A local commercial bank in Grenada last Friday launched a major campaign aimed at honoring all that is good, strong and resilient about the people of Grenada and the region as a whole.

"Unsung Heroes", which is estimated to cost some $225,000.00 US dollars seeks to acknowledge and bring to the forefront those ordinary persons throughout the Caribbean who go about their business without consideration for reward or self acclaim.

The initiative was initiated by FirstCaribbean International Bank Grenada at a ceremony held in St. George's. Country Manager of FirstCaribbean, Ricky Charles told reporters that the bank is excited about the event and sees the programme as important to every community in Grenada.

In addition, he said it is another way of celebrating the bank's first anniversary throughout the Caribbean. Charles indicated that the programme was piloted last year in four countries, The Bahamas, Belize, St. Lucia and Barbados and because of its success they decided to spread the scheme throughout the other fifteen territories where FirstCaribbean operates.

He said the bank is aware that in order to nurture "our societies" it must "recognize and encourage the good people around to continue their work". "There are people in our communities who play an invaluable role in improving their communities. We all know them, they exist in almost every community from small fishing villages to larger nation capitals. They come from all walks of life and are recognized as communities builders and enablers", he remarked.

Charles said that FirstCaribbean believes that the activities of these citizens make "our communities and countries a better place and that without them our society would be immeasurably poorer". "The work and example of the 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", he added.

"This programme shall promote Caribbean pride through example and work of the unsung heroes across the Caribbean", he said. The programme's local coordinator, Shirlyn Mitchell noted that the 'unsung heroes" are known people like media personalities, politicians, or popular social figures looking for a cause on which "to hitch their public relations fortunes".

She said that they are normally everyday, ordinary people, or groups of people who go about their charity and good work looking for genuine ways to contribute their efforts towards improving the social surroundings for everyone.

Some of the criteria for selection of these "unsung heroes" includes, persons who show a dedication beyond the ordinary towards social improvement, those who show willingness to participate in public relations programme among other things.

The programme will operate on a local and regional level and each country finalist will receive US$6,000. In addition, each of the four regional unsung heroes will receive an additional US$7,500 towards their cause.

Each country depending on its size, will have a representation of 2-3 finalist or (country heroes) who will be among 29 finalists from participating countries in the region.

A regional committee comprising of prominent regional personalities and coordinated by the bank's head of Corporate Communications will select three finalists from which one person will be chosen as the overall winner or regional hero.