ANGUILLA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

Good afternoon, members. I invite our Honorable Deputy Clerk to open us in a word of prayer, please.

Good afternoon everyone. Heavenly Father, you reign supreme over the universe. You know and understand the thoughts of human beings which you have created in your image and likeness. You know our down sitting and our uprising. You are acquainted with all our ways. Hear us, we beseech you, as we invoke your presence and seek your guidance upon this House of Assembly. Lord, as they deal with the matters that pertain and will affect the lives of the inhabitants of this land, fill each legislator with your Spirit, the Spirit of humility, enabling them to dispense with heartiness and pride and to heed the invitation of Jesus Christ to learn of you and to seek your lowly heart. As legislators strive to attain wisdom, may they never overlook or underestimate the necessity for understanding.

Remind them, Oh God, of your word, which advises and exhorts. Wisdom is the principal thing. Therefore, get wisdom, and with thy getting, get understanding, bless, we beseech you the Speaker of this Honourable House and grant her the courage to be firm, decisive and kind in her administering of rules of the Parliamentary procedure.

Grant the legislators, Lord, may you allow decorum to be demonstrated in their speech and actions. Let all that transpires throughout this session be pleasing to you and may bring honor and glory to your matchless name. We pray all these things in your name, Jesus, Amen.

And bless our staff. You forgot to bless yourselves. Thank you for that prayer. You may be seated.

Confirmation of minutes. Minutes of proceedings of the 15th, Meeting of the first session of the 13th Anguilla House of Assembly.

Members, you should have before you the minutes of the 15th session.

Are there any amendments or corrections to these minutes?

Hearing no amendments or corrections, I invite a Member to move that the minutes be confirmed as circulated.

Madam Speaker, I move that the minutes be accepted as circulated.

Can we have a seconder?

Madam Speaker, I rise to second.

Thank you, it has been moved and seconded that the minutes as circulated be confirmed. Those in favour say aye.

Those opposed say no. The ayes have it.

Oath of allegiance to new members, none.

Announcements by the direction of the speaker.

I do wish to inform the Members that we have received apologies for the absence of the Member from Sandy Hill, the Honourable Premier, Member for Island Harbour, the Honourable Leader of Opposition and the Member for West End who are on duty travel, I believe.

I don't have any other announcements.

Questions, none.

Government statements and recent developments, none. Papers, none.

Reports from committees, none.

Petitions, None.

Government notices, none.

Private members notices, none.

Motions.

Motion 2/2026-1/13/HOA Customs Duty and Tax Exemption Regulations 2026.

I invite the mover to present the motion. Motion 2/2026.

I recognize the Honourable Single Island Wide Electoral District Member Hodge.

Madam Speaker, thank you, good afternoon to you. Good afternoon to the House, good afternoon to the people of Anguilla. Madam Speaker, I beg to move the motion for Customs Duty and Tax Exemption. Motion 2/2026-1/13 House of Assembly Regulations 2026, for Mr. Vernon L Webster. Madam Speaker, if I can take the opportunity while I'm on my feet to read through the resolution.

Thank you so much. Resolution made by the House of Assembly under Section 77, (1) of the Customs Act, R.S.A. c. C169; and section 3 of the Excise Tax (Amendment) Act, 2020 was proposed and seconded in the House of Assembly on the 24th day of February 2026. Whereas a certificate of good standing that had not expired, been cancelled, was produced to the Minister of Finance in relation to the importers. Be it resolved that under the powers contained in Section 77 (1) of the Customs Act, R.S.A. c. 169; and section 3 of the Excise Tax (Amendment) Act, 2020: the House of Assembly exhorts exempts from customs duty, and excise tax the goods imported into Anguilla specified in the Schedule.

The following conditions apply in respect of all goods exempted by virtue of this Resolution. (A)the goods shall not, within five years of the date of importation, be sold, exchange given away or applied to any use other than the use specified in the schedule. (B) On the expiry of six months from the date of importation and each successive 6 month period within the five year period after the date of importation, the importer shall certify to the Comptroller of Customs, in a form acceptable to the Comptroller of Customs, that he has complied with the conditions set out in paragraph (a). (C) Upon demand made by a customs officer, the goods exempted under this resolution shall be produced or otherwise accounted for to the customs officer. (D) In accordance with the Customs Administrative Cost Recovery Act, R.S.A c 170, at the time of import, the importer shall pay the customs administrative charge at the rate specified in the schedule. 2.

In accordance with section 71 of the Customs Act, R.S.A. c 169, the following apply in the event that a condition referred to in section 1 of this Resolution is contravened or not complied with. (A) If any of the goods exempted under this Resolution are sold, exchanged, given away, are applied to any use other than the use specified in the Schedule within five years of the date of importation. (i) the importer shall pay the customs duty and excise tax on the value of such goods at the rates specified in the Integrated Customs Tariff at the date of importation. (ii) The importer and any person knowingly concerned in such sale, exchange, gift or unsanctioned use is guilty of an offense and may be arrested and is liable to a fine of $20,000 or three times the customs duty, excise tax relieved, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term of two years at a both; and (iii) the goods in respect of which the exemption was granted are liable to forfeiture. (B) If the importer fails to certify that he has not sold, exchange, given away or applied the goods to any other use other than the use specified in the Schedule; (i)The importer shall produce account for the goods exempted under this Resolution to the Comptroller of Customs; (ii) Any goods not produced or accounted for will be deemed to have been sold, exchanged, given away, are applied to some use other than the use specified in the Schedule and paragraph (A) (i) applied; and (iii), If any goods not produced or accounted for are subsequently found, they are liable to forfeiture. (C) If the importer fails to produce or account for the goods exempted under this Resolution upon demand by a customs officer. (i) the importer and any person knowingly concerned in such failure are guilty of an offence and may be arrested and are liable to a fine of 20,000 or three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to the imprisonment for a term of two years are or to both; and (ii) If any goods not produce or accounted for are subsequently found, they are liable to far future. (D) if the importer fails to pay the Custom Administrative Fee at the rate specified in the Schedule, at the expiry of 30 days from the date of delivery of a demand for payment made by the Comptroller of Customs are such longer period as may be designated by the Comptroller of Customs. (i) The importer shall pay the customs duty and the excise tax and the value of such goods at the rate specified in the integrated Customs Tariff at the date of importation. (ii)The importer and any person knowingly concerned in such failure are guilty of an offence and may be arrested and are liable to a fine of $20,000 or three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, after imprisonment for a term of two years or to both; and (iii) The goods exempted under this resolution are liable to forfeiture.

Thank you.

Thank you, Honourable Member. Is there a seconder to second this motion?

Madam Speaker, rise to second.

I recognize the Honourable Member for Road South as the seconder. The floor is now open for contributions or debate on the motion. Does any member wish to contribute? Does anyone wish to contribute on the motion before the floor? If not, I suspect there's no need to reply, but I do offer you the opportunity to reply, although there wasn't a contribution. If you have any other words to contribute.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. At this time, I could give some more background information as it relates to this duty-free concession. The importer is Mr. Vernon L Webster, and this proposed concession, Madam Speaker, goes towards the construction, the development of a gas station in the eastern part of Anguilla.

And Mr. Vernon L Webster is an Anguillian and we support Anguillians when they embark on these major investments, Madam Speaker, and investment into a gas station is nothing small. It is a sizable investment. Close to $1,000,000 invested in this project and as the government of the day, we fully endorse and we fully support. You know the risk that he's taken as a business person. So, we are here,

Madam Speaker, to congratulate him. He's an Anguillian that returned home and is making a really good investment in that area. Fill in a gap as it relates to providing services for the community, services for Anguilla at large, and in addition to just being a gas station, Madam Speaker.

This establishment will also serve as a deli and also a rental for commercial spaces so I just want to congratulate him and his family and to say to him we fully support his business venture.

Thank you, Honourable Member. It has been moved and seconded that Motion 2/2026-1/13 HOA Customs Duty and Tax Exemption Regulations 2026, in favor of Vernon L Webster, may pass as a resolution of this House. Those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no. The ayes have it. Motion 2/2026 is now a resolution of this House.

Personal explanations, None.

Other business Government business.

A bill for Department of Water Services (Amendment) Act 2026, first reading.

I invite the mover of the bill for Department of Water Services (Amendment) Act 2026. I recognize the Honourable Member Hodge proceed.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker I rise and I beg to move that the Bill shortly in title. A bill for Department of Water Services (Amendment) Act 2026. Be read a first time.

Is there a seconder?

Madam Speaker. I rise to second.

I recognize the Honourable Member for Road South. It has been moved and seconded that a bill shortly entitled Department of Water Services Amendment Act, 2026 be read a first time. Those in favor say aye, those opposed say no. The ayes have it. I call upon the clerk to read the bill.

An Act to amend the Department of Water Services Act, 2024.

I declare that the bill has been read a first time.

Private members bills, none. Private bills, none. Other orders of the day.

Are there any other orders of the day?

Hearing no orders, I invite the clerk to proceed.

Adjournment.

I Invite the Member to move for an adjournment.

Madam Speaker, thank you. I move that the House of Assembly be adjourned until the 26th of February, that is Thursday at 10:00

Is there a seconder?

Madam Speaker I rise to second.

It has been moved and seconded that this honorable House be adjourned until Thursday, the 26th of February at 10 AM. Those in favor say aye, those opposed say no. The ayes have it. This House stands adjourned until Thursday at 10 AM.

Thank you for your time, members.