I join with the Members of the House and indeed, the entirety of Anguilla in welcoming Her Excellency, the Governor, Ms. Christina Scott to the most beautiful island with the most beautiful people on the planet. I have longed for this day and I hope we, the people of Anguilla exceed all your expectations and that is reciprocated. I know the father of the Nation, The Hon. James Ronald Webster would have loved to be here but like Nelson Mandela, he is ailing and we pray for his quick recovery.
It was just yesterday that my wife asked me what will I speak about and I told her- I will speak about our Trayvon Martins as I was inspired by the latest trial and acquittal and also motivated by the arrival of Her Excellency and indeed, the eighth anniversary of my best friend’s passing.” These events and others – caused me to reflect.
I welcome Her Excellency with the knowledge that in the Governor, immense powers are bestowed. Those powers are enshrined in a document called the Anguilla Constitution order 1982. While I believe Her Excellency will work in the true spirit of cooperation and in concert with the people of Anguilla through their elected representatives, I thought it fitting that we reflect a bit on yesterday.
Yesterday, we said goodbye to Her Excellency’s predecessor with celebration, joy and gladness. Yesterday! We forget yesterday too quickly and it is yesterday which will shape what we do today and tomorrow. Yesterday, we watched the results of the trial and expressed our disgust on social media and though varying medium. We mourned and felt the pain of the Martins.
Yesterday, we too had our Trayvon Martins in that yesterday, there were those who were lost and no one has been brought to justice. The mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and friends of our Trayvon Martins are still grieving –
– Yesterday, Roger ‘Pressure King Clarke’ was our Trayvon Martin
– Yesterday – Louvan Webster was our Trayvon Martin,
– Yesterday – Stacy-Ann Brooks-Laurent was our Trayvon Martin,
– Yesterday – Kwahmi Brooks was our Trayvon Martin,
– Yesterday – Jerimiah ‘Sky’ Alexander was our Trayvon Martin,
– Yesterday – Courtney Hodge, Jordel Gumbs, Gustave Hodge were our Trayvon Martins and
– Yesterday – Devon Ryan was our Trayvon Martin
Madam Speaker, we must never forget too quickly what has happened yesterday or we may repeat the same mistakes today and tomorrow. While the above mentioned are our Trayvon Martins, we should never forget the grieving families of Dwayne Connor, Shane Fraites, Michael Gumbs, Clifford Christie and others.
We welcome Her Excellency the Governor, who is charged with the responsibility of external defense and internal security including the police and the prison to sit with us – sit with members of civil society and TAB- sit with the people of Anguilla and chart a way forward to stamp out the scourge of gun violence once and for all. We welcome Her Excellency the Governor to use her good offices to impress upon Her Majesty’s Government to look favourably at the development of our social services. I beg Her Excellency to visit with us and use her reach to facilitate the completion of the indoor facility which was started and stopped due to a lack of funding and the track so that we can produce more athletes such as Zharnel Hughes and Shara Proctor who, ironically, competes for the UK.
We welcome Her Excellency today but we must not forget those who were maimed by the barrel of a gun yesterday. Today, we welcome her Excellency the Governor and we know she will work diligently with the Royal Police Force and the people of Anguilla so that the hands that pulled the triggers that shot the bullets that riddled the bodies of Renel Carty, Shawn Grant Romney, Greg Connor, Steven Hughes, Kevin Richardson, Morton Isaac, Leroy Mussington, Travis Greene, Ms. Descia DeSouza, Miss Kashira Hughes, Ruskin Romney, Rosmund Davis, Saleem Brooks, Deion Richardson and Randy Hodge will not continue tomorrow.
Yesterday Madam Speaker, again we witnessed the senseless shooting of a number of young men leaving much questions, tears, sorrow and pain for the families, the community and the country. Yesterday, Demar Wright, Leroy Fleming, Kenfentsi Davis, Jalanie Leanard, Dellon Romney and Nekyle Davis was added to the aforementioned list and the question is, what will Her Majesty’s Government do about it? The question remains, how many more of our young men must fall victim before we as a NATION do something about it? and, why do we forget so quickly?
Today, the mothers, sisters, brothers and fathers of those seven young men – some of whom are attending college are spending their time praying, crying, and joining others from yesterday in mourning. So today, we celebrate the swearing in of Her Excellency the Governor, Ms. Christina Scott with heavy hearts and sadness when this should be a time of joy and celebration.
Today Madam Speaker, we share a historical moment together in that Ms. Scott is our first ever female Governor together with you Madam Speaker who is our first ever female Speaker. Today, we share this House of Parliament and we look forward with guarded excitement and expectations to forging a real and meaningful partnership with Her Majesty’s Government through Her Excellency.
– There is more that unites us than divides us and that is why tomorrow, we look to yesterday for guidance while ensuring a better future for our youth in particular, our young males
– So tomorrow we look forward to the departure of the old while remembering yesterday and –
– Tomorrow, we look forward to putting away the things of yesterday and moving forward into the future – together.
Again, I welcome you and wish you and Anguilla, the very best during your tenure.
