His Excellency Governor Tim Foy, OBE, was welcomed to our shores in 2017. In his remarks at his welcome reception, Governor Foy, in expressing how he hoped his time with us would be viewed, quoted Oscar Wilde who said: “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.” From all accounts Governor Foy’s presence among us, generally, caused happiness. Our political leaders certainly have been vocal in their praise for his assistance to Anguilla during his term as Governor.
Governor Foy was celebrated for the role he played in securing funding for Anguilla in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Following the destruction caused to Anguilla by Hurricane Irma, in 2017, the Government of Anguilla, under the leadership of Mr. Victor Banks, secured funding for the rebuilding of some of Anguilla’s key infrastructure. It is not doubted that the Governor held some sway in assisting with the securing of the requested funding from the United Kingdom Government (UKG) – and for this Anguillians were rightfully grateful.
Her Excellency Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, in her brief address at her virtual Swearing-In Ceremony pledged to serve the people of Anguilla and work with our elected representatives in support of all areas of our nation’s life. Governor Daniel-Selvaratnam stated: “In this resolve, I will seek to protect the well-being of all Anguillian citizens and advance Anguilla’s economic development for a more sustainable future.” It is our hope that these are not mere words – but reflect a deep and committed resolve on the part of our new Governor.
While Anguilla has recently been the beneficiary of infrastructural development projects, we cannot claim to have seen a corresponding development of our human capital, in relation to the management of those infrastructural development projects. It appears that the Governor’s Office assumed conduct of roles one would normally have expected to be executed by Government Ministries, Departments or Agencies. These roles include design, project management and financial management. Very little room appears to have been left for the growth and development of those who should be expected to have the long-term remit of addressing Anguilla’s needs.
Some persons are understandably of the opinion that we have not been afforded what should be of the greatest value to us – the increased capacity to chart and deliver our destiny. Can we look forward to greater attention being paid to this aspect of our development under Governor Daniel-Selvaratnam’s stewardship?
Covid-19 has caused turmoil throughout the world – and Anguilla is no exception. Our tourism industry suffered greatly and the resulting economic and financial fallout has been devastating. The UKG has again come to our rescue. One of the last significant acts of the Victor Banks led administration was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, with the UKG, that secured budgetary support for Anguilla in the amount EC$100,000,000.00 up to December, 2020. We understand that the APM Administration has secured further financial assistance of EC$30,000,000.00, for Anguilla, up until March 2021. We continue to be grateful for this much needed assistance.
The cynical among us, however, cannot help but consider whether Anguilla is paying a price for this financial assistance. It is the view of many that the recent decisions to reduce the authority exercised by many Government Agencies is connected to the financial assistance granted to Anguilla. There is some concern that the very existence of entities, with significant developmental potential, such as the Anguilla Development Board, the Anguilla Community College, the Health Authority of Anguilla and the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority, is under serious threat. We are grateful for the financial assistance that is sustaining us through these difficult times, but we must not be so blind that we fail to ask ourselves what future awaits us, after the difficult times.
If any development in Anguilla is to be sustainable it must be connected to the meaningful development of our people and institutions. We can only hope that Governor Daniel-Selvaratnam’s pledge, “to protect the well-being of all Anguillian citizens and advance Anguilla’s economic development for a more sustainable future”, will manifest itself in the sustainable development of our people and institutions. We do recognise that the UKG will attach conditions to the significant financial assistance offered to Anguilla, but we expect that such conditions will build rather than erode our people.
It is indeed true that he who pays the piper calls the tune. We hope that the tune ‘called’ by the UKG will be one to which our Governments and people will willingly and happily dance, now – and well into the future.
