Anguilla’s Revolutionary Leader, James Ronald Webster, who keeps a low profile, appeared on a public rostrum on Sunday, November 29 at the parking area of the park that bears his name and delivered a short address to the gathering there. The event was a ‘Concerned Anguillians Rally” to which he was invited and prayed about.

Mr. Ronald Webster

Motivated by his Christian spirit, he sang the first two verses of the well known hymn, Stand Up! Stand Up For Jesus which he associated with the current situation in Anguilla and the 1967 revolution which he led and which he said he had come to remind his listeners about.

Though the election campaigns are in full swing and that there is consequently a lot of political consciousness on the island, he made only passing reference to that election but offered no suggestions or criticisms in that regard.

“Ladies and gentlemen I did not come here to criticise or do anything other than to say a few words of welcome,” he stated. “The road we travelled forty-two years ago was very long and dreary and sometimes lonely. But in the hearts of the Anguillians there was a target set and has been accomplished to free Anguilla. Thank God for that. Prior to 1967, Anguillians were adrift on an ocean seemingly going nowhere, but knowing where they wanted to go. The seas were rough [but] Anguillians had a strong will and determination to reach the harbour safely at all cost... We rowed Miss Anguilla and as I said the seas were rough, but the tide took us exactly where we wanted to go.”

Mr. Webster told his cheering listeners that when he got involved in the Anguilla Revolution to seek a better way of life for its people, it was from a natural instinct led by the power of God. “My chief interest was not to run a country, but to develop our country so that the people of Anguilla could become professionals in a field of their choice; and to create a society founded upon mortal principles and positive aspirations, moving them upward and forward,” he stressed.

Mr. Webster went on: “I knew from experience that a society does not prosper unless all the people experience improvement so that when the economic rising tide floats the biggest of boats, it must float the small ones as well…The Anguilla Revolution responded to oppression. It demanded sacrifice so that the generations of our people could live with dignity and respect.

“Our 1967 revolution created opportunities for all Anguillians so that they could have their own land, homes and businesses and at the same time become equal. There were equal opportunities for all, both men and women, no discrimination. Today Anguilla has multiple problems that our people 20 years ago would not have dreamt would have happened. Anguilla will be electing a new government soon and wisdom and the energies, wisdom and talent of all our people, both old and young, are needed.”

Mr. Webster advised that solutions must be found to the problems facing Anguilla in order to stop the slide to what he saw might be a disaster. “If Anguilla did not take that political stand in 1967 against the St. Kitts Government, our people would never have been given the opportunity to make a decision to vote in an election that will determine their destiny,” he emphasised.

“Anguillians have too much to lose to take life easy,” he asserted. “We are aware that the standard of political representation today is far below the standard of the people themselves. We must speak out and have our voices heard: for if we err, we err against ourselves, our country and our children…for generations to come. The time is coming soon to make a decision at the polls. We must cast away doubts and fears and voters have to commit themselves on all sides to the true development of Anguilla…We must always remember that Anguillians are heirs of the 1967 revolution and we should accept and respect that privilege. Doors are opening that were not opened before and we are hopeful that our people will enter those doors as they open.

Mr. Webster was pleased that the Concerned Anguillians were taking a stand and were prepared to take the banner and move forward. Her added: “Ronald Webster is still alive and what happened in 1967 can happen again. We must keep that pledge and I shall so that God be my help. Thank you very much. Continue to work and I hope that things will go good as you go along.”

The Revolutionary Leader was among a number of platform speakers from among the Anguillian citizenry.

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