Students at both campuses of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School came face to face with the Speaker, Elected Representatives, Nominated Members and Ex-Officio Members of the Anguilla House of Assembly on Monday, September 3, at the grounds of the school.

Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming (right) and other members of the House of Assembly

The parliamentarians were in the House of Assembly at the start of business when Chief Minister and Leader of Government, Osbourne Fleming, announced that they were leaving the Atlin Arnaldo Harrigan Parliamentary Building to be introduced and to speak to the assembled students on the first day of the new school year.

Campus A students on Monday when they met with members of the House of Assembly

Mr. Fleming first introduced his colleagues at Campus A. They were the Speaker, David Carty, Ministers Victor Banks, Evans Rogers and Kenneth Harrigan, Opposition Members Hubert Hughes and Edison Baird, Acting Attorney General, Ivor Greene, Deputy Governor, Stanley Reid, First Nominated Member, Donna Banks, and Second Nominated Member, Keesha Webster. Parliamentary Secretary, Albert Hughes, was not present.

The Chief Minister called on Mr Hubert Hughes to address the students. He started by complimenting the Principal, Ingrid Lake, for her leadership qualities. He told the students were lucky to be getting a free education and appealed to them to learn well in order to take advantage of the employment opportunities being created for them. He cautioned them against violence and crime, using guns and other weapons and ending up in jail. “That’s why we are here to identify with you,” he stated. “We have a moral responsibility to create a fair society and this is what we intend to do. You are supposed to avail yourself of the opportunity that your Government is trying to create.”

Campus A students on Monday when they met with members of the House of Assembly

Education Minister, Evans Rogers, called on the students to show, during this new school year, that they were maturing and coming at age in terms of their academic performance and behaviour. He noted that about 90% of the membership of the House of Assembly probably was educated at the school. “That in itself is a very high achievement and I dare say that, according to the results of the last CXC Exam, you have done a good job,” he said. “I hope that you will continue in that vein. Of course there are a number of anti-social behavioural problems that exist at the school and we will work closely, as a Government, with the staff, in order that those individuals using tactics to disturb the rest of the children will be taken out and given an equal opportunity outside of the school so that they can achieve their maximum potential.”

There were similar comments made to the students at Campus B by Chief Minister Fleming, Minister Evans Rogers and Opposition Member and former teacher, Edison Baird.

Principal Ingrid Lake

Earlier during the morning, the Principal, Mrs. Lake, delivered the opening address and religious remarks at Campus A. She admonished the students not to frustrate teachers, not to be fighting with their classmates and quarrelling. “When you engage in such activities, you hinder the learning process and you do not help yourself in any way,” she advised the students. “What you need to do is to set yourself objectives for the school year 2007/2008. Learn to use the time you have wisely. Never tell yourself you can’t do anything. Always tell yourself ‘I must try’ and if you try hard enough you will be surprised to know how much you can do…If you want to be successful, you have to learn how to manage that time and do so wisely. If you want to be successful you have to develop responsibility for your own learning…

“We are not dealing with any toddlers at this level. We expect a certain level of maturity and behaviour from you and we are hoping that you will assume responsibility for your own learning. Teachers are not baby-sitters. Don’t ever come and tell me that the teacher is not in the classroom. There are a number of things that you can do and you can be creative in terms of what you do.”

Michael Fleming

The other speaker was Michael Fleming, who is well known at the school in his role as Truancy Officer, Counsellor, Traffic Control Officer and philanthropist. “I just want to remind you that the pedestrian crossing is not for you to walk into the gate and go straight over the road because it is a pedestrian crossing,” he told the students. “You are to walk up to the edge of the crossing and wait until the traffic from both sides comes to a stop and then you proceed across the road.”

Fleming warned against negative behaviour from a few students and suggested that the majority of students should try to encourage them to pursue positive elements of behaviour. “Everyone of you should love, care and respect themselves and each other…We don’t want any drugs or weapons in the school…If you see anyone with them in school, you can go and report it to Mrs. Lake. I am very confident that you can confide in her,” he stated.

He offered to assist students who are without lunch and advised them to make contact with him through some persons he named and connected with the school.

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