Will Independence Bring Prosperity?
I am a concerned citizen of Anguilla, and have sat back and listened to our Honorable Chief Minister bamboozle us about independence. The questions are, are we ready for independence, have we made the necessary preparations for the social sector of the country that is greatly needed, do we have any natural resources to profit or fund this decision, do we have a defense force to protect us from any outside threats and do we have means to mint our own monies? These are but a few of the many questions and concerns that need to be addressed. Chief Minister Hubert Hughes and his colleagues apparent main concern for driving this rampage for independence is the complaint that the United Kingdom of Great Britain has not assisted us financially. They are comparing how other nations, such as France and Holland, have assisted our Caribbean neighbors of St. Martin/ St. Maarten, Guadeloupe, Aruba, etc. I vehemently disagree with their assessment.
For the many years that the various Governments of Anguilla have been in power, they have fallen short in many areas including, but not limited to, building the social development of Anguilla. These leaders now radically talk about independence. Let me define some characteristics of an independent nation:
1. Culturally homogeneous groups of people larger than a single tribe or community, which share a common language, religion, historical experience and Institutions. An independent country has space or territory that has internationally recognized boundaries, economic activity and an organized economy.
2. Individuals that consistently reside in the area.
3. A country that regulates foreign and domestic trade and issues money.
4. Has the power of social engineering, such as education.
5. Has a transportation system for moving goods and people.
6. Has a government which provides basic public services and police power.
Some of the characteristics mentioned are currently being met, some we fall short of, and some simply don’t exist. We are in no way prepared to become independent. Take for instance the police force. It is my estimation that 90% of the force is manned by foreigners. The salaries and benefits at the Royal Anguilla Police Force are so attractive that people as far away as Australia have tried applying for the positions. Why is it that the Anguilla youth and local patriots don’t see it fit to police their own country? And yet our leaders continue to preach independence.
Let’s take a look at another important area. The Legal System is also dominated by foreigners, and most of the locals that practice law are women. Hoorah for the women, but where are our men? Do you see a problem? I do! Where is the future of our young men headed? What is our plan to equal the playing field?
The hospital has local nurses and the board is local Anguillians; however, the doctors are foreigners. Don’t get me wrong. I have great respect for these individuals, but I am concerned about the empowerment and self-determination of our local people. Yet we preach independence!! Are we ready?
The three main industries of Anguilla are: farming, fishing and tourism.
In the past, when the people were hungry with ambition, hungry for knowledge, and hungry to empower themselves, Anguilla controlled a portion of the salt trade in and out of the Caribbean. Locals farmed their lands and fed themselves along with other Caribbean nations. Imagine once upon a time St. Martin used to buy produce, animals, and fish from Anguilla. We had the leading edge, but the economic tides have shifted and St. Martin has become a leach to our economic system. The spirit of farming has taken off again in Anguilla and I applaud those who have taken up the mantle, but there is no room for complacency.
Remember one of the characteristics that mentioned the regulation of foreign and domestic trade? Well where is our Government when it comes to regulating the fishing industry? There are many fishermen that are abusing our fishing grounds. As certain fish come into spawn they round them up and sell them for profit, not concerned about the size or maturity of the fish. Yes, we all have to eat but we need to do this responsibly. If we continue at this pace our waters will be fished out for future generations. Now, faced with the threat of the Lion fish, we are further doomed!! The Lion fish prey on the local fish that keep the coral and reefs healthy, and feed our nation. Therefore, if we are not careful, we will soon “pull the bucket a well and the bottom a fall out”.
Anguilla has one of the largest fishing grounds in the Caribbean and we underutilize it. Anguillians complain that if bands or restrictions are placed on the fishing industry they won’t be able to survive. However, let’s look at ten years down the road and ask the question, if we continue at this pace will the same fishing grounds be able to sustain us? We need to graduate to the next level of fishing. Technology was introduced to the local fishermen by means of investing in trawlers and fishing in deeper waters. Some have adapted and found it sustaining and some haven’t for personal reasons. The greatest book in the world, The Bible, teaches us about 6 years of planting and reaping, and 1 year of withdrawal. “10 And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof, 11But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy olive yard”(Exodus 23:10-11). This lesson is true for the ocean as well.
Many civilizations have taken nature for granted and have hunted some animals into extinction, have wiped out vegetation of the face of the earth due to deforestation etc. Let’s look at the nation of China. They abused their fishing grounds and have caused an imbalance in nature over the years and now are faced with polluted water resources. Now they have found their way into our Caribbean waters and are fishing in a way that the same Anguillians have rejected. Ironically, we have rejected the innovation of other industries that the Chinese are capitalizing on currently and competing indirectly and directly with local Anguillians. Anguilla has one of the largest boundary lines out at sea; however, we lack the resources to police it and also lack the will to use it to our advantage. What are we waiting on? Are we waiting for a huge company to come in and benefit from the deep water fishing industry and then higher local Anguillians to work the same trawlers we reject? Are we ready for independence?
Food for thought: currently our neighbors to the west, the USVI, BVI, and Puerto Rico, are combining resources to protect their regional coral reefs. It is only a matter of time before we have to follow suit, or pay the consequences. Our coral reefs will not be excluded from the natural destruction that we are causing. Eventually, we will have to follow suit. Either willingly or by force, because of starvation, total dependence on importing fish, lack of natural reefs to sustain the local fish, etc. Nature is Nature and abuse of nature is abuse, and nothing changes from region to region.
Tourism is a thriving industry but can become fragile in the course for independence if it is done prematurely and carelessly. Some investors come to Anguilla because of our affiliation with the United Kingdom, and many that have invested stay because of the same.
We recently had a wakeup call in reference to our literacy rate in Anguilla when Viceroy started accepting applications for employment. Apparently the majority of applicants were lacking the basic reading and writing skills. We need to push education for our people!! Yet we preach independence! Are we truly ready?
I beg to differ on the current rumor that has been circulating around Anguilla pertaining to the perception that the United Kingdom has not assisted us financially over the years. There are many hidden cost that the United Kingdom incurs assisting their overseas territories, that we as an independent nation will not be able to afford. For example, when investors approach the Anguilla government to invest, we can approach the United Kingdom to investigate their legitimacy.
Secondly, the United Kingdom has a naval ship patrolling the Caribbean waters in order to assist any of its territories in their time of need due to outside or inside threats. (Where is our defense force? Is it the same force that our Honorable Chief Minister Hubert Hughes mentioned when he threatened England that he would use force if England sent military units into Anguilla. I have yet to see any such force. Have you?)
Thirdly, due to the affiliation with the United Kingdom, we can apply for grants from the European Union, of which our Governments have not utilized 100%. We envy our neighbor to the south; however, many of their projects are funded by International Monetary funds that they apply for through the European Union. There is no such thing as free money! If Anguilla does obtain independence, any financial assistance the government in power may obtain will come at an extremely high cost. It’s similar to the old cliché “selling your soul to the devil”.
Will we truly be independent? Look at Jamaica, are they truly independent from the United Kingdom? If so, why does United Kingdom still send down laws for them to incorporate into their local laws? If these laws are not adhered to they would not be able to acquire aid from the United Kingdom. Financial assistance from any country, regardless if you are independent or not, comes with restrictions and stipulations. Jamaica along with many other Caribbean islands and nations have natural resources that help sustain their economies and still they are not in the position Anguilla has been in for the past decade. Those same nationals I have drawn reference to, have been coming to Anguilla for a better way of life. That’s says a lot about their economic conditions.
Does independence bring prosperity even for our Caribbean neighbors that have an abundance of natural resources? Be careful of being taken to the well, the well may be dry!!
“Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar.” (Julius Caesar).
Name withheld at writer’s request.
