Miss Arielle Gaskin, an astute, young potential lawyer with lofty career-oriented ideals, was presented with the Dame Dr. Bernice Lake Memorial Award, at the Edison Hughes Library lounge, on the morning of Thursday, July 12th.
In an admirable ceremony that featured the presence of her close relatives, friends and her future fellow-professionals of the Anguilla Bar Association, Arielle stood as a proud achiever in accepting the noble award and presentations.
First, a prayer of invocation was offered by bar member Miss Dana Campbell who thanked God for the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishment of Ms. Gaskin. She asked Him to always be with her as she pursues her goals in the study of Law, and she also gave thanks for the caliber of family-and-friends support that Ms. Gaskin enjoys.
Bar President, Miss Jean M. Dyer, then gave welcome remarks to the modest gathering by saying: “It is a great privilege and honor to rise on behalf of the Anguilla Bar Association to welcome you to our seventh awards ceremony for the presentation of the Dame Dr. Bernice Lake QC Memorial Award to the top CAPE Law student in Anguilla, for the 2017 academic year.
“It seems like only yesterday that the executive and members of the Anguilla Bar Association took the decision to recognize and honor Dame Bernice for her longstanding work and her many accomplishments — not only in Anguilla, but also in the wider Caribbean — by establishing the Dame Dr. Bernice Lake QC Scholarship Fund Award. That decision was, in fact, taken seven years ago.
Just before she presented the award, Ms. Dyer expressed some noteworthy qualities of the late Dane Bernice: “Dane Bernice was a formidable advocate — an intellectual giant; and a champion of the constitution. She was considered a trail-blazer because she was the first woman in the Eastern Caribbean, and the first University of the West Indies graduate, to be bestowed the distinguished title of Queen’s Counsel. She had a strong voice, a strong walk, and she had strong opinions. She was, undoubtedly, a role model for females and, in particular, female lawyers in the region.
“We are honored today to host another awards ceremony, marking the presentation of the Dame Dr. Bernice Lake QC Award to Ms. Arielle Gaskin who is a well deserving recipient. Ms. Gaskin claims that she was inspired by her father to pursue a career in Law. She also has a burning desire to give back to the community which has helped to nurture her into the young lady that she is today.
“Ms Gaskin is currently preparing to commence a degree in law at Durham University in the UK. Her outstanding achievements thus far include: 10 CAPE units in 2017 — and she has been the island scholar for 2017. In 2016 and 2017 Ms. Gaskin made the CXC merit list for attaining the 5th and 8th highest grades respectively in the entire Caribbean for CAPE Law. In 2015, she also attained thirteen ‘ones’ at CSEC level.”
Ms. Dire then made the formal presentation: “Ms. Gaskin, on behalf of the Anguilla Bar Association I now present to you the Dane Dr. Bernice E Lake QC Memorial Award in recognition of your outstanding performance in CAPE Law 2017. Congratulations to you.” (Heightened applause from those in attendance)
In accepting the award and a special gift from the Bar Association, Ms. Gaskin remarked: “It is indeed my pleasure to be the recipient of the 2017 Dame Dr. Bernice Lake QC Memorial Award. We all are eternally grateful for Dame Dr. Lake’s contributions. My achievements to date were not attained by my own will and might, but are the results of the collaborative effort of everyone in my support system.
“Sometimes when you try to excel to achieve at the highest level, we are met with negativity and opposition which can be very discouraging. However, surrounding myself with positive people has helped me to keep motivated. I am thankful for my parents, Annette Duncan and Elson Gaskin. I also thank my siblings, aunts and cousins who have been a source of loyalty and support to me over the years. I would be forever grateful for their love. I would also like to thank my close friends who have become a part of my extended family.”
Ms. Gaskin also expressed thanks to the Bar Association for the award, and she commended its members for their drive in keeping the award alive even in these difficult times. She said that she hoped the award would continue to be an inspiration to aspiring lawyers.
The Dr. Dame Bernice Lake Memorial Award is presented to a select past student of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School who would have had his or her sights set on the study of Law. Presentations of this award began in 2012. To date, inclusive of Ms. Gaskin, the award has been issued to six recipients including: Mikeela Skellekie, 2012; Nordisia Lake, 2013; Mia Hughes, 2014; Carrin Richardson, 2015; Gesel Hodge, 2016; and Arielle Gaskin, 2017.
The Anguillan joins with other well wishers to say congratulations to Ms. Gaskin and to wish her the best in her future pursuits.
