What Does Anguilla Referendum 2012 Have to Do With You?

What Is A Referendum?
A referendum is defined as a popular vote on a ballot question.  This means that the general public, who are eligible, vote on a matter brought to the public forum. Often, referendums are brought up by the government to gain popular approval of new or changed laws or legislation. Also referendums can be brought about to get a clear understanding of the public’s stance on certain matters. 

Legally, referendums cannot change existing laws or legislation. If a referendum is called for a pending or proposed law or piece of legislation, then the views and wishes of the voters can have a greater effect on the proposal. So what referendums can do is—Guide the process of changing legislation to fit the wishes of the people.

Referendums can also be used by governments as policy determinants.  What does this mean? Well, what it can mean is that if is claiming that the people feel one way about a matter, a referendum can be used to express their views a whole thus depending on what the voters say, a party’s stance can swayed, influenced, or completely changed.

The structure of the referendum question s usually very simple, for example, a straight forward yes or no question with very simple language to ensure that every voter can understand the issue being decided.

Generally, referendums require that the majority of eligible voters participate and for a measure to pass, then a clear majority must vote in favour. A clear majority is often considered to be 2/3 of the participating voters. If a clear majority is not reached then the question is put aside to be decided again at another time.

Referendums are also one of the best ways to illustrate direct democracy. With referendums the voice of the people is heard directly by the government. There can be no arguing or misunderstanding when what the majority of the people want is so clearly expressed.

Also for a referendum to be supported by the UN, it is a standard requirement for a majority of the eligible voters to cast their ballot and a motion is passed only when there is a clear majority in favour of the motion, generally speaking a clear majority is 55.5% or more.

Referendums In Anguilla

History of Referendums in Anguilla

Referendums are not anathema to Anguilla. During the Anguillan Revolution, two referendums were called and used as calls to action by the Anguillan people in their pursuit of self-determination. 

 In 1967, when the British Empire was transforming into the Commonwealth, Anguilla was officially established as an Overseas Territory in conjunction with St. Kitts and Nevis as the Associated State of  St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla with St. Christopher (Kitts) & Nevis in a politically & socially superior position.  As was established under colonial rule in 1824, St. Kitts was the political administrator to Anguilla and Nevis and Anguilla had only one (1) representative in the St. Kitts House of Assembly.

The people of Anguilla were very much against the continuing connection with St. Kitts & Nevis and so launched specific action against St. Kitts by forcibly removing the forces of St. Kitts from the island of Anguilla. In 1967, the tension between Anguillans and Kittians rose exponentially and resulted in the St. Kitts police forces in Anguilla (there to settle hostilities) were expelled from the island of Anguilla.

To settle the matter of secession from St. Kitts and Nevis in a democratic fashion, a referendum was held in Anguilla on July 11^th 1967. The results were 1,813 votes for secession and 5 against. The 1967 Referendum was a Foreign-Policy Referendum as the matter being decided was in direct relation to another nation. As a result of the referendum, a new legislative council was created and the Republic of Anguilla was created.

The second referendum, also a Foreign Policy Referendum, took place on February 7^th, 1969. Anguillans were asked again whether they wanted to secede from St. Kitts and it resulted in a vote of 1,739 to 4 against a political association with St. Kitts. Under an interim agreement with the British, Anguilla was able to secede. Anguillans were formally separated from St. Kitts in 1980.

The Anguilla that we know today was formed through democratic means using the Referendum process. The Referendum process is the best avenue available for direct democracy so the people can make real decisions on what is impacting their lives.

Refer to "Anguilla." African Caribbeans: A Reference Guide. Ed. Alan West-Duran. Westport: Greenwood Group, 2003. 1-13. Print. Pp7-9

Are Referendums Possible In Anguilla?

Of course, referendums are possible in Anguilla.  Though referendums are NOT currently enshrined, meaning written in, the Anguillan Constitution, there does not seem to be any difficulties presenting at the possibility of a referendum in Anguilla. The British Government via the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office state unequivocally, in the Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories (1999) report, that one of the main goals of British policy is Self-Determination for Overseas Territories. With that statement in mind, it is clear that there is no policy in place which would deny a referendum that is geared toward independence, secession, or sovereignty.  However, due to the current political state of Anguilla, there is need for approval from the British Governor Alistair Harrison before policy change can be effected. Of course, if the Constitution is amended to include the referendum option, then it would be the responsibility of the local government.

What Is Anguilla Referendum 2012?

The Anguilla Referendum 2012 will be YOUR OPPORTUNITY to effect positive change in Anguilla and make your voice heard AND respected.

Referendum questions should, as classified by the United Kingdom Electoral Commission (1999),
 

• be easy to understand

• be to the point

• be unambiguous
• avoid encouraging voters to consider one response more favourably than another
• avoid misleading voters

Types of Referendums

Types of Referendums

While there are many types of referendums, generally they can be divided into two large groups: Domestic Policy Referendums and Foreign Policy Referendums.

Domestic Policy Referendums are generally referendums that deal with changes to the nation’s Constitution or on whether the general public backs a potential law or even as a way for the public to provide approval for a decision made in government.

Foreign Policy Referendums are much broader in scope and more often utilised than Domestic Policy Referendums. Foreign Policy Referendums include Treaties (agreements between two or more countries), Declarations of War (military aggression towards another country), and Status Changes (including self-government, classification changes, and even independence).

Status Change Referendums are Foreign Policy Referendums because when a nation changes its status, the change doesn’t just affect the nation and its inhabitants, instead it affects the nation in relation to other nations.  If a nation goes from a territory to a commonwealth, it begs the questions “Who did the territory belong?” “What does being a member of the commonwealth entail?”  If the form of government changes, from democratic to socialist, how will that affect treaties currently in place? Thus Status Change Referendums are Foreign Policy because the "status" is in relation to other nations.