Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge and Mr. Cardigan Connor
Former Minister of Economic Development, Commerce, Information Technology and Natural Resources in the ruling Anguilla Progressive Movement (APM) Government, Mr. Kyle Hodge, has officially joined the Anguilla United Front (AUF) party. A welcome ceremony was held in his honor at the conference room of the Reymond E. Guishard Technical Centre on Monday, November 6th, 2023.
Mr. Hodge had broken ties with the current APM administration on June 26th 2022, essentially over disagreements with the implementation of the GST, the lack of a party political structure, and, as he put it, the way the party disregarded its own people.
From June 2022 to November 2023 Mr. Hodge sat in the Opposition Bench in Parliament as an Independent Opposition Member.
He said on Monday that when he left the APM and decided to move on, it took some courage, but that he had to stay true to the people of Anguilla: “The decision to leave and move on took courage,” he said. “But through it all, the most important thing was to stay true to the Anguillian people who believed in me and who continue to believe in me today.”
“When I stood up, I stood up for you, the people of Anguilla,” he said. “When I made the decision to resign and give up my ministerial post and my ministerial salary, it was all intended for the good of you, the people. And it was about staying resolute to the promises I made to you.”
“I was unhappy that the APM went against its major campaign pledges,” he said. “I was not impressed with three things – the lack of a party political structure; the way the party disregarded its own people; and the rollout of the GST.”
“I was also completely dismayed by the lack of effort to find alternatives to GST, which is a tax policy designed for countries with manufacturing and export sectors. It was this back-pedaling of circumstances that led to my resignation,” Mr. Hodge reflected.
In attributing his current disposition to the guidance of God, Mr. Hodge declared: “Today I give God all the praises and all the glory for what he has done in my life and for guiding me through as I continue to lean on Him for wisdom, knowledge and understanding.”
As he expressed his sentiments in joining the Anguilla United Front, he said: “I have recently gotten many words of congratulations after the public realized my affiliation with this AUF party. But perhaps the most outstanding greeting that has struck me from this party was conveyed by the words ‘Welcome Home’.”
“In telling me ‘Welcome Home’, it means that in some way I am a part of this team. To me that greeting conveys a deep message because I was once a part of a different team. Being part of this team now, and hearing ‘Welcome Home’ really touched me,” he said.
Mr. Hodge mentioned that he had received congratulatory messages from overseas and many persons had thanked him for joining the AUF.
In stating his mission as part of the new party, he said: “I want the people to know that I would always put people above power; I will always put people above politics. And it is evident from the stand I took against the actions of the APM, that I will always put people above party.”
AUF party Leader, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, and fellow party members Mr. Cardigan Connor, Mr. Jose Vanterpool, and Mrs. Shellya Rogers-Webster all offered congratulatory remarks to Mr. Hodge and extended to him a cordial welcome to the Anguilla United Front party.
In the 2020 General Election, Mr. Hodge received 3,557 votes – the highest number of votes obtained by any island-wide candidate in the June 29 poll.
