On Friday 3rd May, when I heard the news that our Honourable Chief Minister had been involved in a motor vehicle accident, my heart leapt in my chest. It seems that this was the reaction of our entire citizenry many of whom rushed to George Hill or to the hospital to ascertain the wellbeing of our leader. Thankfully, our fears were allayed when we realized that the Chief Minister was still talking. If this was not the case, we would have known right away that his prognosis was grim. A few days later, we learnt that our Chief Minister was travelling overseas for further medical attention in relation to the internal injuries sustained in the accident. Again, our country was deeply concerned. However, it did not take long before our Chief Minister was on the airwaves indicating to the public that, apart from a fractured rib, he was given a clean bill of health. According to him, his blood pressure was 120 over 70, and the doctors were so impressed with the state of his general health that they said he could live for another fifty years! Knowing our Chief Minister, we can be assured that this means that he is contemplating extending his political career accordingly.
Whether as Chief Minister or simply as an elected member of the Anguilla House of Assembly, the Honourable Hubert Hughes has been, is and will, for time to come, be a prominent figure in Anguilla’s politics. There are several characteristics for which Mr Hughes is renowned and which any other politician would find hard to emulate. Firstly, Mr Hughes is a lengthy orator. In relation to any matter being debated in the House, we are almost guaranteed that he will speak on it and around it extensively. He will exhaust every possible perspective from which the matter could be examined. Whether we appreciate his style or not, we will agree that no one can bring length and breadth to debate like Hubert Benjamin Hughes.
Secondly, Mr Hughes always has a historical perspective. Regardless of the occasion or the venue, once he speaks it is very likely that he will give some historical insight regarding his topic. Whether his references are to recent history or ancient history, he will be clear in communicating his perspective on the period in history about which he is speaking. He therefore brings to debates not only the benefit of his experiences as a politician and a businessman, but a readiness to remind us of the historical factors that contributed to the issue under consideration.
Thirdly, Mr Hughes has an aggressive style of leadership. Depending on the circumstances, this is an important attribute. He is outspoken on every issue and, whether we agree or not, he will ensure that his position (including his likes and dislikes) is unequivocally communicated. However, in doing so, he may ruffle feathers, stomp on egos, smear personalities and incite insurrection. His style gives the appearance that he is in constant combat mode which may or may not be a good thing depending on the lens through which it is examined.
Having said that, I often wonder whether our Chief Minister has thought about what kind of legacy he wants to leave when he retires from active politics many years from now. I am sure that many political figures have thought about this as they become more advanced in years. Many believe that our Chief Minister wants to be the first Prime Minister of an independent Anguilla. That may be so. However, rather than seeking the immediate realisation of this dream, I believe our Chief Minister should put his efforts into beginning to prepare Anguilla for that eventuality. Since it appears that he has a long life ahead of him, time is on his side.
Our Chief Minister should work towards rebuilding a peaceful society where people are not fiercely divided along political lines – or village boundaries – but working and living together in one accord to move Anguilla forward. He should make every effort to restore a sense of safety and security among the populace which is becoming increasingly fearful due to heightened criminal activity. Restoring prosperity to Anguilla should be high on his agenda as it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to make an honest and decent living here. Among other things, great emphasis should be placed on eliminating poverty, diversifying the economy and passing labour legislation (inclusive of severance pay) to protect the interest of our workers. Urgent attention should be given to improving social infrastructure – our education, health and welfare systems need a serious injection of capital. And our physical infrastructure – communications, ports, roads and utilities are in dire need of upgrade. These should be the areas of focus for our Chief Minister.
The foregoing should be his legacy by the time he exits the political arena. His doctor has said he has fifty more years. Hopefully it will be time well spent.
