Road Town, Tortola - The Ministry of Education and Culture’s 2010 Youth Rally has been described as an event of historical significance by many as a conglomerate of schools, churches, youth, service and sports organisations answered the called to action and unity.
Over 1,200 persons connected to specific organisations and hundreds of others attended the mega event. Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE described the gathering as a “monstrous crowd” and commended the Ministry of Education for its efforts and for bringing Judge Greg Mathis as the featured speaker. “I hope that the youth stay to listen to the words of the judge who is a great example of overcoming adversities and difficulties,” he said.
“Like all over the world we too need encouragement and a great example for our youth to follow which can help us to model them into useful citizens of Nature’s Little Secret,” he added.
Minister of Education and Culture Honourable Andrew Fahie told the gathering that he has understood what his purpose in life is. “My purpose in life is to help other people find their purpose,” he said, adding, “Government cannot do and should not do everything.”
He further stated, “What any Government has to do is to create the environment so that success will be imminent. It is not for Government to control everything but to act as a catalyst for all of this to happen.”
Guest Speaker Judge Greg Mathis told the youth to find what they are good at and to do their best in everything. “I was able to become a lawyer because I went into something that I was good at and that I liked. Do not go to school because your parents or your teachers tell you to; go to school to educate yourselves, develop your talent and achieve your dreams,” he said.
Judge Mathis also had a strong message for the adults. “We cannot blame our children for any failures that occur in the education system. Our children cannot fail us, we fail them,” he stressed.
Judge Mathis added that children come with a clean mind and hands and a pure heart but it is what is put into their hearts, minds and hands that “determines what that child will become”.
He added that it is important for individuals in the community to care about the success of every child, not just their own. “We do not care about the success of one child, we care about the success of the children of the entire Virgin Islands. We care about building community will and about the entire village,” he said.
Coordinator of the Virgin Islands Neighbourhood Partnership Project Pastor Claude Cline also joined the other speakers in challenging the community. “We are gathered here today to take the step to move the education system, in accordance with the mandate of Minister Fahie from good to great,” he said.
Pastor Cline added, “If the community has a will, there is nothing in the world that can stop the community from accomplishing what it wants to accomplish and we are going to make education the priority in the BVI.”
Mr. Sherwin Fahie who spent 15 years in prison also had a message for the youth. “I made negative choices in my life that caused me to spend 15 years in prison and lose a baseball scholarship, so my advice to you young people is listen to your parents, teachers and other adults because they have already walked the road you are now walking” he said.
The rally which was observed under the theme “It takes a Village” showcased local talents such as New Genesis, Zion Hill Methodist Church, CB4Life and Higher Level.
British Virgin Islands News