Senior Adviser to the Anguilla Government, Leith Errington Reid, and Justice Ian Donaldson Mitchell, QC, are the recipients of the awards of Officer and Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire respectively from Queen Elizabeth The Second.

L-R: Mr. Eric Reid, OBE, Governor Alan Huckle and Mr. Don Mitchell, QC, CBE

The awards were presented at Government House on Monday evening, September 12, by Governor Alan Huckle, who read excerpts from the citations of the awards as well as the full warrants. The function followed the announcement of the awards in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June this year.

In presenting the OBE to Mr. Eric Reid, Governor Huckle said it was a well-deserved award and he gave some biographical notes on him. Reid entered politics in Anguilla in 1976 as an independent candidate and contested the Valley North seat but lost. He joined the then Anguilla National Alliance in 1977 and stood for election in 1980 but was again unsuccessful. He was eventually elected in 1984 and never lost an election since. He served as a Minister of Government for fifteen years and as a Member of the Opposition for six. As Minister he always held the portfolio for Social Services, having a genuine interest and concern for the social problems affecting Anguilla.

The Governor said Mr. Reid’s most recent acknowledged personal successes in office had been to establish the independent Health Authority in 2003 and to initiate the Probation Service and the Young Offenders Centre. As Education Minister he has always worked with children and sought to reduce the levels of juvenile crime and to increase the opportunities for Anguilla’s youth.

The Governor continued: “Eric Reid has also worked selflessly for the Anglican Church as the Bishop will attest. He served in various capacities as Altar Server, Head Server, Challis Bearer, Vestryman, Church Warden and Lay Reader. He remains a regular churchman.

Government officials and other guests at the ceremony

“He was struck blind in December 2003. His refusal to be restricted by this handicap, has been a symbol of inspiration … Above all, Mr. Reid is widely respected for his absolute integrity and honesty in public life. His participation as a Minister in Executive Council has been wholly professional and he now serves as Senior Adviser to the Government. He is a genuine gentleman who has brought up his children to be role models in their own right; and the award of honour is well deserved and I am sure will make his family and friends justifiable proud.”

The next representation was the CBE to Justice Don Mitchell who is the first person in Anguilla to obtain that award. The Governor said the recipient had just retired after a long and meritorious service both in Anguilla and the Caribbean. He continued: “With the strong support of the Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court he has been recommended for a CBE for his service to law in the Caribbean and also for his work as a philanthropist and as a researcher into Anguilla’s history, culture and society.

“Educated in Trinidad, London and at the Inns of Court in the Inner Temple in London, Don Mitchell was called to the Bars of England and Wales and St. Kitts-Nevis in 1971 and of Anguilla in 1980. He initially served as a Barrister and Solicitor in St. Kitts (1971-1976); then as a Magistrate and Registrar in Anguilla (1976-1980).

“He went into private practice in Anguilla in 1981 to 1989 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1996. He served as an Acting Judge in St. Vincent in 1997 and in St. Lucia in 1998. He retired from private practice in June 1999. In August 1999, Don Mitchell was appointed to the Bench of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, serving in the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, St. Kitts-Nevis, Antigua, Montserrat, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. As a Supreme Court Judge, he served with the highest distinction with many significant judgments to his name. He retired in September 2004.

A section of the invited guests

“He has also served in public life in Anguilla for many years. He is Past President of the Anguilla Bar Association, of the Anguilla Financial Services Association, of the Anguilla Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. He was also an active member of the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and of the Commonwealth Judges and Magistrates Association and Commonwealth Lawyers Association.

“He has been actively interested in Anguilla’s history, geology, flora and fauna. He is a Past President and Trustee Emeritus of the Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society and a member of the the Association of Caribbean Historians. He has research Anguilla’s historical records widely both in St. Kitts-Nevis and in Key Gardens, London. He has collected a considerable library of historical data which he has donated to Anguilla’s Public Library. He takes a passionate interest and possesses a vast knowledge of Anguilla’s cultural heritage which he is always keen to share.

“He is well-renowned as an active and entertaining public speaker and supporter of good causes. He is well respected in Anguilla’s society and continues to work on its behalf, having accepted recently the Chair of the Public Service Integrity Board. I am sure that his wife, Maggie, his family and friends will be proud of his award.”

The ceremony was attended by a number of invited guests including family and friends of the awardees and was followed by refreshments provided by the Governor and Mrs. Huckle.

The ceremony was chaired by the recently-appointed Staff Officer to the Governor, Joe Legg, who gave a history of the Order of the British Empire. It was created during the First World War in 1917 by King George V. The monarch had recognised the necessity for a new award of honour which would be awarded in recognition of the large number of people in the British Isles and other parts of the Empire who were helping the war effort. From 1980 onwards, there were both military and civil divisions of the Order. The awards to Mr. Reid and Mr. Mitchell were made under the Civil Division of the Order.

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