A call has been made for “the Anguilla Community College, and the Open Campus [of the University of the West Indies], to endeavour to shape the thinking of the island in terms of where we should go from here.” That call has come from Methodist Superintendent Minister, the Rev. Dr. Wycherley Gumbs, who further said that “a possible argument is that the models we have accepted over the years must be gotten rid of.”
He was at the time delivering an address as guest speaker at a Thanksgiving Service, on Sunday evening, October 21, at the Bethel Methodist Church Hall, marking the Tenth Anniversary of the Anguilla Community College. He continued: “One model is our political model in which we have party against party; people against people; and family against family – and so we have lost the sense of cohesion and ‘stickability’ so necessary to build a country. That model we have had in the past is destructive, and so our schooling – whether it is the Community College or the Open Campus – must now deliberately and consciously challenge our students, by the subjects they teach, to chart a new destiny …where we cannot live in the past and are enemy to one another. We are too small.”
Rev. Dr. Gumbs went on: “Education must be the bridge-builder so that our students, and the next generation, can receive from us a mantle whereby they can forge a destiny – so that our children and our grandchildren’s children will inherit a Godly and goodly heritage.”
(The full text of his wide and insightful address is published elsewhere in this edition of The Anguillian newspaper.) The theme of his message was: “Do not despise the day of small beginnings”– a Biblical reference to an ancient leader who led his once-exiled people in the rebuilding of the Temple.
The service commenced with a rendition by the Anguilla Community College Choir directed by the recently-appointed President of the College, Dr. Karl Dawson, who also gave the welcome remarks.
Congratulatory remarks on behalf of the Government were delivered by Mrs. Evalie Bradley, Ministerial Assistant in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Elected Representative for Road North and a Lay Preacher in the Methodist Church. Among other matters, she advised the President, Board of Governors and Staff “to continue to build the Anguilla Community College as an institution that Anguilla and the region can certainly be proud of.” She added: “The ACC continues to be a tangible demonstration that we are committed to the advancement and development of our people. Our people must therefore be encouraged – especially the youth – to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities offered at the College.”
Congratulatory remarks were also delivered by Mr. Rodney Rey, Chairman of the Board of Governors and Chief Steward of Bethel Methodist Church. He took the opportunity to outline ten contributors that assisted in the establishment of the Anguilla Community College including private sector partners like the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry; private donors; past and present students; the Governor’s Office; educational institutions locally, regionally and internationally and the people of Anguilla who pay taxes to fund the operations of the College. He added: “For all these, we owe a debt of gratitude and we look forward to a stronger and unbroken partnership for the growth and development of the Anguilla Community College – and the simultaneous advancement of the human resource capacity of Anguilla.”
Ms. Sharon Richardson, Director of Hospitality Studies, traced the history of the Community College. She noted its early formation as a Development Unit; the first courses it offered; the passage of the Anguilla Community College Act establishing the institution; the appointment of the First President in the person of Professor Delroy Louden; the first Board of Governors; and the appointment of the Second President, Dr. Karl Dawson.
Other persons who participated in the Thanksgiving Service were: the Liturgist, Mrs. Tamara Pradel; Professor Louden and Mr. Davon Brooks, who delivered the Scripture Readings; Ms. Levonda Delaney, a Business Student, who led the Choir in singing the Community College’s Song; Ms. Shanelle Hodge-Charles who delivered a Student’s Video Testimonial; Registrar Ms. Carla Harris, who read a poem, about the College, written by Rev. Dr. Gumbs; musicians Mr. Kemrun Tisson, Mr. Doyle Hughes, Mr. Davon Brooks and Mr. Michael (Dumpa) Martin. Mr. Quincy Harrigan, Dean of Studies, delivered the Vote of Thanks.
