A Message To the People of Anguilla from Pam Webster, Member for District One and Leader of the Opposition
I write this message just a few days before the publication of this week’s edition of The Anguillian – the edition that will bear the date of the anniversary of last year’s general election. One year gone; one year lost.
As the Leader of the Opposition – indeed as the only elected member of the opposition – it is hard for me to choose my words at a time that should be an occasion for celebration but which, in fact, is an occasion for disappointment.
But while I would be failing in my duty if I did not use this occasion to make the case as to why the first year of this present government has been a year of missed opportunity, I am very clear that we Anguillians, as a people, need to come together, not to engage in destructive bitterness. And I call upon our elected government to start respecting that principle and respecting all Anguillian people, instead of lording it over us, as they have done during the past twelve months.
In that spirit, rather than vilifying the present government or the previous government for their virtually total failure to engage with us, the people, on any of the major issues of the day, I will confine myself to explaining – as kindly as possible – how the present government can and should turn over a new leaf if they want to make good on their promise – an empty promise until now – that it is “All About You”, rather than all about them.
I shall then go on to explain my vison for a New Anguilla – One Anguilla – where every one of us who values progress and a better way of life will have a vital role to play.
The Chief Minister claims that he and his colleagues have a mandate in effect justifying their uncommunicative and secretive handling of the pressing issues of the day. They totally fail to consult with the people on the consequences of their proposed actions (whether in the form of legislation or otherwise), as exemplified by their lack of public consultation (as distinct from consultation behind closed doors).
Take the most obvious example: the so-called resolution of the banking crisis. In December 2015 I said, in the House of Assembly, that while it may be the case that the government is boxed in under pressure from the United Kingdom to pass this legislation, it is unconscionable that it has not been the subject of proper public consultation and explanation throughout the process.
The legislation dealing with the banking crisis has been forced through the House of Assembly and is now law. It had been my devout hope that, despite having the title “Leader of the Opposition”, I would in fact find common ground with the AUF government in the best interests of Anguilla. I hoped that the AUF’s success would not go to their heads and lead them to think that they had a mandate to govern undemocratically. I hoped that the AUF’s overwhelming majority would not, as it tragically has done, deteriorate into a regime that bears an uncanny resemblance to many aspects of authoritarianism in its disregard for the people’s democratic rights.
My hopes have been dashed, and I can only pray and fight for a compassionate and visionary reversion to the good intentions expressed in the AUF’s 2015 Manifesto. That Manifesto included the following assurances:
“By 2020, the People of Anguilla will be exercising increased democratic self-rule in a united, empowered and patriotic community and realizing the Anguillian Dream socially and culturally, inspired by the Anguilla Revolution and our unique history and culture”. The Manifesto went on to say that “expanded, democratic participation will be increased, the political climate will be improved, conduct in the House of Assembly will improve and participation in the democratic process will be increased”. I repeat: “participation in the democratic process will be increased”. Not only has participation of the majority of the people in the democratic process not been increased; it has been suppressed to a degree that is shameful. Further, the AUF described as the the third of its three PRINCIPAL STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES: “Greater public participation in governing Anguilla and in determining policies”. And the third of its PROGRAMME priorities was to “increase public input into determining national policies, laws, strategies and plans”.
While it is a common habit of governments to disregard election pledges once they have induced the electorate to vote for them, the flagrant and totally unjustified disregard for promises made by this particular government is truly beyond the limit.
This government would do well to take note of the statement made by Michael Manley to the Jamaican people in March 1992, on his retirement from office:
“Democracy means far more than the right to vote every five years. It means the right to participate in every aspect of national and community life. The people must believe that they can take part.”
By depriving the people of that right, despite the fact that they promised otherwise in their manifesto, our sadly blinkered government denies its own legitimacy.
Having criticized the current government, it would be unjust to give the impression that the members of the AUM party are beyond reproach. Former Chief Minister Hubert Hughes claimed they were not a party – presumably implying that their representatives were free agents to serve the best interests of the people of Anguilla. Yet the blogger, “Leaks Anguilla”, speaking in support of the AUM, claims to have crucial information incriminating members of the present government of – he or she implies – criminal conflicts of interest. If “Leaks Anguilla” truly had the interests of Anguilla and its people at heart, why would he or she not share that information with the only member of the Assembly able to safely raise the issues under parliamentary privilege – myself? The reason is obvious: the AUM is, indeed, a parliamentary party, under the nominal leadership of an absentee with other current priorities, who hopes, at the next election, to beat at the polls the most effective Leader of the Opposition in the history of Anguilla. “Leaks Anguilla” and his or her “party” is no better than the other political parties.
My devout prayer is that, come the next election, Anguillians will have seen, and recognised for what it is, the mayhem caused by the old politics, which is only for the politicians and their party cohorts, compared with independent motivation, which is about Anguilla and our people’s progress
The current Anguillian political landscape is a shambolic concoction of self-interested conflicts, and many will wonder whether I am seeking the impossible by trying to serve the best interests of Anguilla. But I do not believe I am seeking the impossible. I have the utmost confidence in the good sense of you, the Anguillian people. You will have seen, by now, that political parties bring nothing but grief to our beloved Anguilla, because their priorities are predominantly self-interested. The logical conclusion, which I shall be actively working towards, must surely be that we move away from party political constructs and towards government that is truly “by the people, for the people”. That will entail not only a change in our voting system, to include an element of voting at large rather than only by circumscribed “constituencies” or districts, but also a willingness on the part of right minded candidates to become involved in government for the wellbeing of ALL the people of Anguilla.
A career in politics is not for everyone. But I call upon all patriotic Anguillians who have the necessary skills to step up to the plate. Anguilla needs you. Whether you are willing to support only, or to help, or to stand as an independent candidate, please register your interest with me. I shall assemble a list of people who would like to be associated with a movement for independent and altruistic government. I shall not disclose your interest publicly without your consent. Please email me at pamwebster.oneanguilla@gmail.com
If we are to succeed, if we are to survive even, Anguillians MUST come together for the benefit of both present and future generations. Acting as One Anguilla there are no obstacles that can constrain us.
God bless you all and may God bless Anguilla.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
