The Executive Council has approved seven persons for the award of the Anguilla Badge of Honour and Queen’s Certificate on Anguilla Day.
The ceremony marking the 48th Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution and Anguilla Day will be held at the James Ronald Webster Park on Monday June 1st, 2015.
The Awardees for this year are:
i. Mr. Henderson Smith – Revolution
ii. Mr. Synric (Fogle) Webster – Revolution
iii. Mrs. Violet Harrigan – Revolution
iv. Hon Hubert B. Hughes – Social Development (Politics)
v. Mr. Irvin Phillips – Social Development (Entrepreneurship)
vi. Mr. Audley Almair Carty – Social Development (Construction)
vii. Mr. Clement (Bankie) Banx – Social Development (The Arts)
It is to be noted that the Awards have been categorized as follows:
a. Anguillians and/or non-Anguillians who have played a critical role during the Anguilla Revolution of 1967-1969; and
b. Anguillians and/or non-Anguillians who have made outstanding contributions to the Social, Political, Economic, Cultural and (Arts, Science and Technology, Entrepreneurship) development of Anguilla since 1969.
i. Mr. Henderson Smith – Revolution
Henderson Smith was among the brave and committed activists of the Anguilla revolution. He was a fearless youngster who was best known for travelling to St. Kitts on 9th June, 1967, aboard the Rambler in an attempt to overthrow its government and replace it with one sympathetic to Anguilla’s cause. He was one of a party of 15 Anguillians who made that trip and, in so doing, placed his very young life on the line for his country. It is because of his role in the above event, that Henderson’s photograph, along with those of several freedom fighters appears in the book Anguilla’s Battle for Freedom 1967 – 1969.
ii. Mr. Synric (Fogle) Webster – Revolution
Synric Webster performed one of the most significant early acts of civil disobedience of the Anguilla Revolution. He was given instructions to cut the electrical wire from a generator providing lights for the Statehood Queen Show at the Community Centre on the night of February 4th, 1967. Synric chopped the wire, plunging the building in darkness. Stones were thrown by Synric and others on the roof of the building and the police responded with tear gas.
iii. Mrs. Violet Harrigan – Revolution
Violet Harrigan better known as Vie of Island Harbour was one of the ladies of the Revolution, a valiant freedom fighter, and warrior for Anguilla who stood in solidarity with her revolutionary leader, the Hon. James Ronald Webster.
The women including Violet were often sent ahead of the men to create distractions so that the men could attack the Police. Violet vividly recalls travelling from Island Harbour in Edgar Harrigan’s Bus to join other freedom fighters like Mildred, Miss Jossie, Daisy, Olive, Francis and others. She recalls fighting with men like Laula, Gifford, Elliott, Ernest, Buller, (Valentine), and others.
Violet with some other women of the revolution barred the court house door when they wanted to conduct a trial against Charlie Fleming. She recalls being a part of a group of women who used broken bicycle pumps to prevent the Police from opening the Court House door.
They travelled to Sandy Ground to look for Tony Lee who was being hidden. They searched the upper house for Tony Lee but he was in the house on the beach. A ship was anchored outside. The Paratroopers came and surrounded the women. A reporter was with the women and told them to cry out that the men troubled them.
Violet remembers hiding Mr. Ronald Webster in the bush close to her house and taking water and food to him because the authorities were searching for him. Violet vowed to protect Ronald Webster with her life if she had to because she was confident that he would lead Anguilla to victory. She recalls awaiting the sound of the conch shell blowing to alert the revolutionaries when trouble was coming. Violet also assisted in the blocking of the airport to prevent airplanes from landing into the airport.
iv. Hon. Hubert B. Hughes – Social Development (Politics)
Hon. Hubert Benjamin Hughes has been the longest serving parliamentarian in Anguilla. He is the Political leader of the ruling Anguilla United Movement (AUM) which he founded in 1979. Mr. Hughes first won his seat as an independent candidate in 1976.
He served as Political Advisor to the Emile Gumbs government 1977 – 1978 and Minister of Tourism, Lands and Natural Resources, Health and Education 1980 – 1981. He resigned his seat in 1981. He served as Minister of Finance and Lands in the Emile Gumbs Government during the period 1984 – 1985. He was dismissed in 1985 and remained in opposition until 1994.
When the Constitution was revised in 1990 he became the first Leader of the Opposition. He was elected Chief Minister of Anguilla in 1994 – 1999; 1999 until 2000 and again from 2010 – 2015. He has announced his intention to retire from active politics and will not be contesting General Elections slated for April 22nd, 2015.
v. Mr. Irvin Phillips – Social Development (Entrepreneurship)
For many years up until the 1980’s the construction industry in Anguilla depended on site mixed concrete. This comprised persons mixing cement, sand, rocks and water together either by hand or in a cement mixer which was was often time consuming and labour intensive and at times quite costly. This changed when ready mixed concrete was introduced by Irvin Phillip and his company West Indies Concrete Ltd in 1982. On April 29th, 1982, he poured the first ready mixed concrete – 29 cubic yards – at a home in the Copse East End.
Irvin started with an old backhoe, a dump truck and a small crusher at leased crown land in the Long Path, hiring Haskin’s crane to deliver the ready mix to roofs. In 1984 he moved to his premises in Deep Waters where he has operated ever since now with a fleet of some 10 concrete mixer trucks, 4 dump trucks, 3 loaders, 1 backhoe, and 2 pump trucks.
One of the admirable traits demonstrated by Irvin has been his willingness and kindness to provide his ready mix concrete to persons and businesses across the length and breadth of Anguilla to ensure that their requirements were met, whether they were rich or poor or whether they had the money to make down payments or not.
Construction is today one of the main drivers of the Anguillian economy and Irvin Phillip can therefore feel justifiably proud in the part he played in bringing ready mix concrete to the island.
vi. Mr. Audley Almair Carty – Social Development (Construction)
Audley Carty, like many Anguillian men lived and worked overseas for a number of years where he gained experience and improved his skills in the construction industry. He returned home in the 1970’s and started his own construction company with some 30 employees from across the island.
Audley’s contribution to the construction industry in Anguilla has been notable particularly in regards to the construction of private homes for both local and expatriates. Over the years he was responsible for the construction of several notable tourism projects. These included Nathan’s Cove Villas in Meads Bay; Cove Castles Resort at Shoal Bay West; Altamar at Shoal Bay West and Villa Kitshi in Black Gardens.
In 1995 after the passage of Hurricane Luis, the Ebenezer Methodist Church Roof was blown off, Audley voluntarily assisted in the replacement of new galvalome roofing. He also built the toilet facility at the Sandy Ground playing field.
In his spare time Audley cultivates peas, corn, sweet potatoes and pumpkins which he is always willing to share with neighbours and friends in the community.
vii. Mr. Clement (Bankie) Banx – Social Development (Arts)
Bankie Banx musical career spans some 46 years to date. He produced his first number one hit in 1977 – “Prince of Darkness” and followed that with several chart topping songs over the next few years. With the release of his first Album Roots and Herbs in 1978, recorded with his band, The Roots and Herbs, Banx pioneered reggae music in the Eastern Caribbean.
Bankie became the first performer from Anguilla to appear at Reggae Sunsplash, in 1983 and he appeared again in 1992. He was featured during a live Sunsplash performance in the ground-breaking reggae documentary Cool Runnings. Following his success at Reggae Sunsplash 1983, Bankie and his band The Roots & Herbs toured extensively in the Caribbean before heading to Europe.
Bankie continued to return to Anguilla for annual performances and started the Moonsplash Music Festival in 1991, staged on the grounds of his own bar, The Dune Preserve. Moonsplash, now in its 25th year, has become one of the premier music festivals in the Eastern Caribbean and has featured internationally revered artists.
In the summer of 2005, Bankie started the Project Stingray music and arts education program on Anguilla. Bankie’s fall tour of the United States supported awareness and raised funds for the Stingray Program. Through his fund-raising efforts Bankie was able to donate 30 brand new guitars to the Stingray Program during the Cultural and Arts Fair at Moonsplash 2006. During a Jimmy Buffett charity event hosted by Bankie Banx at The Dune Preserve, Bankie raised over one hundred thousand for local charities.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
