The Elections (Amendment) Bill 2014, which was deferred by the Anguilla House of Assembly at its sitting on Friday, July 11, was the subject of a public consultation and forum at the Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium on Tuesday evening, July 29.
Deputy Governor, Mr Stanley Reid, presented a general analysis of all sections of the Bill which, among other matters, requires voters to immerse an index finger in electoral ink at the polling stations – as was the case at the 2010 general election. The draft legislation also provides for presiding officers not to allow persons to vote if they refuse to use the electoral ink; for the imposition of fines including for negligent presiding officers; and also requires election candidates and their nominees to observe certain rules as regards qualifications for election.
The meeting was sparsely attended, as shown in the photograph accompanying this report. No Government Minister was present, but only a few candidates. The absentees also included persons who held strong views about the Bill: those in the House of Assembly and particularly others on radio talk shows.
Mr Reid’s presentation and the comments from the floor may have taken about an hour of Radio Anguilla’s broadcast time. Even at the urging of the Deputy Governor and, with the poor attendance, the feedback, in terms of suggestions for amendments was very minimal. It is therefore not clear how much the Bill is to be amended when it is returned to the Executive Council before submission again to the House of Assembly.
Mr Reid was accompanied by the Ms Aurjul Wilson, Supervisor of Elections; Ms Michelle Daley, Acting Attorney General; and Ms Melissa Meade, who took the notes.
Given the interest, turnout and feedback shown by the public, whether or not the forum met its objectives or, was a waste of time, is anybody’s conclusion to arrive at.
