Anguilla Evangelical Association
P O Box 46
The Valley
Anguilla
25th August, 20121
Ms Dileeni Daniel-Selveratnam
The Governor
Old Ta
Anguilla
Your Excellency,
We are deeply concerned with the process that secured the passage of the Goods & Services Bill. Several breaches enabled this untimely and exacerbating bill to be signed into law.
The first was the Consultation Process. Our Court, in Paul Webster et al v.The Attorney-General No 15 of 2008, guided bythe Constitution and administrative law principles said, “the product of consultation must be conscientiously taken into account when the ultimate decision is taken.” The “product of consultation” was the coalescence of firm opposition to the bill. The “No’s” were a crescendo. Thus our profound dismay when the bill was still presented to the House of Assembly with no townhall meetings or even online fora for the obligatory Report of the Committee to share with the public the outcome, and passed. Thus our profound dismay when the bill was still presented to the House of Assembly with superficial changes and passed. This made a mockery of the democratic process, revealing that government had no intent to heed the voice of the people or value their concerns.
The second breach was the retirement of the Attorney General with the Speaker of the House, upon her invitation, into her Chamber – behind closed doors – to advise her on the matter of the vote, and then return to the same House and cast his deciding vote in favour of the bill. Ethically, with grave regard for transparency the Attorney general could do one of two things: advise the Speaker privately/in concealment or vote – but not both. But both he did. The precedent thereby set is alarming indeed.
Yet another breach pertains to the issue of ex-officio members. On this polarizing matter where the people of Anguilla vehemently stood in opposition to the newly elected government’s determination to pass a hostile, punitive bill in a depressed economy, two unelected members of the House cast their deciding vote to overturn the combined votes of 6 elected members of the House. This is profoundly disturbing and strikes an ominous note for our future.
As leaders of the church community of a Christian nation we are compelled to stand up and speak out for our people, for ethical conduct, for enduring principle. Ecclesiastes 8:11grimly warns, “When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong”. Simply put, a misdeed unchecked spawns misdeeds everywhere. And, therefore, we stand and protest these breaches.
We therefore ask that you repeal this legislation for all the reasons outlined. Alternatively, we recommend that you inform the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of our deep concerns and that we are seeking that ethics prevail by having the legislation be repealed. The repealed legislation can then be sent back for proper consultation with the general public, so that the alternatives emanating out of the Select Committee can be dutifully and respectfully considered.
Respectfully,
Pastor Philip Gumbs
President, Anguilla Evangelical Association
