In the heart of North Hill, where the rhythm of community life beats strong, one young man has quietly but determinedly carved a path as both a community figure and a youth leader. His name is Dominik Richardson, a familiar face on and off the water, known as much for his technical skills as for his growing voice in youth advocacy.
With a background in IT, Dominik’s name often comes up when someone’s computer starts acting up. “Most persons know that if they have a problem with their PCs, they can call me and I will try to work with them — especially the elderly,” he said. Yet beyond this, Dominik has been working on something less tangible but far more vital: fixing connections between Anguilla’s youth and the world around them.
Leadership, for Dominik, wasn’t something he chased. It was something that naturally unfolded. From leading youth activities at the Methodist Church in North Hill to guiding peers who “just seemed to look up to him,” he found himself stepping into roles that called for both confidence and compassion. “I can’t really tell you what I was exhibiting that made persons feel that way,” he reflected with a laugh. “But I was always given the role to read Scripture verses in church and lead the youth in any venture they had.”
Encouraged by fellow youth advocate Tishon Gumbs, Dominik eventually joined the National Youth Ambassadors Corps, and later became Anguilla’s CARICOM Youth Ambassador, representing the island at regional levels.
As part of the National Youth Ambassador Corps, Dominik serves in the advocacy subgroup — an important bridge between young people and policymakers. “If there’s an issue that we feel the youth want to speak on, I’d be responsible for letting persons in higher authority know that this is the voice of the youth,” he explained.
His work as a CARICOM Youth Ambassador took him to Jamaica in 2023, where he represented Anguilla at regional forums. Yet, as he pointed out, being from an associate member state has its limits. “It kind of hindered some of the stuff that I would have wanted to do… because we are not a member state,” he said. Still, the experience left an impression. “It was very good. The networking alone was amazing.”
For Dominik, the lessons of leadership didn’t come solely from meetings or conferences, they also came from the waves. As a member of the crew of The Satellite, one of North Hill’s well-known racing boats, he credits boat racing with shaping his teamwork and patience. “I wasn’t really a team player before, but with boat racing, it helped me to respect other persons, their ideas and the way they think,” he said. “Not because I see something as a six and they see it as a nine means it’s wrong — we just have two different perspectives.”
He sees potential in Anguilla’s national sport not only as a source of pride but as a form of youth engagement. “Most boats would need at least a crew of 20 to 30 persons, and I know for a fact every boat right now is struggling for crew members,” he noted. “It would benefit both the sport and the youth if we were to combine both things.”
As much as Dominik’s life revolves around leadership and the sea, technology remains at its core. His advocacy for responsible digital use comes from what he’s seen first-hand. “It’s very easy to manipulate IT,” he said. “Some persons do it out of curiosity, but some out of maliciousness.” He believes the internet should be used to uplift, not undermine. “Instead of going on and frolicking or damaging your brain with malicious websites,” he said candidly, “use it to help your business ventures or your schoolwork.”
When asked about the challenges facing Anguilla’s youth, Dominik didn’t hesitate. “The media they consume is affecting them badly,” he said, singling out the negative influence of some American music and entertainment. But he also believes the issue goes deeper — to the way children are raised. “I find that parents today are very lenient,” he observed. “They view their children more as friends than as children. When I was growing up, I was raised by a community. If I walked up the road and didn’t say good morning to somebody, by the time I reached by my grandmother, I would get washed out. That’s not happening anymore.”
It’s a candid assessment, but one grounded in genuine concern. For Dominik, rebuilding that sense of community discipline and mentorship is crucial to steering young Anguillians back on course.
Looking ahead, Dominik envisions a youth movement that’s inclusive and grounded in accountability. He hopes young people will stop seeing organisations like the National Youth Ambassador Corps as being “only for the crème de la crème.” Instead, he encourages them to “step outside the box and at least try to be a leader, or help a leader reach their goals.”
And to those who’ve lost faith in today’s generation, his message is simple: don’t give up. “Some persons feel like the youth in Anguilla are a lost cause, and I really disagree with that,” he said firmly.
“Even if you’re not a youth, don’t write us off. Everyone has a role to play, and together we can build a stronger and better Anguilla.”
By Janissa Fleming
