Mr Albert Hughes, who has been a popularly-elected candidate in District 7, West End, for a number of years, but eventually retired from active politics, has once again stepped into the political arena.
That step was taken on Saturday, May 21, at a political meeting held by the Anguilla United Front in the Alwyn Allison Richardson’s schoolyard at West End. The main purpose of the meeting was to introduce Mr Cardigan Connor as the AUF’s District 7 candidate for the 2015 general election. Despite suffering from a leg problem, Mr Hughes, who is considered to be the “political father” in West End, went to the rostrum and endorsed Mr Connor’s candidacy, stressing that the former professional cricketer, his godson, was a worthy and desirable candidate.
Mr Hughes served over the years as a Minister responsible for Infrastructure and Communications, and later as Parliamentary Secretary, in the Government headed by Chief Minister Hubert Hughes and the Government led by former Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming respectively. Mr Hughes, is known to have charged that he was abandoned by the Hubert Hughes Government and he took the opportunity at the meeting to make references in that regard.
He prefaced his remarks by recounting various successful projects he had been able to achieve for the people of West End on his own initiative, despite an apparent lack of support from the AUM leadership. He was grateful to the people of West End for their support, and appealed to them to elect Mr Connor as their next representative.
“As you know, I have been your representative for a long, long time, and I thank you very much for what you did for me,” he told the large gathering. “I have tried my very best to do what I could. I fought hard for this constituency and I will continue to fight in and out of office for this constituency. Tonight, I came in support of Mr Cardigan Connor, who is my godson… I am saying to you that Cardigan Connor is your next representative. When election day comes, those of you who believe in my representation…vote for Mr Cardigan Connor…Today, West End has been left without representation when I [Albert Hughes] retired.
“You have been left without representation, but I can tell you that the man that I am talking about tonight – Cardigan Connor – has all the qualities to be your next representative…When he comes before you for your x on the ballot, and you don’t vote for him, then you don’t know who you want. I have checked him from his toes to his head and he is fair; and that is what we want: a man who is ready. He is full of compassion, integrity, honesty and truth.”
Mr Connor was introduced by Pastor Lucian McDonna. “Cardie is a very dedicated man who gives his word and it is a word you can count on,” he said. “Cardie is a good listener and a tactical thinker. Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to present you a man who is knowledgeable in local, regional and international matters; a man who has helped shaped the lives of many; who is experienced in teamwork; a man whose integrity stands unquestionable; and a strong man.”
Mr Connor, who brought much national pride to Anguilla for his long professional career in cricket, in England and Australia, explained his entry into politics. “Amidst all the scourge that surrounds us, tonight I stand before you as part of a team that is ready to lead Anguilla with the people of the island as the focal point of that leadership,” he said. “A number of people would say that our leader, our champion [Mr Victor Banks], got knocked down in 2010, but true champions get up, dust themselves off and will knock ‘the opposition’ out in 2015.”
Mr Connor continued: “In Anguilla, the time is ripe for some of the finest men and women in this country to cause Anguilla once again to rise, like a proverbial phoenix, from the ashes of despair that we have been facing over the last four years. It is the despair and the increasing signs of hopelessness, and a sense of reckless abandon, with which our country seems to be governed, that served to motivate and lead me to be here at this moment of time…”
Mr Connor, who said he stood as “a product of the challenges and hardships that confronted all and sundry in Anguilla in the 1960s and 1970s,” vowed to make West End a better place in which he grew up, and met following his return from his cricketing career.
He continued: “Despite whatever negative distraction or smear anyone may throw in my direction, I know I have to keep my focus on the task before me. That task is to lead District 7 and Anguilla better than I found it. I have been listening to a number of people in District 7. There are a number of areas in which special attention is required – jobs are top of the list. Many people in District 7 have not worked since Malliouhana closed its doors three years ago or since the employees were made redundant at Cap Juluca; and there are 26 rooms which have not been made available to Cap Juluca’s rental pool; and many of our small businesses, not just in the district, but throughout Anguilla, are struggling or even have closed their doors. But, with the support of the Anguilla United Front Party, we will restore investor confidence into the tourism and job market. This will assist our youth in getting a job, keeping them off the streets and giving them an opportunity to build a future for themselves.”
Mr Connor saw the need for various community projects in West End, including a community centre, equipped with computers and other educational facilities and services; and a proper playing field, in addition to the present basketball court. He stressed that a playing field was needed which would become “a catalyst for community-bonding, and would also give our athletes an equal opportunity to compete on the national level.”
The former professional cricketer said that apart from his proud contribution to sport, and to the development of a number of youngsters, there was a larger task ahead for him. “I have a bigger role to play, and that job is to uplift all the people of Anguilla, starting in District 7,” he told his listeners. “With your support, we cannot fail because we will not allow ourselves to fail.”
