ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, 30th June, 2011 - Ladies and Gentlemen, educators and the most importantly you the Graduates of the Elmore Stoutt High School Class of 2011, good afternoon.

Today, I want to thank the Great God of the Universe because it is through His son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior that we are here to celebrate a 98 percent strong pass rate for the Elmore Stoutt High School. And we are here to celebrate a 98 percent graduation pass rate Territory-wide for our secondary level.

Students, each of you have a flag in your hand and I want you to wave it and wave it high because your dedication and your commitment to your educational development was not in vain.

I want you to wave your flag and wave it high, because 98 percent represents the perseverance and the stick-to-it attitudes of your teachers who burned the midnight oil, skipped afternoon commitments and disrupted their family patterns to teach you so that you could improve and get it, and you know what?

You got it! Students, I want you to wave your flags for your parents who heeded the call of Principal Amey and her team in those PTA meetings as they challenged your parents to step up and be a part of moving you from good to great so that you could be well-positioned to fulfill God’s purpose in your life. This ain’t no Blah Blah Victory, this is a commendable victory! So, wave your flags for your education.

The Ministry through the Department of Education set the bar high and you have stepped up to the plate like a champion. We said you could do it. We push you beyond what you thought was your limit and you did it! Now look at you, shining bright like the shooting star that the wise men saw from the East. Many of you felt that the task was as fierce as Goliath, but like little David you understood that all it took was faith in God and trust in your own ability to succeed.

Parents, look at your children sitting there poised to graduate. Parents, how are you feeling? Parents wave your flags high in the air; these are your children sitting there.Teachers, look at your students sitting there poised to graduate. Teachers, how are you feeling? Teachers, wave your flag high in the air; these are your students sitting there.

Class of 2011 of the Elmore Stoutt High School, look at yourself. Now look at each other. Now, wave your flags high in ah deh air, wave them high because yuh ‘wuk’ hard to be here.

Students let me level with you here because I know you have been hearing some negative talk that a few adults have been saying about you. I get very sensitive when I hear there is an unwarranted attack on our youth. As the Lashing Dogs say, “we got to put down our ignorance, pick up our intelligence”.

We need to stop this fussing and fighting and take care of our future leaders and in turn these beautiful Virgin Islands. Graduates, you are our future leaders so wave yuh flag high in ah deh air!

I am not afraid to say that I go down on my knees to pray for you every day because we are living in a world that is unkind. I know that! I want to say here today, when you touch the children you touch a nerve in me. When I was sworn in as the Minister of Education, I pledged to make my back broad enough to shield you and to make the education system strong enough to sustain you; this is because I clearly understand that education is the engine and lifeblood of any country.

I cannot understand which one of you 183 young people shouldn’t be graduating today, because a few are repeatedly questioning if some of you should be here graduating. Some are trying to create confusion in your mind about who you are and what you stand for.

Students, do you think you should be here? If you think so wave yuh flag….in deh air. Students, did you earn your spot to be here? If you think so wave yuh flag again. Students, don’t let a soul steal your thunder here today or any other day. Wave yuh flag high in deh air; cause what yuh wuk for that joy.

In colleges/universities around the world students have at their fingertips numerous academic resources to help them improve on their overall performance. Some institutions even have an academic credit system where students do extra work to improve not only their knowledge but to expand on what they already know.

As your backbone, I am here to tell you today that you are a pyramid of success. As your backbone, I am here to tell you, the youth, Class of 2011 of the Elmore Stoutt High School that you are our country’s best hope for the future. So continue to be the best that you can be.

Shine like a diamond in the rough and continue to dazzle your way through the competitive world that awaits you. Go, go and fulfill God’s purpose for your life, but do it with love, not vengeance. Do it with love, not hatred. It is only through love, genuine love, agape love, can we pull each other up and heal our nation.

One of the things you will learn about life as you go through the many phases is that occasionally life will throw you a curve ball. If we look at this from a biblical standpoint, when Moses was leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, it wasn’t easy. You see, they went from bondage through the wilderness to victory.

That is how God works. When He is taking you through a refining fire He gives you the tools to lead from where you are. He takes you through many speed bumps. These speed bumps along the way are a representation of the wilderness that you’ve got to go through so that you can be refined to become exemplary leaders in your respective professional fields.

You are our future builders, economists, architects, chefs, mechanical engineers, artists, preachers, songwriters, political leaders, seamstresses, fishermen, and I can go on. Don’t ever let anyone tell you are not good enough. In fact, a man can only tell you what he believes about himself. Don’t you believe them, believe in yourselves. Believe in God.

Teachers, what can I say? Students this year they are talking about you more than I have ever heard before. I heard words like she is compassionate, he is enthusiastic, she is committed, he is dependable, they are team-spirited, they care and the list goes on.

Many of them said that they sweated because you sweated. Many of them said they cried because you cried for them. Many of them said they persevered because you persevered with them. Many of them said they did not give up, because you did not give up on them.

Many of them said that if you keep this mission conscious attitude up, there would be no limit as to where the Elmore Stoutt High School would go. Principal Amey and your strong team, I congratulate you for a job well done. This is moving from good to great.

Teachers, the few who continue to question our children’s ability, are questioning your competence and professional integrity. I know you did your work with integrity, pride, and satisfaction and I commend you for this.

I ask that no matter whom the next Minister of Education is, my request is that you remain committed to upholding the integrity of our education system.And, that you remain committed to the well-being of each of your students. They need you. We need you. Teachers, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for teachers my heart has no bottom.

At this time, I must thank the Honourable Premier for standing by my side, for being there and supporting and funding the many educational initiatives that have propelled our youth to strive beyond their vision.

I respect the Premier because unlike other leaders he is a man who stays steadfast and diligent in purpose and he doesn’t move unless he has the facts. His leadership qualities are commendable. I thank him as well as all my colleagues in the House of Assembly who have assisted in approving the budge for education. Together we will always achieve more.

It would be remiss of me if I did not acknowledge the hard work of both the Department and Ministry of Education. It is safe enough to state that it has been a year of transition; a year that has seen changes in our education system; a year that you all can be proud of.

From our primary to our secondary schools; we have seen positive results – both in our private and in our public schools. These positive results did not just happen, it took hard work; it took all of us working together. Together we will always achieve more.

Graduates, now back to you. You are graduating today. You have worked for it. You being here is no coincidence. Your steps today were ordained from the creation of the foundation of this earth. Today, you are not just getting a certificate. You are getting a certificate of scholastic achievement and you are getting your ticket to the world of academic and professional opportunities.

Graduates, you have the knowledge. Now go out and use it positively. Graduates, I charge you to make a difference in this Territory and in the rest of the world, make your mark. Graduates, shine your light for everyone to see. Graduates, respectfully, I want you to wave your flags inside this place.

Wave it in ah deh face.
Wave it cause dem outa place.

Wave it in your seat.
In fact, get up and wave it on your feet.

When you go outside wave it on deh street.
Wave it to whoever you meet.

Wave it, wave it! Wave it, wave it! Wave it, wave it!
Most of all, wave your flag because the education you have just can’t be beat.

At this time, as in previous years, I take pleasure in announcing the following awards on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands under the auspices of the Ministry of Education as guided by the information received from the hard working and dedicated administrative staff of the Elmore Stoutt High School:

? The Valedictorian, Kia Barry has been awarded the Sir Olva Georges Traditional National Scholarship and an iPad compliments of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

? The Salututorian, Karra Parsons has been awarded the H. L. Stoutt Memorial Traditional National Scholarship for her strong interest in pursuing a career in the medical field along with an iPad compliment of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

? Our third place recipient Ryan Kelly receives the Ralph T. O’Neal Traditional National Scholarship for his high scholastic achievement and his strong interest in pursuing a career in the medical field.

The following graduates will receive Named National Scholarships for attaining grade point averages of 7.0 and above: Sharen Wallace will receive the Althea Scatliffe Traditional National Scholarship, Karla Dawson will receive the Dr. Charles Wheatley National Scholarship, Shemron Modeste will receive the Inez V. Turnbull National Scholarship, Kenton Todman will receive the Enid Scatliffe National Scholarship, Tashima Stout will receive the Norwell Harrigan National Scholarship, Creighton Brewley will receive the Stanley Nibbs National Scholarship.

Additionally, five students will also receive National Scholarships for attaining a grade point average of 7.0 and above; namely: Cedric Thomas Jr., Jean Dalmida, Nicole Mateo, Dominique Potter and M’Sheara Pierre.

All other students maintaining a grade point average of 6.0 to 6.99 are also eligible for a two year scholarship abroad after completing two years at the H. L. Stoutt Community College, provided they fulfill all the necessary requirements for their scholarships.

These students include: Shaquille Malone,Erika Creque, Clyde Potter Jr., Jermy Telemaque, Shayvon Smith, Cadijah Collins,Bria Guishard, Ashellica Fahie,Roshan Watts Meade, Anushka Scatliffe, Khalisha Todman, Ericka Wade-Rafael, Naudia Turnbull ,Roman Jardine, Travis Osborne, Jhaquoi O’Neal, Shaamuoy Baronville, Sade Fonseca, Kyanna Hodge, Malisa Ragnauth, Rashidi Rodriques , Shenelle Wattley, Kayla George, Jenelle Todman, Shontae John, Jelanie Penn, Jevaughn Nibbs, Dennis George, Joshua St. Rose and Jerel Allen.

In closing, I would again like to offer my sincere congratulations to the hard working team of educators, parents and guardians who have been instrumental in ensuring the success of this graduating class.

Once again graduates, congratulations and may the Great God of the Universe continue to bless, guide and protect each of you as you allow Him to shine in and through your lives.

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