Anguillan general election, 2010
Encyclopedia
The Anguillan general election was held on 15 February 2010. Seven seats in the Anguilla House of Assembly
were contested in the election.
The incumbent Chief Minister of Anguilla
Osbourne Fleming
chose to retire and not stand for election. Fleming is a member of the Anguilla National Alliance
, which is part of the ruling Anguilla United Front
(AUF), a conservative coalition
which won 4 of the 7 seats in the Assembly during the 2005 general election
.
The incumbent AUF was defeated, and former Chief Minister Hubert Hughes was sworn in to succeed Fleming as Chief Minister.
, who was also the leader of the Anguilla United Front (AUF), announced that he would not stand for re-election in the 2010 race. Two other members of the ruling AUF also announced their intent to retire as well - Parliamentary Secretary
Albert Hughes and Communications and Works Minister Kenneth Harrigan. Collectively, Fleming, Hughes and Harrigan had been active in Anguillan politics for more than 80 years. It was announced that Finance Minister
Victor Banks would succeed Fleming as the party leader of the AUF coalition.
According to the Consititution of Anguilla, the general election
was due to be held by March 2010. However, the election could have been postponed until as late as May or June 2010.
On Monday, January 4, 2010, the last day of the current Assembly, the leader of government business held talks with the Governor of Anguilla
, Alistair Harrison, concerning the dissolution of the legislative body to pave the way for new elections. That same day, Chief Minister Fleming told the Assembly that he felt that the previous five years of AUF in Anguilla had been a success, "The people elected us for five years and five years it would be, that was my commitment that was my pledge."
Retiring Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming
officially set February 15, 2010, as the date for the election during a public meeting
of the ruling Anguilla United Front
(AUF) in Blowing Point held on January 5, 2010. In his announcement, Fleming told supporters, "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."
Colville Petty, the supervisor of elections, reported that 8,652 voters were registered to vote in the seven electoral districts on the island. That marked an increase in voter registration
from the 2005 general election, when 7,558 people registered to vote. Electoral District Four, which includes parts of The Valley
, the capital of Anguilla, had the largest number of registered voters in the 2010 election, with a total of 1,789.
Anguilla House of Assembly
The House of Assembly of Anguilla has 11 members, 7 members elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies, 2 ex officio members and 2 nominated members. Anguilla has a multi-party system.-See also:...
were contested in the election.
The incumbent Chief Minister of Anguilla
Chief Minister of Anguilla
-List of Chief Ministers of Anguilla:...
Osbourne Fleming
Osbourne Fleming
Osbourne Berrington Fleming is a politician and the chief minister of Anguilla. He held that post from March 6, 2000, three days after the Anguilla United Front, a conservative coalition which included Fleming's Anguilla National Alliance won parliamentary elections, gaining at least 4 of the 7...
chose to retire and not stand for election. Fleming is a member of the Anguilla National Alliance
Anguilla National Alliance
The Anguilla National Alliance is a political party in Anguilla.At the last elections, 21 February 2005, the party was part of the Anguilla United Front, that won 38.9 % of popular votes and 4 out of 7 elected seats.- External links :**...
, which is part of the ruling Anguilla United Front
Anguilla United Front
The Anguilla United Front is an alliance of political parties in Anguilla.At elections, 21 February 2005, the alliance won 38.9 % of popular votes and 4 out of 7 elected seats....
(AUF), a conservative coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
which won 4 of the 7 seats in the Assembly during the 2005 general election
Anguillan general election, 2005
The 2005 Anguillan general election was held in Anguilla on 21 February 2005 to elect the seven elected seats in the House of Assembly. The Anguilla United Front, an alliance of the Anguilla National Alliance and the Anguilla Democratic Party, won the election retaining four of the elected...
.
The incumbent AUF was defeated, and former Chief Minister Hubert Hughes was sworn in to succeed Fleming as Chief Minister.
Election background
In 2009, the year before the election, Chief Minister Osbourne FlemingOsbourne Fleming
Osbourne Berrington Fleming is a politician and the chief minister of Anguilla. He held that post from March 6, 2000, three days after the Anguilla United Front, a conservative coalition which included Fleming's Anguilla National Alliance won parliamentary elections, gaining at least 4 of the 7...
, who was also the leader of the Anguilla United Front (AUF), announced that he would not stand for re-election in the 2010 race. Two other members of the ruling AUF also announced their intent to retire as well - Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
Albert Hughes and Communications and Works Minister Kenneth Harrigan. Collectively, Fleming, Hughes and Harrigan had been active in Anguillan politics for more than 80 years. It was announced that Finance Minister
Finance minister
The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances...
Victor Banks would succeed Fleming as the party leader of the AUF coalition.
According to the Consititution of Anguilla, the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
was due to be held by March 2010. However, the election could have been postponed until as late as May or June 2010.
On Monday, January 4, 2010, the last day of the current Assembly, the leader of government business held talks with the Governor of Anguilla
Governor of Anguilla
The Governor of Anguilla is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of Anguilla. The Governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government...
, Alistair Harrison, concerning the dissolution of the legislative body to pave the way for new elections. That same day, Chief Minister Fleming told the Assembly that he felt that the previous five years of AUF in Anguilla had been a success, "The people elected us for five years and five years it would be, that was my commitment that was my pledge."
Retiring Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming
Osbourne Fleming
Osbourne Berrington Fleming is a politician and the chief minister of Anguilla. He held that post from March 6, 2000, three days after the Anguilla United Front, a conservative coalition which included Fleming's Anguilla National Alliance won parliamentary elections, gaining at least 4 of the 7...
officially set February 15, 2010, as the date for the election during a public meeting
Meeting
In a meeting, two or more people come together to discuss one or more topics, often in a formal setting.- Definitions :An act or process of coming together as an assembly for a common purpose....
of the ruling Anguilla United Front
Anguilla United Front
The Anguilla United Front is an alliance of political parties in Anguilla.At elections, 21 February 2005, the alliance won 38.9 % of popular votes and 4 out of 7 elected seats....
(AUF) in Blowing Point held on January 5, 2010. In his announcement, Fleming told supporters, "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."
Colville Petty, the supervisor of elections, reported that 8,652 voters were registered to vote in the seven electoral districts on the island. That marked an increase in voter registration
Voter registration
Voter registration is the requirement in some democracies for citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed to vote in elections. An effort to get people to register is known as a voter registration drive.-Centralized/compulsory vs...
from the 2005 general election, when 7,558 people registered to vote. Electoral District Four, which includes parts of The Valley
The Valley, Anguilla
-Population:-References:...
, the capital of Anguilla, had the largest number of registered voters in the 2010 election, with a total of 1,789.
Candidates
Twenty candidates registered to contest the seven Assembly seats in the election. The nomination papers for all candidates were due on Thursday, January 21, 2010.- The Anguilla United FrontAnguilla United FrontThe Anguilla United Front is an alliance of political parties in Anguilla.At elections, 21 February 2005, the alliance won 38.9 % of popular votes and 4 out of 7 elected seats....
, the ruling coalitionCoalition governmentA coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
which controlled the majority of the seven seats in the Assembly since the 2005 election, fielded candidates in all seven constituencies. The AUF was the only political party which had a candidate in all seven races. The AUF will be led by Finance Minister Victor Banks, who replaced the retiring Osbourne Fleming as leader of the party.
- The opposition Anguilla United MovementAnguilla United MovementThe Anguilla United Movement is a political party in Anguilla.At the elections of 21 February 2005, the party won 19.4 % of popular votes and 1 out of 7 elected seats. They gained the majority in the election of 2010....
contested five constituencies. The party was headed by former Chief MinisterChief Minister of Anguilla-List of Chief Ministers of Anguilla:...
Hubert Hughes.
- The opposition Anguilla Progressive PartyAnguilla Progressive PartyThe Anguilla Progressive Party is a political party in Anguilla.At the last elections, 21 February 2005, the party won 9.5 % of the vote, but no seats....
also had candidates in five of the seven races. The APP was headed by Brent Davis, an Anguillan businessman.
- Three independents also ran as candidates for seats in the Assembly.