After a protracted and gruelling General Election campaign, the people of Anguilla voted for a change of Government on February 15, 2010. The Anguilla United Front (AUF), which dominated the running of the island’s affairs for a decade, lost office to the main opposition party, the Anguilla United Movement (AUM), led by Hubert Hughes who previously headed the island’s Government from 1994 to 2000.

Governor Harrison and Chief Minister Hughes with Instruments of Appoinment

The election results showed that while the AUF, under the leadership of Mr. Victor Banks fielded candidates in all seven districts, got the majority of the votes, numbering 2,781 or 39.37% but won two seats, the AUM, which had five candidates, scored 2,308 votes or 32.37 votes, but won four seats. The Anguilla Progressive Party, which was represented by four candidates, got 1,039 votes or 14.71 percent and won one seat. The three Independents received 935 votes or 13.24 percent. None of them won. There were a total of 8,652 registered voters with a turn out of 7,063. A breakdown of the election results for all parties and candidates is published elsewhere in this edition of The Anguillian.

Mr. Edison Baird taking Oaths

The new AUM Government was sworn into office in the Executive Council Chambers by His Excellency The Governor, Alistair Harrison, shortly after lunch time on Tuesday, February 16 and it was later announced that the following day, Wednesday, was declared a public holiday. The Governor first swore in Chief Minister Hubert Hughes to whom he administered the Oaths of Office and Allegiance to Her Majesty The Queen. Mr. Harrison subsequently swore in the other Ministers of Government. He also administered the oaths to Haydn Hughes, the Chief Minister’s son, who is the First Nominated Member in the Anguillla House of Assembly and Parliamentary Secretary.

Mr. Walcott Richardson taking Oaths

Speaking afterwards with the press, the leader of the new Anguilla Government, outlined the various portfolios as follows: Mr. Hubert Hughes (Member for Road South), Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism; Edison Baird (Member for Road South), Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Social Development (and all it entails including Health, Education, Sports Youth and Culture); Mr. Walcott Richardson (Member for West End), Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Labour and Lands; Mr. Evan Gumbs (Member for Valley South), Minister of Infrastructure, Communications Utilities, Housing, Agriculture and Fisheries; Mr. Haydn Hughes, First Nominated Member and Parliamentary Secretary, who will assist the Chief Minister in the Ministry of Tourism. The new Government leader stated that a Second Nominated Member is yet to be appointed by the Governor after consultation with the him and the Leader of the Opposition. A Speaker is also to be elected shortly.

Mr. Evan Gumbs taking Oaths

Replying to his first question from the press, Chief Minister Hughes said: “The people of Anguilla need to be complimented for the election results. There have been a lot of prayers which went up to Almighty God from many sources wishing for a genuine change in the direction of Anguilla. This is truly a Christian society and we, as a Christian group, are very thankful to God for answering those prayers. We shall try to heal the wounds inflicted by the election campaign and bring harmony, peace and goodwill to all – that will be our first priority. Our second priority is to look at the finances of Anguilla. We will ensure that money goes into the Treasury as soon as possible and that all monies owed to the Government of Anguilla will be judiciously collected.

Mr. Haydn Hughes taking Oaths

“We will be examining all the development projects and Memorandums of Agreement and will ensure that Anguilla gets justice from those projects and that they deliver to the people of Anguilla as they were intended to do.

Chief Minister Hughes greeting Governor Harrison

“We will be sending a delegation as soon as possibly to hold discussions in London with the administering power – Her Majesty’s Government. We will endeavour to maintain the best of relations with the United Kingdom Government and ourselves and establish good friendships between the two peoples.

Mr. Webster turns up at Swearing In

“We will work together as a team and, wherever possible, we will be very inclusive. We will have an open government and will be accountable and transparent in all our deeds. We will ensure that Anguilla is looked at around the world as being very clean, very respectable, uncorrupted, and wherever there is any area of corruption, we will deal expeditiously in eliminating it.

Mr. Hughes and his ministerial team

“We will ensure that the public service runs smoothly and free from political interference or political activity.

Other scenes at the Swearing In Ceremony

“We will look at all the systems which now exist. The electoral system will be one of the areas that we will pay immediate attention to. I think that the conduct of the last election in Anguilla had not been free and fair and we will ensure that there is no political interference in the process. We have heard of very serious anomalies in the belonger status and the election process and those allegations will be investigated and dealt with.

Other scenes at the Swearing In Ceremony

“We will be in regular meetings with the press. We will brief you on all the issues (decisions) taken. You can rest assured that we will try to have a very peaceful community. We will take serious account of the fact that we have a hospitality industry which we all depend on, and whatever we do should create the climate for visitors to feel happy coming to our island. We will also have to look at the necessary facilities and infrastructure and our transport. We will have to deal with how we are going to get people in and out of Anguilla smoothly and cheaply. In that regard we will have a close look at the seaport and airport facilities.”
Mr. Hughes said his Government would be looking for investors to take over the Flag/Temenos project. “We have a lot of Government resources tied up there and Government land is tied up there and it has to perform for Anguilla and we will make sure that it does perform as soon as possible. We will therefore be inviting investors in the Temenos project which has been closed since June 2008 and that cannot continue.”

Mr. Edison Baird, the Minister of Social Development, was asked to comment on what could be done to stem youth violence and youth criminal activities in Anguilla, “Well, obviously, we have to take stock of the situation and we have to look at how other countries have dealt with similar problems; and we have to avail ourselves of expertise in particular areas. But of course, Government alone cannot solve our criminality in Anguilla. We would have to involve the entire population and to put the problem of criminality in Anguilla within the regional and international context.”

The Chief Minister said that the new House of Assembly was being planned for next Friday, February 26, close to the weekend to allow visiting guests to come to Anguilla and for invitations to be sent to them.

Josephine Gumbs-Connor (seated in middle), Mrs. Gumbs (wife of Hon. Evans Gumbs), Dr. Connor (at right) and others

The final question to Mr. Hughes was about how he saw his working relationship with the Governor. The Chief Minister, known for his hard stance in relation to some of the past Governors, remarked: “The Governor knows my record.” Mr. Harrison, not to be left out, commented: “Mr. Hughes also knows my record.”

Yanchi and Vanier nephew of Mr. Webster

Prior to the formal swearing in ceremony, the new Anguilla United Movement Government met with senior administrative officials, comprising Permanent Secretaries and others, in the Executive Council Chambers. On both occasions a large number of party supporters accompanied the four elected representatives. During the formal ceremony, Revolutionary Leader, James Ronald Webster, stepped into the Chambers to the applause of all and proceeded to greet the Government officials and others.

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News