UK to impose a Financial Advisor in Anguilla; is the VI next?
Chief Minister the Honourable Victor F. Banks is now doing battle, as the latest attempt by the UK to further colonize the Caribbean Island of fifteen thousand residents.
Financial Advisor to have veto power over elected government
The UK is in the process of imposing a Financial Advisor via law on Anguilla with wide ranging powers according to Chief Minister Banks.
In a protest letter to the UK Prime Minister Hon. David W. D. Cameron written last month Honourable Banks outlined the dangers of the new Financial Advisor.
The UK plans is to enact legislation dealing with fiscal matters without that legislation going through any process in the House of Assembly and without consultation. If the Governor so decides, “our Government and people will therefore have no voice in what becomes law in relation Anguilla’s finances” according to Chief Minister Banks.
Hon Banks said in his letter that the plans are to “appoint a Chief Financial Adviser whose office shall be a public office. I am subject to correction, but this suggests that the Chief Financial Adviser will be paid by the Government of Anguilla, as would any other public officer.”
The Anguilla Government leader wrote, “Imagine having to pay for the whip used to give us licks.” However, it is clear that the Chief Financial Adviser is no ordinary public officer, but rather a spy sent by the UK Government to assist the Governor to keep an eye on Anguilla’s tax-payers money, tell us how to spend it, and to do their bidding for him or her “has to comply with any directions given …by the Governor”.
Additionally, the functions of the Chief Financial Adviser will be prescribed by order of the Governor and published in the gazette (which means given legislative teeth without having to pass through the legislative process in House of Assembly and therefore without input from elected representatives) which is certainly not the usual course for someone holding a public Office the Chief Minister wrote.
In the letter read out at a press conference Chief Minister Honourable Banks said, “It is interesting to note that in at least one other OT, their Constitution was amended to set out the duties of the UK imposed Chief Financial Officer. We certainly do not want constitutional change of this nature, but we must wonder whether the UK is seeking to entrench the powers of the Chief Financial Adviser in our governance framework more craftily. While we are not privy to the proposed powers of the Chief Financial Adviser, we know for certain that the Chief Financial Adviser will have significant clout because the Governor is bound to consult him or her (not consult the Chief Minister or even the Attorney General) before making legislative proposals to Executive Council.”
Another aspect of the new Financial Advisor is to “direct Ministers of Government and the Parliamentary Secretary on matters related to Anguilla’s financial obligations, which they will be legally bound to comply with. In other words, override the decisions of our elected representatives and impose what the UK Government thinks is in its best interest even if it is detrimental to the people and future development of Anguilla.”
According to Chief Minister Banks another power of the UK imposed Advisor is to “dissolve any board and reconstitute them as he/she sees fit,” which he said gives the power to in effect exercise ultimate and unfettered control over the governance of Anguilla and any public institution.
Is the Virgin Islands next?
The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) opposition, the media and civil society have been hammering the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) about over spending, lack of accountability and corruption. Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) a senior member of the VIP has labelled the NDP Administration as “the most corrupt government in modern history.”
They have also complained about the fact that four Accountant Generals have left the Treasury Department since the NDP came to power in 2011 and there have been no audited financial statements since the Administration of Dr. the Honorable D. Orlando Smith took office in 2011 as Minister of Finance.
Critics of the NDP financial stewardship have also pointed to two reports; one on the Ports Authority Project done by the Virgin Islands’ Auditor General and another by the House of Assembly Public Accounts Committee concluding that there were violation of financial laws, conflict of interest, and corruption on the project.
The question is would the UK also impose a Financial Advisor on the VI in the light of this history?
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41 Responses to “ UK to impose a Financial Advisor in Anguilla; is the VI next? ”
The use of words like "colonisation" are inflamatory and serve no useful purpose. The U.K. Would happily give Anguilla, and the BVI, independence if only they would take it. However, as long as the oversea territories require a connection with the UK, the UK will impose rules. If we don't like it, the choice is clear and we should opt for independence.
Please let's have a little more grown up journalism.
It is strategy and it was the same in Turks and Caicos. People were crying foul while those who could have stopped it did nothing until it got to a point where everybody must suffer with direct rule. This sought of thing can never go on in Uk there would have been already several investigations launch every investigation launch here is stopped and never heard of again.
The British government. It is the same thing with here politicians don't go jail only civil servants go as scapegoats. Justice never goes up to a ministry-level here as far as the people who are responsible for preventing such things of happening is concern maybe it is British tradition.
WE GOOD!
again and again.
Dulcina aka mw, shut your st*nk mouth !