The passage of the 2018 budget in the House of Assembly and its subsequent approval by the UK Government are significant milestones on Anguilla’s journey to recovery. There is no doubt that the recovery process will be a lengthy one, and we ought to adjust our expectations accordingly. The impact of natural disasters is long-lasting: affecting countries’ financial viability, physical infrastructure and social institutions – and equally affecting citizens’ livelihoods, health and emotional well-being for several years. We cannot, therefore, be too hard on ourselves if things seem to be progressing slowly. As a small island with little available resources, and a vulnerable economy, our recovery journey will be even more difficult. What is important is that in the recovery process we must focus on strengthening previous areas of weakness, especially those areas where the physical infrastructure is directly linked to economic activity. One such area is port development.
There is no doubt that access to Anguilla has been one of the major issues affecting our development over the years. We have heard the cry from the Anguilla Tourist Board, the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association, hoteliers, restaurateurs, other tourism-related businesses, and even ordinary residents, about the need for improved air access. The destruction of the Blowing Point Port Terminal building after Hurricane Irma would have highlighted how isolated Anguilla is without proper air access. In the aftermath of the hurricane, the Chief Minister seemed convinced that the British Government would assist Anguilla with a new airport. There is no confirmation, so far, that the airport is one of the projects being funded from the £60 million grant from the UK Government. However, from all accounts, the Chief Minister and his team are still actively pursuing airport development as a national priority. I would urge that whatever is being done, be done quickly.
Too often we have heard about the low occupancy levels at our hotels, and about investors being hesitant to invest in Anguilla because of the fear of low return on investment. While other factors may be at play, access does play a major role as travellers who would be interested in visiting islands like Anguilla would naturally choose islands with more “hassle-free” access. If Anguilla is to get its fair share of the tourism market, and build a more robust tourism industry, the access issue must be addressed in a meaningful way or we will continue to be left behind.
Some persons are of the view that, with St Maarten so close by, there is no need for Anguilla to have an international airport; that such investment will be wasted. I am of the view that Anguilla cannot continue to place the viability of its tourism sector in the hands of St Maarten, especially in view of the fact that the impact of the Brexit arrangements on our travel interactions with St Maarten is still unknown. Further, St Maarten has its own tourism sector. Its primary interest is to get visitors who come to, or through St Maarten, to stay in St Maarten. There is no real benefit to St Maarten to have visitors transit to Anguilla. We have to be in control of our own affairs, particularly in relation to issues such as access which underpin the very industry on which our economy is most reliant.
While direct air access to key regional and international hubs must be our goal, seaport development is also important to maintain our cultural links with our neighbours – and also for those passengers for whom, based on their place of origin, this is the preferred access route. I am convinced, though, that if we are serious about airport development our investment in seaport development should be modest. It is unlikely that we would be able to develop both to an equal standard as we obviously do not have unlimited resources. As such, I would urge our Government to flip the current script and prioritise airport development so that the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport becomes the first choice of visitors to Anguilla, with the Blowing Point Ferry Terminal being developed to the extent necessary to provide a reasonable alternative.
Whatever decision is taken in relation to how the UK grant funds are spent, I strongly urge that access to Anguilla should be a priority for all concerned. We have everything to gain and nothing (that I can think of) to lose, by investing prudently in port development.
