James Ronald Webster?

Great big oak trees come from small nutshells.

Let’s Xplore the small nutshell of a great Anguillian, James Ronald Webster, as authored by Rita Celestine Carty (2017):

JAMES RONALD WEBSTER

THE FATHER OF THE NATION

 James Ronald Webster is the Father of the Nation.  He was the leader of the Anguilla Revolution which culminated in 1967 with the separation of Anguilla from St. Kitts-Nevis.  This is why we celebrate Anguilla Day on the 30 May every year.

Mr. Webster grew up in St. Maarten where he inherited a lucrative estate from a Dutch couple.  When he returned to Anguilla, he was appalled that the island lacked the basic necessities of electricity, surfaced roads and running water. He, along with the other revolutionary leaders, vowed to make it a more habitable place.  The main problem was that the island’s development was being neglected by the administrative authorities in St. Kitts.  It was felt that Anguilla needed to separate from that union and chart its own path to development.

Mr. Webster emerged as a dauntless revolutionary leader at that time.  In the ten years following the Revolution, Ronald Webster remained stedfastly at the helm guiding Anguilla into its new identity.  He later served as Chief Minister of the island in the periods 1976 – 1977, 1980 – 1984.

Anguilla benefitted from Mr. Webster’s dedication to the cause of self-determination and the island embarked on several improvement initiatives resulting in paved roads, electricity, running water, better infrastructure – all of which were missing before the Anguilla Revolution.  Mr. Webster is also responsible for the establishment of the Social Security system in Anguilla.                            

Even in his retirement from active politics, Ronald Webster continued to urge Anguilla’s people to build a positive and autonomous nation.

                                 

Mr. Webster passed away on 9 December, 2016 at 90 years of age.  A week of mourning will be held in Anguilla to mark his passing.  On Tuesday, 10^th January, school children and other organizations will line the streets as Mr. Webster’s body is taken on a slow processional tour of the entire island.  On Wednesday, 11 January, Mr. Webster’s body will lie in state at the House of Assembly. 

On Friday, 13^th January, Mr. Webster will be laid to rest in a mausoleum on Pope Hill, the first of its kind in Anguilla.

Anguilla owes a lot to Mr. Webster and the people he led.  May his soul rest in peace.