DOVE PARTY: “A NEW LEADERSHIP VISION”

The DOVE Party, Anguilla’s newest political grouping, has a new vision for the leadership of the island. The commitment was given at its launch on Sunday, March 2, at the Webster Park annex. The meeting was specially timed to coincide with the birthday of Revolutionary Leader, James Ronald Webster, respectfully referred to as the “Father of the Nation.”
DOVE is the acronym for “Democracy, Opportunity, Vision & Empowerment” which the party is emphasising as having been badly needed in the past and now in the current leadership practices in Anguilla.
The 5.30 pm meeting, chaired by retired Educator, Mr Claude Richardson, commenced with prayers and Scripture reading by Supernumerary Methodist Minister, Rev. Joseph Lloyd. The party’s four candidates for the time being were introduced as followers: Mr Sutcliffe Hodge, a former Cable and Wireless Manager in Anguilla and later for four Windward Islands (District 3, Valley North); Mr George Kentish, a former Cable & Wireless Finance Manager in Anguilla (District 4, Valley South); Rev Dr H Clifton Niles, a Supernumerary Methodist Minister (District 6, Road South); and Mr Homer Richardson, an Attorney-at Law (District 7, West End/Long Bay).

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They all recited a common pledge in which they committed “to work faithfully and conscientiously for the well-being of the people [of the district of their candidacy] and Anguilla in general.” They also pledged to do all that lies in their power “to improve the quality of life for all the residents and people of Anguilla with the help and guidance of Almighty God.”

Mr Hodge, the DOVE party’s leader, delivered the main address in which he explained some of the reasons for the establishment of the party and set out a number of its goals. “I am tasked with trying to convince you, the people of Anguilla, that there is time for change in this country…” he told his listeners. “What are you getting from your Government? I cannot think of anything that this Government, or the previous Government, has really done for the people of this country.”
He listed a number of difficulties faced by the people of Anguilla such as taxes on fuel, electricity, telephone calls and food items, unsatisfactory health care, lack of running water and wastage of public funds. “We, the members of the DOVE Party, are sick and tired of the exploitation of the people in this country and as a consequence we have responded,” Mr Hodge stated. “Over the next several weeks and months we are going to lay out a comprehensive plan as to how we are going to address some of this issues.”

He lamented that workers in the tourism industry were struggling to live as a result of low wages and reduced working hours and, in many cases, there was much unemployment on the island notwithstanding the current high tourism season. He also cited a low occupancy rate of 37% as one of the key problems in the tourism industry. “There is a lot that can be done, and what you need to bring about the change is visionary leadership – and I believe that the DOVE Party will deliver the kind of visionary leadership that would transform this nation and make it a great nation.”

The keynote address was delivered by Mr Chester Humphrey, a Grenadian parliamentarian of almost 25 years who reached the position of Deputy President of the Senate. He is also the President General of Grenada’s largest union, General Secretary of the Caribbean Congress of Labour and Chairman of the LIAT Group of Unions.

He called on those at the public meeting for “a lusty round of applause to your fellow Anguillians who have embarked upon this journey.” He emphasised that the world is facing a prolonged economic crisis and a deep recession not seen since the Great Depression of the 1920s, and pointed to the need for change and improvement everywhere.

“This is what the DOVE represents – the possibility for a change,” Mr Humphrey went on. “I beseech you, ladies and gentlemen, citizens of Anguilla, to grasp that change because within that change represents your progress; and I am confident that change will be a positive change. When I look at the candidates on the platform, they represent significant change. They represent both intellect, discipline. Discipline and, most important of all, something that has been missing in our politics – and that is the fundamentals of decency, honesty and commitment to work hard and to be… upright. When I look at the candidates, I can see the mix…I see a combination of persons with the moral rectitude, the uprightness, the thoroughness. I see intellect, I see ability.

“You don’t need me to come from Grenada to tell you the difficulties you are facing: the fact that the economy is shrinking; that many people are losing their jobs; that your hotel occupancy is falling; that Government’s revenues are falling and that workers are being re-trenched.”
Mr Humphrey recalled meeting Sutcliffe Hodge who was then not only the General Manager of Cable & Wireless in Grenada, but also had responsibility for the other Windward Islands as well. He described Mr Hodge as being a good person for leadership in Anguilla and saw him, and the rest of the DOVE Party, as the future visionary leaders with the ability to bring about change in the island.
The pamphlet for the Official Launch of the DOVE Party stated that its candidates have committed to: a 50% pay cut for all ministers; empower the people of Anguilla; no government vehicles for ministers; zero tolerance on corruption and conflicts of interest; transparent government; diversification and expansion of the economy; emphasis on job creation; emphasis on the youth of Anguilla (education, jobs & recreation); increase private sector involvement; and establish a minimum wage.

The launch of the party kicked off its campaign programme with the first public meetings announced for Stoney Ground (Valley North) on Monday; at Blowing Point (Road South) on Tuesday and at West End later in the week. Mr Hodge, the party leader, said that at these, and other future public meetings, full details about the plans and concepts of the DOVE Party would be outlined.