The incident of 23rd May 2023, at a popular restaurant, involving four elected officials and a private citizen continues to dominate the formal and social media. This is totally understandable as the actions and language of Minister Quincia Gumbs-Marie are considered to be totally unbecoming and unacceptable generally and even more so when they are the actions and words of an elected minister of Government. The situation has been further exacerbated by what many persons consider to be the unrepentant attitude of Minister Gumbs-Marie. Her apology, immediately following the incident, was considered to fall short of an acceptable apology. Her pronouncements and apparent attitude since the apology do not demonstrate contrition in the eyes of many persons.
Minister Gumbs-Marie’s declaration that to err is human, has not served to relieve her of the responsibility to conduct herself appropriately in all circumstances. To accept her declaration as sufficient to relieve her of that responsibility would be tantamount to suggesting that all criminal acts should be excused no matter how serious, since they may be viewed as errors on the part of human beings. While to err is indeed human, consequences follow human errors, and we are expected to learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of others. The consequences that follow errors usually assist with our learning experiences.
While the disappointment and disgust continues in relation to Minister Gumbs-Marie’s conduct, it is hoped that the lessons that can and should be learnt from the incident are not lost on us. Mrs. Shellya Rogers-Webster, Opposition Member in the House of Assembly, delivered a very impactful Keynote Address at the Orelia Kelly Primary School’s Graduation Ceremony on 20th June, 2023. She reminded the students that they have a right to choose. She advised that there is always a choice and every choice made has consequences. She noted that with that realisation comes your ability to exercise control over your life based on your choices. She exhorted the students to have a teachable spirit. She asked them to be willing to listen and learn. She exhorted them to surround themselves with positive energy and influences and pointed out that the wrong circle can potentially cause them to crash and burn if they don’t make the right choices.
Mrs. Roger-Webster’s address appears to have been well received and it is hoped students, parents and teachers and others in attendance will be guided by her words. Mrs. Rogers-Webster is in turn also urged to live her words. Just hours before her now infamous violent words and actions on 23rd May, 2023 Mrs. Gumbs-Marie had been heard in the House of Assembly speaking eloquently in support of reducing violence and criminal activities in Anguilla. Her actions are now considered by many to have lent a lie to her words. Hopefully, Mrs. Rogers-Webster’s future conduct will not evoke the same thoughts.
When one reflects on Mrs. Rogers-Webster’s exhortation to the students that they surround themselves with positive energy and influences one cannot help but wonder how differently the incident on 23rd May, 2023 would have unfolded if the other three elected members present in the company of Mrs. Gumbs-Marie, at the restaurant, had exerted a certain level of influence on their colleague. There appears to have been no effort on their part to encourage her to desist from the conduct displayed. One minister could be heard remonstrating with the private citizen, but it appears that no effort was made to engage with their ministerial colleague over whom one would expect them to have had greater influence.
Lessons can be learnt from this now infamous incident. We should realise that we have the power to make choices, that our choices have consequences and that our company can influence our choices. We should accept that it is our responsibility to make choices and make responsible choices. Consequences will follow our choices so we should endeavour to make good choices. We should keep company with persons who we encourage to influence us to make good choices and who are willing to intervene to help us to make good choices. Condemning Mrs. Gumbs-Marie’s words and conduct is not sufficient, we should learn from this incident, which sadly is now a part of Anguilla’s political history.
