The following are extracts from that article – a shortened version – which provides a brief history of political practice in Anguilla.)

. . . Some days ago the members of the House of Assembly were applauding the birth of Hubert Hughes, Leader of the Opposition, 70 years ago. They were unanimous in congratulating him for having reached the respectable age of 70. Born in October 1933, Hubert is still going strong, does not look his age and seems to be well on his way to exceeding his allotment of three score and ten. He seems to know the secret of good living and loves to brag about his fitness. Hear him at a public meeting (1985): “You know I went to the disco the other night and I heard the lil’ boys say: ‘Eh, eh! How Hubert Hughes could dance so long? I never see a man dance so long!’ I said: ‘Man I always keep fit.’” I too join in extending congratulations.

In extending his congratulations, Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming suggested to Hubert that, having reached 70, he should consider giving up politics. Hubert laughed it off because there is no secret that he will be contesting the next election. A politician in the USA once said that the only regret he had was that he “did not die in office.” Ah got a feeling Hubert won’t have that regret.

Osbourne’s suggestion reminded me of a similar one he made to Ronald Webster during the campaign leading up to the 1994 elections, but Webster did not take it kindly and almost gave him hernia with a low punch. To quote him (1993): “Osbourne said that I am too old and that I should step aside and give young people a chance. I am willing to do so but when I look back on the administrative and moral inefficiencies in Anguilla, it hurts me to imagine what would happen to Anguilla under the leadership of someone like Osbourne. . . ”

Ironically, while Osbourne is calling on Hubert to go home there are calls in some quarters in Anguilla for all seven elected members in the House to call it quits and make way for new blood – for new leaders with new ideas. As for Hubert’s part, he first contested elections in 1961 when he was twenty-eight years old. At that time he was seeking to win the Anguilla seat in the St Kitts-based Legislative Council. It means that he has been actively involved in politics for some forty-two years. As regards his membership of the Anguilla Legislature (House of Assembly), Hubert has been there since 1976 except for the period 1981 to 1984 when he was replaced by Maurice Connor. By the time the 2005 elections come around he would have been in the House for 26 years.

Osbourne is in a similar situation. He remains undefeated since he first entered politics in 1981 and would have been in the House for 24 years at the end of his present term. Victor Banks won in 1981, was defeated in 1984, won the by-election in 1985, has not lost since and will have served 23 years by 2005. And by 2005 both Albert Hughes (Belto) and Eric Reid would have served for 21 years while Kenneth Harrigan would have served 16 years and Edison Baird (Eddy) 11 years.

If all the candidates win their seats in the 2005 general elections, and do not pass on before elections in 2010, Hubert would have served for 31 years, Osbourne for 29 years, Victor for 28, Eric and Belto for 26, Kenneth for 21 and Eddy for 16.

Since 1984, when Victor lost to Eric, in Valley North, not one single member of the present House of Assembly was defeated at the polls. And the only changes we have had in the composition of the House came in 1985 when Victor won the by-election, in Valley South, following the sad passing of Teacher Albena, and in 1994 when Sir Emile did not run and Eddy won the seat . . .

Listen, here. On Saturday morning last a man stopped me on the Pond Ground Road and showed me some small placards on which he denounced Osbourne (Bunton). He told me, “We got to get Bunton out of Government! He ain’t doing nuttin! He is not a good leader!” As I drove off he shouted: “But I goin’ still vote for him, you know!”

With that kind of thinking among our electorate, I am tempted to say that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for us to remove any of the seven elected members of the House of Assembly in the 2005 elections. Verily, verily, I say unto you that we seem destined to live with the same seven until 2010.

(The Anguillian applauds Petty’s analysis. He certainly has a good grasp of politics in Anguilla. You are reminded that the article was first published in 2003, six years ago.)

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