Anguilla’s opposition leader has has called on the premier to provide a detailed breakdown of the government’s reserves and its overall fiscal position.
In an open letter to Cora Richardson Hodge on 31 March, Ellis Webster said the move would “foster transparency and public confidence” as well as support constructive dialogue.
His request comes less than a week after he urged the government to deploy its multi-million dollar reserves to fund a package of cost of living relief measures.
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Among the proposals he outlined were reductions in import duties on essential goods, a cap on freight costs passed on to consumers, and the expansion of electricity credits.
In his recent letter, he said the deteriorating geopolitical conditions and global economic environment present critical challenges for Anguilla.
These will negatively affect every resident to a degree that can only be mitigated through “swift and decisive action by a caring and compassionate government”, he wrote.
A large reserve pot
Webster, who previously served as premier under the Anguilla Progressive Movement, said that on leaving office in February 2025, the then government had amassed EC$300 million in reserves.
“These reserves were built through deliberate and, at times, difficult decisions, with the intention that they would serve as a buffer during periods of economic strain,” he said.
The opposition leader said there is growing public interest in understanding what fiscal reserves remain available and how they are being positioned to support the people of Anguilla.
He listed several areas in which he formally requested an update:
- The current balance of the government’s reserves
- A breakdown of any drawdowns or allocations made from the reserves over the past 13 months
- Any existing or planned commitments against the reserves
- The government’s policy framework guiding the use of reserves in the current economic climate
- A report on the fiscal position of the Government of Anguilla
- A report on the performance of all major revenue streams, including import duty
- The government’s plan to manage the proposed budget deficit of over $70 million, which is projected to be funded from reserves in 2026, including whether there are plans to reduce expenditure
- Any plans by the government to assist hospitality workers and the underemployed during the 2026 off-season, which is forecast to coincide with a peak in the economic downturn
Webster said the ongoing global economic pressures and their direct impact on Anguilla’s families and businesses means “clarity around the nation’s fiscal position is essential”.
Read the letter in full here.
