Within twelve hours of winning Monday’s General Election, following the overnight counting of ballots, a new Government of the Anguilla United Front (AUF) was appointed and sworn into office on Tuesday afternoon, February 22nd.

Members of the Government: L-R: Mr. Evans McNeil Rogers, Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, Governnor Huckle, Mr. Kenneth Harrigan and Mr. Victor Banks

The Oaths of Allegiance and of Due Execution of Office were administered to the newly-elected representatives by His Excellency Governor Alan Huckle in the Executive Council Chambers. Those appointed and sworn in were Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming; and Ministers Victor Banks, Kenneth Harrigan and Evans McNeil Rogers. Their portfolios will be issued to them later instrument by the Governor.
The three other elected representatives are Edison Baird and Albert Hughes, both of the Anguilla Strategic Alternative (ANSA) and Hubert Hughes of the Anguilla United Party (AUP).

All the elected representatives, the First and Second Nominated Members and the Speaker (these three not yet named), will be formally sworn at an upcoming meeting of the Anguilla House of Assembly.

Following the appointment and swearing in of the Government, Governor Huckle told the members: “I congratulate you all on your appointments and look forward to working with you in the Government of Anguilla and for a successful five-year term of office.”

Responding, Chief Minister Fleming, said in part: “The United Front is a party of principles and we have stuck to those principles over the last five years and we intend to stick to those policies over the next five years.” He made the statement following rumours that the party was divided and a coalition Government was being formed.

Mr. Fleming told the Governor that he and his Ministers enjoyed a very good relationship with him since he arrived on Anguilla and that they intended to continue that relationship.

Members of the Government, other colleagues and supporters at Swearing In Ceremony. Mrs. Ruby Fleming, wife of the Chief Minister is at extreme front left.

He went on: “I just want to say to my colleagues that whatever happens, let us keep the faith; let us work as we worked five years ago when we respected each other and did the people’s business.”

The polls for the General Election opened in the seven electoral constitutions at 6 a.m. on Monday, February 21st and closed at 7 p.m., by which time there was a turnout of 75 per cent of the registered voters. All the incumbents across the island retained their seats. The only exception was the former Elected Representative for Valley North and Minister of Social Development, Eric Reid, who has retired. He has been replaced by newcomer Evans M. Rogers who won the seat by a large margin over his three opponents.

The overall election statistics and results are as follows: District 1: Kenneth Harrigan (AUF) 459; Joshua Hodge (Ind.) 167; Barbara Webster-Bourne (Ind). 102; and Londrade (Conrad) Hodge (Ind). 42.

There were 5 rejected ballots. Out of a total of 1,087 registered voters, 775 votes were cast.

District 2: Osbourne Fleming (AUF) 309; Jerome Roberts of the Anguilla Progressive Party (APP): 107; and George Hodge of the Anguilla United Movement (AUM): 33.

A total of 455 votes were cast out of 646 registered voters.

District 3: McNeil Rogers (AUF): 609; Ralph Hodge of the Anguilla Strategic Alternative (ANSA): 354; Roy Rogers (Ind.) 211; and Valencia Hodge (Ind.) 43.

A total of 1,237 votes cast out of 1,705 registered voters.

District 4: Victor Banks (AUF): 539; Evan Gumbs (AUM): 349; and Iwandai Gumbs (Ind.) 108.

There were 996 votes cast out of 1,405 registered voters.

Mr. Edison Baird

District 5: Edison Baird (ANSA): 338; Rhona Richardson (AUF): 261; Haydn Hughes (AUM): 147; and Anne Edwards of the APP: 22.

Mr. Hubert Hughes

There were 8 rejected ballots. A total of 736 persons voted out of the registered 965.
District 6: Hubert Hughes (AUM): 420; Brent Davis (APP): 241; Curtis Richardson (ANSA): 224; and Alan Gumbs (Ind.) 58.

There were 7 rejected ballots. Of the 1,244 registered voters, 960 votes were cast.

Mr. Albert Hughes

District 7: Albert Hughes (ANSA) 160; Walcott Richardson (AUM): 139; and Wilmoth Hodge (ANSA): 127.

A total of 426 persons voted out of a registered total of 504.

Tuesday was declared a public holiday. At a rally outside the English Rose Restaurant on Tuesday afternoon, held by the Anguilla United Front, it was announced that discussions were being held with Albert Hughes who expressed a desire to cross over to the AUF and to work with the Government.
Mr. Hughes was a longstanding member of the AUM until recently when he joined ANSA. Originally, he contested and won a seat for the Anguilla National Alliance (ANA) which later merged with the Anguilla Democratic Party (ADP) to become the present ruling Anguilla United Front.

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