It is another of the annual Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council’s round of discussions in London next week Tuesday and Wednesday, December 1-2, when various matters will be on the table. The event has been described as “the principal forum for reviewing and implementing shared strategy for promoting security, good governance and sustainable development in the Overseas Territories”. The agenda items are said to include children safeguarding, economic development and setting a vision for the UK and the Overseas Territories in 2030.
Notwithstanding the above, it is envisioned that many, if not all of the territories, including Anguilla, have matters of much concern that they wish to air at the meetings. It is also conceded that there are matters too that the UK Government undoubtedly has to lecture its territories about, particularly governance issues. It is hoped, however, that in all its directives and policy decisions, that there is flexibility, an understanding and appreciation that the political leaders of the territories have their own leadership responsibilities and commitments to the people who elected them – and to whom they must account on the home front.
It is not clear whether there has been advanced discussion and unanimity, or an agreed common position, among the leaders of the territories on their own broad range of issues affecting them both collectively and individually in one way or another. But the event provides a splendid opportunity for them to ventilate their concerns in the strongest, yet in a respectable, manner and for the mother country to keenly listen to their plight and to act accordingly and sympathetically.
Anguilla has a unique problem in going to the Joint Ministerial Council meetings. The island is in a chronic financial situation with its two local commercial banks owned by the people, yet without shareholders, under the conservatorship of the ECCB for more than two years now. Part of the dilemma is the huge cost to bail out the banking sector and the reality of increased taxation to pay that cost. There is an urgent cry to rectify the situation and for financial and economic wellbeing to flourish again. The Anguilla Government is desperately hoping that during its talks with the FCO, whether formally or even in the margins of some of the meetings, that some workable resolution for the banking sector can be found and whereby the approval of the 2016 budget, by extension, can be assured.
On the question of economic development, Anguilla and the other territories cannot be faulted if they were to think the UK has a moral responsibility to assist them towards that end. None of these small island territories can really feel that their welfare and interests are being are being served when the UK Government can invest 300 million pounds sterling “in vital new infrastructure” in Commonwealth Caribbean countries, to finance “roads, bridges and ports to help drive economic growth and development” in those countries, and not in its own small Overseas Territories. At Anguilla’s main seaport, Road Bay, the pier is about to fall into the sea – and the airport needs expansion so that large passenger jets can fly direct to the island to boost its dwindling tourist numbers. The other Overseas Territories also have their own particular needs. At the Joint Ministerial Council meetings – during the discussions on economic development matters – the delegations should speak frankly to the UK Government and remind them that “charity begins at home”.
