Eight days after it lost office, following the February 15 General Election, the Anguilla United Front (AUF) returned to the podium outside Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre on Tuesday evening. Its main mission was to thank its supporters for their support and to continue its rallying cry as still being the major political party on the island, ready to stage a comeback.

Mr. Banks addressing public meeting

All of the candidates, who contested the poll in the seven constituencies, as well as retired Chief Minister, Mr. Osbourne Fleming, and retired Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Kenneth Harrigan, spoke at the mammoth meeting. The others included Othlyn Vanterpool, Delsic Rey, Kenswick Richardson and Cora Richardson-Hodge. The last two speakers, who carried much of the sway at the meeting, were the newly-appointed Leader of the Opposition and former Minister of Social Development, Mr. Evans McNiel Rogers, the Elected Representative for Valley North; and Mr. Victor Banks, Leader of the AUF Party and former Minister of Finance and Economic Development, who lost his seat in Valley South to Mr. Evan Gumbs of the ruling Anguilla United Movement. All of the speakers reflected on the long and gruelling election campaign, the difficulties facing Anguilla and offered their congratulations and support to the new Government, while pledging to be an effective but cooperative opposition for the welfare of the island and its people.

Mr. Rogers described the large gathering as “a show of support and love for the Anguilla United Front.” He went on: “The electorate has spoken and we appreciate and respect the wishes of the people. We live in a democracy, not a banana republic… Irrespective of what you hear from the media and a number of individuals, still on the campaign trail in District 3, the results of the election are final. A new Government is in place. It is our Government. We are all Anguillians... and the Opposition is also in place.

“I thank the 679 persons in Valley North who went out to the polls and supported your humble servant for the second time around. I will be forever grateful to you for your continued support and I pledge to continue representing the people of Valley North and, by extension, the people of Anguilla in my new position as Leader of the Opposition.”

Referring to charges that he was an American citizen and was therefore not qualified to have been a candidate in the General Election, he told his listeners: “Let me say to the 679 persons and the other numerous individuals who supported the Anguilla United Front, and supported me, that you have nothing to worry about when it comes to my legitimacy to being in the House of Assembly. For those who would want to question that, as I have said during the political campaign…., the halls of justice will always be available to them as well as to me. I won’t go any further than that. Let’s throw water on that.”

Mr. Rogers continued: “Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the new AUM Government. I congratulate the Hon. Hubert Hughes and the Hon. Edison Baird on their return to Government after some ten years. I would also like to extend my congratulations to the other two first-time Elected Members in the House and the new Ministers of Government, the Hon. Evan Gumbs and the Hon. Walcott Richardson. I wish you all the best in the execution of your duties. You made some promises and we are expecting you to deliver. The Anguilla United Front and the political resources that we have, along with the opposition, will be on your heels and we will be looking at every move you make. It is important for all of us to work together where possible and to improve the livelihoods of our people. We will not be in opposition for the sake of opposing. We will be constructive. We will oppose where necessary and we will support when it is in the best interest of Anguilla and its people.”

Section of the audience at the meeting

Speaking when his turn came, Mr. Banks stated in part: “I want to say especially to the people of Valley South, who have supported me for 25 years in seven consecutive elections, that 677 people supported me [in the February 15, 2010 election] and it is the most votes I ever got, but I needed more and we will get more. We still remain the largest party in Anguilla. I see a groundswell of support coming from young people who have now come to understand what this election was all about and to understand and appreciate the importance of honesty and integrity in campaigning.

“I am proud that we have appointed a Leader of the Opposition in the person of the Hon. Evans McNiel Rogers. The duly-elected Government must do its work and the duly-elected Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in our House of Assembly must also do its work. Opposition is not just to talk for days and saying nothing and speaking on the same issues over and over for 10 years. It will be about dealing critically with the issues and putting on the legislative agenda of the House of Assembly, important laws for the governance of the people of Anguilla. We will defend your interests through the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Evans McNiel Rogers, and his colleague the Hon. Othlyn Vanterpool.”

Mr. Banks said that while his party was disappointed with the election results, it was not discouraged. There was nothing to be ashamed of in terms of its record, representation of the people and in the manner in which the campaign was conducted. “Our record of achievement must now be matched, and I challenge the Anguilla United Movement’s candidates to match our record of achievement,” he observed. “It will be in the best interest of the people of Anguilla. The Anguilla United Movement must do well for all. After all, we are all Anguillians and we must support them when they are doing the right things, but we will vigorously oppose them when they are doing the wrong things.”

Mr. Banks remarked that the AUM had conducted a successful election campaign but, it must now “land a Government” and give the Anguilla United Front an opportunity “to lick its wounds” and rebuild. He further said: “Whatever my decision is in 2015, I will always be here. I want to congratulate my opponent, the Hon. Evan Gumbs, for his victory. He is now my Elected Representative and I am here to make sure that he represents Valley South and Anguilla…I thank the people of Valley South for your support, for giving me the opportunity to serve Anguilla for 25 years and for making me proud in seven elections. It is a good feeling and also a privilege and honour. We did not do it this time, but there will be other times. We must always stick together as a people.”

Mr. Banks added that every January he usually took a break to travel abroad to spend time with his family, but he could not do so last month due to the election campaign. He informed his listeners that he would be leaving Anguilla the following day, Wednesday, for a longer time than usual, during which he would be in touch with his colleagues and maintain an interest in the island’s affairs.

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