Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/6018/-1/135/
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ANGUILLA DAY 2008 18 Get Awards
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Anguillians turned out in large numbers on Friday, Anguilla Day, May 30, at the Ronald Webster for an Official Parade to celebrate the 41st Anniversary of their 1967 Revolution which eventually led to the formal separation of the island from St. Kitts-Nevis.
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CM Fleming with Police Commissioner
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The parade comprised contingents from the Royal Anguilla Police Force, Prison Officers, the Anguilla Fire Service, Scouts, Cub Scouts, Guides, Brownies and Pathfinders, all under the overall command of Inspector Allan Carty and with the Police Community Band in attendance. Of much note was a performance by “The Little Patriots”, a newly-formed drum band, with members from Welches and Island Harbour. The various uniformed units were inspected by Chief Minister and Minister of Home Affairs, the Honourable Osbourne Fleming, who later delivered an address to the gathering.
Following his address, Mr. Fleming presented awards to eighteen recipients for their varied contributions to the Anguilla Revolution and to the social and economic development of the island. The awards were Queen Certificates and the Badges of Honour.
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Contingent from the Anguilla Fire Service
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The awardees, in order of presentation were leading businessman, Albert Lake, OBE, (Social and Economic Development); Etienne Gumbs (Revolution); Lunsford Richardson (posthumously) (Revolution and Social Development); Michael (Dumpa) Martin (Music Education Development); Walter Vanterpool (Social Development); Illidge Richardson (Deputy Police Commissioner) (Law Enforcement and Social Development); Owen Mussington (Social Development); Vernon R. Hodge (Social Development); Carl T. Smith (Social Development); James Maxwell Vanterpool (Social Development); Peter Emmanuel Adams (posthumously) (Social and Political Development); Joshua Gumbs (Social and Political Development); Franklyn Richardson (Revolution); Daphne Jacobs-Richardson (Music Education Development); Vernon Hodge (Revolution and Social Development); Nelson Hughes (Revolution); Ursula T. Webster (Revolution); and Lennox Vanterpool (Music Education Development).
Noting that the theme of this year’s Anguilla Day celebration was “Building on a Solid Foundation: The Anguilla Revolution at 41”, Chief Minister Fleming said: “These words are fitting as they speak to a nation that continues to erect its edifice in a global setting that is increasingly more hostile. These words remind us as a people who continue to strive to make a place in history. These words give a mental picture of a young country building on its efforts, toil and sacrifice of generations of Anguillians who have gone before us.”
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Members of the Little Patriots Band
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Mr. Fleming said the four corners of Anguilla’s foundation, grounded on divine providence, were love for fellowmen and country, justice and fairness, the ability to develop technology and a spirit of independence. He also recalled that Anguilla was well known throughout the Caribbean for its scholars in law, medicine and religion. “It was no surprise that when two corners of our foundation were threatened, that is fairness and justice and independence, we called on one another to band together as Anguillians in an effort to forge our own destiny,” he stated.
“Our leaders of the day knew our foundation well,” the Chief Minister continued. “In the persons of James Ronald Webster and Atlin Noraldo Harrigan our direction was forged with support from other able-bodied and strategic thinkers like Walter Hodge, Wallace Rey, Peter Adams and many others. The people of Anguilla responded with resounding support because everybody knew deep down that the foundation was threatened.
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Governor Andrew George
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“Today, forty-one years later, the house is still not complete. In fact, national development is an ongoing process. While the foundation was laid in 1967, we have still not completed the walls of our illustrious building. Our generation removed from that fateful year, I dare say we are only on the first row of blocks. There are many more to go and even that glorious day when we pour the roof some day, our building must ten be maintained in perfect order for future generations. As we all know, maintenance is important…as many a building has gone into disrepair due to lack of care and attention.
“Today, we can see more threats that can befall us if we are not careful. Some of these threats are no fault of our own. We live in a global village where high oil prices, inflation, recession in North America, natural disasters, collapse of financial markets and terrorism can all impact negatively the walls we now build.”
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Hon. Hubert Hughes
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Mr. Fleming regretted that in many instances Anguillians had moved away from God and Church and that promiscuous living was manifesting itself in violence and drugs among young people and greed and low moral values in the society as a whole. He was happy that youth violence had now subsided and, unlike some of the neighbouring islands, no one in Anguilla had been murdered for the year so far. “We need our young men to stand up for what is right and repair the foundation,” he stressed.
The Chief Minister went on: “We must continue to be on the cutting edge of technology and education. I am proud that our young women are educating themselves at high rates. Some of our young men are doing the same. However, many of them are happy to remain with a high school education. We must ensure that our young men understand the need to grasp higher education as a means of prosperity. The Government of Anguilla provides many university scholarships per year at a level that far exceeds most Caribbean countries. We must avail ourselves of these opportunities or we stand the chance of being left behind in our own country. We must again instill in our children that education is imperative if we are to advance as a nation….
“On this 41st Anniversary, as we consider the foundation on which we stand, let us give thanks to God Almighty for the blessings bestowed on us over the years and ask for His strength and guidance as we move forward…God bless Anguilla. Firm shall she stand throughout every age.”
The Chief Minister’s address and the presentation of awards were preceded by an address by Governor Andrew George, who was grateful to Mr. Fleming for inviting him “to the auspicious occasion – the 41st Anniversary of the time when the people of Anguilla stood up and showed their determination to take their destiny into their own hands.”
Mr. George spoke about the beauty of Anguilla and the natural warmth and friendliness of the people which he and his wife had enjoyed for almost two years since their arrival.
“Apart from the warmth of the welcome people receive in Anguilla, visitors and others who come to live here are very quickly struck by the strength of character and the independence of mind which the people of Anguilla display, he said. “There is no doubt that the people of Anguilla are extremely passionate about their homeland, love for their country and straightforward in expressing their views.”
The Governor spoke about the cordial relationship between his Office and the Government in which they listen to each other’s views and respect each other’s rights and duties under the Constitution and laws of Anguilla. He noted that the Constitution was now under active discussion and “it is right that there should be a thorough and extensive process of debate and consultation before any decisions are made on future changes to the Constitution.” He stated that in the negotiations it was not expected that either side (the United Kingdom and Anguilla) would get everything it would like to see and so there should be some ‘give and take.’ “However we will be working towards a consensus that both parties can live with and that can form a lasting basis for Anguilla’s future development,” he told his listeners.
Opposition Member, Hubert Hughes, stressed the need for Anguilla to remain a stable society and for its young people in particular to be law-abiding. “My only hope is in God and the Church and I appeal to parents to work together with the Church in seeing that we benefit from the Anguilla Revolution,” he said.
Mr. Hughes noted that the people of Anguilla were now pursuing a course of self-determination. “Forty-one years ago we were moving out of colonialism and now, as far as I know, we are more colonised than we were in 1967,” he asserted. “I am happy about one thing: the Chief Minister has taken the mantle in his hands to lead the constitutional review; this is what I always asked for and what I am getting and that’s why I can associate with it wholeheartedly.” He hoped that the British Government would eventually “grant us our fundamental and God-given rights as a people…to run our own affairs.”
In addition to the Anguilla Day Parade, there was an exciting round-the-island boat race and a Senior Citizens luncheon at Blue Ridge Convention Centre at South Hill overlooking Road Bay.
Hon. Hubert Hughes
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