As from Monday, this week, March 21, the Government and people of Anguilla will miss a very resourceful and dedicated public servant – Ms. Priscilla Gumbs. The much-celebrated “Pris”, as she is affectionately called, has retired from the post of Passport Officer in the Anguilla Public Service – an appointment in which she was regarded as having “expert knowledge” and experience.
She has accumulated a total of thirty-five years’ of service as a Government of Anguilla employee. She started up the ladder as an Office Attendant and then, through much dedication and hard work, transitioned to Clerical Officer, Senior Clerical Officer, Medical Records Officer and Passport Officer. In addition, she served as Elections Registration Officer and Protocol Officer. In the latter position she led a cadre of specially-selected young women to perform escort and attendant services during various official visits, events and gatherings. Apart from her public service contributions she is a longstanding and prolific singer in church and community life.
It was Priscilla’s dedication to duty, her endearing qualities, and the on-the-job camaraderie to which she contributed much, that influenced co-workers in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Public Administration to mark her retirement with separate luncheon functions. The formal luncheon was held at Flavours Restaurant at La Vue Boutique Hotel on Sunday, March 20, the day preceding her 60th birthday. The sumptuous spread followed a church service at Bethel Methodist Chapel where she is a member of the Senior Choir and Bethel’s Augmented Choir.
Pricilla was accorded a standing ovation as she entered the classy local restaurant where the programme, which included short addresses, was chaired by Mr. Kenneth Hodge, Principal Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Deputy Governor, Mr. Stanley Reid, who has responsibility for the Anguilla Public Service, said he knew Priscilla best as Passport Officer – a post in which he thought she made her biggest mark on the public service and on a very demanding public. Mr. Reid, who recounted the several other appointments she held, recalled how he personally benefitted from her assistance to him. “When I finished my studies in 1993, and came back to Anguilla with a Law degree and a Legal Education Certificate, I was in a position where I was required to give guidance to persons needing to be naturalised. Priscilla was a valuable resource to me in terms of understanding the British Nationality Act and for that I am grateful,” he stated. He presented her with a plaque on behalf of the Anguilla Public Service. The inscription read: “Thirty-five years of service – honouring Priscilla Gumbs in appreciation of her dedicated service to the Anguilla Public Service: 1981 to 2016”.
Chief Minister, Mr. Victor Banks, recalled Priscilla’s membership, along with his sister and others, in a very religious and singing group which participated in various church and community events. He praised her for working her way through the Public Service and particularly for her duties as Passport Officer. “If Priscilla tells you this is the case, I don’t care who you go to – this is the case. She did not have any legal training, but I trust her judgement on this issue more than that of anybody else,” he stressed. “The Government of Anguilla is going to lose a resource – the institutional memory of Priscilla when it comes to matters of passport and immigration issues. I look forward to her continued excellence [in other areas of life]. I can’t believe she is sixty years old. She doesn’t look so.”
Leader of the Opposition in the Anguilla House of Assembly, Ms. Palmavon Webster, described Priscilla “as a most lovable, most special, most dedicated woman” as evidenced by the number of persons at the birthday and retirement luncheon. A Barrister-at-Law, Ms. Webster commended Priscilla for her knowledge of the law in relation to passport and immigration matters.
Former Permanent Secretary, Mr. Colville Petty, recalled that Priscilla worked in his department for many years dealing with election matters. “When it comes to elections, she is an expert and I must say she is a very wonderful person, very hard-working, and someone who goes the extra mile,” he added.
Various other persons on the floor paid glowing tribute to Priscilla, and she was the recipient of gifts from a group of close womenfolk and friends and the Bethel Methodist Choir.
Responding, but lost for words, the lovely Pris, attired in a beautiful navy blue maxi, thanked everyone for making her feel “so very special” and for their presence and good wishes. Earlier, she told The Anguillian: “The most challenging period of my public service career was when I was appointed as an Electoral Officer and I am still in that post – having served as recently as in the April 2015 general election. I went on the job thinking that I was just going to register names, but it was more than that. As to Passport Officer – that was easy, but it was also a challenging experience. Like everything else, I did what I had to do.”
She added: “I had great years with my friends in Establishments and the Department of Public Administration. I want to thank everyone. We had a great team and there was good camaraderie.”
