Fellow Anguillians, I greet you on this dawn of a New Year to wish you and your families a blessed, healthy, safe, prosperous and peaceful 2022.
It is difficult to celebrate when we have lost loved ones from Covid-19, natural causes, diseases such as cancer, tragic motor vehicle accidents or devastating gun violence. This scourge of gun violence is becoming prevalent in our beloved country and workable solutions must be explored and implemented this year. The lives of our Youth and the safety and security of our country are in jeopardy. I wish heartfelt condolences to all who are mourning the loss of loved ones. May God continue to grant you strength and comfort.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the holiday season was a time to re-connect with family and friends, and to not only reflect on the challenges and successes of 2021, but on the vision for a brighter and better future – a vision of prosperity where our people gain meaningful employment, pursue opportunities, live productive lives and build a future for themselves and their families.
There is that sense of endless possibility which we all must embrace. This administration has this sense of duty to continue the change agenda thus forging the path for development and empowerment. I am honoured to have this opportunity to lead this able team of men and women who proved they are ready and capable to change this country for the better.
With that said, this year we must pay particular attention to the plight of workers and set up an environment where they will be treated with dignity and earn a livable wage. This forms part of our progressive legislative agenda including minimum wage legislation and strengthening the understudy programme. It is noteworthy that the former employees of NBA and CCB have finally received some of their pension.
Despite the difficulties and uncertainty of the past year we have a lot to be thankful for. We are thankful to God The Almighty for a fairly quiet hurricane season. We are thankful that in the midst of a global pandemic, we could safely continue to welcome visitors to our shores. I must thank the Health Team for their diligent service and congratulate Permanent Secretary Merwyn Foster Rogers, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Aisha Andrewin, for their appointments as Officers of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) – recognition for jobs well done.
We are thankful for those who serve the people of Anguilla, frontline workers, public servants, especially teachers, who, despite uncertainty, including disrupted schedules and online teaching, continued to educate our children and helped to graduate some of the top students in the region.
We are thankful for the hospitality workers who do their part to maintain Anguilla’s tourism industry. We must protect them with better wages and laws which recognise their importance to the economy and society.
We are also thankful for the hotel, villa and restaurant owners who reopened and revitalised the hospitality sector. I must thank those hotel owners who contributed to the work at the airport terminal to accommodate more airlift. This administration continues to prioritise increased airlift with the resurfacing of the airport runway, bringing the first commercial flight directly from mainland USA through American Airlines, and completing the business case for airport expansion.
However, we must continue to support the ferry boat operators who continue to provide a vital link to St. Maarten. The ferry boat operators who serviced Blowing Point to Marigot have suffered the most. I thank them for their patience while we await approval to resume that service.
Good corporate citizens are essential to a country’s development and sustainability. NCBA, ANGLEC and the Water Corporation continue policies which have benefitted the people of Anguilla, and as demonstrated we will support these institutions.
We are thankful for the financial assistance from the UKG in 2021, which helped to decrease the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic and fund the Unemployment/Underemployed Benefit which continued to 30 September 2021.
We are also thankful for the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines which help to protect us from the coronavirus. I must take this opportunity to encourage all eligible adults to get vaccinated, and all parents of children 12 to 17 years old to get their children vaccinated. This will lead to a safer country and facilitate travel to other countries.
This past year saw the dedication and opening of several of the education and health facilities built under the Anguilla Programme. I wish to thank all who made that possible. We especially thank Her Excellency Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, in her first year of service, for continuing to advocate on behalf of Anguilla to procure funding and technical assistance from the UK Government, including GBP4 million per year for three years for economic resilience.
We are thankful to you the people of Anguilla for being resilient and caring. For the many of you who have had to endure another difficult year, find the strength to celebrate the New Year, and find the strength in remembering that Psalm that assures that weeping lasts for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
2022 is the year we will prosper, through discipline and determination, through unity of purpose and strength of conviction.
There are many challenges ahead, but as demonstrated, this administration will not shy away from the tough decisions, as we all make the necessary sacrifices to preserve our island home.
As I have said before, Anguillians are not looking for miracles, they are looking for Hope. Hope for a future where we are not limited by our circumstances or our surroundings but given every opportunity to succeed; Hope that when we work hard and follow the rules that we are not passed over by someone who is better off or better connected; Hope that we can provide for our families, including our elderly and our children; Hope that we love and care for each other, minimising strife and violence in our society, ensuring a safe, happy and peaceful existence that is equitable and sustainable. This is our Hope as we look to God our help in ages past, our Hope for years to come.
On behalf of the Government of Anguilla, have a happy, healthy, safe and prosperous 2022.
May God Bless us in this New Year and continue to Bless Anguilla always.
Thank you.
Dr. Ellis Lorenzo Webster
Premier
