First Caribbean acknowledges Unsung Hero
Clarice Cotton wins prestigious award
By Melissa Bryant
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| L-R Local Coordinator Gerard Pereira, Unsung Hero Clarice Cotton, FCIB Country Head Robert Judd |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ONE of the Federation’s most dedicated community workers is no longer being clouded, as the First Caribbean International Bank (FCIB) honoured her on Wednesday, November 5.
This unselfish community worker is Clarice Cotton, who was the recipient of the FCIB annual Unsung Heroes award for her dedication to the cause of people with special needs.
The ceremony, which marks the fourth hosting of the event, occurred at the Bank’s local headquarters on Lower Fort Street, Basseterre.
According to FCIB Country Head Robert Judd, the programme seeks out and acknowledges those persons in communities who go about their community work without consideration for reward or acclaim.“These individuals play an invaluable role and they exist in every community, come from all walks of life and are recognised as community builders. The work and example of these people give us pride in the present, hope for the future and, most importantly, they are living examples of the best we can be,” said Judd.
Unsung Heroes nominees are people who are recommended by others in their community for their championing of and commitment to a particular cause.
Local Coordinator of the programme, Gerard Pereira, stated that Cotton, an officer in the Minister of Education, was chosen because of her assistance to those who are mentally or physically challenged in the community. ~~Adz:Right~~
“She has gone above and beyond the call of duty in providing professional, dedicated, thankless and voluntary service for them. She has been a voice for these vulnerable individuals and has committed her professional life and training to the care of these people,” he said.
Cotton is a past principal of the Dr. William Connor Special Education Unit and is the Founder and Director of the local Special Olympics programme.
She expressed her immense pleasure at receiving the award, noting that “it would not have been possible without the support from parents, teachers and colleagues” and that “once we all work together to support and enable the success of those who are physically or mentally challenged, the nation will be much better off”.
Since the inception of the Unsung Heroes programme in 2003, it has become FCIB’s premier activity in Community Relations throughout the region. Past winners are Zack Nisbett in 2005, Ken Evelyn in 2006 and Earl Clare in 2007.
