Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/3646/-1/135/
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Anguillian Manager Hails Unsung Heroes Initiative
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Anguillian Country Manager of FirstCaribbean Bank International, Marie Rey, has hailed the bank’s initiative of honouring residents across the region who by their work and example are being celebrated as “Unsung Heroes,” but who may not otherwise have been recognised.
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L-R: Marie Rey, Colin Johnson and Antoinette Pickering
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Ms Rey was at the time speaking at a local press briefing on Tuesday, June 13, called to announce the launching of the bank’s third Unsung Heroes Programme. “We in the FirstCaribbean family are keenly aware that to nurture our societies we must recognise the good people around us to continue with their good works. We remain committed to honouring our own,” Ms Rey said.
She went on: “The 2006 programme will again seek out and acknowledge those persons in our communities who go about their community work without consideration for reward or acclaim hence the word unsung. They play an invaluable role in improving their communities…Without them our society would be immeasurably poorer. The work and example of these Unsung Heroes give us pride in the present; hope for the future and most importantly, they are living examples of the best we can be.”
Two of persons in Anguilla have so far been honoured under the programme. They are Michael Fleming and last year’s winner, Colin Johnson.
Ms Rey said that the public would soon be invited to submit nominations for the Unsung Heroes award in Anguilla. The nominations will close on Friday, July 28; a local committee will make the selections during the week of August 14 and the country finalist announcement and presentation will be held in mid October.
First Caribbean is supporting the project to the tune of over US$300,000 in its 17 countries. Each local finalist will receive US$5,000 as a donation to their cause.
The local winner will then be part of a regional pool from which the regional heroes will be announced in November. The regional hero will be awarded a further US$7,500 in support of their cause and runners-up will be given US$5,000 each.
Appearing at the press briefing with Ms Rey, was the bank’s Credit Counsellor in the Receivables Department, Antoinette Pickering. She said Unsung Heroes are not regarded as popular social figures. Instead they are ordinary people looking for genuine ways to contribute their efforts towards improving social surroundings. According to the criteria for selection, nominees must be individuals working beyond the call of duty for social improvement; must be Caribbean persons or teams with no or low media profile and they must be willing to participate in public relations programmes. Candidates who do not progress to the finalist stage can be re-nominated in another year.
Persons exempted from nomination are individuals with high media profiles such as leading personalities and politicians, government agencies, political groups, registered charities, religious, movements and finalists in previous Unsung Heroes Programmes.
Local nominations can be made on forms available at the Anguilla branch or on its website www.firstcaribbeanbank.com.
The committee in Anguilla responsible for selecting the local finalist comprises Bishop Errol Brooks, Historian Colville Petty and Teacher Janice Hodge.