Voters in societies where aspirants to political leadership are presenting themselves have become very wary and critical these days of low level electioneering, as it relates to maligning other candidates in an effort to score some cheap shots and probably get a few votes in the process.

Gone, really, are the days of the gullible electorate who feasted on the rumour-mongering and character assassination they were fed and carelessly cast their votes for those who unfairly belittled their opponents without offering workable solutions to varied problems and hope for a brighter future. In Anguilla, a society of thinking people is quickly emerging and wants to hear what those who seek the mantle of leadership have to offer rather than to dwell on what is considered plain diatribe and personal abuse not only of incumbents, but of each other wooing for election.

Bad politicking and name-calling turn away thinking and intelligent voters. One only has to take a look at how the American people, for example, normally respond to the campaign strategies of the Republicans and the Democrats. Every time one candidate tries to attack another in a personal manner, sometimes even with justification, his support appears to dwindle. It was therefore refreshing to hear one or more candidates of the re-surfacing Anguilla Democratic Party promising, a few days ago, that they would not embark on merely attacking other candidates, whether of the ruling party or otherwise, but would instead confine their arguments and presentations to the issues facing the island and its people, thus also avoiding criticising just for the sake of doing so.
The murmurings among the electorate are audible and clear enough. A number of voters have been heard to say to some of the emerging candidates: “Don’t tell us what the others are not doing, tell us what you plan to do.” Indeed, we all want to hear about new and innovative ideas to revive the economy and increase employment opportunities; to provide a better political and administrative framework; to forge new inroads for Anguilla in the global context; to strengthen and promote the social development of the island; and the list goes on and on. It is only candidates who lack certain abilities, and therefore not particularly suitable for leadership, who would be unable to speak intelligently about important issues and run into problems of low level electioneering and possibly defamation.

It cannot be stressed enough that in our complex world there is a crying need for good leadership by qualified people who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best minds anywhere for intelligent discourse of one form or another. It is good that this requirement is being acted on in Anguilla, with some parties toeing that line. As the election campaign heats up, the societal desire is for all parties and candidates to embark on a course of high level electioneering and to properly address the issues before us, thus giving voters an opportunity to make wise choices via the ballot box to ensure capable leadership of the island into the 21st century. The burden of the electorate will be to decide whether or not there is a need for change, taking into account all the circumstances confronting Anguilla.

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