Ralph V. C. Hodge is the latest top government employee retiring from the Anguilla Public Service. He is now on pre-retirement leave until July when his 38 years of employment in the service will end following his 55th birthday. His coming departure was marked with a farewell reception at Government House on Tuesday evening hosted by Governor and Mrs. Peter Johnstone and attended by a number of invited guests from the public and private sectors.

Mr. Hodge had a humble beginning in the lower ranks of the public service, but through hard work and academic excellence rose through the various employment levels and positions to Permanent Secretary and acted as Deputy Governor on several occasions. For many years he served in the area of financial management, his field of training and expertise. Over the past three years, until his pre-retirement, he performed the functions of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development.

Governor Johnstone noted Mr. Hodge’s long years of service in the Ministry of Finance which earned him the MBE Award and more recently his work in the Ministry of Social Development and Health. He said he welcomed the advice given to him when Mr. Hodge served as Deputy Governor and commended him for his confidence, gentle steering and his contributions to the debates in the Executive Council. He asked the guests to join him in wishing him “a very, very happy retirement.”

Mr. Hodge, who holds a B.Sc. degree in Management Studies, reviewed his movement through the public service from Customs Officer through every rank of the Treasury and Audit Department, the golden years at Radio Anguilla, the Ministry of Finance, Chief Minister’s Office, Ministry of Social Development and Lands and the many other Government agencies locally and regionally. “The Anguilla Public Service has been very good to me, exposing me locally, regionally and internationally,” he said. “The training I have received as a public servant and my travel around the world have broadened my horizons and these experiences will forever be used to serve the people of Anguilla.”

Mr. Hodge stated that there was a vital role for the public service if Anguilla were to develop properly. He emphasised that public servants must realise that there should be a partnership between themselves and politicians which must be governed by a spirit of honesty, decency and conviction rather than expedience which was so prominent in Anguilla today.
“I see a bright future for Anguilla if a meaningful partnership can be developed between politicians, public servants and other social and economic partners on Anguilla,” he continued. “The wealth of academic talent in Anguilla is not enough. Politicians must not fear academically bright officers; they are there to encourage you. I urge public servants to use your knowledge and experience not only to get a salary, but to assist in Anguilla’s development.”
He said his experiences with other public servants and the public during his tenure of office had made him a better person. He was unapologetic for any strong differences of opinion on a professional basis and said he was leaving the service with no animosities as a result of any of his exchanges.

He cautioned that Anguilla would suffer if the organisation of Government failed to deliver. “I therefore challenge every Government department, ministry and agency to be honest and transparent about the delivery of services to the Anguillian public,” he stated.
Mr. Hodge was grateful to the late Cecile Richardson, Walter Hodge, Sidney Guishard and Edison Hughes as well as Franklin Connor and Countess Rey for their contributions for his development as a public servant. He also thanked the Governments of Britain and Anguilla, the local administrative staff in the ministries and departments and his family including his mother, his “best friend in the world” for their support.

He had a special word for the Minister of Social Development and Lands, Eric Reid. He said Mr. Reid had brought to the table a caring approach to the improvement of the social fabric of Anguilla that would help youngsters who grow up in less fortunate families. “His job is very difficult but his honesty in promoting social reform is important to Anguilla’s future development.

“Look at our court cases, our prison occupancy, gang warfare even in schools; child maintenance and other welfare and community development problems including drugs and you will realise what are the greatest challenges to Anguilla’s development. Mr. Reid, I want to personally thank you for opening up my horizons and for being a champion to social reform in Anguilla.”

L-R: Ralp Hodge and H.E. Peter Johnstone

He was grateful to the Governor and Mrs. Johnstone for hosting the reception in his honour. He added that the number of the invited guests had to be determined by constraints on the Governor’s budget and in no way was representative of his associations in the public service or the wider community.

Invited guests at the reception.

L-R: Ralp Hodge and H.E. Peter Johnstone

Invited guests at the reception.

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