The Operation Yellowhammer paper, (details of which are available from the following link), sets out the Brexit ‘No Deal’ worst case scenario assumptions for the UK and its related nations, including the British Overseas Territories:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/831199/20190802_Latest_Yellowhammer_Planning_assumptions_CDL.pdf.The most prominent aspect to note is that Anguilla, as a British nation with more than one direct border with EU related islands that, in two instances, are Outermost Regions of the European Union, is not referred to in the planning.
Whilst the omission is extremely disappointing and somewhat demoralising after over three years of raising the concerns of the people of Anguilla as to the potential impact of Brexit upon them as a little known, vulnerable small island developing British nation that is the permanent home to over 15,000 British citizen, it is clear that Anguilla must now galvanise itself to prepare for the event.
After Brexit, Anguilla will be re-classified as a ‘Third Territory’ akin to the UK’s own position as a ‘Third Country’. The strict discipline that envelops the conduct of the Brexit negotiations is such that the matter is being conducted at the highest levels of government in Europe, with those stationed in the islands having nominal influence over the conduct or outcome of those negotiations.
As Chief Executive of the West India Committee, a Royal Charter institution that reports directly to the Privy Council, whose central object is the promotion of the welfare of the peoples of the Caribbean, regardless of their nationality, I have been at liberty to interact with the French and Dutch governments above and beyond the limitations of Anguilla’s chosen constitutional status of a British Overseas Territory. This status restricts the island’s interaction with the outside world to the sole voice of HM Government of the UK through the auspices of the Governor. Also, in my capacity as Representative of the territory to the UK and EU, I am authorised to conduct discussions with the EU Commission. In each instance, I have found the concerns of the people of Anguilla to be reciprocated. The prospect of Brexit occurring imminently is increasing whether with or without an agreement. This is reflected in the UK Government having recently commenced its own ‘Get Ready for Brexit’ campaign in the UK to prepare individuals, commerce and institutions for the UK’s departure from the EU.
To date a letter has been received from the French government in respect of Anguilla that indicates the intended introduction of visas for Anguillians working in French Saint Martin, however, this is on the basis of an agreed withdrawal. In the event of an agreement not being reached between the UK and EU as to the terms of the withdrawal more stringent measures may be introduced and a degree of disruption may ensue during the introduction of any such new regime. As reflected in the Yellowhammer paper, this is envisaged elsewhere amongst the myriad of relationships between the UK and EU, some of which may impact upon Anguilla, despite the fact that the island has not been factored into these provisions. The prospect of Anguilla experiencing the impact of Brexit is real as French Saint Martin, along with Saint Barts, is represented in the French parliament. As such the risks of ‘political fall-out’ from Brexit may affect those islands. The provisions of Yellowhammer are, in any event, pertinent to Anguillians living in the UK.
In London, we are preparing a series of advisory notes for circulation in Anguilla, on issues that may affect your daily lives there, and have been in discussions with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to request an online facility akin to that provided for British citizens in the UK, as this may be updated more efficiently than the notes we are currently preparing for circulation. This is relevant as Brexit is proving to be an extremely volatile set of negotiations both within the UK and as between the UK and EU. Again, the territories the current website: https://www.gov.uk/brexit, may be relevant to Anguillians in the UK, but it is not fully pertinent to the island as yet.
Given the gross uncertainty that surrounds Brexit, it is foolhardy for anyone to assume that Anguilla will not be affected by Brexit, just as it was to claim the island’s main marine border, that closes daily at the instigation of our French neighbours, is merely “nominal”. With an annual average of over 500,000 journeys between Anguilla, that has a resident population of 15,000, and Saint Martin and over 90% of the island’s 80,000 tourists travelling through the island of Saint Martin, that is also the route for the majority of Anguilla’s air shipments together with essential transhipment of goods due to the shallow waters of the British territory, there is evidently significant socio-economic interaction between Anguilla and its EU related neighbours that warrants protection from the potentially adverse consequences of Brexit.
I have often been bemused and concerned by the approach taken towards the island and exposed to questionable conduct by virtue of our attempts to champion Anguilla’s cause. I can, however, assure you that the public in the UK are now more aware of your existence and appear sympathetic to your concerns. I am now interacting with the highest levels of the current government in the UK on your behalf and personally believe that the island may be supported should problems arise that are beyond its capacity to resolve. As such I anticipate that the level of realism as to Anguilla’s position may improve.
The constitutional crisis that we are living through in the UK is such that the very existence of the UK as we know is being challenged. If successful, this may result in a constitutional conundrum for British Overseas Territories at large who are conjoined to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in its current form. The prospect of the sovereign state-changing substantially may have repercussions for that relationship given the current constitutional provisions.
The years ahead will not be incident-free as Brexit will affect the global status of the UK and its related nations. However, Brexit gives Anguilla and its EU related neighbours in the Caribbean the opportunity to lead by example in demonstrating how the symbiotic relationship so valued by each island may be maintained over and above what may occur amongst the member states of the European Union. As the countries of Europe reflect upon their relationships with each other, I would advise Anguillians to do the same, and to map out ways and means of maintaining and nurturing those relationships with your neighbours that you hold dear to ensure that they do not succumb to the, as yet unconfirmed, consequences of Brexit.
Mrs Blondel B. R. Cluff CBE
CEO of The West India Committee
Overseas Representative of HM Government of Anguilla
