Thursday, March 2nd, was a holiday in Anguilla as the people of the island celebrated the birthday of the late James Ronald Webster, the Father of the Nation. This legendary stalwart of the 1967 Anguilla Revolution is credited for liberating Anguilla from the repressive regime of Robert Llewelyn Bradshaw of St. Kitts, in a day when life in Anguilla was virtually primitive.
While many spots on the island were highlighted with celebration, perhaps the most noteworthy was the 4th Annual Singspiration and the 2nd Annual Essay Writing Competition held at Mr. Webster’s resting place, his mausoleum at Pope Hill. There, speeches were made by Government officials, songs were sung and tributes were paid to Mr. Webster’s memory.
The opening prayer was offered Pastor Cecil Gumbs, and the ceremony was moderated by Mr. Lyndon Dunkun.
Apart from being a revolutionist and a political leader, the Father of the Nation was very religious, and one of his favourite songs was “Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus”. This was the first song to be sung following the welcome remarks by Mr. Duncan. Several other songs were sung by the St. Augustine’s Chorale of the St. Augustine Anglican Church in East End of which Mr. Webster was a member. Numbers were also rendered by Evan Webster and Kingsley Richardson.
As is customary, Mr. Webster’s wife, Cleopatra, along with Premier Dr. Ellis Webster ceremoniously laid a blue and white heart-shaped wreath on his tomb.
The Premier then shared holiday greetings and delivered brief remarks: “Today, I want to bring an address on ‘An Unbridgeable Gap and Lessons on Diplomacy’” he said.
“There was a time that the late Mr. Webster described as a time of anger, bitterness and frustration. His emotions could not be contained. It all led to a point when he rejected the documents that required Anguilla to return and rejoin the tri-state of St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla. He threw those documents across the table at the sitting of a conference in Barbados.
“This showed determinate action on the part of Webster, a revolutionary leader. This showed real leadership. Rejoining St. Kitts and Nevis was a union that the people of Anguilla did not want, and one which Mr. Webster could not tolerate. It touched a raw nerve, and it was aggravated by the constant ranting of Premier Robert Bradshaw who declared that Anguilla belonged to him. At that time Mr. Webster’s determinate action was necessary. There were no easy answers – just a resolute leader and a determined people…”
Education Officer, Ms. Sandra Fahie, thereafter, announced the winners of the 2023 James Ronald Webster Essay Competition:
In third place was a Grade Six Student from the Omololu International School, Kathilia Charles. In second place was Nayah Jno-Baptiste, a Grade Six student of the Vivien Vanterpool Primary School, and the First Place Winner was a Grade Five Student of the Vivien Vanterpool Primary School, Saniyah Webster.
Also speaking at the ceremony was the Honoruable Minister of Education, Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers, who primarily congratulated the Essay winners. But she noted: “Dispite the difficulty of the task ahead, the ‘Father of This Nation’ forged for us a path forward from which we can all benefit today.”
She observed: “Mr. Webster’s work for this country reminds me of a quote which says, ‘Great men plant seeds of trees, under whose shade they will never sit.’ And that is the legacy which Mr. Webster has left us.”
The closing song of the songspiration was “Count Your Blessings” rendered by the St. Augustines Chorale. The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Ingrid Lake, and Lyndon Duncan led the singing of the doxology and said the closing prayer.
