I was pleased to have read in the August 15th Edition of The Anguillian that the University of the West Indies had instituted a scholarship award in honour of Dame Bernice Lake of Anguilla in recognition of her service to the institution and her ongoing commitment to students needing assistance to defray the cost of their studies.

I have never met this distinguished Anguillian and Caribbean lady, but her name has preceded her in the halls of fame and honor. In fact it was in London some years ago that a friend told me about her when her name was published on her being appointed Queens Counsel. Later on I heard about her service in Antigua and now in Anguilla. I have also been reading her legal and scholastic opinions on the Anguilla Constitution and other subject matters, and I think she is a legal luminary and a person of high intellectual thought and achievement, an excellent role model for young members of the legal fraternity in Anguilla and the rest of the Caribbean. I really salute her.

As a graduate of American Universities, and one who has also contributed to the education of other persons, I know the personal joy and satisfaction it brings to assist others to succeed. It is an unselfish thing to do and a recognition that we should try to be available to others to give them an opportunity to achieve as we have achieved, even if the road to our ascent had been a difficult one. Of course, that should contribute to a greater degree of personal accomplishment and satisfaction.

I like to be in the personal satisfying business of giving back to society. How about you?

Sylvia Richardson-Gumbs

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