“Soft Opening” of the Fountain National Park
Dear Editor,
While we applaud the efforts of our new government in pursuing ways and initiatives to advance our country forward, I must say that I was taken aback by the front page story of the July 31st edition on The Anguillian, which highlighted details of a “soft opening” of The Fountain National Park at Shoal Bay, East.
Allow me to publically state my many concerns regarding such a development.
1. As far as public knowledge is concerned, the event seemed so haphazard and under cover. No wide media notice and coverage was given to the event, with the obvious exception of a couple of entities. Concerning such a project of national interest and importance – one which has been discussed for decades, among Anguillans and Governments alike – to have a “soft” (largely unannounced) opening of this, one of our most significant natural and historical resources should be less than acceptable by our Anguillan community. Additionally, my enquiries reveal that the organizers seem to be very selective of who attend the ceremony, including media personnel.
2. It is also of concern that apart from the Honourable Chief Minister accompanied by his Permanent Secretary, no other Government Ministers were there. Notably absent was The Honourable Evans McNeil Rogers, minister for Social Development, Youth and Culture, and Parliamentary Representative for District 3, where the fountain cavern is located. As a fellow ‘Shoal Bayian’, I would think that Mr. Rogers would of relished the opportunity of being present and involved in such an event; who himself grew up only a little more than a stone’s throw from The Fountain and who has close family and neighbourly ties to such an historic site.
3. Who are the real custodians of such precious Anguillian historic sites like the Fountain Cavern? It seems to have been placed in the hands of the Anguilla Historical and Archaeological Society. Who really is this society? Does it have enough indigenous Anguillan interest and influence?
4. Lastly, but by no means least, is my concern of the participation of a Ceremonial Priest of the Kalinago Tribe in Dominica, who apparently was brought in for the event and performed a certain ritual as part of the ceremony. This is indeed cause for concern. While we accept the historical fact that the Amerindians once occupied Anguilla and had held the Fountain Cavern as a ceremonial meeting place, that has become part of our ‘history’ and not something that we should be returning to. Should such unfamiliar worship be the order of a ceremony of national importance? We are made to wonder, what did the ritual entail? What supernatural being did this Priest prayed to and what prayers were offered over our most significant natural heritage site and by extension over Anguilla?
It should not be the intention of any Anguillan to keep the opening of such an important national icon as The Fountain National Park ‘soft’ for whatever reason. In my opinion, sufficient preparation should have been put in place to facilitate a highly publicized initial Grand Opening of such a much anticipated and talked about important development for Anguilla.
Jerome J. Harrigan
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
