Politicians seek to persuade people to see things their way. This is often with the intent of diminishing their political opponents in the eyes of the electorate. Are we wise enough to discern what is real and what is merely political mischief or worse, a deliberate spreading of misinformation?
Ministerial Assistant Mr. Jeison Bryan is an Honourable Member of the Anguilla House of Assembly, having been elected as an Island Wide Member in the 2025 General Election.
Mr. Bryan’s revelation in a recent interview with Keith “Stone” Greaves that he does not possess an Anguilla passport has been the subject of discussion among some political pundits. While some persons have outright questioned his eligibility to be elected to the Anguilla House of Assembly others have been more mischievous by expressing shock that Anguillians voted for a man who does not have an Anguillian passport and leaving it to others to question his eligibility.
It is disappointing to see persons querying or condemning Mr. Bryan’s election to the House of Assembly without considering the process by which he would have gotten there. A significant step in the process to being elected is the nomination of candidates. If a person unqualified to be elected to the House of Assembly is nominated as a candidate on Nomination Day that would be an indictment on many persons.
The nomination of an unqualified candidate would reflect poorly on the party machinery and party leadership of the party putting forward the unqualified candidate. It would also reflect poorly on any opposing party. Even if the opposing party, for strategic reasons, did not sound an alarm during the nomination process, if the unqualified candidate is successful at the polls, one would expect the opposing party to quickly denounce the winning candidate as being unqualified. On Nomination Day at least two persons must nominate a candidate and these persons must declare, in writing, that they believe the nominated person to be qualified to be elected to the House of Assembly. Likewise, the nominated candidate must also declare, in writing, that he/she meets the requirements of the Constitution and is therefore qualified to be elected to the House of Assembly.
To readily believe that Mr. Jeison Bryan is unqualified to hold elected office, after being elected in the 2025 General Election, is to question the understanding of the party members and leadership of the Anguilla United Front and the Anguilla Progressive Movement, as to the requirements to be elected to the House of Assembly. Additionally, any belief that Mr. Bryan is unqualified to hold elected office calls into question his understanding of Anguilla’s Constitution and suggests a disregard on his part and that of the persons who nominated him, for the requirements of the Constitution.
It is a sad reflection on Anguilla if we would more readily believe that our system and people failed us in relation to such a significant national event, rather than seeking to determine for ourselves whether the absence of an Anguilla passport is a requirement to be elected to the Anguilla House of Assembly. Section 36 of the Anguilla Constitution requires a person seeking to be elected to the House of Assembly to be an Anguillian. Section 80 of the Constitution sets out the several ways in which a person can become an Anguillian. Upon reading section 80 it is clear that a person can be an Anguillian and not hold a British Overseas Territories Citizen / Anguilla Passport. If Mr. Bryan meets the requirements of sections 80 and 36 of the Anguilla Constitution, the fact that he does not hold an Anguilla passport is irrelevant in relation to his election to the Anguilla House of Assembly.
A discerning public should be able to distinguish between political mischief, mere propaganda, and genuine concern. Greater discernment on our part would mean that we engage in critical thinking and are less likely to fall prey to political machinations.
