The untimely and sad passing on 20th February 2016 of Mr Kelvin Webster of The Keys, Island Harbour, a young man still in the prime of his life, brought to mind once again the fragility of life and the fact that none of us has a guarantee that we will live to a ripe old age. The management and staff of The Anguillian share in the sorrow of Mr Webster’s family at this time of bereavement.
When a young person dies, I often think of the many dreams that he or she may have had for his or her own life that will remain unfulfilled; the many milestones he or she may have been looking forward to but will never reach; the plans he or she may have been making that will not come to fruition. Death is always a painful reminder of the fact that we can be snatched away in an instant. Yet, there are more than a few young people among us who live such careless and purposeless lives without recognizing the privilege they still have to fulfill their dreams, reach their milestones and see their plans materialize. These young people appear hopeless and disenfranchised and often assert that young people are the neglected or rejected portion of Anguillian society. While I obviously cannot claim to appreciate the everyday reality of the lives of Anguilla’s young people, I know that there is a lot more opportunity for young people to fulfill their potential right here in Anguilla than there has arguably been at any other time in our history.
Unlike in years gone by when Anguillians had to work abroad in order to make a living and to support their families back home, there are opportunities for young people, right here in Anguilla, if they are willing to be patient and put in the effort. Apart from the Honourable James Ronald Webster and his band of pioneers, who would have dreamt that in 2016 Anguilla would hold so much promise and potential? Don’t get me wrong, our country is far from perfect and there are many things that we need to improve upon. But for any young person who has dared to dream, living in Anguilla is no longer a barrier to the realization of dreams. There are numerous examples in all sectors of society that lend credence to my view.
We have witnessed firsthand the development of a thriving music scene in Anguilla and the growing popularity of musical stars like Omari Banks, Deanna, Natalie, British Dependency, Roxxy and Amalia Watty to name just a few. There is also a proliferation of local bands and other live acts littering the social landscape. As I heard someone describe it recently, Anguilla is fast becoming an “entertainment mecca”.
Further, there is a thriving community of literary artists many of whom are poets who can be found performing in various arenas including the Underground, the Spoken Word, Malliouhana Poetry Competition and other creative scenes. In fact poets, like Alexis Ryan, have represented Anguilla in regional fora. The anthology Where I See the Sun, which features numerous Anguillian poets, is but a snippet of the work of many young literary artists who live among us.
Then there is the digital media and communications industry which holds much promise for young people who we know thrive in this type of space. We have seen the work of young people like Crispin Brooks, Tahira Banks, Ravi and Akio Lloyd, Josveek Heyliger, Jamal and Malik Richard, Rohan Petty and many others who continue to open our eyes and minds to opportunities we never thought were possible a few years ago.
Then the visual artists also continue to amaze us with their work. A visit to Ani Art Academy is an eye opener for those who are unaware of the level of talent our young people hold. Their life-like creations literally jump off the canvas. The work of artists like Shanicia Richardson, Canita Ruan, Daryl Ruan and others, and their efforts in turning their talents into a business opportunity, is a clear demonstration that others can do the same.
Speaking of business, we must applaud our enterprising young people for not shying away from taking the plunge to start their own businesses from scratch. While we may not have thought of the need for such businesses, they have added flavour to life in Anguilla. We must therefore commend young people like Kyle Hodge of Tropical Treats, Orrett and Deborah Wynter of Design Anguilla magazine, Kenroy Herbert of Leviticus, those owners of the various gyms and fitness centres, events planning business, floral designers and several other risk takers for showing us and their counterparts that it can be done.
We cannot forget those young people who are making us proud in the area of sports. Not only the well known Zharnel, Shara and Chesney, but the lesser known Rhina Meade and Artesha Richardson who are representing Anguilla meritoriously. Also, those tennis athletes such as Nzinga Banks, Keon Halley, Avern Gumbs and others who are benefitting from tennis scholarships at US Universities; and other sportspersons like Coleen Johnson and Asharn Hodge who are studying at the University of the West Indies as a result of their sporting prowess. Members of our national cricket team such as Jamar Hamilton and Montcin Hodge, who are playing regional cricket on a regular basis, are also tangible reminders to young people that hard work pays off and that they can achieve anything once they put their minds and hands to it.
Bringing style to the lives of many persons, especially the ladies, here in Anguilla, are those creative young people involved in the fashion and beauty industry. While I am generally clueless about these matters, it is hard not to notice that Anguilla is abuzz with hairstylists, nail salons, make-up artists and even fashion designers – from the well-established Charla Hobson of House of Panache and Janae Reymond of Feel O’Je to the up and coming Donilia Reid. Back in 1967 many persons would not have thought of these professions as being viable in Anguilla where the focus was mainly on survival. Almost fifty years later, our young people are showing us that the goals of the revolution are being realised in some respects.
Mention must also be made of those young people who have chosen to work in the tourism and real estate industry as managers, chefs, event planners, charter boat operators, real estate agents, property managers and the like, who are setting the bar high in relation to their commitment to excellence in their areas of specialisation.
These are just examples and not meant to be exhaustive. There are many more young people, too numerous to be named here, who are making a life for themselves in Anguilla; who are following the example of their forebears by being steadfast in their pursuit of their goals right here on this rock. All of them are a living testimony that, despite our many challenges, the Anguilla Revolution was not in vain. May they be a source of encouragement and inspiration to other young people in our community who have a dream in their heart but may be discouraged, or who may think there is no hope for them in Anguilla. To all our youth who are trying every day to be better than the day before, we wish you every success. You are Anguilla’s pride and future. Don’t give up. Anguilla needs you.
