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Anguilla
At stake: House of Assembly
Background
Located in the Caribbean, Anguilla is a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The island was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493, and has been administered by Britain since 1650.
In 1967, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) leader Ronald Webster declared Anguilla a sovereign nation, and eventually renamed it as Republic of Anguilla. Britain did not acknowledge the island’s independence, and in 1969, British forces invaded the island to restore order.
In 1980, the area became a separate parliamentary democratic British dependency, and Webster won the House of Assembly election under the Anguilla United Party (AUP) banner. Emile Gumbs of the Anguilla National Alliance (ANA) took over as chief minister in 1984, remaining in the post for 10 years. AUP leader Hubert Hughes formed a coalition government with the Anguilla Democratic Party (ADP) in 1994.
Following the 2000 election, Osbourne Fleming took over as chief minister after the Anguilla United Front (AUF)—a conservative coalition encompassing Fleming’s ANA and the ADP—secured four seats in the legislative branch.
Fleming had served as finance minister and was a well-known businessman before running for the island’s highest elected office. He won a second term in office in 2005 after securing five of the seven seats at stake in the House of Assembly election.
Around 13,500 people inhabit the island of Anguilla today.
2010 House of Assembly Election
Anguillans will renew their legislature on Feb. 15. Incumbent chief minister Osbourne Fleming— who has headed a conservative government since 2000—will not stand for re-election.
In 2009, Fleming announced he would retire from politics in 2010. Another two lawmakers with Fleming’s Anguilla United Front (AUF), communications and works minister Kenneth Harrigan and parliamentary secretary Albert Hughes, also announced their retirement following this year’s ballot.
The AUF has chosen current finance minister Victor Banks to replace Fleming as party leader. He will lead the governing party into this year’s election.
Former Anguila chief minister Hubert Hughes heads the Anguilla United Movement (AUM) into the ballot, and Brent Davis is the leader of the Anguilla Progressive Party (APP). Three independent candidates are also running: former telecommunications executive Sutcliffe Hodge, educator Terrence Harrigan, and businessman and telecommunications service provider Kennedy Hodge.
On Jan. 7, as Fleming announced the date of the next election, he declared: "The people elected us for five years and five years it would be; that was my commitment that was my pledge."
On Jan. 22, elections supervisor Colville Petty declared: "We will be definitely ready on February 15." Petty revealed that 8,652 people in seven electoral districts are registered to vote in the ballot, up from the 7,558 who registered in 2005.
Voting took place on Feb. 15. Preliminary results suggested that the Anguilla United Movement (AUM) would secure four of the seven seats at stake. AUM leader Hubert Hughes is expected to form the government.
The Anguilla United Front (AUF) won two seats, and the remaining mandate went to the Anguilla Progressive Party (APP). AUF leader Victor Banks was unable to win his seat in District 4.
On Feb. 16, Hughes was sworn in as chief minister.
Political Players
Governor: Alistair Harrison
Chief minister: Hubert Hughes - AUF
Legislative Branch: The House of Assembly has 11 members; seven members are elected to five-year terms in single-seat constituencies, plus two ex-officio members and two appointed members. Three of the non-elected members are chosen by the governor, and the other is picked by the governing party.
Results of Last Election:
House of Assembly - Feb. 15, 2010
|
Vote% |
Seats |
|
|
Anguilla United Front |
39.37% |
2 |
|
Anguilla United Movement |
32.68% |
4 |
|
Anguilla Progressive Party |
14.71% |
1 |
|
Independents |
13.24% |
-- |
|
Appointed members |
-- |
4% |
