With the electioneering campaign now picking up momentum in Anguilla, the two political parties on the island have begun to seek support from Anguillian voters residing in the French and Dutch territory of St. Martin/St. Maarten. The Anguilla United Front travelled there over the past weekend for public meetings and radio interviews -and the Anguilla Progressive Movement, which will also be visiting there, had a St. Maarten parliamentary speaker on its platform at South Hill last Saturday night, February 1.
The AUF team included Premier Banks, his ministerial colleagues and its island-wide candidates. According to Mr. Jose Vanterpool, one of the island-wide candidates, they had a series of successful meetings at which various issues in Anguilla were explained to the Anguillian Diaspora.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Mr. Vanterpool said: “Overall, I think the trip was an overwhelming success and there was a good turnout. The first night, on Friday, we had our town hall meeting in Sandy Ground, on the French side, and a lot of people came out. We were able to clear up a lot of the misconceptions that some people had in the sense that many of them did not understand the new voting system with the island-wide candidates.
“They didn’t quite understand that they have the ability to vote for five persons come election-day, under the new system. We took some ballot paper samples with us so we were able to guide them through the forms. The Anguillians who attended the meeting, from the French and Dutch sides, who want to take part in the voting system, now have a better understanding about how the system works.
“Another thing we were able to dialogue with them on, was that the Ministers of the Anguilla Government were able to share their achievements, and the work that is currently being undertaken, as well as their plans for the next five years of being re-elected. They were able to meet us – the island-wide candidates, and to ask us questions about the issues we want to represent. The feedback that we got was overwhelming. We really didn’t get any negative feedback. Rather than questions or attacks, as some may have expected, we were in fact met with comments. Persons shared how they felt about how things have been going over the past five years.
“One thing that was really significant to the Anguillians and the St. Martiners, and for which they commended Government for and appreciated, was that Anguillian status has now been extended to grandchildren and this makes things easier for them. For example, if an Anguillian grandparent were to leave some land for his or her grandchild – under the old system that grandchild would have had to apply for an Alien Landholding License.
“That is because grandchildren were not considered to be Anguillians. But now, as we recognise grandchildren to be Anguillians, they no longer have to go through this. It makes the process a lot easier for them and makes them feel more a part of the community. They don’t feel as though they are alienated. So they were very happy about that.
“As I said, overall, I think the meetings were a success. As you can hear right now, I have lost my voice. I am a bit hoarse from all the talking I did not only in the town halls, but on the one-and-one meetings getting to know the community in St. Martin/St. Maarten. I was not fully acquainted with my fellow Anguillians over there so getting to know the Diaspora I really enjoyed that experience.”
