While the Anguilla Government was busily discussing arrangements for the reopening of the tourism industry on November 1, Premier Dr. Ellis Webster and his colleagues have had to deal with another pressing matter.
That matter was the countering of what he termed were “unfortunate and unfounded statements” made by Mr. Barry Sternlicht, Chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital Group. Mr. Sternlicht made the statements in an interview, a video of which has been widely circulated in Anguilla.
Premier Webster has written a letter to Mr. Sternlicht, on behalf of the people of Anguilla, protesting his alleged statements and requesting an apology. Dr. Webster also wrote to Anguillians about the matter. Both letters are published elsewhere in this edition of The Anguillian.
September 30, 2020
Mr. Barry Sternlicht
CEO Starwood Capital Group
c/o Mr. Roy Shanholtz
Dear Mr. Sternlicht,
Re: Correction of your misstatements and inaccuracies
Greetings on behalf of the Government and People of Anguilla.
I refer to a video interview in which you participated recently that is now widely circulated across various media and, which has come to our notice.
In that interview, in reference to Anguilla and its people, you made rather unfortunate and unfounded statements in relation to the closure of our borders and the circumstances you consider to form the reasons why the Four Seasons Resort, in which you have an interest, is not open for business at this time.
Your public assertions are that the people of Anguilla do not want to work; that the British gave each person in Anguilla too much money, so they don’ t need to work. Moreover, you stated that this is the reason why the Four Seasons Resort will not be open.
In fact, the British government never gave anyone in Anguilla any money. What the United Kingdom Government did is that they gave hurricane relief assistance after the passage of hurricane Irma.
More recently, the British government kindly assisted Anguilla with budgetary support given the consequences of the pandemic on the economy. You are aware of these facts.
In essence, you have suggested that the people of Anguilla are lazy and want to depend on handouts.
These Statements are quite regrettable, and are as false as they are uninformative.
You are no doubt aware that because of the ubiquitous COVID-19 pandemic Anguilla’s borders, like the borders of many countries, were closed in order to mitigate the risks of importing the virus and its spread into the domestic population.
The Government and People of Anguilla very well understand the need to open up to visitors to our island paradise, but recognise that we must do so safely and responsibly for the protection of visitors and residents alike.
To this end, we have been working diligently with all tourism industry stakeholders, including Four Seasons Resort, to collaborate to design workable protocols that will allow hotels to open safely by November 1, 2020.
I believe you are well acquainted with these efforts which are underway.
We were infonned by Mr. Roy Shanholtz of Starwood Capital that Four Seasons Hotel would not open for this tourist season because some work pennit applications were not approved. The only work permits not approved were for those positions which could be filled by suitably qualified Anguillians. In your recent interview, you did not state that to be a reason for the Hotel remaining closed.
The Government and People of Anguilla remain committed to responsible and safe measures of opening up our borders to visitors. Your recent notoriously inaccurate and illadvised statements do little to assist all stakeholders in the work of a safe re-opening.
In the interest of comity and our shared goals, I would suggest that you correct those remarks and make an apology to the people of Anguilla.
Sincerely,
Ellis L. Webster
Premier
