Government of Anguilla
The Anguilla House of Assembly Elections
Anguilla's History
Discovery
Quite possibly, this is exactly how Columbus described Anguilla when he discovered it during his second voyage in 1493; or, the French who first visited it in 1564. While there is some doubt as to whether or not Columbus did discover the island; there's also the question of who named the island -the Spaniards, who gave it the Amerindian name of "Malliouhana", because of its eel-like shape, or the first French.
While archaeological diggings and findings point to the presence of Arawaks [followed by Caribs who, history says, obliterated them in Anguilla, there's still no valid evidence to suggest that the island was really occupied by them some 2,500 years. 40 Arawak villages have been unveiled, the largest of which were at Island Harbour, Sandy Ground, Sandy Hill, Rendezvous Bay and Shoal Bay East.
It is, however, believed that the quite peaceful Arawaks slowly island hopped by raft or dugout canoe ail the way from the Orinoco region of South America. They could have. These skilled farmers and fishermen - who were also good at pottery making - could have used the island as their ceremonial centre, congregating here from time to time.
Colonisation
The first English settlers arrived from St Kitts - 70 miles to the southeast - in 1650. Quite possibly, the French laid claim to the island - because of their earlier arrival - and never gave up hope of taking it back, with attack after attack for almost a century and a half as highlighted below.
Attacks & Hardship
From the very start, it seemed that living on Anguilla was going to be very difficult for the settlers. In addition to frequent invasions, drought and famine made life and living very difficult:
Þ In 1656, Amerindians from a neighbouring island invaded, killing most of the men but keeping the women and children as slaves;
Þ In 1666, 300 Frenchmen attacked the island. Many terrorized settlers fled to the woods;
Þ In 1688, some "Fighting Irish" joined the French in attacking the island, forcing settlers to flee to Antigua.
Þ In the 1680s, poor rainfall and quality of soil forced settlers to abandon the plantations and migrate [in 1694] to the British Virgin Islands and St Croix.
Despite being attacked and counterattacked, the island never changed hands:
Þ In 1744, 300 settlers, backed up by two privateers from St Kitts, captured St Martin.
Þ May 21, 1745, two French frigates landed some 700 men at Crocus Bay in an attempt to take the island. They suffered at the hands of 150 militiamen led by Governor Hodge.
Þ In 1796, 400 Frenchmen from two warships landed at Rendezvous Bay, destroyed the villages of South Hill and The Valley and drove the defenders eastwards across the island until a fierce battle took place in the Long Path, on the approach to the Sandy Hill Fort. The HMS Lapwing hurried from St Kitts and vanquished the French. This brought to an end all French attempts to gain control of Anguilla.
Administration
Since 1650, the island was administered by its own local council, the central government being in Antigua. In 1825, despite strong protest, a legislative union was formed between Anguilla and St Kitts.
Drought, Famine & Emancipation
In the 1830s, there were severe droughts and famine which persisted into the 1840s when the British Government tried sending the entire population to Demerara, British Guiana (now Guyana). The majority refused to leave the Rock.
In 1871, Anguilla was forced into a federation with St Kitts. In 1872, the islanders petitioned the colonial office in Britain asking for direct rule from Britain.
In 1882, Nevis was added to the Presidency of St Kitts-Nevis. Anguilla was added only in 1951, which was quite symbolic of the neglect the islanders alleged.
In 1956, the islanders refused to support Robert L Bradshaw in his political bid and it is said that he promised to turn the island into a desert.
In 1958, a petition was made requesting the dissolution of the union with St Kitts-Nevis. Instead, the tri-state entered the West Indies Federation and reverted to being a separate colony on its abortion in 1962 with Anguilla still quite upset and unhappy with the unholy marriage.
In February 1967, St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla became an Associate State with Britain. The islanders evicted the largely Kittian police force on Anguilla Day, May 30, and set up their own government, endorsing it in July via a referendum.
From January 1968 to January 1969, a British adviser, "Tony" Lee, worked with the local island council headed by the Leader of the Revolution, Mr James Ronald Webster.
In March 1969, (the late) Mr William Whitlock, British Parliamentary Under Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs was ordered out of Anguilla. The British Red Devils invaded and installed "Tony" Lee as Commissioner. An interim agreement followed in 1971.
On February 12, 1976, the island got its first constitution; but, it was not until December 19, 1980, that Anguilla was formally separated from St Kitts-Nevis.