The process for seeking and obtaining admission into a higher education institution is quite competitive these days in many ways. With the rapid growth in Anguilla, there is now, more than ever, a need for advanced personnel in almost every field imaginable. Currently, as we all saw in last week’s edition of The Anguillian, there has been an influx of imported labour.

Taking into account that the majority of the imported labour is being utilized to carry out manual labour positions, it is important to take notice that the people in charge of some of these large projects around Anguilla are not Anguillians. It is for this reason that there needs to be a strong push that entices the youth to begin planning to go to college so that they can pursue more advanced degrees.

The Honourable Chief Minister Mr. Osbourne Fleming was quoted in last week’s Anguillian as saying; “The importation of foreign labour in the construction sector has been due to time and constraints, but there is work requiring other skilled needs and expertise that Anguillians overseas can come home and fill. We cannot allow ourselves to be outnumbered as stakeholders and shareholders in Anguilla’s development and future. Teachers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, contractors, other skilled persons and professionals of Anguillian parentage, are urged to seriously consider returning to Anguilla and supporting Anguilla’s success.” Although this statement can be seen as desperate, it can also be construed as a valid reason why there needs to be a more serious effort within the community and schools to start assisting Anguillians to not only study abroad, but return home when finished.

Higher education nowadays is prohibitively expensive. Yet, hiring two or three employees to do work that can be done by one trained professional is even more costly. More scholarship opportunities given by local businesses and corporations, as well as the public sector is one solution for combating this problem of both lack of labour and hiring outsiders. Provisions in certain scholarships can be made to guarantee that Anguillans must return home for a certain period of time or they will be made to repay the money given to them to obtain their degrees.

Internships can be set up for these students that want to return during the summer so that they can continue to receive practical training towards the completion of their degree, make some extra money and, most importantly, start to build a sense of loyalty and ownership of a job that is in Anguilla. I am aware that there has been a program like this provided by government and I think it is a wonderful idea. Yet, in speaking to many Anguillians, I discovered that they are of the view that these scholarships are not publicized well enough and often times the recipients receive them because of an “inside track.” Because of this, it is vital that opportunities such as scholarships be highly publicized and made available to all youth.

Recently, Keithroy Proctor received a tennis scholarship to Lambuth University in Tennessee worth USD $120,000. He will be majoring in business and marketing during his four year career as a student athlete. During the Christmas holiday, he was hired to give tennis lessons to guests at various resorts by the ATA, the same organization responsible for helping him obtain the scholarship. During the holiday, he was able to keep his skills finely tuned, receive professional development and practical training from the ATA staff, and meet tourists and potential contacts he could have in the USA. Keithroy knows that every time he returns to Anguilla there will be an opportunity for him to work and continue to train. When he completes his degree, I am positive that the ATA will offer him a full time job at the new facility and that he may even one day become the director after having completed his degree in business administration.

I encourage all corporate citizens to get involved with this initiative as well. A society cannot depend on its government to do everything and, in this case, government has already made an attempt to provide scholarships for youth that are interested in working in a particular field. In ten years time, I am sure that there will be more Anguillians working in skilled positions which will in turn create positive examples for other youth who wish to excel in a field as well.

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