Hubert Hughes: Ace of Spades or  Jack of Asses

It is astonishing to believe that in this day and age we have people still fighting colonialism. Like something out of a 60’s novel, here enters Anguilla’s   the Chief Minister Hubert Hughes and his associates. Mr. Hughes’ apparent obsession with the British dates back to 1967 when, Anguilla then part of a Tri-State colony of Britain, was attempting to break away and become a separate entity. Mr. Hughes, then a crony of Colonel R.E. Bradshaw, the brutal dictator of the St. Kitts, wanted Anguilla to remain in the Union. So, when Britain gave the go ahead and granted Anguilla’s leaders their wish to secede, it incensed him, and of course Col. Bradshaw, thus we have the prelude to one of the great feuds in the twentieth century.

For the past forty plus years, Hughes has been a part of the Anguillian political arena. He has enjoyed two stints as its Chief Minister, part of the ruling Government and has been the leader of the opposition. That he has been problematic would be the greatest understatement of the century.During all of the unrest and turmoil in Anguillian politics, Mr. Hughes has been a constant. Mr. Hughes has always been anti everything, even to programs he pledged to support. Over the course of his political career, he has managed to disrupt the normal functioning of Government both as the opposition member and as a member of Government. His disruption has cost Anguilla  and its economy dearly in terms of finance and development.  When he is part of the opposition, he is the self proclaimed advocate for good governance, however, when  he is part of the ruling Government, he is suspected and accused of the same corrupt practices. If you can recall, just recently he was embroiled in a dispute with Government over payments for a telephone bill that was some ten years old. Whether or not he was entitled to repayment is debatable, however, his request was at a time when the Island was going through its worst financial crisis and here he was seeking over $30 grand.. There was no offer of compromise or even sympathy for the Island's state of affairs. As an opposition member, he has even sided with Government to give retired ministers vehicles as a reward for their services, totally ludicrous.Is this a person who should be leading our Island?

He has traveled back and forth to Britain on several occasions to perform various Governmental functions where his   unprovoked attacks on the British representatives are the stuff of legend. His disregard for normal protocols   and lack of professional decorum has astonished and baffled the British that has cast serious doubts on his competency.  He makes unreasonable requests and demands that the British are obligated to honor them because of their Overseas Territory status. However, when the British asks for documents to substantiate his requests, he accuses them of bias and neglect.  Consequently, he receives no aid and returns home empty handed. At home, his summation of his visit to Britain is usually one of condemnation advises the Anguillian people that Britain refused to give the aid he sought.

 At times, one is lead to believe that he is nothing more than a raging lunatic. However, he does possess the uncanny ability to stir up the emotions of the Anguillian people with talk of victimization and whip their rebellious spirit into frenzy. Anguillians who are by nature a loving and docile group can become incensed if they feel that their freedom is threatened in any manner. They will strongly resist any and all efforts of foreign domination by anyone, a fact that is well known by Mr. Hughes.  Once agitated, Anguillians become easy subjects for Hughes’ manipulations out of fear of returning to a Bradshaw type era and out of their need to be independent. The irony of it all is that there is no such impending doom looming on the horizon. Mr. Hughes is acutely aware of this but uses this as a propaganda tool to fool gullible Anguillians into believing it and get their support.  It’s a tactic that has worked for him in past and one that he continues to use. These are his calling cards, his modus operandi that has served him well over the years.

Mr. Hughes is a masochistic. personality who  skillfully employs   this tactic to garner home support when launches  ferocious attacks on Britain by alleging that Britain is solely responsible for the Island’s hardships and financial woes.   His acrid rhetoric is unfathomable for a person of his intelligence and could only be attributed to the antics of the insane.  He gives no apologies for his erroneous statements and treats those around him with disdain and contempt if they oppose his point of view. To him, this qualifies as the ultimate betrayal and is paramount to treason. This type of behavior is childish, distasteful and lacks any sense of professionalism.

He is renowned for creating hostile conflicts with Britain to give the illusion that they are infringing the rights of the Island to autonomy and full self internal government. He has vehemently reject Britain’s right to oversight even though they have the responsibility for such administration. To show his resistance to Britain’s insistence on maintaining its administration of this overseas territory, he has recently embarked on a campaign to petition Britain for the island’s independence and claims that the population is in favor of this decision without a need for a referendum. Again another juvenile ploy aimed at pressuring Britain to bow to his ridiculous requests. His lack of negotiation skills or diplomacy is his main obstacle to establishing a normal working relationship with Britain. No one wants to collaborate with someone who possesses no ability to think analytically or present sound plans for progress and forging ahead. He has no imagination and thus is unable to present a master plan or blueprint for Anguilla’s future.

 While a majority of Anguillians favor more control of their internal affairs, to them independence is not an option as the Island population is too small for it to be a viable. So, why is there a sudden urgency to push for independence?   According to local rumors, Mr. Hughes apparently has designs of becoming Anguilla’s first President. It is utterly laughable and absurd for Mr. Hughes to entertain such lofty ambitions and it is an insult to the people of Anguilla for him to believe that they will blindly follow him down that path. Such a decision will ultimately be disastrous for the island, its economy and its people because the island’s only means of income is derived from its tourism industry. There are no other industries or other businesses established on there. Only a certifiable mad man can conjure up such abstract projections that are devoid of rational thinking and definitely not based in reality. It will most certainly take a   lunatic to actually believe that there can be a positive outcome from all of this

The question thus remains how do we view Mr. Hughes and his political legacy? Is he the political Ace of Spades or his consummate arrogance makes him a Jack of Asses? Judging from the characteristics highlighted here it is highly unlikely that he will be labeled anything other than the latter. You be the judge.

We are returning

After being gone for a while, we are pleased to report that Shaping Anguilla:s Future will be returning shortly with informative posts and commentary about life and politics in Anguilla. We hope that our information will be utilized for the advancement  and enrichment of the people of Anguilla. We appreciate all who followed us in the past and hope that you will return to support us in the future.

                                                                                                        Anguilla Advancement Group ( AAG)

Brink of Chaos

Nestled in the turquoise tranquil waters of the Caribbean Sea lies a tiny remote island most of us have never heard of, yet still this tiny Caribbean island has become the nucleus of an fierce power struggle between one of the world’s leading super powers -Britain- and a people’s will for autonomy. This strange arrangement started between the two entities from way back in the 1967 when the island people rebelled against their tri-state union with St. Kitts – Nevis. Anguillans sought relief from the dictatorial rule of, the then premier, Robert Bradshaw. They were successful and were granted the status of Overseas Territory of Britain. This was supposed to be a relationship whereby the island would be granted the right to be self governing while enjoying the security given by Britain, who were directly responsible for financial matters and security. For the past three decades, this relationship thrived, even though somewhat one sided, and Anguilla blossomed enjoying an economic boom that surpassed its Caribbean counterparts. Lately, however, Anguilla has fallen on hard times due in part to the global economic crisis and mismanagement of their finances. It is here where we notice the defect in the way its umbilical association with the UK (Britain) Government. It is this defect that has this once prosperous tiny self sufficient Caribbean island tethering on the brink of chaos.


Anguilla’s unique status with Britain is such that the British Government has the power to deny the passage of its budget , suspended its constitution, made appointments and sanction laws , while the local Government has little or no recourse. In other words it is a modern day plantation experiment by the British colonialist. In this day and age such behavior is reprehensible and causes one wonders why the UN Council allows them to get away with it. Recent events arising in Anguilla bring to the forefront the disadvantages and the pitfalls of this ridiculous type of governance. Anguilla’s Government recently passed their annual budget 2011 and submitted it to the UK for ratification and guess what? Yes they rejected it and not only did the reject it but imposed conditions that must be met before they would consider acceptance. Such actions, by the British Government, have far reaching consequences for Anguilla and its people. It has undoubtedly created an atmosphere of anxiety and has unnecessarily plunged this island into a state of instability. The local Government is unable to pay the salaries of its employees neither is it able to continues projected improvement projects. In a desperate attempt to sustain its fondling economy, the local Government has tried to obtain loans to help assuage this shortcomings but the British Government who has oversight in these matters blocked or denied their borrowing capabilities. Without the approval of the Foreign Overseas Territories Office, who guarantees these loans, the Government and the country will grind to a screeching halt. Of course the FOTO denies any ulterior motive in this, but yet still it attaches strict conditions or stipulations before they would allow Anguilla any leeway in borrowing. As a territory of Britain and one who has not benefitted from financial assistance, it is quite disheartening to see them being treated like common beggars. Anguilla has, for decades, been self reliant and did a commendable job of managing but like many countries succumbed to the global economic crisis. The general atmosphere in the Island is one of extreme uncertainty and despair because there are limited resources and job diversification. As a result many of the local who are in fear of losing their jobs are beginning to panic. Perhaps this is the end result that the British sort. There is a lot of finger pointing and accusation being passed around. The rumor mill is alive and kicking and it adds fuel to the hysteria that is now engulfing the entire island. So bleak is its future that many Anguillans are entertaining the idea of independence in hopes that this will be their salvation. However, most of it is just wishful thinking because nowhere the Island is ready for such a move.

The British has a critical role to play here and an inherent obligation. As a territory that has not received financial support funds, Britain should be pressured by the UN and other countries to meet its past obligations to Anguilla which would total in the millions of Pounds. Money that would surely ease this Island’s financial dilemma.

Anguilla’s future is uncertain and financial viability is questionable unless it is able to restructure its financial portfolio. This entails making adjustments and revisions of to how things are done. With careful restructuring that includes proper revenue collections, a sound system of moderate taxation and careful stewardship of its treasury revenues. In addition, it must diversify its economy and amend its constitution to curtail the unchallenged power of the British overseers. If this is not corrected promptly Anguilla will not just be tethering on the brink of chaos but would have become engulfed and consumed in it. The result being an Anguilla that is no more that a modern day plantation project for the British colonial powers. An exercise in modern day slavery.

Government of Anguilla and Social Security

The Government is supposed to be of the people and for the people, however,it appears that it has taken the form of a totalitarian regime. Its sole purpose and goal is basically to further the whims and wishes of the party and its leaders,a sort of a members only club.All others seem to be ignored or excluded from participation.Now here come the Social Security Administration,a governmental entity, chartered to collect revenue from the people and to safe guard it for future use by those contributing to the fund, stepping into the lime light by aligning itself with business ventures undertaken by the GOA. Most people make contributions in anticipation of collecting when the reach the age of maturity to do so.This fund that the Board oversees should be protected or safe guarded under such strictest of measures so that we would be guaranteed that it will be there when needed.However,the stewards of the fund shows signs of mismanagement, misappropriation or misuse of such assets and an ungodly alignment with the GOA. Officials appear to utilize or redirect a portion of this fund for their own gain whether it is for status elevation or some other purpose. Where else in the world would we see such squandering of public funds without a proper inquiry be conducted. To use these funds to purchase real property that is not directly being utilized by the Administration is wrong. To purchase a building to be used as a training facility (school) because the GOA or the Tourism Board desires it is utterly preposterous. While investing a portion of those funds in the financial money markets to increase its value and returns is acceptable ,investing in a building project or donating any portion of these funds to any organization is not only foolish and irresponsible but illogical and wrong.
Why did the SSA or its director to enter into such a risky deal with the GOA?What in God's name are the advantages of such a deal? What if the school fails who will foot the costs involved in the repayment of the loan? Surely GOA will not because they do not presently have the necessary capital to meet their civil servants payroll. How then will the loan be repaid? The SSA will no doubt be the one left hold the bag. The funding for repayment will ultimately come from the coffers of the SSA and be a further burden on the people of Anguilla. Is this why we pay into this fund? I am certain that most contributors to this fund would not want their contributions used in that way. This is a practice that is done in private or secrecy and without the consent of its benefactors.The association of the GOA and the SSA should be discouraged and legislation put in place to prevent such outlandish activities.
It is truly amazing that the people of Anguilla are standing idly by and allow its Government to broker a deal with the Social Security Administration in the form of a loan to purchase the old Cinnamon Reef from NBA Bank.The basis for this agreement is that it would benefit Government and the Social Security Board by the receiving revenue from operating a School at the site.This is mere speculation and begs for some inquiry into this agreement.Questions need to be asked and answers need to be forthcoming so the people can understand and have the option to agree or disagree.This ,after all ,is their right as citizens of this Island.
When GOA entered into such an agreement ,was the people given prior notice?Were they acting with the approval of the people.Where is the proposed business plan?Where is the projected expenditures and profits ,in the form of future potential earnings?How will the profits be shared?How will the loan be repaid and what percentage will the Government be allowed to withhold.Does the SSA have any other interest in the planned School project other then a guarantor of the loan?
Government should not be allowed to pressure or persuade other Governmental entities to participate in unscrupulous activities where public funds are involved.It is totally unheard of in this day and age.Can we expect this to be a profitable venture for the people of Anguilla?Or is it a bail out of an ineffective Government by the Social Security Administration.One should exercise due care and diligence when public funds are being appropriated for business ventures.There should always be a public forum where the proposal will be debated and the populace input considered.It is quite baffling that Government should be so concerned with this purchase when it is experiencing financial difficulties.This type of irresponsible and reckless behaviour is ,perhaps ,the reason why the UK has denied their request for additional borrowing.Anguillians cannot continue to remain passive and fearful to react to Government arrogance.If they are allowed to continue with their infantile behaviour Anguillians will be the ones to suffer when it is all said and done.
The political climate in Anguilla is changing dramatically yet still we see no sign of the new breed being courageous enough to confront Government.They seem content to murmur and shun the real issues. The opposition with the exception of the Hon.H.Hughes,appear s to be lost in its own inefficiency and as such is unable to act as per it charter.Who then is our guardian,who is there to act on our behalf?The media is not up to the task since it appear to lack quality investigative reporters.The question remains ,where do we go and who do we seek for help in standing up against the big' Bully',GOA.How are we to deal with this unbridled power?
The answer is quite simple.We utilize the web and its vast audiences, and corral the assistance of humble bloggers such as the distinguished D.Mitchell and others who valiantly step forward amid threats of violence and frivolous law suits to expose and highlight the news worthy issues.They hold their ground, despite the onslaught of the heavy hand of the law( Government) and its cronies,to expose Government ,shady practices and signs of corruption.They are doing us a valuable a service that aids in the advancement of the country.To these individuals I give my respect and much praise.
Once again GOA flaunted its arrogance in the face of the people and redirected funds held for a specific purpose and rerouted them to achieve its intended goals.Does the end then justifies the means?If Anguillians are okay with that then they deserve the representation that they have .However,I believe that most Anguillians would not go along with this transaction and are simply unaware of this transaction.I doubt that they would have allowed it if they had a say in the matter.

Apologies for Blog's Temporary Suspension

Regrettably, I must say that this blog has been in hibernation because I have since left the Island of AXA. As a result, I am not able to comment on the local happenings.However,I hope to restart my commentary in the near future.
To all my viewers , those who posted comments , objections,I will try to return with newer material and information that is news worthy ,factual and interesting.
To Mr Mitchell,I have always I valued your input and criticisms. I also follow your blog closely and even though I am temporarily suspending this blog, I will still check your blog to get an idea of the climate of political change that is taking place in AXA and the issues we are facing us all. As you have mentioned in a previous post, someone told you that I was associated with the APP party,that is incorrect.I am not part of APP or in any way affiliated with them. While I endorse their agenda,my views ,opinions and commentaries are unbiased and independently generated from research and local sources.
I will be back as soon as I can to post and generate discussion of issues affecting our poeple.

APP poised to wrestle control from UF

It is the new movement's momentum that has apparently catapulted it into the political spotlight and revealed it as the front runner in the upcoming 2010 general elections.The charismatic leader, Brent Davis, has corralled some promising talents to challenge the incumbents.To topple this old dynasty it will demand a virtual coup . Anguillians have become so accustomed to the old style political system that most are reluctant to change.APP main focus however ,is change, and are vigorously vamping up their campaign to include the youths and other disenfranchised people.Will this strategy work? For them it must if they are to be victorious in 2010.
The APP is campaigning on a sound platform and details what they are prepared to do in terms of helping Anguillians during these hard economic times.Budget cuts ,better healthcare,and beefed up law enforcement are among things they prioritize.They are very specific in what they hope to accomplish if they are the elected winning party.Can they deliver on their promises if elected?One hope that they can implement the change all Anguillians seek. According to Mr.Davis ,they can and will deliver most, if not all ,of the things they promised.
The APP appears to have the backing and approval of many of the young people of Anguilla ,who feel left out or cast aside by the ruling Government.They believe that their voices are not being heard and show a real concern and fear for the future of Anguilla if the present Government remains in office.These young people are pumped up and ready to go to polls ,especially after the recent victory of their idol ,President Obama, in the US presidential elections.They have a new sense of empowerment that can translate into real victory for the APP in 2010.
The new vision of hope given by the APP is overshadowed by an older population who view them with doubt and suspicion.Claims of inexperience and lack of foresight run rampant among the older generation when the conversation turns to the electability of the APP.They question whether or not these young politicians can measure up in terms of leadership, experience and wisdom of the old politicians.They tout that on the job training or college degrees is just not enough to convince them to cast their vote for this party.It is painfully obvious that the road to victory will be a long and hard battle for the APP and its aspiring leader.APP,however will not be sidetracked and counters with the fact that its members are well educated and skilled in current situations and technologies,a necessary component crucial to dealing with real world problems. They contend that they are ideally suited and equipped with the expertise to deal with the present issues facing Anguilla as a nation and possess the abilities to interact and communicate effectively with other world leaders.
To win in 2010 ,APP must convince Anguilla's aging population of their competence and assure them that they can and are committed to doing the job at hand.Can these young upstarts win them over ?Yes it is possible. The APP must devise a careful but yet powerful campaign strategy to show their strengths , the programs they intend to implement and the time table in which to accomplish it. Only time will tell if they have the resolve to undertake this surmountable feat.For now ,though, their battle has just begun and they are off and running with a catchy phrase 'Vote for change ,vote team orange'.

Attitude for Change

Anguilla has undergone a myrad of changes and eveolution durng its short history.Today we are partially reaping the rewards of the labours of our valiant heros and freedom foghters.It is really quite disconcerting to observe the chaos and apparent instability that the Island is experiencing as a result of present day Government mismanagement of the countries affairs.The islanders have long fought for and have won their individuality but it is now threatened by selfish and egotistic leadership.
Once again we are facing the crossroads of change and it is a choice that has to be made with careful thought.Are we to bring about change because the world is in a state of upheaval or becuase it is the right and prudent thing to do?The lack of transparacy, honesty,integrity and productivity has created an air of tensions and distrust in the Anguillian society that is summering below the surface creating tensions that will ultimately climax into an ugly explosive and violent outburst.This is not what any reasonable citizen wants for anguilla nor is it what is good for the isalnds reputation.Anguilla's fragile tourist based economy cannot be expected to survive such a strike,thus it is would be wise to act now so that we can reverse and repair the damage doneby our politicians.Politics on hte island is based mostly on family ties and old loyalties and Anguillians must make a break from this old regimental form if it is to compete in this now world era.The dinorsaricall thinking has placed a choke hold on the island andits future in that there is little room for contemporary thinking because it is viewed with suspision annd distrust by the older generation and less educated population.
Anguilla has a higher ratio of scholars per capita when compared to that of other countries but the educated elite seems to have little interest in politics or is unwilling to make any true committments towards the isalnds future.Instead they appear to be more interested in personal fame and wealth.With this self-centered thinking ,it is no wonder that the isalnd is going through such turmoil.It is time Anguillians take a look in the mirror and take in what they are really seeing,a country on the verge of economic collaspe and social breakdown.It is should be apparent by now that change is necessary and needed to normalize things and restore order and prosperity to the island.How will this change come about is the million daollar question.Change will come by one or two methods,such as by peaceful democratic processes or by violent upheaval,the former being more prefered to the latter.
The political democratic process provide a platform by which orderly change can be effected whereby election determine the winners and loosers.A new breed of political thinker will once again breathe life into our falling system.New candidates means new ideas and new ideas equates to a second chance.A chance to renew projections and plans for the future of Anguilla.This is critical if Anguilla is to stay competitive with the rest of the world.Anguilla needs to encourage its scholars to enter the political arena or public service for the better good of the country.It is readily noticeable it the Government's composition that there is a gross lack of such qualified people as compared to other countries.It is no wonder then ,that Anguilla is at a disadvantage when competing or negotiating with their counterparts.While change is needed it must include those educated in law,economic,political sciences and such fields so that we can have an equal playing field to operate in.
Everyone is clamoring for change but change without the proper safe guards and leaders is just as dangerous and keeping the old regimes in place.Constitutional reform is another form of change that is necessary but is more time consuming and should be carefully contemplated.The establishment of a proper constitution is vital for the effective governance of any country.The constitution creates, the standards and rights of individuals,the blueprint by which the different systems of government operate and the laws of the land.The creation of this document is by no means an easy undertaking but it must be done.Anguillians appear to still be up in arms over this constitutional reform.As a colony/territory of the United Kingdom,most of its laws are governed by statutes of the United Kingdom.It is a daunting task to enact unilateral law that deviate from that of its parent country.This places Anguilla in an unique situation in that the only way out of this debunkle is to seek autonomy by way of political independence.While this might seems attractive it is not feasible at present.The factors that prohibit such a move are numerous.The absence of viable industry, adequate food production ,security forces and international financial association greatly restrict the pursuit of this notion.Leaders should be able to address this and explain the ramifications to the Anguillian public.Before any movement in that direction,an establishment ,creation and operation of such system must be up and running to enable a smooth transition.The is very difficult to accomplish because all these services are controlled by the United Kingdom.We need change but we also need to carefully tread to avoid creating total chaos.
The attitude is ripe for change and we should embrace it but be ready for the challenges that change will bring.Once we understand this then our attitude will be more open to accepting all that go with it.

Independence:Are we ready?

There has been much debate and talk on this isalnd in recent years concerning the viability of independence. The embarkation of such a position for a tiny isalnd as Anguilla presents some unique and highly insermontable challenges.The isalnd's population presents its greatest challenge to attaining independence because its small size,roughly 12,000 to 13,000 people,will create a daunting dilema in terms of generating the needed revenues to sustain the Gov't treasury.There is also the case of the production and circulation of its currency and monetary exchange.What currency will be utilized by the isalnd and at what rate will its exchange be set.The reliance of the isalnds on tourism and the absence of other viable sustained industry.Most critical to any consideration of independence are the issues of a sound constitution ,effective statutes and regulations,establishment of a proper legislature ,justice system and security force,ie defence ,coast guard,police,fire etc. The absence of these vital departments or the preperation for the establishment of such is ample evidence that Anguilla is not even in its infancy in terms of going or preparing for such a move.
The challenges facing any indepndent country are enormous ,however ,most Anguillians appear to think that it only entails being free or seperate from the domination of Britian'srule.If this premise was true and the only impediment to independence then I would wholeheartedly support any referudum on the issue.There are more far reaching ramification that faces Anguilla in its quest for independence that the average citizen is seemingly oblivious to.The transition will require more economic and financial upheaval than most politicains are willing to concede.There is the question of establishing international relationship and associations.Who will we associate with and at what costs.Is it fair to venture into this unchartered territory in such a state of unpreparedness with the expectation that all will be well.This move will be devasating and disasterous for the people and the economy of Anguilla.To state the obvious does not lend credence to or endorse any anit =independence movements but to as sure Anguillians that while the desire to be independent is an admireable goal,the reality of its feasiblity is not a practical possibilty at present.
Supporters of independenc would like you to beleive that Anguilla is ready but to them I pose a few general questions.
How will your currency stack up against the dollar,what will the rate of exchange be.Surely you are not expecting to circulatthe US dollar are you?
What provisions are made for a defence force since Britian will no longer be responsible for providing it.Do you have the funds to allocateto this essential department?Do you have the trained personel to staff it?What about the budget to purchase ,arms,housing,uniforms,food,and salaries.
What will be the extent of cooperation with international players.
These are only but a few ,however the other will be presented at a later time in another segment of this topic.

Anguilla's Economic Future

It is quite amazing to hear the commments and questions posted on Anguilla News as to the future of our islands's economy.We are indeed faced with an astounding set of financial problems that most certainly have to be addressed if we are to sustain our financial viabilityOur economy is based on tourism and that market is greatly affected by the financial or economic health of the world in general.If people are strapped for money because of a failing stack market and businesses profitability than our future outlook is bleak at most.There are ,however,several step theat can be employed to counter the effects of the present financial crisis.They are namely to diversify of economy and offer services in attractive packages to lure investors to the isalnd.There may be nay sayers who will try to convince you that this approach is not worth exploring but I say what have we to loose?An economy such as our will be the first to collapse because of its fragile nature ,and the consequences on our people will be devastating to say the least.It is therefore imperitive to establish measures that will allow our island to flourish in these times.
We must ask ourselves,what do we have to offer that others will be willing to consider us as a place to invest or set up shop.What concessions can we incorporate into an enticing enough package to compell them to come here?A careful study is needed to research this and analize the findings to arrive at the most viable strategic plan.While our work force is somewhat limited ,we will not be inhibited by this fact since the importation of labour is a process that has already been implemented here.
We have our salt ponds,why are we not exploring the possiblity of devlopment.Where there are brackish pond why not a feability study to explore fish rearing.In the manufacturing sector ,why not conduct a study to find companies willing to locate here.
Our Government and its people must come together and work in unison if we are to achieve this goal.Our selfishness and foolish pride has to be placed on the back burner so that economic properity can be realized.In a society as ours we have come to rely heavily on practice and customs and fearing the exploration into the new and unchartered waters. This reluctance to embrace new tecnology has stiffled much of our islands potential for growth and discovery.Many of our youth have ventured abroad to earn degrees and certifications but once they have returned home ,they are relegated to job or positions that fail to utilize thier true potential.Our suspicions of their intentions and ambitions are as much to blame as is our phobia of change.Take for exampleour political system,it is amazing that the same political leaders are still running the country since the 80's even though there is evidence of distrust and allegations of corruption levied against them.Are we a glutton for dishonest schemers or are we just resigned ourselves to be accepting ,with a sont care attitude?The type of attitudes only fortifies thier strangle hold on us and inhibits our ability to rise and soar to our true potential.
It is obvious that we as a people must incite others to action not by violence but by peaceful protest and creativity to reclaim our birthright.The act of protest is a mechanism utilized by the masses to effect change,whether it is directed at policy,Gov't,the Church or businesses.However,the effectiveness is only as good as the focus and determination of the protesters in wanting to make their voices heard.I therefore beseech you to wake up and be creative ,use your abilities to stamp out negative programs and replace them with positive progressive plans,utilize the young talent pool amongst us,tapped into the new technology and make our island strong and stable.

Lost Culture

Just the other day I asked someone the question that started me wondering.The question was ,what is our the culture and traditions that has made Anguilla unique?
I was somewhat amazed and dumbfounded by the obvious search for a response to this innocent query.To be truthful, I could only ellict a veiled response like ,oh there is a lot of rich culture that we Anguillians are proud of.With this answer I could see that the preson was wrestling with the frankness of the question and was uneasy in responding to me but I wasnt about to offer them a way out.I pressed on about what was our local foods,dress ,music and other things that are local to us.I must say that they failed miserably in their efforts to explain these things.This appear to be the general response given by locals all over the island .People are proud to be Anguillian but has no sense of what it really means to be Anguillian.It is sad to say that this trend is quite alarming and disturbing If allowed to continue it will eventually lead to a generation where the' Anguillian pride 'will be lost in all the hustle and bustle of progress and economic prosperity.
I am puzzled to as to why our Ministers of Culture are failing to ensure that our culture and customs are preserved.Where every youngster is knowledgeable of what our traditions and culture is.I recently observed some young people whom I know to be born and bred in Anguilla and was overcome with sadness when I heard them speak.I really had to do a double take ,for I thought that I was in another country.Some of their speech had St.Thomian inflections while others had hints of Jamacian accents.It is really ridiculous that our youth are losing their identity to the extent that they are adopting the lingo of other islands.Are we so ashamed of who we are that our youths are abandoning ship?A proud Anguillian would not try to sound like someone from the USA,UK,St.Thomas,Ja or anywhere else.I rather enjoy hearing the musical chants of my people as they speak using local terminology such as awya lard,awya looka wok etc.Dispite the fact that we can and are fluent in speaking the Queen's english ,we should not be ashamed of speaking in our local dialect.It is part of who we are and denotes of heritage and ancestry.We should not allow that to be lost with our efforts to assimilate into the status pro.
Our focus, instead ,should be to maintain and find methods to preserved what really made us stand out from the rest of the Caribbean.We should pride ourselves in the fact that we through our ingenuity made the path for our own success .That the resillience of our people and the sacrifices that they have made was responsible for where we are today.Where is the honor that is given to those warriors who fought the good fight.Why are there no memorials or statues in their memory?Has our pride evaporated as our status improved?Are we so shallow that we neglect to give honor where honor is due?Who are our national heros and heroines?Every country has theirs and are proud to celebrate them but we dont.Why should we be any different?It is time for change ,it is time to reverse this trend and correct thi s insane situation.We have alot to be proud and thankful for and honoring our past freedom fighters is just a start.
We must pressure our Ministers to correct this and force them to honor those who are deserving .Dispite how they feel about or towards the recipents our goal should be to bestow this honor and celebrate what they stood for.Without education about our culture and customs where will we end up?We will be a lost nation with nothing to fall back on to give us inspiration intimes of need.We must ensure that the dishes we grew up with and loved are preserved.
When last can you really say that you were served a plate of food that was truly of national origins.Our restraurants dont even have it on their menus.Even our local restraurant are reluctant to promote them.We should be proud to serve our dishes just as the French,Chineese and the Italians.Our dishes should be made famous because most of our visitors are accustomed to the crap we serve in our hotels and restraurants so why not give them a little of our own soul food?The stew peas,johnny cakes,flitters,corn dumplins etc, are ours and we should showcase them.There are many more things that can be included but I will reserve them for another time.
I sincerely hope that our people take heed any work at reclaiming their customs and culture.The steps and the road will be long and difficult but it is a worhtwhile undertaking.So to the ministers in whose hands much of this is entrusted I pray that you will awaken from your slumber and start the mechanisms necessary for this reform. May God be with you.