Ellis L. Webster
Premier of Anguilla
Ministry of Health & Finance
1st March 2021
Dear Premier Webster,
I am writing to you as a concerned citizen regarding the Tredco matter. I am not convinced that you have adequately addressed the proposed Tredco investment that I and many other Anguillians believe was a missed economic opportunity for Anguilla and its people. Given the bullet point summary of the key points outlined in the Tredco MOU below, I think it is necessary for you to convene a town hall discussion to answer all relevant questions and finally put this matter to rest. It is my understanding that some of the major points negotiated by the four-man team you assembled included:
• Facilitation of larger commercial aircraft by enhancing the Pavement Classification Number (PCN) from 22 to 50;
• Increasing the length of the runway from 5,458 feet to 7,000 feet;
• Tredco will design, construct, and finance all works necessary for rehabilitation and extension of the CJLIA runway within six months of executing a Definitive Agreement;
• Tredco will use its own capital to acquire the lands required to complete the runway extension;
• GOA to receive fees from the Concession Arrangement based on the terms of the Concession Agreement;
• Tredco will use its own capital to rehabilitate and create an aesthetically pleasing upgrade to The Valley Main Road from the CJLIA to The Valley;
• Complete the project with no direct or contingent liability to the Anguilla Government or the United Kingdom Government (UKG);
• Tredco will make a contribution of US$500,000.00 to a social development facility.
It is incomprehensible to me that, given the current economic state of Anguilla, you inherited after the general election, you did not even find it necessary to convene a sit-down meeting with the principals of Tredco and discuss your concerns with the MOU presented by your four-man team. Instead, you rejected the MOU in its entirety, and to date cannot provide consistent or valid reasons for your decision. It begs the question whether or not you were pressured by the British to do so. In light of your callous decision, you are now implementing increased taxes on your people despite many persons being out of a job and working reduced hours.
Premier Webster, the time has come for you to come clean to the people of Anguilla. Here are a few questions I would like you to ponder:
1. Did the British instruct you not to meet with the principals of Tredco to discuss the MOU?
2. Did you and your cabinet agree not to pursue the Tredco investment?
3. If no concession agreement was discussed with Tredco, how can you determine it was a bad deal for Anguilla?
4. Why did you allow the characters of your four-man team to be maligned knowing they were working on your behalf pro bono?
5. A 26-page business case for the extension of the runway was presented to AASPA on July 11, 2017. Why do you need to complete a second business case by CCC to arrive at the same outcome?
6. What is the cost of the business case being conducted by CCC? Who is covering the cost? How will your government cover the cost of the airport extension knowing that a decision in the Privy Council regarding the airport lands still looms overhead?
I am quite certain, given the recent style, attitude and approach by the British to your government, that they will not provide any meaningful assistance for the extension of the runway. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that, given the current economic peril your government finds itself in, Anguilla’s present runway will remain the same for generations to come.
May God bless Anguilla and your Government.
P.S. I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding a date for the town hall meeting.
Sincerely,
Elkin Richardson
P. O. Box 1310
The Valley
Anguilla
Tel.1 (264) 584 6182.
Email: tothepoint@anguillanet.com
Do it right for the first time and you’ll do it right all the time.
