Former educator at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, Anne Edwards, has come out in support of the programmes of the Anguilla Community College and the work of the of its President, Professor Delroy Louden.
“We need the Community College of Anguilla to become a household name and, in order for that to happen, all Anguillians must own the Community College,” she said. “Professor Louden is to be complemented for what he is doing and for working so hard to achieve that.”
Ms Edwards was at the time speaking at the 16th Anniversary Awards Presentation by Kreative Communications Network which she chairedon February 9 at La Vue, Back Street, South Hill. “In order for the Community College to progress, we will need to support it not just by word of mouth but financially as well,” she said. “We can give the Community College our support by way of one dollar, two dollars, or three dollars. Do not fool yourselves that you must give the Community College hundreds of dollars. One dollar can make a million dollars eventually.
“We are therefore inviting the environmental group (present to receive awards), and all of you invited guests, to realise that we all need to support the Community College financially.”
Ms Edwards had hardly finished her sentence when Roy MacArthur Rogers, one of the environmental workers involved in beach-cleaning, stepped forward. He laid a few coins on the table – less than a dollar – and enquired where he could make further donations. It appeared that he had given all he had and his donation was eventually acknowledged and accepted by Professor Louden.
“Anguillians, no matter where they go, are noted for their intelligence and work ethics,” Ms Edwards continued. “I know that with the Community College this would be increased ten and a hundred fold. I wish you the best, Dr. Louden, and I hope that as this programme is aired that more people will give us some more donations.”
Replying, Professor Louden told the gathering that the new campus of the Community College would be built on the site of the Factory Shell at the Long Path. “I know you are hearing the discussion that things are difficult, but don’t worry about that – the college is going to be built,” he assured his listeners. “That is because we owe it to posterity, and to the next generation of young men and young women in this island, to leave an institution which they can be proud of. Although it may be difficult to get off the ground, trust me, we are going to build it.”
Speaking earlier at the event, Professor Louden said: “We all talk about the importance of education but we are not giving enough to education. We need to give more and I want to be more specific about that. We at the Community College have set up a Trust so that people can give – maybe half an acre of land. It may be fifty dollars, but we need to build the college by having a Trust Fund for the needy, but also a fund which we can draw on to provide for a variety of purposes.
“Government alone cannot build an institution of higher learning. Many of you have families and friends – and in particular in North America – and I would urge you to ask those persons to give to the college. For example, APANY, Anguilla Progressive Association of New York is 40IC non-profit corporation in New York; and rather than sending you a cheque for 100 dollars down here, they could send it through APANY. Those persons in that diasprora would get the tax write-off and at the same time that 100 dollars can become significantly more.”
