By Island Harbour Community Initiative
On 30 May, we mark 58 years since the Anguilla Revolution – a defining moment in our history when brave men and women stood up, united in purpose, and demanded the right to chart their own future.
Our forefathers fought not with hate in their hearts, but with hope. They fought not to divide, but to bring this island together. They fought so we could be free – to live, to build, to thrive as one Anguilla.
Today, we must ask ourselves: are we honouring their sacrifice?
In recent times, the very fabric that makes Anguilla unique – our peace, our unity, our respect for each other – is being tested.
Six lives lost to violence this year alone. Gun crime is on the rise. Our villages, once bound by kinship and community spirit, now risk being pulled apart by fear and silence.
We owe it to the memory of those who fought for our freedom to reclaim the spirit of Anguilla.
A spirit built not on bloodshed, but on brotherhood. Not on fear, but on faith – in each other, in community, in a better future.
As we celebrate Anguilla Day, let it not only be a time of reflection, but a call to action.
Let every parent, every youth, every leader, every neighbour stand up and say: Enough. We will not lose our island to violence. We will not let the sacrifices of our ancestors be in vain.
Let us return to being the Anguilla that the revolution dreamed of – united, peaceful, proud.
One where our children grow in safety. Where disputes end in dialogue, not destruction. Where we lift each other up, not tear each other down.
This Anguilla Day, let’s do more than wave flags. Let’s honour our past by protecting our future.
Together, we rise. Together, we rebuild. Together, we are Anguilla.