ANGUILLA--Government flags were flown at half-mast on Friday, May 11, as a mark of respect for the passing of former Chief Minister Emile Rudolph Gumbs. They will also be flown at half-mast on Monday, May 14.
Gumbs died on May 10, at the age of 90. He served as Chief Minister of Anguilla from February 1977 to May 1980 and again from March 1984 to March 1994. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Anguilla in 1994. He is the only Anguillian to have been knighted.
He leaves to mourn his wife, Josephine, daughter Catherine and son Laurence and their spouses, and four grandchildren in addition to many family members in Anguilla and abroad.
Chief Minister Victor Banks commented that the nation is in a state of grief and sadness over the passing of the late Gumbs, Anguilla’s second and longest serving Chief Minister. “He was a central figure in the early days of the Anguilla Revolution and was a Member of the Peace-Keeping Committee that ensured a smooth transition to law and order during those turbulent times,” Banks said. “Even as we mourn the loss of this fallen patriot we recognise that our grief and sadness can in no measure compare with that being experienced by his dear wife, Lady Josephine Gumbs who has been with him through many of the changing situations of his life. She has indeed been a pillar of strength and unwavering support until the very end. Our prayers are with her, his children Catherine and Larry as well as the entire family circle, as they persevere through this difficult period.”
Banks said that Gumbs touched the lives of so many Anguillians of all walks of life through his service in Government and the wider community. He particularly commented on the sterling contribution of Gumbs in charting the course for Anguilla as a five-star tourism destination. “We thank him for the calmness and civility of his leadership style that has been the distinguishing mark of his service to the people of Anguilla. He was indeed a great statesman,” Banks said. The Chief Minister also spoke of Gumbs’ passion for boats and boating and the countless tales he told about his travels as well as his enthusiasm for boat racing.
“My prayers are with all of us but most especially with his dear wife and family whose sense of loss and bereavement we can never truly imagine in these moments and during the days, weeks, months and years ahead,” he said.
Funeral arrangements for the late Gumbs have not yet been announced.
