The Anguillian
Dear Mr. Editor:

GENERAL ELECTION OBSERVATIONS

For the very first time I found it possible to make comparisons between two separate general elections in the Caribbean, and I came away with a feeling that one of them was far better, more organised, less contentious and, I would venture to say, very fair.

Permit me to say that my ancestry has its roots in St. Kitts-Nevis, and I have had some relatives who sojourned in Anguilla for some time before taking up residence in the United States like my other family in the above two islands. It means therefore that I am interested in the affairs of all three islands, and took the opportunity to visit each of them recently.

I was in St. Kitts several weeks ago, just in time for the general election there. I did not go to vote as I was not registered, but took the opportunity to be an observer on my own. To be quite frank, what I saw and heard made me feel that there was much to be desired in terms of organization. It was alleged that people traveled from other constituencies to vote in other constituencies, causing much stir in some of the lines. Another matter that made me uncomfortable was that there was so much animosity in the queues among different party supporters that one had to be brave to stand in some of the lines. Somehow I just didn’t like the feeling and I was glad that I was not in the rows.

When I came to Anguilla to see the island, it was also a few days before the election there. As I walked around the polling stations, out of curiosity, I sensed a completely different atmosphere. The lines were orderly, the polling stations were adequate and nobody appeared to be rowdy. Some either stood silently, awaiting their turn to vote, while many others freely chatted and joked. It was all in my view a very relaxing atmosphere. I felt like joining them.

The outcome of the election in Anguilla, where an opposition group became the new government, is an indicator that the polling was free and fair. From what I saw, the electioneering was strictly and painstakingly organized and supervised, given perhaps a few odd glitches in the system. Any country where a government comes to office as a result of a mandate of the people in free and fair elections must be proud and I think Anguilla and its government have reason for pride.

I wish the people of Anguilla including my acquaintances the very best for the future.

Joseph M. Brown
Wisconsin
USA

PS I like your souvenir stamps

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