Two separate committees are working on celebrations marking the 39th Anniversary of Anguilla Day commemorating the bloodless revolution on May 30, 1967, when the Anguillians took over their affairs from the Central Government in St. Kitts and set out on a journey of self-determination. The two committees met at the Chief Minister’s Office on Monday this week, under the chairmanship of Permanent Secretary, Foster Rogers.

L-R: Alkins Rogers, Evalie Bradley and Foster Rogers

The first, the Anguilla Day Celebrations Committee, considered a series of activities drawn up to commemorate the occasion. Mr. Rogers disclosed that this year the cost of the celebrations will amount to EC$116,500.00. This figure includes $90,000 from the Government and some $15,000 from the private sector.

The Government’s contributions comprise $37,000 for the round-the-island boat race; $15,000 towards the Leeward Islands Calypso King of Kings Competition; $24,000 for other entertainment and sporting activities; $15,000 for the Chief Minister’s Office luncheon for senior citizens; $5,000 for the Caribbean Talented Teen Competition; and $7,500 for other groups.

The month of May began with special curriculum activities in the schools, radio and television features of persons and events associated with the revolution. There are ongoing village clean-up campaigns. May 41 was a National Day of Prayer.

On May 20, there will be the Leeward Islands Calypso King of Kings Competition/Royal Rumble at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre. Committee-member Fritz Smith explained that everything was on track for the event which Cable & Wireless agreed to co-sponsor. The main prizes will be US$4,000, $2,000 and $1,000. Each of the other competitors will receive $300.

Sports Director, Alkins Rogers, reported that several sporting activities were being organised. There will be national champions’ field and tract events; domino matches; netball, pony softball and basketball. The players in some or all of the activities will include teams from Anguilla, St. Maarten, Statia and St. Kitts. The events are scheduled over the weekend of May 26-28.

Among the activities will be the American Eagle Inter-Primary School Quiz on May 26. Another sponsored event will be the Digicel Caribbean Talented Teen Competition. Karl Woodley, who is organising the event, said the show was formerly the Leeward Islands Talented Teen Competition but, with the sponsorship by Digicel, it was expanded to include a number of other territories in the South Caribbean where the company has operations. These include Dominica, St. Lucia, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago. In all, ten islands are to be represented.

An event will be a mobile culinary service by the Anguilla National Cultural Creative Arts Association which will have various local foods for sale.

The other events will be the reading of Anguilla Day Messages in Churches on Saturday and Sunday, May 27 and 28. On May 28 also, will be an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service; May 29 there will be special assemblies with guest speakers at the schools. May 30 will be the Official Anguilla Day Parade at the Ronald Webster Park where, for the first time, Governor Alan Huckle, will accompany the Chief Minister on inspecting the various uniformed bodies and he will deliver an address. This will be part of a tribute to him for his service to Anguilla. He departs early next month for duty in the Falklands.

Other activities on May 30 will the Senior Citizens Luncheon hosted at Rumza by the Chief Minister’s Office; the Anguilla Day Boat Race and other sporting activities. Due to a clash of events at Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre, the Gospel Explosion in which various church groups and individuals will participate, has been planned for Sunday, June 3.

The committee planning the events comprises Foster Rogers and Evalie Bradley of the Chief Minister’s Office andFritz Smith, Alkins Rogers, Lelia Richardson, Heather Ritchie, Ellenita Harrigan, Clive Smith Jr., Alan Carty and Kenneth Hodge.

Meanwhile, on Monday, (May 8) was a meeting of the National Awards Committee members. They considered a number of nominations for awards and also recommended others in recognition of their contribution to the Anguilla Revolution and the social and economic life of the island during that period.

The names of six persons were put forward for approval by Executive Council. The awardees will receive a Medal and a Queen’s Certificate to be presented by the Chief Minister on Anguilla Day.

Membership of the National Awards Committee comprises Foster Rogers, Evalie Bradley, Bishop Errol Brooks, Colville Petty, OBE, Nat Hodge, MBE, Olive Hodge, MBE; Irma Richardson, MBE, Sutcliffe Hodge and Stella Horsford.

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