Dominic Stevens presented with Integrity Award at C-HLP Conference

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

Dominic Stevens

Stevens was one of 121 individuals from countries in and around the Caribbean who attended the Caribbean Healthy Lifestyle Project (C-HLP) “Youth Vibe Two”, which was held in Barbados from Tuesday, August 5, 2008 to Sunday, August 11, 2008.

Stevens was among an 11-member delegation from St. Kitts and Nevis that attended the conference and, speaking in an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, he gave an overview of the project and what transpired in Barbados.

“It’s a project which works mostly in trying to develop them in how to look at life as a whole. It deals with holistic development. It teaches about manners, trust, reliability and anything to do with life, health and sports. It teaches you how to deal with people and keeping your integrity intact with your peers, how to trust people and how to get them move involved in the community, which would then help to build a closeness of our people and would help to deviate from all this crime that is happening in our society. All of the sessions basically surrounded this.”

During the conference, each participant was given a piece and paper and told to vote for the individual whom they feel is most deserving of the Integrity Award, based on their performance at the conference.

Stevens was that individual, and he was presented with the award at the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, August 10. He received a plaque bearing the words, “Integrity Award presented for Consistent Demonstration of Integrity”.  ~~Adz:Right~~

Stevens told SKNVibes that receiving the award is “a real honour and a surprise”. He said the presentation of the award means a great deal to him on a personal and patriotic levels.

“I had no idea that I would receive the award and it was an overwhelming experience for me. I was speechless and happy to be recognised by people from across the Caribbean. I even cried. It was really a heart-felt moment for me. Receiving the award means a great deal to me. It helps to boost my confidence and it shows me life in a different way. I realise I can make a difference for my people here in St. Kitts-Nevis and in the wider Caribbean. As a citizen of St. Kitts-Nevis, the presentation of the award means a lot, because it means that people outside of SKN would see that there are people in the Federation who have integrity and who know how to deal with people. It also puts SKN back out there as a place of love and fellowship.”

He said the conference, the first of its kind, not only equipped him with invaluable information and experiences, but allowed him and all other participants to forge friendships that would last a lifetime.

Other members of the SKN contingent are St. Clair Bass, Matthew Browne, Denville Francis, Geraldo Herbert, Shorna Maynard, Terry Morris, Deslyn Moses, Lydia Claxton, Tasha Parris and Claudia Walwyn.

Stevens extended special thanks to The Cable for assisting in defraying costs of the tickets to send the contingent to the conference.