Dr. Lindell Brookes, in a poetic tribute to Rev. E. Dunstan Richardson, mused about the impact that he (Rev. Dunstan R’dson) had on his life through his guidance and leadership in the Boy’s Brigade; Sunday School; Wesley Guild; and in the village. The occasion was an Appreciation Service for Rev. Richardson, and his wife Amy, at Ebenezer Methodist Church on Tuesday August 27, 2013. Dr. Brookes captured the essence of growing up under the shelter of the outreach programs of the Church and Church leaders fifty years ago. In fact, he painted a picture of a society where leaders, like Rev. Richardson, had the respect of youngsters in the village wherever they were: at church; at school; or at play. In a presentation that is fitting for publication, Dr. Brookes brought many of us back to such influences in the village like Teacher Nardie (Rev. Joseph Lloyd); Teacher Ruby; Teacher Rose; Teacher Lee; and many others of that period who we recall with much adulation.
Just two days prior, on Sunday, August 26, 2013, the Methodist Church officially opened “The Eleos Centre” on the premises of the Old Methodist Manse in Sandy Ground. Its Mission Statement in part being: “the strengthening of families and development of wholesome communities and to facilitate programmes of training designed to enhance leadership potential”. We were told that the name Eleos is of Greek origin meaning: “to show compassion and mercy.” In this context, it is intended that “the cry for help will receive compassionate, restorative and patient engagement”. The Methodist Church Circuit and all the Steering Committee members must be commended for this initiative. It is a family centre that, as Rev. Cecil Weekes intimated, must focus on expanding its outreach so as to maintain its relevance and value to the family and the community. Think Large!!
I mention these two events even as Mr. Charles “Charlie” Christopher Gumbs celebrates his 103rd Birthday – and as I look forward to Mrs. Ursula Connor’s celebration of her 100th Birthday this weekend. All of this has made this a week where the focus is on lives that link us to the past — even as we look forward to initiatives to secure a wholesome future. The question is, what kind of memories are we creating for the next generation that would cause them to wax poetic as they pay tribute to persons who have made a difference in their lives? And what institutions are we building and growing to make that happen? Without being disrespectful, “Charlie” and “Ursula” have many stories to tell. Many of us have heard them and have shrugged our shoulders nonchalantly perhaps muttering: “Things have changed!” The truth is that things have changed — as they will, and must. But should we ever allow the values and principles we have held so dear – and that have made us who we are – to change? I think not!
After several months of complaining about the negative behaviour of our young people — the positive CXC Examination results gave us a feeling that all is not lost. Perhaps this means that we have not abandoned our traditional values associated with excellence in education and training. Or, even more significantly, lead us to ask the question: Are the three young men with the best overall results an indication of a new trend? Such a trend would augur well for our society. Our forebears placed a premium on education such that centenarians like “Charlie” and “Ursula” would lament of the privileges available to young people that they did not have. And they would boast of the fact that they made sure that all their children had the opportunity to get a sound education.
Is that the attitude of parents today? It would seem not! In fact, the recent attitude in our community seems to be to vilify persons who seek to advance their skills and training by labeling them as “elitist” or the “elites”. Such labels nurture resentment and give rise to abusive conduct. While the persons who perpetuate this theory try to enhance their image and fortunes by encouraging rudeness and incivility and by spreading propaganda and lies.
Day after day, the inability of this Government to adequately address the critical issues of the economy causes them to stumble from error to error and look for scapegoats. Latest among those travesties have been the ANGLEC fiasco and the response to the ECCB takeover of the local banks. On the one hand the CM is playing the statesman’s role by asking for calm and patience, while on the other his supporters are using the blogs, in a cowardly manner, to begin the campaign of deceit for the next election. But what is most disturbing is that people in the community, rather than reading the inconsistencies and contradictions for themselves, are repeating what someone else has told them. Is there no independent thought and thinking in Anguilla any longer? Will some people again allow themselves to be led like sheep — believing every baseless item of gossip that is circulated?
But in keeping with the training and guidance that Dr. Brookes spoke about in his poem; the initiatives that we are taking in the community to build wholesome families and societies; the value that our forebears have placed on getting a quality education; and the hope for the nation that our young men and women are demonstrating by the pursuit of excellence, we should evaluate our information more thoroughly before forming conclusions. We should not be accepting information from persons who are afraid to identify themselves. Let them use the professional print and broadcast media to disseminate their information — not the blogs and whispering campaign if they hope to gain credibility. There can be no moral authority available to anyone who talks about corruption if he/she does so by spreading the most blatant and damaging lies about others.
The AUF approach is to seek to take the high road in these matters of national importance. Democracy functions most efficiently when people have accurate information to form their opinions and when leaders are adequately equipped to articulate that information. The students that have graduated from the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School are preparing themselves to take up the mantle of leadership in the various avocations they choose. They expect their political leaders to reflect the values and principles they have been taught. They expect their leaders to be equipped to represent them wherever they may be required to go to do so. That is why the traditional value placed on education and wholesome attributes like honesty, truth and integrity are so important for the people who lead us. If we stray from these values and believe that to strive for excellence is to be elitist; to be courteous and civil is to be weak; to lie and mislead is to be clever; or that the rules are for everyone else — we will be creating to a society that is ignorant of what is required to deliver good governance. Indeed, in that eventuality it would be mere folly to even try to pursue the goal of wholesome national development in such a state of affairs — where ignorance is bliss.
