His Excellency Governor Tim Foy, OBE, Governor of Anguilla, is still observing his first anniversary on the island and has been having interviews with members of the media to that effect.
Last week The Anguillian newspaper published part one of an interview with him. It covered his arrival and swearing in; his handling of the impact of Hurricane Irma shortly following his arrival; visits by a number of UK officials arranged by him; his assistance with the provision of humanitarian funding from the UK Government; the release of funds for a number of initial and coming projects; the 2018 Anguilla Budget; and the promotion of good financial relations between the Anguilla and UK Government officials. This week part 2 of the interview touches on UK Government’s support for economic and investment initiatives in Anguilla; Electoral and Constitutional matters; and Brexit in terms of Anguilla’s relationship with St. Martin/St. Maarten after the UK leaves the European Union.
Governor, how committed will you say that the UK Government is to Anguilla’s future development?
Passionately. Anguilla’s success depends upon on how well its economy develops. The UK Government wants Anguilla to be successful in the same way that Anguilla wants every Overseas Territory to be as successful as it can be. The UK Government stands by Anguilla both in terms of the next few years as we put right the damage which Hurricane Irma caused, and hopefully build back stronger and better; and I hope and sincerely believe that this will be the case as the UK remains a long-time development partner. Where Anguilla needs assistance, I am sure that the UK will be there to provide that. Above all, the UK will not stand in the way of sensible investment which will help Anguilla to develop and become more prosperous than where it is.
Is that also true of constitutional advancement?
Yes. I know this has been a discussion going on between the Chief Minister and Lord Ahmad about some amendments to the Constitution. I stay clear of those conversations because my role is only in terms of what the Constitution says now…But I think it is right and proper that Anguilla and the UK discuss the Constitution. It is a very old one. It has been there since 1980 and, in fact, if you look at it, large parts of it probably predate 1980. So it is good that as the relationship develops, matures and changes, people review the basic contract which the Constitution sets out, in many ways, about the relationship between the UK and Anguilla. It is good for people to look at that again.
Sir, it is over 600 days before we go into elections. What is your involvement in that process?
In terms of electoral and constitutional reform nothing. That is actually a discussion between the UK and Mr. Bank’s Government. I am interested in what people are thinking but it is not my place to comment on it. In terms of the elections in 2020, constitutionally my responsibility is to make sure that the elections are run efficiently, fairly and freely. That means that I work closely with the independent Supervisor of Elections, my good friend Aurjul Wilson, and to make sure that that office is resourced and has the staff and the facilities it needs to be able to run an election. Looking at previous elections, I know that people will find faults and issues but, by and large, I think the elections have [gone] well.
Ms. Wilson told me she is waiting on you for some financial assistance. What can you say about that?
I am glad to tell her that the request went in last week. It is not a big sum of money but it will allow Aurjul to have a stronger office and an office which befits the status of that function. That is now with the UK Government.
The elections themselves will call for some funding. Where is that coming from?
I think it will be a mix. What I think we will do is to provide Aurjul with – hopefully the UK Government agrees – which I think it will – the necessary money to be sure that the simple things, like the ballot boxes, the ballot papers, the staff needed to act as Returning Officers and those in the polling stations, are funded. The money should provide that resource.
Where would you say Anguilla stands in terms of its relationships with French St. Martin and Dutch St. Maarten after Brexit – when the UK leaves the European Union?
There is still some foreboding surrounding this matter.
It is a good question, Nat. Certainly in terms of the negotiations that have been going on, it is very clear that the concerns and the interest of the Overseas Territories are very effectively represented. Senior negotiators understand the needs of the Overseas Territories and their interests – and their interests are quite different. Places like the Falklands are very concerned that European markets can continue to take their fish exports similarly in the case of Tritan da Cunha.
We are particularly concerned that we will be able to continue to have that movement between St. Martin/St. Maarten and Anguilla. That’s very important to peoples’ lives. As the Chief Minister quite rightly says, a ferry leaves between here and St. Martin/St. Maarten every half an hour. So that is a very important part of peoples’ lives – be it terms of going to the shops; visiting family which is very important; people going for medical treatment; going to the dentist or whatever. But I think the key thing is that the UK Government is aware of that and is very, very keen to make sure that that relationship is maintained. I am working very hard, and I am in close contact with the Governor on the Dutch side. I was there on Friday of last week (August 17) talking to Dr. Halliday. I will be popping over again to see the French Prefet, so we will be working to make sure that those things happen.
But I think it is really important that we don’t over-estimate the extent to which the EU has an influence on what happens in Anguilla. If you look at where things come from into Anguilla – our food, our oil and the rest of those things – very little of that actually comes from St. Martin/St. Maarten or St. Eustatius as some people have claimed in terms of oil. Most of the food in our supermarkets comes from the US. It comes either direct from Miami or through Puerto Rico. Our oil almost entirely comes from Trinidad or the US Gulf Coast, so I don’t think life will come to an end by any means…or that there will be any major disruption.
But having said that, the Overseas Territories Department in the FCO and the British Government are determined that we are going to make sure that life is not disrupted. That’s our number one issue here. It is to make sure that what happens today will be able to happen in 2020, 2021, 2022 and so forth. It will be that the people move across that border and across the water in a most unimpeded way. That’s the first thing on my agenda for Brexit and will be the last thing for my agenda.
Governor, you probably have about ten more years in Anguilla (laugh). What are your thoughts?
Yes, Nat. Something like that. But I can’t think of a day when what I did actually matched what I thought I was going to do. And I can’t think of the day that I had gone to bed and thought that was a really bad day. Every day has its different challenges but I still feel very privileged to be in Anguilla. I very much enjoy the company of the people I work with, so I would like to stay as long as I can.
What legacy of your governorship would you wish to leave in Anguilla?
It is where we started. The legacy is in the relationship in which both parties (the UK Government and Anguilla) understand and are respectful of each other and trust each other. That, for me, is the prize. I would love to see the economy booming – and you know what? I think I will. I am sure I will see the sixty million pounds really well spent and six primary schools looking in fantastic condition; and a secondary school which is fit for the needs of the island. I am confident that those things will happen.
Your Excellency, what message do you wish to pass on to the people of Anguilla?
I just want to say thank you for all the support, assistance and encouragement that you have given me. Anguilla is a fantastic place to live in. I feel very comfortable and very much at home. I feel at home because I have been made so welcome. That what Anguilla does. It welcomes people irrespective of where they are from. My message is: never lose that.
I would also like to speak on behalf of my wife [Dr. Dina Foy]. It is one of the rare occasions when I can, because she is not here. She is in the UK putting our youngest son into university. But she is very, very happy here – and very much enjoys her work with the Health Authority and with Saint James Medical School. I can’t think of a place where we would rather be…This feels like home in a very special way.
