Good evening to you all and welcome – welcome to my friends, my family, my supporters and all the wonderful people of District One. And a warm welcome to all of you, the people of our beautiful Anguilla.
Thank you all for joining me tonight for our District One, Love Celebrations.
Tonight, I am confirming that I’m going to stand as a candidate at the next election in the District One constituency. I’m here to give you a taste of what District One could be and will be if you elect me to be your representative.
I used those last two words for a reason…. Because I want to be YOUR representative. …Not to be elected to the House of Assembly for my ego…. Not to receive the monies that come with the job… Not to benefit in other ways from being in a powerful role… NO…. I want to be your voice, and truly your representative… so that together we can make District One great again. We, as a community, must come together and take action ourselves, and there is no limit to what we can accomplish 1
with the backing of an elected official who can and will get things done.
Tonight, I want to let you know what I think we should do as a community…. but starting tomorrow, God willing, I want to hear from each and every one of you about what you think is important… I want to hear from the fishermen, the parents, the old, the young… and the children.
Before I let you know what I think we should do, let me express my thanks for the love and care that all of you have shown me throughout District One. It is because of your commitment to improve the lives of all of us in District One that I am inspired. Indeed I am more determined than ever to make District One the best example of quality living for all of Anguilla. Friends, together our determination will make District One a model community for all of Anguilla.
I want to act as a statesman, not a politician… You’re asking what’s the difference…. Well, a politician only looks at what he can achieve during his term and worries about the next election… A statesman looks to the future and plans for generations to come… a sustainable and prosperous future.
And that’s what Pam Webster will be…. A statesman.
Most of you know me… you all know that I love District One…and I’m passionate about our villages. I was born not more than 200 yards from here… and my heart has never left. And you also know that what I promise I deliver…historically, now and into the future. My word is my bond…
Our District One Love Celebration tonight is just a small measure of my gratitude. Tonight, 15th February 2014, the journey for a Better District One begins. Together we will travel a new path for a better future. Four years ago, on 15th February 2010, we voted for a familiar party, with what may have looked at the time as our best hope for change, hoping for improvements in our lives. Four years later, the extravagant promises of change made to us remain unfulfilled. So all we got was disappointment, more hardship, more victimization and more corruption.
And whose fault is that?…I believe it’s the old style politicians who get elected and then do nothing except sit on their backsides ……… We must change all that negativity and lack of action and instead renew our energies…. And get ourselves heard loud and clear.
I have done many things for District One without being elected… You all know of my involvement in the Care Centre… Some of you may know that the regular beach cleaning is down to me, so that our children can play in a nicer environment…Some of you may know of my support for the Vivien Vanterpool primary school, for other schools, for the Sunshine Theatre, for sports, for our youth…. and witness our community effort for this splendid basket ball court where we are tonight ….. But the next step for District One is much bigger than one person or even a few of us can manage on our own….It needs someone in Government really working for District One… and that someone, I believe strongly, should be me, Pam Webster.
To demonstrate that my motives are not centred on greed, I today pledge that the salary that I will receive by being elected will be donated back to a fund to help regenerate District One. That’s how strongly I feel about doing the right thing! Now go and ask the other candidates to put their money where their mouths are!
Tonight I want to say clearly to you that together we must end this unbearable suffering in our beloved community. Our families and children must suffer no more. As we enjoy each other’s company tonight, we must hold dear to our faith and our hope that better days of love and unity are not far away.
I have detailed plans that we shall together develop further between now and the election. I believe these plans can and will regenerate District One… But first i want to recognise what the Hon. Kenneth Harrigan has done in this district. I am so grateful to him and I know you are too. Let’s put our hands together to show our love and gratitude for Kenneth Harrigan and let’s pray for his good health and long life to come. We will complete the projects that he champions.
My plans are not pipe dreams but realities that can come to life within two years of my election……..They can and will become a reality…. But, they are only my thoughts and I want to add to them by listening to you all… This will not be a repetition of extravagant promises made at the last election which even to this day, four years later, have not even been revealed, let alone delivered.
To give you a taster I will highlight some of the key elements in my two year plan so far:
Our fishermen must become thriving entrepreneurs. For our fishermen are the life-blood of our community. We must do everything within our power to bring success to them; whether it is by reducing their expenditure and increasing the marketability of their catches, modernized ports, ensuring the sustainability of our fish stocks, implementing EU standards or protecting their safety and well-being. We must facilitate the financial sustainability of our fishing industry. We have plans for that.
The Vivien Vanterpool Primary school will be the leading primary school in science and technology. We have plans for that.
We want to create a large sports, music, entertainment and social centre… and we have plans for that.
We want to make our educational and health care services better… we have plans for that.
We have plans to create a transportation system so that we are not so isolated.
Friends, Anguilla’s food security is critical if our families are to have an affordable and healthy lifestyle. Our farmers must be given the necessary support not only to grow food locally but also to integrate their food products into our local and regional tourism products. We have plans for that.
We all want to enhance the environment in which we live… and we have plans for that to.
Today we are plagued with a crippled economy and an insensitive government. For too long we have had leaders who hold public office for private gain. While they benefit personally, the ordinary families suffer. This must end!
Our people need jobs, regardless of their circumstances; everyone must have the opportunity to earn a living. Every father and mother must be provided with an opportunity to look after their family with dignity and pride. In the coming weeks and months I intend to visit every household, listen to your various concerns and speak with all our community stakeholders. Together we must create a People’s Charter for District One – a Charter which will set the framework for sustainable living for all our people: education, healthcare, job security and safety are our priority areas.
Our younger generation deserves a better future. I will ensure that relevant education for sustainable jobs become a priority objective for District One.
Our development path should include making District One our first Wireless Green Economy. We need creative thinking by leaders who will reinvigorate our community’s economy. In the coming weeks and months our public conversations must make The Charter for District One a reality.
There’s going to be a vast improvement in everyone’s lives if you vote for me.
Let there be no mistake, these plans and action points will not be enough…. but they must be the start of a rebirth for the people of District One and the start of building a brighter future for this and the next generation in Anguilla
We are District One Love. We have always led the way defining Anguilla’s future. We did it before and we will do it again.
And we will include all our people in this journey. Whether they agree with us or have a differing view, we will care for their well being. We will be sensitive to our differences, we will build consensus amongst all stakeholders in District One.
What has passed for leadership is personal selfishness, a fraudulent leadership that will always take us down the path of continued personal disappointment, community despair and national destruction.
We cannot sit idly by and do nothing. We must all be responsible for the pathways travelled for our communities and national development. Friends, tonight I say we have had enough! We must not stand by and see our villages and communities ruined by these unworthy politicians.
Beginning tonight, with your help, we will together travel the roads and communities of District One. The campaign journey of 2014/2015 has just begun. We will walk softly, listen attentively and include each and every one in our decision making.
We have to take our destiny in our own hands and come together to save Anguilla, beginning right here in District One. With your love and support, we can nurture our District and our island and make them noble and beautiful once again. We shall raise Anguilla to glory and with your help and God’s help we shall create prosperity for all! I call on all citizens to join me on this great journey….. AND I HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR VOTE.
God bless you, God bless Anguilla!
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
