Antiquities

Ownership of antiquities:  We are looking at the fundamental right to ownership of personal property in Anguilla, and the exceptions recognised by the Anguilla Constitution.  The fourth exception to our fundamental right is a little more obscure.  It says that a law which makes provision for taking away property that is being removed from Anguilla in contravention of the law is legal.

So, if a law says that if you attempt to remove one of the old cannon from Anguilla, it can be confiscated, that would be a constitutional confiscation.  If we find an old Amerindian carving in the sand at Rendezvous Bay, and we try to take it out of Anguilla, and the law says that is illegal and the carving can be confiscated, that would not be an unconstitutional confiscation of our property.  It is an attempted removal from Anguilla in contravention of our law.  The law which makes provision for taking away property that is being removed from Anguilla is provided for.  Sorry!