Last week, we marked the 52nd Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution under the theme “52 Years of Courage and Fortitude, Steadily Forward We March with Gratitude.” My spirit was lifted with the opening prayer by Rev. Wilmoth Hodge, which set the tone and atmosphe
re for a day of thanksgiving, as we remembered and honoured those who paved the way for a better Anguilla.
I was so happy to see our men, women and children in uniform; and how they filled our hearts with pride as they moved together to the beat and rhythm of our talented marching band. I was equally grateful to see so many of you who attended the celebration at the Webster Park, coming together in our national colours to show our love for country and to remember and value the sterling contributions of our 2019 honourees: • Mr. Clarence B. Fleming (Posthumously) – Revolution
• Mr. Franklyn K. Gumbs – Revolution
• Mr. Kenneth A. Richardson – Revolution
• Dr. Oluwakemi M. Linda Banks – Social Development • Mr. Horace Brooks – Social Development
• Mr. George M. Brooks – Social Development
• Mr. James Lawrence Carty – Social Development
I want to take this time to thank our 2019 honourees for giving of themselves, their time, talents and abilities to the development of our people and country. It is important that we honour you in tangible and meaningful ways. Without your service and sacrifice, the Anguilla that we know and love today would not have been realised. For this, we are most grateful.
In my address as Leader of the Opposition, on Anguilla Day, I called out the names of our revolutionaries. I believe this is important and we must carve their memories and heroic efforts into the hearts and minds of our children lest we forget who we are and how we got here. Our children are looking for inspiration. I take this opportunity once again to speak the names of our first band of leaders:
Ronald Webster, Atlin Harrigan, Wallace Rey, Alfred Webster, Winston Harrigan, Walter Hodge, Collins Hodge and John Rogers. We salute John Rogers, ‘Bob’ as he is affectionately known, who is still with us; praise and thanks be to God. We remembe
r as well those heroes who went to St. Kitts on the Rambler on 10 June 1967; several of whom ended up in prison and risked their lives and liberty for our fut
ure. We salute Todville Harrigan, Mitchell Harrigan, Henderson Smith, Wilkin Smith, Lemuel Phillip, and Valentine (Bobby) Ruan, who are still with us, and Connell Harrigan, Oliver Gumbs, Collins J. Hodge and Albert Gumbs of blessed memory.
I also recognised the tremendous efforts of our women who braved the guns and played a pivotal role in our demand for separation and self-governance: We remember Mildred Vanterpool, Zerah Webster, Florel Harrigan, Daisy Richardson,
Mena Bryan, Doreen Duncan and Ammantrude Fleming.
We must never let the contributions of our national heroes and heroines fade away. This is our heritage and history and we must all play our part in preserving it. Many of you said hearing those names touched you and you have been prompted to share your own memories of the early band of leaders with your children, especially the memories related to those who have now passed on.
I have also been encouraged to request that the House of Assembly implement a system that would allow for the names of the national heroes and heroines to be called out on Anguilla Day from the House of Assembly. In my address, I also made a clarion call for a return to our founding principles and values; the same principles and values that paved the way for our revolution and our separation from St. Kitts and Nevis. Our visionaries of times past noted the importance of love for our fellowmen, caring for our neighbours and communities and unity of hearts and minds, to forge a better and brighter path for our nation. We must put aside the incumbrances that so easily beset us, abhor that which is evil and cleave to that which is good. These are the teachings of our Heavenly Father; teachings that are very much applicable to our country today, as they were over two thousand years ago.
We must not forsake our First Love,
nor aban
don the strong moral and spiritual values that make our country great. We must not allow persons or personalities to sow seeds of discord between us; each of us our brother’s keeper. We should never allow politics or social status to dictate how we treat each other.
I am reminded of the famous words of Shakespeare in his play The Merchant of Venice: – “If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, d
o we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?”. We would recall in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, many persons noted how such a natural disaster became the greatest equalizer in Anguilla. This was an interesting observation that we can all learn from. I am convinced that our faith and our kingdom values have been the undergird of our resilience and our blessings throughout the ages
This year’s Anguilla Day was a moment of reflection for all of us. Like the biblical Gilgal, the ceremony on Webster Park is at once a geographic and historic point on the sacred grounds, and an opportunity to reflect, to remember and to renew our commitment to Anguilla. It was also an opportunity to reignite a genuine love for each other and for our beloved Anguilla that our forebears and revolutionaries shared. This is the compass which must guide us t
o a better and brighter pathway; a pathway
to peace and p
rosperity for our beloved country.
My hope is that you will also reflect on the significance of Anguilla Day in our calendar and make a firm decision to do your part in restoring love and unity in our society, which is the true quality to which every Anguillian should aspire. The future of our belove
Anguilla rests with you and your commitment to advance what is good and the true meaning of our faith. We must act purposefully to create the One Anguilla of our children’s dreams. God bless you and God bless Anguilla, always.
