When the Anguilla House of Assembly meets on Tuesday, July 7, with a packed agenda, it will welcome and swear in a new member in the person of Mr. Paul Osbourne Harrigan, the newly-appointed Second Nominated Member.
Mr. Harrigan was first formally sworn in by Governor Christina Scott on Tuesday, June 30, in the Executive Council’s Chambers, in the presence of a large number of family members and friends. They included Ms. Palmavon Webster, Leader of the Opposition, on whose platform he appeared during the election campaign.
The newcomer to the House of Assembly is a trained professional, holding a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of South Florida (Tampa). He also served in the US Marine Corps for eight years (six years of activity duty, and two years on call). He returned to Anguilla in 2002 and managed NAPA Auto Sales until 2007, working closely with his father, Mr Osbourne Harrigan. In 2004 he, along with his father, established ACE Hardware Store which his wife, Mrs. Allison Harrigan, manages. He has also worked with his father in the construction and heavy equipment fields. In St. Thomas, he manages a Trust Company and is involved in project development there, necessitating trips between Anguilla and that island.
Governor Scott said Mr. Harrigan had a particularly challenging role in the House of Assembly dominated by the Anguilla United Front Government. His role included a supportive challenge on one hand to the Government and, on the other hand, the Leader of the Opposition, at times. The Governor stated that while he was required to serve as an independent member of the House, he might also provide support to the Leader of the Opposition for any matter she might wish to have placed on the Order of Business for the House.
The Governor pointed out that she had not only consulted the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, but had obtained the views and suggestions of a wide range of organisations and individuals on selecting and appointing the Second Nominated Member. For her, it was “a strangulation process” to consider and choose from the number of recommended persons and the skills they possessed. She thought Mr. Harrigan had the right mixture of private sector experience and expertise which would be very valuable with respect to various matters coming before the House of Assembly.
Replying, Harrigan thanked Governor Scott, Palmavon Webster, and others, with whom the Governor consulted, before appointing him, for their faith and confidence in him. He promised to take on the challenges of his responsibilities in the House of Assembly in a well-balanced manner, and to represent Anguilla to the fullest of his capabilities in order to ensure a well-functioning Government.
Ms. Webster was delighted with Harrigan’s appointment in consultation with her in line with the Constitution and the “kind of democracy” in Anguilla. She said this was particularly welcome in a situation where “there is a Government that is so strong”. She added: “I have every confidence in Paul. He is very, very balanced and, like the Governor said, he has a lot of private sector experience. What I think is also very important for Anguilla is that Paul is a very good male role model in our society. He is a very dedicated father and is very committed to family; and these are the kind of social pillars that we need in our institutions in Anguilla.”
On a personal note, Mr. Harrigan told The Anguillian: “It is an honour to walk in the footsteps of my two uncles.” He was referring to the late Mr. Atlin Harrigan who was not only one of the leaders of the Anguilla Revolution, but who served as Speaker of the House of Assembly which is named after him; and Mr. Kenneth Harrigan, a former Minister of Infrastructure, and Member of the House of Assembly for 21 years.
