The Anguilla House of Assembly, meeting to discuss a number of national matters on Tuesday, March 22, paused to observe a minute silence as a tribute to the many victims who were killed or injured in suicide bombings in Brussels earlier that day.
The deadly explosions, set off by terrorists, were at Brussels Zaventem International Airport and at Maelbeek City metro station near the European Union Headquarters. It was at Zaventem Airport that Anguilla’s Chief Minister, Mr. Victor Banks, and his delegation, landed a month ago to attend the Overseas Countries and Territories European Union Forum and the Overseas Countries and Territories Association Ministerial Conference.
The Anguilla House of Assembly was led in demonstrating its tribute by the Chief Minister and Leader of Government Business. He said the attacks were perpetrated on innocent civilians travelling through Brussels. He condemned terrorism as a means of dealing with issues, noting that in a civilised world there were other ways of addressing issues. He hoped that the Caribbean will not become radicalised to the extent that such terrorism poses a threat to life in the region.
Chief Minister Banks called on the Chaplain of the House of Assembly, Pastor Lucien McDonna, to pray for the families of the dead and injured and that the hearts of the perpetrators of the bombings would be touched as well.
“It occurred to me, after the Pastor’s prayer that exactly a month ago –- on February 22 – the Speaker’s brother and I landed at the same airport in Brussels. God forbid that such a thing had happened then,” Mr. Banks stated afterwards. He was also accompanied to Brussels by Mrs. Blondel Cluff, the Anguilla Government’s recently-appointed EU/UK Representative; and Mrs. Anthea Ipinson-Connor, Chief Projects Officer and Authorising Officer for the European Development Fund.
