Dear Editor,
Anguilla’s Intangible Mineral Miracle
While Anguilla endured over 200 years of financial and moral hardship under the governance of various St. Kitts administrations, prior to 1967, it was not recognized as a country. But in 1967, things slowly began shifting.
Anguillians arose and shined. They shipped out the St. Kitts police, put every wheelbarrow, drum, old truck, cat, rat & dog on the 2 x 4 run way and then had a mock funeral saying Bradshaw, was dead! They had a coffin, they walked and danced the streets giving thanks to God for finally, centuries of heavy financial burdening pressure had lifted.
However, legislations recognizing Anguilla as a country were still not in place in 1974, so Anguilla was not eligible to receive a global country code. (Many thanks to the letter written in The Anguillian last week giving such historical facts).
Just think……. If Anguillians had rebelled and received country recognition any time before 1974, AA would most likely have been our code, which Aruba was given. Does this sound like luck?
It took Anguilla several years, mainly wrangling, begging and arguing with the British and fighting St. Kitts, to be separated and obtain a Constitution (1982) and be officially recognized as a country. The country code AI was later given to Anguilla.
Clearly, what Bradshaw and other St. Kitts administrations meant for evil, God was working for Anguilla’s good! In retrospect, could this be a reward for what our forebears suffered, yet remaining some of the most kindest people? The .ai Domain is our oil. Or as Mr. Lynwood Bell said daily for over two decades, “It is Anguilla’s potash” (take a minute and research potash in Canada and what its used for).
When we do hear the projected figures from the intangible .ai Domain for the next 5 years, which could potentially snowball again over 5 years after that, I believe we will see how living the next 200 years without heavy taxes, seasoned with ingenuity and patience, is quite possible for us. We will lend to other countries. We won’t have to borrow. Some will try to derail it. What will be our response? Will we cherish, preserve and advance it?
Sometimes Anguillians are called too quiet and not aggressive enough, but Solomon says ‘To everything, there’s a time’. On 30 May, 1967, It Was Time!
It therefore is an insult to God’s presence, providence, protection and provision, to relegate the .ai Domain to “luck”. Today, along with Tourism and other industries, it can furnish Anguillians with freedom from heavy taxes for possibly centuries, as we honour God, and if we with the funds,
1. Place in savings and in reserves
2. Build our people and nation sensibly
3. Manage wisely, including paying current huge debts before committing to new
In Anguilla, Bradshaw’s rule died on 30 May, 1967.
What Bradshaw couldn’t fully do however, some Anguillians and non-Anguillians now want to do. Most forget that most countries were way way ahead when Anguilla was suffering. With only 40 years under its belt as a country, most countries now want Anguilla to join them in applying heavy taxation. Let’s not put ourselves in bondage by ourselves Anguilla! Where there is a will, There is a way!
History & Economics are Siamese twins, they’re conjoined at the head, sharing one brain. Anguillians, let’s use the whole brain, open our eyes and stop people from, unintentionally and intentionally, attempting to masterfully separate the two in order to kill aspects of our Anguillianness!
Today, we are especially grateful for Anguillians going back 250 years, for what they did to secure our current state, when they had nothing. Let us in 2024 be so responsible with what we have now, so that in 2224, our descendants can look back and be grateful to us for taking care of what sounds to me, like a God-ordained Miracle.
Loving Anguilla,
Avenella
