MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Newly appointed Cabinet secretary and veteran public servant Audrey Sewell has urged graduates of Mandeville-based Northern Caribbean University to remain focused on elevating themselves despite the utterances of naysayers.

“… Stand united and forge ahead, proving the sceptics wrong while amplifying the voice of those who believe in our nation’s boundless potential. Yes, I have proven many sceptics wrong when they say (when I was promoted to become a permanent secretary for the first) that, ‘She can’t manage them kind of work.’ But I wasn’t doing it off my own, it was the Lord who worked through me,” she said during NCU’s 100th commencement ceremony on Sunday.

More than 700 graduands from 77 academic programmes, offered across the institution’s four colleges and one school, were eligible for the conferral of certificates and degrees.

Sewell, who was conferred the honorary Doctor of Public Service degree during the institution’s historic 100th commencement exercise, encouraged graduates “to use hard times as stepping stones”.

“Use every challenge as an opportunity that will take you to the next big thing,” she said.

“As I reflect on my own journey, especially in public service, I recall my elevation process starting off as a classroom teacher, working my way up to several leadership roles including those in various ministries,” she added.

Sewell’s career as a permanent secretary started in 2008 at the Ministry of Education. In 2011 she was reassigned to the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, and later, in February 2016, was appointed in the same capacity at the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. In that same year she took on the dual role of permanent secretary for both ministries, serving in the Office of the Prime Minister.

“While many look on at these achievements I am humbled in my role of servant leadership, as together with my team… we continue to positively impact lives and assist in the transformation of our country, Jamaica,” said Sewell.

“My professional journey has been filled with challenges — all the nice things you heard. I didn’t just get anything on a platter; there were challenges,” she added.

She expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Andrew Holness, a former minister of education, for investing confidence in her.

“… Because when I went to the Ministry of Education it was my first stint as a permanent secretary. It is one of the largest ministries and so the Lord spoke upon his heart. I want to say it has nothing to do with any association with our religion, because to become a permanent secretary you are processed by the Public Service Commission and a recommendation is made,” said Sewell.

“As an unproven and untried permanent secretary he bore with me all my weaknesses and everything, but most importantly the Lord carried me through. There were times when I came up on some challenging situations and I never knew what to do,” shared Sewell.

She also expressed gratitude to other former leaders.

“I want to say thanks to Dr Omar Davies with whom I worked four years at the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, and other ministers with whom I would have worked,” she said.

She implored leaders to care for members of their team.

“You must treat people good as leaders because, ultimately, it is you as the leader who will look good because of their work… Treat them good if you want them to treat you good, because if employees decide to treat you bad you see, dead you dead,” said Sewell.

“Don’t spend time trying to prove wrong the people who say you cannot spend your time to prove right the few who say you can,” she added.

Sewell commended NCU for its achievements and for remaining grounded in principles.

“We celebrate not only the accomplishments of all of us exceptional graduates, but also the enduring spirit of Northern Caribbean University as it marks its historic 100th graduation,” she said.

She thanked the university’s administrators and board for recognising her accomplishments.

“To receive this recognition in the company of such brilliant minds before and within the framework of NCU’s theme for this momentous occasion, ‘Embrace the Mission. Envision the Future,’ is indeed a profound honour,” she said.