Three days of mourning, and an Official or State Funeral, with all the attendant pomp and ceremony, have been planned by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and approved by Executive Council, for the late Sir Emile Gumbs, Anguilla’s longest-serving former Chief Minister and the island’s first Knighthood recipient.
The well-respected national passed away on Thursday, May 10, 2018, at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. He celebrated his 90th Birthday on March 18.
Similar to the arrangements for the late Mr. Ronald Webster, Anguilla’s first Chief Minister and Father of the Nation, Sir Emile’s body will lie in state in the Anguilla House of Assembly Chambers as from Wednesday, May 23, for viewing. This will be followed on Friday, May 25, a public holiday, by a Special Sitting of the House of Assembly, at the Court House, for the delivery of tributes prior to the funeral.
The funeral procession and gun carriage will leave the House of Assembly for St. Mary’s Anglican Church in The Valley, where the Thanksgiving Service will begin at 12 noon. Sir Emile, a member of the Methodist Church, will be laid to rest in the Bethel Church Cemetery at South Hill. Flags flying at half-mast, the bearing of his body by a contingent of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, and a gun-salute at the gravesite, are all part of the special arrangements in honour of the departed former political leader of Anguilla – known for his humility, ordinary way of life and not particularly keen about the limelight.
Sir Emile has had a long and successful tenure in the political arena in Anguilla from 1967 to 1994. His was a patriotic involvement in elected public life, and leadership, which followed a long, absorbing and cultural marine connection as an outstanding Anguillian sea captain and an experienced story-teller of tales of the sea from his travels through the Caribbean islands. He was an avid racing boat owner, enthusiastic fan, and a navigator from whom many sought and obtained advice on charts, maps, and seamanship.
It was from the sea, and boats, like the family-owned schooner, Warspite, and his popular racing boat, Saga Boy, and the management of the Anguilla Salt Company, that he entered politic life in 1967 at the outset of the Anguilla Revolution. He was a member of the 15-member Peace-Keeping Committee which conducted the day to day affairs of Anguilla following the expulsion of the St. Kitts Police, the symbol of authority of the Central Government of the late Premier Robert Bradshaw, when Anguilla, along with St. Kitts-Nevis, became an Associated State but rebelled. He also served as a member of the Anguillian delegation which attended the failed Barbados Conference, on July 25, 1967, with Lord Shepherd and Caribbean leaders, aimed at finding a solution to the Anguilla crisis.
Mr. Gumbs was also an early member of the Anguilla Council with the late Mr. Ronald Webster as Chairman. Residing at Sandy Ground, he was initially elected unopposed as the Representative of Road North and in later contested elections he substantially beat his opponents, thus holding on to his seat undefeated for some 27 years. He was a member of the 1968 Anguilla Council which the British Government subsequently “created a legal body in the eyes of the world” with the passage of the Anguilla Administration Order 1971, in the UK Parliament, and the formal appointment of a Commissioner “working in close cooperation” with the Anguilla Council.
His upward mobility in the political life of Anguilla was further bolstered when, after the March 1976 general election, he became one of three Ministers of the Anguilla Government. The others were the late Mrs. Albena Lake-Hodge and Mrs. Idahlia Gumbs, with Mr. Ronald Webster as Chief Minister. The Ministerial System of Government and their appointments followed the making of a new and separate Constitution granted by the UK Government, but which stopped short of formally separating Anguilla from St. Kitts-Nevis.
Mr. Gumbs took on further leadership responsibility when he was appointed Chief Minister in succession to Mr. Webster who, unfortunately, suffered a Vote of No Confidence in the newly-created Anguilla House of Assembly. Mr. Gumbs carried the Chief Minister’s portfolio from February 1, 1977 to May 1980; and again, in another elected term of office from March 9, 1984 to March 16, 1994, following which he gracefully retired from active politics.
His political career was crowned when he was knighted at Government House, Old Ta, by Queen Elizabeth ll while she was on an official visit to Anguilla – in February, 1994 – accompanied by Prince Philip.
Sir Emile’s Government was largely responsible for laying the foundation for a prosperous period of economic development, construction and employment, which Anguilla enjoyed following the launch of an upmarket tourism industry and the building of new and modern hotels. For several years, Anguilla was able to surpass a number of its sister regional islands and attracted many of their nationals to work in the heightened construction industry. Sir Emile is remembered as having presided not only over a stable, progressive and much-respected Government, but also a stable and growing economy.
Soon after his passing, one of his admirers, but not necessarily one of his supporters, aptly described him as having been “The Father of Tourism in Anguilla” in contrast to Mr. Webster who was referred to as “The Father of the Nation” for his role as Revolutionary Leader and First Chief Minister of Anguilla.”
Sir Emile was known for his ready humour and wit. When perhaps unfairly criticised for his frequent travels abroad to promote tourism and investment, he quipped: “You can’t catch fish in The Valley Bottom” – an area of farmland which, despite its abundance of underground wellsprings, can have a dry and unproductive farming surface as it now has.
Despite his humour there was also a serious side of Sir Emile. One day, he returned to his office at The Secretariat from an Executive Council Meeting where he had a disagreement with the then Governor. He was “hopping mad”, pacing the floor, walking out on the porch and back into his office, but he eventually quieted down. He “slept on it” overnight and the next day he was his normal self again.
Sir Emile, former Chief Minister and Knight Bachelor, had learnt, throughout his long tenure of political and administrative office, “to take it easy” and to avoid conflict and confrontation while holding on to what he believed was right and statesmanlike and in the best interest of Anguilla. That was one of the hallmarks of his leadership and integrity and the success he achieved in the high office he held.
