The Anguilla United Movement, AUM - Blue Print for Anguilla’s development

Party refutes claims by the AUF

On the 2nd of February at a Public Meeting in George Hill, the Anguilla United Front government released their manifesto. During the launch of their manifesto, party leader, the Honourable Victor Banks suggested that the Anguilla United Movement had plagiarized aspects of their manifesto that was released via the World Wide Web earlier. The AUM’s manifesto was created in March of 2009 and ratified by the party in December of 2009. It was at the printers from the 11th of January 2010 with the intent on releasing hard copies on 2nd of February 2010.

During the hard copy release of the AUM manifesto, “The Blueprint for Anguilla’s development” in the White Hill, members of the party informed the leadership of the AUM that the AUF had released their manifesto which reflected aspects of the AUM’s manifesto.

We were deeply perturbed to say the least and on tuning in to the AUF public meeting, overheard the leader claiming that the AUM copied from the AUF. This is absurd and it demonstrates that the AUF has not only bankrupted the country but is also bankrupt of ideas. We believe that they extracted by some means bits and pieces of the Blueprint that was developed by the hard working people and members of the AUM and passed it on as their own.

The AUM manifesto is the result of hard work and gathering of ideas from all walks of life within the Anguillian community so it reflects the goals, aspirations and vision of the people of Anguilla. After all, we believe that in Anguilla, no party or person has the monopoly on good ideas. We believe together as a nation, great ideas can come forward and when these ideas come from the people and agreed upon by the movement, great things can happen.

We call on the leadership of the AUF to apologize for their outlandish and absurd suggestions that the AUM ‘lifted’ their ideas and we call on the people to recognize that this is the time for responsible leadership that put the interest of the people of Anguilla first and foremost.

We believe this is the time for visionaries and persons who can not only produce a manifesto but also fulfill the tenets of said manifesto. We believe that the AUM is capable of doing so because the Blueprint, the Manifesto is a contract between us and the people we are elected to serve. Unfortunately, the AUF has used their manifestos in the past as a tool to get elected and no more. We believe the AUF lack the vision, transparency, accountability and ability to move this country forward and we pray the people of Anguilla will recognize that the AUM will use its Blueprint for Anguilla’s development, as a contract with the people to ensure that their social, political, constitutional and economic interest are advanced and protected.