First Caribbean International Bank today launched another search for those unsung heroes among us. They are looking for those people who in their small and quiet way are making a big difference in their communities. Since the program started in 2003, a Belizean has been named the regional unsung heroes three times, and this year the Bank's branch in Belize hopes to win a fourth. But to get to the regional hero, you have to choose local heroes and that search was launched today. Irene Hernandez is the local coordinator for the program and she told who they are looking for.
Irene Hernandez,
"We are looking for people who are actually give of themselves, not wanting anything in return. It can be whatever is their cause, it can be in the medical field, it can be in education, it can be in just a small community in one of the villages - whatever. As long as people give of themselves, selflessly, no asking for anything in return. They would need of course to meet our criteria, what we are looking for. We get nominations in and we check out the background of all the people that are nominated to make sure they are genuine people and we take it from there, hoping to reach the regional competition and win again."
Keith Swift,
And these have to be people who have a low public profile.
Irene Hernandez,
"Yes the criteria really asks for people with no or low media profile. That means the people who are nominated should not be people that are well known or have already been in the public view for a long time or have been showing of themselves very much. So we look for people, most of them have come from small communities and nobody knows about them really until we are told about them and that is when they reveal themselves."
The deadline for submission is July 28th. Nomination forms are available at bank branches or at First Caribbean Bank.. The local winners will be announced in October and the regional hero in November. Joining First Caribbean staff members on the local selection committee are Sonia Linares, Phillip Balderamos, and Hector Romero. Florence Dillet, nurse Margaret Juan, and Gloria Edwards have been previously selected as regional heroes. 17 countries will be submitting entries.
