Anguilla Progressive Party candidate contesting general elections in District One, Lawyer Palmavon Webster, opened a Constituency Office in Island Harbour on Saturday September 12, a day that carries much significance for her. The Office is situated in the former home of her aunt who raised her, the Late Mrs. Lambertine Webster, and its opening coincided with Lambertine's birthday.

Constituency Office

Dedicating the opening to the memory of her aunt, who died last year, Palmavon indicated that ‘Lambie’ as she was affectionately known, would have been very happy to be associated with what was described as a “campaign for a better Anguilla.”
Palmavon disclosed that her aunt raised her when her mother died shortly after she was born. “She (her mother) was one of two people in Anguilla who contracted tuberculosis…shortly after I was born,” she said.
Referring to her aunt, Palmavon depicted her as “just an amazing woman.” She doubted whether anyone was more “caring about fairness and social justice, and…she had an incredible impact on the community.” She admitted that her political campaign was part of her aunt’s ‘mandate.’

Reflecting on the hard work that her aunt did to support her, Palmavon reported that she learned at her funeral that she was one of the women who did much physical labour at the Anglican Church in Island Harbour and on the roads. She said it did not matter how little she had, Lambie shared with everybody and she knew all the children in the area.

According to Palmavon, her Constituency Office aims to “initiate and drive the movement for change in District One.” The immediate objective, she said, was to develop ways to provide support to parents who were experiencing challenges with their children, particularly between ages 5 and 16. She added that the facility would support children who felt parents were not there for them. “This would be an ongoing project and, in due course, will integrate efforts with existing youth initiatives nationwide,” the Lawyer stated. “We plan to sponsor a radio programme to focus the issues on youth development and…achievements.”

Opening of Constituency Office (photo supplied)

It is planned that from October 1, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, for two to three hours, at least 10 children of primary and secondary school age in District One will be supervised with homework. Webster explained that initially the children would include those who were underperforming in school or those from “challenged homes.” She divulged that at least five students “of high academic achievement” would be co-opted, along with a professional group of volunteers, to assist with the initiative.

In January, Palmavon intends to undertake adult literacy classes in Districts One and Two and introduce “a recreational element.” Later, as part of her political and social activity, she hopes to host discussions on various topics.

Palmavon admitted that her plans were not easy and would take many people with different talents to accomplish it, but she was positive that the programmes would be successful. She pointed out that her group development skills, honed through training, managing a law firm, and her affiliation with the Global Association of independent law firms, Lex Mundi, where she is a Regional Vice President responsible for the Caribbean and Latin America, prepared her for the challenge.

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