As the family prepares to celebrate the birthday of the late Father of the Nation, Mr. Ronald Webster, members of the local Rastafarian community have thrown their support behind the repainting of the mausoleum housing the remains of the Revolutionary Leader.
Drawn from their popular drum band, Roots Binghi, the patriotic rastas, removed a considerable amount of overgrowth surrounding the hillside mausoleum overlooking the Webster Park – and followed that up with assisting with the repainting work.
Ras Bucket (Trevor Davis), a Physical Education Instructor, and an early Anguillian international sprinter, told why he and his friends undertook the work. “One day while drumming at the mausoleum on Anguilla Day, last year, we got the vibes and said let’s do something special in 2020 for Mr. Webster’s birthday,” he narrated. “Since then, Ras Isley and I have been talking and talking. Just as we went home last December, Yvonne (Webster’s stepdaughter), called me saying she was planning something for his birthday. I told her the spirit was alive because we had just talked about that. She came from St. Croix and we went to Timothy Hodge at Social Security and told him about our plans. He gave us the go ahead and I got the brethren to come up here.”
Ras Bucket, known for his community passion, continued: “Yvonne is now here with us painting, and we will be having a big surprise for the people on March 2nd – and we want everyone to come out to celebrate. Mr. Webster meant a lot to Anguilla. The way I see it, is that if it was not for him, we would not be enjoying what we are having in Anguilla today. It is just like athletics. Ras Bucket went out there and inspired our youth; and Webster went out there, put his life on the line for Anguilla – and now we have an island we can enjoy.”
Ras Bucket also recalled that Mr. Webster had given them permission to use farmland in The Valley for their agricultural activities – and that was one of the reasons for their gratitude to him.
Apart from himself, he named his colleagues doing the work at the mausoleum as: Ras Isley Dadsha; Ras Tunby; Ras IBO; Ras Ishhaia, Ras Bushana; and Ras Empress Authentic.
Yvonne Webster-Pryce commented: “Joshua Hodge (a former close friend and builder) repaired the doors of the mausoleum and it will be a sight to see when he hangs those doors again. He is now here painting – as well as Mr. Webster’s nephew, Basil. I am grateful to the Rastas who have come to assist us and show us love.”
She spoke about her own love for Mr. Webster whom she said was more than a stepfather to her – rather like a father. She went on: “We are here preparing for a singspiration on March 2nd which would have been his birthday. We are repainting the mausoleum which was in a terrible state. The yard was overgrown with trees and weeds, and the Rastas have been very good in coming here to remove them and to assist with the painting – and everything looks so much better.
“Next Monday, at 2.00 pm (a national holiday in honour of Mr. Webster’s birthday), we are going to have the singspiration here. It should be really, really good. Several groups will be performing. It is going to be totally a Gospel event. It is not political. Repeat, it is not political. It is strictly for Mr. Webster in honour of his birthday holiday. The singspiration is going to be an annual affair.”
