We are starting a new year with past and present challenges still waiting to be tackled. The United Kingdom is experiencing high uncertainty in terms of its international relations, trade agreements, and government. The “Brexit” negotiations for the UK’s departure from the European Union have monopolised the entire focus of the UK government, leaving it virtually paralyzed as far as other foreign affairs are concerned, including Britain’s overseas territories.
Making sure relations with Anguilla are effectively maintained is just a small piece of what the UK government must concentrate on. Consequently, we Anguillians are looking towards the future with considerable uncertainty. This condition is vastly aggravated by our government’s obsession with concealing the facts from us: the facts underlying the banking crisis, the facts concerning its financial consequences, the facts concerning its bid to amend the Constitution to suite its electoral objectives; and the list goes on. The shaky state of the island’s finances is by no means reasonable or excusable. However, while it cannot fail to alarm us all, we can surmount the challenges if we keep our heads and work together for the common objective of rising again above the difficulties.
Personally, what is hopeful to me is that Anguillians are coming together around our shared values. Our people are uniting to progress and find more new ways to survive, as we always have. We are moving away from the traditional party dogmas and philosophies in order not only to create change but also to demand it. Anguilla has shown time and time again that its people are capable of overcoming any obstacle. Hurricanes won’t stop us and neither will failed banking resolutions.
Every time the government fails, as our current government has, there is recognition that the status quo is no longer relevant. The days of accepting the same old policies and faulty proposals have come to an end. We can find an alternative that is above and beyond the discredited approach we have been inflicted with in recent years.
Anguillians have been pushed to varying ends of the spectrum and into accepting the polarizing ideas that party divisions have created, but there is a solution. Once our people collectively band together, there is no stopping us. We cannot eternally wait around for the UK to fix our problems, because it is our responsibility to uplift our nation as much as it is theirs. We need each other in order to come together as a nation with vision and a mission.
In conclusion, I give you an inspiring quotation to think about:
“You can’t go back and fix the past.”
“No. But you can make the present and the future a whole lot better.”
? Dani Harper, First Bite
