For the first time, Anguilla’s Honourable Premier, Mr. Victor Banks, has come out in a formal setting to express his thoughts about Brexit – the planned departure of Britain from the European Union – and its impact on Anguilla and the other British Overseas Territories.
He expressed his views during a panel discussion on the topic “Whither Anguilla in the Brexit Era?” on Friday, October 25, 2019, at the Anguilla Country Conference. The conference had as its theme: “Communities at Crossroads: Change the Thinking, Change the Future”.
Following is the presentation made by Premier Banks:
“We have been asked to present on the topic “Whither Anguilla in the Brexit Era”. As I set my mind to addressing the topic I asked myself two questions: (1) What is the Brexit Era? (2) What difference does it make to Anguilla? In other words — what is all the fuss about?
As an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom we are in a colonial situation trying to develop our island so that we can be more autonomous and self-reliant. Again, in other words we want to become more politically and economically independent. So what does it really matter to us whether our administering power is in the European Union or out of the European Union? That was a decision that we as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom had nothing to do with. We did not vote in the referendum that led to the decision that Britain should leave the EU. And our views in the matter were never major considerations in the debate leading up to that process of decision-making.
As our Administering Power, the UK Government, after the decision was made, found it necessary to engage the Overseas Territories on what our concerns were in the case of Britain leaving the EU. The outcome of those engagements, generously referred to in some quarters as negotiations, was to ensure that issues impacting the OTs would be considered, where possible, in whatever “deal for leaving” was agreed. While this was a good gesture — we were under no illusion or delusion that “it was in any way all about us!” In fact, we expected that in the final analysis the best we could hope for would be a good deal for the UK. In other words, at least we felt assured that if the UK got a good deal it would also be a good deal for its overseas territories.
The EU requires all of its member states to observe each of the four fundamental freedoms of the European Single Market, namely, free movement of people; free movement of goods; free movement of capital; and freedom to establish and provide services. For the Overseas Territories, like Anguilla, these freedoms provided a further benefit from being associated with a member state, namely, to be able to participate in funding programs for capital and human resource development. Obviously, with Britain leaving the EU all these freedoms and development assistance would, at the very least, decrease.
So the Brexit Era of which we speak is simply that time when OTs, like Anguilla, will not be able to take advantage of the opportunities that association with an EU Member State affords. However, the question as to what difference does it make — finds its relevance in how these new arrangements will impact Anguilla. It is clear that being a part of the EU created many opportunities and choices for our citizens — so as we continue to deal with the uncertainty of the negotiations, at this time, we must be concerned about the final outcome and its impact on Anguilla.
But the operative question is Whither Anguilla? And again we must return to the basic question: “What is all the fuss about?” Will Brexit impact our progress towards a greater level of autonomy and self-reliance? Will it change our colonial relationship? Will it change the social, economic and historical relationship that we have with territories of EU Member States with whom we have borders? Like St. Maarten-St. Martin as well as St. Barths? If none of the foregoing is going to change then Anguilla will be heading towards the same goals and aspirations for our national development that we have embraced before Brexit. However, if the issues prove challenging, in any new agreement/arrangement there will be good reason for Anguilla to accelerate its movement towards constitutional advancement and economic transformation/development.
“Anguilla’s viability rests upon close cooperation and collaboration between the peoples of the islands within the vicinity who, like Anguillians, seek a continuation of the current socio-economic ties that have endured for generations and who together face some of the most drastic consequences of climate change.”
In a few words Anguilla’s future, as we struggle with the helplessness of a future of dependency on Europe and the UK, must be to take a closer look at our neighbours and build more alliances and partnerships for our mutual benefit. Inevitably, we must look regionally for solutions to the common challenges we face regardless of present/past constitutional relationships.
