The legislated holiday for all schools in Anguilla as a tribute to the island’s Revolutionary Leader and Father of the Nation, James Ronald Webster, and observed on his birthday, is a noble honour to him, but something appears to be very wrong with how that significant holiday is celebrated.

With the involvement of Social Security, Mr. Webster’s 80th birthday, three years ago was marked with a fanfare series of events in which hundreds of school children were taken to the Webster Park to see and cheer the man who has brought about Anguilla’s separation from St. Kitts-Nevis. It was a very grand occasion and Mr. Webster and his wife, though quite reserved, enjoyed every moment of it from the time they alighted from the limousine on the park. The children gave a number of performances and were all very enthusiastic about it and though several years have passed since then, it ought to remain a memorable occasion in their minds.
The next occasion at which Mr. Webster was given a heroic and rousing crescendo of cheers by school children, was on May 29, 2007, when they participated in a colourful parade for Anguilla Day. It was a tumult of cheering for him when he crossed over the Webster Park to join Government officials under the tents at the southern side.
When the House of Assembly approved the school holiday for Mr. Webster last year, the schools welcomed it but it is understood that they felt that there was insufficient time then to organise activities to celebrate the occasion. It is a matter of disappointment that with all the time available to plan an event that the children were allowed to remain at home this year rather than enjoying something like a fun day, quite apart from any lessons on the revolution they might have been given in the run-up to Webster’s 83rd birthday. While Government provided the holiday, it is up to schools to use their initiative to hold commemorative functions of their own choosing for the occasion and, if necessary, to seek sponsorship funding. Social Security, which Mr. Webster founded, and which began the celebration on the park for his birthday, may have provided some funding if requested, not just because of his birth date, but for what he has achieved for Anguilla.
The raising of this matter is not to cause offence but simply to sensitise our people to the need for national celebration, especially among school children, when there is a cause and when a hero is still alive to appreciate the honour. Whether Monday’s school holiday was a wasted one without some form of activity, is a matter for consideration.

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