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.

Tax havens must end culture of secrecy or face sanctions

Prime minister cracks down on tax abuse as he puts pressure on overseas territories to share tax and banking information

British overseas tax havens were today put under renewed pressure by Gordon Brown to end their culture of secrecy within six months or face sanctions.

The prime minister has written to all British crown dependencies and overseas territories setting them a September deadline to sign up to agreements to share tax information with the authorities.

Leaders at the G20 London summit last week pledged to crack down on the tax abuse and shadow banking through offshore jurisdictions that was central to the global financial crisis.

Today's move by Downing Street puts Britain in the unusual position, however, of threatening punitive action against its own dependencies.

The prime minister has also signaled in the correspondence he wants to tackle not just illegal tax evasion through personal offshore bank accounts, but also tax haven companies used for tax avoidance by corporations and super-rich individuals.

Such companies may comply with the letter of the law but not with its spirit. The Liberal Democrat shadow chancellor, Vince Cable, said that shrinking corporate tax receipts demanded further action. "This welcome but long overdue move is only one side of the coin. With tax revenues already under huge pressure, the government must now clamp down on businesses resident in the UK that use these tax havens purely to avoid paying billions of pounds worth of tax."

Seven British territories were named and shamed by the OECD when it published, to coincide with the G20 summit, a list of havens that had either not agreed to, or not yet implemented, its international tax standards. Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos were all placed on the OECD's "grey list" for failing to deliver on promises to be more transparent, despite signing up to do so, in some cases, several years ago.

The prime minister has also written to the crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man telling them that he expects rapid further progress to end tax and banking secrecy.

All three are on the OECD's "white list" of jurisdictions that have already implemented a number of bilateral agreements to share tax information with other authorities, but they are still used by companies engaged in tax avoidance.

Tax information exchange agreements can require tax inspectors to jump through a series of highly technical hoops to obtain information. Brown has told the dependencies that he expects them to move beyond meeting the OECD's minimum standards on co-operation to a spirit of full transparency.

Brown also ratcheted up the pressure on tax havens in a special meeting earlier this week with Michael Foot, a former inspector of banks for the Bahamas' central bank, who is to head a UK Treasury review of offshore financial centres. Foot's preliminary report on regulation of tax havens is expected before the budget.

The G20 agreement has already forced rapid concessions from tax havens.

Four countries placed on the OECD "blacklist" because they had not even agreed to share tax information have already changed their positions under the global political pressure. Costa Rica, Malaysia, the Philippines and Uruguay have now been moved to the grey list, having promised to reform.

Some countries on the OECD grey list such as Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Belgium, reacted angrily to their classification last week and accused the British and Americans of hypocrisy because so many offshore financial centres came under their control. Brown's letters now signal how far the crackdown on tax abuse has moved up the political agenda.

Tax campaigners said the speed of progress on tax havens was remarkable, although the bar for meeting OECD standards was still set very low.

John Christensen, of the Tax Justice Network, welcomed the prime minister's latest interventions as "very important indeed because they show there is now recognition of the appalling impact that tax havens have on countries, in particular developing countries.

"They also show that we are at last moving beyond tax evasion to tackling tax avoidance too."

Christian Aid called for Britain to build on the new international consensus on tax to go further. Its tax adviser Dr David McNair said: "Mr. Brown has shown real leadership in the crackdown on financial secrecy. Going further and giving poor countries access to a central database on tax information would transform their ability to target tax dodgers and claw back the billions they lose each year."

This article was first published on guardian.co.uk at 14.13 BST on Thursday 9 April 2009. It was last updated at 19.58 BST on Thursday 9 April 2009.

Greed

Greed is capitalism’s necessary evil. It usually works well economically, but comes at a high cost, including the worsening epidemic of debilitating greed-affected individuals - and the frequent and dangerous boom/bust cycles.

But how can the government regulate greed? It is like telling the wind not to blow. Greed has always been with us, and it always will. Since greeds began as solutions, trying to regulate greed will only make the problem worse.

The notion that individual greed can serve the common good has wormed its way even into political philosophies. We recall the Hubert Hughes’ Vote of No Confidence; the ADP/AUM Better Government for Anguilla debacle; the Hubert Hughes’ Transshipment saga; and the Edison Baird recent refusal to work with the government theatrical - just to name a few. Greed demolishes equity, as it is impossible to have both unrestrained. In the end, unchecked greed erodes freedom, undermines the social fabric of our society, and is an undemocratic force.
The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu wrote more than 2,500 years ago that: ‘There is no calamity greater than lavish desires, no greater guilt than discontentment and no greater disaster than greed.'

However, Greed is being redefined as a virtue and a legitimate guiding principle for economic prosperity and general happiness. In the process, it is steadily eating away at the cornerstones of civilized societies and undermining the visions, values and collective aspirations that made them strong.

Many economists believe that greed produces preferable economic outcomes most times and under most conditions. When we salute uncontrollable greedy Anguillians as the standout ‘growth engine' of our economy, we are in many ways paying tribute to the economic wonders of greed.

Anguilla enjoys a relative absence of constraints, including tax and labour constraints or effective Employment Laws that would otherwise burden corporations, as a result, this allow greed to flourish. However, in reality, we on Anguilla are very much blessed with natural greed-regulations in the absence of legislative-regulations. We are blessed with ‘Jealousy and Gossip’; though cynical but effective.

A greed driven economy is toxic to our well-being and is hastening our slide into a state of unhappy consciousness. There is little doubt that our nation’s sanctification of greed is creating a deep existential void that cannot be filled - whatever the degree of material indulgence, personal achievement or private gratification.

Research shows that the human being are incorrigibly greedy by nature. One survey shows that nearly 90 per cent of people agree with the statement that ‘Humans always want more, and that it is part of human nature'. But in truth, a society's culture determines the extent to which our propensity for greed is activated or suppressed. On Anguilla that is Jealousy and Gossip! Imagine…

• Imagine if Albert Lake was allowed to feed the poor and elderly simply to steal their land
• or Ian Donaldson Mitchell was allowed to lobby the British
• or the Director of the Lands was allowed to steal property
• or the amount of land problems we would have
• or our attorneys were ripping people off left, right and center
• or the Welfare Department Director (past or present) steal from the elderly
• or our Governments were allowed to favour contracts and receive underhand rewards
• or our religious ministers were stealing from the church
• or our laws only work for some
• or jobs were designed for specific persons or families
• or banks were allowed to steal business plans from their clients
• or bank managers were allowed to steal millions like other banks' CEOs in other countries
• or our indigenous banks refused to finance competition
• and only if our Police Officers were corrupted

… but for only if it was not for institutionalized Jealousy and Gossip…

Greed has our opposition candidates so divided that in the quest for stability and prosperity; they are giving our incumbents an unfettered mandate in our next general election. Sadly... we can not regulate our politicians’ stupidity, else we would have an easier time electing competent Parliamentarians.

Anguilla’s institutionalized regulatory mechanism or our famous greed-checker is Jealousy and Gossip. After all, there are some good in everything.

Just imagine living without them on Anguilla…

Busted!... Anguilla's CCTV is Corrupted

He is Busted!!!!

I KNEW IT!!! – I KNEW IT!!! – I KNEW IT!!!

A new phenomenon sweeps our nation sending Anguillians into hysteria. It is now Official – the High Court on Anguilla held that Ian Donaldson Mitchell (IDM), QC (questionable character) is a ‘threat to honesty’ – meaning a ‘corrupt individual’. This Unethical, Libelous/Slanderous poop is now officially coronated - ‘Corrupt-de-Don’. Ground supervisors at the Bethel Methodist Church have reported signs of earth movement around his cousin, Rev. Leonard Carty’s grave.

It is alleged that some 2½ years ago, Corrupt-de-Don tried to strategically land as Parliamentary Speaker, his cousin’s job, through blackmail and misfortune causing chaos and spreading mistrust on the United Front’s Government; if his application for the position of Anguilla’s first Deputy Governorship was futile. Interestingly, Corrupt-de-Don admitted to such allegations on his blog under the heading ‘Bribery’ dated 15 July 2008, where he declared his devious intention to derail stability on Anguilla - “I am retired now, and there is little they can do to harm me.”

This plot was discussed at a family’s party, in which Mr. David Carty, Parliamentary Speaker, vehemently refused and warned Corrupt-de-Don about his impious devices and not to hold him [David] responsible for any consequences suffered and as such, cut ties and ended his relations with Corrupt-de-Don.

Greed can be nature based… that can be eradicated from generations through education. Sadly so, Corrupt de-Don’s generation stops at him… he hates kids. Cynically believing that retirement means invincibility; the court found him GUILTY on LIBEL CHARGES or ‘MALICIOUSLY SCANDALING FALSEHOOD’ on the Government’s and Citizens’ of Anguilla reputation - trumped-up corruption, a claim he failed to prove.

Ian Donaldson Mitchell ought to be treated as a high-risk inmate in a secured mental institution. This ignored waste-of-nine-months seriously threatens our economic future and sustainability. I have long advocated that Ian Donaldson Mitchell is nothing more than an Innuendoist, Racist (22 June 2008, ‘Entrepreneurship’), Propagandist, and a Chauvinistic 'Learnt' Zombie; while I still weep for what I believe to be a litany of Miscarriages of Justice in his trail. This result has confirmed it all - his actions should have been curtailed years ago.

Imagine the heaviness and embarrassment that our Hon Madame Justice Janice George-Creque had to succumb - subconsciously at war: “phucken idiot - why put mi in ya shyte.” To be honest, it had to be tedious and inconvenient to rule against this idiot, especially as a respected former colleague. But this puke deserves every effort involved in finding him culpable.

The legal fraternity on Anguilla is nausea to convulsion with such an embarrassing and despicable debacle displayed by their first ‘learnt’ friend as Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Judge, though envisionary Affirmative Action, and wonders how such archetype may have blighted future qualified prospects.

Now anyone can officially label this ‘past-honourable’, now nincompoop, Ian Donaldson Mitchell QC… Corrupt – without fear.

It is a sad day for Anguilla, the Caribbean and the British authorities.

Anguilla’s ‘Chief Corruption Tsar Version’ (CCTV) is Corrupt!

Another British Crook-Trustee… he must be Dishonoured!

What a disgrace!

Anguilla’s political worst nightmare is a visionless Opposition

For the vast majority of our electorate, the exercise of crafting a manifesto is a complete waste of time and talent if its vision and mission are used for nothing but being a publication. One of the chief reasons for the failure of missions and visions to achieve the desired objective is the naiveté of most politicians.

On Anguilla, most opposition politicians have been constantly on a mission – to oust government; most times confusing destructive criticism with vision. The roles of the heads of departments become platform-gossip by opposition politicians rather than debating real issues and solutions. For example, policing techniques and the hospital X-Ray machine issue are the roles of our technocrats. Though government maybe accountable and responsible for such issues – these issues do not constitute the term ‘Vision’ and entertained childish political gossip.

Vision is not stating the obvious. You want vision to state the exceptional and extraordinary, to boast of your edge-teetering leaps of faith, and the wild dreamings of every possibility you want explored every single day. You need them to create chatter, thrilled whispers, passionate debate and evangelism. You want people inside and outside your organization to talk about them constantly because they are fascinating, enticing, and enthralling. You couldn’t possibly contain their passion on your party’s bulletin board if you tried.

Let your vision be controversial as they beg discussion and explanation. Let it be - how will we make a difference in improving the quality of life itself? How can we work on only what really matters to us, and to everyone? Why is it that this world can’t possibly be a great place without the magic we work? Why is it that we are so special, so damned good, and so fanatically courageous?

Your vision should be what the future looks like because you have succeeded your mission so exceedingly well. It then becomes somewhat of a moving target; when we have nearly arrived at it, we are in the throes of writing a new vision, and the process begins again. However, previous vision needs to be acknowledged when achieved, for in effect it has become our new standard of excellence, and in all likelihood it has become one of our defining moments.

Invoking that you are ordained is blasphemy and psychosis… and surely not vision. Yes… though God may use from amongst us, the dumb to lead (if you believe) – he does not reward laziness and ignorance. The reality is why after 40 years should Anguillians elect unqualified legislators is beyond comprehension and no excuse. Why should those who are decent enough and qualified to serve, hold dear their reputations, if not their livelihoods and/or their lives?

The world; by extension Anguilla, maybe in a panic yes; and we may not like all the ways that government has functioned thus far. But the idea that government doesn’t care and is having no role, and to suggest that government is a problem, corrupted, earmarks, wasteful spending - is just a form of nihilism. It is just not where Anguilla is; it is not where the future of Anguilla is going; and I think this is blatant contempt, insane and a disaster for the opposition.

The electorates are not foolish – therefore, be creative even controversial, and think out of the box. Here are a few:

• Increase taxation. (This is a must regardless to who gets in power)
• A nationalized but properly regulated full-fleet Anguillian airline service (critical)
• New banking protection regulations. Repossessions must be solely on contract and market value percentage basis. Meaning: on repossession, remuneration must be strictly equal amounts distributed as invested. Since it’s your risk to borrow; it must be their risk to repossess. (Banking Laws are considered to be an unfair and immoral)
• Government ‘fully’ finances nationals’ Distant Learning Education from United Kingdom Universities and the University of the West Indies provided that the student is fully employed on Anguilla for the duration of his/her study. (Even the United Kingdom government is doing more for its territories nationals’ education than the territories governments doing for its own nationals)

Remember that dishonesty… though may assist your mission, is not novelty… and is surely not vision.