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 11th
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 7th, 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
If we had referendums before, why can't we have them now?
ReplyDeleteBut were those Referendum legitimate? I know they are precedent setting but there is the issue of legitimacy.
ReplyDelete