In the House of Assembly on Wednesday, March 4th, the Honourable Premier and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge moved a Bill for the amendment of the Social Security Act 2026.
In outlining the objects and reasons of the Bill, the Minister said that the Bill is to revise the process by which the Director of the Social Security Board is appointed. It also defines the process by which the Director’s appointment is renewed, as well as it sets out the conditions under which a Director might be demitted from office or be removed.
“The amendments are intended to make these processes clearer and more transparent,” the Minister said. “The Director is the Chief Administrative Officer responsible for managing the Social Security Fund and overseeing the day-to-day administration of the Act.”
“Because of the importance of that role,” she noted, “the amendments are aimed at strengthening accountability, improving transparency and building public confidence in the leadership of the Social Security system.”
She then explained the various clauses of the Bill and their relations to the various new sections of the Act.
In essence, the Bill stipulates that the candidate for Director should be a “fit and proper” individual who would be approved by Executive Council to function for a period of more than five years. Such a “fit and proper” person should be endued with the acceptable qualities of integrity, competence, experience, diligence, financial soundness and past conduct.
One important facet of the revised Act would be the determining powers in selecting the Director. Whereas in the past the position of the Director of Social Security was administered by the Governor, the amendments would provide that the former role of the Governor will now be replaced by the Minister of Finance who, in fact, has been the one to whom the Social Security Board reports.
The Honorable Representative for District 3, Mrs. Shellya Rogers-Webster, stood in support of the Bill: “Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this necessary amendment. I wish to thank the Premier and Minister of Finance for the work that she is undertaking to ensure that the Act is adjusted. Often times we are told that elected members can’t carry out certain functions because the law does not allow us to.
“But we operate in a unique position where we are also legislators,” said Minister Rogers-Webster. “And this is a good example of recognizing that there were particular short comings as a result of the existing law and necessary changes needed to be made.”
Also standing in approval of the Bill was Single Island-wide Representative, Kyle Hodge, who said he lent it his full support. “Madam Speaker, I lend my full support to the Premier and the Minister of Finance, who is the Minister in charge of the Social Security Board, which is a very important institution in Anguilla.”
He went on to say that for its entire existence in Anguilla, the Social Security Board has had only one Director, and so he considered the amendments as being timely.
Due to the fact that there were no objections to the Bill after its second reading and Committee Stage, it was read a third time. The Minister of Finance then stated: “Madam Speaker, I wish to move that [a] Bill entitled Social Security Amendment Act 2026 be moved a third time and passed.” The move was seconded by Minister Kyle Hodge. All members of the House present were in favour, and the Bill was passed.
