Anguilla and UK Governor in war of words

British Governor Alistair Harrison issued a press statement announcing that he was using powers conferred upon the governor under the constitution to direct Minister Richardson to immediately cease issuing visa waivers to any person.


THE VALLEY, Anguilla, April 12, 2011 – Just days after Anguilla Chief Minister Herbert Hughes announced his push for independence based on an earlier refusal by the British Governor Alistair Harrison to approve the island’s Budget, a contentious visa issue has now escalated the war-of-words between the two sides.

In a strongly-worded statement issued by the Government of Anguilla on Monday evening, the Hughes administration suggested that Governor Harrison had over-reached in exercising his power to halt the government’s issuance of visa waivers, and hinted that legal action against the governor could shortly ensue.

Anguilla to seek independence

THE VALLEY, Anguilla -- Anguilla Chief Minister Hubert Hughes said that Britain's approval of his December 2010 budget is a little too late and signalled his intention to seek independence for the British Overseas Territory.

"We lost out on so much revenue, we have lost out on the deal we had with the European Union, on the EDF 10 fiscal package, we have lost out on support from the Caribbean Development Bank because these institutions will not do business with Anguilla as long as Anguilla cannot produce a proper, credible budget," Hughes told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

Governor Alistair Harrison said that the Queen, through the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, had assented to the island's Appropriation Act, which contains the 2011 budget.