“You made me like cricket,” a middle-aged Anguillian woman shouted as Omari Banks approached the mammoth and jubilant crowd at Wallbalke Airport which accorded him a hero’s welcome home from a test series between the West Indies and Australia and one day international matches against Sri Lanka and Australia. Another expression of jubilation rang out over the den of voices, horns and music: “America has Michael Jordan, her basketball hero, and Anguilla has Omari Banks, her cricket hero.”

Arrival at Wallblake: l-r: Pilot Tony Webster, Cardigan Connor, Omari Banks, Farrah Banks, Alkins Rogers and Minister of Finance Victor Banks

Banks, whose sterling performance won him much praise at home and abroad, stepped off the light aircraft on Thursday June 12 where he was greeted by Minister of Finance and Acting Chief Minister Victor Banks (his uncle) and Sports Director Alkins Rogers. Omari, the first Anguillian to be selected on the West Indies Cricket Team, stepped under an arch of water sprayed as a salute to him by one of two fire tenders as he made his way to the VIP Lounge.

Hon. Victor Banks welcoming Omari in the VIP Lounge at Wallblake Airport

Mr. Banks welcomed back Omari on behalf of the Government of Anguilla and described him as a hero who had done a great deal in a short time to make all Anguillians proud of him. He expressed appreciation for the tremendous support shown by the people of the island to the young cricketer who had worked hard towards his achievement and encouraged him to press on as many challenges come his way.

Sections of the welcoming crowd

Replying, Omari expressed delight over his first experience on the West Indies team and pledged to continue to perform to the best of his ability. He was grateful to his family, supporters and well-wishers for their encouragement and looked forward to other matches in which he hoped to play.

Sections of the welcoming crowd

After acknowledging the greetings of the mass crowd, he climbed into an open back vehicle for a motorcade which travelled through Blowing Point and other western areas of the island then through the Valley and around Sandy Hill. The motorcade ended at the Ronald Webster Park shortly after 3.00 p.m. There the main welcome programme took place under the chairmanship of Alkins Rogers, who described the event as “a very special and historic moment.”

Victor Banks said it was a great opportunity for Anguillians to show their appreciation for the success of Omari and to celebrate him. “He has worked hard to build his skills from a very early age. This is an example for all the young people of Anguilla to follow,” the Minister stated. “If you have a dream, it doesn’t happen unless you work hard. What Anguilla has achieved through the achievements of this youth, is something which would have cost us billions of dollars and for that, Omari, we are grateful. It goes to show that any one of us, despite the constraints placed upon us whether by nature or by our own human conditions, if we have a dream it can become a reality …by hard work and effort.”

Mr. Banks said it was a lesson to the young people on the island to apply themselves to achieve their goals. “Youngsters should recognise that Omari has been a focused young man and by virtue of that, he has gained the attention of a lot of people and the West Indies Cricket Board selectors took notice. People only take notice of you when you do well and do your best,” he went on. “This is just the beginning. While we are celebrating this achievement, there is a lot more work to be done and I know that Omari is up to the task and as I assured him, in my welcoming remarks, from time to time he will meet failures …but we will still be supporting him because we know that he will meet successes and we are confident that his successes will be more than his failures.”

He added that the Government was proud to be associated with Omari; that he was exceptionally proud of him and that all the people of the island should also be proud of him and support him in every way.

The Happy Hits celebrating Omari’s homecoming

Other speakers included Colin Johnson, one of Omari’s former teachers, Cardigan Connor, who has been his coach for some years; and Valentine Banks, Vice President of the West Indies Cricket Board who commented among other things: “Thanks to Anguilla for producing Omari and allowing the West Indian people to have something to cheer about.” Iwandai Gumbs, an ardent fund-raiser for the young cricketer and Omari’s mother, Donna Banks, also spoke.

Sprocka, singer and guitarist and dancers performing at welcome ceremony at Webster Park

The programme also involved a number of musical selections from singer and guitarist Sproka, D.J. Richie and the choir of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.
In his reply Omari thanked all his supporters, fellow cricketers and opponents, the Anguilla Government, corporate sponsors and all others who have been of assistance to him. He was particularly grateful to his uncle Valentine Banks, Cardigan Connor and Pastors Philip Gumbs and Cecil Richardson.

Omari’s motorcade leaves Wallblake Airport

Omari’s short rest home ended on Tuesday this week when he left the island for St. Lucia where the first test match against Sri Lanka starts on Friday, June 20.

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