Thursday, this week,has seen the quiet departure of Mr Alistair Harrison and family following his four-year appointment as Governor of Anguilla. A career and sharp-witted diplomat, he has had the distinction of being the island’s longest-serving Governor who, in his midterm, was given an extra year extension of his original three years, a slap in the face of the Anguilla Government and supporters who wanted him withdrawn instead.
It was an uneasy relationship between him and Chief Minister Hughes up to the very day of his departure, with the Government boycotting Executive Council meetings, with him in the chair, over the past three weeks. Naturally, this is regrettable when considering that there must have been some important matters on the table for discussion and decision – as well as an opportunity to bid farewell to the Governor in the run-up to his departure. One must consider whether a clash of personalities is more important than the business of the people and the state.
The Governor’s term of office has experienced three civil society demonstrations,supported by the Government, and there have been invitations by the Chief Minister for two intervening OECS/CARICOM delegations to sort out his various complaints against the Governor. One delegation came but without submitting an available report; and the other proposed delegation did not even bother to come. Some persons, including Mr Harrison, himself, made light of the reported sour relationship saying it had beenwrongly portrayed. Other observers were of the view that it appeared that the Chief Minister in fact got on well with the Governor in private, but distanced himself from him in public – an assumed Jekyll and Hyde type of situation perhaps, if that is true. Of course,all of this is now history and we must move on. The least we can do, as a responsible and respectable people, is to thank Mr Harrison for his service and offer him and his family our best wishes.
The arrival in Anguilla on Friday this week, and the swearing in ofMr Harrison’s successor,the Governor-Designate, Her Excellency Christina Scott, on Tuesday, next week,may be seen by some as signalling an interestingdevelopment in the British administration of this tiny and far-flung Overseas Territory, beset by a myriad of social, economic, political and constitutional challenges. The only development or turning point, really, is that the new Governor is a woman for the first time.Furthermore, with her appointment, the challenges confrontingthe island will not magicallydisappear but, for the most part, are likely to persist probably well into, or throughout her tenure of office, unless there is a rapid right-about-turnon the island in some respects.
Ms Scott, an obviously vibrant and highly-experienced personage, is expected to do her very best to govern Anguilla within her administrative capabilities and assist in shaping its future. It is important, however, for all to understand that her appointment requires her to maintain the same British Government’s policies and directives existing in the other sister Overseas Territories. To think that she can perform her duties in any other manner with regard to the whims and fancies of anyone – her personal characteristics aside – would be foolhardy.
Ms Scott, who is not yet 40 years old, was recently in Anguilla on a quiet familiarisation visit. She comes with much administrative experience having served as the Director of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in the Cabinet Office in London, Private Secretary to the Prime Minister; Principal Private Secretary, Department of Transport; Assistant Director at Her Majesty’s Treasury; Assistant Director in the European Secretariat, Cabinet Office; Head of the EU Enlargement Team, Department for Transport; and the Office of the Director General DG Environment, European Commission.
Chief Minister Hughes may find much attraction for this fine display of administrative experience. The reason is that he has long contended that he needed to have a Governor in Anguilla who was an administrator rather than a diplomat. His choice is clear. He appears to think that a Governor, who possesses particular administrative skills, can assist in running or safeguarding the machinery of Government. But it is the elected Ministers of Anguilla who must handle the day-to-day administering of the affairs of Government – not the Governor who may quickly or eventually be charged with interference. There are, of course, several areas of administrative work which may require the attention of, or input, from, the Governor, as far as they relate to the responsibility of the British Government for the administration of the island.
With the Governor-Designate being a highly-experienced administrator, the Chief Minister in fact has to be careful about how he and the rest of his Government handle certain administrative matters in order to avoid running into difficulties with the Governor in terms of good governance, transparency and accountability. Any form of bad governance or administration could lead to serious and prolonged misunderstanding, and a new round of Governor/Government confrontations.
Ms Scott comes to Anguilla as a lone occupant of Government House at Old Ta – with such pet delights as two cats and possibly a bicycle to ride around the island and a kayak to explore the azure inshore waters of Anguilla. In all probability she may be “a smooth operator”, but with a deep sense of duty and a firm and passionate commitment as Governor of Anguilla. She is expected to be a Governor for all the people of Anguilla – not subjected to all the expectations of women groups because of her gender, or to the chauvinistic attitudes of the male-dominated Government and Executive Council. She demands the respect and cooperation of everyone in the performance of her duties.
It is a pity that Ms Scott is taking up her first Foreign Service job in a territory in which, apart from a dead economy, the Government is short of one Minister and with portfolios scattered around the ministries. The only saving grace is the fact that there are some very capable and highly-qualified Permanent Secretaries, and other senior personnel, who are carrying the burden of administering both the ministries and departments in a most commendable manner. Some commentators have suggested that, given the political and economic situation on the island, and the appointment of a new Governor, there should have been a new band of political leadership on the island endorsed by a fresh electoral mandate. But we must make the best of the situation as it presents itself.
As stated earlier, Governor Harrison has now finished his term of office in Anguilla and Ms Scott must now take over. While there will be no change in the British Government’s policies in Anguilla, it is everyone’s hope that Ms Scott’s appointment will see a new beginning of a good working relationship between the Governor and the Government. This would spare both the people and the island the unfortunate friction of the past, and the embattlement and tit for tat debacle in which the Government and the Governor found themselves.
The Anguillan joins everyone in welcoming Ms Scott to Anguilla and looks forward to her inauguration on Tuesday, July 23, and to hear what she has in mind to tell all of the people of the island.
