Speech by: Hon. Andrew A. Fahie
Minister of Education & Culture
Topic:  World Teachers’ Day: 5th October, 2008
&
Teachers’ Week: 5th – 11th October, 2008

~~Adz:Right~~ Roadtown, Tortola - The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.  As Minister of Education, it is with great joy and enthusiasm that I recognize an extraordinary group of professionals, our teachers.  The engine of our education system is our teachers.  Our teachers come face to face with the future of this country in the classrooms everyday of each week during the school year. 

The extra mile our teachers go daily in educating our youth in our schools continues to lay the foundation for which this country can confidently continue to build a bright, prosperous and sustainable future for generations to come.  Our teachers can never be adequately compensated for the work they do, especially the extra work they do in pouring knowledge and needed life long skills into the lives of our country’s future, our students.  The success we enjoy today as a country is the result of the price our teachers have paid for us in the past.  The greatest achievements are those that benefit others.  Our teachers, both past and the present, have and continue to have lifelong lasting impacts that will benefit each of us in a positive manner straight into eternity. 

Today, in recognizing World Teacher’s day which was on the 5th October, 2008, and teacher’s week from the 5 – 12 October, 2008, on behalf of Premier Ralph T. O’Neal and his Government, I publicly salute the efforts of all teachers, both past and present.  I say thank you for being there for us as individuals and collectively as a country.  As a Government we will continue to treat the noble profession, teaching, with the honour and dignity that the profession deserves.

As a Government we will continue to implement incentives for our teachers as well as continue to train and qualify our teachers.  Also, we will continue to work closely with the Teacher’s Union and the wider community in the best interest of all stakeholders in education, especially our teachers and students. 

Our education system has seen stalwart teachers such as Dr. Charles Wheatley, Mrs. Inez Brathwaite, Mr. Ruben Vanterpool, Mrs. Yvonne Dawson, Mrs. Jennie Wheatley, Ms Eugene Glasgow, the late Ms Isabella Morris, the late Mr Willard Wheatley, Mrs. Joyce Samuels, Mrs. Belsadys Donovan, Mrs. Claudia Creque, Hon. Premier Ralph T. O’Neal, Hon. Deputy Premier Dancia Penn-Sallah, Ms Eileene Lucia Parsons, Mrs. Claudia Lettsome, Mr. Elmore Stoutt, Mrs. Gracia Stevens, Mrs. H. Lyden Smith, current President of the Teacher’s Union Mr. Cecil Hodge, just to name a few, that has impacted this country positively forever in the teaching profession.  Through each of their students as well as through each student of all past and present teachers, their work will live on. 

Their dreams will live on.  Their character will live on.  Their contributions will live on.  Their purpose will live on.  Their positivism will live on.  Their will to do and fulfil the Great God of the Universe’s Will, will live on.  Through each of their students, the true meaning of what the late but great Robert Lester Marley sang “you a go tired fe see me face can’t get me outa the race” is made crystal clear and as a result, fully understood.  Through me, through you, through each of us and whoever we come in contact with, wherever and whenever it happens, they will live on.  Our teachers have taught us that “I can’t do it” never yet accomplished anything; but, “I will try” has and will always perform wonders.

I ask everyone to take time out this week to salute the efforts, hard work and dedication of teachers; whether past teachers, present teachers, or both.  Do something special for your favourite teacher this week, even if you just call them and say thank you for what they have and/or continue to pour into lives because today we are better citizens as a result of the extra they put into us.  I will start the ball rolling by thanking two teachers, among others, that have significantly contributed to my life in a positive manner, Mrs. Inez Braithwaite and Mrs. Eugene Glasgow. I say thank you, thank you, and thank you.  To all teachers I say thank you, thank you, thank you.
 
We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give.  I say thank you to every teacher this country has ever seen.  Through the extra they have given, today, our country has life and life more abundantly.  I thank the Great God of the Universe for our teachers; both past and present, and I pray that He guides, blesses, favours and protects our teachers and the entire Virgin Islands until eternity.

THANK YOU.