The series of political debates in the run-up to next year’s general election, climaxed on Wednesday this week with the debate for the leaders of the three parties. They were the newly-announced leader of the ruling Anguilla United Movement (AUM), Dr Ellis Lorenzo Webster; former Minister of Finance, Mr Victor Banks of the Anguilla United Front (AUF); and Mr Sutcliffe Hodge, leader of the Democratic, Opportunity, Vision & Empowerment (DOVE) Party.
Between last week and Tuesday this week, there were the debates for all candidates – party representatives and independent candidates as follows: District 1: Mr Othyn Vanterpool (AUF); Dr Ellis Lorenzo Webster (AUM); and Ms Palmavon Webster (Independent); District 2: Mr Jerome Roberts (AUM); and Mrs Cora Richardson-Hodge (AUF); District 3: Mr Evans McNiel Rogers (AUF); Mr Elkin Richardson (AUM); and Mr Sutcliffe Hodge (DOVE); District 4: Mr Evan Gumbs (AUM); Mr Victor Banks (AUF); and Mr George Kentish (DOVE); District 5: Mr Edison Baird (Independent); Mr Patrick Hanley (AUM); and Mrs Evalie Bradley (AUF); District 6: Mr Haydn Hughes (AUM); Mr Curtis Richardson (AUF); Rev Clifton Niles (DOVE); and Mr Stachel Warner (Independent); and District 7: newcomers Cardigan Connor (AUF): and Mrs Kristy Richardson Harrigan (AUM).
The debates were organised by the Literary and Debating Society of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, with the involvement of teachers and other persons. All debates were relatively well-attended.
The procedure for the debates included questions from “five fields” as follows:
Field One: Know Your Candidate
Field Two: Social Issues facing the Youth of Anguilla
Field Three: Education in Anguilla
Field Four: The Economy
Field Five: Hot issues from the region and around the globe.
The procedure also included the following: At the outset of the debates, the candidates were asked to give a two-minute opening statement; all follow-up questions were timed at one minute; the Time Keeper’s bell was rung 30 seconds before the time expired and then again when the time expired; and candidates were given one minute or thirty seconds for follow-up questions and rebuttals according to the Moderator’s discretion.
DISTRICT 3
DISTRICT 4
DISTRICT 5
DISTRICT 6
DISTRICT 7
