The article below was submitted by The Anguilla Development Board as part of the activities commemorating Financial Information Month, October 2014, celebrated under the theme “Soar to Succeed”.
ADB has taken the opportunity to discuss key aspects surrounding the 2014 theme “soar to succeed” with a few individuals who benefited from ADB at some stage along their development path.
Soar to Succeed – Dr Lowell Hughes
On the way to realizing his major dream, Dr Lowell Hughes’s road to success has been marked with a steadfast refusal to be intimidated by the many hurdles along the way, a firm belief in himself and what is possible and by the assistance of many persons who believed in him.
As a high school student Dr Lowell Hughes was always interested in Science. His initial interest was in space science and, having read and seen pictures of space and Neil Armstrong was inspired to become an astronaut! However in Third Form he started honing in on medicine and human science. His awakening interest in medicine was brought on by his numerous visits to the hospital as a child. Upon completion of 5th Form, he began to peruse university booklets brought back from overseas by graduate teachers. Unfortunately, there were no opportunities to pursue the sciences in at 6th Form level in Anguilla at that time. However, a chemistry teacher named Mr. Machesney (VSO), realized his interest in the sciences and actually got a scholarship for him through the British Development Division. The scholarship enabled him to travel to St Lucia to complete 6th Form and also allowed him to later undertake studies at university level. Dr Hughes pursued his medical studies in Barbados and Jamaica. This was followed by a two year internship programme which included a six (6) month elective in Community Medicine. During that 6 month period he returned to home to Anguilla for his Community Medicine rotation.
In 1988, after completion of General Surgery Examinations in Edinburgh, Scotland, Dr Hughes returned to Anguilla, with his Medical and Surgical degrees. Since no employment was available, he went into operating trucks and heavy equipment with his brother Franklin Hughes. After some struggles he eventually got employment with the Government of Anguilla on a month to month contract. Dr Hughes remembers having to park an old van, given to him by the Government of Anguilla, on an incline in order to be able to get it moving. In January of 1989, even though there was a need for doctors on island at that time, he was not re-employed after his contract expired, despite being bonded to serve in Anguilla. Undaunted, Dr Hughes was determined to succeed. In February 1989, he began working in the construction field with his brother on Paradise Cove Hotel. Dr Hughes kept on pursuing scholarships but met with many obstacles. He applied to Canada to pursue a second post graduate degree. PAHO was approached and was willing to sponsor him to complete his studies. To complete the application the Government of Anguilla was required to make the formal request for sponsorship but this was not done. He did not allow these challenges to deter him. Barclays Bank was approached and he received funding for the program. The Government of Anguilla needed to correspond with the school prior to approval of his attendance and the Financial Secretary, having seen that funds were secured for the studies, provided the school with the necessary information.
Thereafter, Dr. Hughes was accepted at the University of Toronto (UofT) in Canada as a non-paid student, all the other Medical Residents were being paid. He never divulged his predicament to the other students. He was the first black student and first West Indian to study this programme at this particular University. He acknowledges the assistance of his mentor in Barbados for encouraging him to pursue the program. He remembers laughingly being treated really special at UofT.
Dr Hughes recounts how the funds from his loan which were allocated for year one at UofT were depleted within the first two months having had to purchase furniture for his accommodation, purchase winter clothing, books and equipment. Year two was also tight for funding. In year three he tried to figure out how to complete the programme as fast as possible in order to return home. It was during this time he was able to get a paid spot on the programme. He was encouraged by his Professors to stay for a fourth year. He struggled. Eventually, with the assistance of the UofT, an opportunity became available to work for six months in research. He was then the recipient of a Humanitarian Award, which also gave him some further financial assistance. He remembers the great financial struggles and the constant juggling with credit cards. In the end he secured funding from the Anguilla Development Board (ADB) to assist with completion of the programme. During the latter stages of his studies In Canada, Dr Hughes met with Dr Ali, a Trinidadian physician who was in charge of surgical education at the University. Dr Ali saw his plight and provided further opportunities for him to complete his studies.
Dr Hughes credits his motivation and accomplishments with being focused. He stresses that he is determined to complete whatever he set his mind to. To accomplish this, his average work day is approximately 10 hours.
He sees the key to success is being disciplined, having determination and remaining focused. The determination to succeed will get you through. One must also have a passion for what you’re doing and must be self-motivated.
During his final year of study at the UofT, Dr Hughes fondly remembers planning to eventually open his own business in Anguilla. He had the architectural plans for Hughes Medical Centre drawn whist he was still finishing his studies in Canada. He considered it would be a pioneering venture in Anguilla and the Caribbean.
After completion of studies he returned to Anguilla. Initially, he did his surgical cases at the hospital while having his private office for consultations. While working at the hospital he encountered many challenges. Dr Hughes remembers having limited operating time available to him, as one of the numerous issues affecting his ability to perform surgeries and being able to put his surgical training into use. Eventually he resorted to taking his patients to St Kitts in order to perform some surgeries. He was welcomed in St. Kitts and his operating time was not limited. He noted with interest that his patients were able to pay the St. Kitts hospital fees and being able to pay the bills was not the issue. He was therefore disappointed that the system in Anguilla was not able to take advantage of this opportunity.
As a result of these challenges, he became more determined and pushed ahead to construct the Hughes Medical Centre. With the assistance of family resources and financing from the Commercial Banks he was able to accomplish another aspect of the long held dream.
The reach of his services spans widely across the Caribbean. From the Virgin Islands to as far as Trinidad he has seen his skills and expertise impacting the patients. He humbly acknowledges that he has performed procedures on patients that would have otherwise had to travel outside of the region. This has had a significant impact on the lives of these patients.
He notes that despite the challenges and roadblocks he has faced, he succeeded in achieving his dream through sheer determination and a love for his people and Anguilla.
Dr Hughes speaks very passionately as to what he would like to see in Anguilla’s future. He would eventually like to have some input in Anguilla’s progress especially in the area of education. He thinks that many of our young people need to unlearn some of the negatives and bad habits that have permeated our society. There are barriers to motivating our youngsters which need to be removed. If we continue along our current path, he believes that within a decade we would not know what it is to be Anguillian and the struggles of our forefathers would have been for nothing. He stresses that as a community we should be striving to create and foster an environment where we would be the wind under our children’s wings and watch them soar. We all need to give them the opportunities to excel and succeed.
