By Petra Williams

There’s something profoundly moving about standing beneath our national flag as it ripples against the trade winds — a vivid emblem of who we are and all we aspire to be.

The vibrant colours and symbolism – red symbolizes the dynamism of our people and the lifeblood of our forefathers; black represents our African heritage and the rich soil that grounds us. Blue speaks to hope, and together with gold and white, they capture the sun, sea, and sand that make our twin-island paradise a gem of the Caribbean. The golden sun signifies the dawn of a new era, and the bold “V” shape stands for victory.

Forty-four years after Antigua and Barbuda declared political independence, that symbol still stirs something in me. Pride, yes, but also a renewed sense of responsibility.

We are a small nation, yet a remarkable experiment in what community, creativity, and courage can achieve. Our story of resilience is written by ordinary people: fishermen, farmers, builders, teachers, artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs. Each, in their own way, carried forward the torch lit on November 1, 1981.

Solid! The Foundation We Stand On

The theme for this year’s Independence celebration, Solid, Stable, Soaring, invites us to pause and take stock of how far we’ve come. The solid foundation is not just the physical infrastructure we’ve built, but the institutions, values, and social bonds that continue to hold us together even when tested.

We are the inheritors of generations who refused to bow, who laboured in cane fields and kitchens and classrooms, carving out a path from bondage to belonging.

They laid the groundwork for a society that values education, faith, and fearlessness. From the first primary schools to our university campus; from the first trade union to the vibrant creative industries that now carry our stories beyond our shores, these are the bedrocks of nationhood.

And though our politics, like some of our infrastructure, may be uneven and in need of some refinement, the foundation beneath remains unshaken: the shared conviction that this twinisland state is worth the work, the debate, and the dream.

Stable: Holding Our Ground in Changing Times

Stable does not mean static. It means balance, the steadying hand of a people who have learned to navigate rough seas. Antigua and Barbuda’s stability has not come by chance; it is the product of endurance and adaptability.

Our economy has shifted from the primary production of sugar to services, capitalising on the strength of our people, our ‘diamonds and oil’. Through hurricanes, global recessions, pandemics, and political storms, we have remained upright; sometimes bruised, sometimes burdened, but always standing.

It’s easy to take stability for granted until you see what instability costs elsewhere. In a world riven by wars, displacement, and division, the ability to raise children in relative peace, to enjoy freedom of expression, to gather under the national flag without fear, these are privileges earned and preserved through vigilance.

They are not gifts from governments, but achievements of a society that values order, dialogue, and mutual respect.

Soaring: Beyond the Horizon

To soar is to imagine higher, to refuse complacency. The soaring of our nation depends on what we choose to lift next: our corporate governance, our creative economy, our environmental stewardship, our civic participation.

It means nurturing innovation while preserving identity, ensuring that growth does not come at the cost of grace.

I often think about how each of us can help our country to soar. For me, it’s about continuing to invest time, ideas, and resources into nation-building, and to curate and share the best of us – the contributions and legacies of our people. It’s about using every platform I have to celebrate what is best about us: our humour, our heart, our heritage. And it’s about challenging all of us to keep Antigua and Barbuda not just beautiful, but purposeful.

A Love that Works

Our love for this land cannot be passive. Love, to mean anything, must be actively expressed in how we treat each other, how we manage our resources, how we raise our young, and how we protect our elders.

It is seen in the volunteer who mentors a child, the entrepreneur who hires locally, the artist who showcases our pride, and the diaspora member who invests at home with hope. It’s in every citizen who does not merely point to the problems but rolls up their sleeves to help solve them.

That is the kind of love I cherish, a working love. A love that writes, builds, and contributes. A love that shows up.

Forward Together

As we mark this 44th year of Independence, I feel immense gratitude for the shoulders we stand on, for the sunshine that blesses us, and for the possibilities that remain open.

We may be small, but we are far from insignificant. The world is changing fast, and the Caribbean must claim its space with confidence, competence, and creativity. We owe it to those who broke ground and to those yet unborn.

Forty-four years on, our task remains the same: to be solid in our values, stable in our commitments, and soaring in our ambitions. For we are, and must remain, a people rising together.  

Celebrating my Island Home, Fair Antigua and Barbuda, my forever home!!