Exploitation

Foreign Exploitation of British Overseas Territories. One of my readers has drawn my attention to a recent article in the Royal Gazette of Bermuda [link here]. It concerns an initiative by Bermuda Premier Dr Ewart Brown and his wife to set up a stem-cell research centre in Bermuda. They have linked up with a US-based Russian medical research company to develop a private research facility. They hope to treat patients using as yet unproven, controversial and highly expensive scientific techniques. What conceivable reason could these Russian-American foreigners have for wanting to be in the West Indian territory of Bermuda? The answer should be obvious to most of us. Bermuda lacks the laws under which such treatment can be monitored. Bermuda has no infrastructure to ensure compliance with internationally agreed standards. The obvious intent is to avoid and circumvent regulatory oversight by regulators such as the FDA or the European Medicines Evaluation Agency. Dr Brown is no stranger to questionable activities in Bermuda while serving in government. His recent investigation by police for his alleged involvement in a fraud concerning public monies has been widely reported [link here].

What disturbs me even more is the risk to the integrity and good name of Bermuda’s public service. The Chief Medical Officer of Bermuda reports to Cabinet. How can he be expected to properly carry out his function when the proposed facility will be partly owned by the Premier and his wife? The potential for conflict of interest is staggering in its extent. The moral of this story is that we are at far more risk of exploitation by our local leaders than by crooks from overseas. The Foreign Office will continue to follow the official policy of not intervening on the basis that the colonies have to learn by making their own mistakes. All I can say is, thank Heavens, such a thing could never happen in Anguilla!

Books

Is Anguilla a Literate Society? It is with reluctance that I enter into this topic. It touches a sore spot with me. A correspondent sent me an article from the Observer Newspaper in Antigua. The 6 October story was written by Annabel Fuller. I cannot give you the link, as the Observer can only be read by subscription. The story is about a gift of 29,000 books made by the Rotary Club of Antigua to a number of schools and libraries in that island. This worthy project was done in partnership with a Rotary Club in Annapolis in Maryland. According to the article, the gift went down very well in Antigua. Why, asked my correspondent, did the Rotary Club of Anguilla not do a similar project here?

My answer was as follows: “It does not always work out. The Anguilla Rotary Club tried a used book project two years ago. We got about 30,000 books shipped for free from a Canadian school that was closing down. They were selected, sorted, and packed by the members of a Rotary Club there. When they arrived in Anguilla, they were rejected by the librarians as unsuitable. Even the encyclopedias and classics were described as "out of date". Worse, some of them had been previously handled. That was not good enough for Anguilla. Some were given away. The Club held four or five "one book for one dollar" sales of the remainder at Mariners. Those that were left over ended up in the dump. We all swore we would never again become involved in anything like that!”

My correspondent shot back, “Don, this is very depressing. Russell wouldn't have done such a thing, would he? There are a few children here who really want to learn. Some of their families are quite poor and could never afford to have their own encyclopedia in their home, not even an old one. I come from a home that was filled with books. I did poorly in school, but educated myself about the things I wanted to know by reading books. I still do that today. I have very strong feelings about making books available to those few who want them.

There's a popular book here that's over 2000 years old and hardly anyone thinks it's out of date. This is insane. I hope you will write about it.”

Owning, reading, and handling used books are not, in my opinion, degrading or demeaning activities. I built up a collection of nearly 3,000 books on West Indian history that I later gave away. Some of the books were over 300 years old. How does anyone think you can get a “new” 300 year-old book? When I was a student, I used to haunt the second-hand book stores of Port-of-Spain. I visited the public library and bought every old book they were discarding that I wanted to read. Today, I still own thousands of books that were previously owned by someone else. I love second-hand books. I educated myself on second-hand classics.

But, the question is, does anyone in Anguilla still read today? Would second-hand books be appreciated by anyone in Anguilla? Or, would most people agree with those who rejected the books on the ground that it was demeaning for Anguillians to be invited to handle used books?

Patriotism

Patriotism is the Last Refuge of a Scoundrel. So pronounced Samuel Johnson, the British lexicographer. I read a story on the Barbados Free Press today [link here]. It was about how Ministers of Government in Bridgetown use “patriotism” to silence their critics. It rang a bell with me. I never thought it was possible in Barbados. Not only is it possible. We learn that recently Barbados Government Ministers have taken steps to suppress free speech and opposition. Government Ministers now openly threaten citizens who ask reasonable questions about the lack of accountability and transparency and the conflicts of interest that make overnight millionaires of elected representatives. On the Barbados Labour Party Blog [link here], and in the Nation News [link here], citizens are being told that they should remain quiet about corruption in the Barbados government. The explanation given in the two links above? To publicly speak about government corruption is “unpatriotic”!

Thank heavens nothing like that can happen in Anguilla! We don’t have corruption at Ministerial level.

Compare that with the story from the Cayman Islands about the Ombudsman investigating a complaint against a Minister [link here]. Cayman Net News has filed a complaint with the Ombudsman against Minister Charles Clifford for cancelling freight arrangements for the paper’s newsprint from Miami. The reason? The paper has been printing articles critical of the Minister [link here]. The Minister has retaliated against the paper by making it difficult for them to get newsprint. Nothing like that could happen here in Anguilla. Our papers don’t print articles critical of any Minister! It also helps that we do not have an Ombudsman. So, we cannot complain even if we wanted to!

Biodiversity

When Pessimism Sets In. I read the press release in my Inbox. It said,

Press Conference on Anguilla’s Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan:

The Government of Anguilla as part of its renewed commitment to sustainable management of the country’s limited natural resources has initiated the preparation of Anguilla’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (ABSAP).

At this critical juncture of this initiative, the Department of Environment extends invitations to all Media Houses, Heads of Departments with responsibility for Natural Resource Management to a Press Conference outlining the details of the ABSAP.

Please join us Monday - October 8, 2007, at the Anguilla Tourist Board Conference Centre at 2pm.

The Department of Environment through the Ministry of Environment will be detailing the concept, focus and benefits of the ABSAP to Anguilla’s current development landscape. The team of regional and international consultants facilitating the consultation as part of the development of the ABSAP will be available to answer questions.

In my innocence, I thought it sounded like a good idea to attend. I contacted some of my environmentally concerned friends. I asked whether they would like to be there with me. The responses were discouraging, to say the least. One wrote back in reply:

I listened with belief and encouragement when they signed the Environmental Charter.
I listened again when I read the United Front Manifesto. I was encouraged. I voted for them.

I don't go to ceremonies.

I am no longer interested in listening to promises about what is to be done about Anguilla's environment. I have been to what used to be a landfill at Corito. I have been to what used to be Windward Point Beach. I have been to what used to be Sile Bay Beach. I have seen the pilings dumped on the beach at Mariners. And I have seen the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness.

I was there when Olasee Davis said, "Because we don't think about the future they will never forget us."

It is truly saddening to know so much about our island.

I have learned that it's possible to know too much.

It completely put me off. I don’t want to go to the Press Conference any more. Is this too pessimistic? Do you, by contrast, have the courage to hope for improvements in the future? If so, it probably means that you are younger than I am!

NICA Dead

Let us Take NICA off Life Support. A group of shareholders of the National Investment Company of Anguilla Ltd met on 2 October at Bob Rogers’ home to consider the meeting that had taken place with the directors on 27 September. The number of members attending and showing interest continues to rise.

Concerns were expressed about the failure of the Board to have taken any steps to prosecute the offences revealed in the Report of Mr Avondale Thomas to the Court in Bob Rogers’ court case of 2003.

Others expressed worry on learning that the Board had leased the Wholesale Building to the Rum Factory at very unfavourable terms. They were paying rent of about $3,500.00 per month instead of $7,000.00. It was also noticed that the Rum Factory was trespassing onto land that they had not been leased. They were proposing to build 10,000 sq ft of storeroom on it.

What was even more worrying was the Board’s expressed intention to bring in to a future general meeting teams of experts to persuade us to let them develop the Gibbons Estate lands owned by the company at Lockrums. Members agreed that after nearly twenty years of mismanagement and inactivity, the company was brain dead and should now be taken off life support machines. The time for the Board to be coming with schemes to develop land was long past.

Particularly worrying to some was the announcement made on radio just that morning that the Board was calling a general meeting of shareholders to elect new directors and appoint new auditors on 22 October at 5:00 pm at the Stoney Ground Primary School. There was general consensus that the company should be taken out of its misery. It was time to apply to the court for a court supervised voluntary winding up. That means that it is pointless to appoint new directors. They will be replaced by the Liquidator immediately he is appointed.

Members also considered that it was pointless to conduct an audit of the company’s accounts over the previous thirteen years. It is not as if there would be an incoming new Board that needed to know what the state of the accounts was. We were now past the stage where audits were required. It would be a waste of money to audit the accounts just before the company was put into liquidation. Members agreed that the ideal Liquidator would be Mr Thomas. He would not need an audit to be presented to him for him to know what to do.

Several members expressed the strong desire that there be a resolution for the company to be wound up on the agenda of any future shareholders’ meeting. Members approved the following resolution to be submitted to the Board of Directors for inclusion in the official Notice calling the meeting: Resolved: That the National Investment Company of Anguilla Ltd be voluntarily wound up, under the supervision of the Court, that the assets of the company be sold, that the debts be paid off, and the balance distributed among the shareholders. Mr Avondale Thomas of Antigua to be the Liquidator of the company.

No Names

In Anguilla We Do Not Name Names. I received the following press release from the government press office on Tuesday. I guess I am on the mailing list as part of Anguilla’s “media”. I challenge you to read the release below and guess what it is really all about [excuse the bad spelling, but I did not think it in my place to correct someone else’s press release]. Have a look at the photographs below that accompanied the press release. Clicking on a photograph should enlarge it for better viewing.

Chief Minister Calls Fire Pit On Meads Bay Beach A Disgrace

The Valley, Anguilla, October, Tuesday, 2nd, 2007 --- The Honourable Chief Minister Osbourne B. Fleming responded to a call at 7:00am Sunday Morning, September 30^th, 2007, made by the West End Concerned Group. Upon his arrival he was alarmed and dismayed to notice that someone had dug a circular hole some 4 feet in depth and 10 ft in diameter and used it for a fire pit right on the beach some 20 feet from the water’s edge.

It was obvious that some form of merrymaking had taken place there on the Meads Bay beach just to the North West of Frangipani the Saturday night before. It was undetermined at the time if the said merrymakers of this function were responsible. The Chief Minister is investigating the matter to determine just who the culprits are. The offenders had not only used the beach inappropriately but displayed blatant disregard for the safety of others. The intention obviously was to provide more lighting or some sort of bond fire effect but what was left in the final analysis was a danger to others that could cause injury. The firewood used obviously was construction material such as lumber with nails and Pallot Boards taken from a construction site in the vicinity. Chief Minister Fleming has called the act disgraceful and an irresponsible use of the beach.

Chief Fleming is urging all persons using the beach to sustain the aesthetics of the beach environment by cleaning up after functions and by ensuring that any and all use of the beaches does not infringe on the rights and privileges of other users. It is quite disturbing to behold sights such as the one witnessed on Sunday Morning at the Middle part of Meads Bay Beach. Mr. Fleming is also encouraging persons to report all such acts to the Environment Department.

What is so funny about this story is that every schoolchild in West End knows who lit the bonfire on Meads Bay. Every little turtle trying to lay her eggs and getting confused with the light from the bonfire knows who held the party. It happens every last Friday in every month. It has been going on for at least the past four months. That is when the Kor Group holds a beach party at night for their sales and construction staff. The party-goers light a big bonfire on the beach. They eat and drink to their hearts’ content. That is what happened on Friday 28 September. Except that this time my information is they were not sitting around the bonfire drinking with merriment. They were drowning their sorrows. After months of effort, and a huge expenditure on flying prospective purchasers in to Anguilla, my information is that not one villa or apartment has sold. Viceroy at Barnes Bay is not selling. The Tides projects at Meads Bay and Savannah Bay are not moving at all. Money is hemorrhaging. Staff are being let go. Carillion, the construction company, has its share of woes. My information is that they are about to leave Anguilla. Anyone with more accurate information is welcome to add their comment.

So, will somebody please enlighten the Chief Minister and tell him that the unknown culprit who left the abandoned fire pit on the beach is probably his favourite developer in the West End of Anguilla?

CORRECTION:

I have just learned from a very reliable source that I misinformed myself and misled you when I wrote above that Viceroy was responsible for the bonfire on the beach. It was nothing to do with Viceroy.

Apparently, Val Davis celebrated the birthday of the charming Ms Lake by holding a beach party on Saturday night. The party involved the subject bonfire. All eyes now turn to Val to see if he will apologise to the Anguillian public for leaving such a mess uncovered on the beach.

Meanwhile, apologies are due from me to Viceroy for the incorrect information. My apologies!

NICA Latest

Board Calls Meeting of Concerned Shareholders. On Thursday 27 September 2007 the Board of Directors of the National Investment Company of Anguilla Ltd called a meeting of the concerned shareholders. It took place in the plush conference room of National Bank. Conrad Walton Fleming chaired the meeting. The members of the Board told us that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the contents of our letter to them of 14 September. It was a very strange meeting. I left it with a bad feeling.

For one, Calvert Carty confirmed to us that he had been meeting and discussing with a Trickydadian group about developing the Lockrums land. The group had come to Anguilla from Trinidad and made an impressive PowerPoint presentation to the Board. They were excited about the prospects for developing the land.

Now, we all know the history of plans to develop this land. We failed to do it twenty years ago when we had the money and the credit. Now, when we are bankrupt, and ready to die of old age, we are going to develop land? If that happens, I prophesy that no shareholder of NICA will see a dollar of the “profits” from such a project.

The only sensible next step is for the shareholders to resolve to wind up the company, appoint an independent accountant to be the voluntary liquidator, have the assets sold, the debts paid off, and the balance distributed to the shareholders. I will be happy with nothing less. On the poll on this website 86% of those who voted on the issue agree with that solution.

We were disappointed to learn that the Board has not made a complaint to the police about any of the contents of the Thomas Report. When they were elected, it was with specific instructions to have the police commence the necessary proceedings. Their excuse is that their lawyers told them to be careful. Yes, they have to be careful. But, the Thomas Report contains evidence that should have been put in the police hands. There is no risk for the Board in that.

We were disappointed to learn that they had failed to pay KPMG, the auditors appointed by the shareholders, to get the missing ten years of audits done. That, after three years! Their excuse is that it was too expensive. US$10,000.00 per year is not expensive, given the element of risk and the insurance premiums that KPMG must pay for taking on jobs like this. We knew the cost at the time. It is not a new cost. It is what the shareholders were always told. Now, the Directors say they want the shareholders to appoint new auditors at a reduced fee. What for? This is not a live, trading company where we have time to fiddle about.

The bank accounts of the company are overdrawn by some EC$300,000.00. Some of the overdraft has been paid off, but not all of it. We are paying the bank a huge amount of overdraft interest. I would not be surprised if it was about 20% a year. But, the company has assets it could sell to pay off all of its debts. It holds over one million EC dollars invested in shares in various companies. There is some $300,000.00 in inventory still in the “bookstore”. Clearly, the duty of the Board was to have sold the necessary assets to pay off the overdraft.

They should have done this in their first six months of appointment in 2004. They should have taken advice on what to do with the Thomas Report. They should have taken advice on the quickest and most profitable way to unload the land. And, they should, as instructed in the year 2004, come back to the shareholders with a plan to bring the misery of the company to an end.

The Board promised the meeting that they would call a general meeting of shareholders in a few weeks time, as requested by the Bob Rogers’ and Collins Richardson’s group of concerned shareholders. I hope they are not coming with proposals to keep the company on life support machines. The only proper recommendation that should be before the shareholders at that meeting should be a resolution to bring NICA’s pathetic existence to a merciful end. That’s my view.