The life that I have
Is all that I have
And the life that I have
Is yours . . . .

Those words epitomise the man Watkins Hodge (Watko) for whom the bell tolled on Saturday 17th February. All Anguilla mourns his sad passing. He was a true philanthropist who spent his life doing good. He was a bed rock of economic and social support not only for the residents of the Stoney Ground and its surrounding areas but for people all across the island. He ran Caracasbaai Grocery and Stores as a people’s business. It was a business from which people gained much and from which Watko got very little, a true reflection of the kind of man he was.

He will be remembered mostly for his benevolence. He was kind to all but paid special attention to humble folk. Watko cared much for people like Calf, Took, Sonny, Garlo, Alpha, Fishy, Tucker, Deesi, Caloo, Fungi, Funto, Ali, Browne, Raymond, Ellor, Walzer, Sunkus, Cock, Sparrow, Larry, Kevin, Barry, Dougla and many more. He treated the boys of Stoney Ground as if they were his own and often times his business place took on the appearance of a day care centre for young boys. He provided many of them with work to help them to help themselves.

Watko was a people’s man who placed people’s interests before his interests, a principal quality of a good politician. But he did not like politics. And it was only after much prompting that he contested the Valley North seat for Webster’s AUM in the 1980 elections and won. However, following the collapse of the AUM Government, in less than a year, Watko called it quits. It is because of my special interest in politics and history, that I will remember him as the candidate who delivered the shortest campaign speech in Anguilla’s electoral history. Some say the speech lasted 30 seconds. Others say 15. But his wife, Melly, recalls him uttering only two words: “Remember Watko!” And his constituents certainly remembered him.

I will also remember him as the only candidate to win his seat in our legislature on the basis of one campaign speech. I recalled the night vividly. After speaking he went back in his shop where he continued serving his customers. I can still see him weighing some pigtail, and measuring sweet oil, for Hookey and then recording the transactions in an account book against Hookey’s name.

My knowledge of politics in Anguilla tells me that had Watko opted to stay in the political arena he would have been difficult to beat. As a matter of fact, he might have been in the House of Assembly until death, such was the high esteem in which he was held and the constant outpouring of love for him by people of all walks of life.

It was the high esteem in which he was held, and the enormity of the contribution which he made to Anguilla, economically and socially, that led to Iwandai Gumbs’ airing of Watko’s life story over Heart Beat Radio on Friday 16th February. It was a phenomenal tribute to a great son of the soil. Also, it was an excellent piece of radio journalism for which Iwandai should be loudly applauded. The idea, he said, was to give Watko his flowers not as a wreath after he had passed on, but as a bouquet while he was still alive. Regrettably, he was unable to hear what his people thought about him. He was on his way to an appointment with his maker.

Watko’s family should take much comfort from the fact that he will be greeted on the other side with: “Well done my good and faithful servant!” After all, he lived a most rewarding life: one of selfless service and of selfless giving. The Lord loveth a cheerful giver and he was certainly one of them. Watko we will see you in the sweet bye and bye.

At this point I change course to tell our opposition parties the same thing: see you in the sweet bye and bye. Reason? They too seemed to have passed on. They are doing nothing to indicate that they are among the living and not among the dead. There is not even the slightest hint of a pulse beat. They fail to cause the political thermometer to rise. They are as silent as tombstones. No public meetings. No public forums to educate and inform. No nothing.

I am a believer that where there is party politics there must be at least one strong and vibrant opposition party to make the ruling party accountable and to make it feel threatened. In so doing the ruling party is compelled to work in the best interest of the people. Where the opposition is weak the reverse is the case. Right now the United Front Government is unthreatened. None of the opposition parties has the structure, or a slate of candidates, in place to pose any serious threat to its existence. Their state of disorganisation and lack of preparedness to take on the mantle of government, should the opportunity arise, suggest that they are failing in their stewardship.

Elections are not constitutionally due until 2010, thus ample time for the opposition parties to engage in institutional development and in the building of public support. This is the time for them to speak out on the many issues affecting people and show that they care – that they have people’s interests at heart. I have heard Hubert Hughes championing the cause of the Santo Domingo workers at Flags Luxuries, but I am yet to hear our opposition parties taking a position in support of Anguillian workers there, some of whom were laid off, for a week, recently.

If the opposition parties are serious about forming the next government they got to do their political homework which includes organising themselves so that the electorate see them as effective instruments of social, economic and political advancement. They have to show people that they have a clear vision of where Anguilla should be heading and that their candidates have the requisite expertise for the realisation of that vision.

In contrast to the lackluster performance by the opposition parties, the Government, which has been under plenty fire over the past few weeks, is sparing no effort at improving its public image and at showing its readiness to continue leading the island forward. It has restarted its town hall meetings in keeping with what it says is its practice of participatory democracy and transparency. When it comes to transparency, Government has acceded to the people’s demand and has begun to open up itself to public scrutiny. To this end, it is now making the decisions of Executive Council public.

Government is also making itself more visible physically. For example, on Monday of this week its full ministerial crew was at the Viceroy project looking at a road problem and at the dust hazard which is making life difficult for residents of the area. Poor Maureen. When she thinks she is putting on cheek blush, it is dust blush instead. Same colour.

Government has gone all out on a public relations crusade. Last week its members, as group, were in church two days straight. They were at the Mt Fortune Seventh-day Adventist Church on Saturday 17th February in celebration of the second year of their new term in office. This is the church where Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming worships, and since he has returned to the Christian way of life he spares no effort in telling the world so. (He returned to the SDA fold on 26th November 2005 by admission on “Profession of Faith” which has the same effect as baptism by water.)

At the celebration service, Osbourne tried to convert all of his colleagues to the SDA faith. Except, of course, Kenneth Harrigan who is already saved. He told his colleagues that his church had a place for them, that it was the best place to be and that they should “look to Christ” for leadership.

The Government’s celebration of its second year in office continued on Sunday 18th February. Its members attended the service at the Ebenezer Methodist Church in the Valley. There is no doubt that Government could make much political capital from participating in such services because people will eventually regard it as a Christian government. Religion is one of the factors which determine how some people vote.

Indeed, Government is leaving no stone unturned in its determination to hold on to state power. This is a far cry from the inaction on the part of the opposition parties. If they fail to do their political homework it means that when the bell tolls after the 2010 elections it will have tolled for them.

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