HISTORY-MAKING 2020 ELECTIONS IN ANGUILLA

District 1 Candidates

 
District 2 Candidates 

 
District 3 Candidates 

 
District 4 Candidates 

District 5 Candidates

District 6 Candidates

District 7 Candidates

Independent Islandwide At-Large Candidates

Islandwide At-Large Candidates

The dates Friday, June 26, and Monday, June 29, 2020, are history-making periods in Anguilla. They are times when the Caribbean region, and other parts of the world, are looking on as we hold our first Advance polling and our District and Island-wide Elections with the largest number of candidates – 32 – in the race.
The two established parties, the Anguilla United Front, which formed the previous Government, and the Anguilla Progressive Movement, formerly the Anguilla United Movement, are each fielding eleven candidates comprising seven District candidates and four Island-Wide or At-Large candidates. There are ten Independent Candidates across the island, with three being just District Candidates at Island Harbour, Road North and West End. Nine women, altogether, are in the election race – another big first for Anguilla.

A historic matter also is that, for the first time, Anguilla has dispensed with its old polling system which has been replaced by a costly electronic voting system comprising 21 tabulating machines aimed at speeding up the counting of ballots. The machines have been described as “user-friendly”. In order for the electorate to be familiarised with the operations of the equipment, a successful mock election was held in October 2019. Since then, and until quite recently, a series of education sessions were held throughout the island – the only delay having been caused by the social distancing regulations which had been much stricter than now.
With the mock election exercise, and the training to use the machines, the voting process is expected to go smoothly. The use of the tabulating equipment is governed by the Elections Act 2020 as amended. It is anticipated that by using this equipment that the election results will be available before mid-night on Monday, June 29, hours earlier than in previous years.

As in the past, a CPA international team has been put in place to observe and monitor the elections – this time to serve in a virtual meeting arrangement due to the travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. As a consequence, an actual on-the-ground observation team, comprising representatives of the Anguilla Christian Council and the Anguilla Evangelical Association, has been appointed by Governor Tim Foy, OBE. The local team is headed by the Rev. Dr. Wycherley Gumbs, Superintendent of the Anguilla Methodist Circuit. (See the Governor’s press release elsewhere in this edition of The Anguillian newspaper).

ADVERTISEMENT

The election process in Anguilla is being led by former Principal of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School and former Permanent Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office, Mr. Rodney Rey, as Supervisor of Elections. He is assisted by his Deputy, Mrs. Maria Hughes, a small number of office workers; and various Returning Officers, Presiding Officiers and Polling Clerks. He succeeded Ms. Aurjul Wilson who, as Supervisor of Elections, conducted the 2015 general election, worked on the early arrangements for the 2020 elections – but abruptly resigned several months ago.

The 2020 electioneering has seen what was perhaps the most heated campaigning in the history of the island – and with a call for leadership by young people. A number of these adolescents, from 25 years old and much older, are spread across the two political parties and the independent candidates – all advocating for a voice and participation, not only in the electoral process, but in the leadership and governance of Anguilla. The Anguilla United Front, in particular, includes a number of seasoned and experienced politicians vying to continue their leadership roles and to have the confidence of the electorate.

Under the amended Constitution and Elections Act 2020, a group with six seats will form the next Government of Anguilla.