These days, whenever I pause to reflect on the state of affairs in Anguilla, only one thing comes to mind – we are in crisis. Using the Oxford definition — we are in a time of intense difficulty or danger. We are not strangers to crisis. In fact, our history is marked by periods of growth interspersed with crises. But it seems that for almost a decade we have been dealing with crisis after crisis — with limited economic growth. Some would argue that it is in periods of crises that our mettle is tested — that we exhibit the greatest resilience and creativity. That may be so, in hindsight, but I can’t think of anyone who is enthusiastic about having to deal with crisis.
We not only have a Government that is struggling financially, but an administration that is struggling to find answers to Anguilla’s problems. Admittedly, these are not easy times. But it was also difficult when the last administration was in office. The members of that administration reminded us during their campaign for re-election that they had to deal with various crises – the main ones being the banking crisis, Hurricane Irma and Covid-19. They asked for our vote — and our understanding of the difficulties they faced during their term in office. However, we did not give them a free pass. We voted them out and elected a new administration with an agenda of change.
During their campaign, the members of this current administration claimed to be able to solve the issues which Anguilla is facing. They claimed that the last administration failed the people of Anguilla — and that they would do a better job of serving the interests of the people. However, all of us are eye-witnesses to the fact that they are floundering amidst the various challenges they are facing. While there have been positives, including the safe reopening of the tourism sector and the vaccine roll-out etc., by and large the members of Government appear to be unable to find meaningful solutions. Unfortunately, just as we did with the last administration, we cannot give them a free pass. They cannot simply lay blame elsewhere for the challenges they are facing. This is the job they signed up for and we expect them to deliver.
We have seen a series of fee increases at ports, in electricity, in health, in agriculture and elsewhere — rising prices at the pumps and anticipated increases in the cost of goods and services when GST is implemented next year. All of this while unemployment is at an all-time high and families are struggling to make ends meet.
We have seen the tightening of reins on statutory bodies to exert greater financial oversight, which is not necessarily a bad thing. But when one considers the greater public good associated with having a fully functional Anguilla Community College, to provide educational opportunities for our people, one must wonder what members of Government are trying to achieve. I cannot think of any educational institution in this region that is self-sustaining. They are all heavily subsidised by Government in the public interest. When we understand that education is the key to development, we cannot be so short sighted.
Further, when one considers proposals for reverting the delivery of healthcare under the public service, rather than maintaining the Health Authority, one must wonder whether members of our Government have no appreciation of how much health services have improved under the Health Authority. In relation to these two bodies, in particular, I am at pains to understand the logic.
Everywhere you turn, there are feelings of despair and disappointment. People are wondering what is happening in Anguilla. How much harder must it get before it gets better? We appreciate that we are in a time of crisis. We are still in the midst of a pandemic, the economy is limping along and many are barely making ends meet. To whom do we turn for relief? It seems we have nowhere to turn.
