Allington O. Creque aka Gumption speaking at the TEDx Wilmington Conference in Delaware on August 24, 2016. Photo: Provided

Some of the participants of the TEDx Wilmington Conference in Delaware on August 24, 2016. Photo: Provided

Allington O. Creque sought the blessing and advice of Miss BVI 2016 -2017 Ms Erika R. Creque prior to leaving the territory to speak at the conference. Photo: Provided

Creque, who hails from the North Sound on the sister island of Virgin Gorda, recently returned from the USA where he became the first VIslander to speak at the TEDx Wilmington Conference in Delaware on August 24, 2016 where his presentation was based on the "9 nos and 1 yes" he got in his quest to becoming a businessman.

TED is a nonprofit organisation devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world. TED is owned by a nonprofit, nonpartisan foundation. TED’s agenda is to make great ideas accessible and spark conversation.

Targeting HM Prison

Creque said that today he is even stronger in his desire to be a positive influence to the youth and is currently exploring the possibilities of being afforded the opportunities of doing motivational sessions at Her Majesty’s Prison.

“My next step is to continue a conversation with the Rotary Club of Road Town to see how I can go up to Her Majesty’s Prison, Balsam Ghut and speak to the younger prisoners,” he told this news site in an exclusive interview.

“I want to speak with them to let them know that life does not have to be there (in prison) and even though they are in jail they can come out and become a positive person in society.”

Speaking of his experience at the recently concluded conference, Creque, who this news site featured as a Young Professional in 2011, said one of the things he grasped from his participation at TEDx is that he can be part of making a difference in the business arena no matter how old or new one’s business is.

“One thing that I gained is definitely working with people who want to support you, people who want to see you grow, they are the ones that would make things easier for you and for them as well.”

“What I brought back is a reminder that what I am doing, it might not be perfect but it’s in the direction of being right and positive. So being there was a reminder for me to keep doing what I am doing because there are endless possibilities.”

VI Ambassador

Mr Creque said that he chose not to only represent himself on the mission but thought it would do good to represent his country.

“I thought it would have been very selfish if I had gone out there wearing only the logo of my business. I think it would have just been about myself. Eventually people would see the TEDx video, they would google and they would find everything about me but if I wear my territorial wear then it would go beyond myself.”

This was the second time that Creque spoke internationally as a youth ambassador for the Virgin Islands. His first was in 2013 in Las Vegas, USA where he was invited to speak to some 85 youths/students about not giving up.

“That was part of a Winter Leadership Mentor retreat in Las Vegas, Nevada. That was my first experience speaking to a large group out of this country. It was the Las Vegas No Quit Retreat.”

See link to learn more about Allington O. Creque and his endeavours: 

https://www.facebook.com/Gumption-220109608171464/