ANGUILLA MULLS CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

The new government of Anguilla has placed constitutional reform as one of its top policy issues and is establishing a constitutional review commission to lead the process.

This disclosure was made by Hon. Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge of the ruling Anguilla United Front government during a recent press conference with several members of her cabinet.

Mrs Richardson-Hodge became the first female premier of that UK Overseas Territory when her Anguilla United Front (AUF) party won 8 of the 11 electable seats in the February 26th elections this year. There are 13 seats in the Anguilla House of Assembly comprised of 7 members in single-seat constituencies, 4 members representing the island at-large and 2 ex officio members.

“As many of you know, Anguilla has the first constitution of all the Overseas Territories,” she said, referring to the 1967 constitution following Anguilla’s breakaway from the then pre-independence federation with St Kitts and Nevis, which was governed from St Kitts.

Anguilla had seceded, citing a combination of heavy-handed treatment and being ignored by the ruling administration headquartered in St Kitts and opted instead for direct ties with the UK under the then Colonial Office.

There have been several amendments to the Anguilla constitution since then, the most recent being in 2019.

According to Premier Richardson-Hodge, “Under my leadership, the Anguilla United Front was able to progress constitutional reform by way of an amendment to the constitution.” (During that period she was the leader of the AUF political party, with Victor Banks as Chief Minister. He subsequently became Premier).

Among the constitutional changes in 2019 were the designation of the leader of government from Chief Minister to Premier, the introduction of at-large seats, and changes to the requirements to attain citizenship status.

While Premier Richardson-Hodge did not indicate her administration’s priorities or preferences for constitutional reform, she did offer this perspective: “We have to progress with full-fledged constitutional reform. It is interesting because at this same time as well, many of the Overseas Territories are also revisiting their constitutional status and are seeking greater self internal government. And so too we in Anguilla are along the same path.”

It is understood that shifting some of the powers vested in the British-appointed Governor to the local government is one area that has been the point of discussion locally. Once installed, the constitutional review commission is expected to engage in extensive consultations both in Anguilla, with the diaspora, and with the British government before submitting its report and recommendations. That would then be followed by in-depth negotiations between the Anguillan and British governments.

No timeframe has yet been indicated by the government of Anguilla within which it would like to see constitutional reforms realised.