News
Honourary Doctorate for TCI Premier; high level delegation visits Jamaica
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, August 20, 2022 – Premier Washington Misick recently visited with Jamaica’s top leadership including the Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding. The visit lasted from August 14th to 17th.
With the Prime Minister, Hon Misick discussed diaspora initiatives currently underway in the Turks and Caicos Islands. In addition, the potential for trade between Jamaica and the TCI to potentially reduce the massive food costs in the Turks and Caicos, especially on fresh produce.
The Premier’s office shared photos of the meeting with opposition leader Mark Golding and other Members of Parliament including Lisa Hanna and spokesperson on education Mrs. Angela Brown Burke.
The meeting was set as Jamaica commemorates its 60th anniversary of independence. Interestingly, sixty years ago, Turks and Caicos was annexed as part of Jamaica, but the small cluster of islands opted out of the independence move and remains a British overseas territory.
Additionally, Premier Washington Misick is now the holder of a Honourary Doctor of Commerce degree from Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica.
Misick, a twice democratically elected leader is himself a former student of NCU back when it was called West Indies College; that was over five decades ago. On Sunday, during the University’s graduation ceremony, Premier Misick was presented with the degree, which was a key reason for his whirlwind visit to Jamaica.
Washington Misick gave the commencement address for the Class of 2022 at his alma mater, expressing that even though he had lost contact with Northern Caribbean University for decades he was “glad to be home.”
There was insight to his early life and time on campus. The Premier, in reflection found himself describing himself as a late starter and due to his socioeconomic background he had to work while others started school.
The graduates heard about his days as a member of the Police Force, where he used his time on the job to study and with the help of relatives he eventually arrived in Jamaica for university.
“I managed to finish high school at 20. I was embarrassed — but my hunger to learn and to make something of myself was far greater than any embarrassment.”
And so after one year at NCU, Misick had a high school diploma and moved on to UTECH (then College of Arts Science and Technology CAST)
He graduated with a business degree in 1974 and started on his journey in business, becoming a hotel developer and politician. Misick became the Chief Minister of the TCI in 1991 and twenty years later, back at the helm of his Progressive National Party (PNP) became the Turks and Caicos Islands Premier.
He has also served as a Minister of Finance, in a previous administration.
Education and Immigration matters on an official level were also on the agenda. The premier was accompanied on the trip by Ministers Rachel Taylor and Arlington Musgrove, several permanent secretaries and the Labour Commissioner.
Meetings were reportedly held with Jamaica’s Passport and Citizenship Agency; Ministry of Labour; the University of the West Indies as well as the University of Technology.
The aim of the extensive discussions during the meetings were a potential education partnership to:
- Strengthen and improve tertiary programmes offered in the TCI.
- Increase the attractiveness of degree offerings and
- Make graduates more marketable.”
Potential partnerships were also discussed with UTECH
Premier Misick explained, “As the growth and development of the islands continue, it is important that our people are equipped to be employed in the best jobs available and make a meaningful contribution to the Turks and Caicos Islands”.
The Premier also made time to visit Turks and Caicos islanders receiving treatment in Jamaica at the University Hospital of the West Indies. He returned to the Turks and Caicos on Wednesday after having paid courtesy calls on Governor General, His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen and Andrew Holness, Rt Hon Prime Minister of Jamaica.