Three trailblazing women have been awarded the Anguilla Badge of Honour in recognition of their outstanding contributions to social development.
This prestigious national awards were presented during the official ceremony for Anguilla Day on 30 May at Ronald Webster Park in The Valley.
The first awardee, Anne J Edwards, is known as a pioneer in education, tourism and community development.
From founding the Special Needs Department and nurturing vulnerable children, to promoting small inns internationally and serving as Rotary president, she has been a steadfast champion of Anguilla.
The second awardee, Dr Phyllis Fleming-Banks, is a fierce advocate for women’s empowerment, education and gender justice.
Her regional and international advocacy, leadership in UWI Open Campus, and decades of community service continue to uplift lives and transform institutions across Anguilla and beyond.
The third person to receive the Anguilla Badge of Honour, Margaret Venetta Augustus, is a nurse, mentor and cultural icon.
From leading community healthcare reform and founding all-female music ensembles to building church choirs and mentoring youth, her legacy is one of compassion, creativity and deep spiritual faith.
Anne J Edwards
Anne J Edwards, born on 14 August, 1949, in North Hill, Anguilla, has been a dedicated leader in education, tourism and community development throughout her life.
Deeply committed to the wellbeing of Anguillians, she pioneered the establishment of the Special Needs Department at her school, ensuring support for students requiring additional help.
Promoted to deputy principal pastoral in 1985, Edwards’ concern for youth led her to found a committee involving government agencies to address social challenges.
This effort culminated in a 1990 conference focusing on ‘Children at Risk’ and the development of a halfway home, a vision realised nearly two decades later.
Beyond her professional roles, Edwards opened her home to foster and adopt children, providing them with a nurturing environment that empowered many to succeed locally and internationally.
Between 2000 and 2002, she coordinated the development of Campus B at Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School and later served as its deputy principal.
A pioneer in tourism, Edwards joined the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association in 1976, became its director in 1989, and co-founded the Inns of Anguilla to support small properties.
She has also held leadership roles in the Caribbean Hotel Association, Rotary Club and various community organisations, exemplifying lifelong patriotism and service.
Phyllis Fleming-Banks
Dr Phyllis Fleming-Banks is a distinguished educator, sociologist and advocate for human resource development and gender equality.
With over four decades of dedication to social justice and women’s empowerment, she played a key role in lobbying for constitutional reforms benefiting women, children and society at large.
Between 1990 and 2005, Fleming-Banks represented civil society at regional and United Nations forums on decolonisation.
As president of the Anguilla Council, she introduced the National ‘Woman of the Year Award’ to honour outstanding women.
She helped revive International Women’s Day rallies and reinvigorated the Women’s Movement within the Methodist Church Anguilla Circuit.
Fleming-Banks co-authored national reports on the status of women for the UN’s Fourth World Conference and served as an independent reviewer for Anguilla’s Poverty Assessment Report.
She chaired key initiatives addressing domestic violence, including training frontline workers and coordinating support networks.
Her educational career spans all levels, including work as an adjunct at the University of the West Indies Open Campus, which earned multiple awards under her leadership.
Fleming-Banks also contributed significantly to health services reform in Anguilla and led the Health Authority through accreditation.
Founder of ‘Simply Natural by Yinka’, a herbal health centre, she is a passionate advocate for holistic living and local culture, actively promoting youth development and poetry in Anguilla.
Margaret Venetta Augustus
Margaret Venetta Augustus (née Harrigan), born on 11 February, 1945, in East End, Anguilla, dedicated her life to healthcare, community service and the arts.
After earning her nursing certification in 1968, she returned to Anguilla to serve at the Cottage Hospital during a critical period.
Further training in the early 1970s strengthened her skills, and she continued her service as a district nurse, caring for communities island-wide.
Augustus’ commitment to youth began early in 1959 as a Girl Guide leader, shaping future generations.
In 1996, she helped establish the East End Health Community Group, advancing grassroots healthcare through the Primary Health Care Approach.
A talented musician, she co-founded The Highlanders Combo, one of Anguilla’s pioneering all-female musical groups.
Her faith deeply influenced her work and she was a longtime member of St Augustine’s Anglican Church.
She led choirs and founded Christorama, a Christmas carnival that funded a new church, and The St Augustine’s Chorale, promoting worship through music.
Even after retiring from nursing in 2005, Augustus continued to mentor youth, lead community projects, and care for the elderly as head nurse at Rose Woods Center.
Her legacy is one of transformative service, enriching Anguilla’s healthcare, culture and community spirit.
