Saturday evening, August 15, saw two rival political meetings at the eastern end of the island. The first was a tent meeting held in District 1, Island Harbour, where the ruling United Front Party officially introduced its new candidate, Othlyn Vanterpool, for next year’s general election. The second meeting was in District 2, East End/Sandy Hill, and was held by the Anguilla Progressive Party whose candidate there is Jerome Roberts.

Attendees at the meeting

At Island Harbour, Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, said Mr. Vanterpool was one of two young candidates who were being brought in to replace him and his colleague, Kenneth Harrigan, both of whom would be stepping down next year. Mr. Vanterpool, who is currently a Special Assistant in the Ministry of Social Development, is to replace Mr. Harrigan while Lawyer Cora Richardson-Hodge is the candidate for District One in place of Mr. Fleming.

The Chief Minister told his listeners that Vanterpool was among a cadre of persons who had been appointed Special Assistants and who now had “the fundamental exposure to come into Government.” The two others are Curtis Richardson and Kenswick Richardson who is replacing Albert Hughes who is retiring. They are the candidates for District 6, Road South and District 7, West End/Long Bay, respectively.

“I have played my part and I am supporting a candidate in District 1 who I believe can take the mantle forward..,” Mr. Fleming went on. “The decision for him [Mr. Vanterpool] to run was taken by a number of persons from this district and we in this party are supporting him. The candidate is no stranger to any of you and only one candidate is running in the district for the United Front and that candidate is Othlyn Vanterpool. The United Front, under the leadership of Mr. Victor Banks, will take this country into election when the time comes…We are going to run a smooth, decent campaign on the issues that are to come and those that have passed. We will run this campaign on our record and we respect every person who is running for election in Anguilla…I endorse Mr. Vanterpool as the candidate for this district and I simply ask you to give him your support.”

Mr. Fleming said he had worked with Mr. Harrigan from 1989 and it was a pleasure working with him and that he had made the other Ministers look proud in carrying out his ministerial portfolio in the service of the entire island. “I am proud and happy to have been associated with this man and also to join him in saying that we have played our part, let somebody else younger take over,” he stated.

Mr. Harrigan, was grateful to all in the district who elected him to office since in 1989. “I have made a decision that I will not be seeking re-election when my time is up and I believe that I have done my part honestly from my heart,” he told his listeners, stressing that as Minister of Infrastructure and Communications he was required to serve all seven districts of the island rather than just District 1. He was grateful to his ministerial colleagues, staff and supporters, who had assisted him in carrying out his duties.

L-R: Ministers: Evans Rogers, Kenneth Harrigan, CM Fleming and Victor BAnks

Responding to criticisms that he had not done anything in his district, he pointed to a number of projects he had initatiated there, among them being several roads, development of a pier, parking and fuel facilities for fishermen, recreation areas and street lighting. He stressed that in a number of cases he had used his personal money to finance some of the work, and called on the new political aspirants to follow his example to provide service to the community at no cost to Government. “It was a pleasure working with this Government led by the Honourable Chief Minister. We never one day had a quarrel. Whenever I approached the Minister of Finance, Mr. Banks, he would tap me on my shoulder, saying, 'take it easy we will try to help you' and that’s why I am proud that he will have a chance to run this island,” Mr. Harrigan said.

There is one difficulty Mr. Harrigan has to deal with. It is his inability to officially endorse a candidate in District 1, where his nephew, Terry Harrigan, is an independent candidate, and Othlyn Vanterpool is not only a United Front candidate, but an in-law relative as well. Without referring specifically to these matters, he declared: “This evening I am not endorsing anybody. Every person who runs for election must have the ability to go out there and campaign…He must be able to show his ability to the people, what he means for this country, and get the horse to work with him. If you cannot do this, it is no sense running for election. You have to be able to convince the people, to be somebody that loves them and works for them and for Anguilla.

“I have seen this thing about endorsing failed. I remember the Honourable Chief Minister, Sir Emile Gumbs, who did so much for Anguilla, went out there and endorsed David. Did it help David? David was supposed to meet the people in the villages and show his ability, his concern for the country and what he will do for the people. Later the Honourable Speaker of the House endorsed Rhona. Did it help? You have to visit your people and work; convince them that you are the better candidate…and be honest about it. Forget about this endorsing for now. And I got my reasons for not endorsing anybody for now. I don’t know what will happen later.”

Minister of Finance and Elected Member for Valley South, Victor Banks said the United Front was saddened that it was losing a number of stalwarts in Government, but who would be taking on other private roles to make sure that promises made to the people were delivered. He commended Mr. Fleming for his 29 years of contribution to the Government and people of Anguilla coming in 2010; Mr. Harrigan for his 20 years and Albert Hughes for over 27 years.

Mr. Banks called for a round of applause for all the candidates from the various parties as well as the independent candidates who would be vying for political office in 2010. He described them as being courageous, committed and sacrificial, adding that it was “not a bed of roses.” He went on: “Knowing the fact that as candidates for political office, and representatives of the people of Anguilla, we face considerable abuse, we should not also contribute towards that abuse as well. We are running for political office and must respect all those persons who are prepared to make that sacrifice. Over the years, as a representative of the people of Anguilla, I have made it my business to be respectful. I have taken a lot of abuse. I have been derided for the fact that I have not responded to a lot of the abuse I have gotten from a number of people, but at the end of the day I believe that Anguilla is larger than all of us…”
Mr. Banks spoke about the vision of the governing party and of the collective effort that brought the supporters of the Anguilla Democratic Party and the Anguilla National Alliance together as the United Front to take the island forward. He was pleased to name Orthlyn Vanterpool as the party’s candidate in District 1. “There are those who may feel that the process is not to their liking, but it was a process that was agreed in a democratic way by the members of the Anguilla United Front,” he continued. “A number of candidates would have been involved in that process. Some of the candidates have decided that they do not want to be involved in that process and one has decided to run as an independent. We love them all. But we are saying that as a party, with a candidate for this constituency, it is our responsibility, based on our loyalty, dedication and our principle, to support that candidate in District 1.”
Noting that there were a number of other candidates running for election, Mr. Banks intimated that the United Front was prepared to accommodate in a coalition government candidates, from other parties, who won their seats. He said that over the period of its administration the United Front had brought to Anguilla a level of prosperity which had been second to none, on the island, and stressed that the current downturn in the economic situation had nothing to do with the Government of Anguilla.

Mr. Othlyn Vanterpool

In his address, Mr. Vanterpool said he had no intention of seeking political office when he started doing community work, but that it was a part of him over the years. “It is with a deep sense of humility and pride to know that the people of District 1 and the United Front have taken note of my commitments to serve this island in the past and present and my aspirations to serve them in the future,” he stated in his written speech. He was grateful to Mr. Harrigan for his hard work, for the opportunity to serve with him and for his advice. “I saw him in action, in negotiations with investors and I want to assure the people of District 1 and Anguilla that though Mr. Harrigan is very humble, he is a giant of a man,” he said.

Observing that there were now a number of new and young candidates contesting the election, Mr. Vanterpool had this to say: “In this time of political and social change world-wide, let us not short change the people we aspire to represent. Let us commit ourselves to bold and democratically sound leaders who are not afraid to think out of the box and to provide pristine decisions for the people of Anguilla. Our country faces the same fears that first world countries complain about: the world-wide recession, tightening financial regulations, shrinking government revenue, reduced wages and subsequent job losses to name a few. I believe it is not the enormity of the problem that we face but rather how we respond to them will determine our success…

“The people of our island are putting faith in us to find solutions to the problems that face them and we must rise to that task. Like the rest of Anguilla, District 1 has its share of issues to address. These issues include, but are not limited to, our ageing educational plans, inadequate sports and recreational facilities, fishing and agriculture, youth and elderly, coastal and marine resources. I am in no way suggesting that I have all the solutions to these issues. However, if we combine our efforts, I am sure that we can make a positive difference.”
Following the addresses, the Chief Minister invited comments from the audience, particularly in appreciation to Mr. Harrigan, the outgoing representative for the district. One of the persons who spoke was Lawyer Pam Webster, the Anguilla Progressive Party’s candidate for that district. She commended Mr. Vanterpool for being an excellent community worker who had demonstrated an amazing commitment to Anguilla and for being a role model for young people. She was also appreciative of the work of Mr. Harrigan over the years.

Pam Webster defending self

Ms Webster, however, took the opportunity to respond to a statement made by Mr. Harrigan which was troubling to her. He had said during his address that one of the access roads he had opened up in the Big Spring area, leading to Naaman Webster’s home and other residences, had been blocked by a family and that one of the election candidates was part of that family and that she should reopen the road.
Ms Webster hoped that his statement was not targeted at tarnishing her image in the community. She said that the family members who put the road block there against her wishes would probably come forward to say that she had absolutely nothing to do with any blocking of the road. “Quite frankly I have been the one against it because it impeded my access to my property as well,” she explained. “I just want to make sure that my loving cousin, Kenneth Harrigan, whom I have loved and respected all my life [would not make such an accusation]. I cannot imagine that this would be propaganda. I know that he must have made a mistake and I am surprised he has not spoken about it to me directly and personally and I am very sorry that there has been that expression which might have misled you.”

The meeting continued with commendations to Mr. Harrigan by a number of persons as well as salutations to newcomer, Othlyn Vanterpool.

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