Prime Minister Dr. The Rt. Hon. Keith C. Mitchell Address to the Graduating class T.A. Marryshow Community College July 18, 2013 I congratulate you all, dear graduands, on this tremendous milestone in your life. The steps you have taken, with the culmination here today, are indeed reflective of the advancement of our own society. It is my sincere wish that you find ways to channel your achievements into sustainable livelihoods for yourselves and the generations to come. It is my government’s sincere desire to ensure that we work tirelessly to support your achievements and foster initiatives that will drive your dreams, and those of our nation. As leaders, what we do means nothing if our young people cannot find educational or employment opportunities within our shores; compelling them to migrate in search of a better life. What we do means nothing if our young people are not competitive in a world that is advancing on the Information Communication highway. What we do means nothing if our young people lose hope in the very system that they should trust to secure their interests. As leaders, what we do means nothing if we cannot reverse or prevent these tendencies, and instead, encourage a society that can withstand the challenges—economic and social—that we face daily. Romans 8:35 remind us that “no temptation or trial can separate us from God (because) we are more than conquerors.” Indeed, as leaders, what we do means a whole lot if our young people can find a livelihood “outside the constraints of economic hardship,” and emerge to be“more than conquerors.” As I reflect on the theme of today’s event, “Beyond all limits: Living outside the constraints of economic hardship” I am humbled and comforted by the fact that I address you here today from the vantage point of someone who understood the significance of that theme from an early age. Economic hardship was no stranger to me, especially in my early years; therefore, I knew then, as I do now, that I had to find ways to live outside the constraints of those financial trials that I watched my mother endure trying to make ends meet; and trying to provide basic and fundamental education for six of us. Therefore, I have always been a leader who recognizes the importance of securing a future for the generations to come; but I have never recognized it with the sense of urgency than I do now. As I travel the region, I realize that we have been failing our people more than we accept. We have created societies that are too dependent on the too-few resources that government can provide. What we have been doing is creating societies that encourage big government, wastage and inefficiency—when what we should have been doing instead was to look outside the confines of government resources to create opportunities for ourselves, although, of course, government has to lead. Accustomed as we are to working under a public service system, and living within the constraints of government resources, we have failed to see that we have been doing a disservice to our people. We have not created doers. We have not pushed creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. We can no longer afford to structure our economies in such a way. We have reached the limits of what Government can realistically do in the advancement of our societies. The time is now to make that push for partnerships; the time is now to make that push for innovation; the time is now to incorporate the Trade Unions and private sector in our development process. Sisters and brothers, no one has to remind you that we are living in tough economic times. No one has to remind you of the too-high unemployment rate that this country and region have seen in recent years. No one has to remind you that the tentacles of the economic recession have been far-reaching and destabilizing to our societies. But what I will remind you of, is that this government is committed to not repeating the mistakes of the past. This government is committed to the development of an economy that is far more sustainable than any we have seen. We have no choice. My dear graduands, as I stand here today, and reflect on the theme of today’s graduation exercise “Beyond all limits: Living outside the constraints of economic hardship”—I strongly believe that the machine to fulfill this theme is clearly the development of Information Communication Technology. As leaders, if we do not give you the tools to incorporate this machinery in your daily lives—at school or at work—we are failing to make you and our societies competitive, because we are failing to use this important platform to modernize our societies. ICT has to be the tool that we use to leverage national and regional development. Much of the rest of the world has already embarked on that path. In more advanced countries, students are exposed to technology daily in the classroom. Their textbooks are found on e-readers; they take tutorials online; their lessons are presented by videoconferences and other forms of digital media; their teachers’ lesson plans, curricula, homework, and support tools for learning are available online. Students in those societies are never far from their laptops and Tablets, through which they have access to the rest of the world—anytime. They carry their technology in their backpacks. Businesses are connected online, with CEO’s and entrepreneurs conducting meetings and making deals around the world without leaving their offices or their homes. Sisters and brothers, it is time to face the fact that the archaic models for study, work and even play, no longer exist. We have to expose our societies to that reality—and we have to do so quickly. TAMCC must be the vanguard of that educational train. We have to create an education and research system built around ICT, incorporating online support, and the concept of the Master Teachers. Those teachers will be accessible from anywhere in the world; performing lessons digitally, with tailored, one on one tutorial support from other local teachers sitting in the classrooms. The benefit of this would be that our students are more exposed to different methodologies; learning becomes more fun and engaging; and our professionals gain worldwide experience in their fields, which can only serve to better their crafts. If we fail to do so, we will continue to lose our best and brightest young minds to the more advanced countries, which not only offer them advanced education, but also secure employment. If we can provide resources here, where our students can access the same levels of education through ICT models, and use that knowledge to provide services and create opportunities right here, then they will not see the need to go abroad and remain there for those same opportunities. Technology, my friends, is the great equalizer. By embracing these opportunities, the brains of the society are retained and engaged in productive work—whether that be through academics, skilled labor, or creative arts. My point, sisters and brothers, is this: In this New Economy, ICT has to be the platform through which we leverage our development, and propel our region to the next level. Sisters and brothers, as I travel the country, and see the hundreds and thousands of young men and women searching for opportunities, I cannot help but wonder how significantly reduced that number could be if we advance national initiatives that promote entrepreneurship. As a government, we are implementing initiatives such as the Small Business Loan scheme designed to create a society of self-reliant people. This, combined with a little creativity, and the proper technological tools, can provide a livelihood for so many of our people, without them ever having to leave the comfort of their own homes. My friends, this is what it means to live outside the constraints of economic hardships. Sisters, and brothers, envision a society in which these loans can serve to create businesses outside the mode that we see every day. Envision a society where those loans are used for sustainable employment with far-reaching online clientele and markets. Envision a society in which the entrepreneurs using those loans have a market that is far bigger than anything our society can provide with our limited capacities. Envision a society in which our young people can find employment opportunities, with the support of, but independently of government. Envision a society in which creative and hospitality arts, agriculture and fishing—areas which have traditionally not been economical because of the way they are practiced—envision that society where those industries can incorporate technology to increase their competitiveness on the world market. If farmers and fishermen, tourist vendors and artists alike, can, for example, use small loans to integrate technologically advanced models into their businesses—then—my friends, we are onto something. This, sisters and brothers, is the kind of society that your government works tirelessly to promote—a society that is not dependent on government; a society that is driven by the private sector; a society that is built on the Information Communication Technology highway; a society where our people are self-sufficient; a society of doers, not takers. Sisters and brothers, let us promote a society grounded in the fundamental premise that “as a man works so shall he reap.” This is the type of society that will take us beyond all limits, and propel us all to a livelihood outside the constraints of economic hardships. Therefore, on behalf of my family and your government, I congratulate you and wish you continued success and blessings as you navigate your way through life’s challenges. Government Information Service Grenada Ministerial Complex, Botanical Gardens, Tanteen, St. George. Telephone: 14734402061 Emails: gisgrenada@yahoo, gis10grenada@gmail facebook/pages/Government-Information-Service-Grenada/124679667715950?ref=hlhttps://facebook/pages/Government-Information-Service-Grenada/124679667715950?ref=hl
Posted on: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 18:54:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015