“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” That is the opening sentence of Charles Dickens’s “A Tale of Two Cities.” That opening line exemplifies a study in contrasts: wisdom and foolishness, light versus darkness, everything and nothing, Heaven and hell, hope and despair, disbelief and belief.
Concerning the best of times and the worst of times in my homeland of Anguilla, we have tasted both, but it’s with the worst of times with which I’m concerned, a period of which we can’t seem to rid ourselves.
A brief background is necessary to understand how we got to this point. First, a confluence of events, beginning with the financial meltdown of 2009, bank failures, and two category five hurricanes, Luis and Irma. Then, a global pandemic, the passing of GST, a regressive tax the likes of which we’ve never seen, culminated with the resignation of two members of the Webster-led government.
Over the last forty or fifty years, we’ve had a series of governments who, for the lack of a better word, do not and did not rise to the occasion, for they were more concerned with what Jean-Francois Bayart refers to as “politics of the belly”—- enriching themselves and their cronies while allowing the vast majority to languish in poverty. Simply put, they were incompetent, greedy political hacks and had no business being in government, the Peter Principle at its zenith.
We have always lived above our means, and consequently found ourselves deep in debt – and would end up depending on the good graces of the British taxpayer. Additionally, we were still reeling from the effects of Luis and Irma, two category five hurricanes that did tremendous damage to the island’s infrastructure, followed by Covid19 which forced the island’s closure, effectively killing our only source of revenue: tourism.
The government in power, led by Premier Victor Banks, negotiated a deal with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office in which, for certain concessions, would get 100 million EC dollars to keep the government afloat.
During the political campaign, Mr. Banks and his AUF party had promised the people that it was “all about you,” a phrase that got him elected. The party would win six out of seven seats which gave him, by his win, the right to form the government. He would reign for a tumultuous five years.
Mr. Banks’ government was replaced by a new government headed by Dr. Ellis Lorenzo Webster, a prominent ‘Rock Star’ physician turned neophyte politician from Palm Beach, Florida, who promised: “change can’t wait.” But, unfortunately, Dr. Webster hadn’t a clue what lay ahead. He let us know that he was summoned to Governor Tim Foy’s office, where he was given the Readers Digest version of Anguilla’s plight. Dr. Webster found out that Mr. Banks had signed off on an MOU. As Anguilla’s first elected Premier, he would have to accept the non-negotiable agreement, a fait accompli, if you will. The alternative was an empty treasury, an inability to meet government payroll, and eventual bankruptcy.
In Anguilla, we will always take the easy way out. We did this with the Banking Resolution and now with taxes. We have these politicians who talk a good talk but rarely walk the walk. They always come up with some catchy phrase, “it’s all about you,” and “change can’t wait” to get themselves elected. We never ask pertinent questions. What does it all mean? What will you do for the hordes of people who can’t find work because there are no jobs to find? What about our brilliant young people who have no future in their homeland?
We had reverted to the days when we had no choice but to leave Anguilla for distant shores, and yet you politicians can drive around in your fancy SUVs, living high off the hog, while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet. How dare you?
The APM had made several promises to the voters, two of which were releasing the long-awaited Banking report and rejecting GST. Well, it was easier said than done. Not only did they not release the Banking report, but they also passed GST into law. So much for integrity and transparency.
When Dr. Webster and his party campaigned, they talked about “change can’t wait” but didn’t quite tell us what that change would be. When the bill came up for a vote in the House, two younger ministers, Mr. Kyle Hodge and Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers voted against it. However, the government passed the law with two non-elected members.
Mr. Kyle Hodge resigned in protest because he and the government didn’t see eye to eye. After what might be considered some soul-searching, Ms. Kentish-Rogers soon followed suit and resigned. However, less than forty-eight hours later, Ms. Kentish-Rogers had a change of heart and rejoined the government. What happened to cause her to reconsider? Up to that point, she was principled and doing the right thing. People went on the radio extolling her virtues and singing her praises.
Ms. Kentish-Rogers’ action allowed a government that does not have the best interests of the people of Anguilla at heart to stay in power for now. I’m sure some know why Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers changed her mind. I believe in second chances, and what Ms. Kentish-Rogers does with hers will determine her future. Let’s give her the benefit of the doubt. Actions speak louder than words.
So, we have two of Anguilla’s young politicians with famous pedigrees who decided not to support GST and resigned in protest. However, one of them changed their mind and opted to rejoin the government. What happened in that short time that made her reconsider? Was it a better deal? Was she coerced into going back?
At this point and time, Anguilla finds itself at a place that’s detrimental to us all. We, the people, whose job it was and still is to hold our government accountable, have done a horrible job. We have watched government after government sign away our sovereignty to the Brits and a Central Bank, in of all places, St. Kitts. We have allowed our government to give itself exorbitant raises. We have watched as they passed stupid law after stupid law contrary to our wishes. We have watched as they consented to the whims of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. We have watched as they made laws and enacted them with the help of our ne’-er-do-wells. We have watched as they’ve taken an oath to the Queen to serve her, but what about us? I could go on and on, but to what end?
We are again watching an exodus of our best and brightest people for distant shores simply because they have no choice. When will we get a government that can think outside of the box and does something for the people of Anguilla? When the devil will it happen? We, the people, need to have a meeting of the minds while there is still time.
There are those who have options, who can hop a flight and be back in their comfortable confines, but what about those who can’t do the same? Anguilla and Anguillians stop and think. ‘Who yer fer’ simply won’t cut it anymore. When someone is entrusted with advancing the people’s interests for the public’s good rather than their own, ‘sunlight is said to be the best disinfectant.’ Stop selling out Anguilla.
We have gone through it all. There is no light at the end of the tunnel as was purported by a previous Chief Minister, and then there is plenty of blame to go around. Who will step up for purely unselfish reasons? Till next time. May God bless us.
