Anguillan general election, 2005
Encyclopedia
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 seats.
, became Chief Minister of Anguilla
. In May 2004 the leadership of the opposition passed from Hubert Hughes, leader of the Anguilla United Movement
party, to Edison Baird, leader of the Anguilla Strategic Alliance
. This came after one member of the House of Assembly, Albert Hughes, changed parties.
The House of Assembly has 11 members. Seven members are directly elected by the Plurality voting system
while the other four members are appointed. One of the appointed members is chosen by the governing party, while the other three are appointed by the Governor of Anguilla
, with one of the three appointments being made in consultation with the opposition.
The governing Anguilla United Front
stood based on the development they had brought over the past five years, including the island's first 18 hole golf course
, the renovation of Wallblake Airport
and plans for a luxury hotel. Osbourne Fleming claimed that the developments would bring jobs and had made Anguilla significantly different to how it had been five years before.
Three opposition parties, the Anguilla Strategic Alliance, Anguilla United Movement and Anguilla Progressive Party
fielded candidates. Opposition leader Edison Baird of the Anguilla Strategic Alliance said that the government had not been open enough in explaining how the development project would benefit ordinary Anguillans. Opposition parties also criticised tax concessions given to the company who would be building the luxury hotel.
s who sought re-election kept their seats in the election. The only change took place in Valley North where the previous representative, Eric Reid, stood down and was succeeded by Evans McNeil Rogers.
. Following the election, Albert Hughes, left the Anguilla Strategic Alliance and joined the government. This meant the opposition was evenly split between the Anguilla Strategic Alliance and the Anguilla United Movement, so the Governor did not appoint a Leader of the Opposition
.
Anguilla
Anguilla is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the Caribbean. It is one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, lying east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and directly north of Saint Martin...
on 21 February 2005 to elect the seven elected seats in the House of Assembly
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:...
. The 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....
, an alliance 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 :**...
and the Anguilla Democratic Party
Anguilla Democratic Party
The Anguilla Democratic Party 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:*...
, won the election retaining four of the elected seats.
Background
In the 2000 Anguillan general election the governing Anguilla United Party was defeated by a coalition of the Anguilla National Alliance and the Anguilla Democratic Party. Together the two parties won four of the seven elected seats and the leader of the Anguilla National Alliance, 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...
, became Chief Minister of Anguilla
Chief Minister of Anguilla
-List of Chief Ministers of Anguilla:...
. In May 2004 the leadership of the opposition passed from Hubert Hughes, leader of the Anguilla United Movement
Anguilla United Movement
The 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....
party, to Edison Baird, leader of the Anguilla Strategic Alliance
Anguilla Strategic Alliance
The Anguilla Strategic Alliance is a political party in Anguilla.At the last elections, 21 February 2005, the party won 19.2 % of popular votes and 2 out of 7 elected seats....
. This came after one member of the House of Assembly, Albert Hughes, changed parties.
The House of Assembly has 11 members. Seven members are directly elected by the Plurality voting system
Plurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
while the other four members are appointed. One of the appointed members is chosen by the governing party, while the other three are appointed by 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...
, with one of the three appointments being made in consultation with the opposition.
Campaign
Towards the end of January 2005 Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming announced that the election would be held on the 21 February, with nominations required by the 8 February. A record 25 candidates put themselves up for election by the 7,560 eligible voters.The governing 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....
stood based on the development they had brought over the past five years, including the island's first 18 hole golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
, the renovation of Wallblake Airport
Anguilla Wallblake Airport
The Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport is a small international airport located on the island of Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. It is located very close to The Valley, the island's capital. Wallblake Airport is also a featured airport in one of the Flight Simulator X...
and plans for a luxury hotel. Osbourne Fleming claimed that the developments would bring jobs and had made Anguilla significantly different to how it had been five years before.
Three opposition parties, the Anguilla Strategic Alliance, Anguilla United Movement and Anguilla Progressive Party
Anguilla Progressive Party
The 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....
fielded candidates. Opposition leader Edison Baird of the Anguilla Strategic Alliance said that the government had not been open enough in explaining how the development project would benefit ordinary Anguillans. Opposition parties also criticised tax concessions given to the company who would be building the luxury hotel.
Results
All 6 incumbentIncumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
s who sought re-election kept their seats in the election. The only change took place in Valley North where the previous representative, Eric Reid, stood down and was succeeded by Evans McNeil Rogers.
Aftermath
The day after the election was declared a national holiday and the four elected members of the Anguilla United Front were sworn into government by the Governor Alan HuckleAlan Huckle
Alan Edden Huckle is a British colonial administrator. He was the commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory and the British Antarctic Territory from 2001 until 2004, when he left to become the governor of Anguilla in the Caribbean...
. Following the election, Albert Hughes, left the Anguilla Strategic Alliance and joined the government. This meant the opposition was evenly split between the Anguilla Strategic Alliance and the Anguilla United Movement, so the Governor did not appoint a Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition
The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government...
.