In an early morning ceremony on Monday, October 1st, Anguilla’s new Attorney General, Mr. Dwight Horsford, was sworn into office. The event took place in the Executive Council Chambers. The Governor Tim Foy, administered the Oaths of Office and Allegience.
After Mr. Horsford signed the official documents, he was heartily welcomed by the Chief Minister, Hon. Victor Banks, who said: “I wish to welcome you to the office of Attorney General, Mr. Horsford. This is a great opportunity for us to have you on board with us. Your last name is quite familiar in Anguilla, so I reckon that you will fit right in. We have researched you considerably, and we are convinced that you are about to do an excellent job.
“The task before you will be rather challenging. Over the years, the Attorney General’s Office has been swamped with a lot of work, given the size of the office, coupled with the fact that Anguilla, as a jurisdiction, does not have a lot of laws on its books. We are a relatively new territory because we were originally part of the State of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla. Since 1980 we have had to officially change many of the laws to fit our secession from that State, while still being under the constitution of the United Kingdom.”
Mr. Banks told AG Horsford that he has a very hard working staff in the Attorney General’s Chambers, and that they would be looking forward to engaging with him as their leader.
Governor Foy followed up by noting: “The AG’s position is a very crystal clear one in terms of being Government’s Principal Officer. When the Executive Council makes a critical decision, as long as that decision requires legislation, it needs to go to the Attorney General’s Chambers to be very quickly turned into law. That is an area which is very important because, in many cases, the quick implementation of such laws would cause the economy to grow. These are the things that the Chief Minister, and Minister of Finance, is particularly concerned about.”
In responding, Mr. Horsford remarked: “I look forward to getting down to business in Anguilla. This is a great opportunity to become Anguillian. I have had a very warm welcome here. From the soundings I received from the Chief, when I came for my familiarization, I realize that my work is a tall order, but as tall as it is, I hope that I am tall enough to meet it — and so I look forward to working with you both.”
The Anguillian takes this opportunity to welcome Mr. Horsford to his new post in Anguilla.
