His Excellency
Governor William Alistair Harrison
Government House
Old Ta
Anguilla
18th June, 2013
Governor,
You would have to admit that when you came to Anguilla the People of Anguilla welcomed you with open arms. We did so because the Character and Spirit of our people are to embrace other persons who desire to share our island’s experience. We appreciate the value of this piece of Paradise – its physical attributes in terms of our outstanding beaches and clear blue seas – but more importantly the Paradise that is found in a Proud People – Proud of our Heritage, our Dignity and Worth as a People called Anguillians.
For almost five (5) years we have allowed you to live amongst us. You were able to boldly proclaim at our Anguilla Day Celebrations at Webster’s Park that you were the longest serving Governor in Anguilla. We the People of Anguilla wish that we could have considered your statement favourably. Instead, your words rang hollow to us and instead the People have welcomed your departure and feel that it has been four years too long.
There are reasons for that Governor, and once again we document some of your more offending actions although we know that if you are keenly aware of the community within which you reside these issues are not new to you. Had you taken the time to respond to any of our earlier communications which we presented to you on two other demonstrations it would have allowed us to feel that you even respected our views, but not even those courtesies have been given to the People of Anguilla.
It became clear that from the time this current administration took office what we understand were your expressions that you would never work with our Chief Minister came to fruition. The fact that on Election Day while we were at the polls you would proceed to sign a lease giving away our finest beach land to Cap Juluca for one hundred and twenty five (125) years with automatic renewals for a further one hundred and twenty five (125) years when it would have been prudent, ethical and in the interest of good governance to have waited until an administration was installed, was the first of many damaging blows you leveled against the People of Anguilla.
Today that same Cap Juluca, and your personal involvement with Mr. Adam Aaron, a person who in our view as an Owner had little regard for the People of Anguilla has left Anguilla handicapped. Mr. Aron left Anguilla without payment of workers Social Security, Government’s Accommodation Taxes, Interim Stabilization levy which tells us the character with whom you chose to associate. While we accept that this hotel property has been in litigation in excess of twenty (20) years, we believe that your personal interest in the handling of the Cap Juluca issue with minimal involvement of the Political Directorate due to your direct contact with said Aron hindered a path forward on this issue. After four (4) years you have been successful in leaving Cap Juluca in shambles.
We have also observed over your period of stay, that in the handling of appointments within or outside the Public Service, consultation with the Chief Minister became a sham exercise.
By far, the most visible of this lack of consultation which in our minds demonstrated that you have no regard for the interest of the People of Anguilla and caused us to question deeply your integrity was when you acted in transferring key Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Finance. The whole of Anguilla knew, that those Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Finance and Tourism were persons who had the skills, knowledge and expertise to assist the Ministry of Finance in being able to chart a course out of the harshest economic climate that Anguilla has ever experienced crisis. Those Permanent Secretaries had proven their credibility when an independent review exercise organized by the British Government found the Independent Consultants upholding the Budget as being expertly prepared and stood.
We find it simply incredible that notwithstanding all the Leaders of the Overseas Territories agreeing with our Chief Minister that your actions were high-handed and notwithstanding that your Minister of the Overseas Territories Mr. Bellingham asked you to review your decision and work it out with the Chief Minister, that your arrogance persisted and you informed the Chief Minister and by extension the People of this Country that your decision stood. To us this demonstrates your conscious disregard and disrespect for the people in which you were sent to Govern.
Today your newest attack on the People of Anguilla is the approach that you have adopted to the handling of the position of the Senior Parliamentary Counsel in the Attorney-General’s Chambers. While we simply are not able to catalogue all your infractions, we encourage the British Government (who we have to assume supported your actions) and the International community to look into your actions while being in Anguilla even after you have left.
Your statement earlier this year, that you still have more time to do more damage suggests to us that this was always your attention and that is, to damage Anguilla. Just last week, you did just that when you voted in our Executive Council to close down the Dolphin Discovery and put many people out of work. This decision will impact a number of our ferry boat owners and workers, apartment and house owners and indeed, the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority. There is no way you can mean well for Anguilla when you can make such a critical decision albeit, wrongly. We understand the owners of the Dolphin Discovery were not even afforded an opportunity to represent themselves the appeal and look at ways to remedy the concerns. It is our opinion that this process was flawed and the decision by yourself and Minister Baird has put Anguilla in a precarious position. There is no doubt that the Government and people of Anguilla will have to defend itself against legal challenges from already scarce resources that would be better applied to much needed Social and infrastructural improvements. We are demanding that you do what is right and revisit this action!
As we stated; the people of Anguilla have marched on more than one occasion before and submitted letters to you seeking your response to the grave issues which they have raised and to date, you have snubbed the people of Anguilla. Past Governors has respected the people enough to respond to questions and peaceful marches such as this. Even in these final days, you continue to display your disregard and disdain for the people of Anguilla by circumventing the Constitution against the wishes of the majority in the Executive Council. This violation of Anguilla’s Constitution and the advice given by the newly re-appointed Hon. James Wood brings into question your knowledge of his prior infractions while being Attorney General in Montserrat.
The Montserrat Reporter headlined an article on September 24, 2010 that said, “Attorney General Wood accused of ‘bad faith’ by Judge.” The article said: “Attorney General James Wood …has been cited as “displaying bad faith and impropriety,” in a judgment handed down by Justice Henry Moe dated 23rd September, 2010 and reaffirmed by the Court of Appeal who could reinserted into the judgment, the strong condemnation of Justice Moe to lack of ethical conduct on the part of the Attorney General.
We in the general community are aware that persons had brought information about the conduct of the Attorney General Wood to you and therefore, you acted with deliberate intent to appoint and re-appoint him as Attorney General of Anguilla. We are therefore demanding that there be reconsideration for any re-appointment since Mr. Wood contract has not yet expired and we direct this demand to the Governor elect with whom you claim you have consulted.
It is obvious that during your tenure as Governor, you did what was in the best interest of yourself and made a mock of democracy and of the people of Anguilla. While we are a polite people, we have to act in our own interest and preservation as a people and therefore request of you kindly, to leave our shores as you have exhausted your welcome.
Mr. Roosevelt Harris
Representative of Civil Society
(Published by The Anguillian newspaper without editing)
