Governor Julia Crouch has officially appointed former premier Ellis Webster as Anguilla’s new leader of the opposition.
The brief ceremony took place on Wednesday, 5 March, in accordance with the constitution.
Webster retained his seat in the Anguilla House of Assembly as the District 1 – Island Harbour representative in the 26 February general election.
The Anguilla Progressive Movement leader secured 573 votes, while Claude C Smith of the Anguilla United Front came second with 313.
Independent candidates Palmavon Webster and Keith Fabian placed third and fourth with 115 and 40 votes, respectively.
With Webster’s victory, the former ruling party secured just three of the 11 available seats in the assembly, losing its majority and transitioning to the opposition.
He will be joined on the opposition bench by former infrastructure minister Haydn Hughes and Merrick Richardson, who will play a key role in scrutinising government decisions and policies.
In a statement on 27 February, the former leader thanked the people of Anguilla for their support and consideration on behalf of his party.
“I embrace my new assignment and am determined to fight in the House of Assembly to ensure that the gains the people of Anguilla have earned in the last term are not dismantled or diminished,” he said.
