FM ANGUILLA
TO PRIORITY FCO
CONFIDENTAL
TELNO PERSONAL 106. OF 4 DECEMBER
сс
87
CC Mr Clarke, HKED Are we covering 'X' in te
draft despatch about the futive off to DTS?
AND TO PRIORITY DEVDIV AND BHC BRIDGETOWN.
ANGUILLA: BUDGETARY AID REVIEW 1979: MY TEL PERSONAL 105
1. RECOGNISE THE POLICY OF REDUCING BUDGETARY AID AS A SPUR TO INDEPENDENCE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE OBVIOUS REACTION IN THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF ANGUILLA IS TO FORCE THE CRY FOR SEPARATION.
ÏT.
7/12
Molne
(WIAD)
2. IT IS NOT FOR ME TO CHALLENGE DEVDIVS ASSESSMENT OF ANGUILLAS REVENUE EARNING CAPACITY IN 1979 EVEN THOUGH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY (A PRAGMATIST AND A MAN OF INTEGRITY) STRONGLY DISAGREES WITH IT. WHAT IS CLEAR TO ME IS THAT MINISTERS WILL BE EXPOSED POLITICALLY IF THEY TRY TO RAISE THE EXTRA 232,000 DOLLARS IN QUESTION. THEY WILL HAVE DIFFICULTIES ENOUGH OVER RAISING MUCH OF THE FIRST 400,000 DOLLARS. THE PREDICTABLE CRY WILL BE: WHAT ABOUT DOG ISLAND REVENUES?
3. MINISTERS DO NOT LACK POLITICAL COURAGE OR A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. BUT THEY KNOW THEIR CRITICS ARE WAITING TO POUNCE ON THE SEPARATION AND DOG ISLAND ISSUES AND FEEL THAT WITH LACK OF SUPPORT FROM HMG THEIR TASK IS BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER. AND DO PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THAT THEY ARE NOT EXACTLY HIGHLY PAID FOR FULL TIME MINISTERIAL DUTIES CONSCIENT- IOUSLY PERFORMED.
4. AS I SEE IT, REVENUE FROM COINS HAS TO AWAIT CLEARANCE FROM ECCA WHICH IN TURN DEPENDS UPON FORMAL SEPARATION. IF THAT IS THE POSITION 13 THERE NOT A CASE (EXCEPTIONALLY ON POLITICAL GROUNDS) TO ALLOW ANGUILLA TO INCLUDE A REVENUE ITEM OF SAY 265,000 DOLLARS FOR COINS WHICH COULD BE FINANCED FROM SPECIAL GRANT IN AID IF SEPARATION IS NOT ACHIEVED IN TIME DURING THE YEAR TO REALISE THIS AMOUNT? THE ADDITIONAL 33,000 DOLLARS WOULD COVER INCREASES IN FEES FOR JUDGES AND JUSTICES OF APPEAL AND SOME INCREASES FOR THE LEGISLATURE INCLUDING PROVISION FOR A SPEAKER.
5. GRATEFUL EARLY REPLY SINCE NEED TO PREPARE FINALIZE DRAFT BUDGET IS BECOMING URGENT.
FCO PASS ALL
GODDEN
AKG 025/2
11 JAI 10/9
:
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
INDEX
FILES
WTAD (7) FRD
MR CORTAZZI
MR STRATTON
CONFIDENTIAL
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