SALIENT POINTS OF GOVERNMENT’S PRESS CONFERENCE

While Anguilla’s borders are still closed to returning Anguillians and visitors, this Friday, August 21, has seen the implementation of the Government’s decision to provide an online application form for certain categories of tourists wishing to visit the island’s shores.

This has already been stated in widely-publicised press statements. It is a provision to be handled on a case by case basis, but first on the list are some four hundred Anguillians caught abroad due to the coronavirus and need to be repatriated. The August 21 date is what has been described as a soft-opening of the island’s tourism industry. This decision was the main talking point of the Government’s fist press conference on Thursday, August 13.

Many other matters were disclosed and discussed by the various Government Ministers beginning with Premier Dr. Ellis Webster, Minister of Finance and Health. The salient points of the press conference are given below in order of presentation.

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Premier Webster thanked the people of the island for electing the Anguilla Progressive Movement to office on June 26 and 29. He was also grateful “to the Permanent Secretaries and the Public Service for working with us, and helping us to carry out the mandate that the people have bestowed upon us.”

He stressed the Government’s thanks to everyone, especially the health team for doing a magnificent job in keeping Anguilla safe. He went on: “In an effort to decrease the chance of importing Covid-19, and based on testing protocols endorsed by Public Health, England, it was recommended to limit repatriation to persons returning from countries and areas with low prevalence of Covid-19. This required suspending repatriation from the US, UK and the Dominican Republic. These are countries where most of those who have applied to return are living.

“It is the goal of this administration to allow everyone who wants to come home to get here. This has to be done in a safe and controlled manner. It requires that there is increased testing capability and adequate lab, nursing and public health personnel, complemented by the Cuban Medical Brigade comprising three doctors and two nurses. This must be done in a manner to ensure that the healthcare system is not overwhelmed or the community put at undue risks.”

The Premier gave the assurance that repatriation would continue – including from the Dominican Republic, United States and United Kingdom. He stressed: “We must get our people home.” He went on to state that a phased reopening to visitors would be presented later in the press conference by the Parliamentary Secretary, Mrs. Quincia Gumbs-Marie, who was given responsibility for that effort. He emphasised: “Please note that our borders remain closed at least to October 31, 2020.”

In terms of financial matters, he stated: “We have continued the unemployment benefit, extended to December 2020, with EC 1,000 dollars for those who qualify under the Social Security scheme; and an increase from 800 to 1,000 dollars for those who met the requirements of the Government of Anguilla’s benefit.

“We have had the first reading of the Quarantine Bill. It states that for persons who are in quarantine, under the public health requirements, the cost must come out of the public fund. We feel that this has been exhausted, and so we are requiring that persons who are going to be quarantine that they have to contribute to that cost.

“We have had a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Kingdom. This was signed on June 11 by the outgoing Premier where the UK would meet up to 100 million EC dollars as part of budgetary support, with the understanding that Covid-19 will have caused an inability to meet budgetary projections. We consider that the MOU, as written, when we came to office, was penalizing and had areas where the Government of Anguilla would be punished for doing things which were necessary.

“With this in mind, I was able to speak with the Governor’s Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for the Overseas Territories, Baroness Sugg. I am happy to state that we were able to do some negotiations, and there was a spirit of flexibility and understanding which I think was very helpful. Some of the conditions which we were concerned about were that the claims for health would be reduced by duty-free concessions. We think that duty-free concessions are necessary to help with economic growth in Anguilla and also to help those persons starting businesses.”

Minister of Education and Social Development, Dee-Ann Kentish- Rogers.

She reported that she and her Ministerial Assistant, Mr. Merrick Richardson, were taken on a tour of their respective departments to discuss various matters with a number of stakeholders.
She went on: “In relation to my Ministry, particularly on the education side, we have seen and noted, from a number of individuals, an interest in some reprieve for parents in relation to the cost of textbooks and uniforms going forward into this school year – because of the struggle that they are having with unemployment. The Department of Education and the Department of Social Development have been collaborating with the Ministry, on a multi-pronged approach, to see how we can provide some relief for parents and families during this time.

“We have embarked on a comprehensive review of the book list to streamline it so that we are not putting too many burdens on parents. We are about to enter into partnerships with private sponsors who have committed to providing grants. We are also conducting an overall review of school policies that have financial implications – with a view to relaxing those policies to provide some financial relief for parents.

“In terms of what is in the works, moving into next week, we have a meeting with the PTA Executives and Principals. We are going to be discussing a number of initiatives in relation to the textbook issue. We have a number of stakeholders who are providing some insight, and we are still welcoming more insight to see how we can collaborate all those approaches. I know that a number of members in the community have started some back to school drives where they are pooling community resources. The Department of Education and the Ministry of Social Development are also working on other initiatives.”

The Minister also spoke on efforts in terms of the re-pricing of books. This is being coordinated with all the five bookstores on the island to help to determine a reasonable amount for the grants. About relaxing some of the schools’ policies, she stated that children would not be sent home simply if they do not have access to the shoes required. “We are not looking at penalizing them,” she added. “The approach of the Ministry is to meet parents and families halfway. We also want to encourage parents when they are looking to purchasing books, to do so for the first term and then if they are facing any financial difficulties, to please let the Department of Education and the Ministry know.”

Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Kenneth Hodge

He spoke about constitutional affairs and the first meeting to look at continuing the discussions towards completing a new constitution – as reported elsewhere in this edition of The Anguillian newspaper.

The Minister continued: “Under Labour, the Ministry is aggressively pursuing the development of a minimum wage, and is also adding a new dynamic in the form of a living wage…A committee is now being set up and will meet shortly.

“The Land and Surveys Department will be launching a new land information system in September. Training of staff is now being undertaken – and there will be a series of outreach education programmes using radio, press and other local venues to inform the public of the land information system. The project will address existing deficiencies by replacing an antiquated paper-based system with an off-the-shelf fit-for-purpose digital land administration system. It will enable the department to efficiently administer land matters…in Anguilla for the foreseeable future.”

Minister Kyle Hodge, Economic Development, Commerce and Trade

Mr. Hodge spoke about the Business Licence Moratorium (Amendment) Bill and the Trades, Businesses, Occupations and Professions (Amendment) Bill. The draft Bills, scheduled for passage on Friday, August 21, have been reported on in this edition of The Anguillian newspaper.

He said that on coming to office he found that some work had been done in connection with the Special Economic Zone and that the project was now ready to be launched. “It is an industrial infrastructure project and service provider,” he explained. “It attracts and facilitates foreign direct investment while supporting local businesses and firms. It focuses on bringing in companies that can operate remotely in Anguilla and it is not in conflict with local businesses.

“Covid has slowed the process and, in the meantime, we are launching a virtual Special Economic Zone – and that is very close to completion. We are now setting up the authority that will govern it and, once the authority is set up, we will have informational and educational sessions to train the members of the authority. It will comprise an Immigration and Customs officer, other Government officials and a private sector individual.”

Mr. Hodge further stated: “A manufacturing policy is forthcoming. I have been able to look at regional manufacturing policies and have also shared them with PS Mrs. Chanelle Petty Barrett. It is something that we hope to accomplish by the end of the year. It will encourage entrepreneurship and light manufacturing. It is just another way of diversifying the economy.

“There is an agricultural policy that was created by Dr. Patrick Vanterpool. It is a development plan. There are a lot of best practices and policy guidelines that we intend to utilise to create different industries in Anguilla. We intend to look at our egg industry, our broiler industry, meat industry. We have to look at food security and take it very seriously.”

The Minister reported that he had a very important meeting with the Farmers’ Association, chaired by Mr. Conrad Gumbs. “In that meeting I learned about many issues that continue to plague farmers. It is my attention, along with this administration, to find solutions to rectify and mitigate all those issues which were brought up. My background is production -and so I am very passionate about where we can go as a people, the economic possibilities for our people as it relates to farming, food production, agro and agro processing. It is very dear to my heart and our administration will give our local farmers that chance to innovate – to be able to use technology and science to move the industry forward. We have to look at modern ways of producing our crops, and I firmly believe that our people can do it.”

Mr. Haydn Hughes, Minster of Infrastructure and Tourism

Mr. Hughes stated: “We found a number of challenges but we are not here to complain about them. We are here to fix those issues and, even in this Covid era, we are working diligently to ensure that we realise those goals and to ensure that the promises we made are fulfilled. I am confident that this administration, over the next three to five years will fulfill many, if not all, of those promises. One of the things we realise and recognise is that, in making political promises, you must be able to make realistic promises; most of those promises which we made were policy-based; and we have already started working very diligently on a number of policies.”

Mr. Hughes said that on assuming office he met with the roads team and had taken a view of all the dirt roads in Anguilla. He was surprised that there were so many. “I am not one who believes that we should be spending money on dirt to dirt roads,” he added. “We are looking at the possibilities as to how we can chip and seal some of those roads. Based on priority, we have already identified them and we have about forty dirt roads listed so far.”

Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism and Natural Resources, Mrs. Quincia Gumbs-Marie

She spoke at length on matters related to tourism and her assignment to reopen the industry on a phased basis, as reported elsewhere in this edition of The Anguillian newspaper. She told the media representatives among other matters: “My specific areas and tasks include: the development of our fishing sector in our Department of Natural Resources; improving our efficiency by way of increasing our e-Government services; streamlining and strengthening our economic development directions – as well as coordinating our reopening efforts in tourism.”

In outlining her responsibilities as a key member of the Government of Anguilla, she declared: “Because we are progressive our efforts, as you may notice, is a recurrent theme in all of our presentations…centred around protecting and promoting local businesses and enterprises; anticipating and mitigating risks; and planning for the future in a way that takes into consideration our vulnerabilities.”

Ministerial Assistant, Mr. Merrick Richardson

Mr. Merrick Richardson spoke in general about the Ministry of Youth and Culture in which he has a shared responsibility with Minister Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers. His report included the varied youth development progrmmes in existence; others that are planned – and the support to be provided by the Government of Anguilla through his Ministry. A further report on some of these plans and programmes will be reported upon later by The Anguillian newspaper.