Labour Day 2020 was a memorable day for me as it was the last Labour Day message I would have delivered as Minister of Labour. Today, I greet you as Leader of the Opposition in the Anguilla House of Assembly and as Leader of the Anguilla United Front.
One year on, our beautiful island, and indeed the rest of the world, is still battling with the effects of the COVID-19 virus, in one form or the other. Through it all, our Health team has been on the front lines in the fight against COVID – the fight literally for the safety, health and wellbeing of our beloved nation. They may not be visible but these individuals have spent many sleepless night and long days assisting persons in need, implementing protocols, administering testing and generally ensuring the health and well being of each one of us. And so today, I want to especially thank you, our health team, for all that you do. We see you and we appreciate you.
Today is traditionally a day when we celebrate workers and workers’ rights. We acknowledge the plight and struggles of those that have gone before us, celebrate the advances that have been made over the years and look forward to an even better future. And many of us look forward to the Labour Day Fun Day where so many teams engage in friendly competition at the James Ronald Webster Park, but which has now been cancelled for a second year.
Last year, I spoke about our country’s then status with COVID-19 and the difficult decision our then Government had to make to close our borders to keep our people safe, in the face of positive growth in our economy. Today, our current status has brought a halt to our little economy and has again resulted in the closure of not only our borders but a number of our businesses as well. Many workers have been home for the last year, many experiencing unemployment or underemployment, but all impacted in one way or the other by covid-19.
We know the hardship, the uncertainty, the fears and the absolute pain of not being able to produce or provide. We are a proud people and oftentimes we suffer in silence. I see you. But my message today is a message of hope; a message of love; a message of community and a recognition of our history and our nation’s struggle. To reflect on Anguilla’s history is to acknowledge the fact that we are a deeply resilient and resourceful people. We have never been hopeless people, never been forlorn, and we never give up. We have never abandoned Anguilla during her most difficult periods of droughts or hurricanes, and we will not abandon her now.
We will survive this period. We will stand strong and united as one Anguillian family, and we will overcome.
Over the weeks and months to come, our island will have to move forward, as we do not have the luxury of remaining closed indefinitely. Our mainstay is tourism. Our businesses must re-open and our workers must be able to get back to full employment.
We are now at the point where we must recognise that the world, including Anguilla, will have to live with the presence of COVID-19. Life as we knew it will never return to “normal”. I want to encourage each one of us to look at our personal situations. Look at our children, our elderly parents, our aunts, uncles, close family members, our co-workers and determine how best we can protect ourselves and the people we love. One way to do this is to voluntarily take the COVID-19 vaccine, once you have been cleared to do so by your doctor. Let us work together to rebuild Anguilla.
In the meantime, let us continue to closely observe the health protocols that have been put in place for our safety and well-being.
In closing, I salute all workers in all sectors for your contributions to the development of this island that we love so dearly. And I encourage you to remain steadfast, faithful and strong.
May God Bless Each and Every One of You and God Bless Anguilla!
