One of the questions about Brexit that has haunted the minds of the people of Anguilla, since the inception of the process, some three and a half years ago, has been what would become of their historically close relations with French St. Martin, in particular, when Britain eventually quits the European Union? This concern especially has to do with travel and trade between the two territories (excluding Dutch St. Maarten which is not part of the EU).
Another question of much concern has been whether Anguilla, like other British Overseas Territories, would be entitled to the annual grants for budgetary aid, project development and technical assistance from the European Union? Despite some positive reassurances, Anguillians have remained both skeptical and perhaps self-opinionated.
Brexit was formally due to take place as of this year, October 31, the date by which Mr. Boris Johnson, who became the UK’s Prime Minister in July, pledged “do or die” to deliver it. He was however compelled to request a postponement following a parliamentary defeat regarding the ratification of his exit deal.
An announcement in Brussels on Monday, October 28, stated that the European Union had agreed to a three-month flexible delay to Britain’s departure from the bloc “after opponents forced Mr. Johnson to request an extension he had vowed never to ask for”.
It has been reported that the 27 countries that will remain in the European Union have agreed to postpone Brexit until the end of January 2020 “with an earlier departure possible should the faction-ridden UK parliament ratify the separation deal”.
The departure of Britain from the EU was delayed twice – on March 29 and April 12 – this year following the failure of former UK Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May, to get the support of parliament to ratify her deal.
There have been repeated statements about the likely impact of Brexit on Anguilla – by the Governor’s Office in Anguilla dismissing some of the negative assumptions, and by UK/EU London Office of Mrs. Blondel Cluff which expressed certain concerns and reservations.
Commentators in Anguilla believe, one way or the other, that if Brexit was to have happened on October 31, it would have brought a sign of relief to the people of the island who would at least have a quicker time “to get it over with”, and perhaps get a glance at how they will fare and how to adjust to the reality. Its three-month postponement to January 31 gives them a longer period of anxiety to ponder about the outcome.
