It is interesting that long ago, in the 1930s, during the visits of the Canadian steam ships to Anguilla that the island, though severely underdeveloped and impoverished, was perceived to be a potential tourist destination. This was largely due to its scenic beauty with respect to its breathtaking beaches, particularly Road Bay at the time, the inviting tropical climate, the refreshing and cooling trade winds sweeping across the sun-kissed island and the endearing hospitality of the inhabitants of Anguilla.
It were these and other fine characteristics of Anguilla that played a significant role in the Anguilla Revolution with the late Premier Bradshaw contending that he could not allow the island to secede from St Kitts-Nevis “because it holds the key to the development of the entire state.” True to the early predictionof Anguilla evolving from a backwater in the Caribbean to a successful tourism destination, and Bradshaw’s claim of its economic importance to the rest of the former federation, Anguilla actually became a tourist favourite and an investor paradise much to the envy of its neighbours.
Today, like all of its competitors, most of whom have caught up with, and in some respects, surpassed Anguilla, our island finds itself struggling to maintain its share of the tourism marketplace. This is despite recently released figures showing that there had been a significant upsurge in visitor arrivals. The truth is that, even if this were in fact the case,the statistics have not been felt on the ground in terms of aspread out of foreign exchange and increased patronage of businesses across the various sectors of the economy including tourism facilities and ancillary services.
Right now, Anguilla is at one of its worst phases of decline in its tourism industry. It is the customary temporary closure of the main hotels and restaurants. Unfortunately, for them, the workers have been sent home to await the commencement of the new tourism season or the reopening of the properties on the dates they set to prepare to welcome their new guests. There is a feeling that the whole island has virtually closed down as so many of our other businesses and services are largely dependent on a vibrant tourism industry, and its financial spin-offs, in order to survive or function effectively. Even Government revenue is severely impacted in terms of Accommodation and Departure Taxes, not to mention the payment of the Stabilisation Levy by employees.
With Anguilla having “all of its eggs in one basket”, as the saying goes with respect to having a virtual single industry money-earner, the need arises to take care of what the island has as its main source of income. We see this call to support and protect our tourism industry onbillboards erected at various public places. It is not only our ordinary citizens who must bear the burden and responsibility to safeguard our tourism industry. Government has its part to play as well and, in fact, carries the biggest burden to do so.
With that said it was matter of concern and regret to have heard the Chief Minister, who has responsibility for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, viciously attacking the ownership/management of CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa in the House of Assembly.The occasion was an application for approval of duty-free concessions for the resort which is in course of expansion – of constructing a second hotel and additional villas on the Golf Course property which the owner acquired in auction sale and has undertaken to develop.
The duty-free concessions were approved – but it did not mean that the application should have been used as an opportunity to launch an unsavoury attack on persons who have no similar means to defend themselves. Whatever is the reason for the friction, especially taking into account that the Chief Minister has previously proclaimed to be a friend of CuisinArt and its owner, Mr Rizzuto, it would have been both statesmanlike and respectful to seek to resolve any differences in private, rather than in a public forum broadcast by radio and the world-wide internet.
We must be careful how we treat people, particularly the very wealthy investors who do not necessarily have to invest Anguilla. If we ill-advisedly fall out with them, and drive them away, it is Anguilla and its people who will eventually suffer. At the same time, we expect our investors to cooperate with us, but we must seek to do our part to ensure and promote confidence and mutual understanding between ourselves and our developers.
We already have on our hands the complex and worrisome issue of Cap Juluca. This, like CuisinArt and Viceroy, has been temporary closed for the seasonal break. The future of Cap Juluca remains both uncertain and dismal in terms of a settlement agreement of ownership and as a fully-operational resort. This is a continuing headache for which some relief must eventually be found. It is all part of protecting our delicate tourism industry and of avoiding problems which can adversely impact on our island and the livelihood of our people.
