If you go across the length and breadth of our country, many people are complaining about the high cost of living, the tax burden and the difficulty in finding decent work and decent wages. The truth is that there are many Anguillians who are finding it desperately hard to make ends meet. This is also true for many of our Caribbean brothers and sisters who have made Anguilla their home for many years. So why have the cries of the people fallen on the deaf ears of this AUF administration? The answer is simple. Their priorities are never in alignment with the needs of the people. This was also the case with the AUM administration, which promised the world and delivered very little. We must beware of its new incarnation.
Anguilla’s economy is heavily dependent on the tourism industry. While our country continues to perform well, despite recent challenges, we must never forgot our increased vulnerability to external shocks such as natural disasters. The Hurricane Season is an annual event which runs from June to November and is a constant threat to our tourism sector. We simply cannot continue to put all our eggs in this one basket. There is great need to diversify our economy and to place greater effort and investment in areas such as:
• The fishing industry – this is part of our history and heritage. Our fishing industry has serious growth potential in local, regional and international markets. We must invest in infrastructure and the latest technologies to increase the yields of our fisher folk in a sustainable way, and allow them to package and export fish to international markets with the highest quality standards.
• Agriculture – there are some who say it is very hard to grow produce in Anguilla. However, there are a number of farmers who have found new and innovative ways to increase their harvests. The use of hydroponics is one example that has significant growth potential and is a great way of contributing to our food security. The risk of food shortages is a real possibility since most of the food we consume is imported. There is also a growing market for organic produce and livestock.
• Alternative Energy – the price of oil on the world market is often volatile, particularly in times of conflict/war, and can lead to a sharp increase in fuel prices which, in turn, has serious repercussions for households across our country, such as higher utility bills and food prices. Young Anguillians such as Jibri Lewis have been recognized globally for innovative ways of harnessing wave technology for a cheaper, reliable and sustainable form of energy production. This, once fully developed, will be of great value to our people. In addition, the use of solar to support energy consumption in households must be incentivised by providing tax breaks and duty free concessions to persons who wish to rely more on this form of energy production.
• Social Protection Policies – Social development must take into account the hardship our people face and the greater role that government can play in these matters. A Government that is for the people must do more to alleviate poverty and hardship. The time for talk has come and gone and the people are yearning for action. Social protection in the form of cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) has been successful in many countries worldwide. We must provide assistance to poor households in our country, particularly those households occupied by young children and the elderly. Moreover, implementing price ceilings for certain commodities, to stabilize prices in the local market, is an important step towards ensuring that all households can afford essential goods and services in order to maintain a minimum standard of living.
• Reduce Taxes – The tax burden on our people is too great at this time and the people have seen very little benefit. The Valley road continues to be a shining example of government incompetence. It is my view that government can do more by reducing wastage of resources and stamping out corruption. By addressing these two areas, resources can be properly allocated to where we need them most, without raising government revenue off the backs of hardworking Anguillians.
Such proposals are just the tip of the iceberg. We must engage in effective consultation with the people and the private sector to find more sustainable solutions. I am committed to working as part of a new administration to ensure that we transform our economy to be of greater service and benefit to all our people.
