Dear Mr Editor
HUMILITY IS A VIRTUE
On Thursday morning, at 3:00 o’clock, as I laid in my bed, my thought process was dominated by the recently concluded political debates and the seemingly obnoxious behaviour of the Leader of the Dove Party, Mr Sutcliffe Hodge. And I felt constrained to put my pen to paper and to say how disappointed I am in Mr Hodge’s behaviour, as someone whose aspiration is to become the Leader of this our beautiful island.
I have, on many occasions, heard various persons in Anguilla refer to Mr Hodge as arrogant, insulting, show-off, and a know-it-all. It has even been said that he moves around like “I am monarch of all I survey, my right there is none to dispute”. I know him as a good communicator and yes, somewhat arrogant but he has really shown the Anguillian public and those who might have heard him via the radio or internet exactly who he is. I was disappointed.
From his display of aggression and arrogance during the debates – and all the other adjectives used to describe him – there is no way that the people of Anguilla should want such a person to represent them nationally, regionally or internationally. I have little doubt that his behaviour during those debates has placed a political noose around his neck. As an aspiring political leader, where is his humility and diplomacy and respect for the voter?
Many are of the opinion that Mr. Elkin Richardson, “Current”, is contesting this election under the banner of the AUM simply for the fun of it. But Cliffy, with all his experience, qualifications and education, will feel greatly humiliated should “Current” get more votes than him, which could be the result, because he is paving the way for that to happen.
Mr Hodge is carrying around with him soooo much “baggage” that if he really wanted to get into government he should perhaps have done what he did the last time around – hide in the branches of the “Tree”. In fact he was referred to as a “semi-independent candidate” because, as Haydn said, he was sitting in the tree during the last election. I believe he might have been a lot closer back then to getting into Government, compared to where he is now, because what he continues to do is to distance himself from the people of Anguilla, the people he wants to vote for him and his Dove Party. These are the same people he insulted during the political debates when he told them that they were laughing because they could not understand what he was saying about his “J” curve. What Mr Hodge has failed to understand is that using his economic jargon means nothing to the electorate, apart from him wanting people to see how much he knows, but without any political impact. So when the people at the debates laughed at him they were perfectly right because with all the experience and education he has, he should have known better.
Mr Hodge boasted about how he streamlined the Cable and Wireless staff throughout the OECS Region from over ten thousand (10,000+) to just around two thousand five hundred (2,500). But what he refused to say was that the staff here in Anguilla got the worst deal because of his alleged refusal to negotiate a better package on their behalf.
The staff here went home with next to nothing. But at the same time he is very happy to boast about the handsome package that he was able to negotiate for himself in Barbados. If this is not the height of being SELFISH and GREEDY then he needs to tell us what it is.
Mr Hodge needs to understand that what goes around comes around. Just like he has frowned upon the people of Anguilla, whom he presumes are not as bright, intelligent, educated and experienced as he is – a “know-it-all” – the people of District 3, and indeed Anguilla, will also frown upon him.
The Rev Dr Clifton Niles, an honourable and respected man of the cloth, has some work to do. He needs to sit Cliffy down and give him a good tongue lashing for damaging their Party’s image. Then, along with Mr George Kentish, he must put a programme of counselling and anger management sessions in place for Mr Hodge. I would not be surprised if both Mr Kentish, a man of good reason and humility, as well as Rev. Niles, were bombarded with telephone calls with the callers making comments about Mr Hodge’s disreputable and aggressive conduct as their Dove Party Leader. I suspect, nonetheless, that Mr Kentish might not have been expecting anything less from Cliffy in light of his association with him at Cable and Wireless.
The school of public opinion this week was dominated with negative comments about the Leader of the Dove Party. Someone commented that he never thought he could find someone in Anguilla with an ego so large that most people here appear like nothing in his sight. It is obvious, and quite disappointing, that he does not quite get the culture here in Anguilla, though he comes from strong Anguillian stock and was born and bred here. Anguillians generally despise and reject anyone with that kind of attitude irrespective of how bright, educated and experienced he or she might be. And Cliffy will again be rejected at the polls!
Someone remarked, interestingly, that there were two AUM Leaders up against Mr Banks in the final debate on Wednesday, the 26th of November. But what Mr Hodge does not understand is that he is much too late to re-feather his nest with the AUM. They are laughing at you. They do not want you. You continue to harp about how the last Government of the AUF enhanced their benefits. Is the AUM paying you to campaign on this issue? You should by now realise that both the independent candidate Mr. Baird, and the Chief Minister, Hon. Huber Hughes, are keeping clear of this issue because they were all part and parcel of the decision and were happy to be beneficiaries, sharing in the increases. You have clearly exhausted this issue. There are many more pressing issues in Anguilla to warrant your attention.
Mr. Bank’s disposition as a true statesman must be admired. Mr Banks your vast amount of education which you do not boast about, your intellectual abilities and your many years of experience as a politician, were evident for all to see and placed you head and shoulders above all the rest. You were so decent, so cool, so respectful and diplomatic. Just imagine Cliffy making reference to you as being “naïve”? The good thing is that there is no comparison.
Mr. Hodge you have destroyed the Development, Opportunity, Vision and Empowerment that your Party stands for. You have embarrassed, no doubt, the members of your Party, members of your family and supporters. And I am further of the view that you owe the Anguillian public an apology for your insulting, inflammatory and toxic remarks.
Mr Hodge you have really clipped the wings of the DOVE. My humble advice to you is that “your attitude determines your altitude” and “humility is a great virtue”.
A disturbed voter
