Following is the main section of a tribute to Mr. Webster by Director of Social Security, Mr. Timothy Hodge, on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
Every nation has its symbols. Usually they are found in the country’s flag and Coat of Arms, sometimes they are buildings, birds, animals, natural formations, flowers and fruits.

Mr. Timothy Hodge

Every nation needs its symbols. Symbols are representative of the history and culture and define the country’s inhabitants as a people. One cannot but stand in awe when one visits the capital of the USA, Washington DC, and sees the Capitol Building, the White House and the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials just to name a few, or sees the Statue of Liberty in New York. Jamaica has its flag, the ackee and the Lignum Vitae tree, India has its Lion of Sarnath, Israel the Star of David, St. Lucia the Pitons which are replicated in its flag, and I could go on and on. Some of these symbols have now disappeared, for example Aruba’s Natural Bridge collapsed last year and Anguilla’s Old Mahogany Tree fell in 1971, but they live on in the collective memory of the nations. I say that to say that today we are privileged to have here with us, live and in living colour, our national symbol, Mr. James Ronald Webster, so let us make the most of the moment. (Although when I asked him if he is going to go for the century he asked “why not?”) Of course these countries also have national heroes, but almost as a rule they are not so named while they are alive. However, Barbados has named Sir Gary Sobers as a living national hero among its 10 national heroes, so there is a precedent. Few countries if any though have a national hero who is also a national symbol. Any that is, other than Anguilla, because Mr. James Ronald Webster is for us not only a national hero. He is also a national symbol embodying our national motto “Strength and Endurance”, and today we are proud to salute him.
There is of course quite a lot of other symbolism here. This event takes place on Ronald Webster’s Park. It was given that name because it was right here on these grounds that Anguillians gathered in their masses to determine, in literal and true grass-roots democracy, the country’s destiny. It was here that Mr. Ronald Webster spoke as the Revolutionary Leader and here Anguillians united behind the cause. Gathered here are educators and their students; past, present and future leaders; those who are about to venture into the world of work as well as those who are now into their golden years as Social Security pensioners. The Social Security System, which next year celebrates 25 years of successful operation, owes its introduction to the vision and perseverance, also in the face of much opposition, of Mr. Webster. As a symbol of its appreciation to Mr. Webster, the Board’s office building was named the James Ronald Webster Building.
There is much symbolism also in the gift we shall shortly be presenting to Mr. Webster. It is a sculpture by Mr. Courtney Devonish, internationally acclaimed and honored sculptor and potter who works in wood and ceramics here in Anguilla. I specifically asked Mr. Devonish to sculpt a piece for Mr. Webster because I had learned from The Anguillian Newspaper recently that he is coming to the end of his supply of wood from the Old Mahogany Tree, and I wanted to present a sculpture from that tree. For those of you who don’t know, I am speaking of The Old Mahogany Tree for which the Mahogany Tree Road and the crossroads at the centre of Anguilla are known. The tree, which fell on November 12, 1971, was a part of Anguilla’s history. It was probably the oldest tree on Anguilla at more than 300 years old. It was a meeting place at the heart of Anguilla, and was prominently depicted in the island’s Coat of Arms designed when Anguilla broke away from the unitary state of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla. It represented strength and endurance, the words which show up in our current coat of arms. The Mahogany Tree was also depicted on the coins and on the passport which the new Republic of Anguilla was about to issue, and on the first set of stamps issued by Anguilla.
Just as the Old Mahogany Tree was at the heart of Anguilla, Mr. Webster is at the heart of the new Anguilla which he and the revolutionaries set out to build. Perhaps it is more correct to say that Anguilla was at his centre, his heart. The Mahogany Tree was hardy, and must have withstood countless hurricanes, droughts and the other ravages of nature. Yet it stood strong and proud at the centre of our island. So too, Mr. Webster withstood all the forces which tried to keep Anguilla from breaking away from St. Kitts. These included the nay-sayers here and abroad who said that Anguilla could never survive on its own, the opposition of Caribbean leaders who misunderstood the Anguilla situation, and even the military might of Great Britain which, as we were then taught in school, ruled the waves. Just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego of the Bible, he didn’t bend, he didn’t bow, and thank God, he didn’t burn. Today, at the age of eighty, Mr. Webster is a wonderful representative of our island’s motto, Strength and Endurance, just like the Old Mahogany Tree. Just like the Old Mahogany Tree, for as long as there are grateful Anguillians on this earth, you will remain dear to our hearts and in our collective memory. Mr. Webster, we all salute you and wish you many more years of good health and happiness!
Having said all that, I trust that you understand, Mr. Webster, why I specifically wanted our gift to be from the Old Mahogany Tree. Mr. Devonish has openly stated that he has sculpted from many pieces of wood in his career but he has never dealt with more beautiful wood than that taken from the Old Mahogany Tree. He describes it as “most gorgeous, with varying densities which is probably because of its great age”. But what form was the sculpture to take? He proposed to sculpt this “germinating seed”. The germinating seed is the universal symbol of promise, of fertility, of new life, and re-birth. It is symbolic of what can happen when one has a little idea and can take it to fruition, or a dream and make it reality. It is symbolic of the revolutionaries setting out to build a new Anguilla. It also symbolizes “awakening”, a term which is most appropriate for his revolutionary leadership which awakened Anguillians to what this island could be if it and its people were freed from being the colony of a colony. I therefore was convinced and happy with his selection, and now that I have seen it I am truly pleased and thank Mr. Devonish for his beautiful workmanship with all its symbolism.
I trust that you young ones gathered here today will realize that you too are symbols of Anguilla’s future, whether one of peace and prosperity, or one of fear and want. You hold your future in your hands, so I implore you to make the most of it. You are like the germinating seed, go forth and produce good fruit!

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