There is no other way to put it. The AUM party received a sound thrashing at the polls on Election Day 2015. After five years as the ruling administration, the AUM failed to convince the people that they deserve a second term. Many persons have been dissatisfied with the blame game the AUM Administration has overplayed during the last five years, and many more lament the lack of basic necessities like running water with which many families are still grappling – forty eight years after the Anguilla Revolution. After an extended and heated campaign, assertions of an improving economy, pleas for a second term to “right the wrongs” of the AUF, and unproven allegations about the integrity of the AUF leader, the people did not buy what the AUM was selling.
Instead, the people swept aside the AUM slate of candidates and voted for change. It is clear, however, from the performance of the DOVE Party, whose candidates acquired a cumulative total of 109 votes at the polls, that while people wanted change they did not believe that the DOVE provided the alternative they needed. They instead looked to the AUF as the party with the capacity to lead Anguilla out of its current quagmire.
Based on the margins of defeat, it is obvious that Anguillians wanted to send a clear message that they demand more from their Government – and that they have confidence in Mr Victor Banks to lead the island as Chief Minister, with his supporting cast. In District Two, Cora Richardson-Hodge gave a sound beating to the incumbent Jerome Roberts, defeating him by 166 votes. This came as no surprise as the constituents in District Two have for some months openly demonstrated their intention to vote him out of office. District Seven came as a surprise to many as Cardigan Connor defeated Kristy Richardson by a 79-vote margin. Mr Connor has obviously been quietly but effectively conducting his campaign and thereby managed to win convincingly. Evans McNiel Rogers “cleaned up” District Three, leading his closest rival by 552 votes. His victory was decisive and debilitating. AUF Leader Victor Banks redeemed himself – after his loss in the last general election – by amassing 1057 votes and defeating incumbent Evan Gumbs by 402 votes. In doing so, Mr Banks silenced his critics and cemented his position as Anguilla’s next Chief Minister.
As the votes were counted in the wee hours of the morning, it became increasing clear that the AUM was in danger of not winning a single seat. The nail biting battle for the top spot in District One resulted in victory for Ms Pam Webster, an independent candidate, who narrowly defeated the incumbent Othlyn Vanterpool. Ms Webster’s vision for a new Anguilla now, obviously resonated with the people of District One.
If one could give a prize for the most unexpected victory of the entire election, it would go to Evalie Bradley, in District Six, who defeated Patrick Hanley of the AUM by one vote. That was a fight to the very end but Mrs Bradley, who many know as Sister Evalie because of her involvement in the Church, emerged victorious. I am sure she must be giving God all the praises, and she rightly should, as it is obvious He was on her side.
The AUM’s fate was sealed when, in District Six – a traditional AUM stronghold – Curtis Richardson of the AUF defeated his nearest opponent, the AUM candidate, Haydn Hughes by 69 votes. This victory was the final nail in the coffin of the AUM which, after five years in office, failed to secure a single seat in the House of Assembly.
Many are speculating that the votes of Anguillians who reside overseas were a deciding factor in this election. However, when one examines the margins of victory/defeat, one would realize that with or without those votes there would have been a new Government elected to office. My view is that the results of the election demonstrate that the AUF ran an effective campaign. One just has to reflect on how they have persisted over the last five years to make public statements on various issues affecting the country, their continued involvement in the community, their candidates’ conduct in the House of Assembly, their organization, deportment, presentation and articulation of their vision and plans for the country – and it will become increasingly clear why their efforts have paid off.
Will the AUM party survive after this defeat? One must wonder what must be going through the mind of outgoing Chief Minister Hughes when he considers that after he has retired and stepped down as leader of the AUM, his party was devastated at the polls. It is obvious that the AUM must come up with a new game plan if it is going to remain relevant and be a keen contender in the 2020 elections. For now, the AUM has been swept clean.
