The first Government press conference conducted by the recently elected Anguilla United Front (AUF) administration took place at the Ministry of Finance Conference Room on Monday, March 31st, 2025.
Of interest was Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge’s explanation regarding the recent ruling from the Privy Council on a judicial review for Anguilla’ s former local banks, NBA and CCB.
However, before she addressed the judicial review by the Privy Council, the Premier sought to allay any fears that the current local banking industry would be affected. She advised that there is no need to worry because the ruling will have no impact on the operations of the National Commercial Bank of Anguilla (NCBA).
“I want to reassure the public that our National Commercial Bank of Anguilla is not a party to these proceedings,” the Premier said. “Our bank remains strong. It was once in a bridge bank status, but it is now a very strong bank, and we encourage our people to support it.”
She particularly mentioned that she would want to urge a sense of calm across the island, noting that the bank is not at any risk.
In essence, a statement issued by the Privy Council on Monday March 24th had given the two former indigenous banks, National Bank of Anguilla (NBA) and Caribbean Commercial Bank (CCB), the right to pursue a “judicial review” against the Government of Anguilla and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. This decision overturns a previous High Court and Court of Appeal ruling which had denied the off-shore sections of the banks permission to challenge their exclusion from a 2016 financial rescue package.
The Premier noted that in relation to the Privy Council’s decision, in particular, the application that the Privy Council would have heard is the first step in an application for judicial review. A judicial review is a process where an aggrieved person (or entity) who has a grievance over a decision made by a statutory body, or by a government, or a government affiliated entity, can apply to the court for a review of that decision.
“In order to move forward with a judicial review,” she pointed out, “there is an application that must first be heard. That application was heard at the High Court level and then appealed to the Court of Appeal, and then it was appealed to the Privy Council (where it now stands).
“At the Privy Council level, the Court has decided to grant the application for judicial review. The next step is for the judicial review application itself to go forward before the Court,” she said.
The Premier further explained that the decision was not an ultimate decision, and because this is a matter that is still before the Court, she is limited in terms of the kinds of information that can be given at this time.
