The issue of independence for Anguilla is regularly touted by some Anguillians. The issue gains greater prominence on occasions when because of Anguilla’s status as a British Overseas Territory, Anguilla’s progress is viewed by some as being stymied by the decisions of UK officials. The usual response at that time is an immediate call for independence. With the renewed interest in Constitutional reform is this an appropriate time for the measured consideration of Anguilla’s readiness for independence?
I am of the firm belief that independence is the goal that all Anguillians should desire for Anguilla. I must then consider Anguilla’s readiness for independence. My view on that issue has been and continues to be that while I do not consider Anguilla to be ready to proceed to independence today, I fervently believe that we ought to be actively taking steps to prepare ourselves for that status.
There are certain broad areas to which we must turn our attention, as a country and as individuals, if independence is to be achieved in a sustainable manner. These areas include social, economic, political, and constitutional development. We must build an economy that has the capacity to provide and maintain the necessary physical infrastructure, and the social framework required to sustain and facilitate our people’s needs and aspirations. A political system that reflects the highest democratic ideals, thereby ensuring good governance principles of integrity, transparency, accountability, and public participation is required. This will facilitate the establishment of processes and relations that allow the formulation and implementation of public policies essential to Anguilla’s development. The inclusion of provisions in our Constitution, which will secure these ideals, is essential to the realisation of sustainable independence for Anguilla.
While responsible and active leadership is required to pilot Anguilla and its people in relation to issues of social, economic, political, and constitutional development, there is one area that is integral to the success of any independence movement that is personal to each of us. We need to prepare ourselves psychologically.
Sustainable independence requires a population capable of reasoning and communicating effectively. These are attributes which we can only achieve through active practice. We must become a population that recognises that the success of one of us signals success for the rest of us. We must start to realise that our desire to progress as individuals does not require that we stymie the advancement of our neighbour. We must begin to realise that our battles can and should be fought in a manner that does not irreparably damage internal relations and our prospects regionally or internationally.
The attributes described require us to revisit our thinking and our behaviour. We can be guided by the well-known principles which most, if not all, of us have been exposed to at some time in our lives. – ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself,’ ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,’ and ‘Brighten the corner where you are.’ Using these principles as our guideposts can see us changing Anguilla’s landscape and aiding greatly in our advancement towards sustainable independence for Anguilla.
I believe there is consensus that independence is a status that Anguilla and Anguillians should aspire to. That status can only be successfully achieved if we deliberately and consciously engage in reasoned consideration of what we need to do to navigate the path towards sustainable independence. It is an achievable reality.
