The Anguilla Community College, which has already turned out a number of graduates in the hospitality industry, has reached another milestone with the appointment of its first President, in the person of Professor Delroy Louden. His selection for the high-profile job was announced on Monday this week by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Social Development, the Hon. Edison Baird.

L-R: Hon. Edison Baird, Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett, Professor Delroy Louden and Mrs. Rhona Richardson-Roydon

“It gives me great pleasure to make this announcement about the selection by the Board of Trustees of the first President of the Anguilla Community College, Professor Delroy M. Louden, Ph.D, FRSPH,” Mr. Baird told officials and other invited guests on the grounds of the institution. “He comes to us from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, where he has been Professor and Principal Investigator for over ten years. He is an internationally-known scholar and researcher, and has held appointments…in England, Nigeria, the West Indies, Canada and, more recently, the United States of America.”

Professor Louden, who is originally from Jamaica, is married to an Anguillian (Mrs. Jonice A. Louden formerly Proctor of Sandy Ground). Among other academic qualifications, he received his Ph. D from the University of Bristol, England, in 1997 and his Post Doctoral training in Epidemiology from the John Hopkins University School of Public Health.

The Minister of Social Development said the Anguilla Government saw a vital role for the Community College in nation-building. He identified such a role as providing the educational programmes that address the human resource needs of Anguilla; strengthen capacity for development; and providing an infrastructure that could support educational achievement and social and economic growth.

Mr. Baird went on: “It is expected that the Anguilla Community College, through teaching, research and expanding the island’s education infrastructure and learning resources, will provide the human resources needed to improve the social and economic wellbeing of the population, by utilizing the educational opportunities as a steppingstone for further advancement. Each individual who attends college will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge of history, geography, literature, science, mathematics, economics, politics, music and culture and thereby not only fulfilling their personal goals and aspirations, but will be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to participate in the economic growth and development of Anguilla.”

The Minister defined the purpose of the College as being: to enhance Anguilla’s human resources; strengthen its capacity for development; strengthen its infrastructure capabilities; provide an education that would enhance individuals' understanding of themselves, their community and the world; improve individual productivity and creativity; promote entrepreneurship and a curriculum that expands students' knowledge base and world view, thus enabling them to participate in the social and economic development of Anguilla.

Mr. Baird emphasised that the Government was committed to supporting the Anguilla Community College for the sustainable development of the island. He called on all stakeholders to assist in taking the lead not only to debate the future direction of the education system, but the kind of nation they wanted Anguilla and its people to be.

Professor Louden was introduced by Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Community College, Mrs. Rhona Richardson-Roydon. She took the opportunity to thank former Project Coordinator, Mrs. Dawn Reid, Education Planner, for her work in bringing the Community College to the present level and Permanent Secretary Education, Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett, for her involvement as well.

Dr. Louden said the task of the institution was one that was long-overdue in Anguilla. “We must begin to address our infrastructure and academic needs and cater for all levels of our community, not just the ‘high flyers’ but everyone else,” he stated.

He pledged that the Community College would endeavour to establish, at the earliest opportunity, arrangements whereby certificates, diplomas and secondary school qualification could be used as entry qualifications to universities abroad. In addition, he said that agreement would also be sought whereby the College’s associate degrees would be accepted as being equivalent to the first year of the baccalaureate degree programme of the universities to which students might wish to make a transition.

He spoke about plans to establish external linkages with community colleges in the region and in particular Canada and the United States; to bring in a number of education specialists to assist in delivering some of the courses at the College; and to involve qualified persons in Anguilla as well. Among other matters, he saw the mission of the College as providing access to tertiary education to prepare human resources for the workforce. “We fervently believe that, as a Community College, we can produce the labour force to match the needs of private companies not just in courses offered, but by developing agreements with companies that give our students entry into the organisation through internships,” he stated.

“The opportunity for students to pursue post secondary education at home, in Anguilla, has an added advantage. It is less disruptive to their families and is cost-effective, but even more advantageous is the possibility of gaining meaningful employment after study. Having been educated on the basis of the need for skills or academic certification, in addition to the idea of being rightly placed in a working environment, is fundamental to the process of improved social condition and standard of living. For employers having a workforce that is trained and adequately suited for the job, brings added satisfaction.”

Front row: L-R: Hon. Edison Baird, HE Governor Harrison and Hon. Stanley Reid, Deputy Governor

Professor Louden expressed the hope that the Community College would satisfy Anguillians’ desire for access to tertiary education as well as assist in the democratic process by the provision of literate, thinking and rational human resource citizens. “Anguilla now has the opportunity through this investment in the Community College, and personal and occupational development, to seek meaningful employment or to become entrepreneurs and create employment for others,” he noted.
“We are not interested in the Anguilla Community College in replicating programmes just for replication sake,” he stressed. “We have to carve out a niche that is singularly Anguillian and attract people from across the borders who are interested in some of our offerings. If the Community College is going to be accountable, it must be transparent. I assure the Minister and the members of the Board that the administration, of which I am part, will be transparent in its activities. It is going to be transparent and will also be one which is demanding in terms of standards, using our linkages for accreditation programmes; developing matriculation agreements across the region so that our courses can be carried over; and then making sure that our associate degree programmes can be accredited so that students can complete their baccalaureate degrees elsewhere in a timely manner.
“Finally, this job is not for the faint-hearted but I promise you that I bring to this position resilience; a resilience in the face of adversity; a resilience that we must succeed as a nation. We cannot make the excuses that we don’t have the positions or we have to bring in expatriates. We simply have to ‘bite the bullet’ and begin to provide the level of education we need,” he said.
Other speakers were Vice President of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association, Delroy Lake; Executive Director of the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce, Wilma Vanterpool; and Emma Ferguson of the Anguilla Teachers Union. Mr. Lake made the point that his organisation would like to see both long-term and short-term hospitality industry courses to improve the knowledge and skills of workers. He also hoped that the Community College would create training programmes to assist Anguillians to take over the management of hotels and restaurants on the island. Wilma Vanterpool wished to see a partnership between the College and the business community that would benefit both private sector development and the Anguillians desirous of improving their education and contribution to the wellbeing of the island. Ms. Ferguson also spoke on matters related to higher education and joined with the others in expressing delight over the establishment of the Anguilla Community College and the appointment of its first President.
The invocation was delivered by the Rev. Dr. H. Clifton Niles and the Vote of Thanks by Ms. Sharon Richardson, Director of Hospitality at the Anguilla Community College.

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