Sascha Wilson
Six citizens were honoured as unsung heroes during The Rotary Club of San Fernando South’s Unsung Heroes Awards ceremony at Canton Palace restaurant in San Fernando last Tuesday.
They are former national footballer Joel Rahim, businessman Boysie Bhim Lalla, Blind Welfare Association executive officer Kenneth Suratt, sign language interpreter and educator Nicole Paul, business owner David Bukkhal and hearing impaired interpreter and tutor Ekka McFee.
During the ceremony, club member Nagen Annamunthodo explained that their Unsung Heroes project honours outstanding people for service above self in their respective fields who may have not have been recognized nationally.
They were honoured particularly for their work in San Fernando and environs.
In it’s 39 years of existence, president Choon Singh said the club has been involved in several projects and initiatives, including food hamper drives, fun raising events, assisting in fighting diseases, school books distributions and its electronic education project to a name a few.
During the function, tokens of appreciation were also given to San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello, India High Commissioner Arun Kumar Sahu and CNC3’s video journalist Ivan Toolsie.
They received the club’s honorary pin. Regrello was recognised for his service to San Fernando while Toolsie was honoured for his 30 years of service in media.
In his feature address, the High Commissioner said, “Unsung heroes represent the best of who we can be. They demonstrate extraordinary courage, compassion and sacrifice without ever seeking recognition. Their efforts serve as a powerful example of how to make a positive difference in the world.”
He also spoke about great strides made by India in various areas of its socio-economic landscape in-spite of the challenges brought about by the pandemic.
He also noted that India and T&T are engaged in capacity building under India’s skills programme, as well as knowledge enhancement in multiple sectors such as cyber security, information technology, management, public health, environment, renewable energy, agriculture, fisheries and media and journalism just to name a few.
Thanking the club for honouring them, Suratt called for a more diverse workforce comprising people of different races and disabilities.