November 2013
| Business World Magazine | 145
nerships and generate revenue significant to
the furtherance of these goals. Some of the
new fee systems come on line this month,
with more to follow next year, and by 2015,
Rogers anticipates that AASPA will actually
begin generating profits.
Another vital source of support may be
realized from the British Government. To
put that in perspective, it must be noted
that AASPA emerged from former negotia-
tions that occurred between the European
Union and Anguilla’s former United Front
Government, which was replaced by a new
administration following a 2010 national
election. Prior to that election, the EU made
the development of AASPA a condition for
Anguilla’s receiving of EDF funds for port
development. During his 2010 campaign,
Anguilla’s current Chief Minister Hubert
Hughes spoke out against the establishing of
the Authority. More recently, he has spoken
out against the British Government. Dur-
ing a legislative address, Hughes not only
chargedHer Majesty’s Government with not
only failing to properly support the territory,
but suggested it has deliberately, intention-
ally, devised roadblocks to prevent Anguilla’s
advancement; that it was showing more fa-
voritism to other Caribbean Islands, such as
Montserrat which recently benefitted from
$94 million in infrastructure improvements.
Rogers says the problem is not the British.
He feels that improving communication, in-
creasing collaboration and making the prop-
er case for the need of support will be helpful
to securing greater project funding; and to
that end, he expresses optimism that greater
support will be achieved in the very coming
soon. Likewise, he says that AASPA will be
able to advance on strategies to support its
own operations and better support Anguil-
la’s overall economy. Rogers liken the future
of AASPA to that so often encountered by
boaters in Anguilla, saying, “In time, we’ll be
sailing in nice, clear blue waters.”
