Dear Editor:
This letter is in response to the “Worried Anguillan” who thinks we are “losing Anguilla”, our indigenous banks and businesses”. I hear you. I truly understand your concern, but with all due respect to you, at the same time I am not going to jump on the worry bandwagon. Yet, although I have a totally different perspective than yours, I will try hard to make my comments in a general sense with respect, and without being judgmental of your thoughts on these issues.
First of all, as you may already know. I am not one for throwing or attending pity parties. My take on the situation is from the point of an eternal optimist, who believes “a setback is a setup for a comeback”. Personally, I would not say that we are “losing Anguilla, nor would I paint a broad brush and say “we are losing our businesses or banks”.
Let me share with you a story, that I believe Anguillans who are concerned about the “competing business sector”) can learn a lesson from. The Montgomery Bus Boycott (60th Anniversary was on that on December 1, 2015), began when our African and American brothers and sisters in Montgomery, Alabama (car pooled, walked and boycotted the segregated bus system of Montgomery); after the late Ms. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man and was arrested. As a community, they came together and decided, no more disrespect, no more giving up their seats and spending their hard earned money to celebrate and support white supremacy. In spite of the fact that they knew the ugly head of racism, could mean that they would be beaten or killed, their minds were made up to stand their ground.
Guess what’….before the end of that year (381 days), the Montgomery public bus system went out of business. It no longer had loyal customers who were going to spend their money, and continue to support a segregated bus seating system. They stood up and stood for something together. They took a stand, and said out loud and proud, we are not taking it anymore. So, if each of us make a conscious effort to support an Anguillan business, our long-term indigenous business sector can continue to thrive. But, if we spend our money with other folk, who got to Anguilla yesterday. then that is a conscious choice that was made. Although I believe that there is enough for everyone, we can collectively show our home grown Anguillan pride in making a conscious choice to support our own business sector. If we follow the tenets of the Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey, in his wisdom, he declared “race first”. In order words, if we pratice home grown Anguillan pride, our indigenous business sector would continue to grow and flourish.
As far as the banking situation, while it may seem like a crisis that poses danger, there is an opportunity to transform, what may seem like as a negative situation into a positive outcome. Change is the law of growth. So, instead of predicting doom for our business sector and our banks and for Anguilla in general, send some positive energy out there, and affirm our businesses, our banks, our Anguilla will rise to and retain its traditional greatness.
Support an Anguillan owned and operated business today, because you are filled with home grown pride, and proud to be part of the Anguilla family at home and abroad. Organize ten other direhearted Anguillans to go on a shopping spree within our indigenous business sector. That’s what other folk do….they are conscious enough to understand the economic power is in their own hands. They do not stand around and lament and throw pity parties. It is their state of consciousness to become pro-active in their efforts to keep their economies and their communities strong, by making it a habit of supporting each other.
A luta continua vitoria e certa….God bless Anguilla and her children at home and abroad, may the Creator and the ancestors continue to find them in their favor. Peace and blessings’
Name withheld on request of writer.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
