The Express Individual of the Year 2011 awards were presented at an awards

ceremony held last Thursday at the

Courtyard Marriott, Port of Spain.

The awardees were:

1. Express Individual of the Year 2011 — Shanntol Ince

2. Youth of the Year — Anna King

3. Youth Group of the Year — Chinapoo Police Youth Club

4. Community Group of the Year — Trinidad and Tobago Blind and Visually Impaired Cricket Team.

Thirty-five years after the first Express Individual of the Year Award went to Olympic gold medallist Hasely Crawford, the 2011 recipient is another athlete whose achievement and inspiration once again move us to celebrate the brilliant potential of young people in Trinidad and Tobago.

Over the years since 1976, the Express Individual of the Year programme has applauded accomplishments by leaders of government, by business and religious leaders, by exemplars in social work and in professional fields, by distinguished artists and scholars and, of course, by sporting stars.

The 2011 Individual of the Year, Shanntol Ince, 16 years old, fits the Express tradition of spotlighting both youth and performance beyond the ordinary. In this regard, she shares the 2011 spotlight with Machel Montano, Road March and Soca Monarch winner, and Kelly Ann Baptiste, the sprinter who was hailed by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs as Best Female Athlete of the Year.

Let me here thank readers of the Express who, by text messaging their votes, shared in the decision-making that selected Shanntol Ince as Individual of the Year. I am here to report as well that the selection was cheered by bloggers on the online Express. One blogger called it, and I quote: "an entirely appropriate choice. Shanntol embodies the spirit that strives to be as good as one can be."

Another blogger wrote, and I quote: "This young woman is just the kind of inspiration this country needs at the moment. All our country's youth should take an example from her."

As you can see, the high regard in which Shanntol Ince is held clearly extends beyond the finding of our panel of judges and our own editorial commendation. She has already made history as the first Trinidad and Tobago representative at a Parapan American Games in Mexico, where her winning of two medals marked a major advance for the local Paralympic movement.

She is thus a shining role model for overcoming physical disability challenges. In this respect, Shanntol's achievements recall those of Veera Bhajan, who was Express Individual of the Year in 2009. Though she was born without arms, Veera Bhajan has had notable academic successes, and is now a practising attorney.

Shanntol Ince, still in secondary school and studying for her CXC exams, trains two hours a day six days a week, and has been appointed as an ambassador in the Ministry of the People and Social Development's Disability Programme.

On behalf of the Express, Caribbean Communications Network, One Caribbean Media, and all of Trinidad and Tobago, I wish to extend our best wishes and encouragement to Shanntol, both in her coming examinations, and in the London Olympics where, later this year, she will represent and — we are confident — will bring more further glory to this country.

The 2001 Express Individual of the Year scheme has also recognised in other award categories a Youth of the Year in Anna King, a ten-year old high-performing athlete, musician and writer. Another winner is the Blind and Visually Impaired Cricket Team. Yet another winner is the Chinapoo Police Youth Club.

I wish also to congratulate the nominees in the various categories. In the Community Group of the Year category, nominees were: the T&T Coalition against Domestic Violence; the Butler Institute of Lifelong Learning; and, of course, the T&T Blind and Visually Impaired Cricket Team. 

In the Youth of the Year category, nominees were: Shastri Ram; Sunil Narine; and the winner, Anna King. 

In the Youth Group of the Year category, nominees were: the St Augustine Chamber Orchestra; the  St Benedict's RC Church Youth Group; and the Chinapoo Police Youth Club.

In the Individual of the Year category, nominees were: Machel Montano; Kelly Ann Baptiste; and Shanntol Ince.

With Shanntol Ince as Queen of this Band of Achievers, it is truly heartening to remark the emergence of young people of Trinidad and Tobago, rising to ever higher eminence in their various fields of endeavour, and the positive promise that implies for this country of ours.

Thank you.