The late James Watkin Emmanuel Hodge, MBE, was accorded the honour of lying in state in the Atlin Harrigan Parliamentary Building, just down from the Speaker’s Chair on Friday, March 2, during a short official farewell ceremony. It was attended by Members of the House of Assembly, other officials, family members and invited guests.

Police bearing Watko’s body into House of Asssembly

Mr. Hodge, affectionately called “Watko”, died at the Princess Alexandra Hospital on February 17 at the age of 79.
His body was taken to the House of Assembly by officers of the Royal Anguilla Police Force.

The programme included prayers by Reverend Franklin Roberts and Scripture reading by the Speaker, Hon. David Carty; and addresses by Chief Minister, the Hon. Osbourne, Hon. Hubert Hughes Fleming, Elected Member for Road South, and Michael Fleming, Watko’s son-in-law.

Decorated scene for open casket and viewing

The Chief Minister extended heartfelt condolences to the family and thanked the Speaker for providing the House of Assembly in which to honour the late Anguillian businessman and former Elected Member 1980-1981. He described Watko as having been “a great citizen and one of the “kindest persons” he had ever known.

“I have always held the view that someone who has volunteered to serve the people of Anguilla should be honoured and that such a person, before burial, should lie in state in this Honourable House,” Mr. Fleming went on. “I wish to say that not only did Mr. Hodge serve in the House of Assembly, he faithfully served the people of Anguilla in many other ways including his business…This loving and caring man gave all he had to the people of Anguilla… and his passing is a great loss to all of us.”

Members of the family

Mr. Hughes, who served as an Elected Member in 1980 with Watko, said he was “a great humanitarian, a man of immense love and a very serious and successful businessman.” He continued: “Watko was not only the generous and loving father figure for the people of the Stoney Ground area where he was born and spent most of his life. His love and generosity extended throughout the length and breadth of this island.”

Michael Fleming, described his late father-in-law as a philanthropist and role model, saying he had led a simple, humble and compassionate life. He was of the view that the House of Assembly was a fitting place to pay tribute to the deceased who was a man of the people, a true and noble patriot.

Section of the invited guests

Mr. Fleming was grateful to the Anguilla Government for the honour bestowed on Watko, for the kind expressions by the Chief Minister and Mr. Hughes and to the Speaker for allowing the use of the House of Assembly for the ceremony.

Stoney Ground Warriors in tribute at funeral service

The ceremony was followed by Members of the Assembly, family members and other persons filing past the open casket. The body lay in state until 6.00 pm when it was returned to Rey’s Funeral Home.

His final journey to St. Mary’s Church-yard Cemetery

The funeral was held at St. Mary’s Anglican Church on Saturday, March 3, where the officiating clergy were Bishop Errol Brooks and Assistant Priest, Reverend Menes Hodge. The thanksgiving service was preceded by an extended period of tributes from various individuals and groups.

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