Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, 17th February 2015 (North Side, Anguilla) — What’s been weighing on my mind lately is politics on Anguilla. After listening to several of the political meetings broadcasted on the local radio stations, I feel pressed to speak out on the behaviour or conduct of politicking or campaigning in this nation. In this small island state, we seem to have become very complacent and unwilling, as a mass of people, to march, advocate, and take a firm stand for truth and righteousness.
Setting an official election date
Otherwise if we had taken such consciously awakened action, I believe we would indeed have insisted on the Honourable Chief Minister setting a date for elections on Anguilla by or before today. We would not be entering the season of Lent with uncertainty as to when the elections will be held. Reading in last week’s edition of The Anguillian that the Chief Minister stated the election date is “his secret” is absolutely ludicrous.
Such statements give the rest of the world and ourselves,as well, the impression that the CM is a dictator rather than a true democratic leader. The absurdity of this situation baffles me. Why isn’t the public outraged and rising up about it?
Now I hope the CM won’t be offended by my remarks because I am calling it what it is in truth. Personally, I like the CM yet I find his style of politics is not in accord with my view of diplomacy and good governance. It’s time for the CM to set his ego aside, retire and collect a pension. I admire the fact that he has hung in there until his elder years. Yet, he is well past the stage of retirement from the political scene and needs to step down graciously allowing younger and perhaps more competent politicians to take over.
What happens in the interim period?
As I comprehend, the House of Assembly will soon be disassembled. That action in my mind means there will be no Government of Anguilla running or operating the country. Then what will we do? Who will be responsible for making the daily, and sometimes humongous, decisions for government that normally the elected representatives would discuss and vote on in the House of Assembly? How will our country be run and stay afloat?
These are just a few of the questions that run through my mind. I don’t think in the case of Anguilla’s political history that this (no election date publically set and dismantling of the House of Assembly) has occurred ever before, but please correct me if I’m misinformed.
Who will be the next elected leaders?
I am neither in favour of the Anguilla United Front (AUF) or the Anguilla United Movement (AUM), nor even the Dove Party. What I am in favour of is politicians upholding high standards of ethics, integrity, honesty and truth; not bashing one another and finding fault with what has or has not been done – promises made and promises broken.
We who are legally registered to vote on Anguilla need to choose wisely and select leaders who have the best interests of our communities and nation in the forefront of their minds, not in their own pockets being fully filled. We must elect representatives who care about what happens to everyone whether we were born or raised on Anguilla or in other countries because all of us who reside on island, in one way or another, are contributing to the building and development of this country.
For whom are our politicians working?
There are, in my opinion, some who are working diligently and wholeheartedly towards making great strides in changing how politics is conducted in this country. We’ve seen them help in establishing Community Care Centres with programmes developed, and maintained, to assist persons of various ages living in the districts from east to west, north to south. There have been health fairs sponsored by political candidates as well as love fests honouring our compatriots (the men and women) who aided the country’s growth and development before, during and after the Anguilla Revolution – a fight for independence from a tri-part State linked with St Kitts-Nevis.
Yet there are others who appear to be “hell bent” on creating divisiveness and keeping the citizens down-pressed and uninformed. I heard one politician at a business meeting two years ago refer to one of the participants by a very derogatory name that is quite offensive to females. The word was extremely appalling to hear spoken in what was a professional setting. Had I not been the Rapporteur recording the minutes, I most certainly would have confronted the individual and queried him with regard to his inappropriate behaviour and outburst of profanity. I think the person whom I have become today would have immediately stopped writing my notes and addressed the situation promptly then and there.
Of course, I will be courteous and not mention any persons specifically by name, but you know who you are if you’re reading this article. And if not, you can ask me directly whether I was referring to you personally. I won’t hesitate to be truthful, as I have nothing to lose in speaking the truth. May I also add, The Most High Creator knows exactly where each individual stands who is running for political office.
Mulling over the political scene
My good conscience has been mulling over this political scene over the past few day and has decided to speak out, to voice my opinions because I cannot stay silent and not express what I feel deep within myself, or what I have heard several other Anguillians say in their own expressions.
Now this morning when I pulled out The Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus to find the proper definition of the word politics, I read the meaning as follows: plural noun (treated as single or plural) 1 art and science of governance; 2 political life, affairs, principles, etc.; 3 activities relating to pursuit of power, status, etc. Reading that description of what the word means really makes me wonder and question whether the politicians on Anguilla are interested in learning the art and science of good governance, or are they merely pursuing status and power, job titles and the financial compensation that they receive holding various offices.
Our human rights as voters
I don’t think that all Anguillians overstand the importance of voters’ rights or voting since they did not personally have to go through what citizens in many other nations experienced. In the country of my birth (the good ole US of A), people stood up and fought for the right to vote. Women and people of African descent were denied this human right until not too many years ago.
This is why I continue to exercise my privilege to vote even whilst residing in the Caribbean Region. As yet, I do not have Belonger status to vote on Anguilla. But trust me when that day comes, if it does, then I will vote in both of my home countries.
Although there is still tampering with the polls and other tricks that are used in America to win votes for a particular political party, we at least have firm set dates for election of various governing officials such as the President of the United States of America, State Governors, City Mayors, City Council Members, and so on. Special elections are held for raising School Board levies, increasing property taxes for a number of initiatives, and other matters that need to be passed by a vote.
In the USA, it certainly is not one politician who determines on what date an election should be held, as is currently the process carried out on Anguilla. And since we seem to adopt so many ways, habits and examples from America may be this is one that we definitely need to follow regarding setting firm election dates.
Inspiration to change politicking practices
I have shared a few of my views, as well as some belonging to others, regarding politics on Anguilla in the hope that by doing so everyone who is legally registered to vote in this grand nation of ours will be inspired to exercise her/his right to vote when the election date is ultimately set.
It is my intention also to challenge each voter to vote consciously and not just because you voted for that particular representative or party in the past. Each of us can discern with our own conscience who are the best persons to vote for – that will help us to achieve our goal of empowering the people of this small island state.
If we expect our young people to grow up to be mature, responsible adults, then we need to learn to lead by example and behave in a more appropriate manner. We also need to vote island-wide instead of merely in districts because of the smallness in size of our country.
“All a’ we” must take responsibility to vote for whom we know in truth to be the best candidates to represent the people of Anguilla. It is imperative to the well being of ourselves and our nation that we hold our politicians accountable for what they say they will do when elected or appointed. Doing so will help us to positively advance the political scene in our small Caribbean island.
We must be the instruments of change that we envision and do whatever we can to move ourselves and our nation forward. May God’s divine grace continue to encourage us to uphold high standards of ethics, integrity, honesty and truth!
Kay M. Ferguson is a free-spirited writer who creates written word sounds to raise conscious awareness on various topics in the Anguilla community and abroad. To link with Kay, e-mail her at anguillawriter@gmail.com or i-nect with her on social media at www.facebook.com/kaymferguson.
