The resignation on May 4 of Albert Hughes, Elected Representative for West End, from the Anguilla United Movement (AUM) which had two members in the House of Assembly, has led to the withdrawal of his support from his long-standing colleague, Opposition Leader Hubert Hughes.

As a consequence, Edison Baird, Elected Representative for Road North, was appointed Opposition Leader by Acting Governor Mark Capes on May 24, having received the transferred support of Albert Hughes in the Assembly.

Mr. Hughes (Albert) claimed that the AUM had become less supportive of him and inclined to support another candidate for next year’s elections, a matter denied by the party.

In an Instrument of Appointment to Mr. Baird, Mr. Capes stated that acting under section 40A of the Constitution of Anguilla it was his judgment that Baird was the leader of an opposition party whose numerical strength was greater than that of any such party in the Assembly.

He further said, in a press release, that his decision to revoke Mr. Hughes’ appointment as Leader of the Opposition followed confirmation that Albert Hughes had transferred his support in the House of Assembly to Mr. Baird. In addition Baird was willing to accept the appointment.

Meanwhile, in a letter to the Acting Governor, Baird informed him that the monthly allowance of EC$1,000 now due to him, as Leader of the Opposition, would be given to charity.

Commenting on the revocation of his appointment, Mr. Hubert Hughes said it had to do with a constitutional requirement and not with his actual qualification as a member of the Assembly, where he retains his seat. He hoped the people would not be puzzled by what happened and stated that he would “educate them in time as to the political significance of the situation.”

Mr. Edison Baird

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