The Horses Are Out

The above phrase is a colloquial expression used predominantly in Caribbean politics when candidates in an election are out in the field canvassing for votes. It certainly is not a good description of the noble men and women offering themselves for public office. In truth and in fact, it gives the impression of a group of people running around out of control and this should not be.

The expression came up as recently as Tuesday afternoon this week. It was when Edison Baird, erstwhile Leader of the Opposition, told a meeting of politicians and the Anguilla Christian Council that the poor attendance was because “the horses” were out on the campaign trial.

The Christian Council was represented by such highly respected clergy like Bishop Errol Brooks of the Anglican Diocese, Reverend Ed Herberger of the Catholic Church, Superintendent Minister of the Methodist Circuit, Reverend Lindsay Richardson and Reverend Joseph Lloyd also a Methodist Minister.

They waited for sometime after 5:00 p.m. for the candidates to show up to be presented with, and to discuss, a list of guidelines for the political campaigning. Very few of the aspirants for public office turned up, but the priestly gentlemen commenced the meeting with those who were present, anyway, without anyone else appearing during the course of the session.

It was not a good show of statesmanship or respect for the good and patriotic intentions of the reverends. It may have been an arguable excuse that the timing of the meeting was somewhat awkward, for many of the candidates had to prepare for their campaigns, having earlier turned up for nominations. Indeed, as the meeting progressed for less than an hour, one or two of the candidates became restless and indicated to Bishop Brooks that the time was nearing for their political meetings. He and his ministerial colleagues showed their willingness to cooperate and were able to get some good points across to the candidates before ending the interactive assembly and winning the appreciation and approval of the candidates.

It would have been a good idea for the absent candidates to have attended the Christian Council meeting even in the brief time they had available. Everybody would have felt good about themselves, being part of a noble effort and pledge to keep the campaigning at a high level, thus avoiding or curtailing mudslinging and possibly defamation of character and libel.

The horses, or let us say the candidates, are out but they must not run unbridled and wild. They must bear in mind the guidelines which are available to all of them, whether or not they attended the Christian Council meeting. But for their own sakes, self-respect and the good name of Anguilla, they should also aim at regulating their own behaviour. Really, nothing may be better than self-regulation. If this were to be, the Anguilla Christian Council could still claim credit for initiating the process.