The mausoleum, housing the remains of Anguilla’s Revolutionary Leader and Father of the Nation, the late James Ronald Webster, was a delightful scene of patriotism and celebration on Monday, March 2.
The event, on a national holiday, to mark his birthday, comprised a mixture of singing, prayers and tributes. It was all in praise of the man who gallantly led the island’s freedom movement and separation from St. Kitts-Nevis in 1967 – eventually resulting, 13 years later, as a proud, free and progressive Anguilla.
Mr. Webster, who was born on March 2, 1926, died on December 9, 2016, and was accorded a State Funeral by the Government of Anguilla on January 13, 2017. His remains were interred in a specially-built mausoleum on the rocky outcrop overlooking the Ronald Webster Park where many of the revolutionary meetings were held and decisions taken. One such decision was on May 29, 1967, when Mr. Webster and his followers decided to throw out the St. Kitts Police the following day and take control of the affairs of the island.
The mausoleum, just given a facelift for the occasion, with flags at half-mast, looked resplendent in the afternoon sun. And the spacious tent, of a matching gleaming white colour, was crowded by Anguillians as well as visitors including some from St. Maarten who knew and admired Mr. Webster.
The singspiration began with welcome remarks and prayers by the Right Rev. Errol Brooks who was the main celebrant at the State Funeral for the Revolutionary Leader in January 2017.
The event was organised by Mr. Webster’s step-daughter, Mrs. Yvonne Pryce, who acknowledged the assistance of a number of patriotic persons. She stressed that the idea for the celebration and the improvements to the mausoleum was that of her mother – Mr. Webster’s widow – Mrs. Cleopatra Webster who resides with her in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, but frequently returns to Anguilla with her.
An item which was of much historical value to the audience, was a special presentation written and narrated by brother and sister, Timothy Hodge and Diane Smith. It featured a popular image of Mr. Webster perched on the Sandy Hill rocks gazing out to sea, in the direction of St. Kitts, looking for any signs of an invasion force and to prepare to repel it to safeguard the revolution. It was several days later, on March 19, when British forces invaded Anguilla – but the revolution held fast and eventually succeeded.
Other persons who participated in the programme included Mrs. Olive Hodge, MBE, sister of the late Revolutionary Leader, and widow of the late Walter Hodge who, in 1967, was the Chairman of the Anguilla Peacekeeping Committee which was responsible for the day-to-day administration of Anguilla. She delivered one of the Scripture Readings. Pastor Philip Gumbs and his sister, Mary, of the Church of God (Holiness), and Anguilla’s singer and entertainer, Bankie Banx, gave singing and musical renditions. Roots Bighgi, a drumming group of the Rastafarian community, which was involved in the painting of the mausoleum and cleaning of the grounds, also gave a special presentation.
Near the end of the event Mrs. Cleopatra Webster, assisted by family members, unveiled two plaques. The first was an early letter from the Revolutionary Leader, and Father of the Nation, to the people of Anguilla about his resolve to lead the island’s revolution. The second was a chronology of events leading to the Anguilla Revolution. It was explained that Mrs. Webster felt that there was not enough information about Mr. Webster, available to visitors to the mausoleum and thought that the two plagues would provide that information.
The almost two-hour ceremony was brought to a close by Mr. Don Duncan, a popular follower of Mr. Webster, and the drumming of Roots Binghi with Amazing Grace and the revolutionary song: “We are out to build a new Anguilla”.
