With the Christmas and New Year’s celebration, the children of Welches Village, in particular, were given a special treat on Sunday evening, December 29, by Mr. Jose Vanterpool and Mr. Othlyn Vanterpool.
The benevolent hosts were two of the at-large election candidates of the Anguilla United Front – and members of the Vanterpool family known for their sterling community work in the village. The event was held at the Frederick O. Harrigan Playing Field there, now fully green as a result of recent rains.
Mr. Jose Vanterpool, an island-scholar and youth mentor, spoke to The Anguillian newspaper about the event. “We decided to have an evening of fun for the children in our community, so we have some food, other treats including party bags, a bouncing castle and a swimming pool – allowing them to run around on the playing field and to enjoy the season,” he said.
Mr. Vanterpool continued: “It is an opportunity both for the children and other persons in the community to come together. This is being hosted on behalf of myself as well as Othlyn Vanterpool, the At-Large representatives for the community. We both are from Welches and came together with other members of the community to have this event.
“The response was very positive. When I came to the field I expected it to be empty as Anguillians come to everything late, but the field was already filled with kids. They are enjoying the food, the bouncing castle and the music. We expect to have similar events, later on, such as a jollification in the community.”
As a very successful young man at the national level, Mr. Vanterpool spoke of his efforts to serve as a mentor for the upcoming youth. “In terms of mentoring them, it is more so about creating a presence for them – by coming out in the community to meet with them on a regular basis, to understand what their struggles and ambitions are, and what they want to do with their lives,” he stated.
“The intention is to see how best to set them on a path that would help them to achieve their goals and to stay along that path. I think the best way to mentor them is to stay close to the community. By a hands-on approach we can be more in touch with their needs, and as those needs change we will be better able to remedy them sooner. If they are neglected, by the time they reach out for help it might be too late – as they might have strayed too far and it would be more difficult to wield them back in.”
Mr. Vanterpool, a Computer Science Engineer, is the First Nominated Member and Deputy Speaker in the Anguilla House of Assembly. He is also a member of the Public Accounts Committee.
His uncle, Mr. Othlyn Vanterpool, is a former Elected Representative of District 1, and presently serves as an appointed Ministerial Assistant in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, Utilities, Housing, Agriculture and Fisheries.
About the Welches Village children’s event, he told the newspaper: “I am glad to know that we were able to do something for the young people. I am glad that the parents came out with them – and we are having a good time with them this year and into the New Year.”
