Following the resignation of former Minister, Mr Kyle Hodge, from the Government of Anguilla and the Anguilla Progressive Movement (APM) on June 24, 2022, there was much speculation about whether or not the Minister of Education and Social Development, Ms Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, who was off island at the time, would also tender her resignation – considering that both ministers had broken rank with their government colleagues and voted against the Goods and Services Tax (GST) earlier this year.
As was anticipated, just hours before the GST would go into effect, Minister Kentish-Rogers tendered her resignation from the Government of Anguilla and from the APM, in protest of the government’s handling of the implementation of the controversial Goods and Service Tax (GST).
In a dramatic fashion, Ms Kentish-Rogers arrived late at the Parliamentary meeting to debate amendments to the Goods and Services Act – GST – on Thursday, June 30, 2022, and took a seat on the Opposition side of the House of Assembly – across from her political colleagues – and waited for her turn to speak.
She said: “Today, I made a decision, and while a number of people are asking about my silence, I had to take the time to sit with constituents to hear and feel their concerns, to go door to door, to take their calls, to ask them what they expected of me as their representative; and the prevailing message from the conversations with them, over the past three days, is that they viewed my act of not resigning from the government of Anguilla as a betrayal of the people of District Four – the constituency they entrusted me to represent.
“Although I have shared this with the Premier, I have not yet shared it with the public. I have tendered my resignation from the Anguilla Progressive Movement and as the Minister of Education and Social Development. I pray that in the majority and in the remainder of the tenure of the APM, that there can be some introspection and transformation – and a compassionate approach that would help us lead these people and unify the country.
“I have to take accountability for the manner in which we [the Government of Anguilla] dealt with the Goods and Services Tax.
“We continue to face crisis after crisis on a national level, with this one that we face today directly impacting the consumer.
“It is also my opinion that the government could have averted this crisis.”
The Minister’s bold action was hailed by many as an act of defiance, bravery and courage in standing in solidarity with her colleague, Mr Hodge, and with her own conviction as demonstrated in her previous vote against the GST.
And yet, many have questioned: “Was the Minister caught between a rock and a hard place? Was she coerced, blackmailed, prodded, pressured or pushed to resign? She was not asked and she did not say so ‘on the record.’”
The resignation of Minister Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers from the Government of Anguilla and the APM, on June 30, came as no surprise to many across the island, but her next immediate action – four days later – has caused quite a stir.
On July 4, 2022, former Minister, Ms Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, was reappointed as a government minister and took the Oath of Office at the Governor’s Office. She later released this video message, in part, to her constituents and the people of Anguilla:
“I take great pride and privilege in representing the people of Valley South. This is a task that I have held very sacred and have sought to execute with the highest degree of excellence.
“My primary focus is the well-being of each and every Anguillian, even if it means sacrificing my own political career. I took the decision to remove myself from Cabinet as I thought that the path that was taken to implement the GST was not sensitive enough to the concerns of the public.
“Though we differ philosophically on some things, the honourable Premier and myself are not at war with one another.
“My participation in government was based on the desire to ensure that the people’s voice is given primacy in the decision-making process and that other means of economic development were pursued and explored. That is why I have accepted reappointment as a minister of the Government of Anguilla.
“My commitment to championing the cause of every Anguillian – particularly those in Valley South – has remained, and I intend to remain steadfast in finding avenues for your voice to be heard in Parliament, in Cabinet and in the Anguillian society.
“In the interest of reconciliation, collaboration and stability, respectfully, let’s get back to work.”
Speaking at the government press briefing on Monday afternoon, 4th July, Premier Dr Ellis Webster commented on the recent resignation and reappointment of Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers:
“We know that last week we had, in the House of Assembly, a resignation from the party. This morning, we welcomed back Ms Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers who has decided that she wants to continue doing the work in the Ministry of Social Development and Education for the people of Anguilla.
“I want to thank her for that, as we continue to move forward as a team with one intent – to look out for the people of Anguilla, especially the youth of Anguilla, where we invest in them and they feel they have ownership in this country of ours.”
Many persons in the Anguillian community, including close family members of the minister, have expressed displeasure by her acceptance of the Ministerial reappointment and membership within the APM.
“I knew about it from a WhatsApp circulation that somebody sent me, announcing that Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers had been reappointed. I knew nothing about it. We had no say in the matter. We were not advised or informed or respected with being told that this was going to happen,” her aunt, Joyce Kentish-Egan, noted. “I am just as befuddled as [you] are; I am as much shocked as [you] are; I feel just as disrespected by the way it went down as [you] are.”
Mr George Kentish, uncle to Minister Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, said that he felt betrayed by her decision:
“All I can say is, at this point, we are absolutely flabbergasted and disappointed. I, personally, feel a sense of betrayal. All that has happened so far pertaining to the activities of the APM Government, has been nothing but a web of deception for the people of this country.
“The Honourable Kentish-Rogers must, and should, know that there is life after politics, and it can be a very lonely one when one turns your back on your family.”
Again, Ms Kentish-Rogers’ bold action was hailed by many as an act of bravery, and courage, in support of the Government and the APM, and a demonstration of good leadership and integrity, while others continue to view her action as disappointing and deceitful.
And yet, many have questioned: “Was the Minister again caught between a rock and a hard place? Was she coerced, blackmailed, prodded, pressured or pushed to accept the reappointment and to re-join the APM? She was not asked and she did not say so ‘on the record.’”
