To say that I was very impressed with the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School (ALHCS) Science Fair and Exhibition staged at the Teachers’ Resource Center last week would be an understatement. To be quite honest, for a number of years I have missed the event for one reason or the other — however, never because of a lack of interest or desire to see the exhibits and the exhibitors. This year I was fortunate to get a timely reminder and an urging from one of the parents not to miss it. I was not disappointed. But even as I expressed awe at the exhibits I noticed one of the teachers with a glum expression on his face. When I questioned his demeanour he explained that he was disappointed with the presentations and felt that the exhibitors could have done a much better job. He went on to explain that it was not about the exhibits themselves but rather about the absence of more video documentation of the research and findings. Obviously, his comment was based on the level of his expectations. Given the fact that my expectations were not at his level, I was “swept away” by what I saw. Of course that was based on my poor background in the Sciences and my recollection of where I was as a student at the High School more than fifty years ago. I charge the students at ALHCS not to take these opportunities for granted.
I examined every exhibit and I also had the opportunity to speak with the exhibitors as they explained their projects with great pride. It was in fact this aspect of the exhibition with which I was most impressed. Not only did the students understand their projects but they also did an excellent job in articulating the information to the visitors. Again it took me back to my days as a high school student when such opportunities were not available to us. In fact the sciences, in particular Physics and Chemistry, were not even a part of our curriculum. Needless to say that was long before the advent of the personal computer (pc) and the Internet. It occurred to me that I was witnessing a new breed of Anguillians with many more career choices than we had, and the opportunity to become an integral part of the global environment. But most of all I was moved to question whether our Government was paying sufficient attention to this new dispensation and what it meant for Anguilla as a developing nation.
I was also “struck” by the fact that all of the projects had an environmental bent and the majority of them focused on alternative energy. There was one impressive paper recycling project and a water distillation project using solar energy and household material. The alternative energy projects employed solar and wave energy resources and the exhibiting teams explained the significance of their projects to the future self-sufficiency of Anguilla. One of the exhibitors lamented on the slow pace of the passage of the legislation in the Anguilla House of Assembly suggesting that such legislation was critical to the advancement of the integration of alternative energy into the national distribution system. The young exhibitors all saw this as a fair comment on the way the issue of renewable energy is being handled at the political level.
This criticism of the Government’s approach to the subject of alternative energy is consistent with views being expressed in the wider community and among technical commentators on the issue. Some interesting points were raised in a letter to the Editor in the March 29, 2013 edition of The Anguillian which I consider instructive. The author was commenting on two articles also in recent editions of The Anguillian. One by Barbara Drew entitled: “Winds of Change: What has happened to Anguilla’s march towards a renewable energy future.” And the other “An Open Letter to the Chief Minister from GO SOLAR Anguilla.” The author is of the view that “the AUM Government of Chief Minister Hubert Hughes has fallen asleep on its election campaign promise. In its campaigning, and soon after winning the election, the AUM fiercely committed itself to renewable sources of energy as a means to rescue Anguilla from the high cost of electricity, occasioned by the high price of fuel”. He/She further goes on to make the point that in the AUM 2010 Election Manifesto which, by the way, many claimed to be heavily plagiarized from the Anguilla United Front (AUF) Manifesto, it is stated that: “an AUM Government will aggressively seek out alternative energy sources and reduce the cost of electricity to every single household.” The author then raises the very real question upon which we must all ponder: “Was that just talk or reality?”
The Letter to the Editor, signed: “Enquirer”, to which I am referring places the concerns raised by the young presenters at the ALHCS Science Fair in critical context. It evokes the conclusion, when you put both of them together, that perhaps the AUM Government is out of step with the issue. In this sense I believe that it is necessary, for emphasis, to reiterate the questions raised by “Enquirer” for the benefit of those persons who may not have read the piece as well as for ease of reference for those who did. “Enquirer” is concerned that there are rumors of discord and disagreement – if not abandonment – of the alternative energy policy initiative. And furthermore makes the point that this should not be so at a time when there are positive reports, recommendations, and support from authoritative international institutions, companies and individuals, not to mention the Anguilla Electricity Company (ANGLEC) itself. “Enquirer” therefore raises the following questions:
“Where is the Government on this vital issue of renewable energy sources? Just where are our Ministers and particularly the Minister responsible for energy, the Honorable Evan Gumbs? Where are they when everybody is crying out against the high cost of electricity and a number of persons are living in darkness, having their electricity severed because they can’t pay their bills?
I am particularly moved by these questions and comments because of our (AUF) Government’s critical role in advancing the discussion and the implementation of the Renewable Energy Initiative. We (the AUF) commissioned a Committee, approved by the Anguilla House of Assembly and led by the then Speaker of the House, Mr. David Carty, to take the process forward. I might add that not a single member of this committee was paid. It was only when it reached the point where studies, reports and draft legislation were ready that a full-time coordinator was employed. The success of this initiative gained the attention of the Clinton Foundation and other Agencies for both technical and financial support. It is therefore heartrending to hear such remarks. Indeed, it is being reported that the Minister responsible has been heard to say that advancing the legislation would cause ANGLEC to lose money. Hopefully this is not true — but it does conjure up images of the arguments that were being advanced in Anguilla, at the political level, when the introduction of computers was being contemplated. One Minister was heard to say that his opposition to such an initiative was based on his concern for the loss of jobs. It takes some people a while to get the point. Therefore we have to engage in these unenlightened discussions while the country languishes, whether it is the Education Bill; the Alternative Energy Legislation; the budgetary exercise; the extended FFR debate; or the ongoing Independence issue.
It also goes to show that there is some credence to the Chief Minister’s viewpoint in a recent interview with The Anguillian. He said: “Everyday in Anguilla there is a fight!” Of course he was at the time referring to his objection to the signing of the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility Agreement. But, in a general sense, this description of the Government’s tenure rings true. In fact, he contended that: We are at War ….. (and) What Britain is doing to Anguilla is genocide!” These strong statements by the Chief Minister, plastered on the front page of the April 5, 2013 edition of The Anguillian, suggested that things were at an irreversible “Hotpoint”. Did all chances of a positive outcome break down? What message must this have sent to present and future developers both local and external? But “Lo and behold!” less than two days later in a radio broadcast the same Chief Minister reverses his posture; signs the FFR agreement; and commends the British. In his own words: “Let me reiterate that we look forward to receiving UKG assent of GoA’s 2013 Budget at the soonest but no later than April 30, 2013; the receipt of the EC$12.5 million grant to endow the Capital Development Fund, and we commit that with the support of the UKG in terms of legislative drafting assistance, and adherence with our legislative processes, to have the passage of the associated FFR development legislation by 30th June, 2013.”
After hearing this broadcast it would be a fair question to the listening public locally, regionally and internationally to ask: “What did we miss?” I would venture the answer, to wit, nothing! Why do we always have to be fighting the CM’s imaginary war? Another good question would be: “Is the British Government taking him (the CM) on? I would again venture the answer, to wit, no! The Chief Minister is fighting these daily wars by himself. Let me remind you of the Governor’s response to the Chief Minister’s tirade in the same article in The Anguillian: “I hope that the Government of Anguilla will soon sign the partnership agreement because there are huge benefits for the island.” The Governor did not acknowledge the so-called “daily war” or the talk of “genocide”. But I must assure you that a number of readers and listeners locally, regionally and internationally would have questioned the mental condition of the Chief Minister. Is he fit to administer the affairs of Anguilla in this challenging period?
The Honourable Evans McNiel Rogers, the Leader of the Opposition, continues to speak of style, approach and attitude in governance. It is a fitting discussion to have at the present time because in the fourth year of a five-year term this Chief Minister and his Government have not yet settled down to do the people’s business. In his own words: “Everyday there is a fight!” Should I add an unnecessary — perhaps an imaginary fight? Shadow boxing if I may?
Meanwhile, Anguillians are losing jobs; their businesses are failing; they are losing homes and other assets; they are starving; they are without electricity; they are suffering in many ways for lack of resources — indeed many are dying; and yet our Government continues to create apologies. Time is running out! Mr. Chief Minister, will you not heed the call to “Rescue the perishing?”
