(March 2, 2015) with Mr Jerome Roberts
Anguilla’s Revolutionary Leader, James Ronald Webster, turned 89 on Monday, March 2, 2015, and acknowledged, with much gratitude, the good wishes and words of affection from many persons across the island. He was also pleased to welcome brief visits by a number of persons at his Seafeathers Bay residence.
Ailing, but in a strong voice, he said he appreciated the telephone calls, radio messages and other acts of reflection on this birthday. Speaking to visitors, the Revolutionary Leader displayed a great sense of personal pride and humility – two of his hallmark characteristics that have followed him through life.
It was this humility that led him, in January 2013, to respectfully ask the Anguilla Government to cancel the annual official celebration of his birthday – which began in March 2010, with a full national holiday. While the holiday is now a fixture on the annual list of holidays the formal events, which included an official parade, speeches and a motorcade, have been discontinued in conformity with his request.
His letter (January 2013) to the Government stated in part: “I do not wish to downplay this national event, or to disappoint anyone who looks forward to it in any way. I have, however, given the matter much thought and have come to the conclusion that the time has come to review the arrangement. Accordingly, I now wish for the official activities to be discontinued with immediate effect from March 2, 2013, the date of my birthday. My life has always been a simple and humble one. That said, my desire now, from henceforth, is that my birthday should be observed with a public holiday ONLY…It will bring me the same measure of recognition to have my birthday listed as an official holiday on the island’s calendar of events.”
The holiday has, however, provided opportunities for various persons and organisations to hold a number of private functions.
One such event was the second annual Sandy Hill Community function, spearheaded by Mr Jerome Roberts. “There is a sub-committee which was put together to honour Mr Webster’s birthday, after the Government had given him a holiday almost four years ago,” Roberts commented. “Normally, we used to hold this event on the old East End School grounds, but since Mr Webster started to become ill, we decided to bring it to the Sandy Hill Beach whereby be can see what is happening from his porch.
“It is a family fun day. It is also a fundraiser as well. Anything that is raised by this event will go towards community development. So it is two-fold: to observe the public holiday and to give back to the community.”
Mr Roberts added: “We are continuing to commemorate Mr Webster’s holiday. We wish him continued health and Godspeed. We recognised his efforts in terms of helping to shape this island over the years, and the most we can do at this time is to give back and show our support for what he did for us in charting our path.”
Meanwhile, the Commercial Centre in The Valley was the scene of another fundraising activity, this time organised by The Valley South constituency where the AUF candidate is Mr Victor Banks. “We are having a fund-raiser for the Anguilla United Front. The cell of our district 4 constituency has decided to put on this event,” Mr Banks stated. “Of course, it is a day on which the Father of the Nation, the Honourable James Ronald Webster, was born. In recognising his service to the people of Anguilla, his leadership, and the work he has done to transform this island to what it is today, I believe that once in a while the people should get together to celebrate and bring attention to his service.”
Mr Banks continued: “It is as part of that celebration that we, of the Anguilla United Front, are having this fundraiser. We have to engage our people in certain fund-raising activities to develop our campaign as we prepare for the general election in April.”
A third event was a family fun day held by the Seventh-day Adventist Church on the Ronald Webster Park. “As a church family we do not get together as often as we should, so we are taking this opportunity to enjoy ourselves on the holiday for the Father of the Nation,” Pastor Trent Berg said.
“The children need to know that the family that prays and plays together will stay together. So we are gathered here to play volleyball, rounders, a little cricket and other sporting activities, and to enjoy some nice vegetarian meals on sale to support our young people who are going on a mission trip to St Lucia this summer.”
