THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Jan 29 – Elections Supervisor Colville L. Petty in a radio address here on Friday said the use of cell phones, cameras or any form of recording equipment is “strictly prohibited within the polling stations.”

During the January 25 poll in neighboring St. Kitts and Nevis, a woman on the island Nevis was arrested and charged for breaching the electoral rules banning  the use of cell phones, cameras or any form of recording equipment  within the polling stations.

In a radio broadcast outlining the key electoral laws and procedures Petty also stated that the police will ensure that between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on election day February 15, 2010  no persons will be allowed to assemble or congregate within 100 yards of any polling station.

However, the Supervisor of Election explained that this rule does not apply to persons who are waiting to cast their votes and who are, in fact, part of the queue with other voters also waiting to cast their votes.

” If people want to congregate they may do so outside of the 100 yards limit.  Petty also disclosed that during the hours when the polls are open, no persons on any public road or in any public place within 100 yards of a polling station seek to influence any person to vote for any candidate, or to determine for which candidate any person intends to vote or has voted.

” Candidates and their agents, in particular, are advised to stay away from the queue of voters. They are advised to refrain from interfering with persons who are waiting in the queue to cast their votes,” Petty said in his radio broadcast, almost two weeks before the people of Anguilla vote in general elections.

The Elections Supervisor, who has hinted at giving up the job after the February 15 poll, also said that section 70 of the Elections Act in Anguilla makes provision for every employer to allow every voter they employ a reasonable period for voting, and that no employer should make any deduction from the pay or other remuneration of any such voter, or impose upon him or her any penalty by reason of his or her absence, during that period.

“I wish to  make it abundantly clear that employers must give their employees reasonable time to exercise their democratic right. Failure to do so could result in imprisonment for six months or the payment of a fine of $20,000.”

Petty is encouraging people to vote early, noting that “persons arriving at polling stations after 7 p.m. will not be permitted to join the queue of voters and thus will not be allowed to vote.”

The electoral law makes provision for candidates to appoint agents to observe the proceedings, at the polling stations, on their behalf.

A little over eight thousand persons are registered to vote in the upcoming.   Twenty candidates including three independents will be competing for the seven electoral seats in the Anguilla House of Assembly.

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Jan 29 -Outgoing Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming  of Anguilla has sent a congratulatory message to the government and people of St Kitts and Nevis  and the return to office for a fourth consecutive five-year for the St Kitts and Nevis Labor Party headed by Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas.

Fleming, in his letter dated January 27, 2010,  further stated “the fact that your government has been victorious for a fourth consecutive term is testament to the overwhelming confidence which the people of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis continue to repose in your administration.”

“As our region continues to grapple with the effects of the global financial crisis, I am confident that your strong leadership with the support of your colleagues will see your country through these tough economic times,” Fleming added.

The Anguillian leader announced  last year that he was quitting active politics after the February 15 general elections here.  His Finance Minister Victor Banks has taken over the  leadership of the incumbent Anguilla United Front (AUF) party.

Anguilla was a former member of the tri-state of St Kitts Nevis and Anguilla but formally severed political and administrative links with the other two islands in 1980 following consultations with the British government.   Bermuda, in  the Atlantic Ocean, also continues to maintain strong ties with the UK.

Police have objected to Ross being granted bail. However, Ross “will be taken before the District ‘C’ presiding Magistrate as soon as reasonably practicable for a bail hearing”.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – A Guyanese woman has been arrested and charged for using a cell phone inside a polling booth during Monday’s general election in St Kitts and Nevis.

Police said Joylyn Ross was formally charged without a warrant for two offences: using a cell phone in a polling booth and entering a polling station booth carrying a cell phone.

“The offences were committed at the Ivor Walters Primary School at Brown Hill in Electoral District Nevis (9) on Monday 25th January 2010 where police arrested Ross and took her into police custody at the Charlestown Police Station where she arrived at 9:10am under arrest,” a police statement said.

It added that further investigations revealed that the woman’s immigration status had not been regularised.

Police have objected to Ross being granted bail. However, Ross “will be taken before the District ‘C’ presiding Magistrate as soon as reasonably practicable for a bail hearing”.

Investigations are still ongoing.

The Concerned Citizens Movement won two of the three seats up for grabs on Nevis, with the other going to the Nevis Reformation Party. The St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party emerged victorious at the polls winning six of the 11 elected seats in the National Assembly. The People’s Action Movement won the other seat.

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Jan 28 – Supervisor of Elections Colville L. Petty says anyone who is caught violating the electoral laws  of Anguilla and is convicted could be jailed or be asked to pay heavy fines.

In a press release issued here on Thursday Petty sounded a strong warning. He said, for example, that impersonation (where a voter applies for a ballot paper in the name of another person, whether that name is the name of a person living or dead, or is a fictitious person) is punishable by imprisonment for two years.

Petty also explained that if any person who, having voted once at any election, applies at the same election for a ballot paper in his own name is guilty of impersonation and a two-year term of imprisonment.

Petty.

The Supervisor of Elections is cautioning persons against voting twice, or even try and repeated his caution not to vote in someone’s name, whether the name is that of the living or the  dead or wholly made up.

Petty also reminded the public of the serious consequences of bribery, treating or undue influence. He said any person who is convicted of this offence could receive a prison term of six months or a fine of EC $19,200.

The Supervisor of Electoral also warned that any person who is convicted of bribery, treating, undue influence or impersonation, or of aiding, counselling or procuring the commission of the offence of impersonation shall, in addition to any other punishment, be disqualified during a period of seven years from the date of the conviction from being  registered as a voter or of voting at any election; and elected or appointed a member of the Assembly or, if elected or appointed before his conviction, of retaining his seas as such a member.

Highlighting what constitutes treating Petty said persons should be mindful of Section 74 of the Elections Act which states that any person who corruptly, by himself or by any other person, before, during or after an election, directly or indirectly, gives or provides or pays, wholly or in part, the expenses of giving or providing any food, drink, entertainment or provision to or for any person for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person, or any other person, to vote or to refrain from voting at the election, is guilty of treating.

Petty further outlined that any voter who corruptly accepts or takes the food, drink, entertainment provided in this manner is also guilty of treating.   He concluded by saying that “no one will be allowed to break the law with impunity.”

Petty has been Supervisor of Elections in Anguilla  since 1989 and has hinted at giving up the job after the February 15 general elections here.

As campaigning here for the February 15 general election moves into its last two weeks, two of the three political parties have announced plans to meet with Anguillians in two neighbouring islands.

Chairman of the incumbent Anguilla United Front (AUF) Fritz Smith said the party representatives and officials will be holding a series of meetings in St Thomas, United States Virgin Islands over the next few days.

Scores of Anguillians reside in the US Virgin Islands, especially St Thomas  and still maintain strong links to their homeland.

The AUF recently held a series of political meetings in neighbouring French and Dutch St Maarten which is also home a large proportion of Anguillian citizens.

Finance Minister Victor F. Banks Jr., is leading the AUF for the first time following a decision by outgoing Chief Minister Osbourne B. Fleming to quit active politics.   Also joining Fleming in retirement are his Infrastructure and Works Minister Kenneth Harrigan and Parliamentary Secretary Albert Hughes.

Meanwhile, the Anguilla United Movement (AUM) headed by former Chief Minister Hubert Hughes has announced that it will be meeting in Anguillians in St Maarten on Saturday.

Hughes confirmed the meeting and also disclosed that it was important to touch base with Anguillian nationals in St Maarten to share with them the AUM’s plans and programmes in the run up to the February 15 poll.

The Anguilla Progressive Party (APP), the youngest of the three political entities, is the third party in the race and it is spearheaded by businessman Brent Davis.

Three independent candidates -educator Terry Harrigan, telecommunications entrepreneur and businessman Kennedy Hodge and  former Cable and Wireless (LIME) Executive Sutcliffe Hodge are also contesting the general election.

A little over eight thousand people are registered to cast their ballots on election day.  Several electoral seats are stake.   Only the AUF is fielding a full slate of seven candidates.  Both the AUM and the APP are contesting five seats.

Dr Denzil Douglas was sworn-in as PM at a brief ceremony Wednesday morning.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – For the fourth time in his decorated political career, Dr Denzil Douglas was sworn in as the prime minister of St Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, calling for healing in the twin-island federation after a bruising general election campaign.

“The campaign has been hard, it has been very trying and testing, it has been bruising…I ask that the healing process begin today. We must recognise each of us as our brother’s keeper,” said Douglas after taking the Oath of Allegiance, the Oath of Office.

He also received his Instruments of Appointment during a brief ceremony at Government House presided by High Court judge Justice Francis Belle.

Douglas, 57, led his St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) to a fourth consecutive five-year term by winning six of the 11 seats in the National Assembly at Monday’s poll. The People’s Action Movement won the two other seats on St Kitts, while the Concerned Citizens Movement (two) and the Nevis Reformation (one) split the seats on Nevis.

“Let us make sure that we can use this victory in consolidating our efforts to realise the programmes and policies of the party that they would embrace every, single person,” the Prime Minister told the ceremony that was attended by other victorious SKNLP candidates.

He called on the people of the federation, regardless of political affiliation, to accept the outcome of the election and work in the national interest.

“I ask that God give me the wisdom, give me the strength and health to pursue the task that lies ahead. I say to the people of this country: I cannot do it alone, my team cannot do it alone, it takes the support of all of us.”

Douglas, who has been Prime Minister since 1995, singled out public servants, calling on them to raise the level of service that they provide to the public.

“I want to give a special challenge to our public servants to ensure that we continue to work hard, serve the interests of our citizens. There have been several complaints of complacency.

“It is clear that the Public Sector Reform exercise needs to be pursued much more vigorously under new leadership. We want to insist that we discharge our duties fearlessly. Let us make sure that we serve every person in this country,” he added.

All three political leaders have expressed confidence that their candidates will perform creditably in the upcoming poll next month. *Photo credit: www.keepmiddletownbeautiful.com

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, CMC – A total of 20 candidates, including three independents, on Thursday filed the necessary nomination papers with election officials in Anguilla confirming  their participation in the February 15 general election.

The incumbent Anguilla United Front (AUF), headed for the first time by Finance Minister Victor Banks, is the only political party fielding a full slate of seven candidates. Banks has replaced outgoing Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming who announced last year that he is quitting active politics after almost three decades.

Both the Anguilla United Movement (AUM), led by ex-Chief Minister Hubert Hughes, and the Anguilla Progressive Party (APP), spearheaded by businessman Brent Davis, are fielding candidates in five of the seven electoral districts on the island.

The three independent candidates are former Cable and Wireless (Lime) Telecommunications Executive Sutcliffe Hodge, educator Terrence Harrigan and  businessman and telecommunications service provider  Kennedy Hodge.

Harrigan and Kennedy Hodge are two of the five candidates listed to contest the seat in District one  (Island Harbor) in the island’s northernmost village. Also vying for the seat being vacated by the outgoing Communications and Works Minister Kenneth Harrigan are community development worker Othlyn Vanterpool of the AUF, ex-national cricketer and fisherman Samuel Webster (AUM) and attorney at law  Pam Webster (AUF).   A sixth candidate from the Island Harbor district building contractor and pastor Joshua Hodge quit the race last week and has since  thrown his support behind Webster.

All three political leaders have expressed confidence that their candidates will perform creditably in the upcoming poll next month.

Meantime,  Supervisor of Elections Colville Petty, a local historian and museum curator, said that ” things went well” on nomination day.  Petty indicated at the conclusion of the formal registration of the candidates that ” we will be definitely ready on February 15”.   He said that some training was still ongoing for members of his team ahead of the poll.

Petty confirmed that 8,652 persons in seven electoral districts are registered to vote in the  general election compared to 7,558 five years ago.

District Four — which includes a large chunk of the capital The Valley and its environs  -  has the highest number of registered voters 1,789, followed by the Valley North constituency (District 3) with 1,655 and the Road South constituency (District 6)  1,371.

During the last election in 2005, 25 candidates were nominated to contest the poll, including 11 new candidates. In 2010, according to elections officials, eight new candidates have been nominated.

Voter turnout five years ago was 74 per cent.

Three of the independent candidates have also signed the code of conduct. *Photo credit: www.yourhonor.com

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, CMC – The three main political parties hoping to field candidates in the February 15 general election have signed a Code of Conduct to govern their campaign.

The ruling Anguilla United Front (AUF), Anguilla United Movement (AUM) and the Anguilla Progressive Party (APP) signed the document that was prepared by the Anguilla Christian Council (ACC) and the Anguilla Evangelical Association (AEA).

It was presented to the parties during a special Church service “for divine guidance and peaceful elections”.

Three of the independent candidates have also signed the code of conduct.

The code calls on all candidates to refrain from engaging in character assassination and slander of any kind and not to permit anyone speaking on their platform to do so.

The 12 -point code also focuses on issues ranging from making grandiose promises that cannot be kept to not bribing voters. It also urges political parties to maintain the highest moral principles in keeping with Christian ethics during the campaign, on Election Day, and “especially if elected to form the government or to be part of the Anguilla House of Assembly”.

The church -brokered code of conduct also calls on politicians to promise to make a public declaration of all campaign contributions in excess of EC$5,000 (US$1,851) received from every individual, corporate donor or group.

The ANYC said that it has endorsed the "Follow the Future" political debates organised by the island's lone secondary school ahead of the February 15 general election. *Photo credit: www.gov.ai

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, CMC – The Anguilla National Youth Council (ANYC) said it is extremely disappointed that only one candidate turned up for the first in a series of political debates organised by the Literary and Debating Society of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School.

“While the Debating Society did receive correspondence from some candidates indicating that they would not be able to attend, the youth were still optimistic that the candidates would take some time out to be present at this historic occasion,” said the ANYC.

Only Wilmot Hodge of the opposition Anguilla Progressive Party (APP) was present for the debate and the NYC said that it “honestly hopes that the low participation of candidates in district 7 (West End area) is not reflective of the value placed on the concerns and the vote of young people”.

The ANYC said that it has endorsed the “Follow the Future” political debates organised by the island’s lone secondary school ahead of the February 15 general election.

Young people comprise 55 per cent of the population in Anguilla and the ANYC said the debates provide “an excellent opportunity for young people and candidates to interact and for young people to be informed of the candidate’s position … on the various issues”.

Meanwhile, the incumbent Anguilla United Front (AUF) has sought to clarify its decision for not participating in the first debate.

AUF chairman, Fritz Smith said that the party wrote the organisers last week indicating that it would participate in some of the debates.

Smith said that the AUF had informed the organisers that based on its schedule and campaign strategy, the party would be unable to participate in the debates from January 11-17.

He said while the AUF was also interested in the party leaders’ debate – involving the leaders of the AUF, APP and the Anguilla United Movement (AUM) –  it is disappointed “by the manner in which the district debates … is being politicised”

Smith criticised the debate organisers for not explaining why the AUF party was absent from Monday night’s debate.  He said the impression was given that the AUF was “boycotting the debates for the young people.

“We feel very aggrieved by this especially because our young people are caught in the middle of an unfortunate political maelstrom which is not of their making,” Smith said.

Meanwhile, veteran politician and AUM leader, Hubert Hughes said his party will have no problems with the political debates provided all the candidates in the seven electoral districts are involved.

The AUM leader said that the debates must also be on issues and “not on a manifesto.”

A little over 8,000 persons will be eligible to vote in the upcoming election, up from 7,556 in the 2005 poll. *Photo credit: plato-says.blogspot.com

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, CMC – The leader of the fledgling Anguilla Progressive Party (APP) is calling on voters here to give his party a chance to serve them and move the island in a new direction.

Brent Davis, a young businessman and former civil servant, is also appealing to the people of Anguilla to correct the mistakes of the past by voting for change.

With a general election scheduled for February 15, he has further called on the electorate to reject the incumbent Anguilla United Front (AUF) of outgoing Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming and its main challenger, the Anguilla United Movement (AUM) of veteran politician Hubert Hughes.

“The AUM and AUF are centred on the personalities of their leaders, it is all about them. The APP is a team and not a party of one,” Davis said in a prepared statement following Tuesday night’s election announcement.

Davis said the party was conceived “out of the cries” of the people.

“We heard your cries and in 2004 we responded by creating the Anguilla Progressive Party,” he said.

While stating that the island had come a long way since the Ronald Webster-led 1967 Anguilla revolution, the APP leader said the people of the tiny Caribbean island were now living in an information and technology age and in need of new leaders to take them forward.

Since the start of the election campaign 12 months ago, the APP has made the economy, transparency and good governance its major campaign pillars.

“What more can the leaders of the AUM and the AUF do for you and your children now, that they could not do in 30 or 40 years in office?” asked Davis.

The APP leader contended that “it is time to make a clean break with the politics of the past, the politics of division, greed and nepotism.

“It is time for a new era of politics in Anguilla.”

With Fleming preparing to quit active politics, the AUF is being led for the first time by Finance Minister Victor Banks.

A little over 8,000 persons will be eligible to vote in the upcoming election, up from 7,556 in the 2005 poll.

Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming. *Photo credit: gov.ai

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, CMC – Voters in this British Overseas Territory will go to the polls on February 15 to elect a new government.

Retiring Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming announced the date for the general election during a public meeting of the ruling Anguilla United Front (AUF) party in the village of Blowing Point, south of heret on Tuesday night.

“Tonight I take great pleasure in advising you that by the help of God, because we don’t know what could happen, elections in Anguilla will be on the 15th of February 2010,” Fleming told cheering supporters and party officials.

During the final sitting of the Anguilla House of Assembly on Monday, the leader of government business said that he had discussions with Governor Alistair Harrison about the dissolution of parliament on Wednesday paving the way for general elections here.

Speculation had been rife in recent weeks about a possible date for the election that was constitutionally due in March but could have been held as late as April or May 2010.
Fleming and two other senior members of the AUF-Communications and Works Minister Kenneth Harrigan and Parliamentary Secretary Albert Hughes – announced last year that they would not be contesting the next general election and would be stepping down from active politics.

The trio collectively had given almost 80 years of public service to the Anguillian community.

Finance Minister Victor Banks has replaced Fleming as leader of the incumbent AUF Party.

Shortly before parliament ended on Monday, Fleming told legislators he felt confident that his government’s five year contract with the people had been fulfilled.

“The people elected us for five years and five years it would be, that was my commitment that was my pledge,” Fleming said.

Two other political parties – the Anguilla United Movement (AUM) headed by veteran politician and former chief minister Hubert Hughes and the Anguilla’s Progressive Party (APP) led by businessman Brent Davis and at least four independent candidates have indicated that they will be contesting the elections.

In the 2005 general election, the AUF won five of the seven parliamentary seats; with the other two seats taken by Hughes and Edison Baird, who has been representing the Road North constituency for the last 15 years.