The main pavilion at the James Ronald Webster Park is to be replaced after having been severely damaged, on the top level, by Hurricane Irma which struck Anguilla on September 6, 2017. The category 5 tropical storm also damaged other structures on the park including another pavilion and sections of the perimeter concrete wall fence to the south.
Speaking specifically about the main pavilion, formerly known as the Lanville Harrigan Pavillion, Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Sports, Mr. Cardigan Connor, told The Anguillian:
“The next step, obviously, is to replace the pavilion. For a number of years it has been more add-ons than anything else. It gives us an opportunity to build something for the future, and I know for a number of years that has been a topic of discussion.
“Many people will ask: where will you get the funds to do it? Well, I had a conversation with the President of the West Indies Cricket Board, David Cameron, of Jamaica, who visited Anguilla a couple of times. In fact he was last here when we were celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution. The conversation was pretty much about having a fund-raiser in London.
“It is just a proposal, at this time, about having a benefit dinner around May 30, 2018, and a cricket game on May 31 – probably at the Oval – which would involve a rest of the world team and a West Indies team. The Oval has been famous for a number of years for being the home of West Indies cricket in England. It would be a great opportunity for West Indians, who live in England, or those who followed West Indies cricket over the years, to come out and support the islands, that have been affected by the hurricane, like Anguilla, Dominica, and Barbuda.
“It is expected that the likes of Sir Viv. Richards would make an appearance there. Whether or not he would play, I am not sure; but the idea would be to help raise funds to assist in rebuilding some of the stadiums that were affected and assist youth development cricket as well. The fact that there are a number of Anguillians who live in England, especially around the London area, I am sure they will come out and support these events.
“The fact too that there is a connection between Anguilla and England, whether it is that I have played for Hampshire for fifteen years; the fact that Omari Banks played for Leicestershire and Somerset; Chesney Hughes for Derbyshire and also we were visited in the 90s by the MCC; and also by Hampshire, Yorkshire and Leicestershire, I think that is a huge positive. I will do my best to tap into my contacts in England to have them support the events, and I know they will.
It is something I am looking forward to be a part of. I know the Governor is a keen cricket supporter; and so are Theresa May and Boris Johnson. I think that will tap into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as cricket followers, to help not just Anguilla, but Dominica and Barbuda as well as the TCI and the Virgin Islands.”
Mr. Connor added: “I will also throw this out there: the fact that Belmond Ltd in Anguilla has hotels in London and Oxfordshire, and Four Seasons also has a presence in Anguilla, will be very supportive of the events. It gives Anguilla an opportunity not just about raising funds for cricket development or the rebuilding of the park – but also to get our name out there. Sports, as I often maintain, is a great vehicle for tourism and for bringing awareness to the youth, or the people, of any nation. For Anguilla, that connection with England, over the years, has also involved Zharnel Hughes and Shara Proctor who are Angullians but represent Great Britain, as well as Keith Connor in the past and a number of other athletes. I would like to think that this connection can work very much in our favour.”
Mr. Connor has promised further information on the planned replacement of the Ronald Webster Park Pavilion as it comes available.
