Anguilla’s Revolutionary Leader, and Father of the Nation, now retired from active politics, has returned to the old days, 45 years ago, calling for a referendum to decide the future status of the island.
He made the call in a letter to Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes, which was read by his adopted daughter, Patsy, at the Ronald Webster Park, on Wednesday, May 30, during the Official Parade in observance of the 45th Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution.
Among other matters, the letter made reference to two referendums held during Webster’s leadership days when Anguillians voted overwhelmingly to secede from St. Kitts in 1967 and to become a republic in 1969. The letter referred to repeated promises by British officials thatAnguillawould be allowed to decide its own future; and the passing of Orders-in-Council and Acts to facilitate the administrative progress of the island over the years. Mr. Webster also pointed to the Anguilla Act of 1980 which provided for the island to become independent when its leaders and people so desired.
“I have said all of this to emphasise one single fact,” Mr. Webster told Chief Minister in his letter: “We now need to begin the process towards independence by means of a referendum. We cannot throw the Governor or the British Government offAnguillaas we did the St. Kitts Police 45 years ago. We have at our disposal their words and Orders in Council of commitment about our future and we have the facility of a referendum to choose between our present status as anOverseasTerritoryand a fully Independent State whether under your Government or a successive Government of Anguilla.
“Let us begin that process now: set in motion the process for a referendum. You have the benefit of getting approval in the Executive Council, as well as in the House of Assembly, where the Government has the majority of Elected Members.
“Once the referendum has been decided on, there comes the need to sensitise our people across the length and breadth ofAnguillaabout independence and the importance of unity on the issue. Give Anguillians a chance, whatever their views are, to vote for their future one way or another and take the chance we took in our early referendums of 1967 and 1969. At least your Government would have taken a practical step towards the question of independence for AAnguilla.”
Chief Minister Hughes in delivering his address, stated in part: “We are indebted to the Father of the Nation for urging us on in this direction. More and more I see the wisdom in his advice; more and more, I am personally convinced and remain totally committed to pursuing the path to self-determination. If we are to progress as a people, we have no other alternative than to pursue the road to independence.
“This is the challenge that I am putting to you, my people, that in this, our 45th Anniversary of the Revolution, we shall move with deliberate speed to be the people God always intended us to be: a free and independent people under God.
“I need to say to you, in the first place, why we should be thinking of aspiring in that direction. Many people ask the question: go independent on what? The obvious implication is that we don’t have the financial resources to buttress our independence. But let me ask a question… When we joyfully celebrated the outcome of the Revolution, what were we celebrating? We had no running water throughout the island; we had no paved roads throughout the island; we had no Community College, much less an Extra Mural Department of the University of theWest Indies. We had no electricity in our homes. What then, we celebrating? We were celebrating the fact that we were free at last; free from every massa; free to exercise our God-given dignity; free to carve out own destiny.
“Whether or not we maximize our opportunities wisely, is another matter. The successful Revolution gave us the opportunity to carve out our destiny. What is important for us to consider now, is that some people are afraid to accept the responsibility of independence because they do not see us as being financially viable to run our own affairs.
“I am very conscious that in the pursuit of complete self-governance that, no doubt, many sacrifices may have to be made, but at least it would then be a collective decision that we determinewhat sacrifices we want to make…”
The Chief Minister told the gathering that whenAnguillagoes independent the Father of hte Nation, James Ronald Webster, will be the first Governor General.
