By Shamar Blunt
Leadership, courage, and dedication even in the midst of trying times – these were the words used by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Chairman of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), during the council’s Annual Staff Appreciation and Awards Ceremony at the Hilton Barbados on Friday.
During his virtual speech via Zoom to attendees, Professor Beckles commended the CXC team for their commitment and work ethic over the last year and praised them for continued excellence in their teamwork during these challenging times.
“What we are commending here today is that profound relationship between sustainable leadership and effective and powerful team contributions and the importance of courage, facing up to new and emerging challenges and having the courage to believe that you can meet them full on.
“Making necessary adjustments and innovations, and satisfying the requirements of the moment. The importance of commitment – you do not run away from the stresses of everyday developments, changes in history, impact on nature. You do not run away from it. That courage must be supported by commitment. You must believe that what you are doing is in the best interest of your societies,” he stressed.
Though not directly referencing criticism the organisation would have received over the past year in terms of contested exam results from several students locally and regionally, the chairman insisted the group must continue to learn from their missteps and move forward with confidence.
“From time to time there are missteps, but that is the magnificence of being a human. That in your willingness to serve, in the willingness to move ahead and to move forward, missteps will be made, but intelligence also requires that you critically self-access.
“You look at what you have done, you are confident in the correctness of your motive, but the results might not always be what you expected.
“You are a learning institution, so you step back, you access, evaluate, and of course move forward, with certainty of purpose.”
During the awards ceremony, Dale Roachforde was nameed Employee of the Year while six employees received CXC’s newest award, the Registrar’s Innovation Award, which honours members of staff who have created and implemented innovative products, programmes, methodologies, practices, or any activity that improves the Council’s work output. (SB)
