Fellow Anguillians! My People!
This year’s Anguilla Day Celebrations are framed against the backdrop of the aftermath of that severe weather event that struck our homeland on Wednesday, September 6, 2017, namely, the infamous Hurricane Irma. Anguillians have distinguished themselves since that time for their resilience in coping with the relief and recovery process and we continue to receive compliments on the manner in which we conducted ourselves through that ordeal.
We also continue to express our deep appreciation for the support that we have received in so many forms from family and friends of Anguilla at home and abroad; investors both local and external; regional and international governments and institutions; as well as numerous donor groups and individuals who have chosen to remain anonymous. We have indeed been truly blessed!
During the very inspiring Service of Thanksgiving at St. Mary’s Anglican Church on Sunday, I was moved by a popular song of celebration, exquisitely rendered by Mrs. Jemima Francis Romney — that for me captured the essence of why we are here today even after the most horrendous storm in the recorded history of our region.
The truth is that we need not be boastful and haughty about how well we have come through the storm — but rather we need to be cognizant of the fact that despite our best efforts the same God – our God who commanded those violent winds is the very God who protected us throughout those raging elements. And so in keeping with the gratitude of that song I am certain that you will likewise be moved to repeat with me the chorus:
“Thank you Lord for watching over us
Through our trials you’ve made us victorious
We praise your name, most great and glorious
Thank you Lord for one more year!”
And while we are in an attitude of thanksgiving, let us remember the soul of the single casualty of that fateful day, the late Mr. Washington Julius, for whom the Lord had another purpose. May His Soul Rest in Peace!
Last year, the Golden Jubilee Year of our Revolution was one filled with mixed emotions because it included the passing of the Father of the Nation. This year we are also saddened by the passing of Anguilla’s second and longest serving Chief Minister the late Sir Emile R. Gumbs. It is clear that their sojourn on this earth had significance for where we are today as a nation — and I believe that in the midst of our sadness we remain grateful for their service to Anguilla and its people. We must therefore expect that this year will also bring new challenges that must be addressed as we seek to accomplish the vision that these and other founders outlined for us.
And since we are remembering our fallen patriots let me especially remember those heroes and heroines of our community and awardees of the Anguilla Badge of Honour and Queen’s Certificate who passed since the last Anguilla Day Celebration. Let us remember: The late Ms. Carmencita Woods; the late Ms. Olive Rogers; the late Mr. Franklin B. Connor OBE; the late Mr. Albert A. R. Lake OBE; the late Ms. Juliette Hawley; the late Mr. Winston Harrigan; the late Ms. Daisy “Wong” Richardson; and most recently the late Sir Emile R. Gumbs. May their souls rest in peace!
The theme for this year’s celebration is an appropriate one as we move through two significant situations, firstly the process of rebuilding after Hurricane Irma; and secondly moving into the next half century after the Anguilla Revolution. It is a statement that reaffirms our mantra of being Proud, Strong and Free; highlights our spirit of resilience as demonstrated in our recovery; and speaks to charting the way forward through to another fifty years. “Still Strong, Proud and Free, Anguilla at 51, Charting Our Destiny!”
Rev. Dr. H. Clifton Niles chose as his text a most appropriate verse of scripture that encapsulates precisely where we need to be as a people and the approach and attitude required to get there in both of the situations that I have highlighted, namely, in the recovery process; and moving forward into the next fifty years.
I quote here that part of verse 18 of chapter 2 of the Book of Nehemiah: “Then they said, ‘Let us start building!’ So they committed themselves to the common good.” The goodly Reverend led us through the requirements for success and the collective responsibility of all citizens of every walk of life in that enterprise. I believe that the message was most relevant for the task that we as a people face in this period.
But without taking away from Nehemiah’s exhortation to his people to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, (which was obviously a critical undertaking/requirement in those days) — I believe that I would want to admonish us as a people today in the words of that famous philosopher/scientist, Sir Isaac Newton when he said: “We build too many walls, and not enough bridges”.
And to further reinforce my admonition in the words of the Turkish contemporary playright, poet and thinker Mr. Mehmet Muran Ildan when he wrote: “If you do not build bridges, precipices will become your fate”.
It is an important fact of life that we cannot advance to the next step until we cross a gap of one sort or another. Sometimes we have people who stand in the gap for us to get us over to the other side — and so we must as a people embrace the concept of building bridges. Bridges can come in different forms, physical, mental, spiritual, learning a language can be a bridge to communicating; and as Mehmet Muran Ildan also says: “Education is all a matter of building bridges!”
But why have I chosen this subject on this 51st Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution? It is first and foremost the fact that as a people we may be in danger of holding on to the past fifty years of the Anguilla Revolution without realizing that we have got to prepare ourselves for a new dispensation where we will require new tools and new skills to be successful. And it is our responsibility as a people to prepare our youth for that period. That is why that catchword in the theme: “Charting our Destiny” is so significant. That is the important task ahead of us at this stage of our history to build that bridge.
I was further inspired into this trend of reflection two days ago when I had my usual visit with the only surviving leader of the early struggle, my friend, the Hon. John “Bob” Rogers. It was as if he had read my mind on this strategy which I have embraced about building bridges. He offered me this admonition that I am obliged to pass on.
Bob said: “Victor this is a year for rebuilding. We should put our focus on the people, particularly Health and Education. Our future lies with our young people. We must bring them along — they are our bridge to a successful future for Anguilla.” It was as if Bob read my thoughts as I have been pondering over what I should say to my people today on this 51st Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution.
In my negotiations with the UK Government to facilitate the disbursement of humanitarian aid without the usual preconditions including new tax measures associated with periods of normalcy — I asked UK Officials to consider 2018 a “bridge year” a “recovery year” to restore us to a level of economic stability. Once again the principle of building bridges was effective in making the argument for a successful recovery process and I am therefore grateful to the Governor and his colleagues for helping us to get this message across to the FCO and HM Treasury.
But most importantly for us as a people, beyond these more practical applications of the principle of building bridges, is the more human application to our relationships as a people. Such bridges are the most effective way that we can progress a united Anguilla. And that principle is in keeping with the usual points that I include in most of my Anguilla Day Messages.
The truth is that Anguilla Day should always be a day to preach love — not hate and retribution.
Not about division but unity.
Not to celebrate with arrogance but to reflect with humility.
Not a day to accentuate our shortcomings with despair — but rather our successes with hope.
A day to look forward — not a time to be trapped in a time warp of the past!
It is a day to pray and to hope for leaders ready to be bold and courageous — yet always remembering to be compassionate and caring.
Let me take this opportunity to commend all the Anguilla Day honorees, past and present, for their sterling contribution to our island in so many different ways. We salute you this Day!
But today even as I pay homage to the well-known heroes and heroines of our Revolution — let me take the time to celebrate the unsung heroes and heroines of that period as well. Those persons who may never get the benefit of having a medal pinned to their chests — but without whom, our journey thus far could not have been possible. I likewise salute you even in your anonymity.
Let me also pay homage to all past leaders especially Chief Ministers: the late Hon James Ronald Webster; the late Sir Emile Gumbs; the Hon. Hubert B. Hughes; and the Hon. Osbourne B. Fleming for their service to the people of this, our, patrimony.
And finally let me take this opportunity to encourage all Anguillians to become effective builders of bridges as a critical strategy for delivering the vision of a nation Proud, Strong and Free! Have a happy, safe and blessed Anguilla day.
May God Bless all of You and May God Bless Anguilla!
