It has been three weeks since this column was last published due to fact that I have been overwhelmingly busy with the 13th Annual Anguilla Tennis Academy Summer Camp. It has been a tremendous three weeks with more than 200 children playing tennis everyday. It is always such a large operation to do any summer programme yet, at the end of it all, it is always very fulfilling to see that students have improved at such an exponential level. It has also been obvious that other programmes have been in full swing and highly successful as well.

Although it is missing a very special person this year, Camp Be Aware was great once again. It recently finished. The Anguilla Pepper Steppers skipping camp will end this week and many people enjoyed their performance at the Miss Anguilla Swimsuit Competition. The Anguilla Youth Sailing School has been full of eager students and I am sure they are all looking forward to the up and coming boat races that fill up the Anguilla Summer Festival schedule. So yes, indeed there is a great deal of tremendous activity for the youth right now and so now it is time to pause and think for a minute. Have we seen any reports in the paper about youth crime? Have there been any reports of fights or altercations on Anguilla Talk? The obvious answer is no.

Things are certainly getting better and it is important that we stop and smell the roses. All of the many programmes and activities are doing their jobs. All of the organizers are getting even more organized and the children are the ones who benefit. I urge the government to continue supporting these organizations and NGO’s that are answering the call of providing positive social solutions. I also applaud those private sector businesses who generously give and I ask them to continue to give.

I can only speak for the ATA’s programme at the moment, but it is obvious that the children have really enjoyed themselves. They had such a great time that we decided to extend the camp for another three weeks instead of the typical three. As in anything we do in life that is positive, we have to keep the momentum going or it will fade away and we will be right back in the same boat. We constantly have to reinvent ourselves to better serve the public. It is however nice to receive compliments here and there as it keeps our heads up. So, make sure you say thank you to the people who have been working to help provide social solutions for the children. It has been a tremendous summer so far!

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