This week’s Editorial in The Anguillian may be viewed as a sequel to the one last week entitled “Set The Date” – and rightly so. Matters good, bad and ugly, relating to the forthcoming election, will certainly not disppear until that event is eventually over – whatever the results may be. As time creeps up to the secretly-held election date, one can therefore expect much commentary in this newspaper and the social media, promulgating divergent views and observations – and perhaps even offering advice as the new column by Keithley Lake & Associates provides.
One of the currently disturbing matters is the protracted election campaign which will only perhaps be tempered by the intervention of the traditional observance of the Lenten Season. Even so, the way things are going, it is difficult to guarantee much relief from the abysmal level to which the campaign appears to be sinking. While the array of billboards, posters, stickers, and now cartoons, may be accepted as normal manifestations and fixtures of the electioneering or campaigning process, the parties and candidates appear to be running out of campaign issues. Their pronouncements are becoming tediously repetitious, lacking in variety and therefore boring.
As a result of this situation, the campaigns are getting extremely personal, filthy, and therefore very disturbing. One must admit, with some gratitude, however, that at present the campaigning has not yet reached the level in some of our sister islands where personal safety may be under threat. In one case, in those islands, there has been an alleged threat of “Not one man stand alive. All man dead or wounded”, uttered by a top leader, which has gone viral on the social media. This, and other types, of irresponsible and scary rhetoric – or whatever it may be classified as being – must never be allowed to raise its head in Anguilla.
Last week, at a meeting with reporters, the Commissioner of Police in Anguilla condemned two statements made on certain political platforms. One was a questionable statement to the effect that a lot of coffins will have to be imported into the island. The Commissioner has rightly decided to meet with all of the politicians/candidates to request them to tone down their campaign statements. He must be applauded for taking this initiative before persons are incited to commit acts of violence, causing the situation to become explosive and damaging to the peace, quiet and security of Anguilla.
At present, there is much excitement on the island with, or without predictions, about what the results of the general election will be. This is all well and good, but if the poor quality of the campaigning is further degraded, then apathy among the electorate is likely to set in and may even lead to reduced numbers at the polls. The consequence for the people could then be a government, one way or another, lacking the full support and confidence of the populace.
The fact is that, in some cases, voters are already complaining about the low level of the campaigning, the personal attacks, and innuendos, and the lack of leadership and statesmanship finesse in their campaign speeches. The possible damaging effect on the forthcoming polling should not be taken lightly.
