With the impending departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union on October 31, and, as the various opinions and speculations spread about, Anguilla’s former Chief Minister, Mr. Hubert Hughes, has added his voice to the discussion.
He made his views known in a television interview, several days ago, with Mr. Wycliffe Richardson of ATV News who raised the question about Brexit with him.
Mr. Richardson asked Mr. Hughes:
What is your take on the current situation regarding Brexit? Is Anguilla going to be a winner or a loser when this is all over?
Mr. Hughes replied:
Judging from history, Anguilla would lose significantly because, with the European Union, we were able to be included with other territories – like for instance the Dutch and French Territories – under the European Union.
They have had respectable colonial relationships with their metropolitan powers [Holland and France]. Because we were in their company, we were treated much more decently than under the British.
If we are going back under Britain, I think that will be very sad as we will be losing that European connection. We, as a distinct territory, must try to forge some sort of links with the European Union.
For clarity, it must be pointed out that, unlike French St. Martin, Dutch St. Maarten is not part of the European Union.
