Today is National Heroes Day in the Turks and Caicos Islands. On this day, every last Monday in May, the islands honor their national hero James Alexander George Smith McCartney. To read a brief history of this revered man, and his tragic death, please see last year’s post here. The Turks and Caicos Islands may have but one national hero, but I can assure you there are many everyday heroes that walk amongst us. First Caribbean Bank started their unsung heroes programme in 2003, honoring those”selfless heroes who generously give of their time and resources to improve the lives of the less fortunate in their communities.”
past winners of the Unsung Heroes programme are:
• Ms. Susan Blehr, TCSPCA (2005)
• Ms. Gloria Lucille Lightbourne, National Cancer Society (2006)
• Mrs. Gloria Cox, secondary education/Clement Howell High School (2007)
• Mr. Tanka Williams, Predators Youth Group (2008)
• Mrs. Marion Williams, SNAP, Handicapped and Elderly (2009) and
• Mr. Terry Drummey, Youth Centre & TCAAF (2010)
Read more on these individuals here: Terry Drummey, Wesley Tanka Williams, Gloria Cox, Susan Blehr
Reading the local newspapers, you read about individuals making a difference in the community all the time. Just last night I read a great article in the tcfreepress.com about Clifford Gardiner, the first Turks and Caicos Islander to fly an airplane in solo flight in 1970 who went on to have a 34 year career in aviation where he provided more than 300 medevac flights, many at night and in challenging conditions.
