The British Government is awaiting the proposals for the new Anguilla Constitution from the island’s Government, and it is known that the territory has one of the oldest constitutions.
Governor Alistair Harrison made the statement at his October 23 press conference. “We will wait at the point at which the Chief Minister is able to inform us that there are some agreed sets of proposals which have broad agreement across the waterfront here inAnguilla,” the Governor continued. “I think it is unrealistic to expect you will get proposals that everybody agrees with, but it is important that the new Constitution should be for the people ofAnguillaand not one political party’s agenda. It should therefore command support from the Government, the Opposition and civil society as far as possible.
“We are ready to negotiate as soon asAnguillais ready to negotiate. Anguilla now has by far the oldest constitution among theCaribbeanOverseasTerritories. It does need modernising. I have to say I have done my best to follow it, but there are lots of areas where there are ambiguities that need to be tidied up; and also other areas where I think it could be greatly improved. And we are ready to roll onceAnguillais ready to roll.”
In reviewing the long process towards constitutional reform over the years, Governor Harrison made the following further observance: “I think the ball is very much inAnguilla’s court. Once the Chief Minister tells us that he is ready to start the discussions on a new constitution, the British Government has made it clear that we are ready to start. I fact we have been in that position for many years, going back to the previous Government’s time. At one point, the previous Government seemed ready to start negotiations. The lawyers were read to get on the plane and then [Chief Minister] Osbourne Fleming cancelled their visit because further work needed to be done here.
“We have had a number of Constitutional Commissions and we have had denials. I gather that Johnnie Gumbs has now been appointed [Chairman of a Constitutional Commission], but I don’t think any mandate was agreed by EXCO as to what he should do.”
The Governor concluded by stating that the British Government would wait until the Chief Minster was in a position to say that he was ready for negotiations.
