PAYING FOR RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES – A MUST!

In our legal system you can only own rights to land. You can't directly own (that is, have complete claim to) the land itself. One (person or business) has a right to enjoy the privileges and uses of such property. For such reason you pay for such rights, uses and privileges; and as such, the reason for such powers as compulsory acquisition or state’s right of eminent domain.

Ownership can only be described as a bundle of rights or group of legal rights that can be held by one with respect to some property. These usually include the right to use (or not use); exclude others from using; irreversibly change; sell, give away or bequeath (Trust); rent or lease; retain all rights not specifically granted to others; retain these rights without time limit or review.

However, even such rights are not absolute and have certain responsibilities, such as paying taxes, being liable for suits brought against such property, and abiding by the laws of the land such as zoning laws, building codes, and environmental protection laws. As such, you may find that your rights to use and irreversibly change are not as unlimited as may seem.

Each of these rights can be modified independently of the others - by law or by the granting of an easement to some other party, producing a bewildering variety of legal conditions.

Almost every country in the world respects and understands such and its citizenry does their civic duty accordingly. However, on Anguilla it is embarrassing to primitive life and can only be in accordance with ignorance, arrogance and greed that we continue to politicise a wrong which need to be righted – we need to fulfil our civic duties if we so care about our beloved nation home.

This week, the Gordon Brown administration will not wink when telling the Anguilla administration that the luxury of tax-free days is over. The walls of Westminster will echo with these words: “go and do what’s right – Anguillians must pay their way.”

In October 2009, the British government has agreed to allow the government of Anguilla to borrow EC$20 million to cover its recurrent deficit over six months, providing the local administration commits “now to the introduction of new revenue measure(s), no later than the beginning of fiscal year 2010-11″ to broaden the revenue base.

This is the agreement to which the British government is committed to – none other. If the Government of Anguilla is not prepared to do “what is right”; and primarily as a consequence cannot pay its civil servants’ salaries... then the British Government will have no alternative then to introduce an interim executive on Anguilla for the unforeseeable future.

End of discussion.

Government's lack of foresight, empty promises of false hopes, and lack of legislation or enforcement on Anguilla must be brought to a screeching halt.

However, a crafty politician like the Hon. Chief Minister Hubert Hughes will return and blame the British...

Mark my words.

ANGUILLA’S NEW GOVERNMENT’S FIRST RETREAT WILL BE IN EUROPE

Since naïveté is commonplace on Anguilla as this election concluded; here is the guide to what the Government of Anguilla faces from a disgruntled United Kingdom (UK) government on their maiden trip.

The UK debt is getting larger by the minute. The real problem is the gap between what it is earning as a nation every year and what is currently being spent. The difference has to be borrowed which will amount to £178 billion this year and £176 billion next year.

The UK government plans to continue to pile up the debt until 2018, before gradually paying it off (taxpayers); but wouldn’t be back to the level previously considered sustainable until the year 2030.

Debt will peak at £1.5 trillion, which means every child born in Britain will technically owe £23,000.00.

In 2011, the interest on the UK debt will be £44 billion.

British taxpayers’ pain really starts to bite next year. There will be a new 50p rate on top earners and the increase on national insurance. The richest ten per cent will take a large hit, losing some five percent of their income, but anyone earning over £20,000.00 will pay more.

The government has promised to ring-fence spending on schools, hospitals, overseas developments and policing numbers.

The Institution of Fiscal Studies has argued that this will mean cuts of up to 20 per cent in defence, transport, housing and higher education. It has also further produced a study on the impact of aging population on the UK’s public finances and concluded that if you include all the public-sector pensions the government has so far promised to pay, the UK may never be able to get out of debt.

With its already burdened responsibilities and subsidies to Anguilla (securities, sureties, medical, education, citizenship, etc.), and Anguillians’ disrespect and selfish enjoyment of its luxury of being a tax free nation and government’s lack of foresight, empty promises of false hopes, and lack of legislation or enforcement – the British government is firm in its stance on the need for us as overseas territories to broaden our revenue base.

Is the new Government of Anguilla’s first-class trip to Brussels and Britain a retreat or are the British is not diplomatic enough about us paying our own way?

Mathematically – since nothing from nothing still leaves nothing, how much longer will we allow ourselves to be fooled?

UNCERTAINTY IN THE MIDST OF AN EVENTUALITY

Now that our election has aged and the season changes from silly to reality; it’s time that we unite at roundtables to establish the kind of atmosphere that will create opportunities for all Anguillians; and discussions for the liberation and reconstitution of our beloved nation.

We must enter a new stage of unity and trust, struggle and rebuilding, applying all means necessary – holding the firm conviction and stance of our legitimacy and legitimate concerns and speaking with one voice, one song, one accord.

Our way forward must be based on confidence, track record, materialising set objectives - a program mapped out which will serve the interest of all Anguillians. We have proven over the years that we have the capacity to resolve our own issues ourselves provided that we are given the opportunity to do so without destructive and selfish interferences regardless to government.

Change is not only the essence of history and unavoidable, but it is necessary for survival and makes life worth living. It may not always be comfortable, but it has the possibility of being good and therapeutic. It’s a constant that cannot be moulded into a stagnant form; wonderful even when it hurts or appears hard... even when it’s winning an election through lies.

For some it was 10 years of being in uncomfortable comfort and welcomes this epiphany. The epiphany of being in a relationship that will never be able to give you what you want, but comfortable with who you think you know the person to be.

The day will come when you will have to fully embrace or accept that choice, and realise that choice and change are not necessarily one and the same, but that both are inevitable. The choice of change is always yours... but not always the change of choice.

The Anguilla Revolution was an overwhelming majority of people decidedly not wanting association with the state of St. Kitts but rather direct rule by its colonial master... a choice of master rather than a change to self determination.

Our change ahead is inevitable; not a choice.

But does the electorate sometimes punish themselves intentionally to demonstrate their power? Is this self-inflicted or the wrath of God? Does the will of the people demonstrate God’s will, and the politicians are simply the Pawns in the game of Politics and not necessarily the players? Why God would allow such mad suffering to a disenfranchised innocent people… or is it a blessing in disguise? Is it ‘destination’ or ‘freedom of choice’ when a country gets a government it deserves, or is it confusing scripture or just change?

When there is uncertainty in the midst of an eventuality never mistake a clear view for a short distance.

VICTORy STRETCH

The Anguilla United Front (AUF) is your government because of years of confusion of interest and the convergence of confusional cynical approach to government from the Opposition; you have decided to put tranquillity, stability and economic prosperity ahead.

This happened because of an amazing grassroots movement—including the Anguillian Diaspora around the world that overwhelmingly endorsed the Hon. Victor F. Banks and then made phone calls, sent emails to their friends, and volunteered on the ground these past months.

We need to keep that surge of momentum going as the race moves to its final few hours on Valentine midnight – we can feel the love in the air. The Anguilla United Front party will be ramping up its campaign throughout Anguilla for these final days.

Over the past few days it's been amazing to watch the electorate swing into action when we launched our “onward with prosperity manifesto”, with downloads of over 3000 to date.

This speaks volumes not only about the kind of campaign we're running, but also about how the electorate wants politics on Anguilla to be.

So many of us have become cynical; been waiting so long for the time when we could finally expect more from our politics and politicians; when we could give more of ourselves and feel truly invested in something bigger than a particular candidate or cause.

The AUF has turned that page - the kind of politics based on the idea that we are all connected as one people, that we all have a stake in one another, that we all are in this together - you can count on politics once again.

Sadly – the Opposition’s position remains status-quo with their empty say-anything-to-win, can’t-do, won't- do, won't-even-try style of politics.

Stay strong and focus fellow supporters - VICTORy is in reach.

WE ARE SEIZING THIS MOMENT

When we endorsed the Hon. Victor F. Banks, we were also endorsing a candidate with the qualification; the competence; the maturity; the knowledge; the capability; the teamwork; and the power to transform Anguilla.

This campaign is about a new generation ready to be part of something bigger than themselves. A generation ready to change Anguilla today.

With less than 2 weeks to go to make your voices heard, there is no time to lose. Together we are seizing this moment to upend the tired politics of the past and usher in a new era of active citizenship in our party and in our democracy.

It's time to put an end to the say-anything-to-win politics of the past. Together we can face the challenges of the future with a new kind of politics and a new kind of leadership.

For this election my fellow Anguillians... THINK!!!

DEEP!!!

THE OPPOSITION’S GREED DEMOLISHES EQUITY

Fellow Anguillians

We recall the Hubert Hughes’ Vote of No Confidence; the ADP/AUM Better Government for Anguilla debacle; the Hubert Hughes’ Transhipment saga; the Edison Baird’s act of prostitution and his subsequent works in other brothels’ theatricals; and the Hubert Hughes’ and Edison Baird’s refusal to appoint an Opposition Leader in Parliament - just to name a few of the convergence of confusion from the opposition.

Greed demolishes equity, as it’s impossible to have both unrestrained. In the end - unchecked greed erodes freedom, undermines the social fabric of our society, and is an undemocratic force.

This is surely the kind of change we can do without my fellow Anguillians.

Greed has our Opposition candidates so divided that in the quest for peace, stability and economic prosperity; they have given our incumbents an unfettered mandate in this general election.

Sadly... we can’t regulate the visionless opposition’s stupidity – however, it has given us an easier choice when electing competent Parliamentarians on Anguilla.

For this election my fellow Anguillians... THINK!

DEEP!

THE AUF-CAMP-VISION PRESS RELEASE

Yesterday retired Justice Ian Donaldson Mitchell CBE QC (questionable character), now disgraced, has called members of the Anguilla United Front (AUF) party "a nest of vipers".

We, the AUF-Camp-Vision applauded the contribution of this, then honorable, servant to the legal profession on Anguilla in particular, and the Eastern Caribbean Jurisdiction in general.

We also grieved with his family, relatives and well wishers for his rapid mental deterioration, which specialist concluded is end stage dementia.

Just over 3-years ago, the Hon. David Carty ended all ties with this disgraced, when he (the disgraced) tried to strategically land as Parliamentary Speaker through blackmail and misfortune causing chaos and spreading mistrust amongst the Anguilla United Front’s Government; if his application for the position of Anguilla’s first Deputy Governorship was futile – at the same time breaking up his family’s good relations.

In March 2009, the Court ruled against this disgraced on Defamation charges - 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 substantiate. He later had to pay the government ministers just over $100,000.00.

But we believed that his Dementia signage was apparent from 2003.

In May of 2003, then Justice Ian Donaldson Mitchell CBE QC, now disgraced, slammed the door in the face of a minor whom alleges that the then Prime Minister of Antigua, the Rt. Hon. Lester Bird, grisly raped her. In fact, the Anguillian Judge hadn't bated in his steadfastness to vindicate that brute; all because our very own decent attorney Joyce Kentish representing the minor failed by a matter of minutes to file documents.

The charges against the “Bird” by the minor, which were “masturbated”, were trespass, drug dealing, sexual seduction, negligent invasion and breach of his constitutional duty as Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda, abduction, unlawful carnal knowledge, statutory rape and malfeasance in public office - a case that, if justice was served may have set a precedent for wiping out this level of corruption by these set of vile scavengers like the Hon. Hubert Hughes and others.

Ms. Kentish later suffered a Nervous Shock.

My fellow Anguillians…

THINK… Deep!!!

HOLD ON ANGUILLA!

The Anguilla United Front (AUF) knew that in this race their candidates would be competing with a bunch of empty losers who don’t want to fend for themselves.

We expected that the Hon. Hubert Hughes would tout his record from the nineties and talk about the ADP/AUM collision past success. That's a fair approach and a challenge we were prepared to face.

What we didn't expect, at least not from Rumpus, are the win-at-all-costs tactics we've seen recently. We didn't expect misleading accusations that willfully distort the Hon. Victor F. Banks' record.

We've seen disingenuous baseless attacks and smear tactics turn people off from the political process for too long on Anguilla, and enough is enough. It's time for a new kind of leadership and a new kind of politics in our country.

The AUF supporters - men and women of all ages, races, religions, and backgrounds - have come together around the idea that we are one people, invested in each other and in our common future.

This campaign is about a new generation of leadership today. A generation ready to be part of something bigger than themselves. A generation ready to change the country, and a generation qualified and ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Our work will have a lasting impact on our electorate for a long time to come - people taking back the political process will be apparent in thousands of minds across Anguilla.

I believe more strongly than ever that with the AUF team of professionals - we can do more than just win an election. Together, we can transform Anguilla.

Thank you for your generosity and support.

WE ARE THE ONES WE WERE WAITING FOR

Undecided voters are coming out of our events decided and the crowds and energy have been incredible. You can feel it in our campaign across Anguilla - this is something more than a typical political campaign.

Thousands of people are realizing that the continuation of fundamental nation building is within reach. The improbable is now possible in the safe hands of the Anguilla United Front’s (AUF) leadership.

The AUF is your government because of years of confusion of interest and the convergence of confusional cynical approach to government from the Opposition; you have decided to put prosperity and stability ahead.

Now is the time to continue righting a wrong while building steps of success, and being a part of this historic moment on Anguilla with the AUF team of experts. It's critical that this campaign infrastructure awareness eradicates – unprofessionalism, incompetence, recklessness, corruption, immaturity, senility, racism, fear-mongering, failures, parsimoniousness, disgracefulness, molestation and rape – and that such vileness will never be elected on Anguilla again through lies fueled by influence-peddlers.

The challenges and opportunities of today’s marketplace require prepared leadership with clarity, confidence and efficiency to take us forward.

The Hon Victor F. Banks is that kind of special leader with an amazing ability to bring people to the table from across party lines in maintaining stability, tranquility and prosperity on Anguilla. It's humbling and inspiring, but more than anything, it's an awakening for each one of us. It’s a wonderful thing to see what's happening on Anguilla.

But he is the first to admit that this is bigger than him alone.

With such highly qualified leadership and a strategic team of professionals, Anguilla’s destiny is paved. The reality is that the ‘Class of 2010’ must be properly vetted, ‘organized’ and ‘fit for purpose’ on day-1; and if we as a people are not mature and prudent enough to independently elect capable but credible leaders in 2010, then let it be done majestically; especially in this global economic catastrophic state of affairs.

It’s embarrassing for too long now, that while an intelligent globe seeks to select their elite to compete and lead; we are deselecting our elite and electing our non-intelligent animals – as our sisters and brothers in the region laugh at our staged comedy.

But we are taking nothing for granted as we work hard to get every last vote out on Feb -15th. We are not letting up for a minute!

We thank you very much for your generosity and support.

ANGUILLA... A CONFUSED STATE OF NATIONALITY CONVENIENCE

We are Anguillian, European, British Overseas Territory (BOT), Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Caribbean Community (CARICOM) – a sovereignty of the United Kingdom.

Let me categorically state here that I, though Anguillian to the bone, fully supported the actions taken by ST. Martin/St.Maarten.

As a nation, we urgently need to recognize our legal/constitutional status. Failure to accept will continue this trend of embarrassment.

We (European Overseas Territories), are nothing but Europeans in the Caribbean. European laws apply; except only for convenience. Have you realized yet that our sustainability is dependent on St. Martin’s/St. Maarten’s courtesies?

You can twist this and turn this in any direction – it’s fact. Tell the authorities to stop their bull-shit. If there were ever three nations that needed no restrictions on its nationals freedom of movement and work… it’s Anguilla, St. Martin and St. Maarten – none!

I seriously support St. Martin’s/St. Maarten’s Actions.

We better wake up!

A CAMPAIGN ABOUT WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN

Something remarkable is happening to the Anguilla United Front’s (AUF) campaign right now, and we wanted to share with you the terrific news.

We've seen what happens when the will of the people is swept aside. Corruption and incompetence paralyze their will power and ability to think; where standards are diminished, and the fundamental fairness of our society diminishes to benefit a visionless bunch of no-brainers and their influence-peddlers.

On such trajectory, maintaining good governance and Anguilla’s moral status in the region is personal for all of us; and we are hearing thousands of powerful, incredibly personal reasons why we need to maintain this new era of politics on Anguilla.

The AUF is your government because of years of confusion of interest and the convergence of confusional cynical approach to government from the Opposition; you have decided to put prosperity and stability ahead.

The unintelligent animal, the Hon. Hubert Hughes, has suckered many of us before, which is why we're so outraged and now have gotten the opportunity once again to continue righting a wrong. Never again would we allow fear-mongering, unprofessionalism, incompetence and corruption be elected through a lie on Anguilla.

We've heard from the Anguillian Diaspora and friends about the decades of disunity, hatred, recklessness, emptiness and failures amongst the visionless estranged opposition; and their prostituted cohabitation specifically concocted to intoxicate you, the electorate.

We've heard from ordinary Anguillians from every region and every walk of life who want to once again feel the pride of knowing that our Chief Minister is truly a well learned and knowledgeable capable individual; the last democracy in the free world to commit.

Some people don't believe it can be done. Just as the Hon. Hubert Hughes was in opposition to our revolution; let us demonstrate that this campaign is a movement by Anguillians willing to step up and take personal responsibility for this kind of change. As our support continues to overflow everywhere, you can show them the way by standing up and being counted.

People like you are proving that no matter what any pundit says, this campaign isn't about what happened already -- it's about what's going to happen.

Thank you very much for your generosity and support.

TRUTH WITH PASSION AND A HUNGER FOR CONTINUITY

Your generosity is what will make it possible to mount a winning campaign. For that, we cannot thank you enough. Thank you for taking the most extraordinary and deeply humbling result - you have taken ownership of this campaign in numbers that are bigger than a thunderclap over the political process.

It means our campaign has more supporters than any campaign in history at this point in an election, and it’s a wake-up call to our current politics and the wishful thinking need-to-be-out-of-commission-loose-cannons – the convergence of confusion.

While our opponents are in opposition to gratitude and success, and are competing with each other to join the “Front’s lineup” - we’ve demonstrated that we’ve defied the pundits’ expectations and turned the political process on its head - now it’s time to build on our milestones of success.

It means ordinary people are coming together in unprecedented numbers to be counted for continued economic growth, tranquility, stability and prosperity – a reflection of good governance on Anguilla.

It means you are defying the influence-peddlers and the visionless opposition, rejecting their cynicism and negativity, and embracing the hope and confidence that the Anguilla United Front (AUF) Administration is a united team of professionals that you can trust to take us forward and continue changing things for the better.

It means we are building a movement so big, so deep, and so personal that the collective silent voices are undeniable – the silent stories that ring true with passion and a hunger for continuity – that the stakes are too high and will not be auctioned to a set of vile bidders.

But even though so many of us share a common goal, our success is not inevitable. While everyone is marveling at our numbers and patting us on the back, we need to continue focusing on building and organizing from the grassroots up. We know that working together with a common purpose can continue transforming communities; and the same is true for our country.

We need to continue reaching out to our friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors; to identify our common ground and work together for the common good.

With the solidarity of a well organized movement of volunteers working with us – we thank you for your generosity and support. It’s impressive and inspiring, but we have a few weeks more to go.