Lessons From The Queen's Baton

Over the years there has not been a better symbol of unity, cooperation and goodwill in the British Commonwealth of Nations than the Queen’s Relay Baton. Set to travel some 183,000 kilometers and cover 71 countries, it has already, in some way, touched the lives of millions of people. Through its technological capabilities, it has also transmitted glimpses of their culture, history and way of life across the world via the internet.

It has been handled and carried by people of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds, by the wealthy, poor and in-between. It has been taken to diverse places and remote regions of each country. Strangely, as the photographs show, in some areas it has been carried on donkeys and curiously held by monkeys as persons sought to document the history of its journey through their territory in every interesting and innovative way.

Here in Anguilla a lot of excitement surrounded the arrival and journey of the Queen’s Baton. In one case, the route was interrupted when Jacquie Ruan of Ripples Restaurant in Sandy Ground blocked the road outside her premises. Proudly waving the Union Jack, she said she stopped the journey to the Pumphouse as it was a historic moment for her grandchildren to see the Baton. Of course they could have simply walked down to the nearby Pumphouse where Sir Emile Gumbs lectured to the escorts of the Baton, but Jacquie wanted it to stop by her place first.

It was a very imaginative and unique method to sensitise people everywhere about the importance of the Commonwealth and in particular the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, in March 2006 in which their countries will be participating.

The journey of the Baton and the enthusiasm with which it has been received in Anguilla and other parts of the world, have sent a powerful message of unity, cooperation and goodwill to all and sundry. There is a need to break down the barriers of disunity and other negative factors that separate so many of our people and countries and to replace them with friendship, understanding and brotherhood.

Here in Anguilla we need something similar to the Queen’s Baton, to spread unity and love among our people. Actually, we need the real thing – people reaching out, embracing and carrying each other as so many of us caressed the Queen’s Baton. So often one hears that Anguillians have lost their traditional spirit of family life, unity and love which for so long had characterised our island and its people. The wish is that this sweet and inspiring spirit would return one day if we do our utmost to encourage it. All is not lost because history has a way of repeating itself and so we may yet once more enjoy some of what we had before.

At times it takes persons in leadership positions to set an example for others in the community to emulate. It is at this point that The Anguillian congratulates the Government and Opposition for so willingly agreeing to put aside party politics and personal vendettas and to work together on the Labour Code and Physical Planning Bills in the national interest. Their decision to discuss the legislative provisions with the people throughout the island and to obtain their input is a praiseworthy undertaken. This can only foster peace and understanding and avoid possible social problems later on.

There is a need in Anguilla for more of this type of cooperation and unity not only among politicians but all persons and organisations so that, in the final analysis, Anguilla and its people are the beneficiaries. If there are lessons to be learnt from the journey of the Queen’s Baton, they are about the importance of fostering unity, cooperation, understanding, goodwill and a sense of nationalism everywhere. Let us in Anguilla apply this to ourselves.