(January 1981: Mr. Webster receives a fan-fare of music and cheers during Separation
Celebrations at the Park which bears his name. )
The Anguilla Revolution of l967 had several leaders but it was Ronald Webster's determination and guts coupled with the resolve of the Anguillian people,
which saw the struggle through to a successful conclusion with Anguilla's achievement of formal and legal separation from the State of St. Kitt~Nevis-Anguilla on l9 th December 1980. Webster gave courageous leadership at a time when it was badly needed and had
instilled in the minds of the people that their goals were achievable what ever the odds. He enkindled hope in their hearts and had come to be regarded as the Father of the Anguillian nation. Under his stubborn leadership the people refused to succumb to the
myriad obstacles which confronted them in their struggle for self-determination.

Once the struggle was over, Anguilla experienced a complete economic and social metamorphosis. The removal of St. Kitts' choke hold allowed the laying of the ground work for economic take-off and resulted in an improved standard of living for the people of Anguilla which presently ranks among the highest in the Caribbean.

Ronald Webster, like every human being, had his weaknesses. One of his greatest liabilities was his authoritarian leadership style (This leadership style may have been good for the Revolution but not for the democratic institutions—the political culture which emerged from the Revolution.) He developed personal political parties and as a consequence Anguilla had almost 14 years of personal rule. Webster centralized the decision-making process and brought under his control every aspect of government. He was of the genuine impression that this was the best way of ensuring that Anguilla moved forward but his defeat in the 1984 general elections showed that a majority of Anguillian people thought otherwise.

There had been attempts, over the years, to ignore and discredit Ronald Webster's contribution to the Anguilla struggle primarily on the basis of his performance in government in the post-revolutionary period. It is true that the had political shortcomings— that his way was the only way, but we cannot deny and history will not deny that he was a great revolutionary leader.

Excerpt from a 25th Anniversary Commemorative booklet of Anguilla's revolution produced by the National Bank Of Anguilla.