Twenty Anguillian pioneers, who blazed the trail for many other nationals to attend the prestigious University of the West Indies, have been honoured for their sterling leadership and accomplishment. As a tribute to them their names have been inscribed on a plaque now placed at the UWI Open Campus in Anguilla.
The honoured UWI Pioneers of Anguilla, from 1954-1970, are Dame Bernice Lake, QC; Dr. Macmilla Lorenzo Hodge, MBE; Mrs. Dulcie Richardson, OBE; Mr. George Hodge; Mrs. Clarion Lake-Broomes; Mrs. Verna Richardson; Rev. Dr. H. Clifton Niles (UTCWI/UWI); Mr. Constantine Richardson; Rev. Neville Buchanan (UTCWI/UWI); Dr. Vincent L. Gumbs; Mr. Sinclair Buchanan; Ms. Irma Richardson; Rev. E. Dunstan Richardson; Rev. Dr. Wycherley Gumbs (UTCWI/UWI); Mr. Clive Carty; Mr. Franklin Connor, OBE; Mr. Colville Petty, OBE; Mr. Fabian Marcel Fahie; Mrs. Stella Horsford; and Mrs. Yolande Hodge-Richardson.
The ceremony, at which the Anguillian trailblazers were recognised, was organised by the Anguilla Chapter of the UWI Alumni Association. It was held at Magic City Anguilla on Saturday evening, April 28, and was attended by a number of the awardees, their representatives, and many other specially-invited persons. The Anguilla Government was represented by Chief Minister, Mr. Victor Banks, and the Ministerial Assistant in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs. Evalie Bradley.
The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, Manager of UWI Open Campus in the British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean. She said in part: “Since its inception from 1948, the UWI has evolved from a fledgling University College of London in Jamaica, with 53 students, to a full fledged regional University with well over 50,000 students now – and a distinguished network of alumni all around the world. Amongst these are the Anguillian pioneers whom we celebrate and honour this evening. As we pay tribute to twenty of our earliest trailblazers, in the years ahead these alumni awards will continue to highlight the contributions of the graduates who hail from Anguilla.”
The ceremony was ably chaired by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Education, Mrs. Chanelle Petty Barrett, a younger generation graduate of the UWI. She spoke highly of the first batch of Anguillian students and trailblazers. “These are the persons who laid the path for the rest of us to follow,” she observed. “They are the persons who showed us that it is possible for Anguillians to advance themselves to obtain tertiary education right here in the region; and to be excellent citizens, trailblazers and people, by the way they carried and distinguished themselves in their various careers, and set the bar for all of us to reach.”
Mr. Stanley Reid, President of the UWI Alumni Association, Anguilla Chapter, and formerly a student in the Cave Hill Class of 1991, joined in
saluting the Anguillian trailblazers. He took the opportunity to speak about the importance of the Anguilla Alumni Association as it shared the glory of the UWI Alumni pioneers of Anguilla. He said the Association was assisting the UWI in the realisation of its mission and to be a significant contributor to Anguilla’s development.
“The UWI Alumni Association, Anguilla Chapter, cannot serve its anticipated purpose without volunteers who commit their time, energy, and expertise to the work of the Association,” he stressed. “I am therefore inviting any person here, who can describe himself or herself as an UWI alumnus, to formally join the Anguilla Chapter to assist in the realisation of the UWI’s mission.
“We propose to influence the evolution and the development of the University of the West Indies to promote Anguilla’s intellectual and cultural development, and to mentor persons enrolled in the UWI programmes. In relation to that intention, it is generally accepted by those who have passed through the portals of the University that the UWI programmes, while rewarding, are rigorous in terms of the academic and psychological demands and could prove daunting for some students particularly those faced with work and family commitments. The UWI Alumni Association could be of great assistance to students as they face the rigors associated with their programmes of study.”
Chief Minister, Mr. Victor Banks, a graduate of the College of the Virgin Islands (now the University of the Virgin Islands), spoke on behalf of the Minister of Education, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge. “Her absence is my good fortune. For me, on this occasion, it is steeped in nostalgia because a number of the pioneers have been my teachers, pastors, mentors and classmates,” he stated. “The Minister, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, may not even have been born when many of these pioneers attended the University of the West Indies.”
The Chief Minister continued: “Such an opportunity when the UWI was chartered 70 years ago, was extremely rare for persons to avail themselves of that privilege to attend the UWI, or any university, and were considered by us as heroes and heroines in our traditional community. The Minister of Education, like so many other graduates from tertiary institutions around the region and the world, may take for granted how far we have come – and the importance of celebrating these giants who blazed the trail for tertiary education in our region by showing up at the august campuses of the UWI and proving themselves; as well as ensuring that the university was available to a capable cadre of youngsters who can make it a viable enterprise.
“I make that statement to establish the point that the success of any institution of learning is measured by the students it produces, and its longevity and survival is based on the pride which those students engender and have a belonging to the institution. This in turn drives their loyalty, dedication and support to keep that institution alive.
“The University of the West Indies in general and particularly those we now label as ‘pioneers’ are deserving of such celebration. They represent the quality products of this institution, and the guarantee that the UWI will continue to serve the people of the Caribbean region as a monument to the cause of national development and regional integration through excellence in education and training and other pursuits.”
Mr. Banks added: “A number of these pioneers have distinguished themselves through their work, publications and service as luminaries in their particular fields. I salute them even as I bring you greetings, recognising also that a number of them have passed – and may they rest in peace.
“I thank you on behalf of the Government and people of Anguilla for providing this occasion to show gratitude and appreciation to these persons who forged the way and blazed the trail. By so doing they have ensured that the mission of the University of the West Indies could be realised and that our pride in that institution, as a centre of excellence in the region, could be maintained.”
During the event a plaque bearing the names of the UWI Pioneers of Anguilla was unveiled by two young family members of the late Mr. Clive Carty and the late Mr.Franklin Connor, assisted by other persons.
Mr. George Hodge delivered the response on behalf of his fellow pioneers. “Thanks to the University of the West Indies for its sterling efforts, over the many years, in reaching out to the many communities of the region, for its mission, and for recognising not only the pioneers but all graduates,” he said in his conclusion.
Other persons who participated in the ceremony were: Rev. Dr. Wycherley Gumbs who delivered the invocation; the singers: Dr. Wanda John and Ms Shermara Browne; and the members of the Mayoumba Folkloric Theatre who sang several cultural songs of Anguilla; Mrs. Jocelyne Mills who gave expressions of appreciation, concluding the delightful evening of celebration; and Mrs. Meredith Connor who spoke about the Julian Harrigan Scholarship Award (a reference in the margins of the celebration of the UWI pioneers of Anguilla).
