Public Relations

July 16, 2007

Fellow Anguillians,

My colleagues and I today requested the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to postpone its mission to Anguilla next week in relation to the Constitutional Reform Exercise. Government is of the view that despite the comprehensive nature of the consultations, a number of non-governmental organizations, religious and community groups as well as individual Anguillians have expressed the desire for more information and further discussion.

Over the past three years these consultations have been conducted through forums, radio programmes, town hall meetings, the print media and several designated websites. We strongly believe that it is necessary at this point to give Anguillians a further opportunity to participate in the process given the outcome of discussions at the preparatory meeting of the negotiating committee held on Tuesday July 17th.

At this meeting the concept of full internal self-government as the focal point of the discussions with the British Officials was adopted. In light of that approach, we believe that the committee should now have the opportunity to explain clearly the implications of this status. There was also a great deal of discussion at that meeting regarding the facility of Orders in Council and how these affect the democratic process and the principle of self-determination.

It is in this context, that we will now conduct some further consultations designed to inform the public regarding the negotiating stance of the Anguillian team in these talks. We sincerely hope that this will provide yet another opportunity for concerned Anguillians to ventilate their positions on these important national issues.

The Negotiating Team set up by the Government of Anguilla to discuss the future constitutional status with the British Government was in retreat at Paradise Cove Resort on Tuesday July 17th. The Team is comprised of all elected members of the House of Assembly, The Hon. Attorney General, Mr. Don Mitchell CBE. QC., Dame Bernice Lake Q.C., Rev. Cecil Weekes, Mr. Brent Davis, Mrs. Joyce Kentish-Egan, Ms. Lolita Davis-Richardson, Rev. Dr. H. Clifton Niles and Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett.

We look forward to your involvement as together we ensure that our constitution reflects our special needs, interests and aspirations. God Bless you all and may God bless Anguilla.