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Anguilla - Government

Anguilla’s executive authority is vested in Her Majesty, the Queen. The Government of the United Kingdom is responsible for Anguilla’s external relations, defense, and internal security.

The territory is governed as a Westminster-style parliamentary democracy. There is a unicameral legislature, with seven popularly-elected members of the House of Assembly. Elections are scheduled every five years, with the most recent having been held in 2015.

Anguilla participates in subregional, regional, and international organizations and forums. The country is an associate member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

When the West Indies Federation dissolved in 1961 and various attempts at a new federation failed, Britain formed the Windward and Leeward Islands Associated States. Under British law, associated states have full internal self-government, while Britain retains control of defense and external affairs. This meant full internal selfgovernment for the new association, including the unit of St. Kitts- Nevis-Anguilla.

When St. Kitts and Nevis became an individual associated state in 1967, a further step toward self-rule, Anguilhans attempted to dissociate themselves from that entity. Under the leadership of Ronald Webster, a local businessman and leader of Anguilla's only political party, the People's Progressive Party (PPP), Anguillians strongly objected to internal rule by St. Kitts. On May 30, 1967, the Anguillians evicted the St. Kitts police force and began to run their own affairs through a local council.

In the Anguilla Revolution of 1967, Anguilla expelled the St. Kitts Royal Police Force from the island. This bold move initiated the process of secession from the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis, a union the islanders had resisted from its inception. Thus began Anguilla's historic journey to self-determination, and charting her own path to prosperity, a nation proud, strong and free.

Anguilla held a referendum in which all but 5 of over 1,800 voters rejected continued ties with St. Kitts and Nevis. This overwhelming sentiment may have influenced the initial low-key British response aimed at negotiating a compromise. In 1969, however, Webster led a bid to secede from the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla union; the Anguillians made a "unilateral declaration of independence" under the "rebel" British flag.

Economic concerns were at the root of the 1969 secession. Anguillians claimed their island was the poor cousin of the union and received little from St. Kitts and Nevis. The Anguillians believed that colonial status meant a legal obligation on Britain's part to help with development aid. After attempts to repair the breach between St. Kitts and Anguilla failed, St. Kitts requested that Britain land troops on Anguilla. The British did so in March 1969 and installed a British commissioner. Britain reluctantly accepted Anguilla's request for a return to colonial status.

In July 1971, the British Parliament passed the Anguilla Act, which provided that should St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla decide to end its associated status, Anguilla could be separated from the other islands. As independence for St. Kitts and Nevis approached, Anguilla formally separated from the state.

Under the leadership of Revolutionary Leader and Anguilla's first Chief Minister and Father of the Nation, James Ronald Webster, negotiations over Anguilla's status continued for another decade, until on December 19th 1980, Anguilla became a British Overseas Territory, with some measure of autonomy in government.

The island became a British dependent territory in December 1980. In the late 1980s, it was still a separate dependency, an associated state administered under the terms of the British government's Anguilla Constitution Order of 1982. In accordance with this legislation, a new Constitution took effect in Anguilla on April 1, 1982. Britain also contributed considerable financial aid.

For two decades, the position of Chief Minister alternated between two political rivals: Ronald Webster of the People's Progressive Party, and Emile Gumbs of the Anguilla National Alliance. Several coalition governments were formed during this period as Anguillans sought to obtain total independence from Saint Kitts. The chief executive is now the Governor. In 1990, the position of Deputy Governor was created.

Until 1967, the only flag flown in Anguilla was the Union Jack of Great Britain. The 1967 revolution prompted the introduction of another flag, featuring two mermaids with a shell between them. This flag was sent by a group of Anguillians living in San Francisco and was hoisted when the Statehood flag was torn down. It was never really accepted and was soon replaced by the Three Dolphins flag, which immediately became popular and is still used by many People today, although unofficially. The three dolphins are coloured orange, to represent endurance unity and strength, and are in a circle for continuity. The flag has a white background, for peace and tranquility, with a turquoise-blue base representing the surrounding sea and also faith, youth and hope.

The 'Union Jack and the Three Dolphins flags were used for many years but there was a strong feeling that Anguilla should have its own official flag. A previous Governor of Anguilla, Mr. Brian Canty, suggested a new flag and drew sketches which were sent to London for approval by Her Majesty the Queen. The new flag, which was first hoisted on 30 May 1990, is a blue ensign with a Union Jack in the top left corner and a shield on the right side which shows three orange dolphins on a white background with a turquoise-blue base. The design thus incorporates affiliation to Britain and the Anguilla Three Dolphins flag.