TCI: We are the Present!!

#Providenciales, April 2, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – It is always interesting to hear persons say that the youth of a country are the future, especially in the TCI were the range for Youth is 10 years to 35 years old. Needless to say at 37, I am by far no longer a Youth but I would argue that that has been the case for many years now.  I married at 26 and became a Father at 28 years of age and in many cases my peers would have done either or both even earlier, yet some may still want to consider us even today as Youths.

Frankly my generation is the present of the Turks and Caicos Islands and not it’s future. We have studied abroad and returned home, been in the workforces for upwards of 15 years where we are Supervisors, Middle Managers, Senior Managers, Technocrats, Community Leaders and Activist, Church Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Successful Business Owners  and more. We are the Present!!

The Right Excellent Hon. Jags McCartney passed in his early Thirties but had already been our first Chief Minister, brokered the Club Med deal, and almost led the TCI to Independence.  By their early Thirties both Hon. Norman Saunders and Hon. Oswald Skippings had been Chief Ministers and for the latter a second time. We are the Present!!

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ lived and died at age 33 and we all know the legacy he has left behind so to speak. By age 36, Sir Lynden O. Pindling whom is regarded as the “Father of the Nation” of the Bahamas, led the country to majority rule on 10 January 1967 and on to independence on 10 July 1973. Hon. Maurice R. Bishop  a Grenadian revolutionary and the leader of New Jewel Movement at age 34 become Prime Minister of Grenada and came to power during the 13 March 1979 revolution that removed Eric Gairy from office, heralding popular efforts in the areas of socio-economic development, education, and Black liberation. We are the Present!!

The time has come for this Joshua generation to arise, take over the mantle and our rightful place alongside those that came before us as we can no longer wait to the magical Moses to appear because as President Obama said, we are the change that we are looking for.

Stay Blessed TCI  #ItAintLongNow

Jamell Robinson