Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/3537/-1/140/
|
Statement By The Honourable Keesha Webster, Second Nominated Membe In The Anguilla House Of Assembly
|
The following is a statement made by Ms Keesha Webster at a meeting of the Anguilla House of Assembly on Monday, May 8, in the Altin Harrigan OBE Parliamentary Building before the Speaker, the Hon. David Carty, and other Members of the House and a number of members of the public (including her family) and broadcast live on radio and television:
|
|
Honourable Keesha Webster delivering statement
|
“If it pleases you, Mr. Speaker, after the last sitting of this Honourable House, on April 11th, 2006 and in this very room, I was arrested and later charged for the theft of $500.00 from Astaphan’s Chambers.
“Owing to my position in this House, to the fact that I am a young Lawyer, and an Anguillian, my arrest was carried by the local media, the media in our sister island[s] of St. Kitts-Nevis and the BBC.
“Given this publicity, and especially given the number of unsubstantiated rumours, I feel it necessary that I address Anguillians and others who are obviously interested in this matter. Also, I am sure that it must be on everyone’s mind what this charge means to my position in this House. I know that many are tuned in today to find out whether or not I will resign from this House.
“There are some who are anxiously awaiting my resignation from and demise in this house and there are others who dread it and by the end of this speech, they will have to wonder no longer.
“You will appreciate, Mr. Speaker, as would members of the public [interrupted by Opposition Member, Hubert Hughes] and Members of this House will understand that for legal and strategic reasons, I cannot, and will not, speak in depth about the charge for which I must answer. That will come to light at the day of trial. What I can say, and what I do say boldly, Mr. Speaker, is that I am not a thief. I did not steal five hundred dollars, or five dollars, or five thousand dollars or forty thousand dollars, or one hundred thousand dollars or, as one rumour has it, three million dollars.
“I cannot tell people what to believe, Mr. Speaker and I would not be as presumptuous to do so; but what I will say is that not everything is as it appears and there is always, always more than one side to a story.
“I have every confidence, Mr. Speaker, that I will be exonerated and vindicated when the time comes for me to answer the charge. As a matter of fact it goes way beyond confidence [Interrupted by Opposition Member, Hubert Hughes] for me but that my faith is in God that not will I be acquitted of the charge, but that the truth behind the charge will surface, that my persecutors will be revealed for what they are and at the end of this incident, that people will see me for who I am, what I stand for, what I condemn and the kind of strength that God has given me through this entire ordeal.
“Having said that Mr. Speaker, and after lots of prayer, I do not believe that it is God’s will that I resign from this Honourable House. I did nothing wrong, I will not be convicted and therefore I will not resign from any position which I hold. I will not step down from this House and neither will I withdraw temporarily or otherwise.
“Today, Mr. Speaker, we have six Bills to be read in this House. If I withdraw from this House, I will not be able to contribute meaningfully to these or any Bills and Mr. Speaker I believe that this House and Anguilla can benefit from my contributions. Further, every member of this House is under an ethical obligation to constructively critique any and all Bills that come to this House and to provoke debate and thought within the Anguillian public.
“As one of the only two regular Lawyers in this House, as an Anguillian, and as an Anguillian Lawyer in this House, I take that obligation very seriously because it means I can assist this House using the training and skills of my profession to establish laws for the peace, order and good governance of this island.
|
|
The Government side of the House of Assembly
|
“As a member of this House and, more so, as a born and raised Anguillian, I will not take my position lightly. My loyalty, Mr. Speaker, is to my country and what example would I be giving if I were to hide and duck from my responsibilities because of a charge that is untrue.
“We expect and encourage our young people to stand even when the tide is against them. We expect and encourage our leaders to take the tough decisions despite the criticisms because it is the best thing for the country. We expect and encourage our young, aspiring leaders, to walk proudly and strongly with their cross upwards so that others would follow and persevere.
“I believe, Mr. Speaker, that the honourable thing for me to do is to stand firm in my innocence and belief; maintain my contributions to this Honourable House, to the people of Anguilla and to Anguilla. I want to be an example for my peers, my students, my fellow Anguillians and to Christians. Therefore, when persons are against me, I will stand and trust God.
“I am in this Honourable House, Mr. Speaker, to champion the causes of Anguilla and Anguillians. I am the voice of those who may not be to write or express themselves, but who have valuable contributions - those who may not want to step in the public arena, but who have something important to say; others who are being victimized or silenced but who genuinely have the best interest of Anguilla at heart. For me, Mr. Speaker, this is a test of my dedication, loyalty, love and respect for God and then my country. This is about doing the best for my country despite my personal obstacles and rest assured, Mr. Speaker that whatever I do, will be to God’s glory and for Anguilla’s prosperity.
“Mr. Speaker, when others can pack up and leave, I must stay here and I must do so proudly. I don’t have US, Canadian, Kittitian or any other citizenship. I have one passport which right now is the custody of the Royal Anguilla Police Force. So, Mr. Speaker, if Anguilla is sinking, I must stay and sink with it.
“Mr. Speaker, as long as I draw breath I will ensure that Anguilla does not sink and the way I can do that, is to continue to contribute to this Honourable House. No arrest, no charge, no rumours, no destructive criticism will keep me from doing that. They can come back for me today after this House sitting in this very place and I will not be discouraged. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, I would have been in good company.
Remember your history: Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela – the most Supreme our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ who were all arrested on unsubstantiated charges so as to prevent them from championing their causes and fulfilling their purposes but every single time their persecutors failed as will mine.
“For the record, Mr. Speaker, and for the benefit of all those listening, let me also say that by law, the court is a separate power from this House and cannot, and is not, influenced by the business or membership of this House. Our functions are very different. Therefore, my remaining in this House will not affect my court case in any way. There is therefore no fear or favour involved and the public can rest assured that at the trial, the prosecution’s evidence will be accepted and weighed for what it is – nothing more and nothing less.
|
|
Opposition members Hubert Hughes and Edison Baird
|
“My position in this House, Mr. Speaker, places me in no way above the law. I, like every other citizen, am subject to the same laws, the same treatment, the same punishment. I am not above the law. I do not consider myself above the law, but I do trust that through the law God will deliver me.
“Having clearly given my position, Mr. Speaker, and if there are no other contributions from this Honourable House on my situation, I do suggest that we proceed with the business of the House and I pray that our debate today will not only be thought-provoking and progressive, but that it will bring glory and honour to God.
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker.”
Editor’s note: The above script was transcribed from a recording made at the office of The Anguillian during the radio broadcast of Miss Webster’s statement.