On the weekly radio programme “Just the Facts”, on Monday 4th April, former parliamentarian, Evans McNiel Rogers, who also co-hosts the radio broadcast on occasion, sat in as a guest. He was interviewed by the prime host, the Honourable Opposition Leader, Cora Richardson-Hodge, accompanied by opposition member, Jose Vanterpool.
Last week, Mr. Rogers made the announcement of his resignation from the political arena. With regards to that notice, Mrs. Richardson-Hodge said: “Mr. Rogers on the 2nd April you made an announcement… concerning your resignation from politics, and from being the representative of District 3. Can you tell us some more about that?””
Mr. Rogers responded: “The matter of my resignation has been in the making for quite some time, due to conditions beyond my control. I tendered my resignation to Her Excellency the Governor on the 1st of April. It was not an ‘All-fools Day’ joke. It was reality. But when I look back, generally, the interest that I have in the development of the people of Anguilla – in helping them to better their lives – is still there.
“There comes a time when one has to look in the mirror and prioritise things. This is not that I am taking the representation of the people of Anguilla lightly, but there are certain personal matters that I have to attend to right now.”
While Mr. Rogers did not directly disclose what the nature of those personal matters was, he did hasten to say: “As we grow older we do have ailments. For a sixty-two year old, I am in very good physical health. I do my medical checks all the time, but I have been here for the people of Anguilla over my tenure, as a Minister and as an elected representative, assisting people in the healthcare field. Now, the time has come that I assist my own and to be there for them. I have no other choice.
“I have had to be away from the island since January, until last week, in Colombia attending to the needs of a cousin of mine. I have had to drop everything and go to assist him. These are the sort of things that we have no control over.”
Mr. Rogers observed that he was satisfied with his tenure of service to the people of Anguilla: “I am one who likes to consider quotes from various sources, and I have found one recently which says, ‘a satisfied life is better than a successful life, because our success is measured by others but our satisfaction is measured by our own souls, minds and hearts. ’
“I have had to make a decision while weighing the needs of my family against my community and my island, and I realise that in order to help others, now, I first must be able to help myself. I don’t want to look back and say I should have done this or that at that time so, basically, I have made the decision to resign from the field of politics now.”
Mrs. Richardson-Hodge asked him to give a review of his experience, his difficulties or his overall impressions during his tenure in politics. After giving an overview of his humble beginnings, his formative years, and his stint in universities for his career in medical technology, Mr. Rogers answered: “To be in politics is truly a sacrifice, but the urge was within me to become involved in serving my people. God’s hands were upon me, and while in the United States I was led to surrender my US passport [as a requirement] and to come home to serve my people.
“People talk about the fact that I have a large family and it was my family that put me in my seat. But, like I said lately, if I was in politics on account of my family, then I should have run in the elections unopposed. Winning a seat is not just about your family-base. You have to be able to touch the people that you are representing. The way I see myself in politics is touching people.”
Among other reflections, he said, “This is one of the things that aspiring politicians must bear in mind – politics is about touching people…”
