To say that the political landscape of Anguilla is distasteful would be an understatement. Political allegiances bubble just below the surface of every interaction, every conversation, business decisions, and family ties. “He’s a Front”, “She’s AUM” are words used to describe the huge chasm that is the politics of Anguilla. So entrenched is this political divide that many persons are even afraid to associate or be seen in public with individuals who are known to support or are associated with a particular political party. Many of our entrepreneurs and business owners are afraid even to express their personal opinions on national issues, for fear of being politically victimized and ostracised. Our Youth are bombarded with family political loyalties and are chastised for thinking independently or outside the box. God forbid that our clergy should also fall into this psychological enslavement; afraid to speak on social issues within our communities lest they be viewed by their congregations as favouring a particular political party or speaking out against the current regime.
Sometimes, even the very thought of the upcoming general elections brings with it a heavy dark cloud; so burdensome is the weight of that cloud that we can’t help but experience mental fatigue at the prospects of having to make a choice between corruption and incompetence. Make no mistake, unless we embrace the concept of One Anguilla and work together for a brighter future, these are the two choices that otherwise currently befall us.
This reminds me of a conversation I had with two gentlemen at a tire shop; the current political climate was aptly described as shuffling an old deck of cards with old natured politicians, void of what Anguilla desperately needs: servant leadership. Likewise, so dangerous is the current political landscape that opportunists and master manipulators abound, salivating at the mouth, moving the pieces on a political chess board where, unfortunately, the people of Anguilla are the pawns. For decades we have found ourselves shackled to a never ending cycle of empty promises and shattered dreams because we have put our faith in people who claimed to put Anguilla first, not recognising that selfish aggrandisement, political control and greed were the true motivations in their quest for power.
To make matters worse, we have had to endure negative, vile and vicious general election campaigns, which had little to do with the issues and all to do with destroying one’s political opponent by all means necessary. This is a political culture that, sadly, we have participated in for too long. When is it going to be enough? When we have stripped ourselves of basic human decency? When we have set Husband against wife, brother against sister, cousin against cousin and Anguillian against Anguillian? I am amazed at how callous we have become and that we fail to see the humanity in our brothers and sisters. Such behaviour has become so normalized in our society that we have become numb to its damaging effects.
As the Elected Member for District One and the Leader of the Opposition, my message has been consistent and clear for the last four years – One Anguilla. This is more than just a simple, nice sounding phrase – it represents a vision of a united country, a country that can fulfil its true potential only when we bridge the divides that have kept us trapped in a cycle of mediocre performance, underdevelopment and poor governance. For too long we have allowed crooked politicians to exploit the political divide in our country. We have to make a conscious decision each and every day not to view our fellow brothers and sisters through a political lens, but to demonstrate love, empathy and compassion for each and every one of our fellow human beings.
We are only as strong as our weakest link. In order for us to move forward as a country we must face and address the social issues that plague our society. This means that we have to take a serious look at the problems we face and be innovative and creative, to arrive at sustainable solutions and to address those problems. In order for Anguilla to be truly prosperous for all we must first come together, cast partisan politics and social divisions aside and work together in the best interests of the country. This vision requires a unique set of skill sets engrained in leaders who have a genuine love for Anguilla, with personal integrity, and who are competent to achieve the Anguilla that we need now and for future generations.
Our country faces a plethora of problems in Healthcare, Education and the Economy.
• We need a Healthcare system that meets the needs of all our people, one that is affordable and provides high standards of care with the proper stock of medicines and medical supplies to support our population, particularly vulnerable groups such as the elderly and the poor.
• Our Education system is in dire need of reforms that provide our students with the best possible resources and skills to enter the workforce and to make a meaningful contribution to all our sectors, particularly in the fields of Engineering, Renewable Energy and the Arts.
• Moreover, we have to ensure that all our children have equal access to a sound education through curriculum reform.
• We must also allocate the resources necessary to support students who may be disadvantaged financially or who may have learning disabilities.
• Our economy is heavily dependent on Tourism and while we all see the benefits of a robust tourism sector that is growing and performing, we cannot forget how incredibly vulnerable we are to the effects of Climate Change.
• Therefore we must strive not only to build an economy that is diversified but also one that is sustainable, taking into consideration the protection of the environment.
• We must focus on other avenues for prosperity for our people, raise the standard of living and lower the heavy tax burden.
• These objectives require everyone to participate in the affairs of the country through effective consultation and representation. However, in this current political landscape our greatest potential as a nation is lost unless we come together and do something to change it.
The time has come for the people of Anguilla to take back their rightful place as the true revolutionaries of our time. We have now come full circle. The people of Anguilla must now carry out the new revolution – a revolution not fought with guns or ammunition but fought with the power of our minds, the stroke of our “X” on the ballot paper, and our resolve to rescue our nation from the hands of modern day oppressors. Our youth will lead in this new revolution. Their innovation and creativity, independent thought processes and will to achieve, will be the fuel for this new dispensation of politics in Anguilla. All for One and One for All – One Anguilla – Let’s do it!
