Anguilla
Population: 13, 638
GDP: $132.4 million, GDP per head: $9,711
Key industries: tourism and financial services
Associate member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
Geography
441. The most northerly of the Leeward Islands
in the eastern Caribbean, Anguilla is 16 miles long and a maximum
of three miles wide. It has some of the best beaches in the region.
History
442. Colonised by British and Irish settlers
in 1650, Anguilla was administered as a single federation with
St Kitts and Nevis from 1958 to 1962. The Islanders, believing
their interests were being ignored and wishing to retain their
direct links with Britain, sought separation from the federation
in the 1960s. This disquiet culminated in the revolution of 1967.
Anguilla came under direct British rule in the 1970s and eventually
became a separate British Dependent Territory in 1980.
Constitutional status
443. Anguilla has a ministerial system of government.
The 1982 Constitution (amended in 1990) provides for a Governor,
an Executive Council and a House of Assembly. The Governor has
reserved powers in respect of legislation, and is responsible
for external affairs, defence and internal security (including
the police force) and the public service. He also has responsibility
for offshore finance (the only two other territories where the
Governor has this responsibility are Montserrat and the Turks
and Caicos Islands). The Executive Council comprises the elected
government plus two Ex-Officio members (Attorney General and Deputy
Governor). The House of Assembly comprises twelve members: the
Speaker, seven elected members, two nominated members and the
two ex-officio members. Elections are held at least every five
years and the next general election is due in 2011. The Anguilla
United Front are in government.
Evidence received
444. We received two written submissions from
Anguilla: one from the Chairman of the Constitutional and Electoral
Reform Commission and another from a Belonger. We also heard oral
evidence from the Chief Minister of the Territory.
Key recommendations
- We recommend that the Government
should encourage the Anguillan government to establish an independent
inquiry into allegations that Anguillan ministers accepted bribes
from developers in the Territory. We also recommend that the Government
should urge the Anguillan government to use the opportunity of
constitutional review to introduce stronger anti-corruption measures
in the Territory. (para 203)
- We conclude that although extending voting rights
to non-Belongers will be politically difficult for Overseas Territory
governments, the Government should at least encourage local administrations
to review this issue with regard to non-Belongers who have resided
in an Overseas Territory for a reasonable period. We recommend
that the Government should propose that non-Belongers' rights
be an agenda item for the next OTCC. (para 275)
- We are concerned by the National Audit Office's
finding that the FCO has been complacent in managing the risk
of money laundering in Anguilla, Montserrat and the Turks and
Caicos Islands, particularly since these Territories are those
for which the UK is directly responsible for regulation and therefore
most exposed to financial liabilities. We agree with the Public
Accounts Committee's recent recommendation that Governors of these
Territories should use their reserve powers to bring in more external
investigators or prosecutors to strengthen investigative capacity.
(para 312)
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