15 January 2016
Mr. Victor F. Banks
Hon. Chief Minister and Minister of Finance
Ministry of Finance, Government of Anguilla
The Secretariat
The Valley
Anguilla
Dear Mr. Banks,
Please refer to our letter of 10th December 2015. At the time the letter was delivered, you publicly stated that you would give a fuller written reply in due course. It is now more than a month, and we have not yet heard from you.
We concluded that letter with the following request: “That a team of select persons from the Concerned Citizens Group be afforded the opportunity to meet with a team of persons from the Ministry of Finance to review the budget proposals for 2016 before the Bill receives its third reading. The purpose of the review will be to propose adjustments that can be made without any significant programme loss while resulting in great benefits to the people and businesses of Anguilla.”
The fact that the 2016 Appropriations Bill has not been assented to indicates that there are some concerns about it which have to be addressed prior to assent. We use this medium to remind you of your promise and to suggest that you take the opportunity now to ensure that any review is a collaborative effort and is in the Country’s best interests. We wish to assure you of our sincere commitment to the enhancement of the well-being of Anguillian society, businesses and people.
Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to your positive response.
Respectfully yours,
H. Clifton Niles, Rev. Dr.
(Representative)
cc. The media
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
