It is my distinct honour to be able to say a few words to mark the opening of the premier event on Anguilla’s cultural calendar – the Anguilla Summer Festival. As an Anguillian I am proud of the unique features of this festival which marries land and sea in a creative cultural fusion. Our festival is grounded in our history. Carnival (which in the Caribbean has been described as the creative and artistic expression of dispossessed people), originated in ancient Egypt and is now for us a celebration of freedom from slavery. Boat racing, which seems to be in the heart and blood of every Anguillian, has its roots in our history of trade and survival dating back to the late 1700s. The blend of these two elements into one festival has made it not only one of a kind, but a massive cultural production.
This year’s festival is especially momentous because it marks 40 years of celebrating our culture and history. It is going to be big! Forty days of carnival. I take this opportunity to commend the Acting Chairman, the entire Festival Committee, the volunteers and all those persons who will be participating in the events for making all of this possible. I also commend the Chairman of the Boat Racing Committee and his team for doing their part to ensure that boat racing remains an integral part of this festival.
As Minister responsible for culture and on a personal level, I look forward to culture coming alive in all its splendor on the Landsome Bowl stage and other venues, on our streets and on the sea over the next 40 days. Like you, I look forward to the music and dancing, clever lyrics, displays of beauty, intelligence and talent, artistry expressed in exquisite costume design and boat race fever.
During the course of this festival I urge you to be promoters of peace, so that we can all feel safe and comfortable at the festival events. The Commissioner of Police and the ranks of the Royal Anguilla Police Force will be doing all in their power to ensure safety and security, but we too must do our part by cooperating with our police force and discouraging negative behaviour that can sour the festival spirit.
I encourage all of us to remember what this festival is about – a celebration of emancipation and our boat racing heritage. If we keep this in mind, we would want to ensure that from beginning to end, this celebration is one that we can enjoy and be proud of.
With that said, it is my pleasure to now declare the Anguilla Summer Festival 2014 officially open. Best wishes to all of you for a safe and enjoyable Festival.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
