With the elapse of fifty-two years, since the Anguilla Revolution, the historic event continues to occupy the minds of the people of the island very much, and particularly in the run up to, and on, May 30, the Anguilla Day National Holiday.
The above date, in 1967, was when the Anguillian freedom fighters, led by Revolutionary Leader, James Ronald Webster, and others, threw out the St. Kitts constabulary and took control of the affairs of the island in a move that stunned the world.
Now, fifty-two years later, Anguilla’s Superintendent Minister of the Methodist Circuit, said it was a day when Webster and his band of revolutionaries, freedom fighters and foot soldiers, “dared to dream the impossibility.” The Rev. Dr. Wycherley Gumbs, then a school teacher, fresh out of the then Valley Secondary School, was among those anxious Anguillians who looked over the hills to see whether an invasion force, sent by the Central Government in St. Kitts, was on its way to “the rebel island” as Anguilla was called. Now, an influential clergyman, he recalled the event while delivering the sermon at an Ecumenical Service at St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church on Sunday, May 26, as part of the lead-up to Anguilla Day.
“Somehow, an ordinary man, with a God-given mandate, who led Anguilla, looked beyond the abuse and the negatives, and the litany of woes that befell our land, and saw a greater day and a brighter tomorrow,” the Methodist Minister stated. “He marched to the beat of the drum of the heart and others followed. So we are here today because of his purpose-driven life. He, like others would say, to us today: ‘Anguilla at 52 and getting stronger and better’. That is because we are learning from the anvil of the past, from the cesspool of pain and wrong.”
Rev. Dr. Gumbs added: “Hold you head high and don’t be afraid of the dark because those who are purpose-driven …sometimes fear the coming dawn or the darkened night, but they press on…The dream of possibilities for Anguilla, the hope for our children and generations to come, will be buffeted by economic issues, social issues and the hurricanes of nature, doubt, fear and uncertainty and all that lies head for you and me. But those who are purpose-driven will press on with hope in the heart and will never walk alone.”
The Opening Sentences of the service were delivered by Anglican Priest, Rev. Raliville Christian; the welcome remarks were by St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Priest, Fr. Xuan Ho; Scripture readings were delivered by Premier Victor Banks and Leader of the Opposition, Ms. Pam Webster; the Prayers of Intercession were led by Pastor Philip Gumbs of the Church of God (Holiness) – and Sister Ursil Webster-Brooks also delivered a reading.
The singing was led by the Anguilla Jubilee Choir, an inter-denominational group under the direction of church musician and community music teacher, Ms. Lois Hazell. The organist was Mr. Devaunie Richardson, a noted young musician on the island.
A group of four members of From Within Dance Anguilla treated the congregation to a very energetic performance. Members of the Albena Lake-Hodge School’s Concert Band were also in attendance.
