There are few places in Anguilla where the island’s past, present and future can meet under one roof quite like the House of Assembly. On Monday, 29th June 2026, that sense of continuity was impossible to ignore as parliamentarians past and present, youth leaders, public servants and invited guests gathered to open a week of celebrations marking the 50th Anniversary of the House of Assembly.
Held under the theme “Honouring Our Past, Shaping Our Future”, the ceremony was as much about remembering the journey that brought Anguilla here as it was about asking where the island goes next.
Opening the event, the Honourable Speaker of the House Tara Carter welcomed those in attendance and reminded the audience that the anniversary belongs to every Anguillian.
“This is not a house for now,” she said. “This is a house for the next 50 years and the next 50 years.”
That message echoed throughout the morning, with young people taking centre stage rather than simply watching from the sidelines. Youth Parliamentarian and poet Uniqua Romney-Dupigny opened the ceremony with a moving poem that traced Anguilla’s story from the resilience of its earliest settlers to the democratic institution that exists today.
“But our story did not begin 50 years ago,” she told the audience. “It began before these walls… with resilient people who arrived on this rock not seeking comfort, but seeking freedom.”
Her words drew smiles and nods when she reflected that “there is nothing that brings a country together quite like boat racing and politics,” before reminding listeners that despite political differences, “we stand on the same island. We look upon the same sea. We dream beneath the same sky.”
One of the morning’s most memorable addresses came from former Speaker and historian David Carty, who mixed humour with history while reflecting on the remarkable transformation of the House over five decades.
Rather than simply recounting constitutional milestones, Carty painted vivid pictures of the Assembly’s earliest days, when meetings were held in the old courthouse around a semi-circular plywood table, with members seated on simple chairs and the public watching from hard wooden benches.
He recalled amusing moments from parliamentary history, from slips of the tongue in debate to narrowly avoiding diplomatic embarrassment during Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Anguilla in 1994, drawing laughter from those gathered. Yet behind the stories lay a serious point.
Carty praised the House’s evolution into one of the Commonwealth’s most technologically advanced small legislatures, highlighting its AI-powered Hansard system, which produces near-instant parliamentary transcripts and allows the public to follow proceedings with unprecedented transparency.
“For one of the smallest parliaments in the Commonwealth,” he said, “this remarkable technological advance…represents an achievement of which Anguilla should be proud.”
Looking ahead, he reminded elected representatives that the House remains a symbol of “strength, unity and endurance” and urged future generations to continue governing with “wisdom and grace.”
The future, however, was not represented only in speeches. Youth Parliament Leader of the Opposition Najique Davis and Youth Parliament Premier Keroni Vanterpool both addressed the gathering, offering thoughtful reflections on democracy and public service.
“As one of Anguilla’s young people,” Davis said, “I am especially grateful for the opportunities that have been created for my generation to engage in leadership, civic participation and nation building.”
He added that while the next half-century will bring challenges ranging from technology to climate change, Anguillians have consistently shown “resilience, wisdom and unwavering determination.”
Vanterpool described the anniversary as an invitation for young people to understand the nation’s history and recognise that “the future of Anguilla will one day rest in our hands.”
Political reflection also featured prominently during the ceremony.
Speaking on behalf of the Honourable Opposition Leader Ellis Webster, Road South representative the Honourable Haydn Hughes argued that while the island has much to celebrate, Anguilla’s constitutional journey remains unfinished.
“We may have become proud,” Hughes said, “but until we are free, we cannot be strong.”
He called for greater constitutional advancement, including a more independent Parliament and legislative building, urging that Anguilla should not still be having the same conversations another 50 years from now.
Hon. Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge, in her remarks, linked the establishment of the House in 1976 to the courage shown during the Anguilla Revolution of 1967.
“The revolution gave Anguilla its voice,” she said. “This House became the place where that voice is heard.”
She challenged the island to think beyond constitutional milestones and focus on building a stronger future through economic diversification, innovation, renewable energy, climate resilience, quality education and transparent institutions.
“When future generations gather to celebrate 100 years of this Honourable House,” the Premier said, “may they say that we did more than remember the legacy we inherited. May they say that we strengthened it, expanded it and passed it on stronger than we found it.”
While anniversaries often focus on nostalgia, the opening ceremony showed that this week’s celebrations are less about looking backwards than ensuring today’s generation understands the responsibility of carrying the story forward.
By Janissa Fleming
