Two well-placed and patriotic young men, at the forefront of their recently-formed Anguilla Community Alliance (AGA), have spoken about plans to honour a number of deceased persons in the Stoney Ground, Quarter and Little Dix areas.
They are Mr Dallen Connor, President of the Alliance, who holds an Environmental Engineering degree from City College, New York; and Mr Sherman Williams, who holds Accounting and Finance degrees from Lindenwood University in Missouri. The young men visited The Anguillian newspaper on Tuesday to reveal some of the plans, of their organisation, which include a Memorial Race on May 4.
“We are products of Stoney Ground and we acknowledge that persons, not only our parents and close family members, but other persons in the community, helped to raise us,” Williams, stated. “They have helped to lay a platform and a foundation that we are now trying to lay for the younger generation, but we are not going to forget or gloss over the contributions that were made by persons who came before us. That is what the event really wants to commemorate and speak to.
“Currently, we are going to different homes and talking to family members of persons who have passed away. We are trying to approach this in a most respectful, upfront, honest and transparent manner by having them give their consent to us to speak about the contributions of those persons. This is day two of us going to various homes and businesses seeking sponsorship and awareness, and asking everyone to come out on May 4 and help us to show appreciation to persons who came before them.”
Connor said: “When I came back from college, I saw the need to give back to the community. We are trying to bring the community together and promote a sense of nation-building and harmony. A number of persons who passed away have played a very significant role in the community and our event will hopefully help the younger generation to appreciate their work and the values they stood for.”
Mr Connor and Mr Williams announced that their first annual Watkins Hodge Community Memorial Race will commence on May 4 at 11.00 am on the Stoney Ground Road outside the Caracasbaai Supermarket and the Colin O Hodge Complex.
Connor and Williams, who delivered a letter to The Anguillian about their plans, continued: “The event’s main purposes are to honour community members of Stoney Ground, The Quarter and Little Dix who have passed away, but have made significant impacts on these communities through their social, economic and philanthropic contributions; and gather funds that are to be reinvested in educational, social and economic endeavours in the communities.”
The event will encompass four relay races for competitors in the age categories of 8-12 years; 13-18; 19-25; and 25 years and older. Cash prizes for first, second and third places will be EC$500, EC$300 and EC$200 respectively.
The Memorial Race is being planned by the Anguilla Community Alliance in conjunction with the Advance Community Sport Club.
