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The term Independence is best defined after a definition of the
term
colonialism. A colonial status is characterized by two conditions: - a) The oppressor & b) The oppressed. Thus, there has never been in the past and cannot be in the future a partnership between the colonializer and the colonized - the oppressor and the oppressed - the administrating power and the administered. In a colonial status, there is always the burden of paternalism - the father/mother deciding for her children. Independence, on the other hand allows for self-determination - determining one's own future or destiny. To say therefore, that you are not ready for independence is to accept a condition of servitude, of having your destiny decided by others who do not know what is best for you and ignores what you really want to do and replace what you want, with what they want you to do. If you examine the historical dimensions of colonialism, you will be forced to learn much about the process of imperialism. The term imperialism and the phenomenon of imperialism. There was a time when Britain boasted that the sun never sets on her empire - so widespread was her domain. They fought a war against Argentina in the 1980s to maintain her hold on the Falkland Islands. As recent as last month she refused giving Gibraltar her independence citing Spain might colonized her. This month she refused to let the people of the San Diego islands return even after a high court decided in the San Diego people's favour. The Anguilla revolution was triggered by a desire our people to determine their own destiny - to chart its own course. There were those who said at the time that Anguilla was not ready to be on its own; but by going it alone Anguilla was able to qualify and to seek its own development program. As a matter of fact, we were totally independent for a time in 1967. Some of our leaders thought that we should have done it and there were some who said we should seek the British and become colonized. In the early days and into the early 80s the Government of Anguilla had some power. CM Emile Gumbs even appealed to the Government of Taiwan for infrastrutural aid and an international airport because, as he said, "we are a small island on the threshold of independence"! After the revolution we benefited by qualifying for our own aid and investment programmes. The development, which we have today in terms of human resource, could not have occurred nor sustained without the economic development which we on our own in the later 70s and early 80s have been free to determine. Through all of the advancement that Anguillians have made, we have yet to scratch the surface of our potential. We still suffer from the trappings and restrictions of the colonial dictatorship. Britain still dictates how we live and die. The power to chart our course and the freedom that comes along with it was taken away from us through constitutional reforms in 1983, 1989 and now we are left with virtually no power. New constitutional reforms will give whatever little power that we have to the British to be used by their Governor. Our elected representatives have no real power and the Governor enjoys near absolute authority. All the powers of administration are in the hands of Britain and are exercised by a secretary of state in London through the Governor. The Governor also posses the power to disallow any law that the legislative assembly passes but at the same time Britain can go to parliament with any bill or Order in Council imposing any law on the people of Anguilla. The death penalty was abolished for Anguilla by a British act in parliament in Westminster and Britain imposed legal homosexuality by an Order in Council as recent as 2001. The real significance of these impositions of legislation is to facilitate the continuing buildup of a British population in the entire colonial, now OVERSEAS TERRITORIES, especially Anguilla and Tortola. You might ask why England wants us! The fact remains that colonies were always used as a second lease on life for British citizens. When Britons settle here they must be able to enjoy the same culture they enjoyed in Britain - their mother country. Furthermore, the record shows for reasons better known to Britain many economic development projects have been stalled by them. The Bremigin airport is the largest of these economic projects that they have stalled since 1983, now, with the assistance of a government who lacks vision, the Wallblake airport will be the focal point. All this while mortgaging the future of Anguilla's youth. As costs escalate from year to year and as the last real site is lost forever, Anguilla's economy will not be sustained, as we will probably never again get an adequate airport. Such a significant piece of infrastructure will determine the future social and economic well being and standard of living of future as well as present generations of our people. Without adequate infrastructure there is little hope that the increasing jobs required for an ever-growing population of school leavers will be created. The burden of being an overseas territory is too much for us to carry! Recently a whole bunch of laws were written by British appointed British legal draftsmen and hurried through the Anguilla house of assembly in total disregard for the well being of the Anguillian people. The main effect of those laws is to stall our economic and social development and to criminalize the Anguillian people. Those said laws today are unconstitutional. After seeing numerous increases in taxes over the past two years, we now hear and read of how much our taxes will further increase and expand. There will be increases in house taxes (property tax), road taxes, a custom sur charge has been implemented and there is a medium term plan to implement land taxes. These are just a few. Taxes and no minimum wage increases can only result our houses and lands being taxed out of our hands. While we are faced with increases in taxes, our salaries remain stagnant. This can only result in less value for the dollar and force us into a situation similar to where Argentina finds herself today. That process is already happening in other territories in particular neighboring St. Maarten/St. Martin, as they succumb more and more to European Union standards and jurisdictions. The Anguillian people need to elect competent leaders in the future to ensure that we are taken on a path to continual economic, social and political advancement. While we seen to abhor the option of political independence, it is something to be considered and pursued. The option is quickly being taken away from us but as long as it remains, Anguilla has no other option than to do what all of the rest of the British colonial territories around the globe did; that is, opt for full self-determination! In the meantime, get involved in the constitutional reform exercise. Haydn Hughes The Anguilla Independence Movement - AIM The Mulindwas
communication group
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