A Government has the responsibility to protect and promote human rights and the safety and welfare of citizens. Is the Government of Anguilla meeting its responsibility? The protection of human rights is usually enshrined in a country’s constitution and enforced through court proceedings. The safety of citizens is ensured by the creation of laws prohibiting criminal behaviour and by the establishment of a Police Force or Service.
But what of a government’s responsibility to protect and promote the welfare of citizens? How should this be achieved? Safety nets such as social security schemes can be established, allowing for occasions when persons are unable to work due to illness or a disability. Provision may also be made for unemployed persons. Such a safety net is usually funded by the regular contributions of employed persons, thus qualifying such persons to benefit should their circumstances require that they receive assistance.
The provision of public services funded by taxes paid by citizens and residents also serve to protect and promote the welfare of citizens. Education and health services are prime examples in this instance. School fees do not exist for students attending public primary and secondary schools in Anguilla. Taxes meet the infrastructural and personnel costs associated with providing education at the primary and secondary level in public schools in Anguilla.
Indigent persons are able to benefit from health services by virtue of assistance accessed through the Department of Social Development or Ministry of Social Services. Taxes paid by citizens and residents would fund these programmes. Assistance in accessing health services has now been extended under the Senior Shield to persons age 70 years and older. These persons can now access free medical services at public medical facilities. A similar programme, the Junior Shield, ensures that children under the age of 6 years who are resident in Anguilla receive free healthcare services at public medical facilities. Taxes paid by citizens and residents fund the Senior and Junior Shield Programmes.
In Anguilla new initiatives to protect and promote the welfare of citizens continue to be pursued. Electricity credits were enjoyed by eligibly households, in the recent past, to assist with electricity bills. Also, in the recent past residents of Anguilla, 70 years and older, received EC$500.00 as part of a cost-of-living support programme. The Government has now committed to subsidise any increase in the fuel surcharge for accommodation premises and all other categories of electricity users in specified amounts.
Is the Government of Anguilla simply meeting its responsibility to protect and promote the welfare of citizens or is our government going above and beyond? What are the pros and cons of the policy positions adopted by government? Is a possible con that an entitlement environment is being created so that citizens will expect to be rescued by Government and pay little heed to living with an appreciation that tomorrow will come and it may bring with it unanticipated challenges?
The government must fulfill its responsibility. Part of the responsibility of protecting and promoting the welfare of citizens should be to ensure that citizens have, not only the means but the desire, through their own initiative, to as far as reasonably possible, protect and promote their welfare and the welfare of those dependent on them.
Relief is always welcome, even by those who have no need for it, but maybe a line or lines should be drawn.
