An initial step has been taken, as part of a community plan at Island Harbour, to build a wall of names of persons who were active in the 1967 Anguilla Revolution which eventually led to the formal separation of Anguilla from St Kitts-Nevis in 1980.
That step, on Sunday evening, February 15, was the unveiling of a bay-side plaque, carved in a large boulder, bearing the names of fifteen Anguillian freedom fighters. They, along with three unnamed Americans, left Anguilla for St Kitts on June 9, 1967, and launched an armed attack early the following morning in several targeted areas on an effort to secure the Revolution. They travelled on the Rambler, a boat owned by Revolutionary Leader, Ronald Webster.
The plaque was unveiled by former Elected Representative of District 1, Mr Kenneth Harrigan, and Mr Wilkin Smith, a member of the invading party. The unveiling ceremony which was chaired by Ms Marie Horsford included the invocation by Pastor Kennedy Vanterpool.
Ms Horsford, quoting from the book, Anguilla’s Battle For Freedom, written by historian Colville L. Petty and A. Nat Hodge, gave a short account of the participation of the Anguillians in the St Kitts invasion, as well as provided other related information.
She named the entire invading party as having been: Atlin Harrigan, captain of the Rambler; Ronald Webster, Todville Harrigan, Mitchell Harrigan, Connell Harrigan, Lemuel Phillip, Henderson Smith, Wilkin Smith, Oliver Gumbs, Albert Gumbs, Valentine (Bobby) Ruan, Collins J Hodge, Clarence Rogers, Randolph Richardson, Reuben (Rubie) Gumbs and three US citizens (whose names are not listed).
The plaque unveiling event was the second part of a public meeting held by Ms Pam Webster, the Independent Candidate – in that district – contesting the 2015 general election.
Ms Webster said she was working towards the building of the wall and ocean walk a dream of Mr Kenneth Harrigan. “As part of that project, his dream has been to have a wall on which we will have the names of all of our heroes and heroines. Tonight just marks one event,” she stated.
“The journey of the Revolution will be documented on the wall which will be the fort of this ocean walk. People from all over the world will come here and will see on this wall the …names of all those great heroes – those who have passed on and those who are still with us, and this is going to be realised immediately. This is not dependent on the outcome of the election. It is a planning decision and we are working to ensure that everything is in line for this part of Anguilla becoming the most significant historic stop for any tourist.
