0700 - NewAXA

Although it is almost always messy, the process of change is, you must admit, fascinating. Those who know and love Anguilla have long admired the local stern protection of the Anguillian way of doing things, in business, in governing, and in all aspects of human behavior. But, beware, change, and big change, is here. The engine of change is, of course, a great building boom, ranging from many giant projects to individual many-roomed villas, to condo projects, and all the rest. All the resources of the island are strained. The physical infrastructure – the roads, the piers, and all the rest, is creaking under the weight. That's obvious, but the social infrastructure also shows many signs of strain. Anguilla was a place where you could leave your door unlocked. No longer. We have had a crime wave, and though the worst criminals seem to have been collected, robberies continue. The resident Expats are upset, of course, and demand better policing. Like every boom, there is much work for all, and yes, more shiny fast new cars, which doesn't make the roads any safer.

So it's a different place than it was a decade and a half ago when The OO arrived. Some changes are regrettable: the famed thirty-plus beaches are in many cases unapproachable. Driving is dangerous as the boys play bumper tag at higher speed on roads no wider. Two malls have appeared. Malls on Anguilla! The big grocery stores are bigger, though they each retain their character. Lake's has its bronze statue of the founder and wife, and the largest stock per capita of obscure crisp breads from all over the world. The hardware stores are bigger, although the popular stuff, which you need, always seems to be "finish". So far, though, no Wal-Mart is visible. Despite all the expansion, the long-practiced Anguillian habits persevere. People stop and talk a lot, particularly on the roads. But cellphones are now everywhere, and everybody is on them, whether driving (bad idea) or shopping, or just standing around, electronically connected. What the subject of all this talk is, we don't know, despite much research. Our suspicion is that at heart Anguilla is a small island, and the folks just want to tell each other that they are here. Yes, they are.

Yet, though prosperity is everywhere, the signs of social strain are visible. There is far too much construction for the local labor force, so workers from abroad are imported in large quantities, and they don't speak Anguillian, either. The famous Anguillian distaste for taxes continues, but new fees have been added for Expat work permits, including big fees for doctors, of all people. When you need a technician – say a computer repair type, good luck. What's worse, all rents are way up, so where would a computer tech live? Does this make the voters happy? No way. All permits for Alien Landholding Licenses are now on hold. Everybody is feeling the strain. It's a boom, yes it is.

The OO said, those 15 years ago, that it would be about 15 years before the wave hit Anguilla, and so it has been. The question is, what does the future hold, and that's a tough one. As you know, Anguilla has almost no industry, except fishing, which means tourism and Expats are the only real sources of money coming in. What worries our Staff here, particularly our Revered Investment Guru, is the course of the usual real estate booms in the past. Building, overbuilding, fall in prices, empty rooms, empty projects, that would be worrying.

But, you know, living by the sea here is truly good for the soul. The air is wonderful, the stars sparkle, the display of clouds is gorgeous, with sunsets the best, though the sky on a full moon night is awesome. It's hard to be discouraged by a bit of overbuilding. We shall prevail. Won't we? Say we will.

Next time: Meds [OO #701]

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