A most solemn and dignified Official Funeral, for Anguilla’s former Chief Minister, the Honourable Hubert Benjamin Hughes, has been applauded by all and sundry across the island.
Furthermore, it has certainly sent a strong message about the quality of Anguillian patriotism to the rest of the Caribbean region, in terms of how to effectively bid farewell to a departed highly-regarded, celebrated and long-serving statesman.
The Official Funeral, with all its attendant pomp and ceremony, was held on Friday, June 18, 2021, a public holiday for the occasion. It was organised by the Protocol Team in the Premier’s Office in conjunction with the family of the late Mr. Hughes, Ministers of religion from different churches and media houses. The funeral was preceded by a week of mourning.
The passing of the much-revered and “larger-than-life” Mr. Hughes, on May 7, was met with sadness and an influx of tributes from near and far. He had some five decades of political involvement in Anguilla, crowned by three appointments as Chief Minister.
His body lay in state in the much-decorated Anguilla House of Assembly, on Wednesday and Thursday, June 16, and 17, when crowds of schoolchildren and adults paid silent tribute to him. It was their second opportunity to celebrate him – the first being an Island-wide Motorcade on Tuesday when they lined the streets, waving flags and singing the National Song.
It was from the Chambers of the Parliamentary Building, on Friday at 9 o’clock, that the funeral procession wended its way to the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary for the Official Funeral.
The impressive procession comprised Government officials, uniformed contingents from the Royal Anguilla Police Force; the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service; Her Majesty’s Prison; Customs Department; Cadet Corps; Scouts, Guides, Pathfinders and Boys and Girls Brigade.
Of much attraction was a special carriage for the former Chief Minister’s casket, provided by Two Sons Funeral Home as a significant addition to their service.
Tributes began at 9.30 at the Pro-Cathedral. The first set of tributes came from members of the public and was conducted Mrs. Janice Hodge, niece of the late Mr. Hughes. The second set of tributes was by a number of officials: Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mrs. Barbara Webster-Bourne; Leader of the Opposition, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge; and Premier Ellis Lorenzo Webster. This session of tributes was conducted by Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Chanelle Petty Barrett, head of the Protocol Team. She also read messages of condolences from the Governments of Antigua & Barbuda; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; the OECS, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, ECCB and CARICOM.
Another speaker was Minister Haydn Hughes, eldest son of the late Chief Minister and his widow, Mrs. Norma Hughes, who delivered a stirring Formal Remembrance of his father. (Space and time did not allow us to give details of the various addresses).
The hour-and-half-long Official Funeral in the 400-seat Pro-Cathedral commenced at 11 o’clock. Two large tents provided added accommodation for the overflow of the sizeable gathering.
The officiating Clergy comprised Methodist Ministers Rev. Wilmoth Hodge who delivered the sermon; and Rev. Candis Niles who moderated the service; the Right Rev. L. Errol Brooks of the Anglican Diocese of the North-Eastern Caribbean and Aruba, who led the litany of prayers; Pastor Cecil Richardson who read the Gospel; and Pastor Rondy Isles-Carty who delivered the opening prayer.
The benediction was pronounced by the oldest Methodist Minister present, Rev. John A. Gumbs. He is in his nineties and was a former Parliamentary Secretary during one of Mr. Hughes’ administrations.
The Official Funeral climaxed with the interment of the body of the former Chief Minister in the Bethel Methodist Churchyard Cemetery at South Hill. His body was entombed in a section of the double mausoleum built by his son, Mr. Grieg Hughes, and his team of workmen. The other adjoining section is reserved for the late Anguillian leader’s widow, Mrs. Norma Hughes, a retired educator.
The attractive resting place is located at a high-rise western portion of the cemetery, with the Sandy Ground coastal village and seascape in the background.
There, the Official National Flag, which covered the mahogany casket, was presented to Mrs. Hughes on behalf of the Government and people of Anguilla by Sgt. Delvin Fleming. A three-volume gun salute, by a firing party from the Royal Anguilla Police Force, concluded the Official Funeral for the Honourable Hubert Benjamin Hughes, who passed away at the age of 87. He retired from active politics in 2015, a journey he began in 1961 when he returned to his homeland from his sojourn in the United Kingdom.
A man of indomitable courage, well-guarded patriotism, political skill and set in his own exuberant leadership style, he now takes his place in the annals of Anguillian and Caribbean history.
May He Rest In Peace.
