The passing of Chief Minister Sir Emile Gumbs should be a poignant moment for all of us as we pause and reflect on the meaning of public service, and for whose causes our efforts must be waged.
Sir Emile was one of the towering politicians of our time. No matter what your ultimate view of him is, his work impacted a generation and shaped this island of ours.
His contribution has long been recognized by his own people, by the very fact of how many times they voted for him, making him one of our longest serving Chief Ministers.
Sir Emile, who was rightly knighted by the Queen – and the only Anguillian to have received that honour – has been a patriot to this island. Even before he came to the top leadership, he was making his mark at various levels.
He played his significant part in the Anguilla Revolution – an event that set the tone of modern-day Anguilla. He was one of its central figures, and then became a Member of the Peace-Keeping Committee that ensured a smooth transition to law and order during those turbulent times generations ago.
His passing, coming on the virtual eve of another Anguilla Day Observance might be useful for national stock-taking and re-commitment. While in real time Sir Emile fought as a political combatant, his work, taken as a whole, must be seen as that of a genuine patriot.
Not that any one of us will necessarily agree on all aspects of his stewardship, but it must be said without hesitation that he helped set the tone and the standard for serving the public in this modern era.
A nation this past week has rightfully been united in its grief; a rare One Anguilla feeling that has brought out the sense of family and community in all of us. Which must force us to ask ourselves – shall we go back to old political ways after the official mourning the loss of this stalwart is over?
Shall we learn any lessons from his life of service? We hope that this period of united grief will bring us to realize that we are a united island of family and friends. We may have different ideas on how this island should prosper – but we shall be determined to discuss and debate without seeing any opposing view as a threat; or any person as an “enemy.”
If it is the one thing we should take away from the current political debate here, it is how divisive this current political construct is; and how rude and inappropriate is the tone being set by this current administration.
Our political discourse must be bigger than any individual ego; and must out-size the importance of any single political ambition.
Anguilla is in dire need of servant leadership that can only come through a change in the political culture. That is what makes the One Anguilla concept most potent and relevant.
Politicians are elected by the people not just to serve themselves and their families – but to serve all the people. And we can do so by incorporating all segments of the population and by being willing to engage all viewpoints in our quest for a united national front.
This island cannot live out its full national potential if we remain divided by political tribe; or if we are continually fed by a system that separates the people between “us” and “them”.
Last year’s dislocation by the hurricane, and then this consequent death of a national patriot, should remind us all that “we” are in this thing together. The economic stagnation and the rising unemployment projected for this year must concern all of us; for even if we are not directly impacted ourselves, we all will know many who are.
Given the challenges ahead we can do one of two things:
(a) point fingers and seek recriminations or
(b) come together and find solutions.
The One Anguilla agenda finds it more exciting to come together – working with family, neighbours and friends – to find solutions. It is a concept that this government, by its actions, has failed to embrace. It is a concept that Sir Emile would have appreciated is needed for the empowerment of the people.
It will be an ultimate tribute to him if we can rise above partisanship and the talk of enmity and create this New Anguilla revolution of unity and family.
Let’s wage a fresh battle to save the soul of Anguilla.
I am ready for duty. Count me in!
