“After living in the United States for thirty-nine years, I felt that it was time for me to return to Anguilla to help in the social, economic and political development going on in the island at the present time.” So said Seymour Hodge a week ago shortly after his arrival from New York where he had been of much assistance to Anguilla in such areas as fund-raising and tourism promotion.

Mr. Seymour Hodge with Award for youth work in New York

At a much younger age, Mr. Hodge left Anguilla to further his studies in the United States following which he was hoping to return home, but he took the opportunity to remain and work there. He majored in Political Science and Economics and did a Master’s degree in Urban Studies. He was a student at Queen’s College which is part of the City University of New York. He then branched off in various employment fields. In one of his first jobs he served as Manager of the Circulation Department for a major newspaper in New York.

The well-respected and highly-skilled Anguillian national is the eldest brother of Dr. Brett Hodge. Until recently, he served as President of the Anguilla Progressive Association of New York. He worked in the travel industry for about thirty years. “One of my objectives was to expose Anguilla to the North America market and I organised group tours to Anguilla in the 1980s especially during the August season,” he said. “I arranged trips for the Sons and Daughters of New Jersey and New York. I also worked with some hotels in terms of their marketing and that is one of the areas where I would like to help out if it is possible.”

He went on: “I was one of the founding members of the Anguilla Progressive Association in New York and one of its key roles is to help local organisations obtain donations. If persons in America are interested in contributing donations to Anguilla, they donate that money to our organisation and we in turn send in organisations to the island and the donors can get a tax write-off. For example, we received contributions for the Anguilla Tennis Academy and the Animal Rescue Foundation from organisations and foundations in New York.

In addition to his interest in tourism marketing, Mr. Hodge has wide experience in working with young people, having served on the Board of Directors of the Town of Babylon in Long Island for twenty-five years. The organisation serviced eleven youth agencies, offered counseling and recreational services, computer skills and a variety of other activities.

“Working with young people is another area in which I would like to serve in Anguilla,” he said. “I hope that I can transfer some of my skills from the United States to Anguilla to help our young people.”

He said he was relaxing for the time being and would later go out to meet with organisations and offer his assistance.

In welcoming home Mr. Hodge, The Anguillian told him that he had returned at a time when the island was experiencing a period of rapid economic development and needed the services of many of its nationals.

He replied: “I think it is a critical time for Anguilla and I am encouraging as many Anguillians as possible to return to be part of the development. In the past we were afraid to come back home because we were saying there was nothing to do. With the growth in tourism and other areas, I think there are opportunities for Anguillians living abroad, whether retired or close to the age of retirement, to look at Anguilla as their home and to help in its development.”

Though working and residing in New York, Mr. Hodge has kept in close contact with the island not just by his varied activities there but by actually paying regular visits to familiarise himself and to fellowship with his relatives and compatriots.

The Anguillian joins with others in welcoming home this ambassador, a son of the soil.

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