The Anguillian for Friday 8th April reported that assent was given to the Anguilla Budget for 2016. Many persons breathed a sigh of relief, some are not happy about it, and others have other reactions. For good or ill, the fact is that the budget has been assented and our government is happy, judging from the Acting Chief Minister’s response. Beginning on the first page , The Anguillian also published “the relevant press release issued by the Governor’s Office.” This release warrants careful study and analysis, but this writer uses this medium to make a few brief reflections or remarks:
(1) The release indicated that “the assent follows a recent exchange of letters between Minister Duddridge… and the Chief Minister.” That exchange included a “Medium Term Reform Programme 2016-2018, prepared with the benefit of advice from the International Monetary Fund”, and “terms of reference for a governor appointed financial advisor to be based in the Ministry of Finance.” The release further indicated that Minister Duddridge “also welcomed the high level of ambition in the Medium Term Reform Programme 2016-2018.” Please, Mr Chief Minister , let the people of Anguilla know what is in the Reform Programme so that they can support it fully.
The Medium of this paper is used to do at least two things:
(a) to help highlight the fact that the government has been working all the time to deal efficiently and effectively with the various economic challenges we are facing as a country. The issues are difficult but they are not insurmountable. I believe that if a more open and inclusive approach can be adopted by government we will be assured of more effective and progressive solutions to our challenges.
(b) Secondly, I use it to appeal to our Chief Minister, Mr. Banks, to be more trusting and respectful of Anguillians in general, and share with the people more freely important information, issues and proposals which will affect and impact them significantly. Please let us know as much as is possible of that “Medium Term Reform Programme 2016-2018” with its “high level of ambition”, which gave Minister Duddridge the confidence to authorize the assent to the budget. In a democracy, which we are in Anguilla, it is the people’s right to know about the plans which will impact their lives, and for prudent leaders the people’s confidence is of utmost importance. Mr. Chief Minister, we believe that you value principles of democracy. Unfortunately, your style and approach over the last year do not demonstrate that value. Please look critically at your style and approach and as you go forward, shift it from leaning so much on the autocratic and demeaning axis to becoming much more collaborative and democratic. It is the right thing to do for the good of all.
(2) The release from the Governor’s Office also noted: “Separately, discussions are continuing towards the objective of ensuring effective delivery of the government of Anguilla’s preferred plans to create a stable solution to Anguilla’s banking difficulties.” And further: “Minister Duddridge is committed to ensuring speedy progress provided that the actions taken will result in an affordable and sustainable resolution for the Government and people of Anguilla.”
Every right-thinking Anguillian will agree with Minister Diddridge’s provisio. Any resolution of the banking crisis must be affordable and must be sustainable. Also, it must not saddle Anguillians, especially our children and youth, with a debt which they will have to be paying for the next twenty to thirty years or longer. In addition, the resolution must be FAIR and JUST and should be positively socially transformative. In other words, the resolution should usher in a “new day” of progress for Anguillians and not a “doomsday” of poverty, pauperism, dispossession and destruction for Anguillians. In the absence of a clear and comprehensive proposed resolution in the public domain, many Anguillians are truly scared of the “doomsday”. I sincerely appeal to you, Chief Minister: please, please give us the full picture of your proposal for resolving the banking situation. The wellbeing and future of Anguilla depend on us getting it right. As Anguillians we deserve more respect from you and your team.
(3) Thirdly, the release from the Governor’s Office seems quite clear about the attitude and approach of the British: “Minister Duddrige has requested that the ECCB provide additional information about the timetable and plans for making the Eastern Caribbean Asset Management Corporation (ECAMC) operational, and any proposed interim arrangement prior to the ECAMC’s establishment …It is therefore appropriate that the plans for the establishment of the ECAMC and any interim arrangements are properly understood before the next stages of the bank restructuring plans proceed.” Minister Duddridge’s request is fair. In our context, he must insist on receiving full and clear responses prior to action. It is quite obvious that Minister Duddridge and his colleagues in the UK are as uncomfortable, unclear, and worried as many or most Anguillians are over the lack of a clear, detailed and complete proposal for resolving the banking situation in Anguilla. The Chief Minister and the Government of Anguilla OWE it to the people of Anguilla to give us such a detailed and un-ambitious plan of resolution, especially as certain markers have been shifting over the months. More than that, a specific timetable for actions to be taken must also be provided and placed in the public domain and discussed before implementation
The assent recently given to the 2016 budget and other Bills may be interpreted as the green light given for government to proceed with implementation as though everything is fine, well and okay, while disregarding the fairly widespread uneasiness among the people and the number of pertinent questions still to be answered, especially those which relate to the operation of the Eastern Caribbean Asset Management Corporation (ECAMC). For example: How will the ECAMC come into possession of the “bad loans” and their collateral? Will the ECAMC manage these loans for the sole benefit of Anguilla or will the other EC territories have a claim on the assets of the corporation? There are many other questions.
It is obvious that the whole banking issue is more than a purely legal and business affair. No one can deny the importance of the legal and economic aspects, and no one should attempt to deny or minimize the ethical and moral dimensions. Indeed, if proper attention had been given to the ethical and moral issues the depth of the crisis might not have been so severe. Ethics deals with principles of right and wrong, and fairness and justice. In every transaction, the question must be asked: Is it right…? Is it fair… ? is it just … ? In his book “Authentic Leadership”, Bill George indicated that early in his career as a CEO he sensed the need for more ethically based leadership in business. He said, “I am appalled at the extent to which business leaders are caught up in the game of greed.” He defined authentic leaders as persons who have a deep sense of purpose for their leadership and are true to their core values.” They are people of the highest integrity who … see themselves as stewards of the assets they inherit and servants of all their stakeholders. They lead with their hearts, and not just their heads.” This is a timely word for our political leaders in Anguilla.
Morality is concerned with behaviour that is good, virtuous, transparent, accountable and aboveboard, behaviour that is not corrupt, principled, honest and the like. While we cannot legislate morality, integrity, stewardship or good governance, these things are of vital importance and where they are absent or lacking the consequences are always serious.
As I conclude, I express my deepest concern over the manner in which the present banking crisis is being handled by our leaders, and more so, over the fact that there is not yet a fully developed resolution plan in the public domain. But the legislation is now enacted. We. the people, fear both an economic and social meltdown if government continues to proceed while they themselves are unclear, about details, and the people remain uninformed and in the darkness. I wish to be very clear. I am not being partisan or attempting to use scare tactics. I express my honest fear as a reasonable and fairly intelligent Anguillian. As I see it, our only hope or resort is to remind Anguilla’s administering authority, that they have a moral obligation to ensure that Anguilla does not descend into economic and social degradation and chaos, and our children and young people condemned to deprivation for generations, but rather to ensure that as a people we are truly assisted to rise above our present distress and enjoy the benefit of a progressive society. This appeal on behalf of the silent majority cannot be more earnestly made. Anguilla ought not to be made the sacrificial lamb. May God help us.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
