Khiry C. Creque is an Aviation Officer at the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA). Photo: Provided

Young Professional Khiry C. Creque (right) represented the Virgin Islands in track and field in various meets overseas but has since turned to coaching. Photo: Provided

Khiry C. Creque (centre) is also a Choreographer and Dance Instructor. Photo: Facebook

Khiry C. Creque (right) played the role of a police officer in the recently launched music video 'Million Miles'. Photo: Youtube

Khiry C. Creque is an Aviation Officer at the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA), a job he has held for the last four years.

“It’s just about making sure no illegal items like bombs, guns, anything that could endanger anybody on an airplane, does not enter the aircraft,” Khiry said modestly, when in fact having a job like Khiry could be a “tense” one.

“Because with what is going on in the world today no place is very safe so it is something that is on your mind and you just have to pray that everything goes well and nothing dangerous happens.”

According to the young man, being an Aviation Officer is a tough and risky job but at the end of the day somebody has to do it “and for me I take good pride in my job because they hired me, they trusted me, they trained me. So my main goal is to deliver and make sure that everyone that flies on an airplane reaches their destinations safely.

A student of the ‘Mighty Mighty’ Scatliffe (Althea Scatliffe Primary School) and Elmore Stoutt High School, Khiry also worked with Nibbs Auto Sales and had a part-time job with Riteway “where I did that just to have a little money in my pocket when I was going to college.”

Khiry pursued General Studies at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and also did Marine Mechanics, the latter which he did not complete but hopes to finish that course some day.

Dancing

Our Young Professional has quite an exciting and entertaining life that includes being a paid choreographer/Dance Instructor and an Assistant Coach of the Sprint Tech Track Club.

As a choreographer, his services were hired for events such as Miss Fifth Form and Miss BVI.

Khiry is part of a dance group called J.A.D. and two years ago he created his own dance group called Tune House. “So right now I am training, teaching, choreographing.”

Our Young Professional said it was his “brother” Dennis George, now studying Dancing at university in East London, who inspired him to get involved in dancing. Their first dance group was called DX Boys but then became J.A.D.  “A hobby turned into something more serious as I started to enjoy being on stage and performing for people.”

Khiry has performed in New York, Anguilla, St Thomas, St Marten and several other Caribbean countries.

A year ago he taught choreography at a workshop in New York. It was his first every workshop in dancing and more than 300 people had registered. “They didn’t know who I was as I did not have much of a profile but they were curious to see what I was about and were impressed at the end of it all.”

 He said his unique dance methods were most interesting for the participants.

“I am constantly evolving because dancing is constantly evolving so I try to learn as much as I can to try to incorporate it into my style.”

Khiry’s aim is to take his dancing to the world stage. “My main goal is to put the BVI on the map where dancing is concerned. We already have Iyaz and others making a name for themselves. It is not going to be easy but I am willing to put in the work.”

Track

Khiry is a well known name in athletics, having dominated his division of the College Classic for years and has been involved in track and field since as a child, specializing in the 400m, 800m and 1500m. He represented the Virgin Islands many times abroad, including at the CUT Games, Carifta Games, Atlanta Classic and the World Youth Championships.

However, Khiry decided this year that he was going to hang up his spikes and focus on coaching since he wasn’t finding the time to train the way he would like. He has since teamed up with his head coach at Sprint Tech, Willis Todman.

“It’s very good because there are so many young talent coming up. When I compare them to how I was running at their age they are way ahead. When I was 14 or 15 years of age I would have been lucky if I ran 55 seconds in a 400m and these boys already running 49 and 50. So the future for the boys and the girls in the Sprint Tech Track Club is very bright.”

Khiry said he has decided to get involved in coaching strictly for the love of the sport and to help the young athletes achieve their goals.

“Coaching is very important in this day and age because just to get children involved in something other than negativity is difficult.”

Learning new things is what also helps to keep Our Young Professional motivated and having a positive outlook on life. Recently, Khiry has been involved in video editing as a hobby.

Added to that, Khiry recently appeared in the local music video Million Miles, alongside Mackenzie L.K. Baltimore Jr aka B’More. “It was a privilege to work with VIslander Films because you just know you are going to get top quality production,” commented Khiry, who added that the reviews of the video have been encouraging. “It shows the talent we have in the BVI and I just want people to realise that.”

Positive youth

Growing up in the East End area, Khiry said he has seen “a lot” but he chose to lead a certain life because “my mother Rose Parke always encouraged me to do my school work and make a future for myself and not let anyone influence me to do something that was not good for me.”

One of his big inspirations is his brother Theron Creque, a co-owner of Sweet-T at Tortola Pier Park. Others include Dennis George, his coach Willis Todman, Percy Dawset and Ralston Henry. “These are guys who have been a part of my life for a long time and have taught me things that have carried me along.”

B’More, Monea and of course Michael Jackson are others who has inspired him as well.

Advice to youth

Khiry advises youngsters to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams wholeheartedly.

“Don’t let anyone limit you,” he said, noting that there will be “haters around who will put you in a bubble and want to limit you and may do everything in their power to limit you but you have to set your limitations. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve anything, prove them wrong by being more than what they may limit you to be.

“If you have a dream, go after that dream one hundred percent and if people are not willing to help you then be prepared to go it alone,” Our Young Professional, Khiry C. Creque strongly advises.