Thank you Mr Chairman for such a warm introduction.
Brothers and sisters of District One, a sincere welcome to the winning campaign the campaign that is working to bring positive change to Anguilla and to this District in particular.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is no secret that District One has been the fire that blazed the trail to prosperity in Anguilla in the past. And with your help we will do it again!
This evening, as we launch our campaign, we will not spend too much time laying out each segment of our vision in detail, but will give you an outline of some of the most vital areas we will address when elected.
Friends, this campaign brings to mind the words of the Holy Scripture when God raised Deborah, to be the judge of Israel, when the land was filled with violence and crime. Deborah had no special privileges. She was a woman at a place and time when women were not usually leaders. She was not rich; she did not have powerful friends.
But she had a vision and Judges Chapter 5 and verse 7 describes her as “a mother of Israel” . . . and when Deborah decided to take a stand against the wrongs that were happening every day, other people rallied behind her, and the criminals were defeated!
Brothers and sisters, I have faith that God will raise up leaders with sensitivity and purpose for Anguilla; and that he will vanquish the selfishness and greed that has brought so much pain to so many.
The people of District One must be like the Judge Deborah, and be a moral compass for Anguilla. We can do this, with God’s help.
One of the first things I will do, when elected, is put my energies into Revitalizing Anguilla’s Economy. We will Provide Relief for Families, while Preparing our People for a New prosperity.
We must accept, brothers and sisters, that education is key; and I don’t just mean education in the classroom. I’m talking about you and me – every one of us, in our everyday lives= we must educate ourselves! This is a new world now! A new and competitive world that we must face or suffer. The days are long gone when you can depend on a helping hand from a neighbour or borrow a cup of sugar.
Look around us! We need to elect the kind of leaders that will fight for and protect the interests of the citizens of this country, or everything will soon be gone from us; it’s happening right now! Our businesses, our lands! Our culture! You ask: “How is this possible? We are a smart people!”
Brothers and sisters where there is leadership fueled by greed, where there is only selfish leadership, where there is rampant nepotism, the rest of us will perish!
In the coming days, weeks and months we are on a mission to encourage and inspire friends, families and neighbours to think for themselves! And to take responsibility for their own decisions, while also working together the way Anguillians have always done. This is “jollification” anew. We have learned – WE KNOW – that there is strength in unity!
Brothers and sisters, we cannot afford to wait around to see what will happen. We have to make things happen for ourselves – now! In this coming election! We have to change things! If we don’t, somebody will make changes for us! The only constant in life is change!
Who amongst us could have imagined that Anguillians would be sitting around today waiting to hear what strangers will tell us about our money in our two local banks. All because of failed, insensitive, leadership.
Our people risked their lives, risked everything, to earn us freedom. And now look what’s happening to the very things we fought for. Read Mr Petty’s and Teacher Arthwin’s books if you have forgotten. It is known that when somebody controls your money, they control you!
Those responsible for allowing this fiasco must not be given the opportunity to do it again! And guess what! Now we are right back where we started!
Ladies and gentlemen, in the last election we, the people of Anguilla, voted against a sitting government because we thought we would get a better one. We elected a new government with the hope that this new government would be sensitive to the needs and aspirations of the majority of our people. Now, again, we are saddled with incompetence, indifference and failed leadership.
Do we want to go down that same road again? . . . . No!
Our people deserve a good quality life; and for that to happen, they must have jobs. Fathers and mothers must have the opportunity to work. Where are the jobs for District One?
Why is it that this end of the island is always the last to be considered for anything good? When I am elected, I will work to change this policy.
Ladies and gentlemen, there are families here in District One and around this island who are struggling. Some are suffering . . . . while our representatives use public office for private gain; Look at their salaries; they are the highest in the region. And instead of supporting the very lifeblood of our economy – the hotels – they fight with them; both Cap Juluca and Cuisinart are having a hard time from this government and that is jeopardising jobs. If they were working for the people, trying to better our lives, we might say OK. But they do nothing for the people, while they themselves “live high on the hog”
In District One we need a Development Plan that will integrate our Fishing and Farming with our Tourism Sector. I will work to help improve and develop new fishing and farming techniques. Technology is constantly evolving and we must take advantage to equip our people with the infrastructure that will ensure the highest possible earning potential.
We must invest in strengthening the production capacity of our fishermen and farmers and find new sustainable markets for our produce.
We must build upon the traditional institutional knowledge of District One. Our Boat-Building, carpentry and joinery skills are among the best in the region. We must aggressively seek to market our products throughout the region.
We must blend new Boat-Building Technologies with our historical knowledge and strengths, to develop a globally competitive Boat-Building Sector.
Friends, we must recognize that our children, grand children and the following generations are facing a future where everyone has to compete on a global scale. We must prepare them to be competitive in this new “knowledge-based” economy.
Today our children must be prepared to become the next technological entrepreneurs. Their ingenuity, their creativity, their technological intelligence and their talents must take them forward to careers in knowledge software, and new games programs. Our children, and our children’s children, must be among those who will be designing the future that will come after the social media applications we know today.
These are the training areas I will focus on for young people when I’m elected by you, the thinking people of District One. This District will become the New Technologies incubator. We can achieve this through Public-Private Sector Partnerships.
Ladies and gentlemen, District One needs creative leadership that will stimulate jobs for this area. We have had too many promises! What we need now is progressive-thinking, action-oriented leaders to meet the challenges of today!
My friends, Sustainable, well-paying jobs for District One and for Anguilla as a whole, are fundamental and JOBS are at the top of PAM WEBSTER’S agenda, with affordable living, especially electricity and water prices, a top priority.
Yes, Crime, Law and Order, Education, (pre-K through College) Financial Services, Pricing and Consumer Protection, Equal Opportunity for Women; and Yes, Electoral Reform and the protection of our environment, are all of immediate importance now, and will be high on my agenda. And we must resolve the difficulties that have been placed in the way of some of our major hotels, including, in particular, Cuisinart and Cap Juluca. And of course we must tackle those Burdensome Tax Laws and that so-called “Temporary” Levy.
It is true – our Health services must be modernized to meet our growing needs. The money spent in other countries for medical services can remain here. But first our leaders must serve in our community in ways that enable them to fully understand what our needs are. Paul Webster has served as director of the Health Authority, pro bono. He served our people for free. We do not want opportunistic invasions at the expense of our people!
At the same time, our leaders must be sensitive enough to want better health care for our people, and not allow the service to limp along inadequately, secure in the knowledge that they themselves can afford to fly out on a jet when they get sick. That is not right! What about the rest of us?
If all these objectives sound like a lot to tackle, THEY ARE, because we have suffered such poor government, BUT TACKLE THEM WE MUST AND WE WILL.
All these are critical areas that must be addressed. They are too much to cover in one sitting this evening, but you will be hearing much more detail from me on each one of them, in the coming weeks and months, when I will explain our plan to deal with them. Tonight let me stress again; “Job Creation is Our Engine for Change”. This is central in the election campaign. Friends, we need changes: We need changes: political changes, governance changes, EDUCATIONAL CHANGES and leadership changes! Regurgitating failed leaders, or electing a representative of a failed party, just won’t do anymore!
We are a smart, thinking people! Let us show them.
In District One, our campaign will incorporate a people-oriented face to face crusade. We will also be reaching out to the young people through the modern communication technologies that they are now using.
Over the coming weeks and months everyone will know our plans and policies for District One.
We embrace all of our citizens, especially the young people. We encourage them to participate in politics and get involved with the issues. It is YOUR FUTURE. If you love this country, get involved! I will work hard to hasten the day when each one of us will have the right, the FREEDOM to vote for all candidates of our choice.
Brothers and Sisters, I am asking for your help and support in this campaign. Together we can win this election, it takes one to win one; get involved, this is your winning campaign. Together we will take responsibility for our future.
We, the proud and dignified people of District One, represent the hope for the much needed change for Anguilla. Our country is crying out again for the values of our forefathers. The principles of sharing and togetherness – of “jollification” – of fairness, respect and social justice.
The honest, decent and hard-working people of Anguilla deserve a government of integrity led by sensible compassionate leaders.
And yes, the truth is that I will always be willing to work with stakeholders who have Anguilla’s interests at heart. Together we will find solutions for the good of this country. We have a responsibility to each other, to our beloved country, to elect competent, proactive leaders.
We must stop electing failed unproductive leaders. We must not elect new representatives of this failed administration.
I will always protect and defend the constitutional rights of all our people. We are all entitled to quality living, proper housing, affordable healthcare, relevant education, affordable electricity and water, preservation of our environment and safe communities.
My Friends, as we move forward let us remember that there are no easy answers; but each one of us can do our share. We must strive together – we must strive toward a more peaceful, productive and prosperous future for our people. YES – together we can do it.
This campaign is also about family. We must heal our families. We must heal our communities, and we must heal the soul of our nation. Proverbs 12 verse 18 says: “Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.”
The women in this campaign can bring healing.
We must hate no one, more importantly we must love everyone.
Let us here, in District One, strive to strengthen each other in this campaign. Let us inspire and educate one another and lead by example.
Friends, Our campaign here in District One represents and embraces the hopes and dreams of our ancestors and the aspirations of our people. We must be the best we can be because we are number ONE! And as number one we must once again lead the road to change in this country!
Thank you.
May God Bless you and May God Bless Anguilla!
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)