Hundreds of fun-loving residents and visitors crowded the grounds of the old, but now beautifully-restored, East End Elementary School, on Monday, June 13, for the Fourth Village ‘Ting. The community fund-raising food and entertainment event takes place each year on the public holiday in Anguilla marking the Queen’s Official Birthday.
The large attendance was both a testament of the popularity of the growing function and the increasing number of sponsorships it attracts from the business community.
In her private capacity, the Elected Representative for District 2, and Minister of Home Affairs, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, donned an apron and joined in serving patrons at one of the main food stalls.
Speaking over the prevailing sounds of music, shouts and laughter, Mrs. Richardson-Hodge told The Anguillian: “This is our Fourth Annual Village ‘Ting. We wanted to have a community function in the East to foster that community spirit and so the Village ‘Ting was created about four years ago. It is in conjunction with the Morris Vanterpool Primary School, the Hope Centre and the Deion Richardson Bicycle Race. Deion Richardson is a young man who was involved in a shooting incident and as a result is paralysed. He has been an avid and very good cyclist, and in honour of what he has done [for that sport] we started the Deion Richardson Cycle Race and this is the fourth time of the event – and his family is here as well.”
The Elected Representative continued: “We have cyclists, a number of booths with different food you can sample, a domino competition, face-painting, ice cream and a bouncing castle. For entertainment we have a number of DJs, and artistes including Natty & the House Band who have come out to support this function, and a lot of people are looking forward to the finale of the evening – Onion and his group. All of these activities bring out people and children.
“We will be thanking about twelve sponsors as well as Onion and his group who flew in from Antigua to be here with us, and we will be distributing prizes to a number of winners. The proceeds of everything will go to the Hope Centre, the Morris Vanterpool Primary School, and Deion Richardson and his family. Every year the event gets a little bigger and we are glad for this because we can see the support from people from across the island. Last year was pretty good but I think this year is even better. As I indicated, this is a fund-raiser and the groups that are supporting us are charging a minimum fee and for that we are extremely grateful.”
As Minister of Home Affairs, Mrs. Richardson Hodge has a very busy portfolio and the Village ‘Ting provides her with a welcome annual break to work alongside members of the community in a fun-filled and significant event. “It was one of my initiatives four years ago so, Minister or not, at the end of the day the idea is for the community spirit to come together – as a family – and for all to enjoy themselves,” she added. “That is something I believe in, so I will continue to be a part of it.”
