ANGUILLA SEES LARGEST, MOST COLOURFUL NOMINATION DAY

Social media was replete with instant multiple images of candidates and other related activities on Nomination Day, Friday, June 12. Many of those images, if not all, are now being carried perhaps in a more detailed and durable manner by The Anguillian newspaper for both current information and the national record.

Nomination Day for the 2020 district and island-wide elections on Friday, June 26 (for early voting by the elderly and essential workers), and on Monday, June 29 (for the general populace), was easily the largest and most colourful in all the election years in Anguilla. Prior to now, there were fewer candidates: seven from each of the two parties plus a few independents. Basically, they all showed up at Nomination Day hardly in what might have been described as “elegantly attired”, and not necessarily in party campaign colours. Correspondingly, those who nominated them were also ordinarily dressed and only small numbers of supporters joined them.

But this time on June 12, 2020, it was hugely different. There is a whopping 32 candidates. Male and female, the candidates for the Anguilla United Front (AUF) and the Anguilla Progressive Party (APM) were formally attired mainly in dark suits. The APM candidates also wore ties and shirts featuring the National Colours of Anguilla. They appeared in the Atlin Harrigan Parliamentary Building at 10 o’clock having journeyed there in a procession from the Caribbean Commercial Centre. They were accompanied by a number of supporters wearing the Movement’s campaign blue colour shirts and insignia. The AUF candidates travelled to the Parliamentary Building at 2.00 pm from the old Court House with their supporters also wearing the party’s campaign shirts and colours. The island-wide independent candidates, those who nominated them and other supporters, though less colourful in their attire, were nevertheless well-dressed.

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The Parliamentary Building, where repairs following Hurricane Irma are almost completed, was filled to capacity with a riot of colour, so to speak. The nomination process, including the filling out and signing of forms, was supervised by personnel from the Central Electoral Office led by Mr. Rodney Rey, Supervisor of Elections. It was a smooth, quick and orderly process which commanded the admiration and commendation of all.

What was of significant interest was that, at the close of the nomination, a big rally was staged by a large and energetic crowd of AUF supporters in praise of their candidates. It was described by the candidates and other onlookers as a stunning and encouraging performance.

The glitter of Nomination Day was a follow-up to a strong and colourful campaign by the AUF, the APM and the independent candidates (IND). The campaigning was initially affected by social distancing resulting from the coronavirus restrictions. The virtual meetings, during which the candidates addressed the public from indoor locations via social media, are now over. With public gatherings now permitted, as part of a de-escalation process, open-air political campaigning is the order of the day throughout the length and breadth of Anguilla.

Another feature of the electioneering in Anguilla, that also led to the glitter of Nomination Day, is the highly technical and influential campaign imagery across the island. Compelling images of the candidates, and their slogans, are all mounted on huge and costly billboards never seen before in any general election in Anguilla.

It is the first time that Anguilla will be having both district and island-wide elections. And it is the first time that tabulating machines will be used for the counting of ballots.

DISTRICT CANDIDATES
There are thirty-two candidates who were nominated for the elections. The list is as follows:

Island Harbour: Palmavon Webster (IND); Oris Smith (AUF); Ellis Lorenzo Webster (APM).
Sandy Hill: Cora Richardson Hodge (AUF); Jerome Roberts (APM).

Valley North: Evans McNiel Rogers (AUF); Courtney Morton (APM).

Valley South: Victor Banks (AUF); Dee-Ann Rogers (APM).
Road North: Evalie Bradley (AUF); Merrick Richardson (APM); Rommel Hughes (IND).
Road South: Curtis Richardson (AUF); Haydn Hughes (APM).
West End: Cardigan Connor (AUF); Kimberley Fleming (APM); Jamie Hodge (IND).

ISLAND-WIDE CANIDIDATES
AUF: Othlyn Vanterpool; Jose Vanterpool; Mark Romney; Lockhart Hughes.

APM: Kenneth Hodge, Kyle Hodge; Kennedy Hodge; Quincia Gumbs-Marie.

IND Candidates: Anuika Webster-Lake; Sutcliffe Hodge; Lanny Hobson; Brent Davis; Glenneva Hodge; Elkin Richardson; Merlyn Duncan.