Dexter Charles Manager Group Corporate Communications First Citizens Bank

The Premier Half Marathon for University and Tertiary Students

Established in 1993 and born from the merger of three financially challenged institutions, National Commercial Bank, Trinidad Co-operative Bank and Workers Bank, First Citizens has and continues to amass a long list of “Firsts” that have propelled the institution to unimaginable
heights. Heights, which many believed, were out of reach.

These “Firsts” included amongst others; First local bank to issue an international VISA Gold Credit Card in 1994, First bank in the entire English speaking Caribbean to launch an Internet Bank in 2000, First and only bank to be awarded the Tyrone Samlalsingh Pinnacle Award for technology in 2001, 2003 and 2005, First indigenous financial institution to issue US$100 million bonds in the international market in 2004 and 2005 and the First bank to establish an Energy Fund.

Indeed in less than a decade, First Citizens has grown exponentially from what was just a bank to a group of companies under a new brand. The group includes; First Citizens Bank Limited, First Citizens Asset Management Limited, First Citizens (St. Lucia) Limited, First Citizens Trustee Services Limited, First Citizens Securities Trading Limited and the First Citizens Sports Foundation.

Under the First Citizens umbrella, the group has embarked on further establishing itself both locally and internationally by demonstrating its commitment to the community, culture, the environment and sport, by sponsoring such events as the First Citizens New Year’s Day at the R aces at the Arima Race Club, the Clarke Road United Cricket Team, the First Citizens National Secondary Schools’ Water Polo and National Primary Schools’ Mini Polo League and creating initiatives such as the First Citizens C.A.R.E. (Citizens in Action to Restore the Environment) programme. With a track record like this, it should come as no surprise that First Citizens ‘took the baton’ and agreed to be the presenting sponsor of the 2007 UWI SPEC International Half Marathon.

Since the half marathon’s inception in 2004, First Citizens has been on board sponsoring category prizes and in 2006 took it a step further by facilitating real time registration at all our branches making it convenient for all participants and simplifying the registration process - yet
another First!

This year First Citizens, in an alliance with UWI SPEC and the other sponsors, will promote not only the half marathon, but also the Campus and the Sport and Physical Education Centre, stimulating the need for physical fitness among the student body of UWI throughout the Caribbean. As a corporate citizen, First Citizens recognizes that the success we enjoy is ultimately bound to the society in which we operate and by extension, the community. Hence we are focused on developing these communities by investing in many areas, but particularly in the area of sport. It is our belief that sport contributes to individual progress and its benefits are insurmountable. Sports bring discipline to life and encourage dedication and teamwork, all attributes that are essential to the growth of a well-rounded individual who would contribute to the greater good of society.

This year the marathon promises to be bigger and better than the year before. T he UWI SPEC International Half Marathon, much like First Citizens, has seen rapid growth within a short space of time and is well poised to become the premier half marathon for university and tertiary students as no race of this type presently exists.

Additionally, First Citizens seizes this opportunity to get its staff involved by encouraging participation both as volunteers and runners, positioning itself as not only a sponsor who contributes financially, but one who is involved in every aspect of the half marathon from start to finish.

First Citizens extends sincere congratulations to Dr. Iva Gloudon and her team for once again championing this initiative and for their dedication to sport in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. On behalf of First Citizens, we wish all participants the best of luck and hope that this experience would be a memorable one.

We look forward to seeing you on race day.