elements may have been missing or weak, but it could still called an editorial. Unfortunately, , “Democracy” or “Democrisy” falls far short of the standard we have come to expect from The Anguillian. It is really not an Editorial. It sounds more like a partisan political piper playing to please his “papa”.
Where is the serious analysis and balanced perspective on what is really happening in Anguilla at present? It may be true that some person on the radio or in social media have their personal agendas and some may be simply misguided, but that is no justification for you to be so blatantly one-sided and partisan. someone once said, “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events and small minds discuss people.” I plead that we stay with ideas and issues and so demonstrate our greatness.
Your Editorial of 20th November 2015 displays at least three major flaws. One is the assumption that the opposition of the concerned citizens group is opposition to the ECCB Banking Bill which is designed to reform the banking sector in the OECS territories. That assumption is dead wrong. We are fully in support of regulation but we express deep concern over some of the clauses in the Bill, which are potentially inimical, not only to the well-being of Anguilla. We also expressed opposition to the Bill being railroaded through the House of Assembly unamended and without adequate public discussion and information. No one can dispute the value of the forced delay of the first reading of the Bill for the people in Anguilla and other territories all of whom are now better informed.
The second major flaw is the failure to recognize or even indicate that there are really two significant issues engaging our attention. One is the reform of the banking sector in the OECS sub-region and the other is the resolution of the banking crisis in Anguilla. While they are related they need not be “married” but they have been, and this has added to the complication of finding a solution. Paragraph two of the Editorial seems to suggest that the people’s opposition to some clauses in the ECCB Banking Bill means choosing “a British solution”. Not at all. Actually, this is not a helpful way to make a point. What is needed as we go forward is to allow objectivity, not emotionalism, to prevail in our thinking, discussion and decision – making.
The third major flaw is made and elaborated in paragraphs 5 and 6. It is the degeneration in the Editorial from seeing the issues as truly national issues, to discussing them in a political, partisan manner, even to the point of imputing impure motives to people. This capitulation to the political tribal warfare which has characterized our island’s politics for decades has no place today, especially as we wrestle with the monumental issues confronting us at this time. I thought we had turned the page on that type of politics and that our efforts would now be to ensure “Better politics”, having buried “bitter politics”. Again, I urge that we keep raising the bar higher and higher and call out those who would want to remain the old mode, thus continuing to hurt themselves and Anguilla.
I am in agreement with much of paragraphs 7 and 8; however, it cannot be true that the protest makes a “mockery of democracy” when the people’s protest is for information and greater participation which is one of the pillars of true democracy. It was the attempted denial of information and people participation which is the mockery of democracy, not the people’s demand for it. The second thing in paragraph 7 which needs correction is the accusation of “breaking down doors”. Categorically, the door was not broken down. The screws in the hinges were badly rusted and therefore rotted their holes. The constant opening and closing caused the screws to pull out once there was the slightest resistance. It is absolutely false to accuse the people of “breaking down doors.”
Despite my critique, I commend you for your efforts in ensuring the weekly publication of The Anguillian. Always Keep the standard high and thereby encourage our people in general to “raise the bar.”
Thank you.
Rev. Dr. H. Clifton Niles.
Editor’s Note:
We publish the above letter in keeping with the policy of this newspaper to entertain and respect the views of all persons wishing to express the same in The Anguillian. Accordingly, we welcome the views of the Reverend Dr. H. Clifton Niles without further comment.
