Board appointments in Anguilla are like musical chairs. With the election of a new administration, it automatically follows that board appointments will be terminated and new appointments made. Is there a rhyme or reason to such terminations save that the previous appointments were made by the outgoing administration? No other rhyme or reason is usually apparent.
Are board appointments made on merit? In most instances the appointments appear to be payback for the role (real or perceived) that the appointees are thought to have played in securing the win at the polls for the new administration. Are there no persons in Anguilla who are seen as desirous of wanting only the best for Anguilla and who are by virtue of qualifications and experience well suited to serve on a board without reference to their political leanings?
Is it idealistic or naïve to assume that it should be possible to identify good men and women to serve in Anguilla’s best interests regardless of their political leanings? Must appointments always be treated as payment for service to party? Many board appointees fail to function effectively without suffering any consequences. Ministers appear content, having appointed a board, to leave board appointees to their own devices without implementing any meaningful monitoring or evaluation structure. Chairpersons do not assume the responsibility of apprising the appointing authority of the failings of any appointees so that more suitable appointments can be made.
Governance training has in the past been stipulated as a requirement for board appointments. Is this still a requirement and if it is, who ensures compliance? In the past, directors who failed to pass the mandated Governance course retained their appointments.
Anguilla’s game of political musical chairs extends to the appointment of its United Kingdom Representatives. The two main parties rotate between two individuals in that space. Would Anguilla be better served by the appointment of an individual who serves despite any change in administration, following a general election?
While there have been brief moments of hope, maturity in politics in Anguilla remains elusive. The electorate and political aspirants all seem consumed with a desire to win and following the election to trash talk each other. Very rarely do we witness occasions of well thought out contributions to national conversations by politicians and their supporters in social media posts. Instead, we can expect regular attacks and counter attacks by elected officials, political aspirants, and their supporters.
The game of musical chairs will not serve to advance Anguilla. Measured consideration of the abilities and likely contributions of individuals should be the guiding factor for appointments. Which political party will bite the bullet and face the ire of its supporters by ensuring the appointment of qualified and experienced individuals rather than the sole qualifying factor being that an individual is a party supporter.
Anguilla deserves better than to have its appointment of board members compared to the party game of musical chairs. Who will take the lead in ensuring Anguilla gets what it deserves?
