The Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School’s Literary and Debating Society is the recipient of EC$4,000. The money was donated by Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge who earned it, as part payment from the Anguilla Government, for representing the Opposition Anguilla United Front on the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Committee.
A cheque for the above amount was presented to the Principal of the School,MrsIngridLake, on Friday, July 6, in the presence of staff members and AUF representatives including Chairman of the Party, Fritz Smith, and Party Leader Victor Banks.
Mrs. Richardson -Hodge made the following statement: “In about March of 2012, we [the AUF] wrote to the Constitutional Committee and indicated to them that we would like to have the monthly stipend that was being paid to me, as a representative of the United Front, to be given to the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School Debating Team.
“A few months after it came to my attention that the cheques had already been written to me so I had to cash them. I went to the bank and prepared a bank draft, written to the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School. The total amount of the stipend was $6,000. Of that sum, $2,000 went to a young lady who is part of the Diamond Athletic Club (and I believe they are travelling this morning to go toCuracao). That presentation was made to Mr. James Richardson on behalf of that athlete and he is the Second Vice President of the Diamond Athletic Club.
“The balance of $4,000, I intend to present on behalf of the Anguilla United Front, in a cheque to the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School for the Debating Society.”
In accepting the cheque, Mrs. Lake, the Principal of the School, said: “Members of the Anguilla United Front, on behalf of the School, I am indeed happy that you took this initiative to donate the sum of 4,000 dollars EC to the School for the Debating Society.
“As a School, we are always in need of sponsorship, always in need of cash, in order to give effect to many of our programmes. We know that the Government cannot always help us, so we are extremely pleased when individuals in the society take the initiative to assist. It demonstrates to us that you are interested in our young people. Anybody who has interest in our young people would always give time, talent and funds. We deeply appreciate what you have done. I sincerely hope that more persons would take the initiative to share some of their extra income to helpAnguilla’s young people.
“On behalf of all of us, thank you very much for this generous contribution of $4,000.”