Hughes calls for Anguillian citizens to seek independence

Anguilla's Chief Minister Hubert Hughes has called on citizens to seriously consider seeking political independence from Britain.



This after the Governor Alistair Harrison refused to sign off on the 2011 budget.



Hughes said in a national radio broadcast said his country has come far enough and fought hard enough to have an Anguillian Governor or Governor General, an Anguillian flag and being identified to the world as 'Anguillians' and not "Belongers".



Hughes and Harrison have been at loggerheads over what the Chief Minister says is an attempt to undermine his 11-month old government.



But Harrison, under instructions from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) in London, has declined to give his assent or approval to the 2011 budget passed in the Legislative Council just before Christmas 2010.



Britain wants the Hughes administration to reduce the public service by 30 per cent, cut public servants salaries and wages and implement new tax measures.