THE TWIN PILLARS

Any other Government, which would have had the task of running Anguilla at this time of economic and financial austerity, would, like the current Administration, encounter much challenge and headache. The difference, if any, in terms of economic development and prosperity for the people of the island, would have been primarily due to skill, experience or luck. But it certainly would not have been possible to easily escape the dictates and grips of the prevailing global economic situation. The blunt reality is that it is incumbent on the Government to bring to bear a sense of duty, passion and creativity that would, in some way, result in moving the island forward.

There is little or nothing going on in investment and development in the public and private sectors in Anguilla to provide temporary or long-term employment. The only short break for a few workers in the public sector has been the re-construction of a section of road, at the Queen Elizabeth Avenue, financed by the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Reduction Insurance Fund. In fact, it was moreof amechanised undertaking than one involving human labour. There is, at present therefore, a shutdown of public sector developmentinvolving Government capital funding.

More and more, it is being seen that there is a reliance on private sector investment and development including the donation of funds for some Government projects. It is a Godsend that the Windsong Foundation has made a considerable donation to the Government whereby the Ministry of Education is continuing the construction of modern classroom blocks as part of the Valley Primary School Redevelopment Project. This has brought about some small, but important, movement in the construction industry.

It is hoped that in the coming weeks the construction industry will receive an even bigger injection in the labour market when work begins on the completion and expansion of the Royale Caribbean Resort at Little Harbour. The locally-owned project has attracted a loan of US$65 million from the Quantum Group in Canada at a time when a number of potential foreign investors, having signed MOUs with the Government, have failed to find the money to finance their projects, thus putting the local economy and employment situation in limbo.

With Government being unable to create public sector projects and jobs, there is an urgent need to mobilise private sector development and employment. The situation is expected to improve shortly now that CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa has reopened and with Viceroy Hotel reopening in November.
Unfortunately, Malliouhana Hotel and Spa is clearly not resuming business next month as previously expected. Since its closure, several months ago, as a result of financial difficulties, its many employees have been out of work and its name has dropped out from the list of operating small leading hotels of the world. There has been a sales agreement between the property’s owners and a developer, but there is no news about a signed MOU between the investor and the Government.

With the increasing dependence on the private sector, it is urgent that Government does all in its power to get Malliouhana back into operation to provide employment and to further enhance the tourism industry. The usual and planned upgrading work done at the hotel in the past, during the slow season, has not yet been undertaken adding to the fear that the property’s return to the marketplace may still be some distance away.

Whilst accepting that the private sector is one of the critical foundation pillars of our economy, and is holding its own, it is now left to Government to ensure that the other critical pillar, the public sector, is in a position to make its contribution, as well, to the overall development of the island. The private and public sectors are the twin pillars of our economy. It is our hope that the global economic and financial situation improves to enable them to contribute further to the advancement of the wellbeing of all our people.