A message to younger Turks & Caicos Islanders from Premier Misick on JAGS Day

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, June 6, 2022 – Premier Washington Misick used his speech on JAGS Day, at the May 31 annual Memorial and Wreath Laying ceremony to address the youth of the Turks and Caicos Islands encouraging them to take inspiration from the man of the hour the Most Excellent JAGS McCartney.

“Honouring our national hero is acknowledging who we are, it is to appreciate our history, our heritage and our culture. A national hero represents all of us.”

Misick noted that McCartney was ‘particularly passionate about young people’ especially as he was one of the youngest leaders of the modern world. Directly to the youth he said

“You have a rich history in the example of JAGS McCartney but let me say to you, yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, the present is a gift from god and I’m calling on you to stretch your mind beyond the ordinary, make a commitment that you too will serve this country.”

He acknowledged that they had every right to demand more of their government but urged them to invest more in their preparations for the future noting that the opportunities now are much more than what was available to McCartney.

He warned against an individualistic mindset saying ‘rugged individuality may make you rich but it has the potential to make society poorer.

“Your mindset and attitude are what it will take to convert McCartney’s dream to a reality…Honour the memory of our national hero by furthering the case of all in our country,” he said.

Premier Misick took up the mantle as someone who knew JAGS personally and encouraged the others in this category to make sure the national hero’s legacy was passed on to the next generation accurately.

The premier praised McCartney as an honest man and not a seeker of wealth.

The premier shared his own memory of JAGS McCartney as well, “As a student when there weren’t many of us abroad he took the time to seek me out and visit me just to check on my welfare. That is something I will never forget. Somebody on important state duties can find a single person to check on them, that tell us a lot about the nature of the man.”

He appealed to the TCI Islanders to “introspect” and make sure they were the change they wanted to see.