Fellow Anguillians,
On May 30th, 1967, a band of patriots, our forebears, fed up with the lack of modern facilities, modern amenities, and infrastructure; plagued with economic hardship; and no assistance provided by the Central Government, ousted the St. Kitts policemen, and set out on a journey of self-determination and economic progress for Anguilla.
As a proud Anguillian, I wish you all a Happy Anguilla Day on this 52nd anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution.
This day is possible because men like the Hon. James Ronald Webster, Atlin Harrigan, Walter Hodge, Wallace Rey, Collins Hodge; women like Daisy Wong, Mildred, Doreen, Nadine, Verna, Aunt Vie; teenagers like Todville, Mitchell and Wilkin; and boys like Fogel and Bull feared nothing and risked everything because they were willing to spend sleepless nights in the bushes, or mind the beaches, or stand in front of soldiers’ guns and police batons, or travel to St. Kitts to solidify the Revolution, or disrupt a Queen Show to stop the Celebration of Statehood; so that all of us now have a chance to chart our own future; to be called Anguillians. They had courage, clear purpose and a ‘just’ cause, and managed to change the course of history.
For this reason, those Anguillians who served time in prison in the service of their country during the Revolution, such as Todville Harrigan, Mitchell Harrigan and Wilkin Smith, should be provided with stipends and free health care for the remainder of their lives. It is the least we can do to honour their sacrifice.
Mr. Webster wrote in his book Revolutionary Leader, “I learned a valuable lesson that Anguillians were willing and ready to risk their lives to change their political and economic future.”
I think it is simple for us to look back 52 years and think that it was all so clear then; that the path was easy; the future sure. It took struggle and sacrifice, discipline and tremendous courage. This culminated in disruption of a Statehood Queen Show, and police being expelled, and a raid on a courthouse and police station in St. Kitts, and defiance at a meeting in Barbados, and the embarrassment and expulsion of Whitlock. I have often thought about our forebears and wonder where they found that kind of courage. This reminds us that ordinary citizens can somehow find in their hearts the courage to do extraordinary things. The Anguilla Revolution represents what is possible when a people stand united.
Yes, 52 years later we have made some progress, but the very pillars of our progress have been taken away or put in jeopardy by the policies and actions of our government. Our two Anguillian-owned banks, NBA and CCB, are lost, replaced with NCBA, a bridge bank, which by definition is unstable, and must be sold; ANGLEC, our electricity Company, a valuable and vital asset, is for sale, most likely losing Anguillian control and its commitment to social and cultural development; the Social Security Fund is being used as a ‘slush fund’ and not being preserved to cover the sick, retired and unemployed.
The Banking Resolution Act and the Banking Obligations Act have increased the National Debt to almost EC $600 million. Servicing this debt and the proposed Goods and Services Tax will increase the tax burden on our people for several generations. I am not saying we shouldn’t pay taxes, but taxes should be reasonable, affordable and sustainable. We cannot raise taxes when the economy is in a tailspin; when jobs are being cut; when we are using up our life savings just to live and make ends meet; when some Anguillians must decide between buying food or life-saving medications. Government would have us believe that this is OK. I say that is not OK!
Other challenges include economic residency which can change the social and cultural makeup of Anguilla, expose our island to persons who do not share our values, or who are not properly vetted thus having potential to harm Anguilla’s reputation. Also, the recommendation of the Foreign Affairs Committee to mandate by Order in Council that British citizens can vote and contest elections in Anguilla. These are current threats to us as a people which require us to be vigilant to protect our homeland.
We not only have a moment of great challenge, but also a moment of great opportunity. We must all come together to tackle the problems, which have stagnated Anguilla’s progress. We have this chance to work together to make the lives of Anguillians, present and future, better and sustainable.
We must organize even when so many try to stop our efforts. We must speak truth, even when they try to silence our words. We must march, even when they mock us, calling us “headless” and ignore us again and again and again. The road is not easy. But the road to change never is.
We know that the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of thousands of voices calling for change. We must remember that we are not as divided as our politics suggest; we are one people; one nation; and we have demonstrated on many occasions that we work together as a formidable force when necessary.
This is our defining moment. A moment when jobs are being lost, and threatened to be lost, businesses are being shuttered, our local bank is unstable, the economy is in turmoil, Anguilla’s reputation is severely damaged, and investors are fleeing our shores.
Recognizing our common purpose is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead, and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared, and our failure to meet them will hurt us all. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership. We must engage the people, especially the Youth, so that all feel invested and have ownership, and shared responsibility.
The “cause” of Anguilla is not complete. We are reminded that Anguillians can do whatever we set our minds to. That is the story of our history.
It is as unacceptable now as it was in the 1960’s that our children may not have a chance to get a good education, or a well-paying job, or own land, or experience conditions which give them the opportunity to be successful in Anguilla. This will require a social and economic revolution.
We must better align our actions with our ideals and become a force for good. We will only know what is possible when we come together, united in common effort and by a common purpose.
Again, Happy Anguilla Day as we pray for a better Anguilla.
May God Bless You and May God Continue to Bless Anguilla.
Dr. Ellis Lorenzo Webster
