Tuesday, 13 March 2012

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 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

2 comments:

  1. If we had referendums before, why can't we have them now?

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  2. DiscoverTheWorld11:52 am, March 29, 2012

    But were those Referendum legitimate? I know they are precedent setting but there is the issue of legitimacy.

    ReplyDelete