On Tuesday of this week, 19th March 2019, it was 50 years to the day that British troops landed in Anguilla. The British had installed Anthony Lee as “Commissioner” for Anguilla but Ronald Webster, who had declared himself “President of the Republic of Anguilla”, and the Anguillian people, refused to recognise the Commissioner’s authority.
Lee, for his part, said that the British occupation might last “Several years” (with the “S” emphasised according the Washington Post staff writer, in their 20th March publication), a proposition vigorously rejected by Anguillians.
While Anguilla eventually, after many years’ delay, achieved self-governing status in respect of internal affairs in December 1980, Britain has maintained a stranglehold on Anguilla’s democracy, and is currently conniving with the current AUF government to give them piecemeal changes to the Constitution (instead of the full Constitutional Reform proposed by the Electoral Reform Committee) which will be likely to give the AUF an unfair electoral advantage.
It is not for nothing that Britain is known in some quarters as “Perfidious Albion”, and Lee’s threat looms large and real in the current political context, as the recent Report of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the UK government demonstrates.
During the 50 intervening years the reins of government have been held by what essentially amounts to the current two main political parties, the AUF and the AUM. The AUF had governed not for the benefit of the people of Anguilla but, for the most part, for self-interest, while the AUM has failed to rise to the demands of leadership. It is time, 50 years on, to call a halt to ineffective government – to take Anguilla back from feckless selfishness and make a new start. Anguilla belongs to us.
On Tuesday of this week, I attended the Swearing In of the Anguilla Youth Parliament, and the event lifted my spirits as no session of Anguilla’s House of Assembly has succeeded in doing. It lifted my spirits because it was an occasion of hope. It was an occasion when potential future leaders showed their wisdom and talent, and when I saw before my very eyes the possibilities that lie ahead for Anguilla.
The vision for our youth Parliament is “young people empowered and engaged as transformational leaders and strategic partners in Anguilla’s governance and development ethos”. I therefore urge our youth parliamentarians to reject any suggestion that their membership of the youth Parliament is nothing more than “tokenism”. Reject it and push back hard against it. I now encourage all Anguillians to participate in the decisions that affect our generation – which, incidentally, are almost all of the decisions that government has to take. You have a right to give constructive criticism. You have a right to offer alternatives. You have a right to depart from the norm, to think critically and be creative.
So, as we approach the next general election in Anguilla, due no later than the first half of next year 2020, it is my fervent hope that the government that is elected comprises a majority of candidates prepared to reject “tokenism” and to deliver effective government and sustainable development for our people and our beloved Anguilla.
That the majority of such candidates will not have had previous experience of government is immaterial; indeed, insofar as that will mean they have not become accustomed to the bad practices so pervasive in recent and current Anguillian governments, it will be a strong advantage. The people of the British Virgin Islands recognised this in their recent election, when only ONE of the members elected to their parliament had held elected office previously – yes, only one.
We have to ensure that the world pays attention to the expressed will of Anguillians. Our own values and customs are under threat. Our very identity is at risk and, just like on that fateful day in March 1969, when the forces invaded us, we need to come together to avert the potential harm.
I invite all talented young Anguillians, who have the interests of their country at heart, to think very seriously indeed of throwing their hats into the ring and standing for election. And if you share my love of country and would like to consider giving service to your country, I would love to hear from you. Young Anguillians: Your Country Needs You!
ANGUILLA BELONGS TO US.
