In The Anguillian published on 21st April, 2017 the Editorial, under the caption
“Will We Remain An Island of Contradictions?” observed in its opening paragraph that, “Despite being a small island with a small population, many persons would agree that Anguilla is quite an interesting place to live. Persons are sometimes surprised by how interesting a place Anguilla is. The credit for this is usually accorded to the people, not least, because in many instances Anguillians are a study in contradictions.”
The accuracy of this observation was very evident on the evening of Thursday, 23rd August, 2018 at the information consultation session organised by the Government of Anguilla on its proposed plans to implement a “Residency by Investment Programme.” As noted in last week’s editorial, this initiative is one “being explored by Government to encourage investment and generate revenue for our almost stagnant economy.” Anguillians can generally agree that our economy needs a significant boost and Government must play a significant role in making this happen. Apparently, this is where consensus ends. The mechanisms to invite investment, intended to lead to an improved economy, continue to attract, in many instances, deserved scrutiny and, in even greater measure, unwarranted and poorly researched and analysed rhetoric. Both these scenarios manifested themselves at last Thursday’s information session on the “Residency by Investment Programme.” Although the need for economic diversification is recognised, there appears to be some reluctance on the part of some Anguillians to embrace, or at least to allow, the trial of a Residency Programme in Anguilla designed with economic diversification in mind.
While persons legitimately queried whether the programme would be sufficiently attractive to potential investors, others treated the programme as the gateway to ensuring that Anguillians become second class citizens in their own island by virtue of no longer being property and business owners. Persons formed this view despite the very clear presentation by Mrs. Shantelle Richardson, Director Economic Planning in the Ministry of Economic Development. One slide in her power point presentation was devoted to differentiating between the rights accorded to an individual upon the grant of residency as opposed to citizenship. The point was clearly made that while both will accord a person the right to reside in Anguilla, residency would not allow a person to work, vote or purchase land in Anguilla without meeting certain regulatory requirements.
Some persons in attendance appeared to miss the point that individuals granted residency by virtue of their level of investment in Anguilla could not, without meeting other strict residential requirements set out in the British Nationality Act, gain a stronger relationship with Anguilla in terms of employment and property ownership without the complicity of Anguillians or the acquiescence of Government officials. Without any regard for the role Anguillians and the Government of Anguilla must play, for non-Anguillians to assume ownership of properties and businesses in Anguilla, the discussions, in the opinion of some, unfairly targeted Asians as likely beneficiaries of the Residency by Investment Programme to the detriment of Anguillians. A response, from the floor, vehemently denounced such thinking as xenophobic and reminded attendees that we as a people had also traveled overseas in search of a better life. Many of us are very aware that this practice continues to this very day.
The fact that persons who participate in the Residency by Investment Programme can, if they satisfy certain other regulatory requirements, ultimately become British Overseas Territories Citizens cannot be discounted and must be a meaningful part of the conversation surrounding the roll out of the Residency by Investment Programme. If persons under the programme actually take up continuous residence in Anguilla, do we have the infrastructure to support the increase in population, and the demand for social services that comes with the growth in population? If we don’t, will the economic growth resulting from the programme be sufficient to facilitate the provision of the required infrastructural and social services in a sustainable manner? These questions and others must be addressed but first there must be a programme that is sufficiently attractive to garner the desired attention. Sadly, the issue of how to make the programme more attractive did not generate the level of discussion that one would expect from citizens and residents crying out for greater economic diversity in Anguilla.
We must begin to engage in clinical discussions on matters that directly impact our development, after having researched and adequately analysed all the salient issues. We have the capacity to do so but often allow our desire to show up each other, or to have the last word, to prevent us from acting in concert to secure Anguilla’s best interests. Hopefully, in the very near future the research and analytical skills being honed by the debating organisations at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School will manifest themselves at the growing number of consultative sessions being held in Anguilla. Mere rhetoric, without extensive research and sound analysis, will not allow for the design and implementation of programmes to improve and safeguard the welfare of Anguillians.
