AUF Chairman Fritz Smith

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, July 18 – The ruling Anguilla United Front (AUF) political party on Friday announced that it has been forced to postpone until mid-September its Special Convention which had been planned for July 24-25.

In a press release, AUF Chairman Fritz Smith  said the dates for the Convention conflict with the Government of Anguilla’s official visit to the United Kingdom.

Smith also disclosed that the dates also conflict with the pre-summer Summer Festival activities. He also said the postponement will give the AUF Constituency Group for District 5 more time to select its candidate for the upcoming general elections due in 2010.

According to the AUF Chairman the party apologizes for any inconvenience the postponement may have caused  and wishes everyone a safe and fun-filled Summer Festival.

The Festival officially opens July 30.

Three other political parties including the Anguilla United Movement led by opposition MP and forme Chief Minister Hubert Hughes have confirmed that they will be fielding candidates in the next general elections.

The Anguilla Progressive Party (APP) is led by young businessman Brent Davis while former House Speaker Roy Rogers and ex-Permanent Secretary Julian Harrigan have been linked with the Anguilla Democratic Party, a political grouping formerly led by the now Finance Minister Victor Banks who is expected to be confirmed as party leader of the AUF following an announcement recently by Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming that he will not be contesting the 2010 general elections.