Some 45 students of varying ages and backgrounds yesterday June 19, 2015 graduated from the Power MOVE Academy Entrepreneur class of 2015 and are now equipped with the skills to start their own businesses or enhance what they already have. Photo: VINO

President and Programme Director of the Power MOVE Academy Professor Devin A. Robinson told the gathering that to embark on a programme of learning takes a level of humility that not many people are willing to encounter. Photo: VINO

Premier Smith acknowledged the importance of small businesses to the economy and noted that programmes such as the Power MOVE provides more opportunities for employees to gain the needed skills set to improve their businesses. Photo: VINO

Some of the graduates during the ceremony. Photo: VINO

A section of the audience at the graduation ceremony. Photo: VINO

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Premier's Office Mr Brodrick Penn and Director of the Department of Trade and Consumer Affairs Karia J. Christopher. Photo: VINO

The ceremony was held at Maria's by the Sea in Road Town, Tortola and saw the presence of many from the business community. The programme was coordinated by the Government of the Virgin Islands’ Department of Trade and Consumer Affairs.

"Today 45 of you have successfully completed the course and I charge and implore all of you to remain connected as a cohort. Do not lose touch with each other...network, build coherent relationships and pool your resources,” said Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith in his address to them.

Premier Smith acknowledged the importance of small businesses to the economy and noted that programmes such as the Power MOVE provides more opportunities for employees to gain the needed skills set to improve their businesses.

He told them that the same customers that they are profiting from locally, technology and direct marketing are making access to them quite possible without travelling. He warned them not to take service for granted as people remember the service before the product.

Premier Smith urged them to aim for the title of Business of the Month as he has been told that the businesses which have been so named have reported upswings in income.

He promised to strengthen and develop entrepreneurial capacity and encourage diversification as the economy is depending on this collaboration to drive.

You’ve stuck with it

President and Programme Director of the Power MOVE Academy, Professor Devin A. Robinson told the gathering that to embark on a programme of learning takes a level of humility that not many people are willing to encounter.

He commended the class particularly because of the large number of women in it for their bravery in undertaking business as their vocation. “I would really like to give a shout out to the women in this class because it was not easy and they stuck with it,” said Robinson.

He said that while 45 graduated, a greater number of persons had started the programme. “That should send a message to you to be even more proud, because when you see people quit at something that means it is a little bit difficult. If everybody shows up and everybody passes then I am doing something wrong,” he said.

“So all the hard time that I gave you for giving some dumb answers and asking retarded questions…we had some questions which made me wonder if they finished public school,” quipped Robinson, sending the audience into bursts of laughter.

“Part of the programme is to embarrass you sometimes…that is part of the process. Because being able to take embarrassment is necessary in entrepreneurship because not everything you step out on you’re going to succeed. You’re going to fail at times. You’re going to try things and then you have to dust yourself off and go again. People are going to laugh at you; customers are going to criticise you,” he said.