After more than twenty years, and several successive national Governments, the views of Anguillians are still being sought on a new, full and progressive Constitution – and we are lagging behind the other British Overseas Territories.
At present, we have an opportunity to have the above Constitution, and we must allow our voices to be heard during the town hall meetings now being held in the various districts by the Anguilla Progressive Movement Government.
It was only just before the 2020 general elections that the then Government, of the Anguilla United Front, succeeded in getting the UK Government to approve some selected amendments to the island’s 1982-old Constitution.
Those amendments included giving rights to Anguillian grandchildren, born abroad, to be regarded as citizens of Anguilla with such privileges as not having to apply for time to stay on the island and to own land. Another approved amendment was the creation of an island-wide voting system for four elected candidates in addition to the customary electoral system for seven district representatives. That island-wide voting process, as well as the provision for grandchildren, was ably led by the former Minister of Home Affairs and Constitutional Affairs, Mrs. Cora Richardson Hodge.
It now falls to her successor, of the Anguilla Progressive Movement Government and former career civil servant, Mr. Kenneth Hodge, who holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, to take the constitutional process forward.
As the new Minister of Home Affairs and Constitutional Affairs, Mr. Hodge is a product of the above initial amendments to the Constitution, in terms of being one of the current four island-wide elected representatives. The others are Mr. Kyle Hodge, Minister of Economic Development and Natural Resources; Mrs. Quincia Gumbs-Marie, Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism and Economic Development; and Mr. Jose Vanterpool, Opposition Member.
As part of the constitutional and electoral reform process, Mr. Kenn Hodge is also to look at changes to the electoral boundaries. That is almost at the point where the former Minister of Home Affairs, Mrs. Richardson-Hodge, left off from due to time constraints and in the run-up to the 2020 general elections.
Mr. Hodge, aided by his colleagues in the APM Government, has already commenced public consultations on constitutional and electoral reform. The first meeting was held on Thursday evening, September 2, in District 1, Island Harbour, at the St. Andrew’s Anglican Church Hall. The town hall meetings are being held in each electoral district up to September 27.
Asked how he planned to commence the constitutional consultations, Mr. Hodge told The Anguillian newspaper. “I will be giving a general overview of what has taken place so far, and what are some of the major issues. Everything will be put back on the table.”
Minister Hodge is encouraging all persons in the districts to attend the meetings and to participate fully in the discussions. Constitutional and Electoral Reform is one of his most challenging responsibilities – and his aim must be to have it all completed within the current remaining years in office of the Anguilla Progressive Movement Government.
