3rd November 2018
His Excellency the Governor
Government House
Anguilla
Your Excellency,
RE: Constitutional and Electoral Reform
On Thursday 1st November 2018, as Leader of the Opposition, I had the honour of hosting Dr Lorenzo Webster and Mr Jerome Roberts of the Anguilla United Movement and Mr Sutcliffe Hodge of the Dove Party at a meeting to discuss the current constitutional and electoral reform process.
As you are aware, a broad-based Constitutional and Electoral Reform Committee was establishjed and, over a lengthy period, took account of the views and opinions of the people of Anguilla. The Committee presented a comprehensive and impressive Report as a result of its work and findings, the final version of which was dated 31st March 2017.
It has, however, been brought to our attention that the government has decided to cherry pick aspects comprised in the Report, leaving the greater part of the Report’s recommendations to an indeterminate future and omitting many recommendations that the people have clamoured for through the years. The Chief Minister’s correspondence with Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and the draft Order in Council have only come to our attention in the last week.
In our meeting, we were united in our agreement that constitutional reform is indeed needed. In fact, this has been our consistent individual position throughout. But we are deeply concerned that the process is either being hijacked or diluted by the current government, whose recent actions, if they are allowed to prevail, will result in a diluted process and in the general population losing further faith in our system of governance.
We consider that the government owes it to the people, to return to the people in an open and transparent debate, to explain its reasons for leaving out key elements of the proposals comprised in the Report, so that everyone will feel invested in whatever final reforms emerge. We urge you to use your good offices to put a pause on a hastily concocted adjusted document until all the issues are fully ventilated. Anything short of this will be viewed by us as a betrayal of the people of Anguilla.
All four of us remain concerned at this stage that, with a snap election likely, the lack of integrity in the voters’ list will further challenge our democracy. We have separately met and have discussed our concerns with you, and note your earlier indication that you do not accept that the voters’ list should be revamped to assure a fair election. You are already aware that constituents have identified individuals on the current voters’ list whom they have expressed the desire to object to. It is indeed possible that the integrity of the voters’ list will be called in question in legal proceedings. Should that be the case, then we, the members of the three opposing parties, are of the opinion that this current list needs to be scrutinised by the Electoral Office with a far greater degree of discrimination and rigour than has been customary hitherto. We will look to the British government and to the International Community to help direct the process and assure free and fair elections.
We also note that the government has recommended the institution of an At Large voting option for the next election. In our opinion it is far too late in the game to institute this framework, as it would not allow for proper voter education. Lack of a proper education and awareness campaign will lead to mass confusion and disenfranchisement. We are of the view that a clear and realistic timetable should be set on this issue, which would entail the introduction of any such change at some time after the next election, and that all stakeholders should be directly engaged.
We would like to meet with you at your earliest convenience on these matters, and shall be grateful if you will please propose a date and time. We would be grateful, too, if the Attorney General could attend as well, to allow for a fuller discussion and agreement on the constitutional reform process objectives and, additionally, the legal and democratic principles required to be followed.
Yours sincerely,
Palmavon J Webster
Leader of the Opposition
cc: The Rt. Hon. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the
Overseas Territories
Hon. Deputy Governor
Hon. Attorney General
