A flat, dusty, tiny island in the Northern Caribbean is perhaps the most unlikely haven for honeymooners, the rich and famous and a local population of around thirteen thousand people. But with its stunning beaches, warm weather, cool ocean breezes, luxurious accommodations, laid back pace and a satisfactory standard of living, Anguilla has become just that. But it was not always so.
It would be an understatement to say that Anguilla was not a valued asset in the Europeans’ plunder of the Caribbean. Its barren, unyielding landscape did not make it a prime choice for crop production. Many years of drought and famine made survival difficult. It seemed more prudent to abandon the island, and relocate the entire population, than for people to try to remain here. Prospects for survival were slim. But the people remained – and without basic amenities, infrastructure or an economy, managed to build a life for themselves. They opened schools, built boats, picked salt, developed trade relationships, worked abroad and sent home remittances. Yet, Anguilla and its people remained obscured from the world view.
All that changed when, in 1967, the Anguilla Revolution brought our tiny island to the attention of the region and the world. Anguillians’ opposition to statehood – to the creation of the Associated State of St Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla – was the subject of regional meetings and agreements, including meetings of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization, where Anguilla’s interests were represented by the late Jeremiah Gumbs. When the British invaded Anguilla, two years later, the world watched as American newscasters conveyed the news with barely concealed ridicule at the British for invading an “unremarkable island” with little more than a salt pond, goats and a peaceful population. From then, until now, Anguillians have been on a quest for a better life right here on Anguilla, for themselves and future generations.
Being Anguillian means we keep going, keep striving, even when others tell us our efforts are in vain. It means never losing hope that eventually better will come, and working assiduously towards our goals. Being Anguillian means that we are unafraid to take a firm stand for what we believe to be right and just – regardless of the pressure put on us to do what pleases others.
Anguillians are people of independent thought and fearless spirit. We are survivors. Regardless of the situation – we adapt, we press ahead and we overcome. Our enterprising nature helped us to carve out a living where everyone else thought there could be none. The desire for knowledge, opportunity and advancement propelled our early efforts to educate our children. We are not constrained by the size or population of our island because we are confident in our capacity to represent ourselves and our country on the international stage. What others think of us is irrelevant. We have always marched to the beat of our own drum and have not allowed others to dictate what is right for us.
It is our resilience, determination and refusal to settle for less than we deserved, that fanned the revolutionary fire and led to our eventual secession from statehood. As a visionary people we did not stop there. We ensured that our fundamental rights as human beings were guaranteed by our Constitution. Tenacity and endeavour propelled our efforts to the development of a sound economy based on the natural resources available to us. The results of those efforts are enjoyed by locals and visitors today.
We are Anguillian. Our history shaped us, our forebears showed us, our experiences taught us, and we have managed to build a nation “proud, strong and free”. Being Anguillian may mean many things but, most of all, it means that Anguilla, an unpretentious, tranquil and beautiful Caribbean island, is where we call home.
