The National Bank of Anguilla and the Caribbean Commercial Bank which donated US$75,000 and US$85,000 to the Anguilla Tennis Academy to construct two courts last year, have gone a big step further. They have now agreed to provide a loan of US$1,000,000 each to the academy to help complete the project.

L-R: Jason Allen, Val Banks, Preston Bryan, Mitch Lake and Zina Garrison

All three parties, excited over the matter, called a press conference at the Anguilla Great House on May 6 at which the announcement was made to the cheering invited guests. Among those present, was Zina Garrison, the former Wimbledon Champion and USA Fed Cup Captain, who spent a week in Anguilla working with the Tennis Academy and a number of young trainees. Her trip was facilitated by NBA, CCB, Cable & Wireless, Viceroy, the Social Security Board, CuisinArt Resort & Spa, American Eagle and Caribbean Juris Chambers.

Tennis Director, Jason Allen, who chaired the press conference, said the two million dollars in loans from the banks were in addition to a number of pledges from other sources. He commended Michelle Lake, founder of the academy, for doing a great deal of fund-raising for the project.

Attendees at the NBA, CCB and ATA meeting

NBA’s Chief Executive Officer, E. Valentine Banks, was delighted that both banks had taken a supportive role in the development of local tennis when Mr. Lake first introduced the summer training camps for school children. He was pleased to see how Lake’s dream was becoming a reality with the growing support the project was now enjoying and that NBA was part of that dream.

CCB’s Managing Director, Preston Bryan, said he had no difficulty in convincing the Board of Directors to contribute to the project on various occasions. He was struck by the scope of Lake’s ambition, optimism and strategic planning. He added that the bank had agreed to provide the funding particularly for the social life of the island and the development of sports in general.

Zina Garrison addressing attendees

Founder and President of the Anguilla Tennis Academy, Michelle Lake, said when he started the academy eleven years ago, it was a way for him to give back to the children of the island through a sport which had provided many benefits for him. Lake, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and until recently was a teacher in the United States, attributed his experience in tennis and the establishment of the academy to Eric Martineau of Sandy Ground who introduced him and others on the island to the sport.

“It is good to dream,” Mr. Lake went on. “Without dreams we won’t accomplish much. As a young man, knowing what the sport has done for me, I realise there were two things in the mix. There was a cause and there was a cost and, in this situation, the cause is greater than the cost and I thought for that reason this project has to be done.

Mr & Mrs. Eric Martineau

“I am so grateful to Mr. Val Banks and Mr. Preston Bryan of NBA and CCB for their support to the programme and now to this project from the inception in 1996. Without their support and that of others, my efforts are in vain… I want to thank the community of Anguilla, and particularly National Bank and the Caribbean Commercial Bank, for taking up this challenge and believing in me and the ATA and the children of Anguilla to bring to Anguilla something that is historic and unprecedented because I think this is a first for the Caribbean region and for this reason this is very special for us...

“I know that together we will be able to do good things and what was once a dream has become a shared vision. It is only a matter of time before the island will have an Anguilla Tennis Academy where our children can grow and develop and become responsible citizens in the community and live more healthy and productive lives.”
Mr. Lake said he was grateful to Zina Garrison for coming to Anguilla to help promote the project and to show the children that they were not playing in vain and that, like her, they too could achieve. He added that her visit “had provided a renewed energy for persons to continue to support the project” and had made the children excited that they were coached by a champion.

Ms. Garrison expressed appreciation to both banks for providing the loans so that there could be bigger and better dreams of tennis development on the island. She was grateful “to have been welcomed and accepted to the fullest” in Anguilla and admired the programme which the Anguilla Tennis Academy is developing for the island’s children.
“It has been very nice to come to Anguilla and talk to the children who want a dream,” she continued. “They asked me tons of questions…and one again I want to say to both banks thank you for taking advantage of the opportunity that these young children have now and they do have a dream. Thanks for the support and I am truly, truly a supporter of this programme and I will be there whenever you need me.”

Attendees at the NBA, CCB and ATA meeting

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