Britain Invades

Anguilla.

Colonial Times.

Anguilla was first settled in 1650 and was administered as part of the Leeward Islands by the Captain General and Governor-in-Chief residing in Antigua. Anguilla had its own Lieutenant or Deputy Governor with a local council or assembly.

In 1825, a representative was sent to sit in the St. Kitts legislative House of Assembly. A new local council, the Vestry, was established in Anguilla. The majority of freeholders protested what was, in effect, a legislative union with St. Kitts.

In 1871, Anguilla was federated with St. Kitts and in 1875, Anguillans dissatisfied with the subordinate status and enforced union, petitioned the colonial office in Britain asking for direct rule from Britain.

Nevis, being added to the Presidency in 1882, made matters worse, St. Kitts' view of Anguilla being reflected in its renaming the tri-state St. Christopher - Nevis with no mention of Anguilla until 1951. The tri-state entered the West Indies Federation in 1958 and reverted to being a separate colony on its abortion in 1962 with Anguilla still unhappy with the unholy marriage.

Rebellion.

On 27th February 1967, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla was given self government as an Associated State with Britain under the West Indies Act. The islanders seized the opportunity, evicted the seventeen Kittitian policemen on 30th May 1967. A referendum was held on 11th July 1967 in which 1,813 people voted in favour of secession from the Associated State and 5 were against. On the strength of this vote the Anguillans set up there own government through a local council. Thus the Associated State government in St. Kitts and the Anguillans were in a political stalemate.

Reasons for secession.

Though Britain had badly neglected the island and it's infrastructure the St. Kitts government had not paved the way for Anguilla to settle into the idea of Associated Statehood.

In 1967 there was no general electricity, a one room schoolhouse for 350 children, less than half a mile of paved road and poor medical facilities. Though Britains responsibility Anguillans all requests for financial assistance had to go through the central government in St. Kitts. They felt that their requests made for improvements lost their urgency and that funds were siphoned off for other projects in St. Kitts.  

Added to this was geography, there was 70 miles and several Dutch and French islands between Anguilla and St. Kitts-Nevis.

Invasion.

The impasse was broken in December 1967 when two British parliamentarians worked out an "interim agreement". A British official was appointed to "exercise basic administrative authority" over Anguilla, in conjunction with the Anguilla Council, for a period of one year. From 16th January 1968 to 8th January 1969, a British adviser, Tony Lee,  worked with the local council headed by Mr. Ronald Webster, the revolutionary leader destined to become the island's first Chief Minister and National Hero. Towards the end of 1968 the St Kitts Government and the Anguilla Council failed to agree on an extension of the "interim agreement".

The "interim agreement" ended on the 8th January 1969 and with it British aid. As a result of this arrangement finishing the British advisor Tony Lee left the island on the 16th January. On 6th February a second referendum was held to confirm the people's wish to remain apart from the Associated State. The vote again proved overwhelming with 1,739 for and 4 against Anguilla returning to the Associated State. Anguilla declared itself an "Independent Republic".

This situation made the British Government embark on another attempt at finding a solution to the crisis. On the 11th March 1969 William Whitlock, a Junior Minister, arrived in Anguilla with proposals for the establishment of an interim British administration. The proposals were unacceptable and Whitlock was expelled within a few hours of his arrival.

The British government reaction was swift. On the 19th March 1969, 315 British paratroopers supported by two frigates, HMS Minerva and HMS Rothesay "invaded" the island as the British Government wanted to "restore order". Tony Lee returned to Anguilla and was installed as a Commissioner responsible for local administration. The paratroopers were followed by Royal Engineers and London Metropolitan Policemen.

An interim agreement in 1971 was followed on 12th February 1976 by a new constitution. It was not until 19th December 1980 that Anguilla was formally separated from St. Kitts and became a British colony again.

On May 29th 1997, the Anguilla National Trust opened an exhibit commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution. The exhibit is in their museum building in The Valley.

Historian and writer Colville Petty O.B.E. has organized his 20 years of collecting archaeological and historical artifacts into a museum that is open to the public. Called "The Heritage Collection"  has an exhibition dedicated to the Anguillan revolution. It includes photographs of particpants and major events, plus one of the rifles taken from the St. Kitts police when they were expelled from the island. Other exhibits include Amerindian pottery and tools, household items from 19th century life in Anguilla, and a tribute to the salt industry.

Administration Today.

Anguilla has a Governor and Deputy Governor (both British) whose responsibilities include public order, good government, the civil service, and the off-shore financial sector.

Britain introduced the Ministerial system of Government--and political parties--in 1976 which replaced the elected Island Council formed during the secession days (1967-1976). There are seven elected, one ex-officio and two nominated members plus a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker in the Legislative Assembly which runs for five years.

The Executive Council is made up of the members of Government (presently four) plus the Governor who presides, the Deputy Governor and the Attorney General. The Ministers of Government have direct responsibility for all matters of government except for those areas reserved for the Governor's Office and for legal matters which are handled by the Attorney-General.

Anguilla National Trust | "The Heritage Collection"
Official Website of the Government of Anguilla

Click on the link below to view some pictures related to the British "invasion".