On Friday, July 3rd 2026, a special Legacy Awards Ceremony took place at the Anguilla House of Assembly (HOA) to mark the end of the week-long period of 50th Anniversary activities which had begun on Sunday, July 29th with a memorable Church Service at the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary. The House commemorated its past fifty years with the theme “Remembering our Past, Shaping our Future”.
An appreciative number of persons filled the gallery of the House. While many had come to witness the featured awards presentations, some had come to collect the emblems that were bestowed in honour of their departed loved ones who had served as former Parliamentarians or those who had, in one way or another, supported the operations of the House over the past fifty years.
Prayer was offered by Minister Sean Lake of Life Impact Center. Following protocol, the National Song was played on the saxophone by Mr. Darrian Griffin accompanied by Mr. Kasem Thompson, after which an official welcome was delivered by the Speaker of the House, Ms. Tara Carter.
“It is my honour to welcome each of you to this special sitting, marking fifty years of the Anguilla House of Assembly, from 1976 to 2026, the Speaker said… Today, we focus on the limb of our theme ‘honouring the past’. This sitting is primarily to honour those that have gone on before us,” she said. “We honour those that have stood in this House and in Houses that would have existed prior to it. These include past Members, past Speakers, past Clerks, and past officers who, since 1976, gave Anguilla the kind of Parliament that we have to celebrate today.
“We now look ahead to a House that becomes stronger, more independent, and ever more worthy of the people that we serve. That is our work for the next fifty years – to inspire and build those who would be coming before us, taking us into the future. So, I welcome all of you today, and I thank you for taking the time to come on this Friday afternoon,” the Speaker said.
Each current Parliamentarian present was allotted an opportunity to make remarks in reflection of the House and its history as they regarded it over the past fifty years. Apologies were made for the absence of Former Premier, Dr. Ellis L. Webster, as well Island-wide Member and Senior Health Advisor, Mr. Evan MacNeil Rogers.
As the Honourable Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge paid homage to the past parliamentarians, she took time to pay recognition to the work of the Speaker and her organizing team for realizing such a virtuous week of celebrations commemorating fifty years: “Madam Speaker, I wish to begin by extending heartfelt congratulations to you, the Clerk of the House and the entire staff of the Anguilla House of Assembly for delivering such an outstanding and activity-filled week, in celebration of this Golden Jubilee, the 50th Anniversary of our house of Assembly.”
“From all accounts,” she surmised, “this week’s activities reflected the excellence, professionalism, and meticulous attention to detail for which this honourable House has become known. You have marked this milestone in a manner worthy of its significance.
“Today, as we gather at this special sitting of the House of Assembly, we celebrate 50 years, not because ours is the oldest parliament, for it is not; nor because it is the largest, for it certainly is not. But we celebrate because anniversaries like this invite us to pause with gratitude – to honour those whose courage, vision and sacrifice laid the foundation upon which we now stand.”
There was a moment of silence to honour all those who had passed on, as their work and service which they rendered in the House was for a noble national cause.
Those departed members of the House of Assembly included: James R. Webster • Campbell N. Fleming • Idalia B. Gumbs • Albena A. Lake-Hodge • Sir Emile R. Gumbs • Hubert B. Hughes • John W. Hodge • Everet F. Romney • and Atlin N. Harrigan • Departed Speakers of the House included: Franklyn B. Connor • Atlin N. Harrigan • and Leroy C. Rogers •
One departed Clerk was honoured, namely Carmen Richardson.
Living honorees included: Past Member of Parliament, Clive C. Smith; past Speakers of the House, David A. Carty, Terry T. Harrigan, and Barbara J. Webster-Bourne; past Clerks, Venis Simpson, Majorie Connor, and Evalie Bradley.
The Walls of the House of Assembly, particularly in the area of the gallery, are now adorned with plaques indicating the identity of these past stalwarts of the House of Parliament.
The Speaker, Ms. Carter, as well as current Members of Parliament do urge the public to visit the House and view these emblems which profoundly speak to Anguilla’s history – honourable men and women who have laid the foundation upon which the institution of the House has been built and upon whose shoulders the Anguilla House of Assembly now moves forward.
By James R. Harrigan
