2018 has indeed been a sterling year for many of Anguilla’s young people. Across the spectrum of Sports, Culture, and Education they have excelled, in the process making Anguilla as a Nation proud, even as they advance their own dreams and careers and build their futures.
I want to start by congratulating our musicians and singers, on their achievements. In March, singer/songwriter, Amalia Watty took the American Idol stage by storm with a heart-warming, soulful performance of Bob Dylan’s hit song, “Make you feel my Love”. In April of 2018, Khamal Vanterpool, Kasem Thompson and Kyiv Edwards of Morlen’s School of Music realized a giant step in their musical journey as they played to a sold-out audience at the world-renown Carnegie Hall in New York. In April, all of Anguilla breathed a collective sigh of disappointment as Sprinter Zharnel Hughes, was disqualified in his nail-biting 200 m race at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. But just a few weeks later, in June, 2018, he wrote his name in the world athletics history books as he ran a record-breaking 9.91 secs making him the fastest man in the world. In the world of Cricket, which you know is dear to my heart, young players like Jahmar Hamilton, Kaecy Carty and Soloman Gokarran have done their part in regional cricket to keep the Leeward Islands squad in contention, and in the field of Tennis, the Anguilla Tennis Academy’s alumni, Zinga Banks, Averne Gumbs and Sabrina Connor continue to excel academically while representing their various colleges with skill and style. Meanwhile, veteran Olympian long jumper, Shara Proctor continued to reign at the top of her field in her adopted homeland of Great Britain with a winning jump of 6.73 in Madrid in June following that up with a winning jump of 6.91m at the Muller Anniversary Games in London . And on July 15th, all Anguilla celebrated with our young cyclist, Hasani Hennis who won the 19th annual John T Memorial Cycle race, the first time a local cyclist has captured the prestigious title in the 19 years since the race was inaugurated. Another of our top cycling prospect Elroy Laud who has been training in England for the past couple of years showed his true class with a win in the race in St.Marteen a week after his disappointment of failing to complete the John T Memorial due to mechanical failure.
Speaking of style, what can we, in Anguilla, say of the amazing performance of the reigning Miss Anguilla 2017/2018, Miss Social Security Board, Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers, on her historic achievement of not only being the first Black Woman to earn the title of Miss Universe Great Britain, but also doing so as a native of Anguilla! All of Anguilla stands behind her as she continues her journey to the international stage of the 2018 Miss Universe Pageant, in December 2018, the very first time that Anguilla will have a representative there!
As the Parliamentary Secretary with responsibility for Youth, Culture and Sport, I must say that I am particularly impressed that in spite of the setbacks and challenges brought upon our nation by the destructive power of Hurricane Irma, our youngsters continue to show their sense of resiliency and strength of character in refusing to use the prevailing negative conditions as an excuse to lag in their pursuit of excellence. Their resolve in the face of adversity has led to heights of success of which all Anguillians can be justifiably proud. As our young people work to build the character of our Nation on the world stage, may we at home be encouraged and inspired to build a legacy here of which they and all Anguillians can be proud. Let us resolve to build that professional-grade track and field facility; to support and further develop the program of the Anguilla Tennis Academy; to support and further develop the Anguilla Sailing School for therein lies the future of our National Sport, Boatracing; to build that Cricket Academy; to support and enhance the work of the Anguilla Music Academy and all of our many talented artistes and songwriters; to develop and build that Performing Arts Centre for the benefit of our talented musicians, (after all, we already have the Steinway); to further support and develop a Cycling Academy for the benefit of our budding cyclists; to support and further develop our Anguilla Summer Festival and other cultural events; For we do have a story to tell to the world that is culturally rich, authentic and inspiring. There is much to be done in creating a legacy that will both celebrate and inspire our youth. May God continue to bless Anguilla and keep us as a people proud, strong and free!
