In years gone by many positive characteristics were associated with Anguillians, both male and female. Men were considered to be ambitious and hardworking. Many stories have been told of Anguillians, who left to see a better life in St. Thomas, being the first to be hired just because of the reputation of Anguillians for being hard workers. Anguillian women were touted as women to be pursued as they were worthy of marriage as they too were ambitious, as well as faithful and supportive of their husbands.
Sadly, these values, which tended to mark a person as being of Anguillian heritage, are fading fast. The drive to own a piece of the ‘rock’ and to build your own home is not as prevalent among young men as it once was. Today it appears more the norm for Anguillian women to take steps to become homeowners. Many Anguillian women have taken notice and do not consider Anguillian men worthy of their attention, at least not for a serious relationship. The men in turn seem to have formed the view that the apparently fun loving nature of women suggests that they lack the attributes that would make for a successful long-term relationship. It seems that the changing values of Anguillian men and women have resulted in many of them viewing each other with something akin to distaste.
Anguillians were once considered brave and forthright persons. They would tell anyone what they needed to be told without regard for that person’s ‘status’. This no longer appears to be the case. In order to belong or to ensure that they are not blacklisted and made to suffer, many Anguillians now appear to be conformists. Our individualistic spirit appears to have been quelled. This has manifested itself in both the public and private sectors.
These changing values are reflected throughout Anguillian society. In schools many students do not focus or exert themselves. They do not look beyond the moment and there is no consideration of the life they will lead as adults. This may be a reflection of the relations between children and their parents and teachers. Are Anguilla’s children being exposed to the realities of life or is their reality the fantasy life, which many adults appear to be living? Could it also simply be that they are losing respect for authority figures?
Teachers appear to find it easier to allow children to have their way rather than to insist that they respect existing rules. Many teachers admit to being fearful of retribution from students, if they seek to discipline them. Parents do not stand with teachers and insist that their children see teachers as authority figures, to whom they must show respect. Many parents and teachers have chosen to relinquish their responsibility to instil certain values in the children in their charge.
Our elected leaders have wittingly or unwittingly communicated certain messages by their acts or omissions. The Premier’s failure to discipline or denounce the publicized display of violence by an elected member of his government suggests that such conduct is considered acceptable. Many persons have rightly or wrongly drawn a parallel between the minister’s violent conduct and that of other persons involved in violent crimes.
Education no longer appears to hold a place a prominence for Anguillians. Again, our elected leaders by their acts or omissions have wittingly or unwittingly contributed to the lowering of the prominence of education in the Anguillian community. An example, mentioned by many, is the energy being put into the delivery of a new Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre to facilitate a 50th Anniversary celebration, as compared to the attention shown to the delivery of the new secondary school, or the completion of some primary schools, many aspects of which remain unfinished. The fervor of members of the public for the completion of the Cultural Centre, with no apparent regard for the incomplete schools, can also be seen as a reflection of our changing value system.
Can the values, which Anguillians once boasted of and which allowed Anguillians to be genuinely described as “proud, strong and free” be resurrected? Is there even a real desire to resurrect those values?
