Much of the rancour and argument which permeated the Anguillian community for some time now, on several issues, is giving way to a lighter kind of preoccupation: the oncoming carnival activities – formally referred to as the Anguilla Summer Festival. Though our economic, financial and social distresses are still affecting us, the frolic and fun of the festival will offer some respite to many of our people – and probably provide a sort of balm for the bruises and the hard work we have encountered and endured. The age-old maxim ‘work hard, play hard’ may apply in this case.
In playing hard, or thoroughly enjoying ourselves this summer festival, we must also reflect on the historic path through which we, as a Caribbean people, have journeyed, dating back to the days of enslavement experienced by our forebears and the eventual liberty they enjoyed on Emancipation Day. That is why August 1 is a time for celebration in Anguilla and in our region as a whole. For us, here in Anguilla, we have gone a step further by having an almost entire week of holidays featuring a series of boat-races, as our national sport, and an elaborate string of other cultural and musical activities attracting visitors from near and far. Though the cost of staging our events exceeds by far our revenue earnings, the summer festival is, to some extent, a contributor to our economy and should be regarded, promoted and sponsored as such.
Even in our Medium Term Plan, as was presented by the Government Ministries and Departments last week, the summer festival, though not a sizable economic and financial contributor, should have a role to play as part of our tourism promotion plans. We find, for example, that regattas are not just a big sporting pastime in some places, like tiny Monaco, which shares land borders with France, but contribute much to the economic, cultural and tourism way of life there. As may be known, when yacht regattas were introduced in Anguilla several years ago, based somewhat along those lines, as an additional feature to our national boat-racing, it was not followed through for some unknown reason.
Aside from this, one of the challenges facing Anguilla is proper access by air. A story has been told by an Anguillian revolutionary hero who was invited home from St. Thomas to receive an award on Anguilla Day this year. He left St. Thomas for Anguilla via Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands the day before, but only arrived in Anguilla in the afternoon of Anguilla Day. Somebody had to collect his award on his behalf in the morning. Of course, there must have been other flight options available to him, but his story illustrates the problem of insufficient direct access to Anguilla. It is hoped that, with many of our people planning to return home for the summer festival and for family reunions, more direct flights will be available on the St. Thomas/Anguilla route and vice versa at least. The need to improve access to Anguilla is not only on this route, but other routes as well, to and from the island, that need urgent attention to better serve tourists, in particular, visiting our shores.
There are still several days before the actual start of the summer festival and there are yet the pre-carnival activities to be held. Right now, however, the various radio stations are heralding the forthcoming event with sounds of carnival filling the air.
