October 19th,2O2O
Ms. Pam Webster
lsland Harbour
Dear Ms. Webster,
We, a group of volunteers from the community of lsland Harbour, write to address a statement published in an article in the Anguillian Newspaper of September 04th, 2020 captioned “Elected Representatives Responsibility and Sacrifice” in which you stated, “The lslond Horbour beach is now being cleaned by a team of government-funded enthusiasts…”
This statement is grossly FALSE and totally MISLEADING! For your information, NO individual within this group has been paid, or has asked to be paid for the cleaning of the said beach.
Sufficient to also note, is the fact that NONE of these individuals has ever collected payment from the Government of Anguilla, or from any other entity or individualto clean the beach.
As the former elected representative of lsland Harbour (District One), and especially having served as the past-immediate Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), a Legislative Public Financial Oversight committee that examines Government’s spending, you should by now, have the common knowledge that Government’s Employment is public knowledge. Beyond that, one would expect that in your capacity as an Attorney, you should also know that is not only unprofessional, but utterly irresponsible to publish information that is NOT factual, but if it is indeed truth, then by all means, simply produce the proof.
Furthermore, the APM Administration has pledged complete transparency into their workings of governmental affairs, so you could have easily and readily obtained the facts, instead of spreading propaganda and innuendos. One can certainly conclude, that your actions are obviously malicious, wilful, divisive and collectively, disingenuous.
We wish to remind you, Ms. Webster, that your strategy of ‘divide and conquer’ does not work with the people of lsland Harbour; after all, it was in lsland Harbour that the Anguilla Revolution started and that spirit of harmony still lives within and among many of us; but obviously, you would not know this, because you do not mix with the people of lsland Harbour.
At the same time, we wish to request of the current Representative for lsland Harbour (District One), who is also the Minister of Finance, to officially set the record straight by showing that no one has been paid by the government for this Community effort, since he took office.
You have also stated, that for the last decade, you funded this initiative from your personal resources. lt certainly does not take a Rocket Scientist to figure out why you, Ms. Webster, paid personally to get the beach cleaned ONLY during the last decade, while you were a candidate running in the general elections and why the job and payment have since ceased.
The fact is, the beach has never been cleaned to the extent that it now is and that is simply because money is NOT a part of the motivation. This is a COMMUNITY effort! This is NOT about you, Ms. Pam Webster, or any other individual, so, we ask that you immediately cease and desistfrom spreading lies and falsehoods regardingthe current clean-up of the lsland Harbour Beach.
We, the lsland Harbour Community Volunteers, are therefore requesting that you retract your false and misleading statement and we ask for a public apology regarding the same.
Sincerely,
Edmead Smith,
For and on behalf of lsland Harbour community Group of Volunteers
Cc: Hon. Minister of Finance
The Editor – The Anguillian newspaper
