Monday, 14th June 2021 — Today, on the official British holiday for Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth the Second, we mark the beginning of a five-day interlude of national mourning for one of Anguilla’s former Chief Ministers. It is a period of quiet retrospection in which the life and legacy of the late Honourable Hubert Benjamin Hughes will be honoured.
For me, personally, Mr Hughes had a significant impact on my life just like the late Hon James Ronald Webster. I consider both of these extraordinary men to have been distinguished and capable politicians, as was also the late Honourable Sir Emile Gumbs. They were great statesmen who dedicated themselves to God and Country, and made esteemed contributions of service to the People.
I dare say their words and deeds left an imprint on the lives of a multitude of persons in our small island community, across the Caribbean region and further afield globally. It is for this reason that I have chosen to compose a personal remembrance of the late Hon Mr Hubert B. Hughes. It is with immense gratitude that I bid a fond farewell to a great statesman whose actions, whilst serving our country, were of benefit to my wellbeing.
The late Mr Hughes played an important role with the assistance of my application for a permit of Permanent Residence in 2014. It is not that he granted any favours, nor pulled strings, to have it approved without going through the required processing mandated by law.
Nonetheless, he came to my aid by assigning a member of the Chief Minister’s staff to be a personal contact during this process. Knowing there was someone to call on and enquire regarding the status of my application – who could go through the proper channels and obtain answers for me – was very reassuring. It made dealing with bureaucratic procedures more easeful.
Prior to applying for Permanent Residence, the late Mr Hughes did another kind favour in 1997. I was working freelance on a consultancy for a development project that was to have been built in Anguilla. At some point during the course of this prospective venture, the Project Manager, who was in London, England, informed me that someone was trying to get me thrown off island.
I immediately contacted the Chief Minister’s Office and spoke with the late Hon Mr Hughes. He was getting ready to travel, so was unable to meet with me at The Secretariat. However, he told me that he would stop by my residence prior to his departure and give me further instructions.
Mr Hughes came to my home. He wrote a personal note informing the Immigration Department that no one was to interfere with my residing on Anguilla – and stated he would deal with the matter upon his return. Fortunately, nothing happened whilst he was away nor afterwards.
To some persons, these infinitesimal acts of the Hon Hubert B. Hughes may seem insignificant. Yet, for myself, they exhibited the generosity, kindness, compassion, empathy and understanding that Mr Hughes gave in service to humanity. He was very outspoken and kind hearted. His speech was eloquent and his word was trustworthy. These moral qualities are what is misplaced in countless persons born and living in this technological era.
I recognised similar attributes in the late Hon James Ronald Webster, who was Anguilla’s Revolutionary Leader and foremost Chief Minister. Our first meeting was in 1982 when I and a colleague arranged a month-long dignitary’s visit to the USA for the late Mr Webster, who was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Cleopatra Webster.
From their verbal depiction of the land, culture and people, my interest in Anguilla was peaked. They did not have any photographs of this small-island Caribbean state. Yet, I knew that this was a place I must see with my own eyes. Their descriptive words inspired my initial journey to this unique piece of paradise.
I am truly grateful to Divine Providence for the graciousness of the Anguillian spirit shown by the late Mr Hubert Hughes and Mr Ronald Webster. In life, we never know whose lives will influence our paths.
My heartfelt condolences and prayers to the Hughes relatives, especially Mrs Norma Hughes, who survives her husband, and their sons, Hon Haydn Hughes and Mr Greig Hughes. The memories live on whilst the body is laid to rest.
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Kay M Ferguson is a contributing columnist who uses the nom de plume, The Empress Extraordinaire. Her words encourage us to explore who we are, evolve as human-beings and transform our world. Link with Kay at anguillawriter@gmail.com.
