Diaspora Urged to Move from the Sidelines to Nation-Building at New York Independence Service

The Antiguan and Barbudan community in New York came together in a powerful display of unity and patriotism on Sunday, as nationals filled the pews of the Westchester Methodist Church in the Bronx for a spirited Thanksgiving Service marking the nation’s 44th anniversary of Independence.

The service, attended by dozens of nationals and friends of Antigua and Barbuda from across the Tri-State area, blended worship, reflection, and a renewed call for civic engagement. The event, a staple of the diaspora’s annual Independence celebrations, was described by organizers as one of the most uplifting in recent years.

Delivering the main sermon, Rev. Dr. Lennox Pigott, an Antiguian-born psychologist and minister, challenged members of the diaspora to move beyond criticism and take an active role in the country’s continued progress.

“We have too many critics,” Dr. Pigott declared. “Get up, grab a mountain, and work on it. Whether it’s youth development, education, or social reform—do your part. Ask yourself, are you getting involved in the affairs of our nation?”

He likened the social challenges facing Antigua and Barbuda to “mountains” that can only be moved through faith, collective effort, and a deep sense of national responsibility.

Adding to that call for engagement, Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Walton Webson, urged the diaspora to seize the moment and reconnect with the land of their birth.

“This is your moment too,” Ambassador Webson said, echoing this year’s Independence theme, Solid, Stable, Soaring. “Your homeland calls you home to opportunity. Your skills, your experience, your entrepreneurship — these can accelerate the transformation already underway. There has never been a more promising time to reconnect, reinvest, and return.”

The service also featured prayers for the nation led by several clergy members, including Rev. Dr. Freddie Mason, Rev. Dr. Cheryl White-Lewis, Rev. Eloise Hill-Challenger, and Rev. F. Craig Henry. Rev. Stanley Charity delivered a stirring solo performance, while the Antigua and Barbuda International Chorale, under the direction of Dean Belgrave Pelle, and the City South Steel Orchestra filled the sanctuary with the sounds of national pride.