Chief Minister Hubert Hughes appeared on TALK ANGUILLA on Radio Anguilla on Wednesday, January 22, to give his side of the story several hours after the announcement of the shutdown of construction work on the Reef Hotel by CuisinArt. The reason given for the closure was Mr Hughes’ refusal to grant a work permit to the Chief Engineer of the project, Mr Rory Purcell, who was employed at CuisinArt for some seven years.
“In Anguilla you hear about the grapevine and what the schoolchildren say, but sometimes you have to listen to the schoolchildren and sometimes you have to listen to the grapevine,” the Chief Minister told Keith Stone Greaves, producer/presenter of TALK ANGUILLA.
“A few days ago I heard that there was a local conspiracy being stirred against my government by certain people who work for Mr Rizzuto, in one way or another, and there was a group of them who seem to work together on their own programmes – and as matter of fact, in many instances, they work against Mr Rizzuto’s best interests.”
Pressed by Mr Greaves to speak directly on the shutdown of the project by the investor, Mr Hughes said: “This is the result of a conspiracy [through] the grapevine…They gave me names which I am not prepared to call…but it was good information…that there was a conspiracy against the Government of Anguilla.”
The Chief Minister stated that the Labour Office was responsible for the processing of work permits and the regulation of labour matters. “If, for instance, Mr Albert Lake cannot find all his labour force locally, he will apply to the Labour Commissioner to help him [with work permits].” He said that as long as the expertise was available locally that is where it should come from.
Mr Hughes was asked whether there was a problem with issuing a work permit for the Chief Engineer at CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa.
“Over a year and a half now, I have been having certain information about what is happening down there,” he replied. “At that time, Mr Rizzuto and myself had an almost brotherly relationship because I was the one who brought Rizzuto here – and everybody knows I have always given him the highest respect and the highest praise…I will never say that Rizzuto is a bad man. I would say that people think the manager is, and I still believe in this situation he [Rizzuto] is being misled.
“Nobody has sat down seriously with me and discussed the issue as to why I could not agree to a renewal of his [Mr Purcell’s] work permit Nobody! Neither the General Manager nor the Lawyer representing the company [asked] why I could not renew, what conditions or what accommodation I can make.
“Mr Jerome Roberts called me saying he had a phone call from the lawyer representing Mr Rizzuto who asked him about this work permit which the Chief Minister had refused to sign. The lawyer went on to say that according to the MOU a certain number of foreign expertise will be permitted to come in. I said [to Jerome Roberts] call him back and say to him this is true – a certain number of expertise is permitted under certain circumstances, and if Anguillians understudy them, and the understudy is ready, then they are replaced.”
“Is there an Anguillian to replace this Chief Engineer,” Mr Hughes was asked.
“There are Anguillians who are Engineers and who have expressed an interest,” he replied. “Apart from the fact that they have expressed an interest, there is this type of situation where they use the same people who have the jobs to disqualify the Anguillians. This is not the only case to happen to me. It happened since I was in government in 1994-2000 when I had the same situations.
“The people of Anguilla must be respected,” the Chief Minister added. “No matter how rich one may be, you cannot compromise your nationality, your sovereignty and your policies just because of fear.”
Mr. Hughes further added that he would not be negotiating under duress.
