The ailing Speaker of the Anguilla House of Assembly, Mr. Leroy Rogers, was driven briefly to the Court House on Friday, May 25, to witness the commencement of the procession for the Official or State Funeral of the Late Sir Emile Gumbs at St. Mary’s Anglican Church.
Mr. Rogers observed the formation and departure of the procession from a parked vehicle with the Sergeant-At-Arms, Mr. Carl Ruan, sitting with him.
On Wednesday, May 23, during a Special Sitting of the House of Assembly at the Court House, in honour of Sir Emile, a tribute from Mr. Rogers was read by the Acting Speaker, Mr. Terry Harrigan.
The text of that tribute is as follows:
“On behalf of the Anguilla House of Assembly I hereby extend my sincerest condolences to the family of the late Sir Emile Gumbs. There are no words, I am sure, that can dispel the sense of loss you feel today. He truly was a great Anguillian. May God be with you in the coming hours, days and weeks as you cope with his passing.
“The entire nation mourns the death of Sir Emile due to the integral part he played in the modernisation of our country, and the stability his leadership provided to a young nation while it transitioned to a market economy based on the tourist industry. In this regard it can truly be said that he presided over one of the most stable and prosperous periods in Anguilla’s post-revolutionary history. And I am sure history will be very kind to Sir Emile.
“As a member of this Honourable House of Assembly he is one of only two Chief Ministers who was never defeated at the polls. He won every election for which he stood during the period 1968 to 1989, and subsequently retired from office in 1994 after a sterling career in public office.
“This longevity in public life may be attributed to his love for country, his sense of duty or his commitment to the country’s development. However, his most enduring and endearing attributes were his humility and his ability to communicate with all Anguillians, at all levels, in a simple style that evoked respect. These to me were the reasons for his longevity in public life.
“History will record the actions and successes of Sir Emile as a legislator in the Anguilla House of Assembly. We all should be stirred by this legacy of service, commitment and humility.
May his soul rest in peace.”
