I seldom remember that the Executive Council (EXCO) Minutes are on the Government Website, especially because, on the odd occasion that I have read them, they are usually very routine. However, yesterday one of my supporters called me up, very animated, querying whether I had read the EXCO Minutes for the meeting of August 21, 2014. I inquired as to the specific section and was directed to EX MIN 14/522. When I pulled up the posting it was not difficult to understand my supporter’s chagrin. The minute reads as follows: –
“The Chief Minister asked that it be recorded that he had listened attentively to the discussion on a number of smaller infrastructure projects. He saw Anguilla heading in the direction of a FAILED STATE. For many years the FCO had been saying that Overseas Territories have the first charge on British Development Aid but EVERYTHING IN ANGUILLA WAS CURRENTLY FALLING APART and no help was being received. What Anguilla needed now was an Economic Development Plan and he wanted HMG to administer the development of it. Soon Anguilla would not be in a position to produce an annual budget.”
I am sure that readers will agree with me that this is a very dismal statement by the Chief Minister of Anguilla after almost five years of his leadership. But I am not certain that the Chief Minister is fully aware of the implications of this statement in the context of all that he has been saying and doing over the past four and a half years. For clarity I have identified a number of those implications as: –
• an indictment of his “so-called” plan to turn Anguilla around;
• an insult to the Ministers and Special Advisors that support his administration;
• a lack of respect for and confidence in the technical officers, professionals and administrators in the public service;
• a distortion of his concept of aspiring to greater self-determination;
• a clear misunderstanding on his part of the reality of the role of the British Government in the partnership;
• and a total surrender to the challenges that face the overall Anguillian economy.
• a clear example of a leader at his “wits end” — ready to put it all on the line and throw his hands in the air.
What is also very significant is the fact that the Chief Minister did not make this statement “off the record” or in the privacy of the Executive Council exchanges. Indeed, he insisted that it be placed on the record, fully aware that this meant that it would be published for “all and sundry” to view on the Anguilla Government Website. Let me briefly expand on those implications I have identified: –
An indictment of his “so-called” plan to turn Anguilla around. During the 2010 election campaign, the Chief Minister, as Leader of the AUM Party, told Anguillians that the past Government was the cause of the financial and economic challenges that Anguilla was facing, and that he had a plan to turn the situation around in a matter of weeks/months. In an effort to sell this plan in its “gift wrappings” he suggested that he would only reveal its contents after the election. However, he emphasized that the plan was guaranteed to bring the economy back in record time. In this sense, if Anguilla is now heading in the direction of a failed state it means two things. Firstly, it was not heading in that direction before and, secondly, that his “gift wrapped” plans to turn Anguilla around have failed miserably over the last four and a half years to do so.
An insult to the Ministers and Special Advisors who support his administration. In his statement the Chief Minister indicates that as far as he is concerned “everything in Anguilla is currently falling apart”. He further indicates that this has been happening for many years. What therefore has his Ministers and Special Advisors, who he has appointed and retained to assist him, been doing to keep their various portfolios in order and properly administered? Who has he been looking to, to ensure that things do not fall apart? Where does he expect help to come from to prevent things from falling apart? Why does the Chief Minister NOT take responsibility for this situation, rather than trying to rely on being the first charge on British Aid? Since 1983 the Government of Anguilla has been off Grant Aid, and since 2003 we have been off Capital Aid. Is the Chief Minister looking to return to the dependency of the early 1980’s? Is this a part of his “gift wrapped” plan?
A lack of respect and confidence in the technical officers, professionals and administrators in the public service. The Government of Anguilla has a Ministry of Finance and Economic Development that includes a cadre of professionals and technical officers who are trained and experienced in developing all kinds of economic development plans over the years. Why should the Chief Minister be requesting that HMG administer the development of such a plan for Anguilla? Does the Chief Minister not have confidence in the professional and technical staff in the public and private sector to produce such a plan? It is little wonder that his Ministers, like himself, have been going on public media and political platforms abusing the technical staff in various departments. Apparently, they do not trust or respect home-grown professionals and technicians.
A distortion of his concept of aspiring to greater self-determination. The Chief Minister has had a lot of talk about taking Anguilla into independence over most of the last four and a half years. Does he seriously intend to pursue this aspiration while standing with the begging bowl asking to be the first charge on British Aid, and asking HMG to develop an Economic development Plan for Anguilla? What plan did he present in his Party Manifesto? What Development Plan has he been operating under for the past four and a half years? How can he be seeking to take a failed state into independence without having a plan that reflects the aspirations of the people by the people? If he is not in a position to produce an annual budget how can he be talking about Independence?
A clear misunderstanding on his part of the reality of the role of the British Government in the partnership. The Chief Minister continues to quote this very worn out and outdated statement that the Overseas Territories have the first charge on British Aid. As a person who constantly quotes the White Paper, and the Rifkin Letter of 1997 that preceded it, he has neglected to make the transition where the British Government began to outline a relationship that reflects Britain’s new international role. In that transition the language speaks of a “firm commitment from the UK to help the territories develop economically and assist them in emergencies”. It means that aid is no longer automatic or an entitlement — the case must be made. And in terms of HMG’s commitments internationally, particularly in humanitarian issues, the Overseas Territories must stand in the queue.
A total surrender to the challenges that face the overall Anguillian economy. It is clear that the Chief Minister has given up, based on his conclusion that “soon Anguilla would not be in a position to produce an annual budget.” That situation can only come about when the entire economy collapses to the extent that no revenue is available to meet recurrent expenses as a minimum. It means that he is already concluding that he has failed in his ability to generate economic activity or expand his revenue base. And he suggests that that could be soon. The question is how soon. Is this a precursor to not producing a budget for 2015? Is the CM suggesting that there is no hope in sight?
A clear example of a leader at his “wits end” — ready to put it all on the line and throw his hands in the air. The Chief Minister is calling on the British Government to come to his aid. He suggests that he is not receiving any help from them and he is unable to put together his own development plan, locally. Furthermore, he affirms that everything in Anguilla is falling apart. The prognosis from the Chief Minister is very dismal because he does not allow a wisp of hope anywhere. He sounds both “clueless and helpless”. Does this mean than even if he were to get five more years he would be unable to change things without the assistance of HMG? Where does he go from here? Indeed, where do we go from here?
Looking at the situation, on the ground, one could have good reason to conclude that there is substance to the Chief Minister’s analysis. People are losing jobs and business opportunities; banks are foreclosing on mortgages and people are losing their homes and property; the island is rationing water; there are many homes and families without electricity; there has been little in the way of infrastructure development for almost four years; people are unable to meet their medical expenses; children are going to school hungry; the issues with our flagship property Cap Juluca remain unsettled; the issue with the indigenous banking sector is in a state of flux; there is no clear leadership in tourism, our main economic driver; and on and on.
I strongly believe that, as a resilient community, we will weather these challenges. However, very little can be achieved when our leaders seem both clueless and helpless!
