Although by no means the above captioned title indicates that Anguillans are a monolith; we must affirm and learn, if there is one instance in our history, that we can look back and be proud of, it is the unity among Anguillans from all walks of life, who put their lives on the line to make Anguilla what it is today. We can also look back and be proud of our ancestors who resisted the British plan to send them to Demerara back in the day. History repeats itself, I often now hear a joke, where a part of the eastern end of the island is called “Georgetown”.
Thus, we have come thus far by faith, and we must remember in the words of the legendary African American abolitionist Frederick Douglass “without struggle there is no progress”. Let me be clear in stating, that in light of the current situation on the island of Anguilla, the struggle continues for Anguillans at home and abroad to remain vigilant and understand, that we have our interest and our future generations interest at stake. Our proud ancestors gave us a mandate to follow, we must do the rest.
I agree with Mr. Tyronne Hodge’s plea in a recent article (“Endangered Species”), who has issued a call for us to unify, come together and support our leader Chief Minister Victor F. Banks and our elected officials of the Government of Anguilla (by the people, for the people and for the good of the people). Therefore, in supporting our elected officials who were unanimously elected by the people of Anguilla, you are in fact supporting yourselves. In no way can we sit idly by, and let the British Government try their sneak attack, to come and slowly take over Anguilla, under the pretense that they performing good governance.
We must begin to grapple with the intensity of the current situation on the island of Anguilla, and shout out loud and proud, we are not going to go back to business as usual. I knew those British warships surrounding Anguilla recently raised my thinking cap. Morever, I have said it already and I will say it again, Anguilla was a self-governing island, in the months after our bloodless revolution in the mid-sixties. Therefore, with the handwriting on the wall, accountable discussions on and around independence must begin. Furthermore, we must understand the ploy of divide and conquer, yet we can make a choice and understand that in unity there is strength.
God bless you all and may the ancestors continue to keep you in their favor. Long live Anguilla and her people at home and abroad, united we must stand, and in no way can we become divided and fall.
Name withheld at writer’s request.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
