The Department of Education (DOE) has welcomed two new opportunities to sponsor students’ participation in extracurricular activities in tourism and sports within the first few weeks of the new term.
Sponsorship – Tourism Youth Congress
The DOE held a short ceremony to formally announce its sponsorship for Ms. Aiyah Jones of Omololu International School to represent Anguilla at the Tourism Youth Congress scheduled to take place in Barbados from 29 September to 3 October 2025. Ms. Jones shared her excitement about the event and her preparation, which included research as well as familiarisation visits to various properties and other tourism related locations across Anguilla.
The Chief Education Officer, Mr. Bren Romney, commended Ms. Jones for accepting the challenge. He noted that activities such as these were demanding but also rewarding and good for personal development.
Similarly, Ms. Gudis Hodge, Principal, Omololu International School (OIS) noted the importance of looking beyond academics for student development, saying that the opportunity to participate in the Tourism Youth Congress was just the sort of exposure that OIS encouraged its students to take up. The Principal also said she was very pleased to have the support of the Department of Education and looked forward to further collaboration.
Mrs. Joleyne Robin Williams, Tourism Planner from the Ministry of Health, Tourism and Sports spearheaded the search for a participant from across all Anguilla’s schools. She thanked the Department for its support as Anguilla had not participated at the event for about five years. She explained that Aiyah would present competitively against twelve or thirteen other participants and that her topic would be ‘Digital Transformation in Tourism’. Should Ms. Jones win, it is expected that she would gain the title of Commissioner of Tourism, 2025.
Sponsorship – Blue Dolphins Cricket Club
The Department of Education sponsored the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School (ALHCS) Blue Dolphins Cricket Club to participate in its first ever Under-17 Cricket Tournament in Sint Maarten at the Caribe Lumber Ball Park on Sunday, 14 September 2025. In recognising the importance of the sponsorship, Chief Education Officer, Mr. Romney noted that while the DOE’s primary focus was the direction and oversight of education provided within the Anguillian school system, the Department also valued diverse, non-formal learning opportunities for students. Teacher Sponsor, Mrs. Deoranie Bharrat thanked the Department of Education on behalf of the Blue Dolphins as it had been several years since Anguilla had presented an Under-17 cricket team.
Fourteen players accompanied by teachers, parents and siblings made the crossing to Sint Maarten to try out their skills, provide coaching, give moral support and just clap and cheer. The Blue Dolphins were pulverised. Anguilla scored 119 runs in 31 overs, all out. The Sint Maarten national Under-17 cricket team scored 120 for 1 in 13 overs. However, the tone was upbeat. Teacher Sponsor, Mrs. Bharat described the experience saying, “We were proud to be invited by Sint Maarten to participate in the Under-17 Cricket Tournament. In all, this was an excellent opportunity for Anguilla’s students to get exposure to ‘real cricket’. We didn’t expect to win, but it was a victory in terms of gaining experience.” The Sint Maarten national Under-17 Cricket Team is expected to visit Anguilla this term for the second match of the 3 match tournament.
The Blue Dolphins Cricket Club was launched barely two years ago (September 2023). It comprises students from first to fifth form (ages 12-17) and has 25 members. Two of them are girls; one being Ms. Orecia Lewis, the first female from Anguilla to be invited (this summer) to try out at the Leeward Islands Under-19 Trials in Nevis. Also, this summer, the Blue Dolphins hosted its first ever Awards Dinner to recognise the efforts of its members. Awardees had to have more than 75% attendance at club activities and generally demonstrated interest in cricket and the club.
Mrs. Bharrat, thanked all the Teacher Sponsors of the Blue Dolphin Cricket Club including Mrs. Pasty Frederick Wattley, Ms. Glynesia Franklin, Ms. Janet Lake, and Ms. Theona Park. She also noted that the Blue Dolphin Cricket Club was especially grateful for the support of Mr. Jazad Farrel also known as Prince and for the invaluable coaching and advice from their main coach, Mr. William Bourne of Adastra Coaching. The Blue Dolphins Cricket Club meets at the J Ronald Webster Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 3:30pm. Mrs. Bharrat encouraged students who may have an interest in cricket to check out what the Blue Dolphin Club has to offer.
