A regional search is now open across 10 Caribbean markets to shine a long-overdue spotlight on ordinary people whose quiet, consistent contributions make extraordinary differences to their communities, as CIBC Caribbean brings back its popular Unsung Heroes programme for 2026. The initiative, which was first relaunched last year, offers thousands of dollars in cash prizes to standout winners, and organizers are now calling on members of the public across Barbados to submit their nominations.
Speaking at the official launch event held Thursday at Bridgetown’s Michael Mansoor Building, Victor Boyce, CIBC Caribbean’s Barbados Country Head, highlighted the overwhelming success of the 2025 relaunch and reiterated the programme’s core mission: to celebrate unrecognized acts of service, bravery, and compassion that often fly under the public radar.
Operating across all 10 Caribbean territories where the bank maintains a presence, the Unsung Heroes programme follows a two-stage judging process. First, each participating territory selects its own local winners. Those local champions then advance to a regional judging panel, which picks one overall regional unsung hero and two second-place runners-up.
When the programme was relaunched in 2025, organizers expanded eligibility to include any individual aged 10 and older, a change that uncovered a wealth of inspiring stories from young community changemakers that would have otherwise gone uncelebrated, Boyce explained. Beyond youth involvement, the programme accepts nominations across three core categories: outstanding community service, acts of bravery or heroism, and extraordinary acts of kindness, all carried out within the past 12 months.
Boyce noted that a common thread across all past nominees and winners is their humility: most had no idea how much their actions had impacted the people around them. “Almost all of our heroes whom we have identified via this programme have been surprised when they were chosen, and they tell us that they were humbled even to have been nominated,” he said.
As a standout example of the kind of work the programme celebrates, Boyce pointed to 2025’s Barbados national winner, Carla Daniel, whose grassroots work protecting local sea turtle populations and boosting community environmental awareness captured widespread public admiration. Daniel once even dove into a muddy drainage ditch to rescue a trapped sea turtle, and her efforts have not only helped stabilize local turtle populations but also inspired hundreds of Barbadians to care more about coastal conservation, Boyce added.
Organizers are encouraging nominations from a broad group of people, including native Barbadians, visitors, and temporary residents who have encountered an unsung champion making a tangible difference in the country. “Do you know of someone who has performed an act of heroism or bravery which has not been recognised?” Boyce asked the public. “Log on to our corporate website, CIBCCaribbean.com, and follow the easy steps to nominating your CIBC Caribbean Unsung Heroes.”
The prize structure for 2026 offers substantial rewards for honorees. Barbados’ national winner will take home BBD $10,000, with the national runner-up receiving BBD $5,000. At the regional level, the top winner earns US $10,000 (equal to BBD $20,000), while the two regional runners-up receive US $7,000 (BBD $14,000) and US $5,000 (BBD $10,000) respectively. New for 2026, the person who nominates the eventual regional winner will receive a US $1,000 (BBD $2,000) incentive prize for their participation.