Government and Opposition sides of the Anguilla House of Assembly
There was much camaraderie and cooperation in the Anguilla House of Assembly on Tuesday, August 11. That was when members and chairpersons were appointed to two standing committees to oversee matters of governance and transparency.
The first body, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), was proposed in a resolution by the Member for Island Harbour and Minister of Finance, Premier Dr. Ellis Webster. The resolution provided that this Committee should comprise not less than three, nor more than five persons, drawn from both Government and Opposition sides of the House.
Those appointed from the Opposition side were: the Leader of the Opposition and Member for Sandy Hill, Mrs. Cora Richardson Hodge, who was also appointed Chairperson of PAC; her colleagues: the Member for West End, Mr. Cardigan Connor; and Member for the Island-wide Electoral District, Mr. Jose Vanterpool. Those for the Government side were: the Member for Road North, Mr. Merrick Richardson; and the Member for the Island-wide Electoral District, Mrs. Quincia Gumbs-Marie.
The resolution for the second body, the Select Committee on Parliamentary Reform, was moved by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Perin Bradley. With the appointment of this new Committee, the Anguilla House of Assembly became the eleventh Commonwealth Legislature to use the Recommended Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures.
The composition of this Committee is as follows: the Speaker of the House as Chairperson; the Deputy Speaker; Attorney General; Opposition Member for Valley North, Mr. Evans McNiel Rogers; and Member for the Island-wide Electoral District, Jose Vanterpool. On the Government’s side: the Member for Valley South, Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers; Member for Road South, Mr. Haydn Hughes; and Member for the Island-wide Electoral District, Mr. Kenneth Hodge.
According to the schedule to the resolution, this Committee is required to undertake a number of duties. They include: study the findings of the Benchmark Assessment; develop a strategy for the implementation of the various recommendations in the report; oversee the implementation of the strategy by the House Services Department and other stakeholders; and oversee the fulfillment of terms contained in the Memorndum of Understanding between the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Anguilla House of Assembly.
A section of the resolution for the Select Committee on Parliamentary Reform states as follows: “The overall objective [of the resolution is] “for stakeholders to measure the progress of the Assembly in achieving democratic and good governance standards.” This is to be achieved “by comparing the practices of the Assembly to a set of benchmarks that have been developed and adopted by Commonwealth parliamentarians.”
The resolution added that there was a need for a “shared vision of an independent, efficient and effective Assembly.” The resolution also stated that the Assembly “is to be responsive to the aspirations of the people of Anguilla and to actively participate in the transformation of Anguilla to meet those aspirations.” The resolution further stated that parliamentary reform was desirous in “achieving democratic and good governance standards for this and future generations of Anguillians.”
All Members of the House of Assembly pledged to give their support and cooperation to the Public Accounts Committee; praised the work of the former Chairperson and Leader of the Opposition, Ms. Palmavon Webster; and to provide the same to the new Chairperson, Mrs. Cora Richardson Hodge.
The Members likewise undertook to give their support and cooperation for the work of the Select Committee on Parliamentary Reform, noting its national importance as outlined in the resolution.
