Going forward into the Anguilla Summer Festival next year, August, 2021, the people of South Hill and the island as a whole are hoping to see the continued emergence of a new event called Sunrise 2 Sunset Cultural Escape.
The event first occurred on Friday, August 7, a national holiday in Anguilla. Coming after several other celebratory activities, it took the island by storm, in the early daylight hours, with a crowded street jam from the former Ace Hardware store, at Swing High, to the South Hill Ball Field.
The event was organised mainly to showcase the talent and contributions which the residents of the Road South and Road North electoral constituencies have made to Anguilla over the years. It was also to involve the people of the island on a whole.
The event replaced what would have been the Last Lap of the Anguilla Summer Festival. That, and other events were officially cancelled due to the Covid-19 restrictions. However, although the island is Covid-free, limited permission was granted to a few groups to hold separate activities. The Bush Boys and PVI, who put on the Sunrise 2 Sunset Cultural Escape, were among those groups.
The above event sought to create a village festival, in South Hill. Thanks, in a way, to the South Hill community which has been holding events there each Christmas Season – and has now made the area available to other groups for various activities as well.
Mr. Karl Woodley, one of the main organisers of Sunrise 2 Sunset Cultural Escape, told The Anguillian newspaper: “This is an initiative of the Bush Boys, a group of young fellows in South Hill (assisted by other persons). They have come up with a community project that is partly cultural with a carnival flare. What we saw earlier was the Sunrise Last Lap, which ended at nine o’clock, and we are here at the South Hill Ball Field which they have transformed into a cultural village.”
Throughout the day there were performances by various bands and DJs, and large quantities of food and drink, with hundreds of persons from across the island in attendance. According to commentators, the well-attended event was a display of unity and camaraderie following a divisive general election – and an opportunity for the enjoyment of persons who, for a long time, had been under a Covid-19 lockdown.
At about 4.00 pm, the Elected Representatives for Road South and Road North, Mr. Haydn Hughes and Mr. Merrick Richardson respectively, delivered short addresses. They applauded the organisers for undertaking the event and to honour a number of persons from both communities for their involvement in culture, including the summer festival, boat racing and other activities, over the years. They looked forward to seeing the cultural event becoming part of the Anguilla Summer Festival.
At sunset, some thirty-five persons were presented with awards. Those awarded for boat racing were: Errol Romney, Percy Romney, George Romney, Lawrence Romney, Ross Romney, Glen Paul, Irving Hughes, Lindy Davis, Devon Daniels, Brian Richardson, Carl (Carlo) Gumbs, Ericson Hughes, Alwyn Richardson, Vernon Richardson, Elvis Ruan and Erin Hodge.
A number of persons were awarded for the Anguilla Summer Festival as follows: Carmencita Davis, Icilma Woodley, Ingrid Richardson, Leon Lake, Calvin Hughes, Morris Davis, Maurice Davis, Jason Lloyd, Jimmy Lloyd, John Lloyd, Zamanda Lake, Garvian Lake, the Musical Brothers, Mussington Brothers, Darwin Mussington, Sherma Hughes and Laville (Pantha) Hughes.
Four song writers, Marvin Gumbs, Garvey Lake, Darly Connor and Haydn Hughes, were also recognised.
The curtains on Sunrise 2 Sunset Cultural Escape came down with a grand display of fireworks.
Mr. Karl Woodley and the other organisers of the event are grateful to various businesses for providing sponsorship.
