Forging towards a common destiny, Anguilla proud and strong in 2023. That is our theme for this 56th Anniversary of Anguilla Day.
The Father of the Nation, the Honourable James Ronald Webster, wrote in his book Revolutionary Leader “The old Anguilla with its multiple social, economic and political difficulties is in the past and what has emerged is a new Anguilla with a bright future for its people…A far cry from the dirt roads, lack of electricity and water services, poor economic and depressed social status. Our people are free and happy! They live comfortably, have great faith in the future and look at their island with pride as it moves ahead, building an enviable heritage for our future generations.”
This is the vision that our revolutionary heroes had for Anguilla. This is the common destiny they sacrificed for.
Mr. Webster further defined that common destiny “Where all generations of our people could live with dignity and self-respect. Where they have opportunity to not only make a living but become prosperous. An Anguilla where its entire people experience improvement based on fairness and integrity, so that when the rising tide floats the largest ships, it must float the small boats as well.”
We come here each year to remind ourselves of the courage and sacrifice of our forebears, who refused to waiver in their persistence and determination. We come here each year not to lament the past, but to find a message of hope, a message of triumph. Time and time again, these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked so that we might have a better life. As proud and strong people, they determined to weather any storm, overcome any obstacle, face every challenge, come what may, to fulfill their destiny.
Anguilla was forced into Associated Statehood where full powers of internal self-rule rested in the hands of a dictatorial central government in St. Kitts. It was this arrangement, coupled with the lack of satisfactory guarantees for the island, that led to the Anguilla Revolution.
Anguilla was kept subordinate, administratively and economically to St. Kitts.
There was no electricity, running water, telephones, proper health facilities, educational opportunities, airport or paved roads.
The Anguilla Revolution can be summed up as a group of ordinary citizens fighting for survival. It was on a Tuesday just like this one 56 years ago when the Anguilla Revolution officially started, although there had been acts of defiance prior to that day in 1967.
Anguilla Day is the bridge between past and future. It reinforces the bridge between Anguillians everywhere. We are not mere insulated beings, without relation to the past or the future. We live in the past by a knowledge of its history; and in the future by hope, aspiration and anticipation.
I want us to be proud of our heritage, proud of our forebears, proud of our progress, proud of our people.
We control our own destiny—where we came from and where we are headed.
We have inherited the course charted by our forebears.
To visualize destiny, think about walking a path—the different qualities we possess and the decisions we make, contribute to where we end up.
Evangelist Billy Graham said “It is your decisions, and not your circumstance that determine your destiny.”
Our destiny is the sum result of all the choices we make.
Anguilla is a feel good story. We are proud and strong in 2023. With the financial and technical assistance of the United Kingdom, and donations from good corporate citizens, we are recovering from the negative impact of internal and external shocks such as natural disasters and pandemics. We now have declining debt, a thriving bank following the demise of our two indigenous banks, improved and enhanced health care services, free health care for Anguillians 70 years and older, an improved Valley Main Road and Airport Road, a New Ferry Terminal, Airport enhancement accommodating direct commercial flights from the US mainland, a Minimum Wage Proposal which is in its final stages, Food security Programs including fishing and farming projects such as a fish stock survey, Aquaponics and Greenhouse and vertical farming, the Blue Belt Program, the Blue Anguilla Task Force for developing the blue and green economy, Sports Development, including improving current facilities and seeking new facilities such as tracks for athletics and drag racing and a Basketball Stadium in Blowing Point, a Business Incubator Program to incentivize the Creative or Orange Economy, a popular School Lunch Program, improving primary school facilities, and completing the new Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School so that students can finally get off the split-shift system.
But we still have far to go, including a new airport terminal and extended runway, repair of the water network, transition to renewable energy, consumer protection and price control.
And we still have work to do. We have to care for those who have not benefited from the progress which has been made in Anguilla, and for our youth who feel disenfranchised. We must give them a sense of ownership and belonging. And yes, we have to deal with the increasing gun crime and violence. This requires all of us working together; schools, churches, civic organisations, police, Government and the community—all hands on deck.
To reach this common destiny will take a United people with a unity of purpose. There is no challenge that we cannot overcome together. And with unity and a deep sense of purpose we must be confident that a united community working together, striving together, can achieve the dreams and aspirations of its entire people.
We must resist distractions and resist division.
We have a choice. We can choose to be divided or to be united. The energy we expend opposing each other just to be different will defer or derail our destiny.
Our destiny is in our own hands.
We can shape our destiny by hard work and perseverance.
Common destiny is to reach our highest potential. We can be the gem of the Caribbean with a thriving diversified economy and the Costa Rica of the Caribbean with our focus on preserving the Environment and battling Climate Change.
Our thinking and actions could be passionate, but should always be positive.
If we make the right decisions and act according to what we want, nothing can stop us.
An Anguilla Reimagined; economically resilient, socially inclusive and fiscally responsible.
Together we can overcome even the worst of circumstances, with ego out of the way and God on our side.
If I read the temper of our people correctly, we now realise as we have never realized before our interdependence on each other; that we cannot merely take but we must give as well; that if we are to go forward, we must be willing to sacrifice for the good of a common discipline, because without such discipline no progress is made, no leadership becomes effective.
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of the Revolution. The torch has been passed to a new generation—we must be unwilling to undo the progress which has been made. We must be willing to pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of this country.
In your hands, my fellow Anguillians, more than mine or those of this administration, will rest the final success or failure of this country. We struggle against many enemies, the worst of which are greed and self-interest.
Regarding our youth, the only thing they have to look forward to is hope. And we have to give them hope. Hope for a better world; hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to. Hope that all will be alright. Without hope, it means that we would have given up, and would have lost this land for which our forefathers fought.
For as much as Government can do, and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the Anguillian people upon which our country relies.
For every major turning point in Anguillian history, creative leaders, right for the times and uniquely suited to the task, assumed the mantle of leadership.
MLK, Jr said “Great social change can only be achieved through unified effort. One of the great liabilities of history is that all too many people fail to participate through great periods of social change. Every society has its protectors of the status quo and its fraternities of the indifferent, who are notorious for being spectators on the sidelines of a revolution. But today our very survival depends on our ability to stay engaged, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.”
We have gone too far now to turn back. We cannot afford to turn back; the future of our children depends on us; the future of Anguilla depends on us. Like our forebears we stand at the crossroads of history, a proud, strong and resilient people, able to tackle any problem, willing to make any sacrifice.
We are at a point where finally we can say that our administering power is engaged and contributing to our stability, development and economic resilience.
Let us rise today with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. Let us move on in these days, these days of challenge to make Anguilla what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make Anguilla a better nation.
Let us be able to say like Mr. Webster, “The old Anguilla with its multiple social, economic and political difficulties is in the past and what has emerged is a new Anguilla with a bright future for its people. Our people are free and happy! They live comfortably, have great faith in the future and look at their island with pride as it moves ahead, building an enviable heritage for our future generations.” This is my wish today.
So let us forge towards that common destiny, ensuring that Anguilla remains proud and strong, endeavoring to be free.
Have a happy, healthy and safe Anguilla Day.
May God bless you and continue to Bless Anguilla.
Thank you.
