One hundred and five cars, seven motorbikes and five bicycles, carrying well over two hundred members of the Anguilla Seventh-day Adventist District, and other persons on the island, participated in a colourful motorcade against violence and abuse.
Called the “Caravan Red Flag Motorcade”, it commenced on Saturday evening, June 29, on the grounds of the Alwyn Alison Richardson’s Primary School at West End.
The long stretch of vehicles, led by the Royal Anguilla Police Force, made its way up to Blowing Point and Rey Hill before terminating outside the Ronald Webster Park. There, the crowd, wearing special awareness t-shirts, was addressed by Pastor Trent Berg and his wife, Mrs. Delrose Berg, Leader of the Women’s Ministry of the SDA Anguilla District. The t-shirts carried such slogans as: “Say No To Violence & Abuse” and “End It Now”.
There were similar motorcades in other islands of the North Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists as well as the other Conferences of the global church.
“The Caravan Red Flag Motorcade in Anguilla has been a success,” Mrs. Berg, the SDA Women’s Leader, surrounded by executive members of her team, proclaimed. She said that there was a recent report of 370 cases of violence and abuse in Anguilla affecting women and children – and, referring to the slogans on the t-shirts, she called for an end to such domestic behaviour.
She continued: “Your awareness has been made. Here is what we need to do from here on – We are going to continue to end it [violence and abuse] now. This is just the start. We have a standing invitation to at least two radio stations to spread awareness in our community. We have over 370 reported cases. Can you imagine the number of other cases that have not been reported?” She thanked various persons and organisations for their support.
Among members of the community at the event was the Leader of the Opposition in the Anguilla House of Assembly, Ms. Palmovan Webster, one of the noted women activists on the island.
She told The Anguillian newspaper: “I think violence and abuse are very widespread in Anguilla. It is an area where there is a lot of secrecy, and I believe that the women, and other family members, who are coming forward and reporting it [are to be commended]. You have heard about the 370 reported cases.
“There are some cases that do not get taken up, but I think the legal environment is supporting people taking responsibility at all levels –counsellors, pastors and school teachers. All through this society, there is a greater acceptance of this responsibility as well – and I think it is wonderful for our children and other young people who also require protection.”
