Turning What’s Desirable, Into What’s Possible
As we approach another Anguilla Day observance and celebrations, our theme of unity and sense of purpose are being brought into full focus.
During my recent budget presentation, I emphasized the One Anguilla concept, for we are convinced that, for Anguilla to live out its full potential, the tone of our political and social discourse must change. The sense of meanness that has been introduced into our political culture over the last few years is not consistent with who we are as a people.
In the reaction to my presentation in the House of Assembly the other day, we all saw on full display this political cancer that is plaguing the land. And that is why the recent address by the Chief Minister where he spouted unity rang so hollow. He endorsed the recent parliamentary behaviour of which I spoke. He sat there and did nothing.
Forging national unity, promoting respect and encouraging different viewpoints cannot be achieved just through an address that he delivers on the airwaves; because the man who talks the talk, refuses to walk the walk. His record and style have already indicated that he is either unwilling or unable (or both) to unify this nation in a common cause. If he cannot do it – or worse, is unwilling to do it – in the wake of a national disaster, when will he expect to achieve it?
We do not think that we are swimming against the tide by calling for unity, for the flow of history which we seek to make will lift up all of us. We have already begun discussions with a wide cross-section of Anguilla’s society. We hope to maintain and expand on these discussions in the coming weeks and months. We are going to change the tone in this society block by block and household by household. Frankly, we are determined to change our beloved Anguilla for the better, for we know it has the potential to be better.
Our politics must not seek to accentuate divide; must not promote the tribe mentality and must not make “enemies” of those who have different points of view as to how to develop and promote Anguilla. In other words, it must not follow the example of the traditional politicians.
The most striking thing that came out of the last parliamentary debate was that I was declared an “enemy” because I dared raise issues about national development; and that I dared warn against nepotism and corruption; and that I dared advocate for bolder policies that will lift this economy from the depths to which it is plunging. Ours are not ideas of the “enemy”; but rather they are ideas of the people I have been interacting with in the community, who are demanding transparency and accountability and who are yearning for good governance. And that is not too much for them to ask – it is not too much by a long stretch. So our goal is to march forward with this positive, progressive agenda.
I know some of our detractors have already begun to scoff at the very notion; they suggest that respect and unity are not achievable goals. I understand that after our current “rude boy” politicians have sowed the seed of discord and division and that it is unrealistic to hope or expect that we will not continue to reap this harvest of nastiness. But we, the people of faith and reasonableness, will rally together to make what is desirable possible. We will continue to have this dialogue with our people as we approach another Anguilla Day and beyond.
This summer, we will raise the temperature on those who have thrived for too long on this disgusting tactic of divide and rule. We shall turn our One Anguilla mantra from a concept into a movement. Against this backdrop, we invite you to join my Facebook page and my other social media hang-outs as we continue this conversation
Since it has become fashionable these days to quote from popular songs, we shall be reminded of what Bob Marley sang about so many years ago:
“They don’t want to see us unite. All they want us to do is to keep on fussing and fighting.”
But we’ve got news for them. The people WILL unite; and the people WILL take their development into their own hands; and the people WILL take their development away from a handful of politicians who have made a career out of meanness.
For those of us who want a respectful national discourse and genuine unity will be the ones who indeed not only talk the talk, but who also actually walk the walk.
