GOVERNOR SCOTT VISITS VALLEY SOUTH DISTRICT

Six weeks after assuming her appointment in Anguilla, Her Excellency Governor Christina Scott,continued her visits to the constituencies with three stops on a tour of Valley South on Thursday, August 29, escorted by the Elected Representative, Mr Evan Gumbs.

“I have now done six of the seven districts so I will have my last district visit (Valley North) this Thursday,” Governor Scott told The Anguillian on Monday this week. “They have all been different but all fascinating because, firstly, it has been very good to spend some time with the Assembly members and to see their districts through their eyes – and I have the opportunity to see things I would not have done just travelling around by myself or with the office.

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“I think that what I most enjoyed is talking to people, meeting either individual elders or statesmen in the community, or old ladies who played a part in the revolution, or chatting to people in their businesses about the economic challenges they face – or meeting people who are contributing to the community by setting up centres to support children. It has been a complete range of activity and it has been fascinating talking to people about things that matter to them and things they want to see for Anguilla.”

The first stop the Governor made in Valley South was at St Mary’s Preschool where she met Bishop Errol Brooks who has responsibility for the institution; the Principal, Mrs Hazell Brooks, and other members of the teaching staff.
The Anguillian asked Governor Scott, who regularly attends St Mary’s Anglican Church, whether it was unusual for her to find an Anglican Priest involved in the running of a church and at the same time havingoversight of a church-related school.
She replied that there were in fact many instances of church involvement in schools in the U K. “A large proportion of schools in the United Kingdom are faith schools and so it is very usual to see Priests and Bishops actively involved in the life of the school. In fact, my father used to take assembly once a week in the primary school that was attached to his parish. The church had an affiliated primary school – and the church …So that is very usual in the UK, and it was not a surprise to me to see the congregation of St Mary’s and the Bishop very involved in the preschool.”
She though that St Mary’s Preschool was a very impressive sight with motivated teachers. “It is good to see the church getting involved in other activities as well with links to other youth organisations,” she stated. She was referring to the recent march against violence in support of women, staged by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “We had youth groups very closely supported by the church getting involved in really important issues.”

After leaving St Mary’s Preschool, Governor Scott visited Mr Charlie Gumbs, Anguilla’s oldest citizen at his residence in The Quarter. He celebrated his 103rd birthday on August 26. Mr Gumbs warmly welcomed the Governor in his usual high-spirited zest.
“How are you madam?” he inquired, rising from his seat on his veranda. “I am very good for an old fella.”
“And you look very good for an old fella,” the Governor retorted.

“Speaking about Charlie Gumbs – what a legend,” Governor Scott said to The Anguillian on Monday. “He was extraordinary, actually. …I went with Minister Gumbs to visit him at home, and we had quite a long conversation; and he was very moving in describing some of the experiences he has had in his life – and particular in being sent to work at the age of ten in the sugar plantation. That was a very upsetting and sobering story, and it was marvellous to hear it from him first hand. I think these sorts of stories are so important for us to capture, and to remember, and to keep as part of the history of the community. It was a real privilege to meet him.

“It was also very good to meet UrsillaConnor when she celebrated her 100th Birthday. I really didn’t have a proper chance to see her but hopefully when the Queen sends a card, which is on the way, I will have a chance to meet her properly then.”

Governor Scott’s third stop in The Valley South constituency was at the OmegaCar Wash area just down from the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre where the Governor said she had spent quality time during the carnival events. As The South Valley boys awaited her, one of them began to call other youngsters inviting them to attend the meeting.
“Dem say an important person coming to meet with us,” he telephoned his friends, obviously glad of the recognition.
“This chair is for you, ma’am,” another youngster told the Governor on her arrival.
The young men, who usually spend much time at the car wash place, playing dominoes, busied themselves in advance of the Governor’s visit on deciding on what they should bring to her attention. They decided on security matters taking into account that they were exposed to possible drive-by shootings. They also decided to make a request for the cameras mounted on the nearby utility poles during the carnival to remain monitoring the area.
Governor Scott spoke with them for about an hour or more with the sun going down.
“It was a really good discussion,” the Governor told The Angullian. “It was worthwhile for me to listen first hand to people who are younger in age and who had clear views about policing and security issues. We discussed close-circuit television cameras and the potential of rolling them out across the island.

“I know that is something that the Commissioner of Police would strongly support. He and I have had discussions about that and the issue of course, as it is often, is money. Hopefully, there will be money be coming from the UK Government later in the year and that is certainly something that EXCO will want to think about – whether that is a priority. But that seems to me to be a very strong candidate for early capital support.

“The camera system is designed not just to provide reassurance to people, but would be a very effective tool to support the police in monitoring and checking up movements after events have taken place. I think it would be a very powerful tool and one that EXCO would certainly need to consider in terms of its capital priorities.”