FirstCaribbean looking for unsung heroes
It’s been five years running and for four of those years, outstanding Belizeans have won the title of the region’s Unsung Hero in a programme sponsored by FirstCaribbean International Bank. It’s that time again when the bank relies on you to submit nominations for the annual recognition and today they went over the ground rules. While the programme has garnered a lot of positive publicity for the country, it has also done plenty for last year’s winners, Lyndon Bailey and his wife, Laverne, founders of the Tubal Trade and Vocational Institute in Ladyville.
Irene Hernandez, Coordinator, Unsung Heroes Prog.
“We ask that people who are nominated be ordinary people that do the extraordinary. That is basically it. We do not look for people who are well known in the media or who have been awarded before. We try to stay away from any political involvement that people might have. We want people whose causes can do well with the financial support and the exposure to their cause and we ask that they assist us in promoting the Unsung Heroes Programme within the media as part of our PR programme. That’s basically it.”
Lyndon Bailey, 2007 Regional Unsung Hero
“A lot of people have called in and pledged that they’re going to help the school and we get a little bit of donation. People come in and genuinely help. A lotta people didn’t even know about the school. And then when we won this regional, a lotta people get to know what this school is all about.”
Marion Ali
“When you won the award last year you mentioned that you were worrying because the light bill hadn’t been paid for that month. How is it now for the school in getting by on a day to day basis since the award?”
Lyndon Bailey
“Well, I must say that wi light hadn’t been cut … but we’re still in rough waters. But we already met with the Minister if Education and he said that he’s gonna help us.”
Irene Hernandez
“We always select the better ones; people that have little or no resources and put their efforts, their time, their money and do it from the heart. We seem to have been able to find those people.”
Marion Ali
“Is it because Belize really has a lot of very good people?”
”Irene Hernandez
“To tell you the truth, yes we do. We do get quite a lot of nominations and we have to really select, pinpoint the ones that we would select to send out. I don’t think it’s that the other territories don’t have as well but we are always lucky to come out on top. Yes it is a heavy burden and we are hoping that people out there, length and breadth of Belize will assist once more in digging out all the unsung heroes from whatever corner of Belize they’re at and hopefully we will make it to the regional winner again.”
FirstCaribbean Bank will donate six thousand U.S. dollars to each of its winners throughout the seventeen countries the bank operates. The regional winner will be given an additional seven thousand toward his or her cause. Nomination forms are available at all the bank’s branches throughout the country. Deadline for submissions is June thirtieth.
