STATEMENT:
The Evangelical Association and the Anguilla Christian Council condemn the disrespectful statements that were made about the Hon. Chief Minister of Anguilla Mr. Hubert Hughes at a public meeting over the weekend.The Chief Minister was referred to as “a lunatic” at a meeting of the Anguilla United Front which was held in the vicinity of the Tyre Shop in George Hill on Saturday evening, 4th May 2013. The word “lunatic” was used several times by Mr. Curtis Richardson in reference to the Hon. Chief Minister. At another meeting held by the Anguilla United Front some months ago, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Evan McNeil Rogers referred to the Hon. Chief Minister as a “Jack Donkey”. We, the members of the clergy, find this type of language distasteful and disrespectful.
Let there be no doubt that we are also concerned about outrageous and unbecoming language directed at persons by the Hon. Chief Minister and Members of his Cabinet. We would like for all disrespectful language and rhetoric to be discontinued. We are not partisan and will not take a partisan position. As clergy in this Christian society, we expect better behaviour of our citizens generally, especially citizens who offer themselves for political leadership.At a time when many of us are very concerned about lawlessness and general disrespect in our society, better behavior is expected of our politicians and political aspirants. Society, in general, and our youth, in particular, are looking to our leaders to set the moral and ethical tone for our island. Hence, we condemn this behavior by our politicians and political aspirants.
May God continue to guide us as we aspire to higher moral and ethical standards on Anguilla.
THE ANGUILLA UNITED FRONT (AUF)
PRESS RELEASE:
Firstly, let it be known that the AUF has always maintained and will continue to maintain an excellent relationship with the ACC and the EA. The statement issued by the ACC and the EA was in reference to two (2) specific words used by two (2) members of the AUF, the Hon Evans McNiel Rogers and Mr. Curtis Richardson in reference to the Chief Minister. The members of the AUF take on board the comments in the Press Release.
The AUF also remains firm in its belief that the office of the Chief Minister must not only be respected by citizens and everyone else, but likewise by each holder of that said office in what he/she says or does. The question we pose is: Does our current Chief Minister, Hon. Hubert Hughes, respect the high office which he now holds? We also ask the question: Does the Chief Minister have respect and show respect for the people of Anguilla in general and to public and private sector officials with whom he has to interact and undertake various transactions in discharging the functions and duties?
Over the last 3 ¼ years, all of Anguilla has been bombarded with demeaning, derogatory, insulting and offensive statements made by the Chief Minister, his members of Government and his key supporters against senior civil servants, the Governor, the Attorney General, the Deputy Governor, investors, teachers, ordinary citizens and certainly not least of all, the members of the Anguilla United Front. Many such statements were made in the House of Assembly (in which there is immunity from prosecution for statements made) and in the general media.
No derogatory statement should be acceptable, whether it is against the Chief Minister, a member of the Anguilla United Movement, a member of the Anguilla United Front or the ordinary man and woman in Anguilla. Respect must be due all persons, regardless of who they are and where they come from. We have a choice always to vigourously disagree on issues. Demeaning, unfair, excessive and false verbal attacks should be condemned consistently and without bias and with even-handedness.
The attack on the teachers should have been condemned. The personal attacks on Mr. Rogers should have been condemned, as well as many other statements made by members of the AUM/APP Government over the last few years.
What we in the AUF would like to pursue is the opportunity to usher in a new era, a new age where offensive, derogatory statements about people, their characters and family members are a thing of the past. Our focus should be on the actions and/or inactions of our Government of the day and other persons; their abilities, strengths and weaknesses. The AUF has requested a meeting with both the ACC and the EA to discuss these matters in greater detail.
God Bless You and God Bless Anguilla.
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I do feel constrained to respond to the above since over the few years well, the response of the churches to its call on Anguilla is a disgrace. Indeed, it must be a matter for grave concerned that, at a time when conditions are so hard and such destabilization on Anguilla, with so many people unemployed and reports of more to come, with continual moral decline all around - the Christian Council here on Anguilla virtually ignored all our plight and focuses its attention on such frivolity... not even a “national day of prayer” came to its thought - that is indeed disturbing. And as strong as its position on Curtis Richardson’ in-depth assessment about our Hon. Chief Minister, for their grave omission which propelled societal decline, there are those in the public who are much harsher in their criticism of the church – it moral judgment is questionable.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to examine the Christian Council’s hypocrisy hindering its progress and effectiveness with a view to making suggestions for it to deal with them, and for it to re-position itself to once again becoming that strong moral and religious force that it can be, and, indeed, is required for ministry in these hard times.
It is no shadow of doubt that a fundamental lack of unity within the Christian fold on Anguilla is the main reason why the council not nearly as effective, which is expected, in a nation which claims to be Christian - efforts must be made to involve all Christian bodies.
Indeed, there are several denominations which are not a part of, disassociate themselves or not active therein, which in itself speaks volumes. It makes the authority of the council, especially when it comes to the major socio-economic and moral issues facing Anguilla, not nearly as powerful and persuasive as it should be. If the Christian Council on Anguilla is to regain the respect it deserves, then greater unity and better communication is essential, starting with a "national day of prayer", not Wolves-in-Sheep-clothing politics.
There are too much of them Politrickers already suited in similar outfits.
Wilful