Several hundred people, many with umbrellas, braved the scotching afternoon sun on Thursday, August 16, and marched to the beat of the Pathfinders’ Drum Band from the Caribbean Commercial Complex to the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre as they participated in a rally against crime and violence in Anguilla.

March from the Caribbean Commercial Centre to the Landsome Bow

The Anguillians for Action Rally 2007, was dubbed a “Day of Mourning, Repentance & Prayer” and was facilitated by a half holiday granted by the Government thus allowing many workers as possible and other persons to participate in the event. The rally came in the wake of a series of shooting incidents in which two persons were killed and others wounded, several other acts of violence and crime including armed robberies and rapes.

Sections of the crowd at Landsome Bowl

The organising committee included the chairperson, Donna Banks, Daphne Hodge of Social Development; Jocelyn Johnson-Carty of the Probation Department; Winston Duncan and Jackie Connor of the Education Department; Joash Proctor of the Youth and Culture Department; Evalie Bradley representing the Chief Minister’s Office; Maria Reid of the Optimist Club; and Gina Brooks of the Anguilla Tourist Board.

Scene of the rally

Addressing the rally at Landsome Bowl, Ms Banks, said it was not just a response to the recent criminal events, but was a manifestation of the various thoughts, prayers and cries of everyone who had been silently or publicly thinking or speaking about the changes that had been taking place in Anguilla. She made the point that the rally had nothing to do with politics and was not the brainchild of any particular person and that while it was being undertaken by adults, a number of young people had been endeavouring to hold a similar rally against crime. “I believe that the rally has to do with us as a people recognising that we are at our ‘Red Sea’; that we are at a point of decision how we should go forward, what commitments will we make to make Anguilla a better and safer place for all of us,” she stated.

Scene of the rally

The long programme included Prayers of Repentance by Rev. Joseph Lloyd; Prayer for victims and families by Pastor Kathleen Richardson; Prayer for perpetrators, the convicted, the accused and forgiveness by Pastor Danny Philip; Prayer for the youth by Winston Duncan; prayer for law enforcement and the Judiciary by Sandra York-Gumbs; prayer for Government and Government agencies by Pastor Gareth Hodge; prayer for the nation and breaking the code of silence by Bishop Errol Brooks; a speech by Dame Bernice Lake QC on History, Crime, Culture in the Anguilla context; from the Heart by Kent Webster and Laurettie Arrindell; a Father’s Perspective by Leonard Kentish; a Mother’s Perspective by Evalie Bradley; a Parent’s Perspective by Pastor James Harrigan; a Youth Perspective by Shellya Rogers and Krystal Webster of the Anguilla National Youth Council and Simone Connor; a Teacher’s Perspective by Derek Gumbs; Community Approaches to Embracing Youth by Ijahnya Christian; speeches by Elected Representative Edison Baird, of Road North; Chief Probations Officer, Jocelyn Johnson-Carty, Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming and Minister of Social Development, Evans Rogers.

Scene of the rally

Songs, poetry and religious dancing by various groups and individuals and a drum display by the Stingray Drummers & Song Writers were also part of the programme which continued to sundown.

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