In the last Press Conference on Monday, February 9th, the Hon. Minister of Education, Mrs. Shellya Rogers-Webster, announced that the Government was able to acquire six acres of land for the expansion of the Campus Q of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.
“The Government of Anguilla has acquired six acres of property, adjacent to the Campus Q of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, on the north side,” the Minister announced. “This land was originally the property of the Baptist Christian School.”
She said that the Baptist Christian School had made an offer to the Government of Anguilla under the previous administration, but that offer was not taken advantage of. “However, we were able to take advantage of it,” she said.
“The acquisition of this property is critical to the overall development of the secondary school facilities. It is our hope that over the next year we will have a finalized draft of all of the infrastructural projects related to the Campus Q secondary school development.”
When asked what the cost of the six acres of land was, the Minister answered that its cost was a little over US$1Million. She said that the property includes a proposed three-storey structure as well, that was originally intended to be used as a school facility by the Baptist Christian School. “By all accounts,” she noted, “this property was well worth the price that was paid for it.”
Asked further if there was any possibility that the much-talked-about 400 meter track could be placed on the property, the Minister answered: “No! It would be for further secondary school development.”
The 400 meter track and field has been a sticking point of conversation in recent times as a much needed facility for sports in Anguilla. In fact, during such conversations it was proposed that the track should be constructed in the area of Campus Q. Since then, however, that idea has been quashed.
When the Minister was asked what will become of the space in the Valley where Campus A currently stands, she answered that throughout the year ahead it will be determined through discussions with relevant education officials and partners how the space at the new property will be utilized. She indicated that no decision has been made as yet pertaining to the precise use of the new space at Campus Q, relative to Campus A in the Valley.
Prior to Hurricane Irma, the two secondary school campuses were located in the Valley, namely Campus A, which was the original campus, and Campus B which was later developed as an expansion at a separate location, but in close proximity to Campus A.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, however, the Campus A facility was damaged and much of the damaged section was subsequently demolished. School then operated on a split-shift system since all of the students were unable to attend school at the same time in the regular school day.
This split-shift system continued until 2024 when a new campus, Campus Q, was commissioned. This campus was so named due to its location in The Quarter, though it could have well been named Campus “C” to denote that it was the “third” secondary campus established. It is adjacent to this campus that the six acres of land has been recently acquired by Government.
