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12/1/1968 - Anguilla. Returning a Year Later by Frank J. McDonald

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS FJM Anguilla ANGUILLA RETURNING A YEAR LATER West Indies December I Dear Dick If south Puerto Rico St Thomas Virgin Islands lesser antilles avoid using Caribair Though largest service connecting these islands seldom conjested The Leeward Islands Air Taxi LIAT better always round excellent service Besides LIAT stewardesses always pretty Coming Anguilla LIAT incidentally month repeats I about Fortunately I happened return island night party being given departing V S O British equivalent U Peace Corps workers The party afforded opportunity greet friends catch events during months Returning Anguilla strikes extraordinary things accepted normal course Anguillans occur For these people internally governing managing their affairs resisting return St Kitts Government which seceeded months Doing without constitutional recognition other states without judicial system consequent blems justice development agreed Anguillans observers including British Government island better under Control Premier Robert Bradshaw state St Kitts Since I March Anguillans elections magistrate appointed treasury books balanced roads being widened airport paved denominations Amguilla stamps issued The Beacon Anguillan sheet expanded eight pages There ility The elections produced better experienced Island Council Mr Raphael Lake magis trate jailed young turks disrupted dance social serving their month terms working roads In agree summer though stability progress FJM Last month chairman Island Council Renald Webster Bradshaw British officials Foreign Office They their conference London attempt solution Anguillan secession temperarily problem aeviated mutual aggression worked This temporary agreement January Very little appeared British press about London talks between Angulla St Kitts British Government In substance however accomplished these talks further hardening issues Reorts filtering meetings indicated British Government sympathetic Anguillan position HG helpless legality Bradshaw position constitutional which Anguilla St Kitts federation What HMG would course Anguillan return federated If unlikely equally unlikely Bradshaw going relinquish insistance their return Assuming impasse second January probable result first statement ritish Foreign Office Perhaps there moderate pressure Bradshaw allew defacto condition thngs separ ation governments become constitutional This being unheeded HMG other Caribbean states judgement issue reluctantly Jamaica Trinidad Barbados Antigua Guyana willhave become openly involved There reason think Angui again declare UDI St Kitts continue independence perhaps Great Britain The crucial pesitions those taken other Caribbean states since largely whether Bradshaw vinced whether Anguilla granted recognition At point tentative conjectures about these states Both Webster Bradshaw making rounds these islands visiting heads state hopes gining their suppert The_ Bahamas probably aloof entire dispute Viewing themselves British Commonwealtl certain Caribbean stemming association Bahamians really consider themselves West Indians identifiel their problems Soon Bahamas become independent nation sooner three later years This change title Bahamas state I ynden O Pin dling effect He Prime Minister rather Premier significant change since Prime Ministers state independent nations whereas Premiers heads state dependent territories Further Bahamas known FJM The Commonwealth Bahamas Crown Colony Bahamas known previously In delicate before independence therefore unlikely involve themselves disputes Lesser Antilles Perhaps since fragmentation strong Bahamas nation comprised hundreds small islands spread O00 square miles ocean Jamaica given muted solid support Anguilla In August Prime Minister Hugh Shearer other Caribbean leaders stand against forceful suppression Anguilla secession He Lord Shepherd thate British Government would dirty dirty This remark reply Lord Shepherd proposal Shepherd HMG minister Commonwealth Affairs detachment Royal Marines landed Sto Kitts police Anguilla followed detachments Barbados Trinidad Jamaica Guyana Shearer pelicies Jamaica ruled landing Lately shown signs pulling Jamaica further Caribbean affairs exemplified recent attacks University West Indies federal structure branch university Jamaica Shearer hinted thinking nationalizing University nothing threat If comes crunch however Shearer gover could Anguilla Anti proximity St Eitts close working Premier Vere Bird Robert Bradshaw St Kitts government probably assures Antigua support Kittian position Bird Bradshaw friends union ticians trade union graduates school committed support another Both having their political troubles these Bird difficulty Antigua He faces growing opposition another accounts government could office before It Bird support Bradshaw damaging Anguilla because political trouble Elections Antigua Vere Bird could moving beyon8 political The Hon Errol Barrow Prime Minister Barbados probably stronger Anguillan supporters Caribbean For example winter Barrow arrived unannounced LIAT charter walked office asked could couple generators Barbados This gesture other small offered train Anguillan police infuriating Premier St Kitts Barrow shown himself friend Anguilla In final CountdoWn hedhis government counted Anguillan Right Part Premier Bradshaw wants View ridge overlooking Anguilla Crocus Bay FJM Guyana Forbes Burnham strong voice against Anguilla secession His Minister Foreign Affairs again recently spoken opposition Anguilla position pointing small place cannot survive economically alone Anguilla secession sucessful would further fragmentation Caribbean Guyana seems Bradshaw strongest powerful though there reports Burnham growing disenchanted Bradshaw disrup politics Such disenchantment stems unconfirmed reports Guyanese lawyer working St Eitts Premier tried bribe Anillans living St Thomas testify against their government Anguilla At there concrete reason believe there major shift Guyana policies regarding Anguilla Burnham government considered support St Kitts Of major states Caribbean leaves Trinidad Dr Eric Williams Trinidad Prime Minister regarded leading statesmen Caribbean A thoughtful intelligent politician Dr Williams leading spokesman Caribbean joint cooperation federation His position Anguilla extremely crucial sides dispute unknown There important factor however which bring Trinidad Anguilla In recent talks London Anguilla 1Kwyer Hudson Phillips Phillips happens deputy chairman party governing Trinidad close friend Dr Williams I recall Phillips first Anguilla about He defence lawyers during series conspiracy trials being St Kitts Following those trials after having Bradshaw courts operate first Phillips decided offer services Anguilla He arrived unannounced afternoon short meeting provisional ouncil islan quietly Few realized later would going Ronald Webster London Anguilla Government advocate various possibilities future Trinidadian Government would critical Anguilla destiny With Hudson Phillips Government Trinidad support balance could favour Anguilla independence There Anguilla cautious optimism Christmas approaches New begins Britain unable effect solution The Government St Eitts still bound Anguilla The Anguiilan course seems appeal ether Caribbean states necessary preparation further months going alone Christmas Anguilla preparation waiting UrS Frank McDonald FJM Note Anuilla stamDs In stamps determined St Kitts Nevis Anguilla stamps Government Anguilla entire stock stamps office overprinted Independent Anguilla words St Christopher Nevis Anguilla blocked This first stamps short supply about month Only three complete stamps condition Most remainder estroyed November Those among valuable stampin world today They currently selling complete smaller denominations selling prices Since Anguilla stamps minted being office These stamps accepted United Postal Union therefore mailings In addition permanent series there commorative issues released The above Christmas issue Received New York December