Former Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Aunika D. Webster-Lake, has aggressively defied the odds in fully turning her attention towards the private sector at a time when there is relative uncertainty in the job market. She has set her course towards changing the landscape of employer-employee relations by providing efficient human resource services to local companies and to the working class. With this in mind, on the night of Thursday, March 1st, she boldly launched Oasis HR Solutions as it is, in her words, “a fertile place in the human resource arena.”
Oasis HR Solutions’ grand launching ceremony took place at Dorack’s Reception Hall in Katouche. The exquisite ambiance reflected the joyous mode of Aunika and her loyal supporters, all of whom demonstrated an ardent spirit in a congratulatory atmosphere with an aura of goodwill.
A prayer of thanksgiving was offered by Aunika’s father, Pastor Rodrique Webster, who prayed that as An was about to cast her vision that it would be made clear and plain so that everyone would understand it. He prayed that this vision would be blessed as it comes to fruition and that An would be enabled to serve all those who would stand in need of her services.
The moderator for the evening was Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, who is a very close acquaintance of Aunika, having worked together and associated in one way or another with her, over the years. In addressing the gathering, Mrs. Banks claimed: “This is a special honor for me. It is with a very great sense of pride that we applaud the launch of Oasis HR Solutions. Another strong, brave Anguillian woman has found her niche, and she is realizing her dream. I admire and believe in the woman behind this dream. I am passionate about celebrating the achievements of our people, and I am confident that Aunika’s warmth, her love, and her professionalism will resonate in her company and help her to build and transform our nation.”
Mrs. Keisha Carty introduced Anuka by saying: “I cannot express how proud I am this evening to introduce my sister, my friend and my mentor, Mrs. Aunika Webster-Lake, the entrepreneur behind Oasis HR Solutions. Aunika holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, and a Master of Arts Degree in Management, with concentration in Human Resource Management. She is a global member of the Society for Human Resource Management, a Certified Teacher, a court collected Mediator, a trained Customer Service Coach, a Leadership Facilitator, and a Lecturer at the University of the West Indies Open Campus.
“Until recently, Aunika spent her professional career in the public service of Anguilla, leaving her mark and usual improvements in every department where she served. She is still very proud of her contributions and legacy which she has left there, and she trusts that they will continue to be built upon and improved. In what could only be described as divine intervention, Aunika recently found herself in a situation where she had to re-invent herself and create opportunities for herself within an unfamiliar sector — the private sector. Within days, she established a vision and mission, prepared a business plan, ordered a website, and visited potential clients to market herself. All these were based on the very simple but true foundation that her business is people.
“For all of us who knows Aunika, we realize that she prides herself in serving others. She brings out confident smiles and customer satisfaction in every one who interacts with her. Her life’s passion is to contribute to the improvement and success of every business and customer she serves.”
Before Aunika took to the podium, the immaculate 12th Avenue Band played, “I Never Would Have Made It” an original classic of Marvin Sapp, passionately rendered by young and gifted Vere Connor. Following that inspiring song, a surprise complimentary video depicting extracts of praise for Aunika by those in the society who knows her best, and whose lives she has touched and influenced over the years, was presented by Mr. Rudy Webster.
Mrs. Aunika D. Webster–Lake then addressed her guests by saying in part: “The birth of most things is a glorious experience. Oasis HR Solutions has been birthed from a lonely valley experience. Our business is very simple. It’s about people. We can have the best strategies and the best buildings, but if we don’t have the heart and minds of the people then every effort will be in vain. I am convinced that nothing we do is more important than hiring and developing people. At the end of the day, we bet on people and not on strategies. We trust people to get our work done, to execute our plans and to build our businesses. Every business owner should know that they don’t build their business – they build people, and people build their business.”
At the end of her delivery, Aunika was lauded with vibrant applause for her captivating speech. The rest of the evening was spent in a jovial and cheerful atmosphere as guests milled around to chat with each other and to compliment the “lady of the hour” against the backdrop of 12th Avenue’s admirable musical entertainment.
