Donte D. Francis,
National Youth Ambassador
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To all Turks and Caicos Islanders, residents and visitors, today we
celebrate our 1st National Heritage Day. Today is the day in which we celebrate
all that was inherited from past generations, maintained in the present, and
bestowed to future generations. We thank God that on this special day in
history that we can look back at our achievements as a people and be proud of
where we have come and be even more driven to where we should go.
Being the National Youth Ambassador, I am proud to be someone who can
inform our youths about our historical achievements laid down by distinguished
persons such as our only National Hero and first Chief Minister, Hon. J.A.G.S.
McCartney. This is a day we embrace national equality, and togetherness. We must be proud of our language, food,
music, dress and our indelible spirit to overcome any challenge that comes our
way.
We must
never put any shade or be ashamed of who we are or as we say in our native tongue ' Who we is’. Many of our teachers and other
professionals claim that we must always speak 'proper’ English. As Turks and
Caicos Islanders, we have various words that make up our very own dialect or as we call it 'Talking TI" such as
“To-rack-ly”, meaning later on or yinna meaning you all, just to name a few. .
As student of linguistics I have learned
there is nothing wrong with speaking the tongue in which we inherited from our
ancestors as it is just another means of communication. In the word of the
great Clement Bethel, "preserve your heritage, speak proper English, only
when necessary."
As we celebrate this day, we remember those who come as tourists. We
hope they will experience what the Turks and Caicos can offer. I echo the words
of Miss Turks and Caicos 2014, Shanice Williams “This is what has and will
distinguish us from every other nation in the world. It is our unique marker;
our signature across history and it is what follows us into the world even as
it brings the world to us.” It simply means that we can show our visitors the
true taste of T.C.I., our pristine and white sandy beaches, from Salt Ponds to
the Conch Farm. Turks and Caicos we must stand proud of what we offer to the
world.
In closing, Turks & Caicos Islanders we must stand strong knowing
where we come from and ‘who we is’. We must continue to embrace what is
bestowed and inherited in our very own Beautiful By Nature country. We are a
nation of accomplishments and this National Heritage Day 2014 is a great
testament to embrace these accomplishments.
Donte D. Francis
National Youth Ambassador
Department of Youth Affairs
Ministry of Education, Youth Sports & Library Services
Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies
