Misick urges NCU graduates to build on failures

TAKE RISKS and don’t be deterred by your failures. That was the substance of the charge given to Nothern Caribbean University (NCU) graduates Sunday by Charles Misick, premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Misick, the second commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony, shared how he used his failures as motivation to propel him to even greater achievements.

Atop his list of failures was the loss of his parliamentary seat in 2003, marking an almost decade-long banishment from representational politics.

Following that political defeat, Misick returned to the world of business but was summoned by the Progressive National Party in 2012 and served as minister of finance, investment, and trade until 2016.

He has led the party since December that year and assumed the premiership after storming to victory in 2021, winning 14 of 15 electoral districts.

“This beacon on the hill has always been an institution of second chances. It was for me. When I attended West Indies College, I was a late starter,” said Misick.

“Due to socio-economic circumstances, when many in my age group were going to school, I was going to work.”

An alumnus of NCU, Misick committed to support the educational pursuits of students through financial aid, including a joint scholarship with his wife that was launched during the ceremony. The Charles and Delthia Misick Scholarship is valued at US$10,000.

Misick, who was conferred with an honorary doctorate, said: “When I attended high school over 50 years ago, it was beyond my wildest imagination that I would be back to give the commencement address and accept the prestigious honour of Doctor of Commerce award from this noble institution.”