To The Editor of the Anguillian. ` January 24 2015
Five years ago, Jerome Roberts set himself up nicely in District 2. He ran as a candidate of the Anguilla Progressive Party and some people saw him as a fresh young face who would act in the Assembly independently of the two major parties. And he was elected.
Shortly after being elected, however, Jerome joined the AUM, giving it an increased majority in the Assembly. Jerome has been a faithful follower of the AUM since that time and, eventually, with Hubert Hughes’ support, he became the Minister of Sports, Youth and Culture.
Now, although he has done nothing significant as a member of the Assembly these last five years – since becoming Minister – he has constantly received attention at various events he attends and regularly has had his photograph in The Anguillian.
In a statement he issued last October, Jerome said: “Anguilla today is in a much better position than where it was in February 2010.” Does he think we are all brain dead? Or is he just hallucinating? Under the AUM government, the country continues to remain in bad shape. He identified 15 projects that should be addressed in the coming five years. The AUM government, in the past five years, did not accomplish even one of those projects. And what did Jerome do to advance any of the projects he identified?
Jerome has had one achievement in that he actively promoted the idea of having drag racing on the island, with all its noise, danger and discord. He obtained support for this concept from the Executive Council. But rather than having the races held at a facility that supporters of this program would build, it was voted that the races be conducted on a major highway, under the supervision of the police, thus exposing the government potentially to limitless liabilities.
Jerome could have selected one of the 15 important projects he identified in October (and again recently) to promote, but instead selected dangerous drag racing as the one issue he decided to push. Why did he select drag racing when far more crucial programs existed? And why are just a few politicians in the Executive Council able to decide on allowing the hazardous private use of a major public way, rather than, at the very least, letting the citizens, who paid for and regularly depend upon that public way, decide this significant issue.
Cora Richardson-Hodge, a respected lawyer on the island, seeks election in District 2, and she has already demonstrated that she sets high goals and is able to achieve them, and would be an effective member of the Assembly, willing to take on broader issues. She was an associate first at a law firm in Nassau, then here in Anguilla, before setting up her own law firm here.
Unlike her opponent, Cora has repeatedly attained academic achievements, first a Bachelor of Science degree in Florida in 1995 and then a Juris Doctor degree of law from Stetson University in 1999. She clerked for a US Federal Judge in Florida while there. Cora is also the founder of Helping Our People Excel (HOPE) in the East End and is co-founder of AXA Care Food Bank.
Cora is energetic and bright and, surely by now, we could use a capable woman in the Assembly – one who will take on important programs and continue achieving the goals she sets. So be sure to bray on election day.
A District 2 Voter
