The appointment of twenty-three-year old Jose Vanterpool as First Nominated Member of the Anguilla House of Assembly is both historic and welcome. Jose is the youngest person to ever hold a seat in the House and the fact that he was an Island Scholar, and an eminently qualified young man with a Master’s degree in Engineering in Computer Science, should be a source of much pride for all Anguillians. Personally, I am looking forward to his contributions — as he represents three important demographics.
Of all the members of the House, Jose will definitely be in the best position to bring a youth perspective to the debates. For years, young people in Anguilla have been lobbying for more of a voice in decision-making. There is no better place for this than in the legislative arm of Government which has the power to make laws to govern the country. I see Jose as the voice of the youth in the House of Assembly. I therefore urge him to remain in touch with his counterparts so that he can be the mouthpiece for their issues and concerns. I would also urge young people to reach out to him to ensure that he is aware of their position on matters affecting Anguilla and can represent their interests and views even in situations where they may differ from his. We do expect that Jose’s position may differ at times from those of his peers. However, while he must present his own position, I believe he also has a responsibility to share opposing views from the youth populace. This should make for interesting and balanced debate, and will build confidence in the youth population that their views will be heard.
Further, as a young man, Jose is a symbol of hope for young men who often feel disenfranchised in Anguillian society. Whether it is a result of being left behind in school, being disproportionately represented as victims of violent deaths, being over-represented in the prison population etc., young men often feel like they are on the fringes of society. While Jose’s own life experiences may be different from those of many young men, he is nonetheless an example that many can emulate — and he is tangible evidence that, with the right support systems in place, young men can thrive in Anguillian society. When carrying out his duties in the Anguilla House of Assembly, it is incumbent on him to remember that young men are watching, and he ought to conduct himself in a way that they admire and demonstrate that he understands their issues and can connect with them.
Jose also represents the well-educated Anguillian, the ones we would like to see more of in the House of Assembly. We anticipate that he would be in a position to raise the level of discourse and be able to critically examine the issues on the table regardless of the side of the House from which they emanate. This is a standard we should expect from all members of the House, particularly those we elect. We must recognize that the issues with which we must grapple as a country, trying to survive in a global space, are becoming increasingly complex — and we need the best minds on board to help us get to a place where we are not just surviving but thriving; where our people can enjoy a good quality of life with good quality social services.
I am pleased that a young, male, educated Anguillian has a seat in the House of Assembly. I look forward to his contribution to nation-building and I believe that, with the support of the Anguillian community, he can serve well in this capacity. Who knows — this may just be the beginning of greater things to come. Congrats Jose Vanterpool!
