Greetings on this the 51st Anniversary of the celebration of the Anguilla Revolution. As we usher in this year’s celebration we must pause for a moment to remember the contributions of those heroes and heroines who have been called to higher service most recent among them Sir Emile R. Gumbs. May their souls repose in perpetual peace and rise in glory.
The theme for this year’s commemoration of the Anguilla Revolution stands to spur reflection as it states, “Still Strong, Proud and Free, Anguilla at Fifty One, Charting our Destiny”. As we celebrate another anniversary of our struggle let us continue to build on the foundations that our forebears have laid; the paths that have been paved; and the responsibility we must exhibit as a people to ensure Anguilla’s resilience and future for indeed we are still Strong Proud and Free. Our present mission as a people is to commit ourselves to being the architects of the new Anguilla and the Anguilla we wish to leave behind for future generations.
As we continue to chart our destiny we must recognize that there must be unity and healing. There must also be recognition of from whence we came; and a clear understanding of Anguilla’s history and heritage. We must also adapt to changing expectations while we anticipate an exuberant future. For indeed it was in 1967 that we rose above every challenge set before us and turned our position as outcasts and a nation of barrenness into one of resilience and the prospect of a better life for all our people.
To paraphrase the words of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie “to reach this summit which is destined for Anguilla by our Great Creator we are therefore depending on the eternal guide (i.e. Spiritual power). Every Anguillian near and far are one of the whole human family and has his/her personal gifts and talents and his/her own very purpose of existence, whether they are known and developed or still waiting to be explored and strengthened.” As we continue to count the years, Anguilla must become fortified not just for our individual selves but for the continued development and betterment of Anguilla and all its citizens.
A luta continua (the struggle continues)….
Blessings!
Victor F Banks
