Mr. Patrick Hanley and Mr. Haydn Hughes
The Anguilla United Movement (AUM), which Chief Minister, Mr Hubert Hughes, led for a number of years, launched its re-election campaign on Saturday, May 3, for the 2015 general election. The meeting, on the Island Harbour Pond Fill and Basketball Court, saw the introduction of four persons appearing on the political scene for the first time, among the other candidates. A notable absentee was Mr Hughes who left Anguilla earlier, thus leaving the AUM and the launch of its re-election campaign without an announced leader.
The newcomers are Dr Ellis Lorenzo Webster (District 1: Island Harbour); Mr Elkin Richardson (District 3: Valley North) a Talk Show Host; Mr Patrick Hanley (District 5: Road North) who is currently Adviser to the Chief Minister; and Attorney-at-Law Mrs Kristy Richardson-Harrigan (District 7: West End). They have linked up with Mr Jerome Roberts (District 2: Sandy Hill), formerly a member of the Anguilla Peoples Progressive Party who subsequently crossed the floor to join the ruling AUM; Mr Evan Gumbs (District 4: Valley South); and Mr Haydn Hughes (District 6: Road South).
The meeting, chaired by Mr Roosevelt Harris (Litchie), commenced with the introduction of the seven candidates – all of whom delivered addresses.
Mrs Richardson-Harrigan, in her passionate address, said in part: “I deem it an honour to offer my service to my country as the Anguilla United Movement candidate for District 7.” She spoke of her desire “for continuous progression for Anguilla”; “to put country first and not self-gain;” and “to make a big difference for District 7 and Anguilla”. In response to questions she said persons were asking about her entry into politics, she asserted: “My country needs me now”.
She said there was a need to preserve and move Anguilla forward with “stability, integrity and to prosperity” by electing her fellow AUM candidates.
Among the issues she touched on was the negotiating “of a proper bilateral agreement between the Governments of St Martin/St Maarten and Government to allow Caribbean nationals holding valid Anguilla resident status easier access while travelling between the seaports.” Another issue, to which she referred, was the need to advance the Anguilla constitution in order to move forward to a prosperous Anguilla.
Mr Evan Gumbs spoke about the difficult economic and fiscal conditions in Anguilla when the AUM Government came to office in February 2010, and of the efforts which were made to improve the situation. “We were pressured by the British Government to lay off 30% of the civil service – that is approximately 360 civil servants,” he said. “Can you imagine what would have happened if we had not fought for the civil servants to remain on the job? But we had a determined Chief Minister in the form of the Hon Hubert Benjamin Hughes. He took a great stand, along with his Ministers, and said no.”
Mr Gumbs said there were various other campaign issues which the AUM would address in its quest for re-election, and he took the opportunity to welcome all the new candidates to the rostrum.
Mr Patrick Hanley, appearing for the first time in the political arena, said he had undertaken to contest the Road North constituency with much humility and to help to provide hope for Anguilla. He was of the belief that the people wanted him “to focus on creating policies that would help communities; help to shape society; improve health services and keep the economy in good shape…” He said the Government also had a role to play by “funding community integration”, and that “these are the principles that will guide my decision-making as your representative.”
Mr Hanley went on: “The time has come for putting people at the centre of our decision-making process – not just the so-called elite, or friends and family… My vision for Anguilla includes every Anguillian…Leaders must take charge of reuniting this country and I say here tonight it begins with me.”
The AUM candidate went into detail in presenting a string of financial figures charging the previous Government with overspending, and he presented cases where the AUM Government had moved towards a lessening of expenditure.
Mr Elkin Richardson, the Valley North AUM candidate, told his listeners: “It is with a sense of pride, joy and humility that I stand before you as the proud candidate of the Anguilla United Movement in the 2015 general election. I stand positioned to be the next representative for District number 3”.
Mr Richardson, who has worked for Social Security for a number of years, after serving in the Police Force, has of late become a radio preacher while also a talk show host of “To The Point”. His address was accordingly inclusive of a number of religious expressions. “I have been in the wilderness seeking the knowledge of God, while studying and preaching His Word. And, like Moses, while in the wilderness, I felt the need to come forward and represent you – the people of Anguilla,” he stated. He went on: “Anguilla is in desperate need of spiritual deliverance and when we accomplish that, our morals, ethical, financial and economic issues will all be addressed. Anguilla needs leaders like the team of the AUM; and Anguillians who will put God first in all their endeavours…”
Mr Jerome Roberts, the District 2 candidate, defended his crossing of the floor to join the AUM Government, by claiming that he “had not served this island as a liability but, instead, I have served this island as a valuable asset to the people…” He further said: “That decision of crossing the floor afforded me the opportunity to sit as a Minister of Government, today, being part of the decision-makers in the Executive Council of Anguilla and the Parliament of Anguilla.”
Mr Roberts said the electorate had given a mandate to the AUM in 2010 to lead the island. “It has indeed been a challenging term, but a term, which, through the support and strength granted to us by God Almighty, and you, our loyal supporters, we are still standing firm today.”
He outlined a number of challenges that faced the AUM Government and how it sought to address them.
Dr Ellis Lorenzo Webster was grateful to his brother, Sam Webster, an Adviser to Government, for stepping down to give him an opportunity to be the 2015 candidate for District 1. The Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon, serving in Florida, and paying working visits to Anguilla, spoke about the sacrifice he was making and of his commitment to the island.
Among his concerns were the weaknesses he saw in Anguilla’s healthcare system and the lack of expertise at the hospital to adequately take care of patients who travel overseas, at great cost, for medical and surgical care; the difficulty of high school students with excellent credentials, but cannot go to college or find employment; the plight of young people who are resorting to drugs and gangs, and the escalation of violent crimes because of the youngsters’ lack of hope and opportunity. He also referred to the economic situation being experienced on the island.
“As your political representative, I will make a difference,” he pledged. “That’s why I am here – seeking your support to elect me to represent the constituency of District 1 – so we can move Anguilla forward.”
Dr Webster was introduced in a recorded address delivered by Chief Minister Hughes, who was absent from the meeting. He said Dr Webster had come to Anguilla to offer his services at a critical moment in the island’s history. “Dr Lorenzo, no doubt, is destined to have a successful and an illustrious administrative career in politics,” Mr Hughes added.
Mr Haydn Hughes, Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism and Sports, outlined a number of tourism and other projects which he said had taken place during the current tenure of the AUM Government. He also set out a number of economic and financial challenges that were being addressed, and described how the Government had prudently handled budgetary matters and overcame deficits by achieving surpluses.
Perhaps one of the most interesting matters on which he spoke was that he was chosen by the supporters of the Anguilla United Movement to contest the Road South District. “I hasten to say, I am not here to replace the Hon Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes – as he is irreplaceable. But in every man’s life – in the life cycle of every country –leaders depart at some point,” he said. “This is not unique to Anguilla and so, now as the Chief serves out the final year of his long and storied political career, we honour him…” The Parliamentary Secretary, who likened Mr Hughes to the Brazilian leader, Lula da Silva, who transformed Brazil, said the Chief Minister “has decided that this is the right time to move on to other things in his life.”
Haydn Hughes was in fact saying that the Chief Minister was now about to retire from the political arena. Obviously, with all the seven AUM candidates named at the meeting, Mr Hubert Hughes has been counted out. Observers are now awaiting public confirmation from him that he is indeed stepping down and will not therefore be a candidate in the 2015 general election.
