The Anguilla Community Action Network (ACAN) is now in its seventh year. The non-profit and non-governmental organisationhas as its main mandate: to supportpersons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. For the first time, on Sunday, November 10, ACAN, through its Project Hope programme, awarded seven partners involved in the fight against the disease.
The presentation of certificates was made, at a Service of Thanksgiving and Appreciation at the Dominion Faith Centre in The Valley, by Mrs Kim Cutler, Projects Officer at the Governor’s Office, which has provided funding for Project Hope, and Mr John C Lake, President/Founder of ACAN.
Those who were presented with the certificates were: Mrs Maeza Dennis-Adams ( DirectorNational Aids Programme) ; Mrs Patricia Baird (former Director); Mrs Pamela Samuel-Fleming (Vice President and Assistant CEO, ACAN/Project Hope); Ms Anthea Ipinson (Adviser); Pastor Dexter Welcome (for his collaborative support for ACAN/Project Hope); Mrs Vanessa Connor (for her valued support to the ACAN Foundation); and Mr Kenneth Hodge (for his contribution).
The certificates were presented and signed by Mrs Kim Cutler, Projects Officer at the Governor’s Office, and Mr John C. Lake, President/ Founder of ACAN. Mr Lake has been able to attract much financial support from the Governor’s Office in support of the work of his organisation.
Kim Cutler, speaking on behalf of Governor Scott, noted that on Sunday and Monday (10th and 11th November) the international community heldremembrance services in honour of the many persons who lost their lives in the two world wars. She stressed that ACAN had undertaken to thank and honour its supporters in Anguilla by giving them certificates of appreciation while they were alive, rather than waiting until they were dead.
“Those persons lost their lives for the freedom we have today to join and celebrate our religion – thanks to a lot of those people,” Mrs Cutler said. “We have the freedom to join groups, such as ACAN, and advocate human rights and ensure that those rights are a valued part of our community and society. Those who fought in the various conflicts and wars were ordinary people like you and I, and they did something that was out of the ordinary – and we owe them a big vote of thanks.
She commended all persons who work with and support ACAN, saying they were not doing so for recognition but to make a difference in the community. Mrs Cutler added that on the eve of the “Race Against AIDS” the Governor’s Office would be thanking ACAN for its work, and will be involved in marking its seventh anniversary.
Mr John Lake said ACAN, which he formed in 2006, had suffered severely from many challenges, among them being finance. Despite this the organisation continued its work in the community and in 2012 launched a five-year strategic plan now called Project Hope. Since then, ACAN has been attracting much support.
Apart from the Governor’s Office, and other supporting agencies, he expressed thanks to the Dominion Faith Centre – for its support. “I want to applaud the members of the Dominion Faith Centre and Pastor Welcome who is a strong advocate, fighting against HIV/AIDS in Anguilla,” Mr Lake continued. “I must say that the Dominion Faith Centre is the only church in Anguilla which is standing up valiantly for persons living with HIV/AIDS. On the 22nd of this month, I will not be standing alone at Government House [for the celebration of ACAN’s seventh anniversary]. I will be standing with the choir of the Dominion Faith Centre.”
Mr Lake said he took much pleasure in thanking all persons for supporting ACAN’s work in Anguilla. “I need to do something to show appreciation to persons for their help,” he added. “There is no point to give people things when they die and to have some sanctimonious singing. This morning I am going to show my thanks by giving some appreciation to persons for their assistance with the fight against HIV/AIDS.”
Earlier, Pastor Dexter Welcome commended Mr Lake and all who work with his organisation to support persons in Anguilla who are infected with, and affected by, the disease. Another speaker was former Coordinator of the National AIDS Committee, Patricia Baird, who also praised Mr Lake for his work. The guest speaker, Pastor Jerome Harrigan, who delivered the sermon, also offered his thanks to Mr Lake and ACAN for their community work.
As part of its mandate, ACAN is working towards eliminating stigma and discrimination in the communities in which persons infected with HIV/AIDS live. It is doing so through advocacy, education, empowerment, and integration, while also working to stop the spread of all sexually-transmitted infections.
