National Heroes and Heroines Day was celebrated in Anguilla with various events by persons of all age groups across the island. The official holiday was in observance of the contribution of many persons to the 1967 Anguilla Revolution which resulted in the formal separation of the island from St Kitts-Nevis thirteen years later.
One of the main events “Know your Culture” was an initiative started last year by the Department of Youth and Culture. “It is an educational programme in schools to apprise students of different aspects of their culture – things that made us uniquely Anguillian,” said Bren Davis, Director of Youth and Culture.
“We have now decided to take it into the communities so we have a carnival-like float travelling from West End to East End. During the trip up we will be stopping at events in the various communities. Persons, who played a major role in Anguilla’s historical development, and those who carried on the cultural tradition of Anguilla, will speak on different aspects of culture.”
Minister responsible for culture, Jerome Roberts, commended the Department of Youth and Culture for its initiative in celebrating the lives of the island’s heroes and heroines, dead or alive. “Those persons have worked tremendously to move Anguilla in a positive direction,” he said. “The focus of the Youth and Culture Department is to make our young people more aware of the foundation that was laid by our heroes and heroines through this initiative.”
The other main event was the First South Hill Community Christmas Experience event. It was held on the open land between Greig’s Trucking and LaVue Boutique Inn. The highlight was a culinary competition, parts of which featured bread and various other foods baked in a replica of a traditional oven. The activities also included games and musical entertainment.
The programme included an opening ceremony at which there were remarks by Mr Haydn Hughes, the Parliamentary Secretary and a resident of South Hill; Mr Patrick Hanley, Adviser to the Chief Minister and Reverend Dr H Clifton Niles.
There were other events at North Hill involving culinary delights; the Ronald Webster Park where Digicel sponsored a range of children activities; at Bryan’s Stoney Ground the Hope Centre at Sandy Hill; and the Island Harbour Care Centre.
During the trip various gifts were presented to the children.
