Admittedly, one can understand how frustrating it can be for any Government which, for some reason, finds itself unable to have a national budget approved especially in these times. For an Overseas Territory, like Anguilla, it may be seen as being difficult when the Government approves its budget and then the administering power refuses to sign it off, as has been the case.

When that happens, however, it has to be assumed that something is considered to be quite wrong or not measuring up to certain real financial situations or fiscal responsibility. This is especially so if there is a deficit not only for the year in question, but the succeeding one as well, or perhaps even further down the road. One thing that seems certain is that, for this year’s budget, and like that for 2010, our local technocrats worked extremely hard and admirably to produce the closely trimmed estimates of revenue and expenditure, bolstered substantially by a regime of tax measures. It is also very likely that their calculations were done within the scope, direction and time factor the politicians gave them. It appears that there has been an avowed practice in the past, and even now, that despite all the busy activity of the Christmas season, a budget for the ensuing year must be completed at all cost in the month of December. That may be an ill-conceived concept because, in the rush to completion, some regrettable mistakes can be made. No wonder that ever so often supplementary budgets have to be presented to the House of Assembly. It is better to get the budget right the first time than to go through the preparation process again, however insignificant.

The details of the setback of this year’s budget, and the need for careful revision, now are still not clear despite the fact that a considerable amount of time has elapsed since its passage in December and more recently its disapproval in London. On one hand, the Governor said the 2011 budget was not approved by the Foreign Office because the discussions, which were started with the Anguilla Government late in 2010, were not completed by the end of that year. On the other hand, the main reason put forward to the people of Anguilla, and to his OECS Ministerial colleagues, by Chief Minister Hughes, is that the British Government wants him to send home 300 civil servants as a cost-cutting measure to which he is vehemently opposed. It is generally known that Personal Emoluments account for a very big slice of the budget. In a difficult financial situation like now, that is obviously one of the areas to which consideration for some slashing could regrettably be given, if further cost-cutting measures and taxes cannot be applied. Sources close to the Governor’s Office have either commented vaguely on the matter, or indicated that the Government was not told to reduce the size of the public service as is being claimed. One of the explanations by the Governor’s Office is that its role is concerned with filling posts rather than determining numbers of employees which is the responsibility of the Executive Council. However, with some movement towards the revision of the 2011 budget, now that the two independent experts, John Wiggins and Ved Gandhi, have arrived in Anguilla to assist with the work, it should not be long before the real picture emerges.

In addition to those experts from London, we have heard about an OECS delegation of Prime Ministers and technical personnel who are supposed to be visiting Anguilla. It is reported that their mission is to hold talks with the Governor on the budget impasse, and to see whether there is common ground for agreement between him and the Government of Mr. Hughes who complained about the matter at the recent OECS Authority meeting in Grenada.

The impression in the region is that there is much trouble with the budget in Anguilla to the extent that some folks have to come to the island’s rescue. Some commentators feel that the matter has been blown out of proportion. They think that it is rather embarrassing that an island, which has been doing so well, without the interest or assistance of its Caribbean neighbours over many years, and which has some of the very best qualified local people in the region in its public and private sectors, is suddenly thought to need their intervention in its administrative and financial affairs. Anguilla, by reason of its choice of administration, entered a partnership with Britain which gives the British Government a responsibility to sought out the island’s situation in cooperation with its leaders and people.

Late last year the OECS sent three of its most eminent diplomatic women to Anguilla to inquire into complaints mainly about the working relationship between the Chief Minister and the Governor. How useful or successful that visit was is unknown, because, as to date no report has been made public. While one can understand certain regional linkages as possible reasons for the OECS, or CARICOM, to feel obligated to become involved in the affairs of Anguilla, as a member, it may be necessary to make certain substantiating and diplomatic inquiries about any given situation. That can save a lot of time and effort before boarding an aircraft for the island for an intervention visit which may prove futile and turn out to be a storm in a tea cup.

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