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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
March 17 - 23, 2012
NATIONAL
Leadership conference lauded as major success TCI’s first National Leadership Conference sought to restore, rebuild and revive; bringing inspiration to leaders in every section of society - an event that by all accounts has been deemed a major success. Speaking to the Weekly News several of attendees from different sectors of society gave their view on the conference, which was touted as the beginning of continuous training to empower local leaders.
Governor Ric Todd, left, and others joins hands as the session is opened with a prayer
Munroe tells it straight in thought-provoking presentations By Vanessa Narine Dr. Myles Munroe, told it straight to some 300 gathered for the first National Leadership Conference, Monday evening, and while for some the truths told were inconvenient, the speaker’s messages were well received. The though-provoking presentations surrounded ‘Discovering your inherent leadership potential’ and the engaging speaker made it clear that leadership is a product of struggle. Munroe explained that successful leaders have a different mindset. “Trapped in every follower is a hidden leader,” he said. The speaker pointed out that is an army of sheep are led by a lion they will defeat an army of lions that are led by a sheep, to make the point that the quality of leaders affect the quality of their followers. Munroe urged that a quintessential truth about leadership is attitude; leadership is 90 per cent attitude and 10 per cent intelligence. He said leaders’ problems are not seen as problems, rather they are seen as opportunities. “Life is not what you see, it is what you think,” Munroe said. KEY TRUTHS The speaker outlined what he called quintessential truths, key truths about leaders: they think differently, they work together, they are persistent, they surround themselves with leaders and leadership is never about you it is about the team. According to him the things that destroy leaders are: • Politics without principles; • Pleasure without conscience; • Wealth without work; • Knowledge without character; • Business without morality; • Science without humanity; and • Worship without sacrifice.
“Leadership is a principle,” Munroe posited. Combining his personal experience with facts he shared his perspective of leadership in a clourful way that left its imprint of the mind of those in attendance. Munroe in quoting the words of Nelson Mandela said, “Nothing happens without leadership, nothing changes without leadership, nothing develops without leadership and nothing improves without leadership.” Officially opened on Sunday at the Community Fellowship Centre, the conference has received endorsements of a cross section of stakeholders, including Progressive National Party (PNP) Leader Clayton Greene and others in the political arena, as well as from individuals in other sectors of society. Prior to the evening session, several other speakers were engaged to address hundreds at Brayton Hall
on issues ranging from corporate leadership to family leadership. The daytime speakers included Mr. Leon Williams, Bishop George Fulford, Ms. Charlene Paul, Bishop Derek Browne and Mrs. Tremmaine Swann-Harvey. Pastor Bradley Handfield told the Weekly News that the response to the conference exceeded his expectations, but the level of contributions from the speakers will see the Turks and Caicos Islands better placed for the future. He said, “Dr. Munroe brought to the table everything I expected of him as a renowned speaker…the sessions were informative, inspiring and challenging.” Handfield stressed that this is the beginning of a dialogue on the issue of leadership. The conference was held under the theme empowering leaders to revive the nation.
Dr. Myles Munroe during the first night of his presentation
Leader of the Progressive National Party (PNP), Clayton Greene, said, the conference was timely, coming at a time when leadership in all sectors of society is being challenged. According to him, the conference brought a fresh awareness to the true character of leadership; a person whose vision is trusted, his intelligence is relied on, his struggle is for the people he serves and his service is distinguished by integrity and honesty. “Leadership is a privilege,” he said.
Secretary General of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) Euwonka Selver, said, “It was a very informative and eye opening session…a lot of people have untapped strengths and talents that if moulded could see them making a significant contribution to the TCI.” She pointed out that initiatives like this one, which seeks to build up the local people, is quintessential to keep the country moving forward. “Those who attended and picked up Dr. Munroe’s books will have a deeper insight into tapping into their potential and becoming better leaders,” she said. Selver added that the National Conference was an excellent start to create leaders, a great need at this time in the TCI.
Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson of the Consultative Forum said, “The presentations were of high quality those who spoke had the expertise and knowledge to speak and their messages
were well received…I was pleased about the diversity of topics that were covered, everything from leadership in the home structure to national leadership.” According to her, this was an important and fundamental need, expressly if the TCI is to move forward in the direction that is best for the people of the territory. Cartwright-Robinson said, “I applaud Pastor Handfield for this because we have been dancing around the issue of leadership for some time and here is someone who had the guts to bring about action at a time when we needed it. “He acknowledged that we have a leadership problem and offered an avenue where we were able to look at what was lacking.” She maintained that a key thing that came out of the conference was the importance of integrity. “Once we understand that leadership is about integrity, about service before self we will not find ourselves in difficult circumstances we are in now. Integrity is very important,” the Consultative Forum Member said.
Attorney Yvette Marcelin, “It was truly inspirational and provided and informative guidelines and knowledge as it relates leadership…most importantly it stressed that leaders are people who serve.” She added that the conference was timely and is needed on a continuous basis, particularly for professionals. Proprietor of Building Materials, Mr. Ken Adams told the Weekly News that the organizers of the conference ought to be applauded for their vision, as it was a timely initiative. He said, “It was very informative and people were inspired…going forward persons are in better positions as to their role as leaders who can contribute to making a difference in the TCI.” “Dr. Munroe offered much in his teaching and now it is up to us as a people to take up the responsibility as leaders to take TCI to better times.”
Clement Howell High School Principal Lloyd Fearon, said, “The Conference was excellent well organized and all the speakers presented with depth…Dr. Munroe brought a lot to the table. What he had to say inspired everyone.” He added that the initiative was “visionary” and comes at a good time for the TCI. “Teachers who were there, I think, took information that we will be able to motivate students in preparing them for opportunities that will come their way…the conference had something for everyone who was there,” Fearon said.