LIME Anguilla regards its partnership with the Anguilla Community College in its first Associate Degree Graduation this week as the most important of the series of activities in celebration of the 43rd Anniversary of its telecommunication services to the island.
That was told to media representatives on Monday, October 24, by Ms Jade Reymond, LIME Anguilla’s Marketing Manager. “I was very pleased when Professor Louden sent me the email. I responded immediately telling him that LIME would be pleased to be on board for the first graduation,” she said. Her statement came as she presented a cheque for EC$13,500 to Professor Louden to assist with the graduation ceremony.
Ms Reymond further said: “Education is extremely important to LIME, and we are always looking for different avenues to support the community and to celebrate our 43rd Anniversary. This sponsorship was the most important for us. It is quite an historic moment for the Community College and what better for LIME to celebrate its 43rd Anniversary and to include the Community College in this venture.”
Responding, the President of the College thanked Ms Reymond and the LIME Corporate Group for sponsoring the graduation event. “This is not just an exciting time for the students in the graduating class, but it is an exciting time for the island of Anguilla,” he said. “This is because, for the first time in its history, its own tertiary institution will be awarding Associate Degrees, Certificates, Diplomas and so on, to a group of men and women who dedicated themselves over the last three years. It is important to remind everybody that they did this at a time when we have had the worse downturn in the Western economy…
“Despite this, Anguillian students took on the responsibility of enrolling at a time when our industry was suffering, our construction industry deteriorated rapidly, and many people thought this was not a time to start a college. We were faithful and supportive enough that this was indeed the time because we were preparing young men and young women for the future, and strengthening the infrastructure of the island.”
Professor Louden added: “On Wednesday you will see students receiving their Associate Degrees and others receiving Certificates in Geriatric Care. In addition, you are going to see some Technical and Vocational [graduates]. You may recall that the Government of Anguilla passed the Education Bill some time ago establishing the TVET Council, and from that TVET Council we started immediately to offer a number of technical and vocational courses. You may also recall that we got substantial funding from the Governor’s Office – US$185,000 – to start the technical and vocational courses. So you will see students in a number of areas such as hospitality, business and accountancy. You will also see students in plumbing, welding, electrical installation as well as air-conditioning and heating.”
