Haydn Hughes and Evan Gumbs
Patrick Hanley, also known as DJ Sheriff, is the Chief Minister’s Adviser. Mr Hanley officially took up his duties on Monday September 2.
He along with other Government Ministers were guests on Radio Anguilla’s programme Talk Anguilla with Mr Keithstone Greaves.
Mr Hanley explained that after Mr Baird left government, the Chief Minister had a number of portfolios hence needed someone who could assist him and someone he can trust.
The new Adviser said he comes to the position with a background in Finance, Negotiations, Purchasing and Contracting and looks forward to the challenge.
He also said his experience at his then work place Cable and Wireless, now called LIME, will be a great asset as he also dealt with finance and other wide areas.
When asked what he brings to the table, and what are his specific plans, he responded that we are now in 21st century environment and we need to upgrade the Anguillian government and make it operate in a 21st century environment. He went on:
“I think some of the procedures and policies are a bit archaic. I think we need to modernize them in some ways so I hope to work with the Chief – anything of course I will be going through the Chief.
“I’m not a civil servant per se. I can’t go out there and tell a civil servant what to do but, of course, I would want to use moral suasion and work with them to see how we can best work together to improve the systems that we currently utilize.”
The newly appointed Adviser also said another area to look at is how best we can improve government collections – what systems we can put in place to improve collections because government has a lot of monies on the streets and we need to find ways to collect them.
Mr Hanley also said, in terms of programmes and policies, he will help the Chief to articulate some of those ideas in a way and to write position papers on various matters.
He said, “essentially I want to modernize the economy – the whole financial aspect of how we do things in Anguilla, because its archaic and I will work along with my colleagues and Permanent Secretaries.”
The Adviser also touched on the issue of MOUs noting it is important for government to have policy discussions, and knowing exactly what it wants rather than going back and forth.
During his first official interview Mr Hanley also announced his candidacy for the next upcoming elections in 2015.
He said he will be running in the Road North Constituency.
Mr Hanley also used the opportunity to clear the air on rumours that a deal was made between him, Haydn and the Chief Ministers.
He said the Chief Minister offered him the job and he was pleased to accept it. He admits that his new position as Adviser will give him some insight into the day to day operations of conducting government business.
