No Mr. Hughes! Anguilla is not yours to deal with it as you like! And even if it was yours you would not know what to do with it! You cannot change the practices of good government now. Your approach to politics is chronic, and even if allowed another chance you will continue with the same approach. Plainly speaking, Mr. Hughes, to inject your proposal into the mix at this time is scandalous and would be a clear exhibition of dictatorship. Such thought processes exist only in the minds of dictators or those who believe in autocracy and one-man rule. This, your latest proposal, is like changing horses in midstream and, frankly, will not give enough time for consideration by the people. Actually, it sounds like someone trying “to save one’s skin”. Its timing is suspect and blatantly contrived. How can you propose to expand the elected seats in the House just to satisfy your insatiable lust for power?
It shows that little thought was given to the proposal from the standpoint of the advancement of our political system, but merely to implement that proposal for the CM’s personal interest. It opens up the opportunity for gerrymandering or to otherwise create a seat for the prolongation of the CM ‘s political life. It seems like there is mischief in this madness.
Anguilla is a parliamentary democracy. Its Constitution has several political provisions but it is not yet independent. Why are we afraid or unwilling to use the tools at our disposal, or to ditch this system of one-man rule? Part of our British inheritance is “freedom of speech” for all. And like the CM can say what he likes — we too have the right to speak without fear and tell him publicly when he is wrong. There are constitutional and common law limits to what he can do. We should push it to the limit and not remain silent when we know it sucks! His election and that of his colleagues does not mean that the country is for them.
Put all ignorance aside and consider that this CM, over his many political years, has said much and done precious little. He has put many things out there and this is another trial balloon. In fact, what he talks about is an option that should not be pursued at such short notice. It is meant to be a stopgap arrangement designed only for his benefit and the bamboozlement of the voters.
We got to wake up, for as much as you toss around and try to sleep through this four-year nightmare you still have to face the permanent deceit on the CM’s agenda as time goes by. Granted that politics is a rough game, do we in little Anguilla have to endure this twisted political farce because of the selfish behaviour in leadership? What mindset exists that is willing to introduce a system of an enlarged legislature in a rushed, improperly considered fashion immediately before an election? Clearly, it will have to be “small mind or bad mind” or someone playing a political trick on a misinformed public.
BUT are we seeking some benefit that may come from a larger backbench through wider debate? Or is it to emulate the practices of Papa Doc and Mugabe and frustrate or promote the stealth of the next election? NO sir! We are not living a crazy house or on a Banana Republic. So we should not re-elect this CM for him to turn us into any such.
Fellow Anguillians, this CM seems to have one singular thought. He thinks only of how to get your vote – not how you get to eat. He only thinks in terms of very basic, almost primitive, politics springing from knee-jerk spurious actions. This has been made most clear to us lately. Reelection by any means necessary,
He either officially wants to run the country single-handedly or he is working towards a crisis before he leaves office. We got proof! At the very beginning of this term he came out throwing punches at independence, then he announced he was setting up a committee on the Constitution that floundered and the Chair resigned. He then appointed another Chairman with a new mandate. He promised a referendum by November 2013 — now this recent pronouncement. There is a clear thread that runs through these – they smack of political immorality and openly try to flaunt constitutional illegality. The occurrence of that in our politics should not just concern the Opposition in the House, but it should heighten PUBLIC dissatisfaction with them at-large. It should be a rallying point for coming together to join hands with the AUF as it stands up against the nonsense constantly perpetrated on the people.
People regularly make arguments regarding morality as normative. But not easily against illegality because the Law is strict – either it so or it is not. Violations of the Constitution are illegal. Such alleged behaviour by the CM and his Cabal to flout due process under the law, to make changes to the Constitution, can be considered nothing less than illegal.
In Anguilla this is the only space that keeps us from the whims and the ignorance that would otherwise encroach on the functioning of our limited understanding of parliamentary democracy. Under this model of government the “rule of law” is a tool in the hands of the people and a wrench in the spokes of a dictator. Because of this we can then say in the phrase, very much favoured by the regime, “We put it to you” that Hughes cannot arbitrarily make substantive changes to the Constitution without formally consulting us and going through the proper channels. A press conference is not a proper channel for this purpose, neither does his ministerial prerogative extend that far under the present Constitution.
Herein lives Mr. Hughes’ eternal problem and the foremost reason why he is incapable of being CM. He understands the baser instincts of the people better than he does the “rule of law” and its political boundaries. So seldom does he act at first instant in the collective interest as opposed to the “me” at the time. For him it is a personal thing that he must win. Very few can explain or understand why he still survives as a politician because his style of politics could not bring positive results anywhere else but in an authoritarian state.
It is the people everywhere who choose their rulers, and determine how they govern, because it is they who make the “X”. They must stand up to them and say we will not accept this nonsense anymore. There will be those also among them who will come forward and support the Opposition as they articulate and present the issues.
Therefore, here in Anguilla when an issue is presented without due process, and in defiance of the law, it is the people who can prevent its coming into force. They can in many ways, particularly, by following the Opposition’s point of view – boycott the CM’s proposals.
There are those who do not believe in dictatorships or unguided political missiles – and will use all possible efforts to stop the imposition of government edicts. According to A. V. Dicey, their power rests on the rule of law legislatively – and administratively on the doctrine of “ULTRA VIRES.” But we are not there yet. The Parliamentary Secretary says ignorance is bliss and that you don’t have to be educated to be a politician in Anguilla. WAH? WEY HI GET THAT FROM?
You can’t put what Haydn says in a book, and what Dicey said is like reading the Constitutional Bible. However, Dicey is not one of Hughes’ favorite authors. Putting aside Dicey’s norms, today the rule of law – through constitutional provisions – is concerned with the idea that no one is above the law, and that the law regulates and limits government power. Under the doctine of ultra vires it is established that a Minister cannot take power unto himself. He can only do what he is authorised by law to do. Under Haydn’s no need to be educated theory, a Minister could do as he pleases because no one will know the difference. And when the deed is done we shall all stand and sing: God Bless Anguilla.
