Mr. Rodney Rey, Ms Aurjul Wilson (Supervisor of Elections) and Mr. Sinclair Buchanan
The long-awaited silence, relating to the election of a new Anguilla Government, has been broken in part. On Wednesday this week, February 25, a Proclamation was issued by Her Excellency the Governor, Christina Scott, dissolving the Anguilla House of Assembly with immediate effect, paving the way for the general election. The Governor acted after consultation with Chief Minister, Mr Hubert Hughes, as provided by the Constitution.
The actual dates for the election as well as for nominations are still to be announced. The only indication of the election date came in a press release from the Governor’s Office. It was that the election should be held on or before April 24, as provided by the Constitution. The question members of the public may have is in relation to the administration of the island’s affairs, now that the House of Assembly has been dissolved. The answer is, according to the press release, is that the Executive Council members will remain in charge of their portfolios and oversee the day to day business of Government. However, no major decisions, such as policies, contracts and board appointments, can be taken as a new Anguilla Government is likely to have different views on those issues.
Another step taken by the Governor on Wednesday was the swearing-in of the Election Returning Officers.
The full text of the press release, as well as the Proclamation, issued by the Governor’s Office, are as follows:
“HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY DISSOLVED AND RETURNING OFFICERS SWORN-IN.
The House of Assembly has today been dissolved in advance of the forthcoming election as provided for by subsection (2) of section 63 of the Constitution of Anguilla. The election must now take place on or before Friday 24 April 2015. A further announcement of the date for the election will be made in due course.
“The Governor will also formally swear-in the Returning Officers on Wednesday afternoon. The Returning Officers for each district will be as follows:
District 1: Mr Rodney Rey
District 2: Mr Bernard Wattley
District 3: Ms Laureen Bryan
District 4: Ms Melissa Meade
District 5: Mr Sinclair Buchanan
District 6: Mr Gifford Connor
District 7: Mrs Gracita Christopher
“Executive Council has already approved and published guidance to inform public officers and elected officials of the principles that inform decision making between the dissolution and the election. This guidance makes clear that:
“The dissolution of the House of Assembly does not affect the day-to-day business of the Government. Executive Council members remain in charge of their portfolios. Following the dissolution of the House of Assembly it is, however, expected that Ministers will refrain from initiating any action of a continuing or long-term character. Decisions on matters of policy, board appointments and other issues (for e.g. large and or contentious procurement contracts) on which a new Government could reasonably be expected to want the opportunity to take a different view from the present Government should be postponed until after the election, where such postponement would not be detrimental to the national interest nor wasteful of public money.
“Detailed planning continues to ensure that Anguilla’s elections are free, fair and efficiently run, with the Supervisor of Elections, Ms Aurjul Wilson, conducting weekly training sessions in preparation for Polling Day”.
