Choose your friends wisely

It's been said that the company he keeps knows a man. That adage has been used by mothers for as long as there have been teenagers – to help them learn discernment when choosing their friends.

Most of us can recall a time when our parents warned us to ‘choose your friends wisely.’ Suffice it to say, they were referring to the way in which others would judge us in accordance to our friends, as well as the influence our friends would have upon us.

Well, nothing could be more indicative of this sort of relationship than the one formed between Ian Donaldson Mitchell, Harry Wiggins, Palmovan Webster and the Anguilla Progressive Party- (APP) - Anguilla Pimps & Prostitutes.

Whether the APP wants this their endorsement or not, they have gotten it.

Certainly many in the APP will be quick to distant the correlation between them and their associations, and that they did not solicit their support… all but a joke really.

But we flock all the birds of one feather together… the flock that never had the interest of Anguilla at heart.

A vote for Ms. Palmovan Webster is a vote for Harry Wiggins and Ian Donaldson Mitchell.

But again… perhaps it is unfair to suggest that the association is synonymous… but it seems to me that the mere fact that those Vermin wish to endorse the APP is indicative.

ENFORCING DIGNIFIED LEADERSIP FOR ANGUILLA

Individuals who are willing to take on responsibility, regardless of title or role, must know that moving forward involves initiative; clean hands; confidence; vision; commitment; taking dedicated action; an artistic quality and encouraging others.

The challenges and opportunities of today’s marketplace require prepared leadership with clarity, confidence and efficiency to take us forward. We strongly believed that the quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves and not simply sufferers of self-impotence syndromes.

Unpatriotic, sleazes, unqualified, ill-equipped, disorganization and traits of a tribalistic-disposition have plague democracy on Anguilla for too long now.

This petition is a first in a movement to elect qualified and dignified men and women in an aim to select competent leadership on Anguilla

This will ensure that the work of the People is properly done and done properly.

Mr.Rodney Rey (past school principal and retired Permanent Secretary) is an excellent example of Integrity in public service. He is knowledgeable, dedicated, and has performed with distinction.

The whole of Anguilla respects Mr. Rodney Rey. Let Mr. Rodney Rey know that we cherished his commitment to Anguilla’s continued success.

The first 150 Anguillians to sign this petition by May 31, 2009, may empower Mr. Rodney Rey to represent us in the Road South Constituency in 2010.

Anguilla needs Mr. Rodney Rey.

Sign this petition now and encourage others!

Let him come with clean hands

Mike Gapes is a British MP and chairman of the United Kingdom's Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee which has been examining the governance of the 14 Overseas Territories.

Mr. Gapes said on the 23 April 2008 following trumped-up corruption allegations after submissions made by Mr. Ian Donaldson Mitchell and Mr. Harry Wiggins: [1]

"On Anguilla the committee recommended the (UK) Government should encourage the Anguillian Government to introduce anti-corruption measures and to hold an independent inquiry into the allegations that the Ministers accepted bribes from developers."

The Government of Anguilla said they were 'not disposed to sanction a system of governmental accountability based on gossips, rumour and unproven innuendo'. They requested the Committee provide more evidence in relation to the allegations.

This is the said Ilford South Labour MP Mike Gapes who is alleged to claimed £22,291 ACA in 2007-8, but insists he has not claimed since giving up his rented Westminster flat in 2008.

He said he no longer expects taxpayers to foot the bill and backs calls for a review of the expenses system.

Equity said it best: if one wants to come into equity, let him come with clean hands… lol

Now with all this UK Parliamentary corruption exposed; Mitchell and Wiggins gone underground.

However, Palmovan surfaces!

I hope Brent realises that Obama had to denounce his spiritual leader.

We love you Brent however, analyse your associations carefully.

There are some unexplained coincidences.

Set of sleazes could be!

Elections

Anguillians undoubtedly need to turn to their Almighty God in prayer to ensure that our plans and priorities are rooted in His will. Psalm 32:8: “I shall instruct you and teach you the way to go.”

In the 'Purpose Driven Church', Rick Warren uses a surfing analogy – “It is not our responsibility to make waves, but to recognise how God is working in the world and join Him in the endeavour.”

One adored charismatic politician once said to me, “Never underestimate the intelligence of the electorate”. He then went on to say that the will of the people is the will of God, and Politicians are often the Pawns in the game of politics… not necessarily the players.

Democracy guiding philosophy is that people should have decision-making power in proportion to how much they are affected by the decision. I must be honest with whom I chose as my caretaker for the future advancement of Anguilla… and so should you.

This is why for my choice for continued leadership and stability for taking Anguilla forward is grounded in the Anguilla United Front Government (AUF).

In a dream world I envisage such governance for Anguilla:

• Mr. Colville Petty
• Hon. Ms. Keesha Webster
• Hon. Mr. Mc-Neil Rogers
• Hon. Mr. Victor Banks (Chief Minister)
• Mr. Rodney Rey
• Hon. Mr. Edison Baird
• Ms. Sharon Richardson

In an Anguilla reality there is no alternative but an AUF Government.

Elections must mean more than just a slogan called ‘change’ or ‘trading places’. The Anguillian electorate have long come to the realisation that political-catchphrases are borderless and infinite; and a distant relative to pragmatism.

We are not surface deep.

For this simple reason, I am not prepared to danger or risk gambling Anguilla’s future with ‘re-colonist racist influences’; misguided; disingenuous; unpatriotic; unqualified; financially-starved and ill-prepared candidates for leadership.

It’s time we put political childishness and personal differences aside and unite for a continued strength and endurance. It’s not the time to auction your children’ future to visionless and clueless bidders.

I strongly believed that the quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves and not simply sufferers of self-impotence syndromes.

We have done it right for over 40 years and I have never underestimate your intelligence.

You have the decision making power.

Don’t ‘vote-for-cup’.

Standards or Hypocrisy?

The Freedom of Information Act disclosures have especially galled the Anguillian electorate at a time of rising unemployment and economic hardship and undermined government’s efforts to distance itself from its aristocratic image.

Thanks to Mr. Ian Donaldson Mitchell CBE QC, and Mr. Percy Thomas, Anguilla elected officials are under attack from the public over their expense claims and had to line up to start paying back thousands of dollars of public money in a bid to assuage voter anger over the scandal.

Seriously imagine if our elected officials were allowed to exploit the system of parliamentary allowances to subsidise their lifestyles.

Imagine if our Chief Minister, Mr. Osbourne Fleming announced that his cabinet ministers have been misusing allowances and would repay thousands of dollars of questionable expenses.

Imagine if, according to an Anguillian News Paper, our elected officials claimed taxpayers' money for such things as cleaning moats and swimming pools; repairing tennis courts and installing chandeliers in their houses including furniture (scatter cushions, a king-sized bed, leather rocking chair and a flat-screen television, stereo equipment and Kenyan carpets) and fittings; groceries including pints of milk, fluffy dusters, lavatory rolls and chocolate HobNobs; claims on expenses for hotels in London but slept in Slough with friends; mowing and rolling paddocks and overhauling a tractor mower; and the list goes on.

Or just imagine if Mr. Fleming had to claim for his chauffeur.

I can imagine Mr. Percy Thomas putting proposals to government for an ‘independent’ panel to examine our elected officials expense claims lodged over the last ten years and to ask for repayment in cases where he deems abusive. Or perhaps seeking Keithley’s permission for a 'gossip stroll' down the street on a Sunday evening after church.

Anguillia’s Chief Corruption Tsar Version (CCTV), Corrupt-De-Don, would say, “Its time to stop the talking, installed the endless committees to effect transparency and accountability and deliver real change and leadership on Anguilla."

Mr. Fleming would rebut – “leadership is me saying to all the political parties that they've got to act now and immediately to change the system and limit the damage expected in the future.”

Imagine if our Health Minister Mr. Mc-Neil Rogers said he would pay back EC$198,118.00 claimed for furniture and fittings for his home to try to win back the trust of voters in Valley North. What would squeaky-clean Eddie articulate?

Or the Hon. Mr. Victor Banks pledged to repay more than EC$61,750.00 to the taxman after he was criticised for not paying taxes on the sale of his family property.

Imagine if our elected officials claim millions of dollars in allowances and thousands of dollars in expenses for their homes and travel to and from their work.

Imagine our media coming down like a ton of bricks on our elected officials who have sought to ‘milk’ the system or defraud the taxpayer (you), profit for personal gain in the Property or Real Estate Market.

Imagine if all of this was not reality. Imagine this reality is in the United Kingdom; the architects of diplomatic transparency and accountability.

Oh sorry… it was transparent… and legal too… it just was a lil unethical!

But - why aren’t we debating such unethical behaviour in our British counterparts at least in our media? Is this Racism? Are they held by a different standard than us? Or monkey see and monkey should do?

With all this disquiet; where is our corruption-free technocrat - Anguilla’s CCTV?

Suddenly he becomes Miseducated and caught the Swine Flu!

The UK government appeal for death row Anguillian woman

The British Government has intervened in the case of a British (Anguillian) woman facing the death penalty in Texas, the Foreign Office has confirmed.

Linda Carty was sentenced to death in 2002 for her part in the abduction and murder of a 25-year-old woman, Joana Rodriguez.

Carty, 50, was arrested and later convicted in connection to the kidnap and murder of Joana Rodriguez, who was seized alongside her four-day-old son by three men on 16 May 2001.

The baby was later found unharmed in a car, but Rodriguez was found dead, having suffocated after having duct-tape put over her mouth and a plastic bag placed around her head.

At the subsequent trial, prosecutors argued that the men were hired by Carty who, unable to get pregnant herself, intended to "cut the baby out" out of the woman and pass the child off as her own.

Carty believes she was framed for the crime by the three men who carried out the abduction due to her earlier work as an informant for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). But the DEA agent who recruited Carty was not interviewed over her claims.

Last week, the United Kingdom government sent an amicus brief to the United States Appeals Court complaining of lack of notification of the woman's arrest and trial and ineffective counsel.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman added that it will make representations against the use of the death penalty.

Carty was born on 5 October 1958 on the island of St Kitts to Anguillian parents and holds a United Kingdom Dependent Territory Passport and as such, British national's arrested should have been notified to the British Embassy under a bilateral treaty between the United Kingdom and the United States. She was a primary school teacher in St. Kitts and lived there until she was 23 years.

More than seven years after the death sentence was handed down, Carty case is now in the hands of the Federal Courts - the final stage in the appeal process. Texas is dedicated to the death penalty, and Carty could face execution as early as next year.

As Anguillians, why aren’t we seemed to be concerned?

The Pig That Flies

A British invasion was a British embarrassment; our residents regularly shrug off crime, corruption, constitution, drought, gridlock and serious risks. Anguillians are not easily rattled bout nothing.

But the outbreak of Swine Flu, which has killed an estimated 176 people in Mexico, is different. Residents are staying home in droves, and many are scared and confounded by the virus that has led authorities around the world to close schools, offices, bars, gyms, and commercial establishments, virtually halting daily life for millions.

With clear information hard to come by, rumours are flying and this pig-with-wings is destined to rapidly kill a dying world economy.

It is believe that this is the last days and the demons happen to escape their habitats.

Many hypothesize that the virus was created and hyped by Mexico's government to distract the population from some bigger scandal being carried out. Others argue the official death toll is being purposely undercounted to prevent alarm from spreading, and fearful patients with mild symptoms are flooding hospitals and clinics.

Some people around the world are going into a state of hysteria because they believe this thing is extremely serious and all or most of the sick patients are going to die.

Further complicating the cloudy picture is the information trickling from governments’ technocrats, which sometimes appears to conflict with reality.

Meanwhile, in Anguilla officials have predicted pandemic sick-leave call-ins from frontline staff that will further cripple the economy.

Can we really blame them?

Lord help us all!

IDM (In-Dementia-Mood)

Where were you when we needed you most I cried, with tears flushing from my eyes.

In the prime of your life you refused to sacrifice - to a people, a nation desperate for advice.

Fearlessly you robbed, you cheated, you’ve abused every loophole for years untold. You’ve ill-gained, oh! - how insane we must have been.

Your potential partner-in-crime said no, I refused to go through that door – I am in love with Wadadli, and with him I must be.

A perceived outstanding leader was you, from a queue we see, excellent you will be.

You sowed and sowed, luckily you are back at our door. You ruled and caused chaos while afar - but not in my nation poppa.

Like Swine-Flu - sick to a threatened pandemic... a new strain on familiar terrain. A colonial plan in your unclean hands... to control our blessed land.

Though think we are blinded and fast asleep, we are destined to defeat.

In the end my friend, to God you must repent - but I am sure he is not even your friend.

It must be hell here living in this Lion’s Den.

Stanford attempts to surrender in Texas

By Anna Driver

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Allen Stanford, the Texas billionaire facing civil fraud charges, attempted to turn himself in at the federal courthouse in Houston on Thursday, but was turned away because there is no warrant for his arrest, his lawyer said.

"There are all these rumors flying around about an indictment coming soon," said Dick DeGuerin, Stanford's criminal attorney. "We want the authorities to know that Allen Stanford is going to stand and fight, he's not going to run."

Stanford and DeGuerin went to the federal courthouse Thursday afternoon, but the U.S. Marshals would not take Stanford into custody, the lawyer said.

Stanford, who does not face criminal charges, but has said he expects to be indicted, will try to turn himself in again next week, DeGuerin said.

"I said to the marshals, if you get a warrant, give me a call," DeGuerin said.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Houston could not immediately be reached for comment.

Stanford, two other executives and three of his companies are accused by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of an $8 billion fraud involving high-yield certificates of deposit issued by Stanford International Bank in Antigua.

Stanford, a colorful financier and sports patron who owns luxury homes in the Caribbean and Florida, told Reuters in an interview earlier this month that he has done nothing wrong.