(This article was first published in The Anguillian newspaper on 30th April 1999. It is a useful reminder of from whence we came.)
The role of women in the socio-political and economic development of Anguilla has been marginalised – has never been given adequate recognition. We continue to underestimate our women’s ability and intellect and often hold them to ridicule. For example, a few weeks ago I overheard some young men arguing about whether our House of Assembly should have women among its members. They took the view that women were merely trouble and could not therefore make any worthwhile contribution to debates in the House. One of the men, from whom I expected better, said: “Let me tell you all something! Keep them out! God made the world and rested. God made man and rested. Then God made woman; and ever since then neither God nor man has rested.” He was obviously joking but it does show the scant regard in which our women are held.
Despite the fact that it was the women who were in the vanguard of the struggle for Anguilla’s freedom and self-rule, not one of them occupies a seat in our male-dominated legislature. Idalia Gumbs observed several years ago, in 1979 to be precise, that “when the history of Anguilla is written it would have to be said that whatever Anguilla achieved was achieved because of women. When the island was invaded the men did not face the guns – the women did.” Idalia was among those who faced the guns. But not only that. She was the first woman to become a member of Anguilla’s legislature with her appointment, in 1972, as a Nominated Member of the Anguilla Council. This was on the recommendation of Ronald Webster, the island’s political leader. Four years later (in 1976) she and Albena Lake-Hodge (Teacher Albena), who were members of Webster’s People Progressive Party, won seats in the Legislative Assembly. Teacher Albena was appointed Minister of Social Services.
Chief Minister Webster now had in his government two powerful and capable women. They were renowned for their independent thinking. In fact, they strongly opposed Webster’s handling of a land dispute which led to the closure of the Island Harbour Primary School, for about two weeks, in early 1977. All the elected members of the Assembly, except Webster, supported a settlement in favour of the owners of the land. Webster refused to accept the majority position so when Hubert Hughes (the lone opposition member), on 1st February of that year, moved a motion declaring a lack of confidence in the government, Idalia and Teacher Albena joined the other members of the Assembly in supporting it. They abhorred Webster’s leadership-style and, having supported Hubert’s motion, pulled off a constitutional coup that resulted in his fall from power.
During the debate on the no confidence motion both Idalia, who seconded it, and Teacher Albena spoke out forcefully against what they considered dictatorial tendencies in Webster’s Government. In those days to speak against Webster was tantamount to blasphemy and one could have been subjected to stoning. Idalia and Teacher Albena did not let that bother them and spoke their minds. Idalia told the Assembly that “to disregard the opinion of the representatives of the people in what was supposed to be a democratic society – to entertain that behaviour [from Webster] – was to condone dictatorship,” and that she was prepared to have none of it. She was apparently unhappy from day one with Webster’s leadership-style because she added that “collapse is seldom a blow-out. It is a slow leak, and the leak manifested itself the day after the (1976) elections.” Teacher Albena was equally strong against one-manism in government and was convinced that “the people of Anguilla would not condone dictatorship.” She supported the no confidence motion against Webster because she felt “it was time something was done to revert to the constitutional rights of representation of the people, for the people, by the people.” Idalia and Teacher Albena were women of principle – of strong moral persuasion – who stood up for what they believed though the heavens fall.
Following the passing of the no confidence motion, Emile Gumbs was appointed Chief Minister of Anguilla. Teacher Albena retained her position as Minister of Social Services and Idalia was made Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism. Hubert filled a specially created post of Political Adviser (to Chief Minister Gumbs). The formation of the new government was accompanied by several acts of violence and demonstrations in which the women were again in the forefront. I recall that on 9th February 1977, when the members of Gumbs’ Government were being sworn in at the Court House, that it was a woman who attempted to grab the British Commissioner (David Le Breton) “by what God give him.” I also recall how the Police fired tear gas at a crowd of demonstrators on the outside and that the Police themselves had to run from their own tear gas. There was pandemonium in the Court House when the tear gas filled the building. People fled. Amelia Vanterpool-Kubisch, who was an usher, jumped through a window almost splitting herself in two, but I have never heard her complain of any physical injury. Menes Hodge had assisted her by ensuring that the tail of her orange-coloured dress did not get fastened. Amelia was never known for athletic prowess but once she hit the ground not even Ras Bucket would have caught her.
I wish to emphasise that of the three ministerial posts in Gumbs’ Government, two were held by women: Idalia and Teacher Albena. They were in fact the hurricane anchors of the government in which they held considerable political clout. These strong personalities had more balls than any man in politics in Anguilla then and even now. Teacher Albena was a good strategist and planner and had a level head. Idalia was a pusher – a hard worker – who always got the job done. But one dared not get on her wrong side because, to use the words of Calypso Rose, it was “fire in your wire, Mama!”
I was thinking that Hubert must be smiling, knowing that women like Idalia are no longer in politics. He was no match for her because she was never afraid to put him in his place. I believe that no woman other than Idalia has ever been able to control Hubert since the time his mother held him down to pin on his diapers. When he was Political Adviser to Chief Minister Gumbs, Hubert dared not enter Idalia’s office. She had made it plain (1977) that “if Hubert Hughes had ever set foot in my office I would have smashed his head between the door.” The fact that Hubert’s head is still smooth – does not have a scratch on it – is proof that he took Idalia’s warning seriously. I don’t know what he did her, but whenever she saw him it was like a bull seeing red.
Both Idalia and Teacher Albena must be credited for their role in fighting dictatorial tendencies in government in Anguilla. They certainly made noteworthy contributions to the democratisation of politics and the political process, and to the setting of standards of morality in politics. They had clean hands. Idalia and Teacher Albena laid the groundwork for more tolerant and open government as well as government which listens – for gentler and kinder government. They were among the founding members of the Anguilla National Alliance (ANA) in 1980. Teacher Albena was a driving force in the establishment of the National Bank of Anguilla in 1985. Such was the confidence in her ability that David Carty (1984) once told Webster’s APP that “if they can’t run di country give it to Eric and Tanti [Teacher Albena].” (Teacher Albena was sometimes referred to as Tanti Merle by her political opponents.)
Teacher Albena contributed immensely to the stability of the ANA and its government. When she resigned as a minister on 8th July 1985, because of failing health, many people felt that that was the end of the ANA. However, it was not but her sad passing on 22nd October 1985 was indeed a tremendous loss to the party. It suffered further loss in the by-election which followed in December 1985 when Victor Banks defeated David Carty in the electoral district of Valley South. The ANA has not been able to recapture that seat which Victor continues to win with large majorities.
Ever since Idalia and Teacher Albena made their exit from the political stage only a handful of our women has offered themselves as candidates for political office: Orealia Kelly (1989), Ophelia Richardson (1989), Omah Richardson (1989), Lolita Davis-Ifill (1989), Blondell Rodgiers (1999) and Barbara Webster (1999). This situation begs the question: Why? It is true that despite the role which women played in Anguilla’s freedom movement – despite the example set by Idalia and Teacher Albena, two of this island’s most capable political leaders – Anguillian women continue to take a backseat in the island’s political process. One reason is that Anguillian society continues to see politics as a man’s job. This is reinforced by the teachings of some of our churches which preach that women should be followers and not leaders. These churches cite Jesus’ choice of twelve men as his apostles in support of their teachings. Belto Hughes seems to be supportive of that view when he boasted in the House of Assembly, on 30th March 1999, that its membership reminded him of Jesus’ twelve apostles. If Belto was living in Jesus’ time he may well have qualified as one of them because he is such a pious and caring “gentle gentleman.”
A second reason why our women seldom seek political office is that when they hear about politics some of the first things which come to mind are corruption, lying, wheeling and dealing and swindling of which they want no part. A third reason is that our women are reluctant to jump into the political arena because of the depraved level of political debate – because politics in Anguilla is war – dirty war. Some women are fearful of being torn to pieces by the political pit bulls that dominate the political arena. Blondell Rodgiers got all chewed up during our recent election campaign, and I am sure that she will never forget all the talk about her “sewing drawers” or pantalettes and panties. The only thing the pit bulls did not do was to strip her naked. If she runs again they may well do just that. Ophelia Richardson learnt her lessons in 1989 when she was the target of Eric Reid’s wrath. He told his listeners that when Ophelia was in the civil service her car was too low to go certain places, but after she began her election campaign “her car could run over every rock in Stoney Ground, every rock in Roaches Hill, every hole in North Valley to ask for a vote.”
But personal attacks, though regrettable, are no reason for our women to despise politics. Both Idalia and Teacher Albena were ridiculed but refused to give up the struggle. Even Teacher Albena’s state of physical fitness was aired on the platform. Nashville Webster (1984) told people not to vote for her. His reason: “When you go to a meeting and a candidate have to sit down in a chair to speak to you, how can that candidate really represent you? When that candidate make to get up to speak and can only hit her hip, how can she represent you?” A very cheap shot at a well-respected senior citizen! However, such things did not diminish her courage to fight for what she believed was good for Anguilla. May her soul rest in peace.
But Teacher Albena gave just as much as she took. It was she who first told people (1984) that Bunton Fleming “speaks from both sides of his mouth,” each side saying something different. To this day, people still throw those words at him. As regards Webster’s calling of snap elections in 1984, some two years before they were constitutionally due, Teacher Albena told a public meeting at the Copse: “He [Webster] has thrown back to you two and a half years, and he is coming back to you saying: ‘Give us a mandate for five more years.’ Now that sounds to me so greedy. I compare it to a child who you gave a chocking plate of food to; but his eyes are so big that he eats half – and before he could touch the other half he calls for another plate of food.”
In spite of the several factors which make politics unattractive to women there are signs that after this current breed of political leaders has passed on, political leadership in Anguilla may very well end up in the hands of our women. What are the signs? Let me tell you. It is from the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School (ALHCS) that most of this island’s future leaders will come, and right now the girls are out-performing the boys by far. They are more intellectually alert. They are better thinkers. I am presently doing some part-time teaching of Economics and History at the school and have observed in my Sixth Form Economics Class that the girls are far more mentally alert than the boys. They are working hard but some of the boys are hardly working. And this is the pattern throughout the school. I should add, at the risk of being accused of taking tales out of
school, that I have come across a form of some 20 boys only: not a single girl. Do you know what kind of form it is? A form of under-achievers: Boys only! It is sad that in a school where boys once dominated the top rungs of the academic ladder – the boys are now unable to hold their own among the surging tide of intelligent female students.
The effect of the low level of achievement among the male students at the ALHCS is reflected in the wider Anguillian society where leadership qualities among the male population are grossly lacking. Anguilla is calling out for enlightened leadership – for intellectual leadership – but its men cannot provide it because Anguillian men of intellect are fast becoming an endangered species. Right now they are intellectually poor. Many seem to be brain dead and are in danger of being marginalised by the women. Soon our men’s place will be in the home.
It is for the above reasons that we must look to our women for the future political leadership of this country. They are the ones who, after leaving the ALHCS, are finding themselves in universities and colleges thus getting the training which would enable them to make a more meaningful contribution to the development of their country. They will be the ones who will not only be bringing in the sheaves but who will ensure that the harvest is plentiful – that Anguilla provides an opportunity for everyone – that Anguilla prospers.
(P.S. Fast forward to April, 2015: For the first time three women were elected in districts 1, 2 and 5 respectively – Ms. Palmovan Webster who became Leader of the Opposition; Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge who was appointed Minister of Home Affairs and Education; and Mrs. Evalie Bradley who was appointed Ministerial Assistant in the Ministry of Home Affairs.)
