With political parties and candidates preparing for the 2015 general election, a new face, that of Dr Ellis Lorenzo Webster, is to appear on Anguilla’s political landscape. The Ear Nose and Throat Surgeon is to be a candidate in District 1, Island Harbour and its environs, replacing his brother, Mr Samuel Webster, who was not elected in that constituency in 2010, but has been serving since then as Fisheries Adviser to the AUM Government of Chief Minister Hubert Hughes.
Mr Webster announced his withdrawal from next year’s election, on Upbeat Radio last weekend, and his replacement by his brother who has a medical and surgery practice in Palm Beach County, Florida, and at the Island Comprehensive Health Centre at the Mason Complex in Anguilla. He said in his address that he had discussed the matter with his family and had come to the conclusion that Anguilla was bigger than him and anyone else. Sam Webster added in part: “I am humbling recommending that you accept as my replacement in the upcoming general elections, my younger brother, Dr Ellis Lorenzo Webster, who I know to be the best person to serve your interest – the interest of the people of District One in particular and, by extension, the people of Anguilla on a whole.”
This week, Dr Webster, the new candidate, who is now back on his sojourn in Florida, spoke to The Anguillian about his decision and other related matters. “As you know, I have opened a practice in Anguilla for over three years – and going back and forth I realise that while some progress has been made in Anguilla, there is much lacking in terms of healthcare,” he said. “That being my main focus and expertise, I have put in applications from specialists in the US to come to Anguilla to help us improve our health delivery system. One thing I think we should have is a multi-specialist clinic here in Anguilla where Anguillians can be seen, be diagnosed and treated so that they do not have to travel overseas. It has taken years to get those applications considered for registration of these physicians.
“Secondly, I have worked at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and realised that the facilities are not modernized as some of the facilities are, that I work at. Certainly, the Hughes Medical Centre has made progress in trying to enhance the delivery of care and I worked three also. And so, as a citizen, I have not been able to get things moving the way I think they should, and I think that it is necessary to be part of the Government so that proposals and policies can be made – not necessarily that Government has to be responsible for all of the changes, but they need to be facilitated. I think you have to be inside to get these things done and that is the main reason for my decision. After discussing it with him [my brother, Sam], and the different proposals, he felt that he would step out and allow me to have a chance to represent District 1 and by so doing represent Anguilla.”
Dr Webster was asked to comment on his status as a US and an Anguillian citizen, and how that might impact him as an election candidate in Anguilla.
“I am a full citizen of Anguilla as I was born here. I do have US citizenship through marriage and, based on the laws of Anguilla, I am willing to relinquish that citizenship so that I can become part of the Government of Anguilla. It is a great personal sacrifice in that I would be giving up a thriving ear, nose and throat practice in US. I would be away from my immediate family; but I don’t think that any sacrifice is too great for Anguilla. In the 1960s many men and women made great sacrifices – sacrificing their own lives, if necessary, to get Anguilla to move forward; and I think now, in this 21st century, strong men and women, with good character, have to make these decisions for the people of Anguilla so that the island can move forward. If that is what is required then that is what has to be done, and I am willing to make those sacrifices for the people of District 1 and, by so doing, for the people of Anguilla.
“My personal sacrifice and my family’s personal sacrifice pale in comparison with what is necessary for Anguilla to move forward, and I think the sacrifices of the generation before us speak for itself.”
Suppose, unfortunately, you are not elected – what then? Dr Webster was asked.
“If I am not elected in District 1, I will continue to serve the people of Anguilla in my capacity as an Ear, Nose and Throat Physician. I will continue to advance the causes that I feel necessary to improve the healthcare delivery in Anguilla. I will try my utmost, as a private citizen, to develop the things that I talked about such as to get multi-specialty care in Anguilla – making sure that we have imaging such as MRI and CT Scans so that we can provide care by specialists in Anguilla, and whether they require specialised surgery or treatment of cancer, the modalities such as radiation therapy and chemo-therapy. There are other qualified Anguillians, whether in the Caribbean, the US or the United Kingdom, whom I think would like to come home and provide care to, take care of, their own people – and I would try to make sure that that happens. Certainly, my presence in Anguilla would be more. I wouldn’t runaway back to the US ‘with my tail tucked between my legs’ as has been the custom of some. I think this is the passion that I have for Anguilla, and certainly it is something I would continue to do as a private citizen.”
If you were to be elected as part of the Government, what other Ministry, other than health, would you be interested in, Dr Webster was asked.
“Certainly the Ministry of Health and also Education is something that is also near and dear to me,” he replied. “We have made certain contributions to the schools in District 1 and Sam has also given donations which should be lauded and continued. I feel that higher education is important and it should be available here in Anguilla. If we don’t have the resources to have a good liberal arts college, with pre-professional courses like pre-med, pre-law, then we should facilitate students to be able to travel – such as making it easier for them to get student loans and not making it incumbent that they should have collateral such as land or a large bank account… I think that Government should facilitate them where they are able to use their own intellectual capital, get loans and then come back when they have finished studying to contribute to Anguilla. In that way it should be possible for them to get jobs so that they can pay off their student loans.
“Another area of my concern is the economy. We are certainly very dependent on tourism and that needs to be continued; but we need to diversify. In District 1, one of the things we have thought about is a fish-processing plant, and whether that is fixed on land or floating, is something I think should be investigated and developed.
“The financial sector is something I think that needs to be entered into and in a legal manner, and so is E-commerce. I think these are all areas that I would like to ensure that are developed. I am not saying that I have to be the Minister of Finance, Economics or Tourism, but these are all areas that need to be thought about.
“Social issues are of very much concern – the crime and the indiscriminate shooting of others. Anguillians have always been one family, and to hear and see that we are shooting each other, and that the scourge of drugs is here, is very bothersome. I think we should get back to what a former Commissioner of Police told me – neighbourhood policing and where senior officers are more visible. I think that… would help the policemen to become part of the community and that would discourage some of the problems we now have with crime. I think if we can increase the number of jobs that are available, and the ability for people to make a liveable wage, that would also discourage idleness and crime in general.”
Dr Webster had the final word.
“I hope that coming back to Anguilla, and getting involved, doesn’t entail that my life is in danger. It is just a matter of professional and personal sacrifice of being away from family. Anguilla is my home. District 1 is where I was born – and I have a passion for the people this District, and I hope I can show them that my intentions are good and honourable and that I can make a difference.”
