A number of leading persons in the public and private sectors sat in rapt attention and with much interest as they listened to the Fifth Annual Walter G. Hodge Memorial Lecture at the House of Chandeliers on Tuesday evening, June 6. The presenter was Justice Don Mitchell, CBE, QC, Chairman of the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission.

Justice Don Mitchell

The annual lecture is part of the Anguilla Day celebrations. It calls to memory the late Walter G. Hodge, who served as the Chairman of the Peace-keeping Committee from May 31, 1967, the day after the Anguilla Revolution began. It gives lecturers an opportunity to examine various broad issues touching the political, social and economic life of the island as they reflect on the past and look to the future. The lecture is sponsored each year by the Anguilla Social Security Office whose Director, Timothy Hodge, is one of the children of the late Mr. Hodge and coordinates the delivery of the lecture.

Mr. Timothy Hodge

Justice Mitchell, a committed researcher in the rich history of Anguilla, presented a scholarly paper in which he traced the modern history of the island dating back to its settlement in 1650. He used the occasion to speak about the march of events through the years as the political and constitutional life of the island began its journey at an early turbulent and difficult time dominated by French invasions and abject poverty. Through his historical narrative he painted a bleak situation when 17th and 18th century Governors described Anguilla to the London authorities as “Tis not worth keeping”, “Tis fit for little but goats” and “a barren rocky island… and of small consequence.” The Anguilla of today, blessed by prosperity and its own elected Government, is a far cry from what it was in those formative years.

Cross-section of attendees at lecture

Mr. Mitchell spoke about Anguilla’s annexation with St. Kitts in 1825 and the uneasy relationship that persisted with the Anguillians petitioning for separation in 1825, 1872, 1958 and eventually taking control of their own affairs in 1967. Guided by the current work of his Commission, he related that from that year until now, there had been six Constitutions written for the island with the amending of the 1982 document in 1990 under which Anguilla is now being administered. He spoke about the work of the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Committee under the chairmanship of David Carty between 2001 and 2005 and that of the new Commission appointed in January 2006 with him as Chairman.

Cross-sections of attendees at the lecture

Reporting on the work of his Commission so far, Justice Mitchell gave the following information: “Consultation with the public was extensive and unremitting. We prepared draft proposals for constitutional reform based on the work of the earlier Committee. These draft proposals were circulated widely. We handed out copies at all public and private meetings. We posted them in full on the Commission’s website. The papers and the issues raised in them were the subject of discussion on the website and at all public and private meetings.

“…Although attendance at public meetings has been disappointing, members of the public in private meetings have indicated general satisfaction with the transparent way in which the Commission has worked. The drafts have gone through a number of evolutions as comments came in. The revised drafts were repeatedly published and discussed publicly. The latest drafts together with any further comments and recommendations received from the public will form the basis of the Commission’s final Report.

Cross-sections of attendees at the lecture

“The Commission agreed early in its deliberations that it would make every effort to meet the six-month target given to us. For planning purposes we set an initial deadline of four months to review all the issues, prepared discussion papers, seek the reaction of the public and make a final report. In the event, it has become necessary to extend the time we are giving ourselves. It now looks as though we will not be ready to present our final Report until late in June.”

Justice Mitchell’s presentation was well received and resulted in some interesting questions and answers.

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