More than three hundred senior citizens, and other adult persons from throughout the island, were treated to a sumptuous lunch funded by the Government on Anguilla Day on Monday, May 30, 2016. Anguilla Day is the island’s most historic day, commemorating the May 30, 1967 Anguilla Revolution which brought about the formal separation of the now British Overseas Territory from St. Kitts-Nevis.
The luncheon – at the customary Blue Ridge Conference Centre at Lower South Hill, overlooking Road Bay – followed the official Anguilla Day Parade at the James Ronald Webster Park.
Speaking at the luncheon, Chief Minister Victor Banks – said the big event was part of a celebration marking “an important day in the lives of Anguillians”. He went on: “A lot of you are little older than I am which means that you have experienced Anguilla much longer than I have, and you have known a lot more of the issues to which we reacted in 1967. We have come a long way and, as Pastor Dwayne Adams said in his prayer on the park, we got a lot more blessings than we acknowledged we have received and we have many more we are waiting to receive.
“We are here today to enjoy ourselves in fellowship. I look forward to 2017 when we will be celebrating our fiftieth Anguilla Day. I want to assure you that we are going to have two days of celebration because the event will be so important.”
Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, Minister of Home Affairs, under whose portfolio Anguilla Day celebrations fall, was also elated with the luncheon occasion – and the togetherness and delight it afforded so many citizens of Anguilla.
“I think that over the years we have had some interesting times in Anguilla, and I know that many of you have been around and went through the Anguilla Revolution,” she stated. “I think it will be really something to be proud about coming up next year – fifty years after the Revolution. God willing, we will all be here again for that special anniversary. In the meantime, for this present Anguilla Day Lunch, enjoy your time with your family and friends.”
Former Chief Minister, Mr. Osbourne Fleming – and Mrs. Richardson-Hodge’s elected predecessor in District 2 – reminded all persons who had been around in 1967 that they were now forty-nine years older, like the Anguilla Revolution, and should rejoice that they are still alive. “I have heard a lot about love, unity, and forgiveness. To me, it is a lot of talk but no action. We ought to thank God for where we are today.”
Mr. Fleming, who has some thirty years plus in Anguillian politics, added: “I hope that with these forty-nine years, since our Revolution, that we will begin to think and act in kindness and love to all.”
Mrs. Palmavon Webster, Leader of the Opposition in the Anguilla House of Assembly, also spoke about the need for a greater degree of love and unity among the people of the island. “This is a time when we can come together, share our views and enjoy ourselves,” she said. “We have so much to be grateful for and I just want to say that we should cherish such values as respect, love, equality and fairness among all of us in Anguilla. Have a great time.”
The luncheon was blessed by Reverend Menes Hodge of the Anglican Church. The caterers were English Rose and Ev’s Oven restaurants.
During the luncheon, the Minister of Home Affairs, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, presented bouquets of flowers to the eldest persons at the event: Mary Carty, 94, of Roaches Hill; and Maryllia Martin, 91, of Old Ta.
Musical entertainment was provided by Took and the Boys’ String Band.
