Mrs Cora Richardson-Hodge, the candidate for the Anguilla United Front in District 2, has spoken about a number of economic-related problems impacting Anguillians and the urgent need for redress. She was speaking at the party’s public meeting at East End on Tuesday evening, September 23.
“We are now four and a half years into the AUM Government’s term and we know no matter how much they jump up and down and scream to the top of their voices, that nothing significant has happened in our country during their term of office,” she told her listeners. “It is not me who is telling you this. It is the AUM’s Ministers themselves who are saying so. The Hon Jerome Roberts, in Welches last Tuesday, said that the AUM Government had been seeking investors to bring to the island and he listed five projects.
“Well, if this is true, and we have so many projects that are on-going right now, and with so much activity on the island, according to them, then why are so many of our people still unemployed? Some of our people have been unemployed for two, three and even four years. Why is that if we have so many projects that are on-going? Obviously, fellow Anguillians, there is a problem because this supposed economic activity has not translated to jobs for our people.”
Mrs Richardson-Hodge continued: “Every time I speak, I talk about taxes and I will continue because there is a reason. I talk about taxes because, when I walk through my District, Number 2, and talk to the people in my community, and the men and women and the young people across the island, we are all singing the same song: that the taxes are too high. We cannot pay the increase on gasoline tax and gasoline prices; increased communications tax; increased property tax and the Stabilisation Levy on top of it. We cannot manage all of them; and because we cannot pay all, we choose month by month which bills to pay and which should be left for another time. This is the reality, fellow Anguillians. This is what Anguillians are going through on a day by day basis.”
She reminded her listeners that the Government had promised that the Stabilisation Levy would last for one year, but pointed out that it was now three months before 2015 and there was still no end to the levy. She quoted Mr Jerome Roberts, Minister of Education and Elected Representative for District 2, as saying that the levy was paying civil servants’ salaries, pensions and keeping the Government afloat.
The AUF candidate went on: “He explained to us that there are three ways for the Government to obtain revenue: (1) from foreign direct investments such as hotels, developers and investors coming to the island; (2) grant aid which is money given to the country without any requirement to repay; and (3) taxes. Is our Minister of Education saying that they have not been able to obtain foreign direct investment and, because of that, the levy has to remain? Is he saying that we are not getting any grant aid and the levy is to remain? Or is he really saying that our AUM Government is keeping the levy, and the other taxes, because they are unable to grow the economy from the other two sources of revenue? It is for you to decide.
“It seems to me that from 2010, until now, that our AUM Government are saying that they have made no real improvements in our country. When you hear our elected representatives saying these things, we have to ask them what do they mean? What should they be saying that they are not saying to us? They say they need the levy to pay civil servants. How were the civil servants being paid before the levy? They say they need the levy to pay pensions. Well, how were the pensions being paid before the levy? I have said in the past, and will continue to say, that the Stabilisation Levy provides no benefit to the people of Anguilla.”
The election candidate asked the following questions: “You are a hotel worker, for example, and you earn $2500 per month. How is paying the Stabilisation Levy helping you? Or you are working and paying the levy; the business closed down and you are out of work. You paid the levy for two years; now that you are home and unable to find a job, what benefit are you now able to get from the levy? You have to go to the hospital for treatment; what benefit are you getting from the levy there? You have to send your children to school and buy books and other supplies, including school uniforms. What benefit are you getting from the levy to help you? This is what I mean when I say that the Interim Stabilisation Levy offers no real benefit to the people of Anguilla. I said it, and I stand by my words.”
The AUF candidate stressed that what the people of Anguilla wished to know was when they would get back to work. “When will they be able to pay their electricity bills? When will they be able to put food on their tables?” She further questioned why, after the Government said that it was running a tight administration, balanced the budget and increased visitor arrivals, the Stabilisation Levy was still required to be paid; or why with all the claimed economic activity the levy was not reduced to make life easier for the people of Anguilla?
She stated that hundreds of homes were currently without electricity; parents were unable to provide food for their children; and the Government had been unable to generate a significant amount of economic activity to improve their lives. “Our Ministers of Government want us to forget all of the pain, suffering and the low level of employment on this island for the last four and a half years,” she surmised. “But no matter how much our Ministers claim that it is not true, each of us feel the hardship everyday…” She blamed the failure of Government to boost the economy on “their style, attitude and approach in dealing with existing as well as potential investors.”
Mrs Richardson-Hodge continued: “The question is: how does their style, attitude and approach affect every Anguillian? Let me tell you: lack of economic activity means less jobs; less jobs mean fewer Anguillians having to spend money; less money means less money moving through the economy; and there is a downward spiral, a vicious cycle, that hurts our young men, young women and school leavers in addition to those currently in the workforce. It is the exact kind of environment that forces family members and friends to seek employment in other countries.
“We here in Anguilla are moving backwards in time. Our people sitting at home mean that they cannot take care of themselves or their families. In turn, this leads to increased crime in order to get basic life necessities. Imagine when we get to the level that our people break into houses and steal food to eat and something to drink. What is that telling us? It is telling us that we have a major problem on our hands. It is a problem that needs immediate and urgent attention.”
Mrs Richardson-Hodge emphasised that “there is much work to be done in our country and we need strong, capable people who can follow through on their promises.” She added: “We need a team of elected representatives that would take Anguilla forward. We need a team of elected representatives that care about our youth and can find ways to ensure that we are developing our young people.”
