The Concerned Citizens, aligned to the Anguilla United Movement Government, held a Prayer and Reflection event at what has been designated “Freedom Park” at the Clayton J. International Airport on Sunday, January 30.

Attendees at the Prayer and Reflection event

The afternoon function began with an opening prayer and remarks by Pastor Hugo Brooks of World Harvest Assembly and continued under the co-chairmanship of Evan Lake and Alkins Rogers. Some 30-50 persons were seated under the main tent, while a handful of persons congregated elsewhere on the grounds and others remained in their vehicles.

Among those in attendance were three pastors; Revolutionary Leader, Ronald Webster and Mrs. Webster; Jerome Roberts, the Elected Representative for East End/Sandy Hill, who gave remarks; other persons involved in the Government, and a few of the women-folk conversant with the 1967 Anguilla Revolution. Two persons who arrived some two hours late were Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes, and Minister of Home Affairs, Walcott Richardson, who flew in from Barbados at that time.

Attendees at the Prayer and Reflection event

The Prayer and Reflection event remained basically that way, with the three pastors engaged in invocations and other persons rendering poetry, songs, short talks, as well as reflecting on the 1967 revolution and calling for unity. Although there were references to the current situation in Anguilla, the event was unlike the heated political meetings and rallies usually held at that location.

The guest speaker was Robert Hall, a former Deputy Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands who, for some days, had been on the island for speaking engagements and interviews, at the invitation of the Concerned Citizens.

In his brief presentation, he said that to some extent matters in Anguilla were not dissimilar to those in his territory, but he did not elaborate. He stressed the importance of unity and commitment for the present and future interest of the island. “It is so important that you stand firm and remain united or get united,” he told the crowd. “United we stand, divided we fall. Let me say to you as a people: It is no point in divisions, tearing down Government. Yes, criticise; yes be vigilant. But Government is always elected by the people and when they have spoken, they have spoken.

Evan Webster in song

“Similarly, those who govern must understand that they cannot do it alone and that the voice of the Opposition needs to be heard from time to time. And therefore it is important, in this march to freedom, that you continue to work together and put aside some of the petty things that tend to separate us…

“I have told you enough [on other occasions] about the Turks and Caicos Islands and the problems there, but there is one lesson that you can learn from the experience there: do not fall asleep and, as a people, find a way to solve your problems and differences among yourself…No one can represent your interest, no one can love you better than you love yourself. And so, ladies and gentlemen, I say to you: the challenges are going to be great as you approach your negotiations with the British.”

Currently, the Anguilla Government is preparing for the visit of a two-man technical team from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to assist with the revision of the 2011 budget. At the same time, Mr. Hughes, the Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, has invited a team of OECS leaders to Anguilla for discussions with the Governor in connection with complaints he made to them at the just-ended regional meeting.

The Chief Minister and the Concerned Citizens have also embarked on a move to seek independence for Anguilla. It is a matter which has generated much discussion for and against on the island, but with an overwhelming number of persons arguing that Anguilla is not ready for that advanced status. Such a decision is normally taken after a referendum.

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