What we commonly call “Silly Season” has begun. Knowing from past experience what we are in for, I wish to remind persons of the views I expressed in an editorial of this same name approximately five years ago, as they are still relevant today.
“As [2020 approaches] many persons will be making New Year’s resolutions, usually committing to making positive changes in some aspect of their lives. Unfortunately, many resolutions are short-lived and are often forgotten until another year rolls around. With New Year’s resolutions having such a poor track record of success, it is perhaps naïve, on my part, to think that as a nation we should make some resolutions that we can actually stick to if we put our minds to them. While I may be foolishly optimistic, here are a few resolutions I believe may be worth our consideration.
“Firstly, let us resolve to live peaceably with one another. Too many lives have been lost, or forever changed, by senseless, irresponsible and cowardly acts of violence. Too many characters have been tarnished by baseless slander and defamation. Too many derogatory and inflammatory statements and unmeritorious accusations have been leveled against innocent people. Our country is hurting. Our people are hurting. The violence must stop. Not just the violence executed by the use of physical weapons, but the violence executed with our mouths and via various media used to disseminate our vile and divisive messages. We can change this if we resolve to live peaceably with each other.
“Secondly, let us resolve to demand higher standards from those elected to public office. No doubt much of [the remainder of 2019 and part of 2020] will be taken up with campaigning for the next general election. Over the years, we have seen the campaigns get dirtier and dirtier with character assassination and mockery being the order of the day. It is said that a people get the Government they deserve. I believe this to be true. The fact is that smear campaigns can only thrive if we, the electorate, feed on them, tolerate and encourage them. When we “toot” our horns when derogatory comments are made we convey the message that this is what we want to hear. With the sorts of issues currently facing Anguilla, we ought not to be sidetracked with such triviality. Rather, we should “toot” our horns when we hear what steps will be taken to revive our economy, increase employment opportunities, encourage entrepreneurship and investment, provide better education and health care facilities and improve infrastructure. This will send a message that we are not interested in dirty games – rather we are interested in critical issues affecting Anguilla. We deserve better, so let us resolve to demand it.
“Thirdly, let us resolve to work together for a better Anguilla. This we have done before and we can do again. Our history teaches us that in the 1840s when plans were being made to depopulate Anguilla, the then Lieutenant Governor Cunningham supported the people of Anguilla in their resolve to remain at home. In Bless Our Forebears, historian Colville Petty wrote: “Cunningham attributed improvement of conditions in Anguilla to the industry of its people. They were compelled to work hard in order to survive.” Petty further noted in relation to Cunningham: “He had much praise for the industry of the island’s people who had become accustomed of living in tough times and devised means of coping with them.” Though the circumstances are starkly different, we are again living in tough times and it is becoming increasingly clear that our survival as a nation will depend on us banding together to help ourselves. There will be no rescue mission from the United Kingdom. No external force or foreign entity is going come in and solve all our problems. We have to put our heads, hands and hearts to the plough as we have done numerous times before in our history — and get through this. This is not a time to allow political and other differences to distract us from the task of continuing to build a better Anguilla. At the end of the day the only thing that should matter is what is in the best interests of Anguilla. We should commit in [2020] to working towards this.
“Therefore, be it resolved that in [2020] the people of Anguilla will live peaceably with one another, demand higher standards from those elected to public office, and work together for a better Anguilla. All in favour, say “I”.”
